MUSIC
Grammy Slam Predicting the unpredictable By Michael Pollock
B
ack in 2009, I wrote a short piece in this magazine detailing that year’s Grammy Awards, focusing on my favorite category, Album of the Year. The nominees were remarkably different from the usual fare: Radiohead, Lil Wayne, Coldplay, and Ne-Yo had produced the finest work of their careers. The inclusion of Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand felt obligatory and non-threatening, like letting grandpa handle the Wii. After years of nominating, and rewarding, records by artists whose best days were clearly behind them, it seemed the Grammys had finally come to their senses. Alas, Plant & Krauss took top honors, joining Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles (posthumously), U2, Norah Jones, and Steely Dan on the shockingly safe list of Album of the Year winners from the decade. (OK, Outkast, too.) So my track record for predicting awards—or anything, for that matter—is nothing to speak of. But I’m tweaking my picks this year to reflect the way Grammy thinks. Here, then, I present my predictions for the 53rd Grammy Awards in the four major categories, as well as what I feel are the rightful nominees. Tune in to CBS on Sunday, Feb. 13 to see if I’m right (or why I’m wrong).
by Eminem; “Nothin’ on You” by B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars; “California Girls” by Katy Perry; “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys; and “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum. Who will win: Of the three nominated songs I know, I hate two of them. I don’t hate “Need You Now.” It’s country that doesn’t sound like country, and Grammy eats that up.
Record of the Year The nominees: “Nothin’ on You” by B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars; “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem featuring Rihanna; “F*** You” by Cee Lo Green; “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys; “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum What the nominees should look like: I’ve actually heard all these songs, so if nothing else, they probably were the biggest records of the year. Who will win: Jay-Z has a strong chance with “Empire,” as does Eminem, but “F*** You,” one of the most annoying songs ever written, is a shoo-in. I ignore this song every chance I get. (Unless my daughter is in the car. It’s catchy on the radio.)
Album of the Year Best New Artist The nominees: Justin Bieber; Drake; Florence & the Machine; Esperanza Spalding; Mumford & Sons What the nominees should look like: I’m still not sure if Justin Bieber actually released any music last year, but that’s a solid list; very diverse. The ubiquitous Bruno Mars, who wrote more hit songs in 2010 than some people write in a lifetime, is the only name I’d swap in. Who will win: Esperanza Spalding is wildly promising, but her haircut does not define a generation. Justin, it’s yours.
Song of the Year* The nominees: “Beg, Steal or Borrow” by Ray LaMontagne; F*** You” by Cee Lo Green; “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert; “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem featuring Rihanna; “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum What the nominees should look like: *Keep in mind, this award goes to the songwriters (not listed above), not the artist (that’s Record of the Year, below). Let’s change it up with “Not Afraid”
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The nominees: The Suburbs by the Arcade Fire; Recovery by Eminem; Need You Now by Lady Antebellum; The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga; Teenage Dream by Katy Perry What the nominees should look like*: Keep Eminem and the Arcade Fire and add I Learned the Hard Way by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, How I Got Over by the Roots, and The Guitar Song by Jamey Johnson. Now that’s a category. (*The eligibility period for nominees was Sept. 1, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2010. So if you’re wondering why Kanye got overlooked, he didn’t. Yet.) Who will win: This is really anyone’s night. Antebellum was a hit at last year’s show, Perry is a great pop star, Gaga’s songs still have steam, and it’s hard finding anyone who’ll say something bad about Arcade Fire. I have a feeling Eminem goes home happy. Recovery enjoyed warm reviews and was the year’s biggest-selling release, and Em is up for nine other Grammys, including Song and Record of the Year. (He’s also been nominated for Album of the Year twice before.) Plus, it’s a comeback story—odd as it sounds, Eminem is a safe bet. Still, it’s heavy, lyrically explicit stuff. Can the Grammys bring themselves to give him their biggest honor?
1/20/2011 6:50:13 PM