Top artists compete for best of the year on music’s biggest night
Record of the Year
The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
Fun. featuring Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”
Gotye featuring Kimbra, “Somebody That I Used to Know”
Frank Ocean, “Thinkin Bout You”
Taylor Swift, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
The Record of the Year category may be the biggest overall award at the Grammys, since it awards a performer and a producer for one song. This, along with Album of the Year, is a tough category to predict, but I think it’s going to come down to either Fun. or Gotye, no matter how much I want “Thinkin Bout You” to win. I’d have to give it to Fun. for a song you hear a million times, but still click “play” to listen to it a million and one.
Album of the Year
The Black Keys, “El Camino”
Fun., “Some Nights”
Mumfords & Sons, “Babel”
Frank Ocean, “Channel Orange”
Jack White, “Blunderbuss”
With four rock and alternative albums in this category, the chances for a split vote are likely, leaving “Channel Orange,” the only nonrock album in the category, a chance to win. But the best bet would be to predict Mumford & Sons’ “Babel” to win the category, and for one reason: “Babel” had six singles on the Billboard Hot 100, with “I Will Wait” reaching No. 1 in the rock and alternative categories.
Song of the Year
Ed Sheeran, “The A Team”
Miguel, “Adorn”
Carley Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”
Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
Fun., featuring Janelle Monae, “We Are Young”
Maybe call Carly Rae Jepson to stage for this award? Maybe not. Miguel? Given that he’s the least heard of out of all the artists here, his chances are equally slim. Ed Sheeran? It’s as beautiful a song he can write about a down-on-her-luck girl who snorts cocaine and prostitutes herself, but it’s also not likely this song will capture gold. Again, Fun.’s “We Are Young” has the best mainstream appeal out of all nominees, aside from Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger.” But don’t worry, Kelly, you’re still a shoe-in to win Best Pop Vocal Performance.
Best Rock Album
The Black Keys, “El Camino”
Coldplay, “Mylo Xyloto”
Muse, “The 2nd Law”
Bruce Springsteen, “Wrecking Ball”
Jack White, “Blunderbuss”
My brain is telling me Bruce Springsteen is most likely, due to “Wrecking Ball’s” success during Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, but I’m going to go with my gut on this one and simply say The Black Keys’ “El Camino” is the top contender.
Best Rap Album
Drake, “Take Care”
Lupe Fiasco, “Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1”
Nas, “Life Is Good”
The Roots, “Undun”
Rick Ross, “God Forgives, I Don’t”
2 Chainz, “Based on a T.R.U. Story”
I’d say rap and hip-hop had a very quiet year in 2012 — so quiet that Drake’s “Take Care,” which was actually released in 2011, found its way onto this list. The Canadian rapper may have been nominated nine times in the past, but his chances of taking home Rap Album of the Year appear slim. Ultimately, Nas’ “Life Is Good” is the likely winner.
Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean
Grammy voters award the gramophone to the artist who has released “the first recording which established the public identity of the artist” in a given year. Bottom line: unless Fun. sneaks in for the win, it will be the biggest shocker of the night if Frank Ocean (this generation’s Prince) doesn’t receive this award.