The Grammy nominating committees have just finished their meetings in Los Angeles. According to Hitsdailydouble.com, there were plenty of contentious exchanges. Last year, the Grammys screwed up completely by ignoring the best selling album of the year, Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 Experience. But who knows? There have too many weird snubs over the years.
And too many times when the winners have been embarrassing. What can you do? Just think that the insufferable Christoper Cross won Best Album, Song, Record and New Artist in 1981. He beat the Pretenders!
Paul Grein has a whole explanation on hitsdailydouble.com of what’s eligible and likely to be nominated. Pharrell William’s “Happy” won’t qualify, he says, because it was entered in 2013 as part of the “Despicable Me 2” soundtrack. But “Happy” itself wasn’t released until November 23, 2013–well into the current season. “Happy” was the song and record of the year, without a doubt. To snub it now is a big mistake.
Also eligible for Record of the Year, and R&B Record of the Year: Aretha Franklin’s “Rolling in the Deep.” It made the September 30th cut off.
Other Records of the Year should include: The Monster (Rihanna and Eminem); All About That Bass (Meghan Trainor); Stay with Me (Sam Smith); Drunk in Love (Jay Z and Beyonce).
Then there’s Album of the Year. Beyonce will be in, slam dunk on the “surprise” album. Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga? U2? Aretha. All strong, Pharrell again, although the “GIRL” album is not as good as “Happy.” Eminem? Maybe. The Black Keys “Turn Blue.” Why not? Their “Fever” should be a Best Song/Best Record nominee. And don’t forget Paul McCartney’s “New” album. Last year the Grammys ignored Elton John’s award-level “The Diving Board.” They want “young.” But this was the year music buyer returned to classic, talented performers. Look at how well Barbra Streisand’s doing.
