The 2015 Grammy Awards will air this Sunday night, and in the run-up to music’s most glamorous night of backpatting and over-the-top collaborations (the coolest of which the show will reliably amputate mid-song), the music world is placing their bets on who’s going home with the gold and who’ll get snubbed.
Before we drink two pots of coffee and live-tweet the Grammys on Sunday night (seriously though, it’s gonna be a blast – watch Crave’s Twitter at showtime), Crave is taking a look at the likely winners, as well as those deserving of the accolades. Let’s not make a big forensic breakdown of the situation here; after all, we’re talking about a goddamned awards show. Even worse is the arbitrary designation of “special committees” of “expert” voting members who determine the nominees and eventual winners. You can never really tell how these things are going to go, and that’s half the fun of it.
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Those little trophies mean the world to emerging and established artists, with the double-edged blade of having “made it” in an industry so bloated and saturated with desperate copycats, coattail riders and out-of-touch corporate shills that we were expected to celebrate Lenny Kravitz showing up at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. In 2015. That’s about as ill-conceived as Andrew W.K. hosting anything, ever. What year is this? No, dude, you can keep your dirty t-shirt and greasy hair. We don’t want to party hard with you. Write a goddamned song.
Naturally, this Grammy predictions list isn’t based on who we like or think should win, because that’s not how the Grammys work. All the confirmation we need on that point is in the fact that U2 is nominated for Best Rock Album for their failed-surprise album, which was force-fed to iTunes users in a move the band called “punk rock”. Meanwhile, the music is terribly unmemorable, and everyone from Iggy Pop to The Black Keys decried the stunt as a devalorization of music itself.
So while we wait for the “expert committees” to determine what the winners are in a list of suspect nominees, let’s play a game of prediction. Below are our picks for who will win – with a nod to who should, and their respective nominee competition.
Album of The Year
Will win: Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour
Should win: Beyoncé – Beyoncé
We’re truly hoping Smith wins just so we can see Kanye reprise his “I’ma let you finish” nonsense from 6 years ago.
Beck – Morning Phase
Beyoncé – Beyoncé
Ed Sheeran – x
Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour
Pharrell Williams – Girl
Song of the Year
Will win: Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”
Should win: Taylor Swift – “Shake If Off”
This one’s a no-brainer.
Sam Smith – “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”
Meghan Trainor – “All About That Bass”
Hozier – “Take Me To Church”
Record of the Year
Will win: Sam Smith – “Stay With Me” (Darkchild Remix)
Should win: Sia – “Chandelier”
Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX – “Fancy”
Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”
Meghan Trainor – “All About That Bass”
Best New Artist
Will win: Sam Smith
Should win: Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Iggy Azalea
Brandy Clark
Haim
Sam Smith
Best Alternative Album
Will win: Arcade Fire – Reflektor
Should win: Jack White – Lazaretto
Alt-J – This Is All Yours
Arcade Fire – Reflektor
Cage the Elephant – Melophobia
St Vincent – St Vincent
Jack White – Lazaretto
Best Rock Album
Will win: U2 – Songs of Innocence
Should win: The Black Keys – Turn Blue
Ryan Adams – Ryan Adams
Beck – Morning Phase
The Black Keys – Turn Blue
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Magnetic Eye
U2 – Songs of Innocence
Best Rap Performance
Will win: Eminem
Should win: Kendrick Lamar
Childish Gambino
Drake
Eminem
Kendrick Lamar
Lecrae
Best Rock Song
Will win: The Black Keys – Fever
Should win: Jack White – Lazaretto
Paramore – Ain’t It Fun
Beck – Blue Moon
The Black Keys – Fever
Ryan Adams – Gimme Something Good
Jack White – Lazaretto
Best Pop Solo Performance
Will win: Pharrell – “Happy”
Should win: Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”
John Legend – “All of Me” (Live Version)
Sia – “Chandelier”
Sam Smith – “Stay With Me”
Taylor Swift – “Shake It Off”
Pharrell – “Happy”
Best Country Album
Will win: Eric Church – The Outsiders
Should win: Painted-On Jeans – Country Cliches That Ruined The Genre
Dierks Bentley – Riser
Eric Church – The Outsiders
Brandy Clark – 12 Stories
Miranda Lambert – Platinum
Lee Ann Womack – The Way I’m Livin’
Best Pop Vocal Album
Will win: Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour
Should win: Coldplay – Ghost Stories
Coldplay – Ghost Stories
Miley Cyrus- Bangerz
Ariana Grande – My Everything
Katy Perry – Prism
Ed Sheeran – X
Sam Smith – In The Lonely Hour
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Will win: Beyoncé – Beyoncé
Should win: Beyoncé – Beyoncé
Jhené Aiko – Sail Out
Beyoncé – Beyoncé
Chris Brown – X
Mali Music – Mali Is
Pharrell Williams – G I R L
The 57th Grammy Awards will air on February 8, 2015.