The 54th Grammys - Katherine 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 Katherine, our Pop and Urban expert.

 

Record of the Year

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

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

Adele will probably take Record of the Year for “Rolling in the Deep,” because it is one of the most popular songs this year. But I’d like to see Katy Perry win so I can hear her give an acceptance where she doesn’t thank her husband in a baby voice.

 

Album of the Year

Who Will Win: 21 - Adele

Who I Think Should Win: Speak Now - Taylor Swift

Adele’s 21 will win Album of the Year.  This record contains three number 1 singles and is the longest-running number 1 album since The Bodyguard soundtrack.  Although I must say her competition in this category is pretty weak.  Who decided on the nominees again? 

 

Song of the Year

Who Will Win: "Grenade" - Bruno Mars 

Who I Think Should Win: "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons

If Bruno Mars’ songwriting skills are awarded, hopefully he’ll be encouraged to keep writing and stop singing.  Mumford & Sons should win just to keep Adele from sweeping this year’s Grammys… and because they are a great band.

 

Best New Artist

 

Who Will Win: Bon Iver

Who I Think Should Win: The Band Perry

I’m placing my bet that Best New Artist will go to indie favorite Bon Iver. It would be amusing to see the presenter say their name incorrectly.  I think The Band Perry should win because they broke barriers with “If I Die Young,” being one of a few country artists to cross over into mainstream Top 40 this year.

 

Best Pop Solo Performance

Who Will Win: "You and I" - Lady Gaga

Who I Think Should Win: Anyone but Adele

Lady Gaga will win with “You and I” because it wouldn’t be an award show without Gaga receiving all of the attention. 

Best Pop Solo Performance shouldn’t go to Adele because being recognized for your performance would actually require performing and not canceling tour dates.  I’d also be interested to see how the Recording Academy would fill airtime if Adele gets laryngitis the day before the Grammys and bails.

 

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

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

Who I Think Should Win: "Moves Like Jagger" - Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera

While I detest the song “Moves Like Jagger” (and Adam Levine), this is the only true pop song nominated in this category.  When did The Black Keys become a pop band?  I think Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse will take this one by default because it would be insensitive for her not to win.

 

Best Pop Vocal Album

 

Who Will Win: 21 - Adele

 

Who I Think Should Win: 21 - Adele

Again, Adele should only take Best Pop Vocal Album because her competition is weak.  No more Gaga or Bruno, please. 

 

Best Rock Performance

Who Will Win: "Walk" - Foo Fighters

Who I Think Should Win: Anyone other than Coldplay, but preferably Mumford & Sons

Mumford & Sons should win for Best Rock Performance because they put on a pretty badass live show.  But if we are now opening up the rock category to artists with banjos, can Taylor Swift be nominated for “Mean?” 

 

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance

Who Will Win: “Curl of the Burl” - Mastodon

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

I want Megadeth to win simply because I think they are the only band in this category with the exception of Mastodon who qualify as metal. Are the Foo Fighters really hard rockers?  Just sayin…

 

Best Rock Song

Who Will Win: "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons

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

I want Radiohead’s “Lotus Flower” to take Best Rock Song so we can see Thom Yorke do a crazy, spastic dance when he accepts the Grammy like he does in the music video.

 

Best Rock Album

Who Will Win: Wasting Light - Foo Fighters

Who I Think Should Win: Come Around Sundown - Kings of Leon

Foo Fighters will probably win Best Rock Album, but they will take everything in the rock category.  If I had it my way, Kings of Leon would win.  Even though Caleb Followill would exit the stage halfway through their acceptance speech to throw up, my coworkers would finally give this album a chance.

 

Best Alternative Music Album

Who Will Win: The Kings of Limbs - Radiohead

Who I Think Should Win: Bon Iver - Bon Iver

I think Radiohead will win just because they are Radiohead.  I want Bon Iver to win because this is the only rock category they should be allowed to win.  They are an alternative/folk band, not a rock band.

 

Best R&B Performance

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

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

I’m rooting for Charlie Wilson to take Best R&B performance with “You Are.”  He’s been nominated for six Grammys to date, but has never won.  I think Corinne will win because people seem to like her the most.

Best R&B Song

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

Who I Think Should Win: “Far Away” - Marsha Ambrosius

Although Cee Lo will win Best R&B song, here are a few reasons why he shouldn’t: 1) He would have no problem writing a crude (yet amazing) song about how he feels about the winner. Then he has a chance to win next year. 2) He will be wearing a crazier outfit than the peacock costume that he wore at last year’s Grammys. 3) If his duets keep winning awards, he might be encouraged to record a new track with Gwyneth Paltrow.

Best R&B Album

Who Will Win: F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown

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

Chris Brown’s The F.A.M.E. is a shoe-in for Best R&B Album.  The record not only contains the most hits, it is my favorite out of the nominees.  However, I think it would be slightly amusing if someone other than Chris Brown wins so we could see him lose his temper.
 

 

Best Rap Performance

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

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

Jay-Z and Kanye will probably take Best Rap Performance, but I’d like to see Wiz Khalifa win.  Then Amber Rose wouldn’t be the only trophy Wiz won over Kanye West.

 

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Who Will Win: "Party" - Beyoncé featuring Andre 3000

Who I Think Should Win: "Motivation" - Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne

Kelly Rowland should win just so we can see her be better than Beyoncé for once. 

 

Best Rap Song

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

Who I Think Should Win:  "I Need a Doctor" - Dr. Dre., Eminem & Sklyar Grey

I’ll be just as upset about Jay-Z and Kanye winning Best Rap Song as I am that Dr. Dre hasn’t released Detox yet.

 

Best Rap Album

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

Who I Think Should Win: Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj

The odds are in Kanye’s favor for Best Rap Album.  I think Nicki should be recognized in this category even though she is the underdog.  Pink Friday is just an overall better album than Watch the Throne.

 

Best Country Solo Performance

Who Will Win: "Honey Bee" - Blake Shelton

Who I Think Should Win: "Mean" - Taylor Swift

I want Taylor to win just so we can see her act really surprised.  She also deserves the chance to thank her cat, Meredith. 

 

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

Who Will Win: "You and Tequila" – Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter

Who I Think Should Win: "Don’t You Wanna Stay" - Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson

Both songs that have a shot at winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance feature a non-country artist, which is a little twisted.  While I’d like to see a Jason/Kelly win, I think Kenny and Grace will take this one.

 

Best Country Song

Who Will Win: "Mean" - Taylor Swift

Who I Think Should Win: "Mean"- Taylor Swift

The Grammy for Best Country Song will sit nicely next to Taylor’s AMA for Artist of the Year and her CMA for Entertainer of the Year.

 

Best Country Album

Who Will Win: My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean

Who I Think Should Win: Speak Now - Taylor Swift

I think Taylor Swift should win—obviously.  Did I mention that I’m upset she wasn’t nominated for Album of the Year?
 

 

 

Katherine Epstein (@RTNowRadio) for Right Now Radio © 2012

 

---