Performers, as many as 25, are done with their final rehearsals. Fingers are crossed as the world waits with bated breath for the envelopes to be opened that reveal the names of the winners and in many cases, hold the key to many a superstar musical career. Will a few sweep the field or will it be an evening of many winners? Who will take home the coveted gold-plated phonograph, we will find out in less than 24 hours.The music industry´s equivalent of the Oscars, Grammy Awards was established as the Gramophone Awards, in 1958 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and have been presented annually since 1959. The Grammys could be credited for helping establish careers of tons of great music makers, singers and songstresses, groups, musicians and producers.
Coldplay
This year, New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne has raked eight nominations for the Grammys, making it the most nominations this year. [Michael Jackson and Babyface have the record number of 12 nominations in a single year for Grammys]. British rockers Coldplay followed closely with seven.
Wayne has been riding a wave with his hugely successful album "That Carter III" which sold a million copies in its first week. Similarly, Coldplay´s Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (aka Viva La Vida) is the second best selling album in the year 2008 with sales of 2.6 million in the US alone and more than six million worldwide. The hip-hop-heavy nominations of the 51st Grammys has seen rappers Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West garner six nods apiece in various categories. Singer-guitarist John Mayer, a duo of Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, another British rock band Radiohead and R&B artist Jazmine Sullivan each has obtained five nominations.
UK singer-songwriter Adele, bands Danger Mouse and the Eagles, country star George Strait and rappers Lupe Fiasco and T.I. Has earned four nominations apiece.
In the key category of album of the year, Coldplay´s "Viva La Vida" will square off against "Tha Carter III: The Rebirth" by Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo´s "Year of the Gentleman," "Raising Sand" by Plant and Krauss, and Radiohead´s "In Rainbows."
Ex-Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and bluegrass queen Alison Krauss are strong contender having this amazing American root-music collaboration. Krauss already has a record under her belt as the most awards won by a female singer (20 as a solo artist, collaborator, producer and with Union Station). But, if Radiohead or Lil Wayne takes it, no one would complain. Highly political Lil Wayne is just so good, like he always has been. And people want Radiohead to be rewarded for their daring endeavor when music sales had died. Earlier last year, the English band released their album independently at a pay-what-you-want-to price on the band´s website and topped the charts by early January 2008, after a million copies had been sold online, earning revenue estimated at $6 million to $10 million.
For best record of the year, nominations have gone to "Chasing Pavements" by 20-year-old British soul singer Adele, "Viva La Vida" from Coldplay, "Bleeding Love" by British artist Leona Lewis, "Paper Planes" by M.I.A -- a Briton of Tamil heritage -- and "Please Read The Letter" by Krauss and Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant.
Record of the Year is awarded to the performer and the production team of a single song. This category faces the fiercest competition, with each candidate deserving the golden gramophone. Critics say Adele is the modern mix of Joni Mitchell, Carol King and cleaner and less menacing Amy Winehouse. Viva La Vida is an instant classic with music ensemble that just touches the core of your bones with lyrics to match the fall of Nepal´s royal Shah dynasty. Genre-leaping hip-hop maverick M.I.A is another talented artist whose Paper Plane song samples gunshots and The Clash´s Combat Rock and exuberates a simple example of the smart beautiful work she is capable of churning out. Her Interscope label N.E.E.T has gone on to market and distribute the soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire by A.R. Rahman and even feature and collaborate in many songs in the album with the maestro. Leona Lewis has to be the biggest British sensation this year, a true new talent. And Plant & Krauss´ ballad “Please Read the Letter” is a real sweet deal.
Fighting it out for best new artist will be The Jonas Brothers, Brits Adele and Duffy, Sullivan and Lady Antebellum.
Many critics say that victory in this category could mean disaster for serious pursue of music career. Otherwise, Adele is probably the strongest of the lot. She is a superb new artist with soulful voice and powerful words of her own. Since Duffy might take some of Adele´s votes, both Brit, the actual award might go to The Jonas Brothers, the teen-and-tween-pop-kings. [Thank you for making the music so enormously commercial, brothers!] The teen´s sensation play, write and perform themselves, with catchy choruses and good guitar riffs.
American Boy (Estelle, featuring Kanye West), Chasing Pavements (Adele), I´m Yours (Jason Mraz), Love Song (Sara Bareilles) and Viva La Vida (Coldplay) are on the Song of the Year. It is for the lyrics and goes to the writer(s)/composer(s) of a single song. I´m Yours and Viva La Vida are powerful numbers, song wise. Jason Mraz´s reggae-tinted love song I´m Yours deserve the words award but Coldplay might have an upper hand on this – I used to rule world!
Though now the song faces the challenge of copyright infringement by guitar god Joe Satriani for his 2004 tune “If I could Fly”, if Viva La Vida wins this award, it means they get a clean chit by the music industry. Satriani, satirically, supported the song at the Grammys. For Chris Martin fans, a win is a must.
Coldplay´s "Viva la Vida" also won a nomination for best performance by a duo or group, and are competing against the reunited Eagles with "Waiting in the Weeds," "Going On" by Gnarls Barkley, Maroon 5´s "Won´t Go Home Without You" and "Apologize" by OneRepublic, the most popular song of 2008.
Australian heavy metal veterans AC/DC -- who released their first album in eight years "Black Ice -- were nominated for best performance in rock by a duo or group. Fellow metal stars Metallica got three nominations including one for best rock album.
Green Day
Bruce Springsteen´s "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," a track from his album "Magic," was nominated for best rock song, a category focused on songwriting. Coldplay won a nomination in the same category for "Violet Hill" as did Radiohead for "House of Cards" and Death Cab for Cutie for "I Will Possess Your Heart."
The Big Boss cannot put out a bad record, for sure. This one in particular is a gratifying slow rock number with amazing guitars and the rocker´s ideal powerful vocals. Kings of Leon´s Sex on Fire is a good idea as well. It has well produced guitar riffs and soulful voice.
Former Beatle Paul McCartney was nominated for best male pop vocal performance for the track "That was Me." Ne-Yo was also nominated in the same category for "Closer" as were John Mayer for "Say," 1970s icon James Taylor for "Wichita Lineman," Kid Rock for "All Summer Long" and Jason Mraz for "I´m Yours."
There remains a close battle between Paul McCartney, John Mayer and Jason Mraz. Grammy hearts are sappy, so the battle will be between Mayer and Mraz, more than Sir McCartney. Mraz might come out victorious and become the new Mayer.
The female best pop vocal performance is tied between Adele - “Chasing Pavements”, Sara Bareilles - “Love Song”, Duffy - “Mercy”, Leona Lewis - “Bleeding Love”, Katy Perry- “I Kissed A Girl” and Pink - “So What”.
Katy Perry
Everybody loved Katy Perry, a new pop sensation, and she is going to be the highlight for the Sunday show. But the winner performance in this category is Chasing Pavements and Bleeding Love. Adele is at her best with this soulful song, co-written by herself. And Leona has her voice to win this category. No Brit has an album as good as this one this year (not even Adele, Duffy or Amy Winehouse, last year). Her Bleeding Love was the best yearstarter in 2008 and deserves accolade for vocal performance. Even Adele agrees that no one does it better than Lewis. Pink´s So What, full of power and angst, is also fun to listen but may not be apt enough for the best position.
Such an award of high regard, it can not run despite recurring controversies. Bob Dylan did not win a Grammy 13 years on until 1972. Bob Marley and Leonard Cohen never did. Neither did Led Zeppelin, except for a belated lifetime achievement honor three years ago. Elvis Presley never won a Grammy in a top category, though he did win for his gospel music, not something he is famous for.
Many critics disagree with the Grammys. They accuse Grammy as an attempt by the record companies to push a gigantic promotional machine. After every Grammys, Billboard magazine regularly observes a spike in an artists´ or groups´ album sales, that have already begun to gather dust. It reflects certain light of biasness. There is also the criticism for awarding too many awards in different categories, 110 to be exact, much more than necessary, critics say. But the highlight of the Grammy´s is the performance of all star cast in a single place, from rock to pop and hip hop. There is a jaw-dropping list of artistes that will be performing at the Staples Center this Sunday. Green Day is a must-see performance at the Grammys. Coldplay will do their VLV. U2 will probably give a glimpse of their new album slated for 2009. Radiohead will definitely have a blasting performance, along with University of Southern California march band.
Kanye West will perform American Boy with UK newcomer Estelle, a genius song by Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. Another duet will see Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus teaming up for Swift´s sweet song Fifteen. Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx are the performers for the Four Tops tribute, which will feature one original member Duke Fakir. Katy Perry, Adele and Rihanna are some of the female superstars who will grace our television with their presence and performance.
Four heavy hitters Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I., Kanye West will team up on their hit single, Swagga Like Us. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will show us their rootsy rock works in the arena setting of the LA´s highest music show. Other mega lineup includes Paul McCartney with Dave Grohl, Justin Timberlake, Kid Rock, The Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Kenny Chesney, Chris Brown, Sugarland, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, MusiCares Person of the Year Neil Diamond, Terence Blanchard, Robin Thicke and Allen Toussaint.
There will be an all-star tribute to Bo Diddley featuring B.B. King, Buddy Guy, John Mayer and Keith Urban.
One of the major highlights will be Blink-182 back together after their five-year hiatus. The pop-punk rock trio had disbanded in December 2004, with members forming new bands. In 2008, drummer Travis Barker survived a deadly jet crash and talks initiated about possible reunion of some sort. The Grammys have not elaborated on the details of what capacity they will be seen on stage together. But in any case, this will be a good news for lot of punk rock fans, probably too old now to be head banging on the Blink´s angst-filled songs.
M.I.A. with one nomination for record of the year, will perform at the stage. Shocking news, she is heavily-pregnant (her due date is February 8th). If that is not crazy, we do not know what is. She is to perform her nominated song Paper Planes. She definitely deserved more nominations, if not for her music, for this attempt to performance.
Whatever your taste in pop music, from rock to rap to country, there will be a performance for you Sunday evening. And if you have your ears stuck with your choice of certain music and not much of radio (Nepali FMs don´t count since they suck at English music), the Grammys will serve you an instant take up on what has been going on in mainstream popular music.
The ceremony, originally planned for three-and-a-half hours, might go little aboard with this lineup. And it is an award show after all, for 110 awards to be handed out at some point.
NOTE: Music fanatics in Nepal, you can watch the Grammy Awards live in Star World channel on Monday, February 9th, at 9 am, with a prime time encore at 9 pm the same day.
Album of the Year
"Raising Sand," Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
"Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," Coldplay
"Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne
"Year of the Gentleman," Ne-Yo
"In Rainbows," Radiohead
Record of the Year
"Chasing Pavements," Adele
"Viva La Vida," Coldplay
"Bleeding Love," Leona Lewis
"Paper Planes," M.I.A
"Please Read the Letter," Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Song of the Year
"American Boy," William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West (Estelle, featuring Kanye West)
"Chasing Pavements," Adele Adkins & Eg White (Adele)
"I´m Yours," Jason Mraz
"Love Song," Sara Bareilles
"Viva La Vida," Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin (Coldplay)
Best New Artist
Adele
Duffy
The Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan
Best Rock Album
Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Kid Rock - Rock N Roll Jesus
Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
Metallica - Death Magnetic
The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
Best Rock Song
Bruce Springsteen - “Girls In Their Summer Clothes”
Radiohead - “House Of Cards”
Death Cab for Cutie - “I Will Possess Your Heart”
Kings of Leon - “Sex On Fire”
Coldplay - “Violet Hill”
Best Pop Vocal Album
Sheryl Crow - Detours
Duffy - Rockferry
Eagles - Long Road Out Of Eden
Leona Lewis - Spirit
James Taylor – Covers
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Adele - “Chasing Pavements”
Sara Bareilles - “Love Song”
Duffy - “Mercy”
Leona Lewis - “Bleeding Love”
Katy Perry- “I Kissed A Girl”
Pink - “So What”
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Kid Rock - “All Summer Long”
John Mayer - “Say”
Paul McCartney - “That Was Me”
Jason Mraz - “I’m Yours”
Ne-Yo - “Closer”
James Taylor - “Wichita Lineman”
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
AC/DC - “Rock ‘N Roll Train”
Coldplay - “Violet Hill”
Eagles - “Long Road Out Of Eden”
Kings of Leon - “Sex On Fire”
Radiohead - “House Of Cards”
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
John Mayer - “Gravity” from Where The Light Is — Live In Los Angeles
Paul McCartney - “I Saw Her Standing There” from Amoeba’s Secret
Bruce Springsteen - “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” from Magic
Eddie Vedder - “Rise”
Neil Young - “No Hidden Path” from Chrome Dreams II
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
Alicia Keys & John Mayer - “Lesson Learned” ”
Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland - “4 Minutes”
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - “Rich Woman”
Rihanna & Maroon 5 - “If I Never See Your Face Again”
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown - “No Air”
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
Coldplay - “Viva La Vida”
Eagles - “Waiting In The Weeds”
Gnarls Barkley - “Going On”
Maroon 5 - “Won’t Go Home Without You”
OneRepublic - “Apologize”
Best Rap Album
Jay-z - American Gangster
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Nas - Nas
T.I. - Paper Trail
Best Rap Song
“Lollipop” - D. Carter, S. Garrett, D.Harrison, J. Scheffer & R. Zamor, songwriters (Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major) “Low” - T. Dillard, M. Humphrey & T-Pain, songwriters (Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain)
“Sexual Eruption” - Calvin Broadus, S. Lovejoy & D. Stewart, songwriters (Snoop Dogg)
“Superstar” - Lupe Fiasco & Soundtrakk, songwriter (Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos)
“Swagga Like Us” - D. Carter, S. Carter, Clifford Harris, & Kanye West, songwriters (M. Arulpragasam, N. Headon, M. Jones, J. Mellor, T. Pentz, P. Simonon, songwriters) (Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne)
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Estelle Featuring Kanye West - “American Boy”
Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain - “Low”
John Legend & Andre 3000 - “Green Light”
Lil Wayne Featuring T-Pain - “Got Money”
Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos - “Superstar”
Best Alternative Music Album
Beck - Modern Guilt
Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Danger Mouse
Nigel Godrich
Johnny Karkazis
Rick Rubin
will.i.am
Best R&B Album
Eric Benet - Love & Life
Boyz II Men - Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA
Al Green - Lay It Down
Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson
Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
Best Electronic/Dance Album
Brazilian Girls - New York City
Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Cyndi Lauper - Bring Ya To The Brink
Kylie Minogue - X
Moby - Last Night
Robyn - Robyn
Best Dance Recording
Daft Punk - “Harder Better Faster Stronger”
Hot Chip - “Ready For The Floor”
Lady Gaga & Colby O’Donis - “Just Dance”
Madonna - “Give It 2 Me”
Rihanna - “Disturbia”
Sam Sparro - “Black & Gold”
Best Hard Rock Performance
Disturbed - “Inside The Fire”
Judas Priest - “Visions”
The Mars Volta - “Wax Simulacra”
Mötley Crüe - “Saints Of Los Angeles”
Rob Zombie - “Lords Of Salem”
Best Metal Performance
DragonForce - “Heroes Of Our Time”
Judas Priest - “Nostradamus”
Metallica - “My Apocalypse”
Ministry - “Under My Thumb”
Slipknot - “Psychosocial”
Best Short Form Music Video
Erykah Badu - “Honey”
Gnarls Barkley - “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul”
Alicia Keys & Jack White - “Another Way To Die”
Radiohead - “House Of Cards”
Weezer - “Pork And Beans”
Best Long Form Music Video
John Mayer - Where The Light Is — Live In Los Angeles
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Runnin’ Down A Dream
Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad Live
Various Artists - Respect Yourself — The Stax Records Story
The Who - Amazing Journey: The Story Of The Who
