The nominations for the 59th Grammy Awards are in. On February 12, 2017, music's biggest stars are going to battle it out. There's"25" vs. "Lemonade". We'll have "Hello" vs. "Formation" (vs. "Work"?). There's even Chance The Rapper vs. every other rapper!
Beyoncé leads the charge with nine nominations (bringing her to a career total of 62 nominations and making her the most Grammy nominated female artist of ALL TIME).
Additionally, she has a chance to take add the title of the most Grammy award winning female artist of all time to her legacy if she takes home at least seven on Grammy night. This would be an amazing feat, but she'll have to face off with some pretty strong contenders come February 12. Of course, as a fan, I want to see the superstar take home as many awards as possible, but the competition is pretty steep this year.
Though this year kind of sucked, it has been a pretty great year for music. I mean, we almost made it out of 2016 without having to hear a new Taylor Swift song! At any rate, here are my predictions/hopes for music's biggest night...
Album Of The Year
"25"-- Adele
"Lemonade"-- Beyoncé
"Purpose"-- Justin Bieber
"Views"-- Drake
"A Sailor's Guide To Earth"-- Sturgill Simpson
My Prediction: So I'm not quite sure why Drake and Justin Bieber are mentioned in this category, but I hope that Beyoncé takes this one home. Additionally, I have to admit that I've never heard of Sturgill Simpson. I personally don't know her, but congrats! Further, even though "25" was a HUGE album and an overall great body of work, I feel that "Lemonade" was a better concept and was strangely more cohesive (even with a myriad of genres featured).
Record Of TheYear
"Hello"-- Adele
"Formation"-- Beyoncé
"7 Years"-- Lukas Graham
"Work"-- Rihanna ft. Drake
"Stressed Out"-- Twenty One Pilots
My Prediction: I'm going to preface this by saying I find "7 Years" to be extremely annoying, but that may be because my old roommate played it continuously when it first came out. Anyways, this is a hard choice so I'm just going to say "Work" because it brought the dancehall sound back to mainstream music.
Song Of The Year
"Formation"-- Beyoncé (Written by Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & Michael L. Williams II)
"Hello"-- Adele (Written by Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin)
"I Took A Pill In Ibiza"-- Mike Posner (Written by Mike Posner)
"Love Yourself"-- Justin Bieber (Written by Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin & Ed Sheeran)
"7 Years"-- Lukas Graham (Written by Lukas Forchhammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard & Morten Ristorp)
My Prediction: Another tough one, but it's down to "Hello" and "Formation" this time. I'll say that "Formation" should take this, since the award is more about the songwriting of the song. While the lyrics of "Hello" were meaningful, the lyrics of "Formation" evoke confidence (specifically in black women) that hasn't been done on such a large scale in a long time, if ever. Here for it.
Best New Artist
Kelsea Ballerini
The Chainsmokers
Chance The Rapper
Maren Morris
Anderson .Paak
My Prediction: I'm torn AGAIN. It's between Chance and Anderson for this one because they are two incredibly talented artists who both deserve recognition from such an esteemed award show. But I'm going to go with Anderson .Paak for this, although I hope/think that Chance will walk away with other awards on Grammy Night.
Best Music Video
"Formation"-- Beyoncé (Directed by Melina Matsoukas. Produced by Nathan Sherrer)
"River"-- Leon Bridges (Directed by Miles Jay. Produced by Dennis Beier, Allison Kunzman & Saul Levitz)
"Up & Up"-- Coldplay (Directed by Vania Heymann &Gal Muggia. Produced byJuliette Larthe & Nathan Schottenfels)
"Gosh"-- Jamie XX (Directed by Romain Gavras. Produced by Iconoclast)
"Upside Down & Inside Out"-- OK Go (Directed by Damian Kulash Jr. &Trish Sie. Produced by Melissa Murphy & John O’Grady)
My Prediction: These videos are all captivating and/or extremely creative, but the VMA 'Video of the Year' winner, "Formation", is my pick. The looks. The dance moves. The impactful messages. The unapologetic blackness. This video is phenomenal.
Best Rock Performance
"Joe (Live From Austin City Limits)"-- Alabama Shakes
"Don't Hurt Yourself"-- Beyoncé ft. Jack White
"Blackstar"-- David Bowie
"The Sound of Silence (Live on Conan)"-- Disturbed
"Heathens"-- Twenty One Pilots
My Prediction: The fact that Beyoncé got nominated in this category is so amazing. I'm going with "Don't Hurt Yourself" for this one because angry Beyoncé is my favorite Beyoncé.
Best R&B Performance
"Turnin' Me Up"-- BJ The Chicago Kid
"Permission"-- Ro James
"I Do"-- Musiq Soulchild
"Needed Me"-- Rihanna
"Cranes In The Sky"-- Solange
My Prediction: So on a slightly unrelated note, I'M STILL MAD THAT THE WEEKND'S "Earned It" WON OVER TAMAR BRAXTON'S "If I don't Have You", BUT IT'S FINE! I'M FINE. Anyways, I really hope that Solange's "Cranes In The Sky" takes this award home and that the Knowles sisters stunt on everyone all night.
Best Traditional R&B Performance
"The Three Of Me"-- William Bell
"Woman's World"-- BJ The Chicago Kid
"Sleeping With The One I Love"-- Fantasia
"Angel"-- Lalah Hathaway
"Can't Wait"-- Jill Scott
My Prediction: Jill Scott's smooth and soulful "Can't Wait."
Best R&B Song
"Come And See Me"-- PartyNextDoor ft. Drake (Written by J. Braithwaite, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib)
"Exchange"-- Bryson Tiller (Written by Michael Hernandez & Bryson Tiller)
"Kiss It Better"-- Rihanna (Written by
Jeff
Bhasker, Robyn Fenty, John-Nathan Glass & Teddy Sinclair)
"Lake By The Ocean"-- Maxwell (Written by
Hod
David & Musze)
"Luv"-- Torey Lanez (Written by
Magnus
August Heiberg, Benjamin Levin & Daystar Peterson)
My Prediction: This is another one that I wouldn't really be mad about either way, but I feel that Maxwell's "Lake By The Ocean" is the best R&B song in the category.
Best R&B Album
"In My Mind"-- BJ The Chicago Kid
"Lalah Hathaway Live"-- Lala Hathaway
"Velvet Portraits"-- Terrace Martin
"Healing Season"-- Mint Condition
"Smoove Jones"-- Mya
My Prediction: MYA RELEASED AN ALBUM??? OK! But I'm going to go with BJ The Chicago Kid's "In My Mind."
Best Urban Contemporary Album
"Lemonade"-- Beyoncé
"Ology"-- Gallant
"We Are King"-- KING
"Malibu"-- Anderson .Paak
"Anti"-- Rihanna
My Prediction: WHY ARE THESE ALL SO GOOD? Well since there's no album that doesn't deserve this, I'm going to go with the one that's visual and also got nominated for an Emmy. "Lemonade" again.
Best Rap Performance
"No Problem"-- Chance The Rapper ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
"Panda"-- Desiigner
"Pop Style"-- Drake ft. The Throne
"All The Way Up"-- Fat Joe & Remy Ma ft. French Montana & Infared
"THat Part"-- ScHoolboy Q ft. Kanye West
My Prediction: "Panda" was a huge song this year, but I'm gonna with Chance's "No Problem" on this one.
Best Rap/Sung Performance
"Freedom"-- Beyoncé ft. Kendrick Lamar
"Hotline Bling"-- Drake
"Broccoli"-- D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty
"Ultralight Beam"-- Kanye West ft. Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream
"Famous"-- Kanye West ft. Rihanna
My Prediction: I'm REALLY not sure why a solo Drake is nominated in this category, but these were all great records in their own right. With this being said, instead of picking the overall best song listed, I'm going with the song that features the absolute best singing AND rapping. To me, that song is "Freedom."
Best Rap Song
"All The Way Up"-- Fat Joe & Remy Ma ft. French Montana & Infared (Written by Joseph Cartagena, Edward Davadi, Shandel Green, Karim Kharbouch, Andre Christopher Lyon, Reminisce Mackie & Marcello Valenzano)
"Famous"-- Kanye West ft. Rihanna (Written by Chancelor Bennett, Ross Richard, Ernest Brown, Andrew Dawson, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Kejuan Muchita, Patrick Reynolds, Kanye West & Cydel Young)
"Hotline Bling"-- Drake (Written by
Aubrey
Graham & Paul Jeffries))
"No Problem"-- Chance The Rapper ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz (Written by
Chancelor
Bennett, Dwayne Carter & Tauheed Epps)
"Ultralight Beam"-- Kanye West ft. Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream (Written by
Chancelor
Bennett, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Kirk Franklin, Noah Goldstein, Samuel
Griesemer, Terius Nash, Jerome Potter, Kelly Price, Nico "Donnie
Trumpet" Segal, Derek Watkins, Kanye West & Cydel Young)
My Prediction: Chance is nominated THREE times in this category, so I'm going to pick my favorite song of his that's listed. "Ultralight Beam" has to take it.
Best Rap Album
" Coloring Book"-- Chance The Rapper
"And The Anonymous Nobody"-- De La Soul
"Major Key"-- DJ Khaled
"Views"-- Drake
"Blank Face LP"-- ScHoolboy Q
"The Life Of Pablo"-- Kanye West
My Prediction: As far as breaking records and having a huge impact goes, "Views" should take this. But as far as the BEST Rap Album goes, I'm going to say "The Life Of Pablo."
Best Pop Solo Performance
"Hello"-- Adele
"Hold Up"-- Beyoncé
"Love Yourself"-- Justin Bieber
"Piece By Piece (Idol Version)-- Kelly Clarkson
"Dangerous Woman"-- Ariana Grande
My Prediction: Though "Hello" and "Hold Up" were AMAZING, I'm actually going to go with Ariana Grande's "Dangerous Woman" on this one. She still hasn't quite mastered enunciation, but she delivered top-notch vocals as usual.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
"Closer"-- The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey
"7 Years"-- Lukas Graham
"Work"-- Rihanna ft. Drake
"Cheap Thrills"-- Sia ft. Sean Paul
"Stressed Out"-- Twenty One Pilots
My Prediction: This one's going to Drake and Rihanna for both their undeniable chemistry and their ability to create such a smash like "Work."
Best Pop Vocal Album
"25"-- Adele
"Purpose"-- Justin Bieber
"Dangerous Woman"-- Ariana Grande
"Confident"-- Demi Lovato
"This Is Acting"-- Sia
My Prediction: Shoutout to Demi for nabbing a nomination! But "25" HAS to take this one.
Best Song Written For Visual Media
"Can't Stop The Feeling" (From "Trolls")-- Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Gwen Stefani, James Corden, Zooey Deschanel, Walt Dohrn, Ron Funches, Caroline Hjelt, Aino Jawo, Christopher Mintz-Plasse & Kunal Nayyar (Written by
Max
Martin, Shellback & Justin Timberlake)
"Heathens" (From "Suicide Squad")-- Twenty One Pilots (Written by
Tyler
Joseph)
"Just Like Fire" (From "Alice Through The Looking Glass")-- P!nk (Written by
Oscar
Holter, P!nk, Max Martin & Shellback)
"Purple Lamborghini" (From "Suicide Squad")-- Skrillex & Rick Ross (Written by
Shamann
Cooke, Sonny Moore & William Roberts)
"Try Everything" (From "Zootopia")-- Shakira (Written by
Mikkel
S. Eriksen, Sia Furler & Tor Erik Hermansen)
"The Veil" (From "Snowden")-- Peter Gabriel (Written by
Peter
Gabriel)
My Prediction: First thing's first, "Can't Stop The Feeling" was simultaneously 2016's most generic and poorly executed song. Anyways, "Heathens" should have this one in the bag.
