Anyone signing on here hoping to hear my ambitions for my grandmother will be exceedingly disappointed.
The 2022 Grammy nominations were released today, and I've definitely got some artists I'm pulling for. My comments below are not reflective of who I think will win but instead who I would be most stoked to see come out on top.
Record of the Year: Happier Than Ever - Billie Eilish
This song has rightfully become a fan favorite, and I was very excited to see it get the proper recognition it deserves in a Grammy nod. Even if I would place most of the tracks on Billie's new album in the "Very Good" category, "Happier Than Ever" is astonishing, and my opinion on that hasn't changed a bit since the first time I heard it. It has probably the most euphoric build of any pop record I've heard in at least the last five years. That explosive production in the second half of the song is what turns a good piece of songwriting into a phenomenal record, which fits this category perfectly.
Album of the Year: We Are - Jon Batiste
This is normally the category I care the most about, but this year, I think the nominations are a mixed bag. Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift won the 2020 and 2021 awards respectively, and with far stronger albums in my opinion. I like the Olivia Rodrigo album, but nothing about it feels monumental to me. There's nothing wrong with a collection of safely produced and well-written power pop songs, but for Album of the Year...? And do I think Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett really made the best album of 2021? This is a year where I would love to see it go to a lesser-known, left-of-mainstream artist like Jon Batiste to give him the recognition he deserves for creating a great piece of work like "We Are."
Song of the Year: drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo
It would be a shame to see Olivia walk out of these Grammy's with nothing after the tsunami of attention she provoked in the start of this year. Nothing about the production value of Sour blew me away, but her emotionally visceral songwriting on "drivers license" absolutely did. Olivia proved you can still top the Billboard Hot 100 with little more than a piano and an incredible melody, and nothing screams "Song of the Year" to me like that.
Best New Artist: Japanese Breakfast
My personal favorite artist in this category would be FINNEAS, but I think it would be cool to see someone a bit more boundary pushing like Japanese Breakfast take the award. Japanese Breakfast's distinct summery sound is definitely worth recognizing, but I could support The Kid LAROI too after the year he's had.
Best Pop Solo Performance: Right On Time - Brandi Carlile
I passed her up for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, but this is the category I think Brandi Carlile should win in a knockout. That's not to say she will, but I think it's absolutely earned. "Right On Time" is a vocal stunner on an album chock-full of them, and after her live performance of this song on SNL, I can honestly say I think she has one of the most powerful voices in music today. This category should be hers.
Best Rock Album: Nobody
This field is just disappointing. I guess it's tradition when in doubt to just give it to Foo Fighters, so I'm for that I guess. But wow is it a weak field...
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