If the apocalypse is here, we might as well enjoy it. Stomp down the doors of your comfort zone. Hook up with unlikely new friends. Get noisy. Have a party before the flames consume us all.

That seemed to be the prevailing attitude during the 2009 Grammy Awards telecast Sunday night. Times are beyond tough for the music industry and cultural endeavors in general. Neil Portnow, the president of the awarding organization, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, said as much during his admirably political welcoming speech. (Best moment: his call for President Obama to create a Cabinet position for secretary of the arts.)

Yet instead of a solemn mood, this jam-packed program offered the tonic of overstimulation as star after star took the stage and sold themselves hard, presenters proved as effusive as teleprompter readers can possibly be, and trophy winners were shoved aside to make room for more and more music.