On Sunday, the 56th Grammy Awards will hand out their picks for the best in music. It’s quite ironic that it’s the award giving body that has the most categories (100+), but only ten categories will be presented on the main show. However, we will be treated with performances such as the collaborations of Daft Punk and Stevie Wonder, Macklemore, Ryan Lewis and Madonna among others. As far as predicting goes, it’s difficult to see the trends in terms of Grammy choices as they have no precursors and they just pick anything they want. Anyway. here are my predictions in 30 different categories.
RECORD OF THE YEAR:
“Get Lucky,” Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers
“Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons
“Royals,” Lorde
“Locked Out of Heaven,” Bruno Mars
“Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell
PREDICTION: Bruno Mars, “Locked Out of Heaven” This contains the instrumentation that this category loves to reward, and Bruno Mars isn’t a General Field winner yet so it’s hitting two birds with one stone.
ALTERNATE: Daft Punk, “Get Lucky” This is actually the more logical choice, but I’m wary if NARAS will reward Daft Punk in all of their nominated categories.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
“The Blessed Unrest”, Sara Bareilles
“Random Access Memories”, Daft Punk
“good kid, m.A.a.D. city”, Kendrick Lamar
“The Heist”, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
“Red”, Taylor Swift
PREDICTION: Daft Punk, “Random Access Memories” They’re the veterans in the group in a critically acclaimed effort, and it seems like they’re overdue for a win here.
ALTERNATE: Taylor Swift, “Red” It’s difficult to bet against Taylor Swift who’s a past victor here and in an album that came out too long ago. It says a lot that they still reward it with a nomination and probably means it’s pretty popular within the Academy.
SONG OF THE YEAR:
“Just Give Me A Reason,” (Pink featuring Nate Ruess)
“Locked Out of Heaven,” (Bruno Mars)
“Roar,” (Katy Perry)
“Royals,” (Lorde)
“Same Love,” (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis)
PREDICTION: Same Love (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert). The song is too low key though competing with four big hits, but it has sort of become an anthem that speaks volumes on different issues.
ALTERNATE: Royals (Lorde). It’s very likely to upset especially if they go with a critically acclaimed hit that has a teenage writing in it. It can also serve as a reward to Lorde’s surprise domination.
BEST NEW ARTIST
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran
PREDICTION: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. I’m aware how the NARAS has an aversion to rap and urban acts in general (see Maroon 5 over Kanye in 2004 and fun over Frank Ocean last year), but they’re also too mainstream to be considered full urban.
ALTERNATE: Ed Sheeran. He seems like someone who the industry loves to reward with a win and has built up enough momentum back from his surprise SOTY nod last year.
POP FIELD:
POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
“Brave,” Sara Bareilles
“Royals,” Lorde
“When I Was Your Man,” Bruno Mars
“Roar,” Katy Perry
“Mirrors,” Justin Timberlake
PREDICTION: Lorde, Royals
ALTERNATE: Bruno Mars, When I Was Your Man
POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP
“Get Lucky,” Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers
“Just Give Me A Reason,” Pink featuring Nate Ruess
“Stay,” Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko
“Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell
“Suit & Tie,” Justin Timberlake featuring Jay Z
PREDICTION: Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams, Get Lucky
ALTERNATE: Pink, Nate Ruess, Just Give Me A Reason
POP VOCAL ALBUM
“Paradise”, Lana Del Rey
“Pure Heroine”, Lorde
“Unorthodox Jukebox”, Bruno Mars
“Blurred Lines”, Robin Thicke
“The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience”, Justin Timberlake
PREDICTION: Bruno Mars, Unorthodox Jukebox
ALTERNATE: Justin Timberlake, The 20/20 Complete Experience
TRADITIONAL POP ALBUM
“Viva Duets”, Tony Bennett
“To Be Loved”, Michael Buble
“The Standards”, Gloria Estefan
“CeeLo’s Magic Moment”, CeeLo Green
“Now”, Dionne Warwick
PREDICTION: Tony Bennett, Viva Duets
ALTERNATE: Michael Buble, To Be Loved
DANCE/ELECTRONICA FIELD
DANCE RECORDING
“Need U (100%),” Duke Dumont Featuring A*M*E & MNEK
“Sweet Nothing,” Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch
“Atmosphere,” Kaskade
“This Is What It Feels Like,” Armin Van Buuren Featuring Trevor Guthrie
“Clarity,” Zedd featuring Foxes
PREDICTION: Zedd featuring Foxes, Clarity
ALTERNATE: Calvin Harris featuring Florence Welch, Sweet Nothings
DANCE ELECTRONICA ALBUM
“Random Access Memories”, Daft Punk
“Settle”, Disclosure
“18 Months”, Calvin Harris
“Atmosphere”, Kaskade
“A Color Map of the Sun”, Pretty Lights
PREDICTION: Daft Punk, Random Access Memories
ALTERNATE: Calvin Harris, 18 Months
ROCK AND ALTERNATIVE FIELD
ROCK PERFORMANCE
“Always Alright”, Alabama Shakes
“The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”, David Bowie
“Radioactive”, Imagine Dragons
“Kashmir (Live)”, Led Zeppelin
“My God Is the Sun”, Queens of the Stone Age
“I’m Shakin'”, Jack White
PREDICTION: Imagine Dragons, Radioactive
ALTERNATE: David Bowie, The Stars Are Out Tonight
ROCK SONG
“Ain’t Messin ‘Round”, Gary Clark Jr.
“Cut Me Some Slack”, Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear
“Doom and Gloom”, The Rolling Stones
“God Is Dead?”, Black Sabbath
“Panic Station”, Muse
PREDICTION: Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear, Cut Me Some Slack
ALTERNATE: The Rolling Stones, Doom & Gloom
ROCK ALBUM
“13”, Black Sabbath
“The Next Day”, David Bowie
“Mechanical Bull”, Kings of Leon
“Celebration Day”, Led Zeppelin
“…Like Clockwork”, Queens of the Stone Age
“Psychedelic Pill”, Neil Young with Crazy Horse
PREDICTION: David Bowie, The Next Day
ALTERNATE: Kings of Leons, Mechanical Bull
ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
“The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You”, Neko Case
“Trouble Will Find Me”, The National
“Hesitation Marks”, Nine Inch Nails
“Lonerism”, Tame Impala
“Modern Vampires of the City”, Vampire Weekend
PREDICTION: Vampire Weekend, Modern Vampires of the City
ALTERNATE: Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks
R&B FIELD
R&B PERFORMANCE
“Love and War,” Tamar Braxton
“Best of Me,” Anthony Hamilton
“Nakamarra,” Hiatus Kaiyote
“How Many Drinks,” Miguel featuring Kendrick Lamar
“Something,” Snark Puppy, Lalah Hathaway
PREDICTION: Tamar Braxton, Love and War
ALTERNATE: Miguel featuring Kendrick Lamar, How Many Drinks
TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
“Please Come Home,” Gary Clark Jr.
“Geit it Right,” Fantasia
“Quiet Fire,” Maysa
“Hey Laura,” Gregory Porter
“Yesterday,” Ryan Shaw
PREDICTION: Gary Clark Jr, Please Come Home
ALTERNATE: Fantasia, Get It Right
R&B SONG
“Best of Me,” Anthony Hamilton
“Love and War,” Tamar Braxton
“Only One,” PJ Morton featuring Stevie Wonder
“Pusher Love Girl,” Justin Timberlake
“Without Me,” Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, Missy Elliott
PREDICTION: Justin Timberlake, Pusher Love Girl
ALTERNATE: Tamar Braxton, Love and War
R&B ALBUM
“R&B Divas”,Faith Evans
“Girl on Fire”, Alicia Keys
“Love in the Future”, John Legend
“Better”, Chrisette Michele
“Three Kings”, TGT
PREDICTION: Alicia Keys, Girl on Fire
ALTERNATE: John Legend, Love in the Future
URBAN CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM
“Love and War”, Tamar Braxton
“Side Effects of You”, Fantasia
“One in the Chamber”, Salaam Remi
“Unapologetic”, Rihanna
“New York: A Love Story”, Mack Wilds
PREDICTION: Rihanna, Unapologetic
ALTERNATE: Tamar Braxton, Love and War
RAP FIELD:
RAP PERFORMANCE
“Started From The Bottom,” Drake
“Berzerk,” Eminem
“Tom Ford,” Jay Z
“Swimming Pools (Drank),” Kendrick Lamar
“Thrift Shop,” Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz
PREDICTION: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Thrift Shop
ALTERNATE: Kendrick Lamar, Swimming Pools (Drank)
RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
“Power Trip,” J. Cole featuring Miguel
“Part II (On The Run,” Jay Z featuring Beyonce
“Holy Grail,” Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake
“Now or Never,” Kendrick Lamar featuring Mary J. Blige
“Remember You,” Wiz Khalifa featuring The Weeknd
PREDICTION: Jay Z, Justin Timberlake, Holy Grail
ALTERNATE: Jay Z, Beyonce, Part 2 (On the Run)
RAP SONG
“Fuckin’ Problems,” (A$AP Rocky featuring Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar)
“Holy Grail,” (Jay Z featuring Justin Timberlake)
“New Slaves,” (Kanye West)
“Started From The Bottom,” (Drake)
“Thrift Shop,” (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz)
PREDICTION: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Thrift Shop
ALTERNATE: Kanye West, New Slaves
RAP ALBUM
“Nothing Was The Same”, Drake
“Magna Carta…Holy Grail”, Jay Z
“good kid, m.A.a.D. city”, Kendrick Lamar
“The Heist”, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
“Yeezus”, Kanye West
PREDICTION: Kendrick Lamar, good kid m.A.A.d city
ALTERNATE: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, The Heist
COUNTRY FIELD:
COUNTRY PERFORMANCE
“I Drive Your Truck,” Lee Brice
“I Want Crazy,” Hunter Hayes
“Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert
“Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker
“Mine Would Be You,” Blake Shelton
PREDICTION: Miranda Lambert, Mama’s Broken Heart
ALTERNATE: Darius Rucker, Wagon Wheel
COUNTRY GROUP COLLABORATION
“From This Valley,” The Civil Wars
“Don’t Rush,” Vince Gill featuring Kelly Clarkson
“Your Side Of The Bed,” Little Big Town
“Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
“You Can’t Make Old Friends,” Kenny Rogers with Dolly Parton
PREDICTION: Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Highway Don’t Care
ALTERNATE: The Civil Wars, From this Valley
COUNTRY SONG
“Begin Again,” (Taylor Swift)
“I Drive Your Truck,” (Lee Brice)
“Mama’s Broken Heart,” (Miranda Lambert)
“Merry Go ‘Round,” (Kacey Musgraves)
“Mine Would Be You,” (Blake Shelton)
PREDICTION: Kacey Musgraves, Merry Go Round
ALTERNATE: Taylor Swift, Begin Again
COUNTRYALBUM
“Night Train”, Jason Aldean
“Two Lanes of Freedom”, Tim McGraw
“Same Trailer Different Park”, Kacey Musgraves
“Based On A True Story”, Blake Shelton
“Red”, Taylor Swift
PREDICTION: Taylor Swift, Red
ALTERNATE: Kacey Musgraves, Same Trailer, Different Park
SOUNDTRACK
SONG WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURE
“Atlas,” (Coldplay)
“Silver Lining,” (Jessie J)
“Skyfall,” (Adele)
“We Both Know,” (Colbie Cailatt, Gavin DeGraw)
“Young and Beautiful,” (Lana del Rey)
“You’ve Got Time,” (Regina Spektor)
PREDICTION: Adele, Skyfall
ALTERNATE: Lana del Rey, Young and Beautiful
COMPILATION ALBUM
Django Unchained
The Great Gatsby
Les Miserables
Muscle Shoals
Sound City: Real to Reel
PREDICTION: Sound City: Real to Reel
ALTERNATE: Les Miserables
You can follow me on Twitter: @nikowl
