Last years Grammys were dominated by Adele’s MASSIVE return to the industry with 25, and even though it was, for the most part, well-deserved, the show was a bit of a downer. This year seems like it will be different. Beyoncé, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and many of pop’s A-listers are nowhere to be seen, and with Taylor Swift’s “Reputation” released WAY after the cutoff date, we really got a fresh crop. Let’s go through the major categories.
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
If this category is any indication, we as music fans don’t know everything. There had been rumors for months that “Million Reasons” by Lady Gaga would be the one to beat, I had stated outright that I thought “Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay was an obvious nominee, and of course, as there was no escape from “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran over the last 10 months, that seemed to be a frustrating yet obvious pick. Of course, there are only five songs in the category at the end of the day so not everyone can be right about everything, but these choices really set the tone for the overall direction that the music industry has tried to veer towards over the last year or two and quite frankly, I have no complaints.
“Despacito” absolutely dominated the late spring and entire summer, spending a staggering 16 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It seems as though that anything Justin Bieber touches turns to gold, proven by his presence in multiple categories two whole years after his last full-length release. The track was a bubbling hit on its own without Justin, but the addition of the superstar catapulted Luis Fonsi, and the song itself, to new heights. It was inescapable, and say what you want about Justin and his lack of ethnic qualities, he helped create a new boom for world music in the mainstream.
“24K Magic” and “Humble” are obvious picks. “24K Magic” isn’t exactly new territory for Bruno, but after the massive success of “Uptown Funk”, a ROTY winner in its own right, he went back to the well for the incredibly infectious and swag-infused lead single off his latest album of the same name. “Humble” isn’t as culturally groundbreaking as “Alright”, but the track is FAR better, in terms of popular music itself, then anything Drake has put out in a good long while. The song was Kendrick’s first #1 hit, but did not stay there for as long as I’d hoped. Either way, it’s an anthem.
The wildcard here is of course “Redbone”. The song took on a life of it’s own in popular culture and on social media since the albums release late last year, but is still absolutely deserving of the recognition. It’s a funky, stomach-churning smash that, like Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO Tour Llif3” and others, will likely be remembered and years to come. However, even after a year, it still feels a bit like a puzzle with a missing piece….there’s just this sense of complexity to it that I think people gravitate towards, and I think the fact that it’s nominated for this award to begin with speaks volumes.
Jay-Z’s “The Story Of O.J”, which features an incredible Nina Simone sample, is my pick to take it. I think that with the current political climate and the conversations about race being had because of the current administration, this song is important and it sends it’s message loud and clear. Jay talked about it in his New York Times interview with Dean Baquet in such an intelligent and composed way, and it really struck with me. “24K Magic” and “Despacito” are fun pop songs we can all get down to, but now isn’t the time for a fun pop song to be given the recognition. A Tribe Called Quest went up on the Grammy stage at the start of this year and laid it down for us, and now Jay has the chance to further the conversation and further the movement with this song.
Prediction: “The Story Of O.J”
Album Of The Year
- Awaken, My Love!- Childish Gambino
- 4:44- Jay-Z
- DAMN- Kendrick Lamar
- Melodrama- Lorde
- 24K Magic- Bruno Mars
This easily the hardest category for me to pick from because I truly love all of these albums. These are albums I will be listening to 20 years from now with such pride, knowing that I was at an age where I was able to hear these projects and really understand the gravity of them all. Where do I even begin?
I think Bruno’s is the weakest overall album here….4 years in between this and “Unorthodox Jukebox” and we only get a nine track album. After reading his Rolling Stone interview and hearing him talk about his process, I can understand why, but it was just a bit of a letdown to see it be shorter then both of his previous projects after such a long absence. Tracks like “Chunky” and “Perm” are sort of forgettable, but “Versace On The Floor” and the incredibly underrated one-two punch of “Calling All My Lovelies” and ESPECIALLY “Too Good To Say Goodbye” are my favorite Bruno cuts to date. Just masterful pieces of work vocally, and just the icing on the cake of why no one can touch him when he’s at his best.
“Awaken, My Love” was my first exposure to Gambino where I listened to a project of his in the exact moment it was put out. I was really thrown by the vocal prowess he seems to have, for a guy I, and many others, thought was primarily a rapper, and also, his musical instincts. We don’t get a lot of psychedelic rock/funk music anymore, so it stands out from pretty much everything else put out this year, especially because so much of it feels authentic. I commend him for doing his homework and really making sure it wasn’t just a sour attempt at a genre he may or may not have listened to his whole life. I can’t see this winning at all really, but again, its a testament to Donald Glover as an artist that he’s in there with such huge names.
4:44 and DAMN are without a doubt the two most important albums released this year, in any genre, in my opinion. Kendrick had huge shoes to fill after the meteoric rise of “To Pimp A Butterfly” while Jay-Z had to compete with Beyoncé’s incredibly vulnerable yet cataclysmic effort with “Lemonade”. Both men, one of the old school and one of the new, left no doubt that they are two of the best of their genre, exploring themselves and the world around them in a way that no one else has been able to accomplish through music in recent years.
Lorde’s “Melodrama” is a firestorm of a record. Again, another one with big shoes to fill after expectations were set so high with “Pure Heroine” but holy crap did she come back with a fire you wish you could see in every artist. Assisted mainly by Bleachers frontman/hitmaker Jack Antonoff, the pair perfectly captures the dark, moody essence of late-teen heartbreak and the overwhelming crash that comes with it. Her writing, vocal delivery and sometimes bombastic, other times minimalistic production are just stunning.
“Melodrama” would be my pick, but after Kendrick was unjustly robbed in favor of Taylor Swift’s “1989” at the 2015 ceremony, I would give it to DAMN. I don’t think it’s smart to deny him, as he can easily slip down into the shadows and not be the competition to Drake that we all want and need him to be.
Prediction: DAMN
Song Of The Year
- Despacito- Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
- 4:44- Jay-Z
- Issues- Julia Michaels
- 1-800-273-8255- Logic feat. Alessia Cara and Khalid
- That’s What I Like- Bruno Mars
Just looking at this category, my instinct is that because “4:44” is clearly the best song of the bunch, that should be the one to beat. However, if I’m right and they do give ROTY to “The Story Of O.J”, then I don’t think “4:44” will take it.
“That’s What I Like” dominated radio throughout the summer and had a consistent rise till it finally hit #1 on the Hot 100. “24K Magic” was the indisputable first single from that record, but “TWIL” just has this groove that cannot be denied. Tempo wise, it’s a bit slower. It wraps around you and gives you time to process what you’re listening to, unlike some of his previous hits which are full throttle. I don’t think it makes realistic sense for this to get the win, but I’m still freakin obsessed with it and so are you.
“Issues” is a song that I didn’t like out of the gate, and I disliked it even more after I got home from college in May and started hearing it on the radio every 20 minutes. It was just a smash on radio and I understand the appeal, but I can’t justify this winning. It would certainly be a feel-good moment for her, but if they wanna give her a songwriters award for it at another show instead I’d be cool with that.
Logic did something really great with 1-800. Of course the “Who can relate? WOOOO” leaves just a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, but I don’t doubt he had good intentions and there’s no denying that he is passionate about everything he dives into on this song. Alessia and Khalid are just kind of “there” for me, but having them both on it as late-teen/early 20-somethings with their fanbase being the prime age to need to hear songs like this can’t be argued. I think this has a really good shot.
Andddddd “Despacito”. I love this song, I really do. Even after hearing it almost as nonstop as I heard “Issues” I still freak out a little bit when I hear it. I appreciate that Justin supposedly heard the original in a club and thought “I want to do something with that”, and I think it’s been really great for the World Music genre as a whole. “Mi Gente” and others have done well since, and I don’t see the interest going down anytime soon. 16 weeks at #1??? You can’t ignore that. They gave it to “Hello” last year as it was basically the biggest single of the year, and there’s no denying that that’s what “Despacito” was this year.
I think it’s a real toss up between 1-800 and Despacito. Because of the material and topics involved, I’ll say that 1-800 should take it. I think it’d mean a lot to a lot of people.
Prediction: 1-800-273-8255
Best New Artist
- Khalid
- Alessia Cara
- Julia Michaels
- Lil Uzi Vert
- SZA
I haven’t seen a lot of backlash over this, but where in the HELL is Dua Lipa!? That girl has been all over the damn world so many times over this year and while “New Rules” may not have been a huge “hit”, it was easily one of the most popular songs by any artist in mainstream music. The window is closed now, which is a shame because you would think the Grammys would want to highlight someone who is the total package and really, everything the industry wants as a poster child.
Other then that, these are all obvious picks. Julia Michaels is finally getting her time in the spotlight after years of sitting back and writing hits for pretty much EVERYONE else….”Issues” clearly defines her but “I Miss You” with Clean Bandit and “Uh Huh” are simply masterful. Alessia Cara isn’t exactly a new artist considering her real breakout success was last year with both “Here” and “Scars To Your Beautiful”, two songs I personally feel define her more then that of “Stay” and “1-800-273-8255”, but she’s an industry sweetheart right now so I guess they’ll do anything they can to elevate her. Lil Uzi Vert singlehandedly changed the way we look at music consumption so he’s certainly a worthy contender, and someone I REALLY hope knocks Post Malone down a peg in his efforts to stray from hip-hop and try to crossover into rock. Uzi respects the genre, and is more then capable of going in a rock direction without alienating his pre-existing fanbase.
Khalid is still a mystery to me. He is definitely a talented kid but I have not for one second seen the appeal of both “Location” and “Young, Dumb and Broke”, the latter of which irks me to no end. The bottom half of his record had some stellar tracks, but they have remained mere album cuts. I think he needed at least 3-4 more years before he broke out, but it is what it is I guess.
SZA is absolutely fantastic and it’s a real tight race for me between her and Julia Michaels. Her album “CTRL” could have easily taken Childish Gambino’s AOTY spot and it would have had a damn good shot of winning. She has always been ready for primetime, but “CTRL” is easily the best R&B record of the year. It was her first; I’ll repeat that….FIRST studio attempt but she has already shed her image of “that girl from ‘Consideration'” and morphed into a versatile player in any genre (“What Lovers Do”) who will help lead the new pack of female artists into the future. She is absolutely a 2017 version of Erykah Badu and that is an exciting prospect.
Overall I think Julia Michaels has her hand so deep in the pockets of everyone in the industry that she might just get it, but I would LOVE to see SZA take it. Both are absolute superstars, I just really think this is SZA’s year.
Prediction: SZA
nwademusic 