HE SAID, SHE SAID
Mesfin Fekadu and Nekesa Mumbi Moody have plenty of expertise in the Grammy game and they know one thing: The Recording Academy is unpredictable. But the pair will still try predicting who will win big when the awards are handed out Sunday in New York Cit
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Awaken, My Love!, Childish Gambino; 4:44, Jay-Z; DAMN., Kendrick Lamar; Melodrama, Lorde; 24K Magic, Bruno Mars.
Fekadu: Let’s just call this a black out. The Grammys clearly want a non-white act to win, because if they didn’t care that much, they would have put Ed Sheeran up for this honour (deservingly). With no rock or country nominees here, it makes you wonder where people from those genres will send their votes, and me thinks that’s to Lamar and Mars.
Moody: This is definitely the “let’s correct that Adele win” batch of nominations, and Lamar would be a heavy favourite to win, making it the first true rap album to take the top trophy. But this is the Grammys — and that’s why it’s not going to happen. Grammy voters will be charmed by an act with huge commercial appeal, an amazing live act, topnotch songwriting. This is Mars’ for the taking.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Redbone, Childish Gambino; Despacito, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber; The Story of O.J., Jay-Z; HUMBLE., Kendrick Lamar; 24K Magic, Bruno Mars.
Moody: Even though Despacito was the biggest hit of the year compared to its competitors, Grammy voters often go for the “artistic” choice. That would be Lamar’s HUMBLE., but I think overall, the record and artist that moved voters most was probably Mars over everyone else. Mars wins again.
Fekadu: Despacito broke several records on Spotify and YouTube, and opened more doors for Latin music to be integrated on pop radio without being watered down or Americanized. That’s enough for Luis Fonsi and friends to take home the prize.
SONG OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITER’ S AWARD)
Despacito, Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber, Jason (Poo Bear) Boyd, Erika Ender and Marty James Garton; 4:44, Jay-Z and No I.D.; Issues, Julia Michaels, Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Justin Drew Tranter; 1-800-273-8255, Logic, Alessia Cara, Khalid and Arjun Ivatury; That’s What I Like, Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus and Jonathan Yip.
Fekadu: Normally, I would say that Mars would automatically win this, but do we really think the academy is going to give this award to eight songwriters? Nah. That gives the edge to Jay-Z, who wrote 4:44 with just No I.D. He’ll make history and become the first rapper to win song of the year — appropriately a year after he was the first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Moody: As powerful as 4:44 was, I don’t think it resonated with enough of the academy. I’m thinking Mars did.
BEST NEW ARTIST
Alessia Cara; Khalid; Lil Uzi Vert; Julia Michaels; SZA.
Moody: SZA is the most nominated woman of this year’s Grammys and had crossover success, but something tells me voters may have an easier time gelling with the PG-rated verses of some of her counterparts than her raw lyrics. And between Cara, Khalid and Michaels, I say Michaels has the edge.
Fekadu: Alessia Cara had hits and success with her 2015 debut album and co-starred on more hits with Zedd and Logic last year (and even those songs are nominated for Grammys this year). So to voters, Cara is the one they’re most familiar with, and that’s why she’ll win.
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Kaleidoscope EP, Coldplay; Lust for Life, Lana Del Rey; Evolve, Imagine Dragons; Rainbow, Kesha; Joanne, Lady Gaga; Divide, Ed Sheeran. Fekadu: Ed Sheeran, here is your consolation prize. Moody: Sheeran for the win!
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
You Want It Darker, Leonard Cohen; The Promise, Chris Cornell; Run, Foo Fighters; No Good, Kaleo; Go to War, Nothing More.
Moody: Cornell’s suicide at the age of 52 affected many people, and his song about the Armenian genocide is resonating with an Oscar campaign (it’s from a movie of the same name). I think Cornell takes it — and it’s richly deserved.
Fekadu: Cornell is definitely winning this.
BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Free 6LACK, 6LACK; Awaken, My Love!, Childish Gambino; American Teen, Khalid; Ctrl, SZA; Starboy, The Weeknd.
Fekadu: First of all, SZA needs to win this. Ctrl is one of the best albums of all time, said in Kanye West voice. OK, maybe not of all time, but it was definitely the highlight of 2017! Because this category makes me super emotional, like SZA’s music, I am going to predict she wins simply because she deserves to.
Moody: You’re getting in your feelings, son. And that’s clouding your view.It is the best album in this category but still won’t win — I think Childish Gambino takes it.
BEST COUNTRY SONG (SONGWRITER’ S AWARD)
Better Man, Taylor Swift (performed by Little Big Town); Body Like a Back Road, Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne; Broken Halos, Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson; Drinkin’ Problem, Midland, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne; Tin Man, Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon Randall.
Fekadu: If more people knew Stapleton’s song, he would have a stronger shot here. Swift will return to her roots with another Grammy win for best country song. Moody: Swift gets another country trophy for her mantle.