There isn’t any “Oppenheimer” state of affairs shaping up on the 2024 Grammy Awards, which can happen Sunday at Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles.
Certainly, there’s little probability of the sort of sweep that we now have seen from Billie Eilish and Bruno Mars lately.
Even high nominee SZA, who leads all contenders with 9 nods, is hardly a lock for any of the Large 4 classes. (Though we suspect she’ll get a minimum of one.)
And do you actually suppose that the Recording Academy will tear Taylor Swift away from her new boo Travis Kelce only one week earlier than the Tremendous Bowl with out giving her some valuable {hardware}?
Plus, let’s face it, no person provides fangirl moments at main music awards exhibits higher than Tay-Tay. Certainly Grammy, CBS and America can’t resist.
Listed here are our picks of who ought to — and who will — be doing the Grammy victory dance when the highest trophies are handed out on music’s largest night time.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For?”
Boygenius – “Not Sturdy Sufficient”
Jon Batiste – “Worship”
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire”
SZA – “Kill Invoice”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
It’s kinda wild that, amongst her 12 Grammy wins since 2010 — together with a historic three Album of the 12 months gramophones — Swift has by no means received both Document or Track of the 12 months. She’s been nominated beforehand for ROTY for “You Belong with Me,” “We Are By no means Ever Getting Again Collectively,” “Shake It Off” and “Clean Area.”
You gotta suppose that this unusual streak will come to an finish in some unspecified time in the future.
However the place Swift is a safer selection for Album of the 12 months, Grammy voters will doubtless need to present that they’re a bit of cooler than that by giving this one to SZA’s killer single.
And in my thoughts, the one report that even comes shut is “Flowers,” which appeared like a shoo-in a 12 months in the past however then wilted like the remainder of Cyrus’ underappreciated “Limitless Summer time Trip.”
With Swift, Cyrus and Rodrigo doubtless splitting the pop vote, although, SZA ought to trip her R&B bona fides to a win.
SHOULD/WILL WIN: SZA
ALBUM OF THE THE YEAR
Boygenius – “The Document”
Janelle Monáe – “The Age of Pleasure”
Jon Batiste – “World Music Radio”
Lana Del Rey – “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Underneath Ocean Blvd”
Miley Cyrus – “Limitless Summer time Trip”
Olivia Rodrigo – “Guts”
SZA – “SOS”
Taylor Swift – “Midnights”
It was such a defining 12 months of the Taylor Period in 2023 that it’s arduous to think about that the Recording Academy wouldn’t need to reward the pop celebrity together with her personal particular place in historical past as the primary artist to win this prestigious prize 4 occasions, breaking a report she presently shares with three legendary fellas: Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Marvel.
Judging by her stellar requirements, although, “Midnights” is hardly her finest album when she’s already received for 2008’s “Fearless,” 2014’s “1989” and 2020’s “Folklore.” Nonetheless, particularly with none nation LP on this class — that means she’ll win a big share of Nashville voters — it’s arduous to see every other album stopping the Swift prepare on its option to the Tremendous Bowl. Even with out her Kansas Metropolis Chiefs boyfriend Kelce by her facet.
Nonetheless, SZA’s “SOS” is a far brisker affair that captured the vibes of the second — as if Drake and Eilish had a child. And don’t rely out Batiste, the one dude within the combine: If all of the divas break up the vote, the jazzman might snag his second Album of the 12 months trophy after his 2022 victory for “We Are.”
SHOULD WIN: SZA
WILL WIN: Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR
Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For?”
Dua Lipa – “Dance the Night time”
Jon Batiste – “Butterfly”
Lana Del Rey – “A&W”
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers”
Olivia Rodrigo – “Vampire”
SZA – “Kill Invoice”
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”
In spite of everything this time, most folk nonetheless don’t get the distinction between Document and Track of the 12 months. And actually, who can blame them?
However I at all times suppose that one of the simplest ways to distinguish the 2 is to think about Track of the 12 months as a tune that, stripped of all manufacturing and vocal approach, nonetheless holds up when it’s all in regards to the lyrics and the melody. Going by that, it’s nonetheless a troublesome name between “Anti-Hero,” “Flowers,” “Vampire” and “What Was I Made For?”
Eilish and her brother, Finneas, who beforehand received this award for “Unhealthy Man” in 2020, nailed the existential angst on the coronary heart of the “Barbie” blockbuster. They deserve it — and Oscar is bound to make no mistake about it subsequent month.
However I’ve a sneaking suspicion that Swift’s 0-for-10 streak in Document and Track of the 12 months will come to an finish with a golden gramophone for her No. 1 smash “Anti-Hero” that she wrote with Bleachers boss Jack Antonoff.
SHOULD WIN: Billie Eilish
WILL WIN: Taylor Swift
BEST NEW ARTIST
Coco Jones
Gracie Abrams
Fred Once more
Ice Spice
Jelly Roll
Noah Kahan
Victoria Monét
The Conflict and Treaty
What’s “new” actually? That’s the query about this class, which is now not restricted to those that have simply made their recording debuts — both on the indie or main stage.
In reality, 34-year-old Monét — who’s second solely to SZA with seven nominations — launched her debut EP, “Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1,” method again in 2014, whereas additionally writing for the likes of Ariana Grande and Chloe x Halle.
In the meantime, Jelly Roll had a complete different music profession as a rapper earlier than going nation. However this 38-year-old ex-con’s story of redemption — and the highly effective Nashville contingent behind him — shouldn’t have him needing any favors come Grammy night time.
SHOULD WIN: Victoria Monét
WILL WIN: Jelly Roll