(Album cover property of The Recording Academy)
By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
The Grammy Nominations are out!
Here is my take on some of the biggest races that will play out on the Staples Center stage on February 12.
Adele snagged numerous nominations for “Hello.”(Album cover property of XL)
Album of the Year:
25 by Adele
Lemonade by Beyonce
Purpose by Justin Bieber
Views by Drake
A Sailor’s Guide to Earth by Sturgill Simpson
Either Adele or Beyonce could walk away with this award. Adele’s 25 peaked number one on 31 international music charts, sold 17.4 million albums in 2015 and spun out four singles. Meanwhile, Beyonce’s Lemonade spun out six singles, a Super Bowl performance, and received high praise from media outlets such as The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Spin, and VICE. It will all come down to how voters feel when they listen to two albums and I believe this award might determine who will be crowned Queen of the Grammys!
“Lemonade” dominated the 2017 Grammy Nominations! (Album cover property of Parkwood Entertainment LLC & Columbia Records)
Record of the Year:
“Hello” by Adele
“Formation” by Beyonce
“7 Years” by Lukas Graham
“Work” by Rihanna featuring Drake
“Stressed Out” by Twenty-One Pilots
Of the five songs that are nominated, “Hello,” “7 Years,” and “Stressed Out” are tracks that have some substance and worthy of receiving this award. But, I would give the edge to “Hello.”
Song of the Year:
“Formation” by Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Beyonce Knowles & Michael L. Williams II (Beyonce)
“Hello” by Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin (Adele)
“I Took A Pill In Ibiza” by Mike Posner (Mike Posner)
“Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin (Benny Blanco) & Ed Sheeran (Justin Bieber)
“7 Years” by Lukas Forrchammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard & Morten Ristop (Lukus Graham)
This race is too close to call but I would lean towards either Adelle’s “Hello” and Mike Posner’s “I Took A Pill in Ibiza” to get the award.
Best New Artist:
Kelsea Ballerini
The Chainsmokers
Chance the Rapper
Maren Morris
Anderson .Paak
Maren Morris has made a larger-than-life impact on the country music industry and I believe that she could win this award over Top 40 favorites Kelsea Ballerini, the Chainsmokers, and Chance the Rapper.
I hope that Sia’s “This Is Acting” pulls up an upset against Beyonce and Adele. (Album cover property of RCA Records)
Best Pop Vocal Album:
25 by Adele
Purpose by Justin Bieber
Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande
Confident by Demi Lovato
This is Acting by Sia
Since this award is all about the vocals, I would give this award to either Adele or Sia! I would be happy if either of these two albums wins. However, I know that the Beliebers or Lovatics would be screaming for joy if these two artists would win this award.
Best Alternative Music Album:
22, a Million by Bon Iver
Blackstar by David Bowie
The Hope Six Demolition Project by PJ Harvey
Post Pop Depression by Iggy Pop
A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead
David Bowie’s Blackstar was a brilliant album, and his tragic sudden passing might give his album a competitive edge. However, do not count out Bon Iver or Radiohead.
Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Lemonade by Beyonce
Ology by Gallant
We Are King by King
Malibu by Anderson .Paak
Anti by Rihanna
I think Lemonade could win this album hands down. Rihanna’s Anti bored me, while the remaining three albums did not receive enough traction in either radio play or social media.
Best Country Solo Performance:
“Love Can Go to Hell” by Brandy Clark
“Vice” by Miranda Lambert
“My Church” by Maren Morris
“Church Bells” by Carrie Underwood
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” by Keith Urban
I believe that this year’s Best Country Solo Performance is a three-way race between Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, and Carrie Underwood. However, I would give the edge to Miranda Lambert. Listeners could hear how Lambert’s high-profile break-up to Blake Shelton affected the country queen.
Best Pop Solo Performance:
“Hello” by Adele
“Hold Up” by Beyonce
“Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber
“Piece by Piece (Idol Version)” by Kelly Clarkson
“Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande
This category is probably one of the most competitive of the night. It might turn into the battle of the Divas as Adele’s signature song goes up against Beyonce’s Hold Up” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Piece by Piece” for the award.
This dance track might win a Grammy! (Album cover property of DreamWorks Animated LLC & RCA Records)
Best Song Written for Visual Media:
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin & Shellback (songwriters) from Trolls
“Heathens” by Tyler Joseph (songwriter) (Twenty One Pilots) from Suicide Squad
“Just Like Fire” by Oscar Holter, Max Martin, P!nk & Shellback (songwriters) (P!nk) from Alice Through the Looking Glass
“Try Everything” by Sia & Stargate (Shakira) from Zootopia
“The Veil” by Peter Gabriel from Snowgate
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is probably going to walk away this award. But, I would also like to see “Just Like Fire” pull an upset.
Dolly & Pentatonix’s “Jolene” might win at the 2017 Grammy Awards. (Photo property of RCA Records)
Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“Different For Girls” by Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King
“21 Summer” by Brothers Osbourne
“Setting the World On Fire” by Kenny Chesney & P!nk
“Jolene” by Pentatonix featuring Dolly Parton
“Think of You” by Chris Young With Cassadee Pope
There is no competition! Friends of the blog, Pentatonix and Dolly Parton, released one of the best duets of the year with “Jolene.”
Producer of the Year, non-classical
Benny Blanco
Greg Kurstin
Max Martin
Nineteen85
Ricky Reed
Greg Kurstin’s high profile collaborations with Adele, Gwen Stefani, and Sia could possibly give him the title this year. But it is not a good idea not to count out either Max Martin (Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, & P!nk) or Benny Blanco (Bon Iver & Justin Beiber).
We will find out the answers when James Corden will host the 59th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2017!
