The 54th Grammys - Justin's Picks

The 54th Grammy Awards are set to be presented in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 12.  Our music writers have combed through the categories and made their predictions on winners in the major categories.  During this Grammy week, you will get to read five different view points on who we think will win and who we wish would win.   While each writer has a particular area of expertise, we have all covered the same categories.  Just like the Academy would. Today, we start with Justin, our Rock expert.

 

Record of the Year (Single)

Who Will Win: "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele

Who I Think Should Win: "Firework" - Katy Perry

Katy's had a rough few months, and I think her track is the only song that can seriously pose a threat in this category. Still, I don't see it winning over Adele's ginormous 2011 hit song.

 

Album of the Year

Who Will Win: Wasting Light - Foo Fighters

Who I Think Should Win: Wasting Light - Foo Fighters

You know, I was going to say Adele would win this, arguably the biggest award of the night, but you know what? No, I say the Grammy surprises people and gives the honor to Dave Grohl and his merry band of Foos, instead of the constantly heartbroken gal from England.

 

Song of the Year

Who Will Win: "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele

Who I Think Should Win: "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele

Adele is going to have a big night, and "Rolling in the Deep" will win this important category. How could it be anything else? This song was everywhere in 2011.

 

Best New Artist

 

Who Will Win: Nicki Minaj

Who I Think Should Win: The Band Perry

The Band Perry has made a lot of noise in country music, but I think this award's going home with Nicki. With her big colorful hair, loud outfits, and singable singles, the Academy is sure to take a shine to her.

 

Best Pop Solo Performance

Who Will Win: "Someone Like You" - Adele

Who I Think Should Win: You and I" - Lady Gaga

Realistically, I think Adele will continue her winning ways here, even though I like Gaga's increasingly soulful sounds of late.

 

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Who Will Win: "Body & Soul" - Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse

Who I Think Should Win: "Body & Soul" - Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse

This is one of those situations where you've gotta feel like you've already lost if you're a nominee. I think the Academy gives this one to Bennett/Winehouse, posthumously recognizing the late singer for her legacy of reintroducing jazz to modern pop audiences.

 

Best Pop Vocal Album

Who Will Win: 21 - Adele

Who I Think Should Win: Born This Way - Lady Gaga

Adele is the darling of the night and adds another Grammy to her growing collection of mantlepiece bling, even though Lady Gaga's album is a better overall effort.

 

Best Rock Performance

Who Will Win: "Walk" - Foo Fighters

Who I Think Should Win: "Lotus Flower"- Radiohead

Remember when Radiohead released the video for "Lotus Flower" and all it consisted of was Thom Yorke doing a New Agey, epileptic shuffle in black and white? I'm guessing the Grammy's wont either.

 

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance

Who Will Win: "White Limo" - Foo Fighters

Who I Think Should Win: "Public Enemy No. 1" - Megadeth

As much as I appreciate the fact that the Grammys are finally giving some love to one of the Foo's more abrasive tunes, I think Megadeth deserves it. They've been loud their entire career, and have been consistently snubbed by the Grammys. And even though the video for "White Limo" has rock god Lemmy in it, "Public Enemy No. 1" has a criminal chimp on the run from the law. I'm sorry but advantage < monkey.  

 

Best Rock Song

Who Will Win: "Walk" - Foo Fighters

Who I Think Should Win: "Walk" - Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters earn another trophy here, since Coldplay's nominated tune is again guilty of sounding a bit too much like a hit song from years ago.

 

Best Rock Album

Who Will Win: Wasting Light - Foo Fighters

Who I Think Should Win: Wasting Light - Foo Fighters

Wilco had a good album that made little noise outside of indie best-of lists, and the Chili Peppers are in a transitionary stage right now. A win for Jeff Beck would be an out of touch choice, and Kings of Leon's last album was way better than Come Around Sundown. With the Nevermind 20th anniversary and the huge success of Wasting Light, this is the icing on the cake for Dave Grohl and the Foos.

 

Best Alternative Music Album

Who Will Win: Torches - Foster The People

Who I Think Should Win: Circuital - My Morning Jacket

Foster The People came on strong last spring, but the appeal has faded. Everyone loved "Pumped Up Kicks" until they didn't. My Morning Jacket had the opposite effect for me. I caught a snippet of "Holding On To Black Metal" and later when I checked out the rest of the brilliant Circuital, I was hooked. This will likely be where I begin to swear at the TV.

 

Best R&B Performance

Who Will Win: "Is This Love" - Corinne Bailey Rae

Who I Think Should Win: "You Are" - Charlie Wilson

Charlie Wilson has a lot of soul, but I think the Grammy goes home with the safest bet, Corinne and her smooth rendition of the Bob Marley classic. Then again, this is probably the category I know the least about, so I'm probably just swayed by fond memories of listening to the Rasta legend.

 

 

Best R&B Song

Who Will Win: "Fool For You" - Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona

Who I Think Should Win: "Fool For You" - Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona

Cee Lo's had a ton of exposure over the past few years, from his "Crazy" smash hit with Gnarls Barkley to his judgeship on The Voice. I could easily see the Grammy showing him some love here.

 

 

Best R&B Album

Who Will Win: F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown

Who I Think Should Win: F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown

The Grammys finally give Chris Brown some credit for a solid effort, after snubbing him 8 times since 2007.

 

 

Best Rap Performance

Who Will Win: "Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Who I Think Should Win: "Black and Yellow" - Wiz Khalifa

Jay and Kanye burned it up with The Throne this year, and I know it was regarded as one of the most go-for-broke, big-time, colossal events to happen in Hip-Hop and all, but I'm just sayin' my man Wiz Khalifa dropped a hot track about Pittsburgh, so he oughta get it.

 

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Who Will Win: "I'm On One" - DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne

Who I Think Should Win: "I'm On One" - DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne

I think some of the hottest new names in rap take the Grammy here with "I'm On One," which was poppin' fresh through all of last Summer and much of 2011.

 

Best Rap Song

Who Will Win: "Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Who I Think Should Win:  "Black and Yellow" - Wiz Khalifa

Here's another instance where I think Wiz and the royal ones gotta duke it out. However, I can see Jay and Kanye getting recognized here for their big collaboration.

 

Best Rap Album

Who Will Win: Watch The Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Who I Think Should Win: Watch The Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West

All that stuff I said about these two before? Yeah, still applies. They're officially crowned when they capture this important category.

 

Best Country Solo Performance

Who Will Win: "Mean" - Taylor Swift

Who I Think Should Win: "Honey Bee" - Blake Shelton

Taylor Swift is no longer in the position where she wins every award she's nominated for, but I think she takes this one, getting credit for her songwriting and gentle approach to taking on critics. Still, I like the way Blake's career is turning but this time around he gets snubbed.

 

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

Who Will Win: "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?" - Thompson Square

Who I Think Should Win: "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?" - Thompson Square

Some great competition here so it could go any direction. I'm not a huge country buff but after giving each track a close listen I say the Square gets the Grammy.

 

Best Country Song

Who Will Win: "Mean" - Taylor Swift

Who I Think Should Win: "Threaten Me With Heaven" - Vince Gill

With both newcomers and seasoned vets in the running, this category is bound to be a surprise. I like Vince Gill, but something tells me Taylor is going to be making that face at the podium multiple times on Sunday.

 

 

Best Country Album

Who Will Win: Speak Now - Taylor Swift

Who I Think Should Win: Red River Blue - Blake Shelton

Like I said, Blake's been great these days, between hit singles, a high-profile marriage and his primetime role on The Voice. He deserves this award, which in the end doesn't amount to a hill of beans. Prove me wrong, Academy.
 

 

Justin Starling (@RTNowRadio) for Right Now Radio © 2012

 

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