QUEEN WEST and the RANDOM PRESS

The Grammy Awards are upon us once again. This is one of the best award shows; the performances, the A-List artists, the fashion. The artists generally have fun with it all which makes us, the viewers at home eating potato chips & drinking soda - have fun too!

Below are my predictions for the categories I’m looking most forward to. This weekend we’ll find out if the predictions are right.

Record of the Year

• “Halo” - Beyonce
• “I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas
• “Use Somebody” - Kings of Leon
• “Poker Face” - Lady Gaga
• “You Belong With Me” - Taylor Swift

There is no doubt this was Taylor Swift’s past two years. The girl is young, cute and talented. She writes her own songs & plays guitar which is something the Grammy voters will look highly on. The only thing Taylor could have working against her is her voice. She doesn’t have the range of say, Beyonce BUT with her bubbly personality, multiple hits, millions of copies of “Fearless” sold - she’s a shoe in. Taylor helped the industry this year and now they’ll pay her back.

Album of the Year

• I Am… Sasha Fierce (Beyonce)
• The E.N.D. (BEP)
• The Fame (Lady Gaga)
• Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King (Dave Matthews Band)
• Fearless (Taylor Swift)

I think Lady Gaga will bring this one home. This was her debut album and the thing just blew up - Gaga fever is everywhere! The Grammy’s love to nominate (and award) “individuals” and “artists”. Gaga CAN sing and she’s an artist who’s developed quite a loyal following. No doubt, she’ll be wearing something awesome to accept her awards in too - can’t hurt for ratings.

Song of the Year

• “Poker Face” - Lady Gaga
• “Pretty Wings” - Maxwell
• “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” - Beyonce
• “Use Somebody” - Kings Of Leon
• “You Belong With Me” - Taylor Swift

This is tough category mainly because the artists featured are all so different. On one hand I’d like to think Kings of Leon would win (I LOVE “Use Somebody”) but I don’t think they will. I really can’t guess. I’m picking two, deal with it. Gaga and T-Swizzle will be duking it out for this award.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

• “Hometown Glory” - Adele
• “Halo” - Beyonce
• “Hot N Cold” - Katy Perry
• “Sober” - Pink
• “You Belong With Me” Taylor Swift

Beyonce has not been picked yet in any of my categories. If she wins an award (which she will) I predict it will be for “Halo” in this category. We all know Queen B can sing, she can really SANG. Beyonce will take home the hardware. Side note: I’m surprised Katy Perry is even nominated in this batch of women even though “Waking Up In Vegas” get stuck in my head at least once a week.

Best New Artist

• Zac Brown Band
• Keri Hilson
• MGMT
• Silversun Pickups
• The Ting Tings

Best New Artist award usually is surprising. I remember 10 years ago when Christina Aguilera beat out Macy Gray and Britney Spears. I’m going to have to go with…MGMT. These guys are beginning to be really sought after as producers (Jay-Z went looking for them for “The Blueprint 3”) and I really like their music. I’m excited to see what they’re going to bring to the scene. I like the thought of Silversun Pickups grabbing the award too but they just don’t seem too ‘new’ to me. Ahhh, I love music.

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

• “I Gotta Feeling” - The Black Eyed Peas
• “We Weren’t Born To Follow” - Bon Jovi
• “Never Say Never” - The Fray
• “Sara Smile” - Daryl Hall & John Oates
• “Kids” - MGMT

This song was one of the anthem’s of the year. It’s sure to be used in thousands of movie trailers, commercials, tv shows… I’m not a huge fan of the Pea’s but I think they’ll win this one.

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
 

• “Dead Flowers” - Miranda Lambert
• “I Just Call You Mine” - Martina McBride
• “White Horse” - Taylor Swift
• “Just A Dream” - Carrie Underwood
• “Solitary Thinkin” - Lee Ann Womack

If you haven’t heard any of Miranda Lambert’s music - you should run to Itunes and listen. Her last album “Revolution” is amazing, beautiful, artistic and well-written. Miranda is a one-of-a-kind artist and I really hope she wins this. Carrie Underwood is a favourite of the Grammy’s, so who knows. I think Miranda deserves her first Grammy this year for “Dead Flowers” - even though it was not a huge hit - its beautiful and a little haunting.