Grammy Awards: Which artists will -- and should -- win

Source: Milwaukee Journal SentinelJan.迷你倉 17--The Recording Academy and I frequently fight (well, if you consider my yelling at the TV during the Grammys a fight), but we may actually be on the same page this year. For the first time I can remember, my favorite album of 2013 -- Daft Punk's "Random Access Memories" -- is actually up for album of the year at the Grammy Awards.But will it win? I'm thinking not. Then again, the Grammys are the hardest awards show to predict year after year (another reason for my perpetual frustration).But that hasn't deterred my attempts to predict some of the winners. Here's how I think 10 of the categories are going to go down next Sunday, and my thoughts on who actually deserves to take home the golden gramophones.Album of the yearNominees: "The Blessed Unrest," Sara Bareilles; "good kid, m.A.A.d. city," Kendrick Lamar; "The Heist," Macklemore & Ryan Lewis; "Random Access Memories," Daft Punk; "Red," Taylor SwiftWhat will win: "The Heist." Macklemore & Ryan Lewis has a great narrative on its side as the first duo to have its first two singles climb up to No. 1 on the Billboard charts -- without the support of a major label.What should win: "Random Access Memories" for reinvigorating the tired dance music landscape, and for proving disco isn't dead. (Plus, I want to see the guys accept the award in their robot outfits.)Record of the yearNominees: "Blurred Lines," Robin Thicke; "Get Lucky," Daft Punk; "Locked Out of Heaven," Bruno Mars; "Radioactive," Imagine Dragons; "Royals," LordeWhat will win: Since the award recognizes both production and performance, this has to be Lorde's to lose -- her beguiling vocals are rivaled only by Bruno Mars in this category, but Mars' song is missing the rich originality in "Royals."Who should win: "Royals" -- it's the kind of song that becomes a more intriguing listen the more you hear it, just like last year's unorthodox winner "Somebody That I Used to Know."Song of the yearNominees: "Just Give Me a Reason," P!nk; "Locked Out of Heaven," Bruno Mars; "Roar," Katy Perry; "Royals," Lorde; "Same Love," Macklemore & Ryan LewisWhat will win: A win for "Same Love" would be the academy's way of showing support for same-sex marriage and acknowledging the potential of music to contribute to social change.What should win: "Same Love."Best new artistNominees: Ed Sheeran; James Blake; Kacey Musgraves; Kendrick Lamar; Macklemore & Ryan LewisWho will win: Thinking this will be Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' night.Who should win: Kendrick Lamar, not just for his excellent album, but for upstaging practically ever rapper in the game with an endless string of guest appearances, including that genre-shaking "Control" verse.Best rock performanceNominees: "Always Alright," Alabama Shakes; "I'm Shakin'," Jack White; "Kashmir," Led Zeppelin; "My God Is the Sun," Queens of the Stone Age; "Radioactive," Imagine Dragons; "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)," David Bowie.What will win: It's a tossup between respecting the revitalization of a storied career (Bowie's) vs. the start of a promising one (Imagine Dragons). Given its Record of the Year nom and fast ascent to the top of the rock heap, Imagine Dragons has the edge for the win...What should win: ... but I'd argue Bowie's energetic, enigmatic comeback on "Stars" burned brighter.Best pop solo performanceNominees: "Brave," Sara Bareilles; "Mirrors," Justin Timberlake; "Roar," Katy Perry; "Royals," Lorde; "When I Was Your Man," Bruno MarsWhat will win: "Royals," for Lorde's simultaneously majestic and mysterious voice.What should win: Honestly, "Man" deserved the big nominations Mars has instead received for "Heaven." It's his most beautiful, and beautifully sung, track to date.Best country songNominees: "Begin Again," Taylor Swift; "I Drive Your Truck," Lee Brice; "Mama's Broken Heart," Miranda Lambert; "Merry Go 'Round," Kacey Musgraves; "Mine Would Be You," Blake SheltonWhat will win: Giving the Grammy to Miranda Lambert's "Heart" is a way to honor country's premier female star, its most promising up-and-comer and a couple of talented songwriters (Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark) all in one stroke.What should win: "Merry Go 'Round," even if it wasn't the most challenging or engaging song on Musgraves' "Same Trailer Different Park," it's nevertheless a fine representative for one of the year's best country albums.Best rap albumNominees: "Good kid, m.A.A.d. city," Kendrick Lamar; "The Heist," Macklemore & Ryan Lewis; "Magna Carta... Holy Grail," Jay Z; "Nothing Was the Same," Drake; "Yeezus," Kanye WestWhat will win: In recent years we've seen album of the year winners not win in their genre categories (we don't get it either), so while "The Heist" is a favorite for the big album prize, "Yeezus," one of the most critically praised albums in any genre for 2013, could get this one.What should win: "Good kid, m.A.A.d. city" is the most personal album儲存倉in the bunch, inspired by Lamar's challenging upbringing in gang-infested Compton, Calif.Best dance/ electronica albumNominees: "18 Months," Calvin Harris; "Atmosphere," Kaskade; "A Color Map of the Sun," Pretty Lights; "Random Access Memories," Daft Punk; "Settle," DisclosureWhat will win: Daft Punk probably won't get lucky in the album and record of the year categories; consider this the consolation prize.What should win: "Random Access Memories."Best R&B songNominees: "Best of Me," Anthony Hamilton; "Love and War," Tamar Braxton; "Only One," PJ Morton; "Pusher Love Girl," Justin Timberlake; "Without You," FantasiaWhat will win: The omission of Justin Timberlake from the big categories in light of his ambitious and accomplished year was seen by fans as a slap in the face, so expect the snub to give him a push in categories where he is nominated, including this one.What should win: Well, aside from the fact that John Legend's stunning "All of Me" was stunningly overlooked, "Pusher Love Girl" is a worthy winner, summarizing the scope and vision Timberlake brought to his comeback material.MORE GRAMMY COVERAGECome back to Tap Milwaukee on Grammy night for photo galleries, playlist, a video recap, reviews of the performances, a rundown of the show and more. Comprehensive Grammy coverage can also be found in the Jan. 27 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.WISCONSIN CONNECTIONSA few of the year's nominees have ties to musicians from the Dairy State, including:Kanye West's "Yeezus": The rapper recruited Eau Claire's Justin Vernon, a.k.a. Bon Iver, as a collaborator. It's nominated in multiple categories, including rap album of the year.Neko Case's "The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You": Nominated in the best alternative music album category. Evansville, Wis., resident Kelly Hogan, Case's backing vocalist, appears throughout the album."Sound City: Real to Reel" and "Cut Me Some Slack": The musical accompaniment to Dave Grohl's documentary "Sound City," about a late recording studio, was produced by Viroqua native Butch Vig. "Real to Reel" is nominated in the soundtrack category, and album track "Slack" is up for best rock song."Latin Jazz-Jazz Latin," Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet: Waukesha native Colin Douglas is up for a Grammy, as drummer for Wallace's band, in the best Latin jazz album category.WATCH THESE 3 PERFORMANCESPaul McCartney and Ringo Starr: The last two living Beatles will accept the Lifetime Achievement Award and perform together once more.Daft Punk with Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers: The only way "Get Lucky" can get any funkier is with Stevie doing his wondrous things on the keys.Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton, Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson: Showing that Shelton's controversial comments about classic country fans was forgiven and forgotten (for the record, he called them "old farts"), three country singers with lasting legacies team up with the newish country star (although perhaps it's because they're trying to upstage him).CATCH THE NOMINEES HERESee one of this year's Grammy nominees live in a local venue1. Bruno MarsNominations: Record of the year; song of the year; best pop solo performance; best pop vocal albumMilwaukee show:June 25, Marcus Amphitheater, Summerfest. Show time and prices to be announced; tickets available for purchase at the Summerfest box office, Ticketmaster retail outlets, (800) 745-3000 and ticketmaster.com.2. Dream TheaterNomination: Best metal performanceMilwaukee show:8 p.m. April 6, Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave. $28 to $65 in advance at the box office, the Pabst Theater box office (144 E. Wells St.), by calling (414) 286-3663 and visiting pabsttheater.org.3. Mavis StaplesNomination: Best Americana albumMilwaukee show: 8 p.m. Feb. 9 and 10, Northern Lights Theater, Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 W. Canal St. $60 to $70 at the box office and through Ticketmaster.4. The GreencardsNomination: Best folk albumMilwaukee show: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24, Cedarburg Performing Arts Center, W68-N611 Evergreen Blvd., Cedarburg. $35 at the box office and cedarburgpac.org.5. Ron WhiteNomination: Best comedy albumMilwaukee show: 7 p.m. April 12, Riverside Theater. $43.50 to $53.50.6. 2 ChainzNominations: Best rap song (contribution to "F**kin' Problems" by A$AP Rocky)Milwaukee show: 8 p.m. Feb. 8, Eagles Ballroom, the Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave. $32 to $124 at the box office, (414) 342-7283 and therave.com.7. Brandy ClarkNomination: Best country song (as co-writer writer for Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart")Milwaukee show:Opening for Jennifer Nettles, 8 p.m. March 14, Riverside Theater. $35.75 to $45.75.Facebook: fb.me/piet.levy.18Twitter: twitter.com/pietlevyCopyright: ___ (c)2014 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Visit the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at .jsonline.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉最平