For a number of musicians, a Grammy award is the ultimate goal. For some, it can also be considered as the endpoint of their career, and for good reason. Taking the stage alongside the music industry’s best and to be acknowledged on international television is unquestionably an immense achievement in its own right, and earning recognition at what has been called music's biggest night is a clear sign that you've made it.
But for some, taking home a shiny trophy is just the beginning. Take the example of Sam Smith, whose digital sales increased by thousands after scoring four Grammy awards. The boost in sales ended up being a huge part of what further catapulted him to the stardom he enjoys today, a phenomenon labelled “The Grammy Effect”.
This year, the stakes are just as high as the Grammys celebrates its 59th year on February 12, 2017 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. These are our picks and predictions for the potential winners:
Record of the Year
The nominees:
“Hello” - Adele
“Formation” - Beyoncé
“7 Years” - Lukas Graham
“Work” - Rihanna ft. Drake
“Stressed Out” - Twenty One Pilots
What we think should win: “Hello” - Adele
What will probably win: “Hello” - Adele
Although the Record of the Year category boasts an incredibly competitive list, it just boils down to two of the Recording Academy’s favorite ladies: Adele and Beyoncé. Though Queen Bey is a whooping 18-time Grammy Award Winner, Adele’s 10 Grammys include a prestigious Record of the Year trophy for “Rolling in the Deep”, a feat the former has yet to achieve. “Formation” is going to put up one hell of a fight, but Adele might be getting a second reign with this esteemed prize. Her return with “Hello” was a reminder of how Adele’s voice is one of the greatest of our generation, deservedly topping the charts the minute it debuted.
Album of the Year
The nominees:
25 - Adele
Lemonade - Beyoncé
Purpose - Justin Bieber
Views - Drake
A Sailor’s Guide to Earth - Sturgill Simpson
What we think should win: Lemonade - Beyoncé
What will probably win: Lemonade - Beyoncé
Queen Bey pretty much has this award locked, loaded, in the bag, whatever other idiom that means a sure win. Let’s set aside how powerful and artistic this album is for a moment to talk about how this is the most daring Bey has ever been, music-wise. Lemonade is edgy with a bit of reggae, rock, ballads, and her first country song; the album celebrates the pop diva’s candidness, female empowerment, and roots.
Best New Artist
The nominees:
Kelsea Ballerni
Chance The Rapper
The Chainsmokers
Maren Morris
Anderson .Paak
Who we think should win: Chance the Rapper
Who will probably win: Chance the Rapper
There is only one correct choice here. Chance should and will go home with the Best New Artist Grammy. It’s not just his advocacy to stay independent that’s turned heads in the past year; Coloring Book is simply a masterpiece. It’s difficult to get into the specifics of what made it such a sleeper hit from start to end, it might be Chance’s talent to level with every collaborator on the record or it could be the soulful sound that turns almost every track into an anthem of hope. Let us say this: his passion for music seeps through the entire record and it is awe-inspiring.
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Skin — Flume
Electronica 1: The Time Machine — Jean-Michel Jarre
Epoch — Tycho
Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future — Underworld
Louie Vega Starring…XXVIII — Louie Vega
What we want to win: Epoch by Tycho
Three LPs ago, Scott Hansen perfected the formula for electro-inspired ambient, quietly making a name for himself in electro circles as a force to be reckoned with. Delicately woven from start to finish, the end result has always been ethereal, and his next offering is no different. Sharper than ever with a renewed vigor demonstrated on Epoch, Tycho seems set on ushering in just that: a new era. Still, because of the distinct genre nuances that limit him to a certain calm, Hansen’s fourth is not likely to find raving audiences on the dance floor.
What will probably win: Skin by Flume
It doesn’t take much to see why Flume’s sophomore offering earned him Album of the Year honors at last year’s ARIA Awards. For over an hour of delicately crafted electro, the DJ from down under dabbles in future bass as much as hip hop, with more than brief flashes of dance-pop to balance things out. While still an EDM record at its core, Skin proves there is still so much more producers can do with a genre most are eager to call a dead horse. Consider as well the big names Flume enlisted to provide vocal talents on this record, betting on Flume making the title seems like a good wager.
Best Rock Album
The nominees:
California - Blink-182
Tell Me I’m Pretty - Cage the Elephant
Magma - Gojira
Death of a Bachelor - Panic! At The Disco
Weezer - Weezer
Who we think should win: California by Blink-182
Despite the muddy clichés that come with having John Feldmann on board for production duties, California represented a return in both form and presence for what was arguably the most influential punk band of the late 90s. In a familiar marriage of sentimentality, toilet humor, and total abandon, each and every chorus harkens back to 1999's Enema of the State, leaving old fans young while attracting countless new ones. What is perhaps the most beautiful part of this record is that in their old age, Blink-182 still captures the youthful exuberance of their earlier years and shows us why this scene is still theirs, even without onstage nudity and Tom DeLonge.
Who will probably win: Death of a Bachelor by Panic! At The Disco
Noted as the first entry of what is now the one-man Brendon Urie-show known as Panic! at the Disco, the charismatic multi-instrumentalist’s follow up to 2013's Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! caught most fans completely by surprise when it came out in January. While the progression in sound from the aforementioned album seemed like the most natural thing in the world, what was most unexpected was the exponential growth that cemented the beginning of a new chapter for the Nevadan crooner.
Eclectic and energetic, the record’s entire run moves along at the behest of a flawless vocal performance, which is the clear star of the show. Urie’s smooth swagger on a few tracks is contrasted by a manic glamour that blankets over most of the record, making it more accessible and explosive than any of its counterparts in the category. Even with a pronounced lack of instruments, which make rock music what it always has been, Death of a Bachelor seems poised to rocket Brendon Urie into stardom. With talent and pipes like his, who can question that?
Best Alternative Music Album
The nominees:
22, A Million - Bon Iver
Blackstar - David Bowie
The Hope Six Demolition - PJ Harvey
Post Pop Depression - Iggy Pop
A Moon Shaped Pool - Radiohead
Who we think should win: Blackstar - David Bowie
Who will probably win: Blackstar - David Bowie
Blackstar, if Bowie truly believed it to be his last album, is proof that he still reimagined his peculiarly fantastic music to his demise. The album is an electronic, ballad, and jazz combination that, at first, seems clumsily put together. But once Bowie starts his echoed vocals, it ribbons the distinct pieces together to create something eerie and hypnotic. It’s been a little over a year since the world said goodbye to Ziggy Stardust, but his final album won’t have its swan song till the Grammys.
Best Urban Contemporary Album
The nominees:
Lemonade - Beyoncé
Ology - Gallant
We Are King - KING
Malibu - Anderson .Paak
ANTI - Rihanna
Who we think should win: Malibu - Anderson .Paak
Who will probably win: Lemonade - Beyoncé
The Recording Academy loves Beyoncé (in addition to our review earlier) so she’ll probably take this one home. But Anderson .Paak’s Malibu deserves a special mention;
Malibu is a cool and smooth album that celebrates urban and R&B music. The transitions from 60s soul to 90s hip hop to pop as we know it today, while still keeping his artistry distinct is telling of how talented a chameleon .Paak is.
Best Rap Album
The nominees:
Coloring Book - Chance the Rapper
And the Anonymous Nobody - De La Soul
Major Key - DJ Khaled
Views - Drake
Bank Face LP - ScHool Q
The Life of Pablo - Kanye West
What we think should win: Coloring Book - Chance the Rapper
What will probably win: Views - Drake or The Life of Pablo - Kanye West
You’ve probably noticed we put two names in that last portion—that speaks to how close this battle will be. In an alternate world, this would have been an easy win for Chance, but in reality, it’s an uphill battle ahead of him. Blocking his way is Drake, whose Views has been releasing hit single after hit single, properly selling it as the album of the summer, and Kanye West, whose The Life of Pablo saw the artist in an arrogantly brilliant light with a perfectly imperfect record. It’s going to be difficult for a newbie like Chance to snag the award from the hands of hip hop heavyweights.
The 59th Grammy Awards are already a day away, but the competition is already looking to be a closely-fought affair, with each and every nominee brimming with potential. Will your favorites make it and prevail as the year’s best?