BEST ROCK SONG
“Angry”
THE ROLLING STONES Songwriters: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Andrew Watt
While this category recognizes songwriters, voters will have a hard time overlooking the fact that The Rolling Stones — who have defined what it means to be a rock band across six decades — have just three Grammys. On the snarling “Angry,” Mick Jagger and Keith Richards prove they can still write a lean, mean rocker that swaggers like it’s straight out of the 1970s. As the Stones’ sole nod, this is their only chance for Grammy gold in 2024 — and considering that co-writer Andrew Watt earned two Grammys in a three-year span, perhaps he’s the good-luck charm they need.
“ballad of a homeschooled girl” OLIVIA RODRIGO
Songwriters: Daniel Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo
Rodrigo is arguably the face of Gen Z rock, and her three Grammy wins in 2022, including for best new artist, indicate she’s a favorite of voters. But her other two wins were in pop categories, and of her six nods at the 2024 ceremony (and Dan Nigro’s five), this is the only one in a rock category. Whether voters see her as a rock Grammy winner remains to be seen, but the crunchy, nostalgic 1990s indie flavors on “ballad of a homeschooled girl” — not to mention its entry into the top 30 of the Hot 100 — make a convincing case.
“Emotion Sickness” QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE Songwriters: Dean Fertita, Joshua Homme, Michael Shuman, Jon Theodore, Troy Van Leeuwen
Despite its rock cred, the long-running Queens of the Stone Age has yet to win a Grammy. That could change if voters declare “Emotion Sickness” — which hails from eighth album In Times New Roman..., up for best rock album — the year’s best rock song. The woozy, fractured guitars serve as a muscular counterpart to the harmony-laden chorus, but without any Grammy wins yet — and a loss to fellow nominee Foo Fighters in a different rock category in 2003 — the band seems like a long shot for this one.
“Not Strong Enough” BOYGENIUS
Songwriters: Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus
If Foo Fighters don’t walk away with this win, expect it to go to boygenius, whose sublimely melodic “Not Strong Enough” is not only nominated here but also for record of the year. (In total, the indie supergroup nabbed six noms, including two in the Big Four categories.) While the track doesn’t rock as hard as its competitors, this is a songwriter’s category and not performance-based — and the tune’s heartfelt, rootsy tone is closest to the 2023 best rock song winner, Brandi Carlile’s “Broken Horses.”
“Rescued” FOO FIGHTERS
Songwriters: Dave Grohl, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear The first Foo Fighters single after drummer Taylor Hawkins died at age 50 in 2022, “Rescued” (which is also up for best rock performance) is the band at its heart-on-its-sleeve, fist-pumping finest. And it certainly benefits from familiarity. “Rescued” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s
Rock & Alternative Airplay (for 11 weeks), Alternative Airplay (10) and Mainstream Rock Airplay charts (six). Of Foo Fighters’ 15 career Grammy wins, two have been in this category, making the band the surest bet this time around.