2013 Grammy Awards Predictions

The Grammy Awards take place this Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Album of the Year:
– “El Camino,” The Black Keys
– “Some Nights,” fun.
– “Babel,” Mumford & Sons
– “channel ORANGE,” Frank Ocean
– “Blunderbuss,” Jack White

This is a really solid group of albums, but I’m wondering if all of the alternative/rock albums are going to cancel each other out. Frank Ocean sticks out of the group as an R&B artist that the critics truly love. But I feel this is going to come down between “El Camino” and “Some Nights.” While I personally like The Black Keys a lot more, you can’t deny that this was a fantastic year for fun.

Prediction: “Some Nights,” fun.

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Record of the Year:
– “Lonely Boy,” The Black Keys
– “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Kelly Clarkson
– “We Are Young,” fun. featuring Janelle Monae
– “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Gotye featuring Kimbra
– “Thinkin Bout You,” Frank Ocean
– “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift

It’s really hard for me to pick against Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” but while it was a huge song of the past year, I don’t think it’s going to win. I’m going to be predicting a fun. sweep of the top three awards, though I really wouldn’t be surprised if it loses a category or two. This isn’t a year like when Adele swept the ceremony because let’s face it, fun. is no where close to Adele. But these are my predictions nonetheless.

Prediction: “We Are Young,” fun.

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Song of the Year:
– “The A Team,” Ed Sheeran
– “Adorn,” Miguel Pimentel
– “Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen, Tavish Crowe and Josh Ramsay
– “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Jorgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin and Ali Tamposi
– “We Are Young,” Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost and Nate Ruess

The songwriters get this award and while “Call Me Maybe” got stuck in everyone’s head for far too long the past year, how does fun. lose this award to a forgettable pop song?

Prediction: “We Are Young,” fun.

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New Artist of the Year:
– Alabama Shakes
– fun.
– Hunter Hayes
– The Lumineers
– Frank Ocean

We have fun. vs. Frank Ocean in this category and since I already predicted fun. to win the top awards, Frank Ocean definitely deserves an award or two this year. Meanwhile, the other three nominees are just happy to be invited to the dance.

Prediction: Frank Ocean

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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

Can any of these gals really beat out Adele? Even if it is a live version of a song from last year? Of course she can!

Prediction: “Set Fire to the Rain (Live),” Adele

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Pop Vocal Album:
– “Stronger,” Kelly Clarkson
– “Ceremonials,” Florence & the Machine
– “Some Nights,” fun.
– “Overexposed,” Maroon 5
– “The Truth About Love,” Pink

It just feels right to keep riding the fun. train.

Prediction: “Some Nights,” fun.

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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

The Black Keys will walk away with at least one Grammy on Sunday, and this should be one of them.

Prediction: “Lonely Boy,” The Black Keys

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Rock Album:
– “El Camino,” The Black Keys
– “Mylo Xyloto,” Coldplay
– “The 2nd Law,” Muse
– “Wrecking Ball,” Bruce Springsteen
– “Blunderbuss,” Jack White

While I really liked “Blunderbuss” and “Wrecking Ball,” The Black Keys will be awarded with the best rock album of the year.

Prediction: “El Camino,” The Black Keys

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Country Solo Performance:
– “Home,” Dierks Bentley
– “Springsteen,” Eric Church
– “Cost of Livin’,” Ronnie Dunn
– “Wanted,” Hunter Hayes
– “Over,” Blake Shelton
– “Blown Away,” Carrie Underwood

This award will hopefully go to my favorite Country song of 2012.

Prediction: “Springsteen,” Eric Church

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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,” Time Jumpers

I see this coming down to Miranda Lambert vs. Zac Brown Band. Both had excellent records, but I’ll have to go with “Uncaged.”

Prediction: “Uncaged,” Zac Brown Band

CMA Awards 2012

Today are the 2012 CMA Awards, one of the best nights to be a Country music fan. It’s the Grammy’s of Country music and it will surely be jam-packed with musical performances by the genre’s most popular artists. It’s been quite the year for Country music and I’ve enjoyed plenty of music from my favorite acts.

I attended Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality Tour down at Jones Beach over the summer and almost made it out to Jason Aldean/Luke Bryan’s concert at PNC Bank Arts Center. In addition, I’ve been spinning Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away,” Erich Church’s “Chief,” Luke Bryan’s “Lailgates & Tanlines,” and Zac Brown Band’s “Uncaged” albums all year round, so you can already notice my bias for the rest of the post.

Here are my brief thoughts about the nominees:

The post is UPDATED as of 11:05 p.m.

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Entertainer of the Year

Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
WINNER: Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

It’s hard to imagine the only female in the category to not walk away with the Entertainer of the Year award. While Chesney always has the numbers from his huge tours, and Paisley and Aldean touring non-stop for their fans, it’s impossible to ignore the popularity of Taylor Swift when looking at the figures for her record and concert sales. If it were me, I’d say Paisley would win hands down, but I’m predicting Taylor Swift wins the big award.

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Male Vocalist of the Year

Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
WINNER: Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

Usually my pick would be for Brad Paisley to win this award, but he wasn’t nominated this year. I’m not complaining about the group that was because they’re all very talented. I really want Eric Church to win, but something is telling me that Jason Aldean is going to take the award this year.

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Female Vocalist of the Year

Kelly Clarkson
WINNER: Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Wait, Kelly Clarkson is nominated for a CMA award and it doesn’t involve being featured in a duet with an actual Country artist? She can’t win. Since I believe Taylor Swift is winning the Entertainer of the Year award, she won’t win this (plus she’s a terrible vocalist). It’s going to be between Miranda and Carrie like usual. Recently, Miranda has been winning these awards over Carrie, but I think with the success of “Blown Away,” Carrie is going to take the award.

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Vocal Group of the Year

Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
WINNER: Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Has Zac Brown Band ever won this award? They definitely deserve it, but if it’s a popularity contest then Lady Antebellum will win. I also wouldn’t mind seeing The Band Perry win this award, but they’re on the second tier of these bands.

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Vocal Duo of the Year

Big & Rich
Love and Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars
WINNER: Thompson Square

While I do love The Civil Wars, I can’t remember the last time Sugarland lost.

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New Artist of the Year

Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
WINNER: Hunter Hayes
Love and Theft
Thompson Square

As catchy as “Angel Eyes” is by Love and Theft, the new kid on the block and multi-talented musician is Hunter Hayes. Expect him to win.

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Album of the Year

WINNER: Chief – Eric Church
Four the Record – Miranda Lambert
Home – Dierks Bentley
Own the Night – Lady Antebellum
Tailgates & Tanlines – Luke Bryan

I’m sticking to what I know, and that is how “Chief” is a great album. That being said, I’m expecting the CMA to agree with me and award Eric Church this prestigious award for an outstanding job well done.

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Single of the Year

“Dirt Road Anthem” – Jason Aldean
“God Gave Me You” – Blake Shelton
“Home” – Dierks Bentley
WINNER: “Pontoon” – Little Big Town
“Springsteen” – Eric Church

On the same page, “Springsteen” is the best song off of Chief and I expect it to win either Single or Song of the Year.

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Song of the Year

“Even if It Breaks Your Heart – Eli Young Band
“God Gave Me You” – Blake Shelton
“Home” – Dierks Bentley
WINNER: “Over You” – Miranda Lambert
“Springsteen” – Eric Church

Miranda’s hit is the only song I feel that has a shot at beating Church’s “Springsteen.”

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RECAP:

That’s a wrap! I just knew it was going to be an entertaining night after Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood danced Gangnam Style during their opening monologue. But the big winners of the night were Country’s happy couple of Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. Starting with their emotional acceptance speech for “Over You” and continuing with the Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist of the year, everyone thought their reign was going to end there, but Blake Shelton shocked the Country world winning Entertainer of the Year! What a surprise! I admit that when Tim Allen said Blake’s name, I thought he was joking (and what a cruel joke that would’ve been). But then Reba and Tim Allen repeated Blake’s name and that concluded the three-hour awards ceremony.

Highlights:

• Little Big Town – winning Single of the Year and Vocal Group was great for this hard-working, veteran group. Oh, and their performance of “Pontoon” was one of the best of the night.
• The gorgeous Carrie Underwood with her charisma as co-host and her strong vocal performance during her hit “Blown Away.”
• Eric Church didn’t win for Single or Song of the Year, but his incredible album “Chief” was the winner for Album of the Year. Very well deserved.
• Hunter Hayes played his pop-ballad hit “Wanted” and then won New Artist of the Year. Surely this isn’t the last we’re going to hear from this young man.
• The tribute to Willie Nelson featuring Willie himself along with Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. What a legend.

American Idol – Good or Bad for Music?

Everyone in the entire world knows what American Idol is.  Some call it a glamorized kareoke contest while others feel it’s a showcase of the finest talents in America.  Though I wouldn’t go to the extent by siding with one of the extremes, I do lean towards the side that says American Idol is good for music.

How could a reality TV show that discovered such great artists like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino, Jordin Sparks, and Kellie Pickler be bad for music? 

There is no doubt that the successful men and women in the American Idol contest have great talent. These artists scored a number of Grammy awards, platinum albums, number 1 hits, and even appear on Broadway and movies.   But from these highs, there are certainly plenty of lows.

Winners such as Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks have suffered from low record sales and mediocre reviews that eventually canned their careers.  It’s a curious thing to take a look at though, because through all the scripts and drama from the judges, and glitz and glamour of television… American Idol is essentially a popularity contest.  It is America’s duty to call in and vote for the contestant they believe should win.  And FOX always boasts how more people vote for American Idol than for the presidential elections (though there’s one major difference between the two:  the majority vote doesn’t always pick the president). 

But for Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks to win both of their respected years on American Idol, that means the majority of America voted for them, right?  I know that you can vote more than once, but it’s clear that everyone votes more than once… so it should still be true that the majority of American liked Ruben and Taylor the best.

But as the story goes, winning American Idol is just the first step to success.  Ruben Studdard’s debut album “Soulful” was huge, selling over 400,000 copies in its first week.  He even received a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.  But then came the collapse.  The American Idol hangover was over.  His next two albums saw great decline and to this day he doesn’t have a #1 hit single on the radio.  Can someone please tell me what he’s up to now?  Or is he already under there “Where is he now” file?

As as for Taylor Hicks, he recently split from his record label Arista Recrds and then J records after that.  In a statement on his Myspace page, Hicks made it clear that “Artistic freedom and control is an exciting prospect.”  But maybe those were the reasons why the labels let him go.  American Idol contestants are judged by their unique styles and powerful voices, but the whole time they’re singing other people’s songs and following experts’ arrangements.  When they try and do things for themselves, that’s where they seem to fall into a hole.

Take Kelly Clarkson for example.  She ran into conflicts during her third album “My December” because of the involvement she had with her music.  She parted with her management and boasted that she either wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album.  Friction followed because her label and management didn’t feel the material fitted her style well, but she was stubborn to change.  The result?  Well after a set-back of her first nationwide arena tour being cancelled because of underwhelming ticket sales, “My December” has sold over two million copies worldwide.

So what am I getting at with all of this?  There’s no doubt that American Idol has an impact in today’s music.  But out of the hundreds of thousand contestants, only a handful are actually talented… and from that handful, only a few go on to be successful in the music business.  But those selected few have made quite a splash, and the interesting thing is that the winners aren’t the only ones making a name for themselves.  Clay Aiken is more popular than Ruben Studdard ever was.  And Chris Daughtry is definitely enjoying his post-Idol time more than Taylor Hicks.

Whether you like the Idols or not, well that’s your opinion.  But you can’t say that American Idol isn’t brilliant for television, and you can’t say that American Idol is bad for music.  Bringing in millions of viewers every week and tallying an extraordinary number of awards and album sales, it’s safe to say that American Idol is a dominant force and will be for a long time.