The 67th Grammy Awards will feature performances from John Legend, Shakira, Billie Eilish, and more. photo by Carlo Allegri
The 67th Grammy Awards are coming up on February 2nd.
The biggest award show in the music industry, the Grammys, will be held on February 2nd this year, and excitement for the event is building. The awards celebrate the music that has been released in the past year as well as artists, producers, and musicians. The Grammy awards are determined by a group of voters who work within the industry. The voters pick a small selection of nominees in the first round of voting and then choose a winner from the nominees. The four most important Grammys, which includes the best record (a production award given to only one song), song (a singing/songwriting award), album, and new artist, are listed below. Compared to 2023, this year was exceptionally exciting and full of fresh music, so I’ve chosen what I think is most likely to win and my personal favorite from the nominees this year.
Record of the Year Nominees: “Now and Then” (The Beatles)–“Texas Hold ‘Em” (Beyoncé) —”Espresso” (Sabrina Carpenter)–“360” (Charli XCX)–“Birds of a Feather” (Billie Eilish)–“Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar)–“Good Luck, Babe!” (Chappell Roan)–“Fortnight” (Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone)
My Prediction: “Now and Then” (The Beatles)
My Pick: “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar)
The Beatles releasing a song in 2024, a full 64 years past their debut, is nothing short of remarkable. The song itself was originally written by John Lennon around 1977, but was shelved due to production issues and later finished in 2023 by the surviving Beatles. The song utilizes guitar tracks from a recording session with George Harrison in 1995 (Harrison died in 2001 and Lennon died in 1980). Lennon’s vocals, originally recorded too poorly to be usable, were cleaned up with an AI program, making this the first AI-assisted song to be nominated for the record of the year Grammy. While the story behind this song is interesting, this nomination could also be seen as a leap forward for AI in the music industry. However, giving a production award to a song produced by software and not a real person does feel odd. “Now and Then” is also simply not my favorite song of the year. My personal favorite song from these nominations comes from Kendrick’s diss tracks. “Not Like Us” is one of DJ Mustard’s best beats and this song was such an iconic end to an iconic rap beef. “Not Like Us” is just plain fun, especially if you hate Drake as much as I do.
Album of the Year Nominees: New Blue Sun (Andre 3000)–COWBOY CARTER (Beyonce)–Short n’ Sweet (Sabrina Carpenter)–brat (Charli XCX)–Djesse Vol. 4 (Jacob Collier)–HIT ME HARD AND SOFT (Billie Eilish)–Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (Chappell Roan)--The Tortured Poets Department (Taylor Swift)
My Prediction: HIT ME HARD AND SOFT (Billie Eilish)
My Pick: HIT ME HARD AND SOFT (Billie Eilish)
This was such a good year for the pop girlies. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT (HMHAS) proves that Billie Eilish has the power to remain popular, and the ability to evolve her music over time. I debated for a while whether HMHAS or Chappell Roan’s Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess were my favorite album of the year, but eventually decided that HMHAS works better as an album. Eilish is an extremely talented songwriter, vocalist, and producer, and I sincerely hope she continues to make music in this vein. She’s definitely going to be around for a while.
Song of the Year Nominees: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (Shaboozey)–“Birds of a Feather” (Billie Eilish)–“Die With a Smile” (Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars)–“Fortnight” (Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone)–“Good Luck, Babe!” (Chappell Roan)–“Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar)–“Please Please Please” (Sabrina Carpenter)–“Texas Hold ‘Em” (Beyonce)
My Prediction: “Birds of a Feather” (Billie Eilish)
My Pick: “Good Luck, Babe!” (Chappell Roan)
Yes, I’m predicting a Billie sweep at these Grammys. She was just so good this year. While “Birds of a Feather” is not my favorite song off of her 2024 album, the lyrics and instrumentals are still a breezy, fun combination, creating a pop song that’s never unwelcome. However, this selection is not quite as cut-and-dry as other awards; there’s plenty of good options. I’m personally hoping for Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” with its dramatic 80s pop sound and its intense bridge, but I’m not particularly attached to it over any other nominee.
Best New Artist Nominees: Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims
My Prediction: Doechii
My Pick: Chappell Roan
The best new artist Grammy is usually a “who’s who” of one-hit wonders, but I genuinely believe the nominees this year have staying power to remain large in the music realm. Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Doechii all released incredible albums this year, and the award could easily go to any of them. However, I think it’s going to Doechii—her album was critically acclaimed and almost universally beloved. While Sabrina Carpenter had her big break this year, she was also fairly mainstream in 2023, was a talking point in 2021, and she has arguably been in the public eye since she became a Disney actress over a decade ago. Chappell Roan also has a good chance, but her previous disdain for the award shows, along with controversial remarks regarding fame makes me feel the Grammy voters may hold a grudge. I chose Chappell Roan as my favorite, but again, the award could go to any of the three.
I’m personally so excited for this year’s Grammy awards. Some of my favorite artists are getting much-deserved recognition. For the first time in a while, I’m excited to see what comes next in music.