This Year’s Grammy Nominations Have Been Announced, And There Are Plenty Of Surprises
Music can define a moment, a season, or a whole year. On February 10th, The Grammys will pay tribute to the music that defined 2018. Join your favorite stars in the music industry at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, or catch all the action on CBS.
Last year it was all about Bruno Mars, Lorde, and Jay Z. Jay Z is back this year, but Bruno Mars isn't. It looks like it's going to be a big year for artists like Childish Gambino, Janelle Monae, and Cardi B. Keep reading to find out who got nominated this year.
Album Of The Year
This is the award we've all been waiting for. Album of the year is perhaps the most anticipated award at the Grammys. People were a bit upset about the nominees this year though.
The Album of the Year nominees are H.E.R. - H.E.R., Brandi Carlile - By the Way, I Forgive You, Drake, - Scorpion, Various Artists - Black Panther: The Album, Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour, Post Malone - Beerbongs & Bentleys, Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy, and Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer. Where is Ariana Grande? Where is Taylor Swift? They deserve to at least be nominated.
Record Of The Year
This year's Record of the Year nominees are Cardi B - "I Like It," Brandi Carlile - "The Joke," Childish Gambino - "This Is America," Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - "Shallow," Drake - "God's Plan," Kendrick Lamar & SZA - "All the Stars," Post Malone & 21 Savage - "Rockstar," and Zedd & Maren Morris - "The Middle."
If the award doesn't go to Childish Gambino, we start a riot.
Song Of The Year
In case your wondering about the difference between Record of the Year and Song of the Year, Record of the year goes to the song's artist and production team, while Song of the Year goes to the songwriter.
The nominees for Song of the Year are Kendrick Lamar & SZA - "All the Stars," Ella Mai - "Boo'd Up," Drake - "God's Plan," Shawn Mendes - "In My Blood," Brandi Carlile - 'The Joke," Zedd & Maren Morris - "The Middle," Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - "Shallow" and Childish Gambino - "This Is America."
Best New Artist
Best new artist is one of the most exciting Grammy awards. It really shows how much success and notoriety artists can gain in just one year. The nominees this year are Chloe x Halle, Luke Combs, Greta Van Fleet, H.E.R., Dua Lipa, Margo Price, Bebe Rexha, Jorja Smith.
A lot of these artists have been working at their careers for a long time, so it probably doesn't feel like they're new artists, but they're new to us.
Best Pop Solo Performance
Live performances are as much a part of the music business as heavily produced records. Everyone knows that the live performances are the best part of the Grammys. The nominees this year are Beck - "Colors", Camila Cabello - "Havana" (Live), Ariana Grande - "God Is a Woman," Lady Gaga - 'Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin’?)," and Post Malone - "Better Now."
Who do you think is going to win?
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
The nominees for Best Pop Duo or Group Performance are Christina Aguilera ft. Demi Lovato - "Fall In Line," Backstreet Boys - "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper - "Shallow," Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B - "Girls Like You," Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton - "Say Something," and Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey - "The Middle."
I think the award is probably going to go to Marron 5 and Cardi B, but you never know with these award shows.
Best Pop Vocal Album
This year's nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album are Camila Cabello - Camila, Kelly Clarkson - Meaning of Life, Ariana Grande - Sweetener, Shawn Mendes - Shawn Mendes, Pink - Beautiful Trauma, and Taylor Swift - Reputation.
It's nice that Taylor and Ariana got nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album, but where are their Album of the Year nominations? My girls Ari and Taylor were robbed. It's going to be interesting to see which one of them takes home the prize, though. My money is on Ariana.
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Is it just me, or is "traditional pop" just another way of saying old people? It doesn't help that everyone nominated in this category is over the age of fifty.
And the nominees are Tony Bennett & Diana Krall - Love Is Here to Stay, Willie Nelson - My Way, Gregory Porter - Nat "King" Cole & Me, Seal - Standards (Deluxe), and Barbra Streisand - The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic!
Best Rap Performance
Rap performances are some of the most riveting performances to watch. The nominees this year are particularly strong performers. The nominees for Best Rap Performance are Cardi B - "Be Careful," Drake - "Nice for What," Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, & James Blake - "King's Dead," Anderson .Paak - "Bubblin," and Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk, & Swae Lee - "Sicko Mode."
I think all these artists deserve the recognition.
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Rap collaborations are essential to the genre of rap itself. Rap /sung collaborations blend genres to make something totally new. The nominees for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration are Christina Aguilera ft. Goldlink - "Like I Do," 6LACK ft. J. Cole - "Pretty Little Fears," Childish Gambino - "This Is America," Kendrick Lamar & SZA - "All the Stars," and Post Malone ft. 21 Savage - "Rockstar."
Again, my vote will always go to Childish Gambino.
Best Rap Song
I wonder which of these rap songs were the most played on Spotify this year? I think whichever one was the most played should probably get the award.
And the nominees for Best Rap Song are Drake - "God's Plan," Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, & James Blake - "King’s Dead," Eminem - "Lucky You," Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk, & Swae Lee - "Sicko Mode," and Jay Rock ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Win."
Best Rap Album
Mac Miller fans were happy to know that Miller got a posthumous Grammy nomination this year in the Best Rap Album category. He's up against Cardi B's Invasion of Privacy, Nipsey Hussle's Victory Lap, Pusha-T's Daytona, and Travis Scott's Astroworld.
I think Mac Miller's Swimming has a pretty good chance of winning. I actually don't think anybody would want to win in this category if it means that Mac Miller loses.
Best Rock Performance
Rock music has taken a backseat to pop and rap music as of late. Even indie music seems to be more popular than rock nowadays. Still, there are bands that are still in the rock game.
The nominees in this category are Arctic Monkeys - "Four Out of Five," Chris Cornell - "When Bad Does Good," THE FEVER 333 - "Made An America," Greta Van Fleet - "Highway Tune," and Halestorm - "Uncomfortable."
Best Metal Performance
I know exactly zero metal bands active in the music scene right now, but there might be a few metal fans reading this article, and who am I to deny them their nominees?
So, the Grammy nominees for Best Metal Performance are Between the Buried and Me - "Condemned to the Gallows," Deafheaven - "Honeycomb," High on Fire - "Electric Messiah" Trivium - "Betrayer," and Underoath - "On My Teeth."
Best Rock Song
There's nothing like jamming out to a great rock song. The Grammys have recognized five amazing rock songs this year, and one of them is going to take home the big prize. And by the big prize, I mean a shiny gold record statue.
The nominees are Greta Van Fleet - "Black Smoke Rising," Twenty One Pilots - "Jumpsuit," Bring Me the Horizon - "MANTRA," St. Vincent - "Masseduction," and Ghost - "Rats."
Best Rock Album
It's nice to see some familiar names in the Best Rock Album category. It looks like these rock stars are sticking around for the long haul. And the nominees are Alice in Chains - Rainier Fog, Fall Out Boy - M A N I A, Ghost - Prequelle, Greta Van Fleet - From the Fires, and Weezer - Pacific Daydream.
It's been way too long since I've listened to a Fall Out Boy record.
Best Alternative Music Album
The nominees for Best Alternative Music Album are Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, Beck - Colors, Björk - Utopia, David Byrne - American Utopia, and St. Vincent - Masseduction.
It was nice to see Beck get recognized at the Grammys a few years ago. I hope we get to see Björk perform this year. She's always so interesting to watch. There's never a dull moment with Björk.
Best R&B Performance
R&B is the perfect genre to listen to right before you fall asleep. It's so soulful and soothing. It's also great music to dance to. The nominees for Best R&B Performance are Toni Braxton - "Long As I Live," The Carters - "Summer," Lalah Hathaway - "Y O Y," H.E.R. - "Best Part [ft. Daniel Caesar]," and PJ Morton - "First Began."
I think Beyoncé and Jay Z are going to win. They haven't been nominated in any other category, which just doesn't make sense.
Best Traditional R&B Performance
The nominees for Best Traditional R&B Performance are Leon Bridges - "Bet Ain't Worth the Hand," Betty LaVette - "Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight," MAJOR. - "Honest," PJ Morton - "How Deep Is Your Love [ft. Yebba]," and Charlie Wilson - "Made for Love [ft. Lalah Hathaway]."
Leon Bridges is one of my favorite singers right now, and I really hope that he takes home that Grammy for his work.
Best R&B Song
The nominees for Best R&B Song at the 2019 Grammy Awards are Ella Mai - "Boo'd Up," Miguel - "Come Through and Chill [ft. J. Cole and Salaam Remi]," Childish Gambino - "Feels Like Summer," H.E.R. - "Focus," and Toni Braxton - "Long As I Live."
I love that Childish Gambino is nominated in two different categories this year. It shows how much artists are really branching out and expanding their horizons.
Best Urban Contemporary Album
I'm not sure what makes an album "urban." I do have a few guesses though. Yes, these artists deserve to be recognized, but some of them also deserve to be recognized on a bigger scale.
The nominees for Best Urban Contemporary Album are The Carters - Everything Is Love, Chloe x Halle - The Kids Are Alright, Chris Dave and the Drumhedz - Chris Dave and the Drumhedz, Miguel - War & Leisure, and Meshell Ndegeocello - Ventriloquism.
Best R&B Album
The Best R&B Album nominees at this year's Grammy Awards are Toni Braxton - Sex & Cigarettes, Leon Bridges - Good Thing, Lalah Hathaway - Honestly, H.E.R. - H.E.R., and PJ Morton - Gumbo Unplugged (Live).
I can't wait to download these and listen to them all back to back. Everyone loves to get into a good slow jam. If you haven't listened to Lalah Hathaway yet, do yourself a favor and download Honestly.
Best Dance Recording
Dance music is absolutely essential for a good party. We have all of these artists to thank for making us dance in 2018, and hopefully into the future.
The nominees for Best Dance Recording are Above & Beyond - "Northern Soul" [ft. Richard Bedford], Disclosure - "Ultimatum" [ft. Fatoumata Diawara], Fisher - "Losing It," Silk City & Dua Lipa - "Electricity" [ft. Diplo and Mark Ronson], and Virtual Self - "Ghost Voices."
Best Dance/Electronic Album
I think electronic music is hugely underrated. Sometimes you just need to get down with some good robot music. You know, the beeps and boops. Can you tell that I know nothing about electronic music?
The nominees are Jon Hopkins - "Singularity," Justice - "Woman," Sofi Tukker - "Treehouse," SOPHIE - "Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides," and TOKiMONSTA - "Lune Rouge." I hope some of these guys perform at the Grammys just so I see what electronic music looks like live.
Best Comedy Album
I know comedy isn't exactly music, but it is an auditory art form. This year the nominees are funnier than ever. The nominees for Best Comedy Album are Patton Oswalt - Annihilation, Dave Chappelle - Equanimity & the Bird Revelation, Jim Gaffigan - Noble Ape, Fred Armisen - Standup for Drummers, and Chris Rock - Tamborine.
All of these albums are unique and intriguing in their own way. I think they all deserve to win a Grammy. Trophies for everybody.
Best Remixed Recording
Remixing songs is its own art, which is why it needs its own category at the Grammys.
The nominees for Best Remixed Recording are Labrinth, Sia & Diplo present LSD - "Audio" (CID Remix Official Dance Remix), Charlie Puth - "How Long" (EDX's Dubai Skyline Remix), Gabriel & Dresden feat. Sub Teal - "Only Road" (Cosmic Gate Remix), Kygo, Justin Jesso - "Stargazing" [ft. Justin Jesso] (Kaskade Remix), and HAIM - "Walking Away" (Mura Masa remix).
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Movies and music go together like peanut butter and jelly. Have you heard the Sufjan Stevens songs in Call Me by Your Name? Those songs are the closest things to magic we have on this earth.
The nominees for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media are Call Me by Your Name, Deadpool 2, The Greatest Showman, Lady Bird, and Stranger Things. I would love to see Sufjan Stevens perform at the Grammys.
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Lyrics are important for movie music, but sometimes it just the sounds of the instruments that can totally transform a film.
The nominees for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media are Ludwig Göransson - Black Panther, Benjamin Wallfisch & Hans Zimmer - Blade Runner 2049, Michael Giacchino - Coco, Alexandre Desplat - The Shape of Water, and John Williams - Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Black Panther was nominated for Album of the Year, so I'm pretty sure it's going to win in this category.
Best Song Written for Visual Media
There were some great songs written for movies and television this year. Sometimes you just need to put on some headphones and scream the lyrics to "This is Me" from The Greatest Showman.
The nominees are Kendrick Lamar & SZA - "All the Stars," Sufjan Stevens - "Mystery of Love," Miguel - "Remember Me" [ft. Natalia Lafourcade], Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - "Shallow," and Keala Settle & the Greatest Showman Ensemble - "This Is Me."
Best Recording Package
The Grammy Award for Best Recording Package is presented for the visual look of an album. It's presented to the art director of the winning album, not to the performers. Unless, of course, the performer is also the art director, but that's pretty unusual.
The nominees for Best Recording Package are Mitski - Be the Cowboy, BTS - Love Yourself: Tear, St. Vincent - Masseduction, The Chairman - The Offering, and Foxhole - Well Kept Thing.
