MUSIC: Lizzo’s a Grammy favorite. Predictions on
The 2020 Grammy Awards are shaping up to be the night of the new kids, with Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X leading in nominations.
Those acts, who all released huge No. 1 hits in the last year, have strong chances of beating their more-seasoned competitors, from Lady Gaga to Vampire Weekend to Ariana Grande.
Or maybe they won’t. If there’s one thing we can predict about the Grammys, it’s that the oddball act might actually win.
The awards are handed out Sunday live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Here are some good guesses:
Album of the year: “I, I,” Bon Iver; “Norman (Expletive) Rockwell!,” Lana Del Rey; “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” Billie Eilish; “Thank
U, Next,” Ariana Grande; “I Used to Know Her,” H.E.R.; “7,” Lil Nas X; “Cuz I Love You (Deluxe),” Lizzo; “Father of the Bride,” Vampire Weekend.
Fekadu: Let’s start with who most likely won’t win: Lil Nas X, Ariana Grande, H.E.R. and Lizzo. The other four will split a lot of the votes, eliminating Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend as possible winners. Left are Lana Del Rey, whose album was critically acclaimed and praised, and Billie Eilish, who was not just the year’s brightest newcomer, but arguably the year’s most successful singer. Something in my gut is telling me that Lana will be celebrating her first-ever Grammy win.
Moody: It would be a cool moment to have the 18-year-old Billie become the youngest to ever take home a best album Grammy, and she certainly deserves it! But with arguably the night’s top honor,
Grammy voters tend to want their winners to have a few years under their belt before granting them the biggest win of their career. After a career that got off to a rocky start, Lana Del Rey has become one of the more acclaimed singer-songwriters of her generation, and therefore will be victorious.
Record of the year:
“Hey, Ma,” Bon Iver; “Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish; “7 Rings,” Ariana Grande; “Hard Place,” H.E.R.; “Talk,” Khalid; “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus; “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo; “Sunflower,” Post Malone and Swae Lee.
Moody: Clearly Lil Nas X had the most popular song of the year with “Old Town Road,” even breaking Mariah Carey’s record for the most weeks at No. 1 with his country-rap hybrid. But this isn’t the American Music Awards where popularity counts. “Truth Hurts” wasn’t at No. 1 as long as “Old Town Road” but may have resonated far, becoming an anthem for so many women (and beyond). Lizzo is 100% getting this Grammy.
Fekadu: In the past at the Grammys, the ubiquitous, unconventional No. 1 hit doesn’t take this trophy home. “Despacito,” “All About That Bass” and “I Gotta Feeling” are some good examples. However, “Old Town Road” seemed to get past being the silliest song of the year, becoming an undeniably good tune that was hard to resist. That’s why I think Lil Nas X is going to take this one.
Song of the year (songwriter’s award): “Always Remember Us This Way,” Lady Gaga, Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey and Lori McKenna; “Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell; “Bring My Flowers Now,” Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth; “Hard Place,” H.E.R., Rodney Jerkins, Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth and D. Arcelious Harris; “Lover,” Taylor Swift; “Norman (Expletive) Rockwell,” Lana Del Rey and Jack Antonoff; “Someone You Loved,” Lewis Capaldi, Tom Barnes, Pere Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn and Sam Roman; “Truth Hurts,” Lizzo, Ricky Reed, Tele and Jesse Saint John.
Fekadu: The top candidates here are Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi. Swift has some edge since she wrote “Lover” alone, but if the song had performed stronger, I would be more convinced to pick her. That leaves me with Eilish and Capaldi, who might be a bit too new to win such a huge award. “Bad Guy” will win.
Moody: Swift really should win this one. But as much as she deserves to win, the Grammys love a comeback story, and giving Tanya Tucker’s “Bring My Flowers Now” would be that moment voters would be proud of. Tucker will take home the gold.
Best new artist: Black Pumas; Billie Eilish; Lil Nas X; Lizzo; Maggie Rogers; Rosalía; Tank and the Bangas; Yola.
Moody: It’s really a contest between two: Lizzo and Billie Eilish. Both are singer-songwriters, musicians, and have paved unique paths in the journey to fame. But as brilliant and entertaining as Lizzo is, she’s hardly a new artist, with at least two albums released already. My money is on 18-yearold Billie.
Fekadu: The truth does hurt, Lizzo: Billie wins here.
Best pop vocal album:
“The Lion King: The Gift,” Beyoncé; “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” Billie Eilish; “Thank
U, Next,” Ariana Grande; “No. 6 Collaborations Project,” Ed Sheeran; “Lover,” Taylor Swift.
Fekadu: Me thinks Eilish will edge Grande for the win, especially since the 18-year-old’s album scored a nod for best engineered album (non-classical) and Finneas is up for producer of the year (non-classical).
Moody: The fact that this is just Taylor’s second nod shows Grammy voters aren’t in a loving mood toward Swift this year. Grande had such a brilliant year and a hot tour, so something tells me she’ll be saying “Thank You.”
Best alternative music
album: “U.F.O.F.,” Big Thief; “Assume Form,” James Blake; “I, I,” Bon Iver; “Father of the Bride,” Vampire Weekend; “Anima,” Thom Yorke.
Moody: Thom Yorke has already won this category twice as a member of Radiohead. Expect this Rock and Roll Hall of Famer to win it once again with his solo work.
Fekadu: James Blake’s album is epic and he has continuously been the go-to guy in music, with Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Travis Scott and others requesting his services. That’ll give him enough votes.
Best R&B performance:
“Love Again,” Daniel Caesar and Brandy; “Could’ve Been,” H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller; “Exactly How I Feel,” Lizzo featuring Gucci Mane; “Roll Some Mo,” Lucky Daye; “Come Home,” Anderson .Paak featuring André 3000.
Fekadu: This is “Exactly How I Feel”: No one even knows this Lizzo song. Why is it even nominated here? It’s extremely offensive when there were hundreds of other R&B performances the academy could have recognized instead, When it comes to the R&B categories, the Grammys are garbage. I think H.E.R — who won this award last year — will scoop it up again.
Moody: Mesfin speaks the truth that there were way better options than “Exactly How I Feel.” The only explanation is voters love Lizzo; still, I don’t think they love her enough to give her a win. H.E.R. will take it.
Best rap song: “Bad Idea,” YBN Cordae featuring Chance the Rapper; “Gold Roses,” Rick Ross featuring Drake; “A Lot,” 21 Savage featuring J. Cole; “Racks in the Middle,” Nipsey Hussle featuring Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy; “Suge,” DaBaby.
Moody: Nipsey Hussle was up for his first Grammy and lost last year, and weeks later he was shot dead. I can’t see them not honoring him by giving him his first Grammy posthumously this year, as tough as this category is.
Fekadu: Nipsey wins here.
Best Country duo/ group performance:
“Brand New Man,” Brooks & Dunn and Luke Combs; “I Don’t Remember Me (Before You),” Brothers Osborne; “Speechless,” Dan + Shay; “The Daughters,” Little Big Town; “Common,” Maren Morris featuring Brandi Carlile.
Fekadu: Little Big Town have won this award three times, and a Maren-Brandi collab will never fail. But it’s hard to resist the sweet sound of Dan + Shay, who won this award last year for “Tequila” and will do it again with “Speechless,” which will be played at weddings over the next 10 years. Those boys can sang!
Moody: It will be four for Little Big Town here! “The Daughters” wasn’t their biggest hit, but the controversy surrounding it and its message about the inequities women face will make up for that.