Saturday, September 24, 2016

Grammy 2017 Predictions - Part 2


After revealing the general fields last week, let's continue to predict some of the categories that people actually care about to generate more traffic for this blog. Lol just kidding. 

1. Best Pop Vocal Album
Much like its counterpart in Album of the Year, Adele's 25 will be a lock. And also regardless how much you hate Justin Bieber during his adolescent years, he's definitely matured in his latest effort, Purpose, and I can see that this will be nominated. Talking about young singers, it's safe to assume that the vocal powerhouse slash mini Mariah Carey slash Ariana Grande's kinky album, Dangerous Woman to sneak a nod here. Not only it showcases Grande's vocal, I guess this album also becomes the committee's guilty pleasure. Mentioning Justin Bieber and Arian Grande, I can't help but think of their fellow, Selena Gomez. Does Revival deserve a mention in this category? 

Have I mentioned how much Grammy loves Sia? This Is Acting will get a nomination definitely, but everyone will lose against 25. We still don't know where David Bowie's Blackstar will go, it can go to either rock or pop, but I'm not courageous enough to put Blackstar on pop category. I still have Zayn's Mind of Mine and Meghan Trainor's Thank You, and considering Trainor is last year's best new artist (ummm) Grammy probably won't miss nominating Thank You

There's not much contender from band for this category, except for the obvious choice Coldplay's A Head Full of Dreams which is released on last December. 

Final Predictions:
1. Adele, 25
2. Ariana Grade, Dangerous Woman or Meghan Trainor, Thank You
3. Justin Bieber, Purpose 
4. Sia, This Is Acting
5. Coldplay, A Head Full of Dreams

2. Best Pop Solo Performance
Expect to see Adele as she lands her millionth nomination with "Hello". Justin Bieber can also join this category with his "Love Yourself". From critically loved album, Dangerous Woman, Ariana Grande can send "Into You". Sia also can send the solo version of "Cheap Thrills" if she feels like it, Or she can send the Sean Paul's version for group/duo performance, but considering how terrible Sean Paul's version is, I guess it's safe to assume Sia will send the solo version. 

Who will fill the remaining nominees will be pretty much a wild guess. Since I have put Lady Gaga's "Perfect Illusion" in Record of the Year category, I can also put her here. Also two songs that debut in first position in Billboard Hot 100, Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop The Feeling", especially after being criminally shut out in Grammy three years ago, and Zayn's "Pillowtalk" could see some light here. Will Katy Perry's Olympic anthem, "Rise", receive some recognition? And of course we cannot overlook the Record of the Year Lady Gaga's "Perfect Illusion" here.

Final Predictions:
1. Adele, "Hello"
2. Justin Bieber, "Love Youreself"
3. Ariana Grande, "Into You"
4. Lady Gaga, "Perfect Illusion" or Sia, "Cheap Thrills" (if she goes solo)
5. Justin Timberlake, "Can't Stop The Feeling"

3. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Thank God Adele doesn't do any collaboration this year, so we can take a breathe from her. Unlike last year when we have many collaboration, this year's a little bit different, because not many collaboration songs. That will make our job either easier or harder.

If Sia's team decides to send her Sean Paul's version (ew) of "Cheap Thrills" that's fine, meanwhile we can get Coldplay's "Hymn for the Weekend (featuring Beyonce)" here, one of Coldplay's best, but mostly due to Beyonce's contribution. I decided to ignore Rihanna's "Work" because that will go to urban/R&B category, but will it crossover in pop category? Talking about genre ambiguity, is Twenty One Pilots considered pop? Or is The Chainsmokers pop? Well, it's hard question, but if they aren't pop we don't have any nominees left to join Lukas Graham's "7 Years"? Possible to include Ariana Grande's "Side to Side (featuring Nicki Minaj)" here? Am I wishing too hard to include Troye Sivan & Alessia Cara's "Wild"? DNCE probably? This category is indeed full of question marks.

Final Predictions:
1. Coldplay, "Hymn for the Weekend (featuring Beyonce)"
2. Sia, "Cheap Thrills (featuring Sean Paul)"
3. Lukas Graham, "7 Years"
4. Ariana Grande, "Side to Side (featuring Nicki Minaj)"
5. Twenty One Pilots, "Ride" or Troye Sivan & Alessia Cara, "Wild"

4. Best Electronic/Dance Album
Best Electronic/Dance Album will be tough to guess this year, because we don't have prolific electronic artists, like, Skrillex or David Guetta. But, thank God we have M83's Junk, unless it goes alternative which seems more likely. James Blake's The Colour In Anything can also see his first nod in this category, but it seems far-fetched. Canadian producer, Kaytranada's debut album, 99.9%, can also be nominated especially since it's the same label with Radiohead. The most handsome Australian DJ, Flume, can also be nominated with his Skin. Avicii's Stories can also be nominated here. Also ZHU's Generationwhy and it seems likely since his "Faded" is nominated few years ago. AlunaGeorge's I Remember also deserves some nod here. Is ANOHNI's Hopelessness also seeing any nod here?

Final Predictions:
1. Kaytranada, 99.9%
2. ZHU, Generationwhy
3. Flume, Skin
4. Avicii, Stories
5. ANOHNI, Hopelessness or James Blake, The Colour In Anything

5. Best Alternative Album
This is my favorite category in Grammy Award because one of this year's best album always appears here. Album of the Year's contender, Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool. If M83's Junk goes alternative, it can appear here. Best Alternative Album's darling, Wilco, just released their surprise album, Schmilco, will get their millionth nomination here. Former nominee, PJ Harvey's A Hope Six Demolition Project can also sneak in to have some revenge. Courtney Barnett's label, Mom + Pop, still has Neon Indian, and since she's nominated for Best New Artist last year, is it possible that his VEGA INTL. Night School nominated here? Another possible lock is indeed Cage The Elephant's Tell Me I'm Pretty. If ANOHNI goes alternative, her Hopelessness may appear here. Or, I'm just beginning to feel hopeless to see any surprising names. Honestly, this category is usually filled with familiar names with just one or two new names. So, I'm not expecting anything much here.

Final Predictions:
1. Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool
2. M83, Junk
3. Wilco,  Schmilco
4. PJ Harvey, A Hope Six Demolition Project
5. Cage The Elephant, Tell Me I'm Pretty 

5 comments:

  1. How about "Cold Water" by Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber and MØ if they join to Best Pop Duo/Group Performance nomination same as Jack U feat. JB??

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    1. "Cold Water" I think will go straight to Best Electronic/Dance Recording, tho, just like what "Where R U Now" last year.

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  2. What about Momolith Of Phobos for Best Alternative Album

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  3. hahaha perfect illusion is not going to get a nomination, i think that piece by piece by kelly clarkson will be in best pop solo vocal performance

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  4. What about Work From Home by Fifth Harmony for pop duo/group? The song was critically acclaimed.

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