The Grammys are this weekend and HC: San Francisco is here with our annual predictions. The competition for this year’s Grammys is more competitive than last year’s. The Recording Academy increased the number of nominees in the general field categories from five to eight. Categories classified under general field include: Best New Artist, Song of the Year, Album of the year, and Record of the Year.
This year, there are a wide variety of genres nominated in the general field such as: country, dance, R&B, hip-hop, rock and rap. Every artist nominated has dominated the charts, broke records in the charts and sales, and have appeared in the silver screen. Keep on reading to see our predicted winners for the 61st Grammys.
Best New Artist
Nominees:
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Chloe x Halle
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Luke Combs
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Greta Van Fleet
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H.E.R.
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Dua Lipa
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Margo Price
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Bebe Rexha
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Jorja Smith
Predicted winner: Dua Lipa
At age 14, the British singer would cover songs on YouTube which led to her being discovered. Her first smash hit was in 2017 with the song, “New Rules.” Since then, she has had other hits like “IDGAF” and “Blow Your Mind (Muah).” She has opened for artists such as: Bruno Mars, Troye Sivan, and Coldplay. She also embarked in her own world tour for her-self titled album. In 2018, Dua Lipa won the Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act. Can she win Best New Artist?
Song of the Year
Nominees:
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“All The Stars”, Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA
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“Boo’d Up”, Ella Mai
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“God’s Plan”, Drake
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“In My Blood”, Shawn Mendes
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“The Joke”, Brandi Carlile
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“The Middle”, Zedd, Maren Morris, & Grey
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“Shallow”, Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
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“This Is America”, Childish Gambino
Predicted winner: “Boo’d Up”, Ella Mai
In spring 2018, Ella Mai got everyone in their feelings with this R&B jam. The song’s catchy chorus (listen to my heart go ba-do, boo’d up) will make you want to snap your fingers as if you were listening to 90’s R&B. According to Rolling Stone Magazine, “Boo’d Up” is “one of the biggest singles by a breakout female R&B singer in the past 10 years.” The song peaked at number five in the Billboard Hot 100.
Record of the Year
Nominees:
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“I Like It”, Cardi B ft. Bad Bunny & J Balvin
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“The Joke”, Brandi Carlile
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“This Is America”, Childish Gambino
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“God’s Plan”, Drake
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“Shallow”, Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
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“Rockstar”, Post Malone ft. 21 Savage
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“The Middle”, Zedd, Maren Morris, & Grey
Predicted winner: “I Like It”, Cardi B ft. Bad Bunny & J Balvin
This Latin trap tune was the song of the summer in 2018. There is a mix of English and Spanish rapping from all three Latino artists. The song has elements of salsa, trap, and hip-hop in the production. If the song’s beat sounds familiar to you, it is a sample from the 1967 Pete Rodriguez song, “I Like It Like That.”
Album of the Year
Nominees:
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Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B
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By The Way, I Forgive You, Brandi Carlile
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Scorpion, Drake
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H.E.R., H.E.R.
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Beerbongs & Bentleys, Post Malone
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Dirty Computer, Janelle Monaé
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Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
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Black Panther: The Album, Music From and Inspired By, Various Artists
Predicted winner: Scorpion, Drake
Scorpion broke streaming records the day it was released back in summer of 2018. According to Variety, the album crushed one-day streaming records on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. The album has an A-side, dedicated to hip-hop and a B-side, dedicated for those who want to be in their feelings (R&B, duh.) Hit songs from Scorpion include: “God’s Plan”, “In My Feelings”, and “Nice For What.” Will Scorpion win Album of the Year?
The 61st Grammys will take place Sunday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. PST on CBS.