Grammy Nomination Picks 2018

Ladies and gentleman! Here, for your tickling delight (I'm sure), is my list of what I think may be nominated for a Grammy this year. The actual nominees will be announced Tuesday, November 28, while the 60th Grammy Award ceremony will be held Sunday, January 28, 2018.

This year, some nominations I'm pretty sure about. I had a hard time narrowing down some categories. I'm probably more excited this year than I have been in previous years to compare this list with the actual nominees. Enjoy! What do you think will be nominated?

NOTE: I am not a member of the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and this list is in NO WAY official or reflective of their attitudes. Typically, there are five nominations in each category, but I've left some blank. Nomination eligibility period was October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017.

Album of the Year

DAMN., Kendrick Lamar

The Weight of These Wings, Miranda Lambert

Dua Lipa, Dua Lipa

24K Magic, Bruno Mars

Divide, Ed Sheeran


Record of the Year

"Believer," Imagine Dragons; produced by Mattman & Robin

"That's What I Like," Bruno Mars; produced by Shampoo Press & Curl and The Stereotypes

"Feel It Still," Portugal, The Man; produced by John Hill and Asa Taccone

"Love on the Brain," Rihanna; produced by Fred Ball and Kuk Harrell

"Castle on the Hill," Ed Sheeran; produced by Ed Sheeran and Benny Blanco

"Look What You Made Me Do," Taylor Swift; produced by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff



Song of the Year

"Water Under the Bridge," Adele; written by Adele Adkins and Greg Kurstin

"Better Man," Little Big Town; written by Taylor Swift

"Castle on the Hill," Ed Sheeran; written by Ed Sheeran and Benjamin Levin

"Too Good at Goodbyes," Sam Smith; written by Sam Smith, James Napier, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, and Tor Erik

"Look What You Made Me Do," Taylor Swift; written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Richard Fairbrass, Fred Fairbrass, and Rob Manzoli



Best New Artist

Dua Lipa

Harry Styles

SZA


Best Pop Solo Performance

"Love So Soft," Kelly Clarkson

"That's What I Like," Bruno Mars

"Castle on the Hill," Ed Sheeran

"Too Good at Goodbyes," Sam Smith

"Look What You Made Me Do," Taylor Swift

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

"In My World," Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie

"Something Just Like This," The Chainsmokers and Coldplay

"Feels," Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, and Big Sean

"What Lovers Do," Maroon 5 featuring Sza

"Chained to the Rhythm," Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley

Best Pop Album

Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie

Dua Lipa, Dua Lipa

Melodrama, Lorde

24K Magic, Bruno Mars

Divide, Ed Sheeran


Best Dance Recording

"Cola," Camelphat feat. Elderbrook

"Anymore," Goldfrapp

"It Ain't Me," Kygo featuring Selena Gomez

"Stay," Zedd featuring Alessia Cara

"Solid Gold," Zoot Woman

Best Dance/Electronic Album

Silver Eye, Goldfrapp

Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, Calvin Harris

Absence, Zoot Woman


Best Rock Performance

"Believer," Imagine Dragons


Best Rock Album

Concrete and Gold, Foo Fighters

Evolve, Imagine Dragons


Best Alternative Album

Everything Now, Arcade Fire


Best R&B Performance

"Love on the Brain," Rihanna


Best Urban Contemporary Album

Ctrl, SZA


Best Rap Performance

"HUMBLE.," Kendrick Lamar


Best Rap Song

"Fake Love," Drake; written by Aubrey Graham, Brittany Hazzard, Anderson Hernandez, and Adam Feeney

"HUMBLE.," Kendrick Lamar; written by Kendrick Duckworth, Michael Willams II, and Asheton Hogan


Best Rap Album

More Life, Drake

4:44, Jay-Z

DAMN., Kendrick Lamar

Culture, Migos



Best Country Solo Performance

"Adiós," Glen Campbell

"Body Like a Back Road," Sam Hunt

"Tin Man," Miranda Lambert


Best Country Duo/Group Performance

"It Ain't My Fault," Brothers Osborne

"Funny How Time Slips Away," Glen Campbell featuring Willie Nelson

"Better Man," Little Big Town

"Speak to a Girl," Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

"The Fighter," Keith Urban featuring Carrie Underwood

Best Country Song

"Tin Man," Miranda Lambert; written by Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, and Jon Randall

"Better Man," Little Big Town; written by Taylor Swift

"Speak to a Girl," Tim McGraw and Faith Hill; written by Shy Carter, Dave Gibson, and Joe Spargur

"I Could Use a Love Song," Maren Morris; written by Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins, and Laura Veltz


Best Country Album

Adiós, Glen Campbell

The Weight of These Wings, Miranda Lambert

The Breaker, Little Big Town

From A Room: Volume 1, Chris Stapleton

Best Musical Theatre Album

Come from Away

Dear Evan Hansen

Groundhog Day

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812


Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

La La Land; produced by Justin Hurwitz, Marius de Vries, and Steven Gizicki

Best Song Written for Visual Media

"Audition" from La La Land; music by Justin Hurwitz -- lyrics by Pasek & Paul

"City of Stars" from La La Land; music by Justin Hurwitz -- lyrics by Pasek & Paul

"How Far I'll Go" from Moana; music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda

"Evermore" from Beauty and the Beast; music by Alan Menken -- lyrics by Tim Rice


Best Recording Package

Absence, Zoot Woman

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

"Too Good at Goodbyes" (Galantis Remix), Sam Smith; remixed by Galantis

"Love on the Brain" (Gigamesh Remix), Rihanna; remixed by Gigamesh

"Versace on the Floor" (Bruno Mars vs. David Guetta), Bruno Mars; remixed by David Guetta

"Desperado" (3LAU Remix), Rihanna; remixed by 3LAU



Best Music Video

"It Ain't My Fault," Brothers Osborne

"My Way," Calvin Harris

"HUMBLE.," Kendrick Lamar

"The One Moment," OK Go

"Look What You Made Me Do," Taylor Swift

Digital Age Gives Old Holiday Favorites First Week on Chart ...and Other Phenomenons

The digital age continues to change the face of the music chart landscape with new phenomenons.

The January 7, 2017 issue of Billboard's Hot 100 (released December 27, 2016) saw debuts of the holiday favorites of Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" (at #44), Burl Ives' "A Holly Jolly Christmas" (#46), Andy Williams' "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" (#48), and Wham!'s "Last Christmas" (#50). Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock" even received its new peak at #29. How can this be when all the songs are over--and well over--30 years old?

For starters, the original chart was weighted heavily by commercial singles sales. Several of the above holiday recordings were not originally released as commercial singles, rendering them incapable of charting according to chart rules at the time.

Modern chart rules consider commercial sales (physical and digital download), radio airplay, and streams (even from YouTube, Spotify, Facebook, etc.) of singles and tracks, which has allowed those songs of the past to receive a place on the chart--even their first placing--during the peak of the holiday season.

Overall, we see the following formula:
Digital downloads and streams  +  modern chart rules  =  the opportunity to potentially claim a charting position for songs that were previously incapable of appearing on the chart.

Under these circumstances, it is not uncommon to now see non-single album tracks nab a chart position upon a popular album's release. This grants modern artists opportunity to rank up more chart entries than artists even 15 years ago. For example, according to Billboard's website, 17 of the 18 tracks from the deluxe edition of Justin Bieber's Purpose (2015) have claimed a position on the Hot 100. However, only 7 of the 14 tracks from Michael Jackson's Dangerous (1991) charted on the Hot 100--all 7, of which, were singles. Understanding this makes modern chart success and former chart success incomparable, particularly when considering the number of tallies an artist has had on the chart.

In fact, the modern chart rules give artists the opportunity to nearly monopolize the Hot 100. Bieber's 17 simultaneously charting tracks from Purpose claimed spots that could have offered songs from other artists a chance to perform that week on the chart. Still, the Hot 100 measures popularity of songs, so whether those popular songs are from the same artist or not, they have earned their position, even if they snag the opportunity of other artists' work possibly ever laying a claim on the chart.

These aren't the only chart phenomenons the digital age has produced. In 2014, Idina Menzel's child fan favorite "Let It Go," from Disney's motion picture Frozen, peaked at #5. Not only was the song well-sold, but it is probable that technologically savvy 4 year olds had something to do with it, since the chart recognizes every YouTube and Spotify play. In other words, every iPad toting child that knows how to access YouTube has power to influence the modern music chart. Amazing! Personally, I've termed this the Let It Go Effect.

The effects on the chart this holiday season is another reminder of how the digital age is a new era with new possibilities. As for those newly-charted old holiday favorites, each fell off the chart the following week, except for "Last Christmas," which received its current new peak at #41--most likely helped by George Michael's passing.


***Other George Michael hits to reenter the Hot 100 this week include "Faith" (#47) and Wham!'s "Careless Whisper" (#33), while the Billboard 200 saw a reemergence of his albums TwentyFive (#12), Faith (#18), and Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (#84), as well as Wham!'s Make It Big (#168).

Albums that Have Defined My Life, By Years

In conjunction with just posting the album that defined my 2016, here are other albums that have defined my years, with brief explanations. I started with 2008, since that seemed like the most adult-ly year to start with. Though I wrote their descriptions in chronological order, I started the list with the most recent. Interesting how life plays out when you count the steps backward.

What music defined your life at the same time these defined mine?

2015 -- White Light by The Corrs

Equipped with the tools from The Artist's Way, I continued to heal, reading several more books that supported my spiritual awakening and emotional/mental renewal. Grief was subsiding as I approached acceptance. I felt very akin to The Corrs' latest outing, which was greatly influenced by the passing of the sibling group's father. Their healing and life-affirmation spoke to my journey.
How old was I this year? "27 years/Not long enough to learn from your tears.../You gotta live long enough to learn how to live" ('White Light').

2014 -- Seventh Tree and Tales of Us by Goldfrapp; Under the Tuscan Sun Original Soundtrack by Christophe Beck

Delving into the creative recovery home course The Artist's Way while house-sitting in California for my parents gave the self-exploring alone time I needed. It was my own spiritual retreat. I finally started to heal and put my demons to rest. I blogged for six months about my creative recovery in Am I Grown Up, Yet? Goldfrapp was the peaceful reflection I needed. And Christophe Beck's soundtrack gave me a romantic bounce to pick me up.

   

2013 -- This Delicate Thing We've Made by Darren Hayes; Impossible Princess by Kylie Minogue

Frantic aftermath of the tragedy of the previous year. Looking for footing. My friend's death was a catalyst for evaluating my life and the world. In what ways was I standing in my way? What is this society, this world that we've organized -- and disorganized? Why did we make it that way -- what was the point of any of it? How did I fit into the narrative? How had I fit into the narrative? I was awakening and illusions were shedding. Not too different an inward journey than explored in Darren's and Kylie's albums. I listened to them. I sang their songs. I knew their experience.

  

2012 -- Secret Codes and Battleships by Darren Hayes

My dearest friend committed suicide in March. I had planned to attend another year of college, but experiencing complicated grief, I cannot tell you how many times that fall semester I nearly packed up and didn't finish that 1.0 credits I needed to graduate. I wouldn't have made it through that semester without the bubblegum dance-pop of Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe' and Kylie Minogue's 'Timebomb.' No joke.
My world had changed. My outlook changed. My perspective changed. Everything changed. It had to. Nothing I knew was safe. And I didn't know where to go. Darren Hayes' entire album summed up my emotional journey, but nothing expressed how I felt better than 'Black Out The Sun.'
Also, at the beginning of that fall semester, both of my grandmothers passed...

2011 -- Body Talk Pt. 2 by Robyn

A good friend died at the beginning of the year. I moved out of my sister's house and closer to campus -- first time living out of "home." I attended summer classes. I felt I was growing exponentially as an actor. I began a thirteen month run of constantly being involved with a play. An emotional, busy, trekking year. Robyn gave me comfort and grounding, yet courage to explore.

 
2010 -- Light Years by Kylie Minogue

Life was coming together. I had a readjusted, optimistic attitude. I even started my first blog: Adventures of a Flunking Honor Student. I was given reign to research my passions for school projects. Particularly, Kylie Minogue... There was a lot of Kylie going on, and her library probably has nothing more shamelessly cheerful as Light Years. Known as her comeback album, it was perfect for my "comeback" year, as campy as that sounds.

2009 -- Borrowed Heaven by The Corrs; The Chase by Marit Larsen

Confused by that love relationship and very much not coping well due to my youthfulness (*ANXIETY*), I ran away to Brigham Young University to start completely new. These folk-pop albums share that heartache, love, yearning, reflection, and empowerment. Though light in sound, they expressed deep, honest places for someone as light as myself.

  

2008 -- Talk On Corners by The Corrs

I fell in love, and not just with The Corrs (though I was obsessed!). Though my youthful foolishness and naivety was most of what complicated the relationship, what better way to express what I was feeling than with lovelorn ambient ballads by a hopeless romantic group.

The Word and the Album that Defined My 2016

2016. What a year it was.

Based on social media posts, it's a disaster many could not wait to let go of. I can't blame them.

Terrorist attacks. Riots. Protests. Brexit. Leagues of passed celebrities (George Michael, Carrie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds in just the last week of the year; happy holidays, world...). A presidential election that was...constantly unpredictable, among other things.

But for me, though I saw these things happen and was affected by them, 2016 will leave as a year of value.

Value. My word of the year.

As of last year, I did away with New Year's resolutions (or wishful thinking, rather) upon reading a blog post about finding a word for the year and embodying it. (Sadly, I can no longer find that blog post). Both years now, I've searched for a word, seen one constantly pop up, and finalized that year's word by April.

Last year's word was power. I explored and understood my own self-power.

This year was value. And what better year to seek to add value to my life than as rough a year as 2016.

In fact, in my life journey, it just was the next step.

'It Took Me So Long To Get Here, But Here I Am'

• I took an improv acting class at comedy school The Second City in Hollywood. Now, I am deep into their performance program.
• I changed to a largely plant-based diet and continue to explore other means of healthfulness.
• I engaged in an online hypnotherapy course. (It works wonders! Thank you, Marisa Peer.)
• I finished up the five books I was reading at one time and now just am reading one, giving me greater sense of focus. (This may sound silly, but was a great feat for me.)
• I've delved into a writing project that I'd been procrastinating, but that has developed into full life and that I find great value in.

These and so much more have brought value into my life in 2016. Indeed, I feel I've adopted an attitude of value, much like I did last year with an attitude of power.

For me, 2016 will go down a s a year of value.
I look forward to the growth 2017 will bring and excitedly anticipate whatever word I may be led to that will define that growth.

This brings me to the album that has defined my year.

KIN by KT Tunstall.

Now years after her father's passing and her divorce, Tunstall has worked to disband social expectations and make her life the way she wants it. Released September 9, 2016, KIN is a celebration of her new arrival of self. The album explores themes of redefinition and of acceptance and gratitude for past challenges. From even the driving introduction of album opener 'Hard Girls,' the album's tunes lead listeners to burst through their barriers and to strongly stand on higher ground (to "pull it apart and put it back together" ('Everything Has Its Shape')).

The value I've added in 2016 gave me a greater sense of direction than I've had in recent years. It's helped me take greater stock in how I'd like my future to look and has given me a refreshed drive to achieve it -- it feels more at my fingertips than before. In seeking that value, I feel the sense to "pull it apart and put it back together how you want it," to dismantle all that I know--every tradition, habit, expectation, belief, dream--and to reshape my life in an entirely new direction so that what I want can show up.

It Took Me So Long To Get Here, But Here I Am.

'Everything Has Its Shape' is perhaps the song that
most defines where I am in life right now.

KIN speaks for my year of seeking value.

What album defined your year? What word did you embody in 2016?

  

For a bonus post on a quick rundown of past albums that defined my year, click here.