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The fun thing about the Grammy Awards is that it’s always such an ecelectic mix of radio earworms and critically praised works that don’t receive a whole lot of air play. Because of this, the room for surprises is immense (Esperanza Spalding, anyone?). This is why Carly Rae Jepsen’s viral phenomenon “Call Me Maybe” can share the same category with Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team”. Which one can you sing for rote right on the spot? If we were voting based on that, then Carly wins in a heartbeat. And yet, in reality, even she might find herself surprised when the winner of Song of The Year is announced in February.

 

And that’s sort of the running theme with this year’s Grammy nominations, freshly announced yesterday. While perennial faves managed to squeak in there, you can’t help notice the absence of some usual heavy hitters, like Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj, who were both completely shut out; or Taylor Swift and Adele, accustomed to going home every Grammys night with an armful of hardware, yet only a couple token nominations each. Alas, this year belongs to artists like The Black Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Gotye, fun., Frank Ocean, and Miguel. Florence + The Machine, P!nk, and Rihanna got some love too. What I’m saying is, there’s a little something everyone here! Mainstream chart mainstays and more niche artists are all represented. For once, I don’t feel like there are any clear-cut winners; everyone seems to be playing on an even field. Which, obviously, makes it so much more exciting!

 

The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 10 on CBS. Check out the nominees below (full list here), and CONGRATS to all!

 

Record Of The Year

“Lonely Boy” - The Black Keys
“Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)” - Kelly Clarkson
“We Are Young” - fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
“Somebody That I Used To Know” - Gotye Featuring Kimbra
“Thinkin Bout You” - Frank Ocean
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” - Taylor Swift

 

Album Of The Year

El Camino- The Black Keys

Some Nights- fun.
Babel - Mumford & Sons
Channel Orange - Frank Ocean
Blunderbuss - Jack White

 

Song Of The Year

“The A Team” - Ed Sheeran

“Adorn” - Miguel

“Call Me Maybe” - Carly Rae Jepsen

“Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)” - Kelly Clarkson
“We Are Young” - fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
 

Best New Artist

Alabama Shakes

fun.

Hunter Hayes

The Lumineers

Frank Ocean

 

Best Pop Solo Performance

“Set Fire To The Rain [Live]” - Adele
“Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)” - Kelly Clarkson
“Call Me Maybe” - Carly Rae Jepsen
“Wide Awake” - Katy Perry
“Where Have You Been” - Rihanna

 

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Shake It Out” - Florence + The Machine
“We Are Young” - fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
“Somebody That I Used To Know” - Gotye featuring Kimbra
“Sexy And I Know It” - LMFAO
“Payphone” - Maroon 5 & Wiz Khalifa

 

Best Pop Vocal Album

Stronger- Kelly Clarkson
Ceremonials - Florence + The Machine
Some Nights - fun.
Overexposed - Maroon 5
The Truth About Love – P!nk
 

Best Rock Performance

“Hold On” - Alabama Shakes
“Lonely Boy” - The Black Keys
“Charlie Brown” - Coldplay
“I Will Wait” - Mumford & Sons
“We Take Care Of Our Own” - Bruce Springsteen

 

Best Rock Song

“Freedom At 21” - Jack White

“I Will Wait” - Mumford & Sons
“Lonely Boy” - The Black Keys
“Madness” - Muse
“We Take Care Of Our Own” - Bruce Springsteen

 

Best Rock Album

El Camino- The Black Keys
Mylo Xyloto - Coldplay
The 2nd Law - Muse
Wrecking Ball - Bruce Springsteen
Blunderbuss - Jack White
 

Best Alternative Music Album

The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do- Fiona Apple
Biophilia - Björk
Making Mirrors - Gotye
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. - M83
Bad As Me - Tom Waits
 

Best R&B Performance

“Thank You” - Estelle
“Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.)” - Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Ledisi
“I Want You” - Luke James
“Adorn” - Miguel
“Climax” - Usher

 

Best R&B Song

“Adorn” - Miguel

“Beautiful Surprise” - Tamia

“Heart Attack” - Trey Songz
“Pray For Me” - Anthony Hamilton
“Refill” - Elle Varner
 

Best R&B Album

Black Radio- Robert Glasper Experiment
Back To Love - Anthony Hamilton
Write Me Back - R. Kelly
Beautiful Surprise - Tamia
Open Invitation - Tyrese
 

Best Rap Performance

“HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)” - Drake featuring Lil' Wayne
“N****s In Paris” - Jay-Z & Kanye West
“Daughters” - Nas
“Mercy” - Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
“I Do” - Young Jeezy Featuring Jay-Z & André 3000

 

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

“Wild Ones” - Flo Rida featuring Sia
“No Church In The Wild” - Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream
“Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” - John Legend featuring Ludacris
“Cherry Wine” - Nas featuring Amy Winehouse
“Talk That Talk” - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z

 

Best Rap Song

“Daughters” - Nas
“Lotus Flower Bomb” - Wale featuring Miguel
“Mercy” - Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
“The Motto” - Drake featuring Lil' Wayne
“N****s In Paris” - Jay-Z & Kanye West
“Young, Wild & Free” - Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars

 

Best Rap Album

Take Care - Drake
Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1 - Lupe Fiasco
Life Is Good - Nas
Undun - The Roots
God Forgives, I Don't - Rick Ross
Based On A T.R.U. Story - 2 Chainz
 

Best Country Solo Performance

“Home” - Dierks Bentley
“Springsteen” - Eric Church
“Cost Of Livin'” - Ronnie Dunn

“Wanted” - Hunter Hayes
“Over” - Blake Shelton
“Blown Away” - Carrie Underwood

 

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” - Eli Young Band
“Pontoon” - Little Big Town
“Safe & Sound” - Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars
“On The Outskirts Of Town” - The Time Jumpers
“I Just Come Here For The Music” - Don Williams featuring Alison Krauss
 

Best Country Song

“Blown Away” - Carrie Underwood
“Cost Of Livin'” - Ronnie Dunn
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” - Eli Young Band
“So You Don't Have To Love Me Anymore” - Alan Jackson
“Springsteen” - Eric Church
 

Best Country Album

Uncaged- Zac Brown Band
Hunter Hayes - Hunter Hayes
Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran - Jamey Johnson
Four The Record - Miranda Lambert

The Time Jumpers- The Time Jumpers

 

 

- Katie Marzullo, YH Staff Editor

katie@younghollywood.com