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Maybe you wrote theGrammysoff afterBeyonce lost Album of the Year yet againin 2023.
But lets face it: Most of us dont havethe Weeknds conviction to outright quit these awards.
Were more likeDrake, in or out depending on the year.
This one certainly looks less chaotic.
It also introduced three new categories, including Best African Music Performance.
And there were some pleasant nomination-day surprises, like Victoria Monet and boygenius showing up in the top categories.
But its never that simple, especially with stale, downballot rock, rap, and country slates.
Lets see if that trend continues through the ceremony itself.
If nothing else, at least well getJoni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman performancesout of it.
Yeah, theres no rap or country either, but thats far from a new occurrence here.
This slate is also Academy-tested with five of the eight artists being former Album of the Year nominees.
AfterHarry Styless controversial winlast year, are voters planning to play things safe?
Yet her previous Grammy losses may be a red flag.
This is also her first AOTY nod as a soloist.
Shes also one of two previous winners on this list.
But Im not sure the institutionalists at the Academy will let her break that record so easily.
With this nomination, Batiste is officially a Grammy darling and a much more formidable challenger than H.E.R.
or Carlile ever were.
The Academy just really loves this guy.
His lone flaw is having fewer nominations this year than in 2022.
You know who the public isnt tired of, though?
Shes still topping the charts, playing sold-out shows, and dominating the tabloids (and NFL broadcasts).
Anti-Hero, the biggest hit of her career with a clever message about fame, could break the spell.
What Was I Made For?
If it goes the latter route, Batistes Butterfly will get the win.
The Academy is clearly excited about the song after Batiste missed in SOTY in 2022.
But it would be easy to predict such a dark horse if Swift werent in the conversation too.
That could be Coco Jones, or it could beMonet.
But I also have to root for the most deserving work.
So Im sorry to the entire internet, but …Jack Antonoffshould win this award!
Yes, itd be Antonoffs third consecutive Producer of the Year trophy, matching Babyfaces mid-90s run.
But his portfolio speaks for itself.
None of the other names produced multiple Album of the Year nominees.
But as Del Rey sang in anOcean Blvdsong dedicated to Antonoff, When you know, you know.
His win would be somewhat of a balm after the Academy shut out musica Mexicana elsewhere.
Then again, last year this trophy went to the categorys most familiar name: Tobias Jesso Jr. That will likely hold true this year, when four out of the five tracks are also ROTY nominees.
(Sorry, Doja!)
(Can you believeSwift was dating Matty Healyless than a year ago?)
So is the pop field over her?
If anyone could surprise, it will be Rodrigo, who won forSourin 2022.
But last year, voters rewarded one of pops biggest stars, Beyonce, for her efforts onRenaissance.
Amid some category reconstruction, the dance and pop fields have now been merged.
That means many more pop members will be voting in the dance categories, so name recognition is important.
Ialsodidnt expect that to lead me to rooting for an Ellie GouldingCalvin Harris reunion in 2024 CE.
But if the Grammys want to recognize big-tent EDM, they might as well pick a good song.
But you know whats better?
Spiritbox, the only band here that formed in the past ten years and is fronted by a woman.
The old heads may not see Rodrigo as a rock star, but its Grammys-official now.
Lets just get this over with.
Bands formed in the 21st century!
If theres a song here that legitimatelysoundsalternative, though, its A&W.
R&B voters historically spread the wealth, so maybe dont expect a SZA sweep.
Do expect her to take an early trophy here, though.
How do you argue with a song that damn smooth?
(I would also keep an eye on Jones, who definitely has pipes.)
It doesnt really matter because SZA is the most respected songwriter of this bunch and will take the trophy.
A loss could be a sign of a weird night across the board.
Weve got everyone from top nominees Monet and Jones to Summer Walkers very first Grammy nod.
There are no losses here.
Its great to see some variety with SZA and Burna Boy along with two deserved nods for 21 Savage.
Or if were talking hits, could we at least go for Ice SpicesLike..?EP?
1, AleMorA Ciegas, Paula ArenasLa Neta, Pedro CapoDon Juan, MalumaX Mi (Vol.
1), Gaby Moreno
TheLatin Grammysarent always good predictors of the all-genre Grammys and vice versa.
But Pablo Alboran has been nominated fortwenty-nineLatin Grammys and still hasnt won a single one.
Could this be Alborans year?
But Id be equally excited to see Rauw Alejandro take the gold for his rowdy space-reggaeton odyssey,Saturno.
If the Grammys really want to listen to more African music, this is their chance to show it.
More history could be made this year with 79-year-old Peruvian legend Susana Baca up for her very first Grammy.
Will win:I Told Them …Should win:Epifanias
