According to AOL Music Staff in the December 1, 2010 AOL Music article, "Grammy Nominees 2011", the nominees for the 53rd Grammy Awards were announced at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, CA. Marshall Mathers a.k.a Eminem is all over the long list with ten nods to his credit.
Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Lady Antebellum, and Jay-Z follow with over five nominations each. The awards ceremony proper will broadcast live during the late hours of February 13, 2011. As this date draws near, music lovers all over the world are becoming more hopeful that their favorite artistes find favor with the ultimate Grammy judges.
With a diverse array of categories, the Grammy Awards will recognize artistes who have contributed significantly to music entertainment. Awards will include but not limited to those for vocal performances in male and female categories, rap, R&B, classical music, song writing, jazz, country music, and musical dance.
There are over a hundred award categories. However, only one of the five nominees in each category will take home the coveted gramophone-shaped prize. So, while we wait to know the actual winners, I have made some projections about some of the more popular categories.
Grammy 2011 Predictions
The list is mere prediction and is favoritism-free. Enjoy!
- Album of the Year - 'Recovery' by Eminem
Reportedly the best-selling album of 2010 by the January 5, 2011 Billboard article titled "Eminem's Recovery Is 2010's Best-Selling Album.." by Keith Caulfield, Recovery sees Eminem feeding long time fans with much anticipated tracks. The multi-Grammy winning rapper is up for an award once again.
- Song of the Year - 'Need You Now' by Lady Antebellum
The song is the lead single of the successful album that topped the Billboard 200 chart according to the Billboard article of February 3, 2010 titled "Lady Antebellum's 'Need You Now' Hits No.1 On Billboard 200" by Keith Caulfield. It went platinum within four weeks of release. A country-favorite it is, a Grammy-worthy one too.
- Record of the Year - 'Love the Way You Lie' by Eminem Feat. Rihanna
Rihanna blesses this track with a sing-along hook while famous rapper Eminem is busy telling witty tales, something many are never tired of getting from him. Together, they release one of the most popular songs of 2010 that easily qualifies for a Grammy statuette.
- Best New Artist - Justin Bieber
With Drake and Mumford & Sons on this list too, it isn't to easy to pick out the winner, but Justin is the prediction. The truth is only weeks away.
- Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - 'Bad Romance' by Lady Gaga
There isn't much to say here as the title of the category easily defines the song.
- Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - 'Just the Way You Are' by Bruno Mars
Personal opinion is that this Doo-Wops & Hooligans crooner dominates this category.
- Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals - 'Airplanes, Part II' by B.o.B., Eminem & Hayley Williams
Soothing vocal performance from Hayley Williams complements verses from the impressive B.o.B and Eminem. It's not difficult to predict that "Airplanes" will fly high above the rest.
- Best R&B Album - 'Wake Up!' by John Legend & The Roots
On this twelve-tracker, friendship is put to good musical use to produce an award worthy album.
- Best Rap Album - 'Thank Me Later' – Drake
This Canadian artiste has found favor with many music lovers as he makes a first good impression on "Thank Me Later"
- Best Female R&B Vocal Performance – ‘Bittersweet’ by Fantasia
The song showcases her singing abilities against all odds. However, that is not to say that she is an easy pick on this one as names like Monica are on this category too.
- Producer of the Year, Non-Classical – RedOne
He is behind the production of the Haiti rendition, We are the World 25 for Haiti. Also, with his signature all over Lady Gaga's Fame Monster album, RedOne gives a good account of himself and makes a great Grammy candidate.
- Best Rap Solo Performance – ‘Not Afraid’ by Eminem
He is not afraid to say he is still the same person we all know. On this track, he goes solo and seems ready to give other nominees in this category a run for their money, not easily though.
- Best Rap/Sung Collaboration – ‘Deuces’ by Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall
Chris makes a good comeback after a drama-infested 2009 as he enjoys studio time with Tyga of Young Money Entertainment and a relatively new Kevin McCall. With an infectious hook and a collaboration that works, I say the song is deserving.
- Best Short Form Music Video – ‘Bad Romance’ by Lady Gaga
Decent cinematography and not-so-sophisticated choreography only make this video a hit. A few controversial scenes are not unusual here considering the pop star in question, but all things worked together for good in Bad Romance.
- Best Rap Song– Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys
Jay-Z delivers efficiently on this song which topped music charts around the closing of 2009 to 2010.
- Best Musical Show Album - "Fela!"
This Tony award winning Broadway show is back to claim a Grammy as it continues to relive the life and times of Nigeria's own legendary Afrobeat musician, Fela Kuti. The other nominees do not make it a very easy choice however.
The late 2009 to 2010 period saw new artistes in different genres rise to fame and well known artistes drop much anticipated albums and chart-topping songs. The much talked about Grammy Awards ceremony will celebrate some of these artistes who got nods from The Academy while statuettes will be handed to the cream of the crop.
Feel free to leave comments below about these predictions.
Sources:
- AOL Music
- Nominees | GRAMMY
- Music News| Billboard.com
- Music News| Billboard.com
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