Music columnist Parker Evans shares his predictions, hopes and lamentations about the upcoming Grammy Awards.
Parker Evans
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Parker Evans is an economics senior and Mustang News music columnist.
As America’s musical tastes diverge, the Grammys are struggling for relevance. The industry is no longer sure who it’s catering to. Is it the Belieber and future consumer? Or is it the tastemakers on the fringes of pop music? Either way, it’s important to remember that, like any artistic awards show put on by its own industry, the ceremony on Jan. 26 is intended to be a grueling three and a half hours of recording artist bigwigs congratulating themselves. Will host LL Cool J make the process interesting with sharp commentary and insightful analysis? Probably not. Fortunately, I’m here with Grammys predictions and preemptive complaining about the recipients.
Album of the Year Nominees
The Blessed Unrest – Sara Bareilles
Random Access Memories – Daft Punk
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City – Kendrick Lamar
The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Red – Taylor Swift
Who Will Win
If the Grammys want to be considered a culturally relevant event that truly captures the musical zeitgeist of America, perhaps its eligibility window shouldn’t allow three albums from October 2012 to qualify for an award presented in January 2014. That said, I can’t think of a surer bet all night than The Heist taking home the prize. It checks every Grammys box: it’s a socially conscious “important album” by a charismatic, nonthreatening artist. If you’re betting on one award, this should be it.
Who Should Win
For all the hype and subsequent backlash The Heist received, it’s not an overstatement to consider it a landmark album. Unfortunately for Macklemore, Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is possibly the best rap album of the past decade. Kendrick’s album is socially conscious without the street preacher vibe, emotional without the melodrama. It’s the rare album with exactly zero weaknesses. Every song is a tour de force, from the radio-friendly “Swimming Pools” to the ambitious 12-minute “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst.” Random Access Memories may have some fun songs, but even “Get Lucky” sounds like a funeral dirge next to the unrestrained energy of “Backseat Freestyle.”
Song of the Year Nominees
“Just Give Me a Reason” – P!nk (ft. Nate Ruess)
“Locked Out Of Heaven” – Bruno Mars
“Roar” – Katy Perry
“Royals” – Lorde
“Same Love” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (ft. Mary Lambert)
Who Will Win
After the inevitable self-deprecating comment lamenting the absence of “Accidental Racist,” LL Cool J will invite someone up to read the nominees for Song of the Year. Considering blog buzz, radio airplay and staying power, it seems to be a three-way race between Katy Perry, Lorde and Macklemore. While it’s certainly a well-crafted pop song, I’d be surprised if “Roar” took the prize. The remaining two songs cover a similar demographic, but ultimately this is the Year of Macklemore. “Same Love” brought about an actual conversation about homophobia in hip hop without compromising musical quality, which is quite a feat. There’s no way the Academy doesn’t set out to make a statement and give the award to a song that launched a meaningful social dialogue.
Who Should Win
“Same Love” would be a worthy winner, but “Royals” has an ever so slight edge in being a tighter, denser pop song while maintaining a similarly complex cultural angle. It was the song this year everyone could agree on, from Pitchfork to Billboard. With little more than some finger snaps and a translucent beat, “Royals” managed to simultaneously embrace and reject hip hop culture and couture.
Best New Artist Nominees
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran
Who Will Win
This year’s nominees for Best New Artist (or as it should be known, Best New Artist That Your Mom Asked You About) make for the least predictable major category this year. James Blake probably doesn’t have the popular backing and Musgraves is in a genre ghetto, though she ought to take home Best Country Album. Ed Sheeran has an outside shot, but he’s a bit limited by his one-dimensionality. Between Kendrick Lamar and Macklemore (again), this time Lamar’s larger body of work is an advantage. Macklemore has been relatively quiet outside The Heist, but Lamar spent 2013 delivering devastating guest verses with A$AP Rocky, Pusha T and, most impressively, Jay Electronica.
Who Should Win
The Academy gets this one right. No individual artist had a better 2013 than Kendrick Lamar. He vaulted from being the hyped kid under Dre’s wing to the self-declared King of New York while staying true to his Compton roots. I think his star is so big right now the Academy doesn’t have a choice.
Record of the Year Nominees
“Get Lucky” – Daft Punk (ft. Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers)
“Radioactive” – Imagine Dragons
“Royals” – Lorde
“Locked Out Of Heaven” – Bruno Mars
“Blurred Lines” – Robin Thicke (ft. T.I. & Pharrell)
Who Will Win
There’s always a bit of confusion as to the difference between Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The official Grammys website notes that Song of the Year is awarded to the songwriter, whereas Record of the Year considers the artist’s performance as well as the producer and sound engineer. “Get Lucky” would appear to be the frontrunner with that sweet, sweet guitar tone and pitch-perfect ‘70s schmaltz, but the Academy loves forward-looking pop, and no pop song was a better embodiment of 2013 than Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines.” The Academy should (rightfully) be impressed by the restraint shown in the song representing the latest entry in the sleazy modern pop/R&B lovefest.
Who Should Win
The only mainstream pop song more minimalist than “Blurred Lines” was “Royals.” The latter’s whispering beat is admirable and instantly catchy, but what carries that song is Lorde’s mature, effective songwriting. “Blurred Lines” notoriously drew criticism for some supposedly sinister undertones regarding consent (“I hate these blurred lines / I know you want it”), but a lack of profound insight doesn’t take away from the song’s unmistakable mastery of pop sensibilities.
Other Categories
Best Rock Album
Will Win: The Next Day – David Bowie
Should Win: Like Clockwork – Queens of the Stone Age
Best Alternative Album
Will Win: Modern Vampires of the City – Vampire Weekend
Should Win: Modern Vampires of the City – Vampire Weekend
Best Rap Performance
Will Win: “Started From The Bottom” – Drake
Should Win: “Swimming Pools (Drank)” – Kendrick Lamar
Best Rap Song
Will Win: “Thrift Shop” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Should Win: “F***in’ Problems” – A$AP Rocky (ft. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
Best Rap Album
Will Win: Yeezus – Kanye West
Should Win: Yeezus – Kanye West
Best Country Album
Will Win: Based On A True Story – Blake Shelton
Should Win: Same Trailer Different Park – Kacey Musgraves