The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Generally, The Grammy Awards are predictable and showcase a small variety of music. Along with this being the first year where the recording academy has reduced the number of categories from 109 down to 78, it seems as if they are broadening their nominations, making the possible winners less expected. The Indie world is well represented this year, with Bon Iver and Mumford and Sons nominations in top categories, showing that last year’s Record of the Year win by Arcade Fire was not just a mistake.
We have gone through a few of the top categories and chosen who we think will take the award, and why:
Record of the year nominations include “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele, “Holocene,” Bon Iver; “Grenade,” Bruno Mars; “The Cave,” Mumford & Sons; and “Firework,” Katy Perry. Record of the year is given to the album’s production team and the performer, not the artist specifically. With this in mind, we have chosen Adele to win this award because, along with her ‘back to basics’ singing style that the Grammy voters are attracted to, “21” has sold 4.6 million records in the U.S. alone. Let’s face it; it was Adele’s year.
The Song of the year award (often confused with Record of the Year) goes to the songwriter of an individual track from an album. Our pick is a long shot we know, but we chose “The Cave” by Mumford & Sons to take the award. The song is timeless, delivers an unexpected sound, and builds to a point of explosion that brings a certain creativity to songwriting that isn’t seen as often as it should in the current music industry.
The Album of the Year award honors artistic achievement and overall excellence in the recording industry, regardless of album sales or chart position. The nominations in this category include “21,” Adele; “Wasting Light.” Foo Fighters; “Born This Way,” Lady Gaga; “Doo-Wops and Hooligans,” Bruno Mars; and “Loud,” Rihanna. Although we are dedicated Monsters, have to admit that Lady Gaga might not take this award. Due to the fact that it was Adele’s year, it’s impossible to look past that “21” was a sensation.
The Best New Artist award is given to a new artist who releases a recording that launches the public identity of the artist. This years nominees include The Band Perry, Bon Iver, J. cole, Nicki Minaj, and Skrillex. Our pick for this category is Bon Iver. Bon Iver is the breakout star of the Grammy’s this year, an unexpected three-time nominee.
For Pop Vocal Album. the choices are are “The Lady Killer,” Cee Lo Green; “Born This Way,” Lady Gaga; “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” Bruno Mars; and “Loud,” Rihanna. Due to the fact that we didn’t choose Lady Gaga to win Album of the Year, we have to give her this award: her dedication and passion to the music and performance industry is unmatched.
Finally the last award: Rock Album of the Year’s nominees are “Rock n’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul,” Jeff Beck; “Wasting Light,” Foo Fighters; “Come Around Sundown,” Kings of Leon; “I’m With You,” Red Hot Chili Peppers; and “The Whole Love,” Wilco. Wilco will win this category because not only is Jeff Tweedy the guitar player, but this is their eighth album and it deserves to be recognized because it’s their best album since “A Ghost is Born.” They took an extended time off to create this album and it sounds like a recharge.
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will air Sunday Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. on CBS. Performers at the show will include Adele, Paul McCartney, Nicki Minaj, and Deadmau5.
Kaitlyn Luckow and Sam Feld
Reporters
