by: Charley (@ruperto2106) and Steve (@MisterJackal)
A couple nights ago the nominations for the 2013 Grammy Awards were announced in a “live” special hosted by Taylor “I need a new boyfriend to breakup with me so I can write another song” Swift and LL “How low has my career gone?” Cool J.After reading this list, we can only confirm one thing. Whoever votes on these nominations have no ear for music. Yes, they got some right, but some others were just way off. And we would like to thank the nominating committee for not nominating Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga or One Direction and The Wanted.Now let’s get to the nominations! (Please note we are not going to go over each category, just what we feel are the major ones)Album of the Year» The Black Keys - El Camino» Fun. - Some Nights» Mumford & Sons - Babel» Frank Ocean - Channel Orange» Jack White – BlunderbussNow if you ask me, this list has four great contenders (I just never saw the appeal of Frank Ocean). Jack White gave us a great rock inspired solo album. Mumford and Sons delivered on what was the most anticipated album of the year. The Black Keys are a great soulful rock band. Fun. came out of nowhere as a new artist and has been described as the next coming of Queen. This is a tough category to call, but my prediction is that Mumford & Sons win this one.Record of the Year» The Black Keys - "Lonely Boy"» Kelly Clarkson - "Stronger"» Fun. feat. Janelle Monae - "We Are Young"» Gotye feat. Kimbra - "Somebody That I Used to Know"» Frank Ocean - "Thinkin Bout You"» Taylor Swift - "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"Not to be confused with Album of the Year, record of the year gives the award for best single or song. This is another tight race as Gotye had that song we couldn't get out of our heads, Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” was a huge hit, and Fun.’s first single was sensational. If our vote counted, it would go to Fun.Best New Artist» The Alabama Shakes» Fun.» Hunter Hayes» The Lumineers» Frank OceanThis is what we like to call the best award of the night. Some of the previous winners of this award have gone on to lead long lasting careers, other have gone on to be forgotten and never heard from again. In a close race, The Lumineers had a spectacular debut album but after using the InnerCityGeeks ballot system the Grammy will go to Fun. However, knowing how bad the Grammy judging committee is, it will either go to Hunter Hays or Frank Ocean.Song of the Year» Ed Sheeran - "The A Team"» Miguel - "Adorn"» Carly Rae Jepsen - "Call Me Maybe"» Kelly Clarkson - "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"» Fun. - "We Are Young"This category is a huge toss-up this time around. It’s the award for the most annoying song of the year. We have 4 new comers this year and a multiple Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson. I see Clarkson winning this award, with a close nod to Fun.Best Pop Duo/Group Performance» Florence and the Machine - "Shake It Out"» Fun. - "We Are Young"» Gotye feat. Kimbra - "Somebody That I Used to Know"» LMFAO - "Sexy and I Know It"» Maroon 5 - "Payphone"Here’s a nice category for best group song/performance. Each song was a hit for their respective bands. We would like to see LMFAO win this, but Gotye may pull an upset.Best Pop Solo Performance» Adele - "Set Fire to the Rain (Live)"» Kelly Clarkson - "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"» Carly Rae Jepsen - "Call Me Maybe"» Katy Perry - "Wide Awake"» Rihanna - "Where Have You Been"This is an easy to predict category. Adele will win for anything she records.Best Rock Performance» Alabama Shakes - "Hold On"» The Black Keys - "Lonely Boy"» Coldplay - "Charlie Brown"» Mumford & Sons - "I Will Wait"» Bruce Springsteen - "We Take Care of Our Own"They should rename this category “Best whatever we think is rock music performance”. Just by looking at the nominees, as talented as they are, 4 bands are not really “rock” bands. Winner should be The Black Keys, but look for Springsteen to win the sentimental vote.Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance» Anthrax - "I'm Alive"» Halestorm - "Love Bites (So Do I)"» Iron Maiden - "Blood Brothers"» Lamb of God - "Ghost Walking"» Marilyn Manson - "No Reflection"» Megadeth - "Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)"Sadly this is one of those categories that won’t make the live TV show. Lots of great songs. Surprised to see Marilyn Manson on this list considering his album didn’t garner rave reviews. Would love to see Halestorm with this one. Lamb of God should win, but with the ongoing legal battles I doubt the Grammy award committee would award them. My prediction is Anthrax picks up this Grammy.Best Rock Song» Jack White - "Freedom at 21"» Mumford & Sons - "I Will Wait"» The Black Keys - "Lonely Boy"» Muse - "Madness"» Bruce Springsteen - "We Take Care of Our Own"This is a four way race between Springsteen, The Black Keys, Mumford and Sons and Jack White. We would like Jack White to win this one, but we can see Mumford & Sons as the actual winners.Best Rock Album» The Black Keys - El Camino» Muse - The 2nd Law» Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto» Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball» Jack White - BlunderbussAgain, I don’t see Springsteen or Coldplay being a rock band. I see Jack White picking up this award. Blunderbuss was everything a rock album should be.Best Alternative Music Album» Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do» Bjork - Biophilia» Gotye - Making Mirrors» M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming» Tom Waits - Bad As MeThe only reason we would love to see Fiona Apple (why is her album title so long) win this award is to see if she does a repeat performance of her infamous acceptance speech during the MTV VMA’s (remember when MTV actually cared about music?) . I predict Gotye to win, but Bjork can be a sleeper here.Best Rap Performance» Drake feat. Lil' Wayne - "HYFR (Hell Ya F---ing Right)"» Jay-Z & Kanye West - "N---as In Paris"» Nas - "Daughters"» Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz - "Mercy"» Young Jeezy feat. Jay-Z & Andre 3000 - "I Do"Jay-Z and Kanye West are both great artist and I would not be surprised if they will with "N---as In Paris" but West is also nominated for "Mercy" and Jay is featured on "I Do". Regardless Jay-Z and Kanye West win!Best Rap Song» Nas - "Daughters"» Wale feat. Miguel - "Lotus Flower Bomb"» Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz - "Mercy"» Drake feat. Lil' Wayne - "The Motto"» Jay-Z & Kanye West - "N---as In Paris"» Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Featuring Bruno Mars - "Young, Wild & Free"My thoughts remain the same in this category Jay-Z and Kanye West.Best Rap Album» Drake - Take Care» Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1» The Roots - Undun» Nas - Life Is Good» Rick Ross - God Forgives, I Don't» 2 Chainz - Based on a T.R.U. StoryThere are a couple good albums on this lists but one of the best album on it is from The Roots. But we wouldn't be surprised if it goes to Drake or Rick Ross.Side notes, Tenacious D was nominated for Best Comedy Album for Rise of the Fenix and a bunch of other nominations.We reviewed some of this years nominees:
- Mumford and Sons - Babel
- Maroon 5 - Overexposed
- Tenacious D - Rize of the Fenix
- Halestorm - The Strange Case Of...
So tune in on February 10, to see if your favorite performers win.