In a year where music has been more important than ever thanks to hardly going outside for several months, it’s no surprise that the Grammy nominations for the 2021 awards are full of amazing artists and songs that have made up the soundtrack to the year. Here are some of my personal predictions and favourites.
Record of the Year
My absolute favourite song on this list is Say So by Doja Cat. I have very fond memories of dancing at parties to this song before the general chaos of coronavirus hit the UK. However, I don’t think it’ll be the one to win. My prediction for this category is that it will go to Beyoncé for Black Parade. In a year fraught with racial tensions and the growth of the Black Lives Matter movement, Black Parade is too important to be overlooked and deserves the award wholeheartedly.
Album of the Year
There are some amazing albums on this list that deserve this award. Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa, Folklore by Taylor Swift, and Women in Music Pt.III by HAIM are all great contenders, and I couldn’t say which I think will get it. All I can say is that it definitely shouldn’t go to any of the men on this list (yes I’m looking at YOU, Coldplay).
Song of the Year
Black Parade features on this list again, and so does I Can’t Breathe by H.E.R., another song that references the Black Lives Matter movement and the death of George Floyd earlier this year. I think one of these songs deserves the win more than any other on the list, as they really highlight some of the most important issues raised this year.
Best New Artist
Megan Thee Stallion. Do I need to elaborate?
Best Solo Pop Performance
Seeing Justin Bieber on this list makes me so sad. Not that I actively have anything against him, but… Yummy? Really? Harry Styles or Taylor Swift deserves this the most, although I’m probably leaning towards Harry a bit more because of how much I love Watermelon Sugar.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
BTS has probably cinched this one with Dynamite, but my favourites on this list are tied between Rain on Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande and Exile by Taylor Swift and Bon Iver. If I’m feeling particularly moody, then Exile would probably win.
Best Pop Vocal Album
As much as I love Taylor Swift, I don’t think I would class Folklore as a pop album (or maybe I just don’t understand genres). I would love to see Lady Gaga win this with Chromatica, which was my most-streamed album of the year according to my Spotify wrapped – for good reason too. Chromatica makes me want to go out and dance, but since Sugar is shut, I’ll make do with dancing in my room.
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Going through the list of Grammy categories made me realise just how many there are. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album? I couldn’t tell you who deserved that, but the only name I recognised on there was Kanye West. If you’ve ever seen the 2019 movie Cats, a strange fever dream with very catchy songs, you’ll recognise the song Beautiful Ghosts, which is up in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category, along with Into the Unknown from Frozen 2 and No Time to Die for the new Bond film. Seeing the winners will be interesting, to say the least!