Music
Dec 7, 2016

The 2017 Grammy Nominations Surprises and Snubs

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of the year again. The 2017 Grammy nominations are out and it’s all the rage on social media. Naturally, we need to discuss every gritty detail regarding the top highlights of music’s biggest night.

The Winners:

This year’s show appears to be a battle between Beyoncé and Adele. The two Grammy winning pop divas will duke it out in remotely every top relevant category, including Album of the Year. Ultimately, this leaves the Recording Academy to come to terms with a tough decision. After both music icons released respectable comeback albums earlier this year, how will they decide who takes the crown? Fortunately, us outsiders don’t have to bear with the burden of making that decision.

Adele received seven nominations this year and Beyoncé likewise nabbed nine (winning the most nominations this year, surprisingly including Best Rock Song). Either way, there is no way these two will walk home empty handed. Yet, on the off chance Beyoncé is slighted in any way, the BeyHive won’t hesitate to swarm the internet.

Justin Bieber’s comeback season is not over yet. The young pop sensation and previous Grammy winner scored 4 nominations for his highly praised album Purpose. To top it off, Bieber made his way into the “Album of the Year” category. Beliebers are on cloud nine after this revelation, of course.

The pop category is looking pretty good this year with first time nominee Demi Lovato in the ranks as she competes for Best Pop Album alongside category veterans Ariana Grande, Adele, Justin Bieber, and previous nominee Sia.

As no surprise, Drake and Kanye West dominate the hip-hop/rap categories as they both snatched 8 nominations. Yet, we are confused as to how Grammy voters passed up on Drake’s “One Dance” over “Hotline Bling” We’re assuming it has something to do with all the memes that followed Drake’s video release for the lead single from Views. However, Chance the Rapper unexpectedly received 7 nominations within the hip-hop/rap categories with his history-making streaming-only album, Coloring Book. But, these nods to the Chicago-based artist were well-deserved.

The Chainsmokers expectedly made a splash within the dance music category after a successful chart-topping year, all while nabbing a nomination for Best New Artist. Although the odds are in their favor, they still have to compete against veterans of the genre like Flume.

Country newcomer and Best New Artist nominee Maren Morris managed to make her mark with Grammys voters after receiving not 1, but 4 nominations total. Morris joins the ranks of other female artists dominating the country music categories this year including Carrie Underwood and Brandy Clark. However, Sturgill Simpson is still country music’s top contender after sneaking his way into the Album of the Year category.

The rock and alternative categories fill out according to standard with appearances from Radio-head, Bon Iver, Cage the Elephant, and Twenty One Pilots to name a few. As for who will come out on top this year, it’s tough to say because the contenders truly put their best foot forward this year.

Snubs:

transcoderIn terms of this year’s, we personally don’t think the Recording Academy faired too bad in electing their choices. However, it’s still essential for us to discuss the forgotten souls of this year in music.

Rihanna’s work failed to go unrecognized this year. Grammys voters nominated her in major categories, including Record of the Year and Best R&B Urban Contemporary Album. However, what went with the minds of Recording Academy members when they decided to pass up on nominating Rihanna for Album of the Year? ANTI is a stellar effort from the daring pop song-stress in which she elevates her game altogether. As a word of advice, the Recording Academy should consider expanding the Album of the Year category—like the Oscars Best Picture category—to allow more artists a chance at the title.

justin-timberlake-20-20-experience-large-650-430Justin Timberlake can’t seem to win with the Grammys as of late. Although his revolutionary album The 20/20 Experience tended go under the radar by not receiving recognition within the major categories, fans had hope for a nod his way with “Can’t Stop This Feeling.” Although the Max Martin-produced song was meant to compliment his upcoming film Trolls (2016), its catchy beat and happy feel quickly made it a summer smash. But, the Grammys couldn’t squeeze Timberlake into the Song of the Year category at the very least. As a consolation prize for creating his No. 1 hit, the decided to pass along the Best Song Written for Visual Media his way.

David Bowie is a big snub on the minds of music fans nationwide as he’s gone unrecognized for his work yet again. However, Grammy voters have never been completely partial to the late art-ist’s work. Sure, his final album Blackstar made appearances within three categories, including Best Rock Song. However, many feel that he deserved a slot in the “Album of the Year” category. Yet, the Album of the Year category will already be a tight race this year even without Blackstar’s presence.

david-bowie-blackstarSelenators were disappointed to see the lack of attention in Selena Gomez’s direction. After a rough year where the former Disney starlet made the tough decision to take a break to focus on her health, many speculated whether or not she would receive a Grammy nod for the vulnerable tracks she presented on Revival. However, we must not forget that Gomez’ vocal abilities are moderate at best. Although she has proved to be a chart topper, she has not produced stellar work to merit a Grammy nomination, let alone win. If the Recording Academy were to reevaluate young vocalists they’ve snubbed this year, they should look into Alessia Cara (“Here”), Charlie Puth (“We Don’t Talk Anymore”), Fifth Harmony (“Work From Home”), Shawn Mendes (“Treat You Better”), Troye Sivan (“Youth”), and ZAYN (“Pillowtalk”).

Lastly, where is Britney Spears? The pop princess has struggled to make a dent in the Grammys categories since receiving her nomination for “Womanizer”, but that was in 2010. After taking a wrong turn by collaborating with Iggy Azalea in summer flop “Pretty Girls”, Spears had to reevaluate her album. “Make Me…,”  her collaborative comeback effort this past summer with G-Eazy, worked in her favor and her ninth studio album followed in suite. However, Glory is any-thing but what it claims because it doesn’t capture the ‘Britney magic’ that we all know and love.

Music fans may be disappointed to see that artists like Lady Gaga and Frank Ocean didn’t re-ceive any recognition from the Grammys after releasing critically praised albums in late 2016. However, these artists’ albums managed to miss the September 30 deadline to submit their work. Fortunately this gives them a chance to potentially make the cut next year.

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What do you guys think of the Recording Academy’s selections this year? Sound off your com-ments below! Don’t forget to tune in to see what James Corden brings to the table as host of the Grammys February 12, 2017 on CBS.

GRAMMY 2017 Nominations List

Album Of The Year:
25 — Adele
Lemonade — Beyoncé
Purpose — Justin Bieber
Views — Drake
A Sailor’s Guide To Earth — Sturgill Simpson

Record Of The Year:
“Hello” — Adele
“Formation” — Beyoncé
“7 Years” — Lukas Graham
“Work” — Rihanna Featuring Drake
“Stressed Out” — Twenty One Pilots

Song Of The Year:
“Formation” — Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Beyoncé Knowles & Michael L. Williams II, song-writers (Beyoncé)
“Hello” — Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Adele)
“I Took A Pill In Ibiza” — Mike Posner, songwriter (Mike Posner)
“Love Yourself” — Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin & Ed Sheeran, songwriters (Justin Bieber)
“7 Years” — Lukas Forchhammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard & Morten Ristorp, songwriters (Lukas Graham)

Best New Artist:
Kelsea Ballerini
The Chainsmokers
Chance The Rapper
Maren Morris
Anderson .Paak

Best Pop Vocal Album:
25 — Adele
Purpose — Justin Bieber
Dangerous Woman — Ariana Grande
Confident — Demi Lovato
This Is Acting — Sia

Best Pop Solo Performance:
“Hello” — Adele
“Hold Up” — Beyonce
“Love Yourself” — Justin Bieber
“Piece By Piece (Idol Version)” — Kelly Clarkson
“Dangerous Woman” — Ariana Grande

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
“Closer” — The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey
“7 Years” — Lukas Graham
“Work” — Rihanna Featuring Drake
“Cheap Thrills” — Sia Featuring Sean Paul
“Stressed Out” — Twenty One Pilots

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Cinema — Andrea Bocelli
Fallen Angels — Bob Dylan
Stages Live — Josh Groban
Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin — Willie Nelson
Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway — Barbra Streisand

Best Dance Recording:
“Tearing Me Up” — Bob Moses
“Don’t Let Me Down” — The Chainsmokers Featuring Daya
“Never Be Like You” — Flume Featuring Kai
“Rinse & Repeat” — Riton Featuring Kah-Lo
“Drinkee” — Sofi Tukker

Best Dance/Electronic Album:
Skin — Flume
Electronica 1: The Time Machine — Jean-Michel Jarre
Epoch — Tycho
Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future — Underworld
Louie Vega Starring…XXVIII — Louie Vega

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album:
Human Nature — Herb Alpert
When You Wish Upon a Star — Bill Frisell
Way Back Home: Live From Rochester, NY — Steve Gadd Band
Unpsoken — Chuck Loeb
Culcha Vulcha  — Snarky Puppy

Best Rock Performance:
“Joe (Live From Austin City Limits)” — Alabama Shakes
“Don’t Hurt Yourself” — Beyoncé Featuring Jack White
“Blackstar” — David Bowie
“The Sound Of Silence” — Disturbed
“Heathens” — Twenty One Pilots

Best Metal Performance:
“Shock Me” — Baroness
“Slivera” — Gojira
“Rotting in Vain” — Korn
“Dystopia” — Megadeth
“The Price Is Wrong” — Periphery

Best Rock Song:
“Blackstar” — David Bowie, songwriter (David Bowie)
“Burn the Witch”  —Radiohead, songwriters (Radiohead)
“Hardwired” — James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich, songwriters (Metallica
“Heathens” — Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)
“My Name Is Human” — Rich Meyer, Ryan Meyer & Johnny Stevens, songwriters (Highly Sus-pect)

Best Rock Album:
California — Blink-182
Tell Me I’m Pretty — Cage The Elephant
Magma — Gojira
Death Of A Bachelor — Panic! At The Disco
Weezer — Weezer

Best Alternative Music Album:
22, A Million — Bon Iver
Blackstar — David Bowie
The Hope Six Demolition Project — PJ Harvey
Post Pop Depression — Iggy Pop
A Moon Shaped Pool — Radiohead

Best R&B Performance:
“Turnin’ Me Up” — BJ The Chicago Kid
“Permission” — Ro James
“I Do” — Musiq Soulchild
“Needed Me” — Rihanna
“Cranes in the Sky” — Solange

Best Traditional R&B Performance:
“The Three Of Me” — William Bell
“Woman’s World” — BJ The Chicago Kid
“Sleeping With The One I Love” — Fantasia
“Angel” — Lalah Hathaway
“Can’t Wait” — Jill Scott

Best R&B Song:
“Come and See Me” — J. Brathwaite, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Par-tyNextDoor Featuring Drake)
“Exchange” — Michael Hernandez & Bryson Tiller, songwriters (Bryson Tiller)
“Kiss It Better” — Jeff Bhasker, Robyn Fenty, John-Nathan Glass & Natalia Noemi, songwriters (Rihanna)
“Lake By the Ocean” — Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
“Luv” — Magnus August Høiberg, Benjamin Levin & Daystar Peterson, songwriters (Tory Lanez)

Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Lemonade — Beyoncé
Ology — Gallant
We Are King — KING
Malibu — Anderson .Paak
Anti — Rihanna

Best R&B Album:
In My Mind — BJ The Chicago Kid
Lalah Hathaway Live — Lalah Hathaway
Velvet Portraits — Terrace Martin
Healing Season — Mint Condition
Smoove Jones — Mya

Best Rap Performance:
“No Problem” — Chance The Rapper Featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
“Panda” —Desiigner
“Pop Style” — Drake Featuring The Throne
“All The Way Up” — Fat Joe & Remy Ma Featuring French Montana & Infared
“That Part” — ScHoolboy Q Featuring Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Performance:
“Freedom” — Beyoncé Featuring Kendrick Lamar
“Hotline Bling” — Drake
“Broccoli” — D.R.A.M. Featuring Lil Yachty
“Ultralight Beam” — Kanye West Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream
“Famous” — Kanye West Featuring Rihanna

Best Rap Song:
“All The Way Up” — Joseph Cartagena, Edward Davadi, Shandel Green, Karim Kharbouch, Andre Christopher Lyon, Reminisce Mackie & Marcello Valenzano, songwriters (Fat Joe & Remy Ma Featuring French Montana & Infared)
“Famous” — Chancelor Bennett, Ross Birchard, Ernest Brown, Andrew Dawson, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Kejuan Muchita, Patrick Reynolds, Kanye West & Cydel Young, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring Rihanna)
“Hotline Bling” — Aubrey Graham & Paul Jefferies, songwriters (Drake)
“No Problem” — Chancelor Bennett, Dwayne Carter & Tauheed Epps, songwriters (Chance The Rapper Featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)
“Ultralight Beam” — Chancelor Bennett, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Kirk Franklin, Noah Gold-stein, Samuel Griesemer, Terius Nash, Jerome Potter, Kelly Price, Nico “Donnie Trumpet” Segal, Derek Watkins, Kanye West & Cydel Young, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream)

Best Rap Album:
Coloring Book — Chance The Rapper
And the Anonymous Nobody — De La Soul
Major Key — DJ Khaled
Views — Drake
Blank Face LP — ScHoolboy Q
The Life of Pablo — Kanye West

Best Country Solo Performance:
“Love Can Go To Hell” — Brandy Clark
“Vice” — Miranda Lambert
“My Church” — Maren Morris
“Church Bells” — Carrie Underwood
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” — Keith Urban

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“Different for Girls” — Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King
“21 Summer” — Brothers Osborne
“Setting The World On Fire” — Kenny Chesney & P!nk
“Jolene” — Pentatonix Featuring Dolly Parton
“Think Of You” — Chris Young With Cassadee Pope

Best Country Song:
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” — Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey & Steven Lee Olsen, songwriters (Keith Urban)
“Die A Happy Man” — Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett & Joe Spargur, songwriters (Thomas Rhett)
“Humble and Kind” — Lori McKenna, songwriter (Tim McGraw)
“My Church” — busbee & Maren Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris)
“Vice” — Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)

Best Country Album:
Big Day In A Small Town — Brandy Clark
Full Circle — Loretta Lynn
Hero — Maren Morris
A Sailor’s Guide To Earth — Sturgill Simpson
Ripcord — Keith Urban

Best New Age Album:
Orogen — John Burke
Dark Sky Island — Enya
Inner Passion — Peter Kater & Tina Guo
Rosetta — Vangelis
White Sun II — White Sun

Best Improvised Jazz Solo:
“Countdown” — Joey Alexander, soloist
“In Movement” — Ravi Coltrane, soloist
“We See” — Fred Hersch, soloist
“I Concentrate On You” — Brad Mehldau, soloist
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” — John Scofield, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
Sound Of Red — René Marie
Upward Spiral — Branford Marsalis Quartet With Special Guest Kurt Elling
Take Me To The Alley — Gregory Porter
Harlem On My Mind — Catherine Russell
The Sting Variations — The Tierney Sutton Band

Best Jazz Instrumental Album:
Book of Intuition — Kenny Barron Trio
Dr. Um — Peter Erskine
Sunday Night At The Vanguard — The Fred Hersch Trio
Nearness — Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau
Country For Old Men — John Scofield

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:
Real Enemies — Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
Presents Monk’estra, Vol. 1 — John Beasley
Kaleidoscope Eyes: Music of the Beatles — John Daversa
All L.A. Band — Bob Mintzer
Presidential Suite: Eight Variations On Freedom — Ted Nash Big Band

Best Latin Jazz Album:
Entre Colegas — Andy González
Madera Latino: A Latin Jazz Perspective On The Music Of Woody Shaw — Brian Lynch & Vari-ous Artists
Canto América  — Michael Spiro/Wayne Wallace La Orquesta Sinfonietta
30 – Trio Da Paz
Tribute To Irakere: Live In Marciac — Chucho Valdés