A Preview of the Grammys
Photo by Creative Commons
Grammy Awards recognize the best in the music industry from the last year.
Besides being my birthday, Sunday, January 28th, 2018 is the year’s biggest night in music. Yes, it’s almost time for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards Show!
Live at 7:30 PM EST from Madison Square Garden on CBS (set your recordings) and hosted by James Corden (of Carpool Karaoke fame), is the most prestigious night of the year for the world of music. Taking all the best recordings, compositions, and artists from the period October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017, the nominees were announced November 28th to the public to much buzz and fanfare. Here are the nominees of the biggest categories and the Red & Black’s take on who will go home with the golden gramophone trophies.
Record of the Year:
“Redbone” -Childish Gambino
“Despacito” -Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
“The Story of O.J.” -JAY-Z
“HUMBLE” -Kendrick Lamar
“24K Magic” -Bruno Mars
The Red & Black says: A male-dominated field; however, very diverse. I feel that the night will be dominated by Lamar, JAY-Z, and Gambino, but for this category, Lamar will win as it was both a great song, as well as very popular.
Album of the Year:
“Awaken, My Love!” –Childish Gambino
“4:44” –JAY-Z
“DAMN.” –Kendrick Lamar
“Melodrama” –Lorde
“24K Magic” -Bruno Mars
The Red & Black says: A very solid lineup; and while only having one woman, there are no white male nominees for the first time in 19 years, which is very interesting. Music-wise, while I would love Lorde to win a Grammy and her album was my favorite of the year, I think Gambino has a very good chance at winning since his album is beautiful and timeless. It would also be good for him and the new Lion King movie, as he and Beyonce (the two main stars), could be touted in advertisements as Grammy Award winners.
Song of the Year:
“Despacito” -Performed by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
“4:44” -Performed by JAY-Z
“Issues” -Performed by Julia Michaels
“1-800-273-8225” -Performed by Logic feat. Alessia Cara and Khalid
“That’s What I Like” -Performed by Bruno Mars
The Red & Black says: This award has usually gone to the most popular song of that given year, thus, don’t be too surprised if “Despacito” wins this one. I wouldn’t be shocked if Mars won instead as he has a lot of other nominations for the night, and his album is well-received, along with this single.
Best New Artist:
Alessia Cara
Khalid
Lil Uzi Vert
Julia Michaels
SZA
The Red & Black says: Alessia Cara has had quite a few radio hits, including “Here”, “Scars to Your Beautiful”, “Stay”, and is also nominated with Logic and Khalid for Song of the Year. She’s a young, rising star who is most likely deadlocked to win this award.
Best Pop Solo Performance:
“Love So Soft” – Kelly Clarkson
“What About Us” – Pink
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
The Red & Black says: Ed Sheeran is most likely to win this one because his vanilla music is radio-friendly and popular with all ages. Personally, Kesha would be a cool win for her comeback single after everything she’s been through with Dr. Luke and she hit a really sweet whistle tone, but we’ll see.
÷ – Ed Sheeran
The Red & Black says: This is another category that usually goes to the most popular album, so Sheeran again.
Best Rap Song:
“Bodak Yellow” -Performed by Cardi B
“Chase Me” -Performed by Danger Mouse feat. Run The Jewels and Big Boi
“Humble” -Performed by Kendrick Lamar
“Sassy” -Performed by Rapsody
“The Story of O.J.”- Performed by JAY-Z
The Red & Black says: I’m going to be bold and choose Cardi. Lamar and JAY-Z have so many other nominations and Cardi’s had such a successful breakout year (Best New Artist in 2019, you heard it here first), that this one goes to the sole lady of the bunch.
Flower Boy – Tyler, the Creator
The Red & Black says: Kendrick Lamar has won this for his masterpiece, To Pimp A Butterfly, in 2016, and I think he has a good shot at winning it again this year for the critically-acclaimed DAMN. 4:44 has been receiving buzz throughout the year, too, but DAMN. was the stronger album, in my opinion.
Best Music Video:
“Up All Night” -Beck
“Makeba” -Jain
“The Story of O.J.” -JAY-Z
“HUMBLE” -Kendrick Lamar
“1-800-273-8225” -Logic feat. Alessia Cara and Khalid
The Red & Black says: I feel that JAY-Z’s social commentary on race put to the visual aesthetic of old cartoons is a sure winner for this one. He’s a critically-acclaimed artist with a popular album, and had one of the most unique and powerful music videos I’ve seen in a while. It’d be disappointing if he didn’t win it, and the only other viable choice would be Logic, since the title and video aims to prevent suicide and promote awareness (the number is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/).
Well there you have it. These are all the major popular categories and The Red & Black’s picks for who will most likely win. The complete list can be viewed here.https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/8047027/grammys-2018-complete-nominees-list
Tune in the 28th and check back after to see if we were right!
Gr. 12
"I know I may be young, but I've got feelings too."-Britney Spears
