Yesterday was the 2022 Grammy Awards and, as fun as it is to talk about how out-of-touch and embarrassing the Grammys can be sometimes, I thought they actually got the winners more right than wrong this year (even if the nominations in some categories could still use some serious workshopping).
Back in November, I wrote out a few of my wish-list items for this year's Grammys. Let's see how many wishes were granted...
Record of the Year
Wish List: Happier Than Ever - Billie Eilish
Winner: Leave the Door Open - Silk Sonic
No record in this nomination field gives me goosebumps every time like "Happier Than Ever" does, but I think Bruno and Anderson absolutely deserved this Grammy. "Leave the Door Open" is such an infectiously smooth record, and unlike other spots on An Evening with Silk Sonic that feel almost too derivative of R&B classics, "Leave the Door Open" balances the modern and the retro very tastefully. I'm in favor of this.
Album of the Year
Wish List: We Are - Jon Batiste
Winner: We Are - Jon Batiste
This is the one category here that what I wanted actually came true. I think the Academy probably reacted pretty similarly to this category as I did: there was not a clear "defining album" of the year that clearly should garner the votes, so this could be a great chance to honor someone who truly represents everything an artist should aspire to be and makes really forward-looking yet acutely relevant music. That's Jon Batiste. I personally enjoy the Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish records more, but I was thrilled to see Jon actually get the dub here.
Song of the Year
Wish List: drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo
Winner: Leave the Door Open - Silk Sonic
Maybe I just bias towards slower songs for this category. "Leave the Door Open" absolutely makes sense to me as Record of the Year, but I was a bit surprised to see its name engraved here too. As a songwriter myself, my usual criteria here is, "Which of these songs makes me most jealous?" or "Which of these songs makes me want to write better songs?" I never got that jealousy with "Leave the Door Open." It's a phenomenal sounding record and it's certainly a brilliantly written pop song, but it's so self-assured and confident. I love some fragility in this category, and "drivers license"plays that card much better. But overjoyed for Silk Sonic once again.
Best New Artist
Wish List: Japanese Breakfast
Winner: Olivia Rodrigo
I'm actually surprised I didn't pick Olivia Rodrigo for this category back in November. She's still not my personal favorite artist in the category, but she's absolutely cemented herself as one of the most promising voices coming out of pop music right now, and awarding her this Grammy feels like a no-brainer to some degree. Japanese Breakfast and FINNEAS were certainly worthy, but either would have been a shocker to be honest.
Best Pop Solo Performance
Wish List: Right on Time - Brandi Carlile
Winner: drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo
The vocal performance on "Right on Time" is one of the most emotionally stirring performances I've heard in the last few years, so I'm disappointed that Brandi didn't come away with this one. It certainly would have been deserved. But let's not all pretend like we didn't feel Olivia's heartbreak in full teenage melodrama the first time we heard "drivers license." Her vocal on this track is also stunning, so I can swallow this outcome.
Best Rock Album
Wish List: Nobody
Winner: Medicine at Midnight - Foo Fighters
I previously called this field "just disappointing," dejectedly saying, "I guess it's tradition when in doubt to just give it to Foo Fighters." In that respect, I was right on the money. But in light of Taylor Hawkins' tragic death, I'm happy the Foos walked away with a Best Rock Album win for Taylor's last album with the group. RIP Taylor.
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