Last year I wrote an article talking about how my predictions for the 67th GRAMMYs played out. And I have to say, I did pretty well. I haven’t listened to as much of the music as I had last year, but the GRAMMYs are my Super Bowl so I still had to make some predictions. So, I decided to test and see if my totally legit psychic powers held strong for this year’s biggest night in music. Read on to see if I’m a quack.
These categories are listed in the reverse order of the official GRAMMY Nominations with the exception of saving Album of the Year for last.
Best Instrumental Composition
Wanted to win: “Why You Here / Before The Sun Went Down” (from Sinners Score), Ludwig Göransson Featuring Miles Caton
Expected to win: “Train to Emerald City,” John Powell & Stephen Schwartz
Actually won: “First Snow,” Nordkraft Big Band, Remy Le Boeuf, & Danielle Wertz
Sinners had an incredible score so I really wanted to see it get its flowers. However, I did not expect it to defeat the cultural phenomenon that was the Wicked movie. What I did not expect even more was for a small instrumental artist to defeat both of them with a song that currently has only 5,000 streams on Spotify. Honestly, good for them.
Best Album Cover
Wanted to win: CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator
Expected to win: The Crux, Djo
Actually won: CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator
Not gonna lie, I fully thought the cover for DECIDE was the cover for The Crux. Whoops. If I had the right cover in mind for Djo, I probably would have bet on Tyler. Anyway, I’m glad he won because his cover art is so cool and creative. He really knows how to deliver with his visuals.
Best Music Video
Wanted to win: “Anxiety,” Doechii
Expected to win: “Manchild,” Sabrina Carpenter
Actually won: “Anxiety,” Doechii
I was fully expecting the GRAMMYs to lean in favor of Sabrina this year, but I’m glad that I was wrong in this category. I like the “Manchild” music video, but I think that the “Anxiety” video took a lot more risks and they paid off. The large-scale production made it feel really cinematic, and I like that the end the the same as the beginning to demonstrate how anxiety is cycle. Is it a bit cringe at times? Yeah, but I think that’s the point. Anxiety isn’t rational, and often times it causes you to act and think in unusual or “cringe” ways.
Best Song Written for Visual Media
Wanted to win: “Golden” (From KPop Demon Hunters)
Expected to win: “Golden” (From KPop Demon Hunters)
Actually won: “Golden” (From KPop Demon Hunters)
This one was a given. Love it or hate it, KPop Demon Hunters dominated over the summer. And you have to admit, the song is catchy. I have a feeling its going to become like “Let It Go” and everyone’s going to be sick of it, but for now I enjoy it and was happy for see it win.
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)
Wanted to win: The Wild Robot, Kris Bowers
Expected to win: Wicked, John Powell & Stephen Schwartz
Actually won: Sinners, Ludwig Göransson
I’m pretty happy with this one. I really liked the score for both The Wild Robot and Sinners. I’m again surprised that Wicked was defeated, but again I was glad to be wrong. Well deserved win for Sinners.
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Wanted to win: KPop Demon Hunters
Expected to win: Wicked
Actually won: Sinners
This one I’m not totally on board with. Sinners had a great score and musical moments, but I’m not sure if the soundtrack as a whole is better than KPop Demon Hunters. I listen to songs from KPop Demon Hunters in my daily life, but I don’t listen to songs from Sinners. Although, that could just be because I’m more familiar with K-pop as a genre. Sinners still had a good soundtrack so I’m not mad about it getting the award. I’m just glad it wasn’t Wicked.
Best Musical Theater Album
Wanted to win: Maybe Happy Ending
Expected to win: Death Becomes Her
Actually won: Buena Vista Social Club
I have not listened to any of these musicals, but as a musical theater girlie I had to make a prediction in this category. I wanted Maybe Happy Ending to win because the idea seems cool and I like Darren Criss. I bet on Death Becomes Her because it had a bit of a moment on TikTok. I wasn’t really invested in who won so I’m not upset about Buena Vista Social Club winning. It’s nice to see a small show like that win.
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Wanted to win: A Matter of Time, Laufey
Expected to win: A Matter of Time, Laufey
Actually won: A Matter of Time, Laufey
I have not listened to this album or any of the others in this category. I just like some of Laufey’s songs and think she seems like a cool person. I also knew it would be a safe bet for her to win because she’s been gaining a lot of traction lately, so I decided to make a prediction for this category and I was right.
Best Rap Album
Wanted to win: CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator
Expected to win: CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator
Actually won: GNX, Kendrick Lamar
I also have not listened to either of these albums, I just know a lot of people who describe CHROMAKOPIA as “life-changing” and I can respect the artistry of crafting an aesthetic around an album. Tyler, The Creator is one of those artists you can’t hep but respect even if you don’t listen to his music. I haven’t listened to Kendrick’s album either, but I also have a lot of respect for him as an artist so I was glad to see him win.
Best Rap Song
Wanted to win: “Anxiety,” Doechii
Expected to win: “tv off,” Kendrick Lamar
Actually won: “tv off,” Kendrick Lamar
I prefer “Anxiety,” but “tv off” is also a good song. I would have loved to see Doechii take home a win for her song and not just her music video, but again I’m happy for Kendrick. These two have lowkey convinced me to start listening to rap.
Best Melodic Rap Performance
Wanted to win: “luther,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Expected to win: “luther,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Actually won: “luther,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA
This song was a massive hit so I expected it to win. Kendrick and SZA sound so good together and you can feel the love they poured into this song. I was happy to see the award go to them.
Best Rap Performance
Wanted to win: “Anxiety,” Doechii
Expected to win: “tv off,” Kendrick Lamar
Actually won: “Chains & Whips,” Clipse, Pusha T, & Malice, Featuring Kendrick Lamar & Pharrell Williams
This one was unexpected. “tv off” has 800 million streams right now on Spotify, while “Chains & Whips” has only 37 million. I personally prefer “tv off” as a song, but I would say that the way the songs were performed are on-par with each other. Also, Doechii always brings it in the “performance” department in her songs, and “Anxiety” is no exception, so it would have been amazing to see it go to her.
Best Dance Pop Recording
Wanted to win: “Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga
Expected to win: “Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga
Actually won: “Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga
I personally wasn’t the biggest fan of any of the songs in this category, but I can respect the grasp that “Abracadbra” had on music this year, and it’s a very fun song to dance to. Zara Larsson has also been popping off lately, and “Illegal” and “Bluest Flame” had their moments on TikTok, but I knew none of them would be able to compete with Gaga since she had such a big year.
Best Pop Vocal Album
Wanted to win: Man’s Best Friend, Sabrina Carpenter
Expected to win: MAYHEM, Lady Gaga
Actually won: MAYHEM, Lady Gaga
I have not listened to MAYHEM, but like I said, Lady Gaga has had a huge year and Man’s Best Friend has received mixed reviews on top of the controversy with the album cover so I knew Sabrina didn’t really stand a chance. Still, I really enjoyed her album and would have liked to see her take home an award.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Wanted to win: “Golden,” HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI
Expected to win: “Defying Gravity,” Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
Actually won: “Defying Gravity,” Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
This one I completely disagree with. Does Glinda sing in “Defying Gravity”? Yes, but it’s really more of a solo song. It’s known as Elphaba’s big ballad. I don’t think it belongs in this category. And I personally did not enjoy the Wicked movie, so I really did not want to see it win. But, I knew it would because of how much of a cultural impact it has had. To be fair, it’s hard to compare “Defying Gravity” and “Golden” performance-wise because they’re so different and one of them is “performed” through an animation. Cynthia Erivo is a powerhouse performer, but I was too distracted by the odd direction of the scene to appreciate her performance, and even listening to it all I can think about is how Elphaba just kept flying away and coming back.
Best Pop Solo Performance
Wanted to win: “The Subway,” Chappell Roan
Expected to win: “Manchild,” Sabrina Carpenter
Actually won: “Messy,” Lola Young
This one was also a surprise. “Messy” has more streams than the other two songs, but I really did not expect it to beat them or Lady Gaga, who was also nominated for “Disease.” I like this song and I think that the way Lola sings it really adds to the narrative by making the emotions feel authentic, but Chappell sings her heart out in “The Subway.” She is performance. I’m happy for Lola, but I still think that the award should have gone to Chappell.
Best New Artist
Wanted to win: Olivia Dean
Expected to win: KATSEYE
Actually won: Olivia Dean
With the recent intense KATSEYE fanfare, I was fully expecting them to win. I’m glad that it went to Olivia Dean, though. No hate to KATSEYE, they’re great performers, I just don’t think that they’ve really found their identity yet as an artist and they still have a lot of growing to do. I first heard Olivia’s music in one of HTHAZE’s “Small Artists” videos, so it’s super cool to now see her at the GRAMMYs. I love the old-timeyness of her voice and the energy she brings to the stage. Some people criticize her for having easy-listening music, but what’s wrong with that? I love easy-listening music. So, so happy for her and can’t wait to see what she does next.
Song of the Year
Wanted to win: “Golden” (From KPop Demon Hunters)
Expected to win: “Golden” (From KPop Demon Hunters)
Actually won: “WILDFLOWER” by Billie Eilish
This category was such a curveball. I know the GRAMMYs love Billie, but this song isn’t even from this year. I really was not expecting it to go her. I could have seen it going to literally any other one of the nominees. I though “Golden” deserved to win because of how massive it has been, but I would have been happy with “APT.” or I would have understood if “Abracadabra” won… but “WILDFLOWER?” I love that song, but it definitely was not the song of the year.
Record of the Year
Wanted to win: “The Subway,” Chappell Roan
Expected to win: “Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga
Actually won: “luther,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“luther” was a very well-produced record, especially with the creative and seamless use of a sample, so I’m pretty satisfied with it taking home this award. I’m just sad that “The Subway” didn’t win anything because it’s one of my favorite songs to come out this past year. I’m honestly surprised that “Abracadabra” lost, but I definitely think it was the right decision to go with “luther” instead.
Album of the Year
Wanted to win: Man’s Best Friend, Sabrina Carpenter, or CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator
Expected to win: MAYHEM, Lady Gaga
Actually won: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, Bad Bunny
Man’s Best Friend is the only album that was nominated that I had listened to and as I mentioned earlier I’ve been hearing acclaim from both critics and people I know in real life about CHROMAKOPIA. Since it has had such an impact, I was rooting for it to win Album of the Year. However, given how successful Lady Gaga has been recently, I was expecting the award to go to her. And although she won big in other categories, the biggest award of the night went to someone else who has also had a massive year, Bad Bunny. I haven’t really listened to his music, but he seems like a creative, kind, and hilarious person. I have seen him act on SNL and in Bullet Train and know lots of people who connect with his music, so I know he’s talented. It’s also undeniable how prominent he has been in music for several years, not just this one. I was so happy to see him receive this award, and the two speeches he made were incredibly beautiful and moving. It’s amazing to see an artist from another country winning the biggest award in music for an album completely in Spanish at a time when Spanish-speaking immigrants are being persecuted. So well deserved, congrats to Bad Bunny on his sixth Grammy and first Album of the Year.
Closing Thoughts
7/20…yikes. Welp, guess I’m not psychic after all. This year’s GRAMMYs was truly an interesting night, with people yelling about Jesus but then refusing to comment on the mistreatment facing many people in our country, to lots of speeches in support of the immigrant community here in the US. And, of course, Trevor Noah closed his six-year-run of hosting the GRAMMYs, taking the opportunity to make as many jokes as possible about a certain orange president. He was so funny that Trump threatened to sue. What an appropriate thing for the leader of the free world to do. We’ll miss you, Trevor. Good luck with the lawsuit and good luck to whoever has to fill your shoes next year.
A lot of people out there are confused as to why so many people spoke out at the GRAMMYs and are frustrated that they didn’t “keep politics out of it.” But government-sanctioned murder and persecution of innocent people affects us all and everything we do. It goes against what our country is meant to be. America is great because it is a melting pot of different cultures, where people can find refuge, freedom, and opportunity. Immigrants make America great. That is why so many musicians spoke up that night. Because what is going on in our country is so much bigger than just “politics.”
If you’re looking for ways to support immigrants, there’s a fundraiser through Creators For Peace for the National Immigration Law Center, which provides legal aid to low-income immigrants, or you can donate to the NILC directly through their website. Other organizations you can donate to are the American Civil Liberties Union, which is also working to defend immigrants and stand up to ICE, and Stand With Minnesota, which provides several opportunities for your donations to help immigrants in Minnesota.
In times like this, it is easy for fear to turn into anger, and anger to turn into violence, but that is what ICE and Trump want. They want an excuse. An excuse to be even more violent, even more inhumane, to fuel the dehumanizing narrative they’re spinning of immigrants and those who stick up for them. We cannot give them that. Like Bad Bunny said in his victory speech for Best Música Urbana Album, “The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love. So, please, we need to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love.”