Who's Doomed to Enter the Grammy Winners' Circle This Year? |
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| Written by Kris Millett |
| Thursday, 31 January 2008 19:00 |
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1981 was a spectacular year for popular music, featuring memorable songs: Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" and "Comfortably Numb", timeless anthems: "Buffalo Soldier" and "Redemption Song", punk crossover classics: "London Calling" and "I Wanna Be Sedated", the new wave standard: "Love Will Tear Us Apart", and the irrepressible air-guitar classic: AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long". But when I think of 1981, there are only two words that come to mind: Christopher Cross. That year, the Grammys, despite all the formidable output, decided to award 'Song' and 'Record' of the year to Cross for "Sailing", which was a song about sailing. The selection committee was so enamored with Cross that they also gave him the Grammy for 'Album of the Year' and 'Best New Artist', despite the emergence of U2 and Blondie that same year. Cross made Grammy history in '81, as this marked the only time an artist has ever swept the 'big four': winning best song, record, album, and new artist. Now everyone who owns a Christopher Cross album raise their hand. Anyone? Anyone at all..? As far as I can see, the Grammys are still run behind the scenes by some dark comic genius, so let's look at this year's nominations in the 'big four' categories and try to forecast who will be cursed with victory on February 10. Album of the Year Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - The Foo Fighters These Days – Vince Gill River: The Joni Letters – Herbie Hancock Graduation – Kanye West Back To Black – Amy Winehouse Analysis: The nominations of Kanye West and Amy Winehouse are not surprising, marking the Grammys' latest attempt to seem 'cool' and 'cutting edge'. Kanye is also nominated in the Rap category, something the Grammys have been awarding since the invention of Rap in 1996. The remaining picks seem like a pretty random bunch of selections. While I'm surprised to see Vince Gill's double-album considered among this year's cream of the crop, it's impossible for me to believe that the Foo Fighters, in 2008, out of all the acts worldwide that released music, could have somehow made the best album this year! My Prediction: Steely Dan comes from out of nowhere to take the top album prize. Thom Yorke spits in disgust. Again. Record of the Year "Irreplaceable" – Beyonce "The Pretender" – Foo Fighters "Umbrella" – Rihanna featuring Jay-Z "What Goes Around… Comes Around" – Justin Timberlake "Rehab" – Amy Winehouse
Analysis: Not to be confused with 'Album of the Year', 'Record of the Year' is actually more similar to 'Song of the Year'; only 'Record' recognizes the best recording, whereas 'Song' goes to the actual songwriter. As the Grammys' inner circle continues to tag closely behind the latest trends, none of these nominations could be considered unexpected, except, for the Foo Fighters. Again! I just don't get it. My Prediction: Amy Winehouse takes this one. It's the only nomination with any possible story to exploit. Song of the Year "Before He Cheats" – John Kear, Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood, artist) "Hey There Delilah" – Tom Higgenson, songwriter (Plain White T's, artist) "Like A Star" – Corinne Bailey Rae "Rehab" – Amy Winehouse "Umbrella" – Shawn Carter, Kuk Harrell, Terius "Dream" Nash, Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Rihanna featuring Jay-Z, artist) Analysis: This is a tough category for the Grammys as neither John Mayer nor Nora Jones released anything this year. My Prediction: I'm rooting for the Plain White T's. I highly approve of "Hey There Delilah" as a nomination in the 'Song' and not 'Record' category, as I most appreciate the songwriting in this number when not listening to the actual recording. (Sorry Delilah). Best New Artist Feist Ledisi Paramore Taylor Swift Amy Winehouse Analysis: I guess the Grammy selection committee didn't listen to any music in 2004-05, when Leslie Feist's "Mushaboom" was EVERYWHERE! I guess they also didn't watch TV, when her song was featured in a perfume ad for Lacoste, and in a mattress commercial. The Grammy selection members must have also stayed clear of record stores, where Feist sold 500,000 copies of 2004's Let It Die. Should I also mention that Feist released her first solo album in 1999? My Prediction: Feist. She could achieve some absurd milestone: Longest Stretch of Time Between "Best New Artist" Victories, (she won the Juno for "Best New Artist" in 2004). If she does win the Grammy, Feist will join other illustrious 'Best New Artists' such as: The Swingle Sisters ('64), Starland Vocal Band ('77), A Taste of Honey ('79), and let's not forget, Hootie and the Blowfish ('96). Epilogue: On February 10th, the Grammy 'experts' will momentarily take their fingers off the pulse of music today to present their findings. I urge you to tune in. I can't promise you good times, but I can promise you it will be terrible. Will it be as terrible as knowing that Christopher Cross wrote the best song and album and was the best new artist all in one year? Maybe. Connoisseurs of schadenfreude should be in for a treat. Unfortunately, I'm not (as of yet) a member of the Grammy selection committee. They won't return my calls. But if I was, these are the artists I'd be nominating in the 'big four' categories: Album of the Year: Sky Blue Sky by Wilco Record of the Year: "Teenage Love Affair" by Alicia Keys (listening to this song should be a matter of extreme importance). Song of the Year: "Ordinary People" by Neil Young (even if it took him 19 years to finish it). Best New Artist: Prince (cause he reinvents himself every time). PS: Christopher Cross' follow-up single to "Sailing" from his Grammy-winning album was "Ride Like The Wind". Really hard hitting stuff. It's amazing that the world was ready for it in 1981.
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