Usually an afterthought and unimportant, the 51st Annual Grammy Awards has the potential to be slightly relevant and entertaining. Of course there will be plenty of nauseating moments as per usual, but the nominees in some of the categories prove to be a bit more "with it" and the jam-packed list of performers slated to play could lead to some unforgettable combinations. I mean, Radiohead is gonna be fucking playing for the first time, potentially with the USC marching band, or God help me, Lil Wayne? M.I.A. is due for her baby at any moment and she still plans to strut her eccentric self anyway. Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl could have promise. Either way, it will be the first time in a long time that the Grammys deserve to be on in the background on my TV. A summation of the record industry's sploogefest will follow shortly thereafter, but in the meantime, here is a last-minute, extremely random, no effort or thought required whatsoever list of predictions of winners in some of the major categories.
BEST NEW ARTIST
Adele
Duffy
The Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan
Prediction: Adele. God help me if The Jonas Brothers win.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
Ne-Yo - Year Of The Gentleman
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Prediction: This one is tough. Do I vote with my heart or my gut? Knowing The Grammys, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss will win it, but I'm really pulling for Radiohead to win it despite their widely publicized "fuck you" to the record industry that is In Rainbows.
POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
Alicia Keys and John Mayer - "Lessons Learned"
Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Timbaland - "4 Minutes"
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - "Rich Woman"
Rihanna and Maroon 5 - "If I Never See Your Face Again"
Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown - "No Air"
Prediction: Interesting mix. Let's go with Alicia Keys and John Mayer.
COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP
Brooks & Dunn - "God Must Be Busy"
Lady Antebellum - "Love Don't Love Here"
Rascal Flatts - "Every Day"
The Steel Drivers - "Blue Side Of The Mountain"
Sugarland - "Stay"
Prediction: Since country is such a strong point of knowledge for me personally, I'd have to go with *blindly points at screen* Rascal Flatts.
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP
Big Boi feat. Raekwon & Andre 3000 - "Royal Flush"
T.I. feat. Kanye West & Lil Wayne - "Swagga Like Us"
Lil Wayne feat. Jay-Z - "Mr Carter"
Ludacris feat. T.I. - "Wish You Would"
Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West - "Put On"
Prediction: The ridiculous 1-2-3-4 (and sort of 5 if you count the M.I.A. sample) punch of "Swagga Like Us" is hard to ignore.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Adele - "Chasing Pavements"
Coldplay - "Viva La Vida"
Leona Lewis - "Bleeding Love"
M.I.A. - "Paper Planes"
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - "Please Read The Letter"
Prediction: I really, really want M.I.A. to win. It could induce labor. Plus, she deserves it.
SONG OF THE YEAR
Estelle Feat. Kanye West - "American Boy"
Adele - "Chasing Pavements"
Jason Mraz - "I'm Yours"
Sara Bareilles - "Love Song"
Coldplay - "Viva La Vida"
Prediction: As much as it is ridiculous how many nods that Coldplay got, "Viva La Vida" seems poised to win at least one major award. Why not let it be this one?
BEST ROCK SONG
Bruce Springsteen - "Girls In Their Summer Clothes"
Radiohead - "House Of Cards"
Death Cab For Cutie - "I Will Possess Your Heart"
Kings Of Leon - "Sex On Fire"
Coldplay - "Violet Hill"
Prediction: Anytime I see Radiohead, I'm automatically compelled to vote for them. *Crosses fingers.*
BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
Coldplay - "Viva La Vida"
The Eagles - "Waiting In The Weeds"
Gnarls Barkley - "Going On"
Maroon 5 - "Won't Go Home Without You"
OneRepublic - "Apologize"
Prediction: Coldplay.
BEST ROCK ALBUM
Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Kid Rock - Rock N Roll Jesus
Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night
Metallica - Death Magnetic
The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
Prediction: It'd be sweet to see Jack White & Co. win, it'll probs be Coldplay. As long as Kid Rock or Metallica don't win.
BEST RAP ALBUM
Jay-Z - American Gangster
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Nas - Nas
T.I. - Paper Trail
Prediction: C3. Please. I need to hear a Weezy thank you speech at some point in the night.
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Beck - Modern Guilt
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Prediction: 3 of these were in my Top 20 for 2008, the other two weren't too shabby either. Radiohead has won/been nominated in this category before, so of all of my reflex Radiohead selections, this one seems the most legit.
BEST DANCE RECORDING
Daft Punk - "Harder Better Faster Stronger"
Hot Chip - "Ready For The Floor"
Lady Gaga - "Just Dance"
Madonna - "Give It 2 Me"
Rihanna - "Disturbia"
Sam Sparro - "Black & Gold"
Prediction: OH PLEASE LET HOT CHIP WIN! I would love to see how Daft Punk would accept an award, though.
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM
Brazilian Girls - New York City
Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Cyndi Lauper - Bring Ya To The Brink
Kylie Minogue - X
Moby - Last Night
Robyn - Robyn
Prediction: Hmm. Moby?
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
AC/DC - "Rock N Roll Train"
Coldplay - "Violet Hill"
The Eagles - "Long Road Out Of Eden"
Kings Of Leon - "Sex On Fire"
Radiohead - "House Of Cards"
Prediction: Let "Sex On Fire" win this one. I have a renewed interest in that song after passionately singing it drunk over the weekend.
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Danger Mouse
Nigel Godrich
Johnny Karkazis
Rick Rubin
will.i.am
Prediction: NIGEL!
BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA
Peter Gabriel - "Down To Earth" (From Wall-E)
Carrie Underwood - "Ever Ever After" (From Enchanted)
John Mayer - "Say" (From The Bucket List)
Amy Adams - "That's How You Know" (From Enchanted)
John C. Reilly - "Walk Hard" (From Walk Hard -- The Dewey Cox Story)
Prediction: Wall-E! Although I'm sure John C. would be funny.
BEST RECORDING PACKAGE
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Hawk Nelson - Hawk Nelson...Is My Friend!
No Age - Nouns
Thievery Corporation - Radio Retaliation
The Ditty Bops - Summer Rains
Prediction: Metallica, but OMG imagine the indie world's reaction if a band like No Age won a Grammy.
BEST REMIXED RECORDING, NON-CLASSICAL
Ne-Yo - "Closer" (StoneBridge Radio Edit)
MGMT - "Electric Feel" (Justice Remix)
Madonna Feat. Justin Timberlake - "4 Minutes" (Junkie XL Remix)
Mary J. Blige - "Just Fine" (Moto Blanco Remix)
Morgan Page Feat. Lissie - "The Longest Road" (Deadmau5 Remix)
Prediction: I think MGMT has a good shot at nabbing this one. They were, like, uber-popular last year. Moreso than I thought.
BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
Erykah Badu - "Honey" (Erykah Badu & Mr. Roboto, video directors)
Gnarls Barkley - "Who's Gonna Save My Soul" (Christopher Milk, video director)
Alicia Keys & Jack White - "Another Way To Die" (PR Brown & MK12, video directors)
Radiohead - "House Of Cards" (James Frost, video director)
Weezer - "Pork And Beans" (Mathew Cullen, video director)
Prediction: Completely unbiased, the "House of Cards" video is fucking ridiculous. It uses like lasers. Once again, Radiohead being different and somewhat revolutionary. Will they get the Gramophone?
Take or leave 'em, that's what I got. Solely a typing exercise more than anything, but it'll be cool to see how well or bad it turns out. Tune in to CBS at 8pm tonight to watch it all unfold.
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