Although the Grammys are less than a month away, the nominations have been public for quite a while. After processing some of the predictable and shocking nominees, I have complied my ideal list for the winners in the most talked about categories. Let’s hope these artists take home the gold-plated gramophones.
Best Country Song:
I have a confession: I am a big fan of country music. While it is not my favorite genre, I do appreciate the song writing skills that many country musicians possess. This category is packed with country music idols like Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. But, I am rooting for newcomer Thomas Rhett whose single “Die A Happy Man” is nominated. In an era with repetitive choruses and predictable beats, this song is refreshing with its ability to combine country and soul music. Rhett definitely deserves to win his first Grammy.
Best Rap/Sung Performance:
Beyoncé unsurprisingly dominated the competition this year with a total of nine nominations. One of the most unusual categories her name can be found under is “Best Rap/Sung Performance.” All of the fellow musicians hoping for this title are male rappers, but Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” does feature Kendrick Lamar. Arguably one of the best songs on Lemonade, Beyoncé’s vocals and uplifting message really shine on this track. Queen B can certainly beat the odds.
Best R&B Performance:
Now I know Rihanna has many fans, and I am one of them, but I don’t think that Anti is her best album. Solange, however, reminded everyone with her album that she is just as talented as her older sister and deserves to be respected in the music industry. Her revival last year with A Seat at the Table was critically acclaimed and helped her gain new fans. She deserves to win (in the only category she was nominated, for shockingly) for “Cranes in the Sky.”
Best Rock Album:
Like Solange, Panic! At the Disco also made a comeback this year. After being an early 2000s success with their catchy hit “I Write Sins Not Tragedies,” the band continued to make music. But, it was never recognized by The Recording Academy. Now with lead singer Brendon Urie being the only original member remaining, the band released their most popular album to date, Death of a Bachelor, which went to number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Urie has an uphill battle going against Weezer and Blink-182, but he is an unappreciated vocalist who needs to win.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
This category might be the hardest to predict since the nominees include Rihanna and Drake, Sia and Sean Paul, and Twenty One Pilots. Out of all the songs, Sia’s hit was the most surprising which is why she should take home the Grammy. “Cheap Thrills” was a sleeper hit that slowly rose up the charts and eventually earned Sia her first number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Unlike the other musicians, Sia’s songs are not immediately played on the radio. Her songs become more popular over time which means she cannot solely rely on her fan base to sell music. Hopefully this underdog can continue her success onto the Grammy stage.
Best New Artist:
The nominees for Best New Artist have many divided on who should win, but most of the musicians have proven they are great artists. Aside from The Chainsmokers (because they certainly do not compare to the musicians in this category, not sorry), the battle is between R&B, rap, and country music. While Chance the Rapper or Anderson .Paak are the favorites to win, Maren Morris should be triumphant. Hear me out. She has a unique country twang and soulful voice that has made me a fan. Morris has been writing for country music legends like Tim McGraw for years and finally released her debut album last year. She has filled the void Taylor Swift left in the country music world: a young, female musician who can be played on pop and country radio. She needs to be the new face of country music.
Record Of The Year:
There is no denying that Beyoncé’s “Formation” video and lyrics brought her a lot of attention last year. Queen B was not afraid to share her opinions on police brutality and feminism in her song which makes it a standout among the other contenders. It has a powerful message compared to the rest, and, unlike the other songs, it received little radio play. Despite its radio absence, the single was still able to get fans excited for Lemonade. “Formation” was the perfect segue into this new era for Beyoncé.
Album Of The Year:
The ultimate battle between Beyoncé and Adele. Although Beyoncé was nominated more than twice as many times as Adele, the British powerhouse should win this category. Adele had the top selling album of 2016 with 1,684,000 records sold. This is even more shocking considering her album came out in 2015! It was the number one selling album that year with 7,441,000 records sold worldwide. The amount of passion Adele puts into lyrics is undisputable and 25 should be rewarded for its record breaking success.