I'm not usually a follower of the Grammy awards, bar the performances. Nor do I understand the importance, or prestige that they garner considering the politics and calculated decisions involved in selecting nominees and winners.
For instance, as much as I love Rihanna I can not believe her last album Loud- which was patchy- has received not only a nomination for the coveted "album of the year", but, even more incredulously, its also obtained a nomination in the "best vocal pop album" category. Are they having a laugh?
Conversely, previous Grammy darling, Beyonce, whose critically acclaimed album 4 has enjoyed less than stellar sales, has only received one nomination- in the obscure "best rap/sung collaboration"- despite it being submitted for consideration in 12 categorises.Contrast this to the record breaking 6 trophies she took home in 2010, when at the height of her popularity, with the fourteen million selling, but averagely rated album, I Am Sasha Fierce, and you start to wonder about the committees selection criteria.
If the Grammys are supposed to be setting the bench mark for musical standards, which is the impression it gives, oppose to being a popularity contest/promotional tool, then they need to sort out their selection process, because strange choices like this damage their reputation and credibility. I understand that they have to walk a fine line to stay relevant to younger audiences, but there are definitely subtler ways of doing so.
Anyway, those who are interested in the Grammy Awards, below are the top catergories of the 2012 ceremony with their nominees underneath. The bold text is who I'd like to win. How bout you? Comment below.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
21- Adele
Wasting Light- Foo Fighters
Born This Way- Lady Gaga
Doo-Waps and Hooligans - Bruno Mars
Loud - Rihanna
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Holocene - Bon Iver
Grenade - Bruno Mars
The Cave - Mumford and Sons
Firework - Katy Perry
BEST NEW ARTIST
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J.Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
SONG OF THE YEAR (Songwriter's award)
"All of the Lights" - Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter, Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, featuring Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie)
"The Cave" - Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
"Grenade" - Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Phillip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars, Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
"Holocene" - Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)
"Rolling in the Deep" - Adele Adkins, Paul Epworth songwriters (Adele)
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
21 -Adele
The Lady Killer - Cee Lo Green
Born This Way - Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans - Bruno Mars
Loud- Rihanna
BEST ROCK ALBUM
Rock 'N' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul - Jeff Beck
Wasting Light - Foo Fighters
Come Around Sundown - Kings of Leon
I'm With You - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
The Whole Love - Wilco
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Codes and Keys - Death Cab For Cutie
Torches - Foster The People
Circuital - My Morning Jacket
The King of Limbs - Radiohead
BEST R nB ALBUM
F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown
Second Chance - El DeBarge
Love Letter - R. Kelly
Pieces of Me - Ledisi
Kelly - Kelly Price
BEST RAP ALBUM
Watch The Throne - Jay-Z and Kanye West
Tha Carter IV - Lil Wayne
Lasers - Lupe Fiasco
Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean
Chief - Eric Church
Own The Night - Lady Antebellum
Red River Blue - Blake Shelton
Here For a Good Time - George Strait
Speak Now - Taylor Swift
There were really some shockers here. Everyone expected Speak Now and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to be locks in the Album of the Year category. I hate how Beyonce's best album has been overlooked. I mean ALL of her previous solo albums have won Best RnB Album and 4 isn't even nominated?? That frustrates me, but whatever, I hope she wins Best Long Form Video for the I Am Tour. I think what you've highlighted are going to win. We all know who Album of the Year is going to...
ReplyDeleteAlso, I hope slightly disappointing year won't effect Beyonce's music, like I hope she doesn't change her sound to electro/pop/crap just to get sales and Grammy nods. Although she's had her fare share of Grammys. I think one thing that really hurt her is because she did not have a solid hit from the album. I mean her highest charting was charted at 16!
ReplyDeleteI've always thought the Grammys were a bit weird, do they still have weird categories like 'Spoken Word'?
ReplyDeletei think that u are right its all about the sales
ReplyDeletebut adele will obviously sweep no surprise there
i just hope she doesn't get overplayed cuz her music is omnipresent now a days and its getting annoying
i miss the time when she released chasing pavements because no one knew of her
Speak Now not nominated for Album of the Year for albums like Loud and Doo-wops and Holigans to take its place is just...embarrassing. Know why? Cuz it was more acclaimed than any of the albums nominated, aside from Wasting Light.
ReplyDeleteSpeak Now Metascore: 77 out of 100
Adele's 21 Metascore: 76 out of 100
Lady Gaga's Born This Way Metascore: 72 out of 100
Rihanna's Loud Metascore: 68 out of 100
Bruno Mars' Doo-wops and Hooligans Meatscore: *drumrolllllllllllllllllllllllllllll*
61 out of 100
You gotta be kidding me.
Yeah, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West has a 94 on metacritic.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of Bruno Mars at all, so I'm miffed to see him there. But like I said the Grammys are trying to ride the line between relevancy and integrity..something they're failing at.
ReplyDeleteThey do indeed! You a fan?! Here's the list just for you;
ReplyDeleteBest Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)
BOSSYPANTS – Tina Fey
FAB FAN MEMORIES – THE BEATLES BOND – (Various Artists) Nathan Burbank, Bryan
Cumming, Dennis Scott & David Toledo, producers
HAMLET (WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE) – Dan Donohue & Various Artists –
Oregon Shakespeare Festival
IF YOU ASK ME (AND OF COURSE YOU WON’T) – Betty White
THE MARK OF ZORRO – Val Kilmer & Cast
.......lol
I know its crazy. Hopefully Beyonce will take it on the chin and just keep doing what she's doing..besides she's got plenty already!
ReplyDeleteyou really thought the the academy would award a singer that spent the whole years being acused of stealing other people's work???
ReplyDeleteEven last year; they should be ashamed of awarding a song called single ladies, that crap.
Well clearly, it's Val Kilmer for the win. :OD
ReplyDeleteI hope that they don't screw over Adele like the Awards did to Mariah back in the '90s. I think they go more for popularity than talent and critical acclaim.
ReplyDeleteAdele will be totally snubbed. The Grammy's have a shameful habit of rewarding the undeserving artists. Thinking back to the 1996 Grammy's, where Mariah Carey's Daydream was nominated for 6 awards and received NONE, despite being one of the most amazing albums nominated.
ReplyDeletethe Grammys are piece of shit. Beyonce is amazing but she doesn't deserve 16 Grammys she deserve 9. and Mariah and Christina Aguilera deserve more Grammys. Lady GaGa doesn't deserve 5 Grammys.
ReplyDelete