By Delilah Rippee
The best time of year for musicians and fans alike are the Grammys, which are coming up on February 2nd. It comes with awards for all our favorite artists and hit songs! There are many categories that the Grammys address, but the most popular are: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. This is also known as the ‘General Field’.
The Album of the Year has 8 nominees: Andre 3000’s New Blue Sun, Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter, Charli XCX’s BRAT, Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet, Jacob Collier’s Djesse Vol. 4, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, and Chappell Roan’s The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.
Swift has won four times in this category as recent as last year. However, Beyonce’s album has many featured artists–like Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Jone Batiste, and many more. Having this many featured artists with their own supporters could get her album a good chance of winning. Taylor Swift’s albums have very often passed over Beyonce’s albums during the Grammy’s in previous years. Some may hesitate to give Swift her 5th award when Beyonce has not received her 1st. Eilish has already won previously in this category, as well, and her new album Hit Me Hard and Soft has done very well upon its release, being very popular.
The Record of the Year has 8 nominees: The Beatles’ Now and Then, Beyonce’s Texas Hold ‘Em, Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso, Charlie XCX’s 360, Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather, Chappell Roans Good Luck Babe!, Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us, and Taylor Swift’s Fortnight (featuring Post Malone). Taylor Swift’s record was passed over for the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance nomination, which does not promise it’s loss but is not a great sign. The Beatles have never won Record of the Year despite being nominated many times. Although their record Now and Then isn’t their most successful one, many fans wouldn’t pass up voting for the classic group. Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us was a big hit this year with fans obsessing over the famous Kendrick/Drake beef. Since most of the other nominees are pop artists, he stands out, so there is a chance Lamar will get more votes.
The nominees for Best Song of the Year are: A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozy, Sean Cook, and Nevin Sastry, Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish, Die with a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, Fortnight by Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift, and Post Malone, Good Luck Babe! By Chappell Roan, Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar, Please Please Please by Sabrina Carpenter, and Texas Hold ‘Em by Beyonce. Good Luck Babe! did very well this year, and people were impressed with Roan’s rise to fame. However, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas’s Birds of a Feather was well written and well received by fans, becoming a trending audio on multiple media platforms.
Best New Artist is one of the most exciting categories because it praises the artists that have made their breakthrough into the industry and changed the musical landscape. The nominees are: Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Chapell Roan, Shaboozy, and Teddy Swims. Although they would all be well deserved wins, Chappell Roan has come in hot to the music industry, gaining her well-earned fame quickly. It would certainly not be surprising if her creativity and talent won her this category.
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