Previewing And Predicting The 60th Annual Grammy Awards

It is that time of year again: the thousand dollar dresses, diamonds and cufflinks dipped in gold, artists on strict diets. And finally, there are the lights, the cameras, the Grammys. Since I was little, the Grammys were a huge deal in my house. I would invite my best friend over and we would dress up in my mom’s gowns, while my mom made appetizers and would have us toast with sparkling cider, cheering to the artists who won the award.

Even when I was younger, I always predicted correctly because my strategy was to pick the most played songs on the radio and which artist were most liked by the general public. Usually, I get it right even if in my heart I knew that another person deserved it more. This year’s nominees are somewhat tricky because of how popular most of them are, but here are some of my predictions for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. (If you want to read all 84 categories and nominees, go to grammy.com)

1. RECORD OF THE YEAR

NOTED WINNER: HUMBLE

NOMINEES:

Redbone – Childish Gambino

Despacito – Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee Ft. Justin Bieber

Humble – Kendrick Lamar

24K Magic – Bruno Mars

The Story of O.J. – JAY-Z

In 2017, all these records, excluding The Story of O.J., were hit singles playing 25 times a day on the radio. Saying that, this category which to me is one of the most important, makes it difficult to choose just one. Out of all these, Redbone was my summer anthem, but I believe Humble by Kendrick Lamar is going to win, mostly because DAMN. was named #1 album of the year by Rolling Stone.

2. ALBUM OF THE YEAR

NOTED WINNER: DAMN

NOMINEES:

“Awaken, My Love!” – Childish Gambino

“4:44” –  JAY-Z”

“DAMN.” – Kendrick Lamar

“Melodrama” – Lorde

“24K Magic” – Bruno Mars

Rolling Stone said it so themselves, DAMN. was the #1 album of the year. While my biased opinion believes that Melodrama should win because Lorde is so close to my heart, Melodrama is fairly new and Kendrick Lamar’s album truly is a general favorite.

3. SONG OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITER’S AWARD)

NOTED WINNER: DESPACITO

NOMINEES:

“Despacito” – Ramon Ayala Rodriguez, Justin Bieber, Jason Boyd, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi & Marty James Garton Jr, songwriters (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber)

“4:44” – Shawn Carter and Dio Wilson

“Issues” – Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Julia Michaels & Justin Drew Tranter

“1-800-273-8255” – Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, Arjun Ivatury, Khalid Robinson & Andrew Taggart, songwriters (Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid)

“That’s What I Like” – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters (Bruno Mars)

This one was particularly hard to narrow down because every song on here was a hit, but “Despacito” truly caught my attention. While it’s not my favorite song, it’s crazy to think this song will not win since it became so popular after Justin Bieber featured in it, which was very smart because of his popularity.

4. BEST NEW ARTIST

NOTED WINNER: KHALID

NOMINEES:

Alessia Cara

Khalid

Lil Uzi Vert

Julia Michaels

SZA

It was between Khalid and SZA for me, but I believe Khalid is going to win because people know him more and his songs became very famous on all music streaming apps, such as Spotify and Apple Music.

5. BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE

NOTED WINNER: SHAPE OF YOU

NOMINEES:

Love So Soft – Kelly Clarkson

Praying – Kesha

Million Reasons – Lady Gaga

What About Us – P!nk

Shape of You – Ed Sheeran

As much as I love these artists and as much as I love Ed Sheeran (truly with all my heart), I only believe he’s going to win because of how popular the song got and stayed throughout the year. I want Million Reasons to win because I do believe Gaga deserves it and the meaning behind the song has a strong message.

6. BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

NOTED WINNER: FEEL IT STILL

NOMINEES:

Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers and Coldplay

Despacito – Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee Ft. Justin Bieber

Thunder – Imagine Dragons

Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man

Stay – Zedd and Alessia Cara

Feel It Still became so popular towards the end of the year and was even played in commercials and YouTube videos. Even though the rest of the songs in this category were popular, I just don’t think they were as popular as this hit.

7. BEST R&B PERFORMANCE

NOTED WINNER: GET YOU

NOMINEES:

Get You – Daniel Caesar Ft. Kali Uchis

Distraction – Kehlani

High – Ledisi

That’s What I Like – Bruno Mars

The Weekend – SZA

Get You is the most amazing song I’ve ever heard of. Maybe it won’t win against That’s What I Like, but Daniel Caesar did such an amazing job and his voice is so soothing; everyone can drown in his words. Plus with Kali Uchis, how could this performance not win?

8. BEST RAP PERFORMANCE

NOTED WINNER: BODAK YELLOW

NOMINEES:

Bounce Back – Big Sean

Bodak Yellow – Cardi B

4:44 – JAY-Z

HUMBLE. – Kendrick Lamar

Bad and Boujee – Migos Ft. Lil Uzi Vert

Cardi B made history in 2017. Being one of the 5 women in music history to make it to #1 on the Billboard 100 for Bodak Yellow, this song is definitely going to win and if it doesn’t, I would be truly surprised.

9. BEST RAP SONG (SONGWRITER’S AWARD)

NOTED WINNER: BODAK YELLOW

NOMINEES:

Bodak Yellow – Belcalis Almanzar, Dieuson Octave, Klenord Raphael, Shaftizm, Jordan Thorpe & J White

Chase Me – Brian Burton, Hector Delgado, Jaime Meline, Antwan Patton & Michael Render

HUMBLE. – K. Duckworth, Asheton Hogan & M. Williams II

Sassy – Marlanna Evans, E. Gabouer, Jason Martin & Wyann Vaughn

The Story Of O.J. – Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson

Again, Cardi B is going to win.

10. BEST RAP ALBUM

NOTED WINNER: DAMN.

NOMINEES:

4:44 – JAY-Z

DAMN. – Kendrick Lamar

Culture – Migos

Laila’s Wisdom – Rapsody

Flower Boy – Tyler, The Creator

Flower Boy totally deserves this award and every song was fit to Tyler, the Creator’s personality and style. But saying that, DAMN. is going to win because that album is more famous than Flower Boy and has hits like HUMBLE. And LOVE.

11. BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM

NOTED WINNER: DIVIDE

NOMINEES:

Kaleidoscope EP – Coldplay

Lust For Life – Lana Del Rey

Evolve – Imagine Dragons

Rainbow – Kesha

Joanne – Lady Gaga

Divide – Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is going to win especially since 3 singles on the album were hits and played non-stop on the radio. I do think Lust For Life should win but that’s just my biased opinion because I think Lust For Life was a piece of art that Lana Del Rey so beautifully and gracefully wrote.