Kanye West leads with seven nominations, most of them in the Rap category, but he did achieve a Song of the Year nomination with his hit “All of the Lights.” Perhaps West deserved more major nominations, especially for his critically acclaimed album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but there’s no doubt he will walk away with Grammy gold, even if it is categorical gold. Kanye’s multiple nominations prove that while the man obviously has personality issues, his musical prowess cannot be denied.
Adele and Bruno Mars each snagged 6 nominations and will go head to head for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Album. Mars has done well this year; his album Doo-Wops and Hooligans has spawned several chart-topping singles. While his lyrics may not be deeply moving, people like his music and the man has got staying power. His popularity in the music industry certainly makes him worthy of Grammy nominations.
However, Adele is definitely set up to win it all: her album 21 was a commercial and a critical darling and her hit single “Rolling in the Deep” dominated the charts this year. It is no wonder that Adele is nominated in all of the major categories, for the singer’s vocal range is out of this world and her lyrics are poignant and relatable. Adele’s combination of vocal talent and vast commercial appeal will surely guarantee well deserved Grammy night success.
Pop mainstays Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga fill out the Record of the Year and Album of the Year categories as expected. While these ladies may not be the most lyrically or vocally gifted, they each have massive followings and their catchy songs define the music of our time. How could the Grammy’s recognize musical achievement without acknowledging the year’s major pop acts? Even while rewarding these entertainers with nominations, the 2012 Grammy's come with major recognition of other genres as well.
Folk band Bon Iver and rock band Mumford and Sons have each earned Song of the Year and Record of the Year nominations. Mumford and Sons’ unique blend of folk and rock, as well as their hopeful lyrics, on their hit single “The Cave” certainly deserves Grammy recognition. The peaceful melodies and soothing lyrics on Bon Iver’s “Holocene” garnered worthy acknowledgment for the band’s innovative style.
Bon Iver also earned a Best New Artist nomination along with The Band Perry, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole and (surprise!) electronic dub step group Skrillex. Skrillex actually has 5 nominations total, but the fact that an electronic group is up for Best New Artist reiterates the Grammys’ commitment to recognizing talent on all fronts, and not just in pop music.
This year’s nominations show that the Grammy's remain relevant, but are willing to reward musical achievement and talented artists across various genres. The range of artists in each of the major categories will make the 2011 Grammy Awards an interesting race to watch.
No comments:
Post a Comment