Believe it or not, it’s officially Grammy’s weekend, aka the biggest weekend of the year in pop culture! The Grammy’s will be held this Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Alicia Keys will be hosting, and the show is set to include performances from Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes and more.
This year, some insanely talented artists were nominated – however, not everyone will go home a winner. Unfortunately, the Recording Academy tends to award artists and projects that are mainstream and extremely popular, rather than awarding a musician that is just as good, but maybe not as well-known. For example: last year, Bruno Mars received the award for “Record of the Year” with his top-five single “24K Magic.” Without a doubt, Bruno is a talented artist whom I fully respect, but I personally feel that “Redbone” by Childish Gambino deserved the award, due to that fact that it was a unique track at the time that really helped him blow up again. Disregarding the voting process of the Academy, I, Dylan Jahnke, am here to share with you my predictions on both who SHOULD win, and who WILL win. Since attempting to predict every category would take a zillion years, I will be focusing on the major awards instead. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, here are my predictions for the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Record of the Year
Nominees: “I Like It” – Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin, “The Joke” – Brandi Carlile, “This Is America” – Childish Gambino, “God’s Plan” – Drake, “Shallow” – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, “All the Stars” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA, “Rockstar” – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage, “The Middle” – Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey
Who should win: “All the Stars” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
“All the Stars” was definitely one of the most slept-on records of the past year. Not only do Lamar and SZA sound great together on the track, but the production of this tune is phenomenal. However, I don’t think the song fully has what it takes to earn the recognition it deserves from the Academy.
Who will win: “This Is America” – Childish Gambino.
Not my favorite track, but “This Is America” is not only one of the most critically acclaimed songs of all-time, but it has a music video that was recognized by the general public for its undeniably fantastic choreography and message.
Album of the Year
Nominees: “Invasion of Privacy” – Cardi B, “By the Way, I Forgive You” – Brandi Carlile, “Scorpion” – Drake, “H.E.R.” – H.E.R., “Beerbongs & Bentleys” – Post Malone, “Dirty Computer” – Janelle Monáe, “Golden Hour” – Kacey Musgraves, “Black Panther: The Album, Music From and Inspired By” – Various Artists
Who should win: “Beerbongs & Bentleys” – Post Malone
From start to finish, “Beerbongs & Bentleys” is one of those albums that makes you have no care in the world about what’s going on, you just want to get up and dance. Malone showed outstanding growth on this album compared to his debut, “Stoney.” Unfortunately, aside from the three singles, this album will definitely be overlooked by the big shots.
Who will win: “Invasion of Privacy” – Cardi B
Admittedly a well-rounded album that changed the rap game for good. Who doesn’t want to collaborate with Cardi B nowadays? I would be happy to see Cardi take this one home, but this album still doesn’t prove Cardi’s potential as a rapper
Song of the Year
Nominees: “All the Stars” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA, “Boo’d Up” – Ella Mai, “Gods Plan” – Drake, “In My Blood” – Shawn Mendes, “The Joke” – Brandi Carlile, “The Middle” – Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey, “Shallow” – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, “This Is America” – Childish Gambino
Who should win: “All the Stars” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
As stated earlier, this is one of my favorite tracks of the year, it even made it on my “Spotify Wrapped: 2018” playlist as one of my top-tracks. That being said, it didn’t blow up enough for it to be named “Song of the Year.”
Who will win: “Shallow” – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
I’m going to be honest – I have never, not even once, listened to this song. I haven’t even previewed it on iTunes! However, you can’t deny it’s instant success. As of today, Feb. 3, “Shallow” has spent 93 days at No. 1 on the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart and over 100 days in the top 10 of the U.S. iTunes chart. It definitely came out late to even be considered for “Song of the Year,” but no other song in this category can top its instant success.
Best New Artist
Nominees: Chloe x Halle, Luke Combs, Greta Van Fleet, H.E.R., Dua Lipa, Margo Price, Bebe Rexha, Jorja Smith
Who should win: H.E.R.
I recently discovered H.E.R. when browsing through my Spotify “For You” playlist(s), and I instantly fell in love with her (ha – get it? “Her”? No?) music. She writes most of her songs by herself, and even includes raw vocals in a few of her songs. As of now, H.E.R. seems to be one of those artists that will never get the recognition she deserves.
Who will win: Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa has everything the critics are looking for in the “Best New Artist” category. She has the voice, the bops, and the wide-variety of artists looking to work with her. Although she is currently one of my least favorite artists, I can’t deny the fact that she has a bright future ahead of her.
Best Pop Solo Performance
Nominees: “Colors” – Beck, “Havana (Live)” – Camila Cabello, “God Is a Woman” – Ariana Grande, “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)” – Lady Gaga, “Better Now” – Post Malone
Who should win: “Havana (Live)” – Camila Cabello
Not only was “Havana” one of the biggest songs of the year, but it broke Sia’s “Cheap Thrills” record of the most streamed female song of all-time! Despite the millions of times she’s performed it though, Cabello still manages to nail her vocals everytime she performs this smash hit.
Who will win: “Havana (Live)” – Camila Cabello
Cabello is definitely music’s next superstar, and there’s no doubt “Havana” is to thank for the start of her bright future. Definitely a Grammy-worthy track.
Best Pop Vocal Album
Nominees: “Camila” – Camila Cabello, “Meaning of Life” – Kelly Clarkson, “Sweetener” – Ariana Grande, “Shawn Mendes” – Shawn Mendes, “Beautiful Trauma” – P!nk, “Reputation” – Taylor Swift
Who should win: “Camila” – Camila Cabello
This is one of the best debut albums I’ve heard in a long time. However, I don’t think critics are looking to award a debut album for “Best Pop Vocal Album.” Critics are looking for an album that shows vocal growth and maturity, and that’s why I think Shawn Mendes will be taking this one home.
Who will win: “Shawn Mendes” – Shawn Mendes
Not only did this project see major success, but showed major maturity as well. With songs like “Youth” and “Lost In Japan,” Mendes has proved he’s here to stay.
Best R&B Song
Nominees: “Boo’d Up” – Ella Mai, “Come Through and Chill” – Miguel, “Feels Like Summer” – Childish Gambino, “Focus” – H.E.R., “Long as I Live” – Toni Braxton
Who should win: “Focus” – H.E.R.
Like I said earlier, H.E.R. is extremely talented, and this song is the definition of rhythm and blues. Sadly, it wasn’t big enough of a hit to get named “Best R&B Song.”
Who will win: “Feels Like Summer” – Childish Gambino
Although it wasn’t a hit, critics now love Gambino after his success with “Redbone.” A no-brainer for this one.
Best Rap Performance
Nominees: “Be Careful” – Cardi B, “Nice for What” – Drake, “King’s Dead” – Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake, “Bubblin” – Anderson .Paak, “Sicko Mode” – Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk and Swae Lee
Who should win: “Sicko Mode” – Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk and Swae Lee
Not the greatest song in terms of its lyrics, but the production and beat of this tune go crazy. You can’t help but want to dance when this one comes on.
Who will win: “King’s Dead” – Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, and James Blake
Undeniably the strongest song in this category. The production is just as good, if not better, than “Sicko Mode” – but the lyrics and more acclaimed features give this song the win.
Best Rap/Sung Performance
Nominees: “Like I Do” – Christina Aguilera featuring Goldlink, “Pretty Little Fears” – 6lack featuring J. Cole, “This Is America” – Childish Gambino, “All the Stars” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA, “Rockstar” – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
Who should win: “Pretty Little Fears” – 6LACK featuring J. Cole
6LACK… one of this generation’s most underrated artists. “Pretty Little Fears…”, one of 2018’s most slept-on features, deserves incredible success. Sadly, this one will get overlooked as most critics have probably never even heard of 6LACK.
Who will win: “This Is America” – Childish Gambino
Once again, critics love Gambino, and they adore this track. Another no-brainer award.
Well, there you have it! Definitely an extremely talented group of nominees that absolutely dominated the music industry over the past year. The question is – who will take home which award and who will leave empty-handed? Find out right alongside me this Sunday at 7 p.m. on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS).
I’m Dylan Jahnke, and this is my second year with 42Fifty, which I first joined as a staff member. I am a senior at Oswego High School, and I plan to study mass communications/music management in college. I hope to one day have my own radio talk show or get into artist management. If I’m not writing or editing for 42Fifty, I’m either working at Culver’s, hanging out with friends and family, or doing homework. I am humbled to say I began my 42Fifty career my junior year as a staff writer, then Arts & Entertainment editor first semester of my senior year and now Editor-in-Chief.
