2016 Grammy Predictions

Tonights the night! My predictions are posted (and mind you, these aren't ALL of the categories, just the ones I'm invested in). I've decided each category here is worth 2 points. If my prediction of who WILL win is correct, 2 points for me. If my wish for who SHOULD win is correct instead, 1 point for me then. Tell me what your thoughts are, and let's see if I know what I'm talking about here!

Record of the Year

Who will win: “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars

Who should win: “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars

Album of the Year

Who will win: 1989 – Taylor Swift

Who should win: To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar

Song of the Year

Who will win: “Blank Space” – Taylor Swift

Who should win: “Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran

Best New Artist

Who will win: Meghan Trainor

Who should win: Tori Kelly

Best Pop Solo Performance

Who will win: “Blank Space” – Taylor Swift

Who should win: “Love Me Like You Do” – Ellie Goulding

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Who will win: “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars

Who should win: “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars

Best Pop Vocal Album

Who will win: 1989 – Taylor Swift

Who should win: 1989 – Taylor Swift

Best Dance Recording

Who will win: “Where Are Ü Now" – Jack Ü & Justin Bieber

Who should win: “Where Are Ü Now" – Jack Ü & Justin Bieber

Best Dance/Electronic Album

Who will win: Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü – Jack Ü

Who should win: In Colour – Jamie xx

Best Rock Performance

Who will win: “Don’t Wanna Fight” – Alabama Shakes

Who should win: “What Kind of Man” – Florence + the Machine

Best Rock Song

Who will win: “Don’t Wanna Fight” – Alabama Shakes

Who should win: “What Kind of Man” – Florence + the Machine

Best R&B Performance

Who will win: “Earned It” – The Weeknd

Who should win: “Earned It” – The Weeknd

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Who will win: “My Favorite Part of You” – Charlie Wilson

Who should win: “Let It Burn” – Jazmine Sullivan

Best R&B Song

Who will win: “Really Love” – D’Angelo and The Vanguard

Who should win: “Let It Burn” – Jazmine Sullivan

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Who will win: Beauty Behind the Madness – The Weeknd

Who should win: Wildheart – Miguel

Best R&B Album

Who will win: Coming Home – Leon Bridges

Who should win: Reality Show – Jazmine Sullivan

Best Rap Performance

Who will win: “Alright” – Kendrick Lamar

Who should win: “Alright” – Kendrick Lamar

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Who will win: “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth

Who should win: “These Walls” – Kendrick Lamar, Bilal, Anna Wise, & Thundercat

Best Rap Song

Who will win: “Glory” – Common & John Legend

Who should win: “Alright” – Kendrick Lamar

Best Rap Album

Who will win: To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar

Who should win: To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar

Best Musical Theater Album

Who will win: Hamilton

Who should win: Fun Home

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Who will win: Glen Campbell, I’ll Be Me

Who should win: Fifty Shades of Grey

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Who will win: The Imitation Game – Alexandre Desalt

Who should win: Birdman – Antonio Sanchez

Best Song Written for Visual Media

Who will win: “Glory” – Common & John Legend

Who should win: “Love Me Like You Do” – Ellie Goulding

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Who will win: Blake Mills

Who should win: Diplo

Best Music Video

Who will win: “Bad Blood” – Taylor Swift & Kendrick Lamar

Who should win: “Alright” – Kendrick Lamar

Best Music Film

Who will win: Amy

Who should win: Amy

The 2016 Grammy Nomination Snubs

There's a lot to be thankful for this time of year. It's award season after all (my favorite time) and after a week of letting the Grammy nominations soak in, I've finally compiled my list of some of the artists, songs, and albums that got left behind in the dust of Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, a& Kendrick Lamar. Mind you, my perspective comes from a predominantly Pop and R&B background.

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Carly Rae Jepsen’s third studio album E•MO•TION was without a doubt one of the best pop albums of the year (right behind ADELE’s 25). It’s a shame that just because it didn’t sell as much as her last album or produce a hit as big as “Call Me Maybe” that it got overlooked majorily. E•MO•TION could have easily taken the place of Florence + The Machine’s Best Pop Vocal Album nomination (I mean after all, it seems to fit the rock category a lot more) and it’s second single “Run Away With Me” deserved a Record of the Year nomination over D’Angelo or Ed Sheerhan.

 Watch her video here since Blogspot won't let me post it directly!

Everyone else has said the same thing, but I think it’s safe to say after their performance at last year’s ceremony and the success of it on the radio, Rihanna’s “FourFiveSeconds” did not deserve to majorily get shut out of the race this year. It seemed like a shoe-in for Song of the Year and/or Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. It’s the only Rihanna single that I could fully get behind (sorry “Bitch Better Have My Money” and “American Oxygen”…and I’m definitely not counting the Home soundtrack). Here’s to hoping that her upcoming album Anti has better luck next year.

Madonna has certainly had her ups and downs with her creative music choices (still trying to forget that American Life ever happened or wished that MDNA would’ve been better). This year however the queen of pop music reinvented herself yet again with a very unique dance/pop sound courtesy of some insanely talented producers (Diplo & Kanye West anyone?). Rebel Heart is a solid effort from start to finish and it’s sad that it was overlooked in the Best Pop Vocal Album as well.

 Click here for the music video, yet again!

Fifth Harmony has a lot to boast, seeing as how they’re pretty much the only good thing to come out of the US version of Simon Cowell’s The X-Factor (well, at least the most successful thing). Their debut album was R&B/pop goodness with an infectious third single “Worth It” featuring Kid Ink. That single alone should have landed them at least one nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. It could easily have taken the spot of either “Bad Blood” (which deserved a Rap/Sung collaboration nomination over this category) or Maroon 5’s very safe “Sugar”.

 You know what to do if you want to watch the music video...

Demi Lovato’s current album Confident is sure to get some kind of recognition at next year’s ceremony. In my opinion though, her lead single “Cool for the Summer” deserved a Best Pop Solo Performance nomination. Seeing as how The Weeknd’s “Can’t Feel My Face” was already given a Record of the Year nomination, it would’ve been nice to see the Grammy’s spread the wealth and give some recognition to Demi’s sexy hit.

Trust me, you wanna watch this video.

Seeing as how both of Nick Jonas’ popular singles “Chains” and “Jealous” were only eligible for last year’s ceremony, that doesn’t mean his self-titled album deserved to be shut out. In his efforts to prove to the world that he is grown up (we all saw the crotch-grabbing pictures, right?), his album last year was quite a few steps forward in the right direction, a FutureSex/LoveSounds for today’s listeners. Yet another forgotten gem in the Best Pop Vocal Album category.

(This isn't the real album cover. I just wanted to make sure this photo was still being viewed.)

Tamia seems to always have some kind of luck with the Grammy nominations, but unfortunately her latest album just didn’t receive the same luck. Her sexy first single “Sandwich and a Soda” (as weird as the title may be) should’ve nabbed a nomination in the Best R&B Performance category over Jermih & J. Cole.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have yet to release their highly anticipated second album, but their first single “Downtown” was one of the most ambitious songs in their repertoire thus far. With bragging rights towards having Eric Nally, Kool Moe Dee, & Grandmaster Caz all on the same track (as weird of a combination as that sounds) it still could’ve been given some love in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration over Jidenna & Roman GianArthur’s “Classic Man”.

Diplo was lucky enough to score a Producer of the Year nomination for his works with Skrillex, Major Lazer, and himself. It’s just a shame that his song “Lean On” featuring DJ Snake & MØ didn’t receive any attention in the Best Dance Recording category.

I’m sure this one is a long shot seeing as how her one big success has only been a featured role in Clean Bandit’s Grammy-winning song “Rather Be” last year, but still, Jess Glynne’s debut album is a well-crafted piece of work. It’s euro-dance pop at it’s finest and Glynne’s smoky vocals sound beautiful over those infectious beats. It’s very wishful thinking that she should’ve received a Best Pop Vocal Album nomination at least.