Grammy Nomination Picks 2014

Here we are! My fourth consecutive year posting my Grammy nomination predictions/considerations (my previous lists: 2013, 2012, and 2011). The official nominations will be announced December 6 -- some during The Grammy Nominations Concert Live - Countdown to Music's Biggest Night on CBS at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

In 10 of 18 categories I wrote out last year, I nominated the actual winner. Hopefully, this year proves good results for my list of 24 categories, as well. Honestly, I feel like there is a lot of competition this year -- a lot of incredible and classic numbers released. I'm intrigued to see where Grammy voters lean.

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 spots in each category but I've left some blank. Nomination eligibility period was October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.



Album of the Year

Red , Taylor Swift

The Heist, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars

Yeezus, Kanye West


Record of the Year

"Thrift Shop," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz; produced by Ryan Lewis

"Roar," Katy Perry; produced by Dr. Luke, Max Martin, and Cirkut

"Royals," Lorde; produced by Joel Little

"Blurred Lines," Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell; produced by Pharrell

"Get Lucky," Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams; produced by Daft Punk

"Suit & Tie," Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z; produced by Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon


Song of the Year

"Brave," Sara Barielles; Written by Sara Barielles and Jack Antonoff

"Wake Me Up," Avicii feat. Aloe Blacc; Written by Tim Bergling, Aloe Blacc, and Mike Einziger

"Same Love," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert; Written by Ben Haggerty, Ryan Lewis, Mary Lambert, and Curtis Mayfield

"Royals," Lorde; Written by Ella Yellich O'Connor and Joel Little


Best New Artist

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Lorde

Ariana Grande

Zedd

Florida Georgia Line


Best Solo Pop Performance

"Roar," Katy Perry

"Locked Out of Heaven," Bruno Mars

"Royals," Lorde

"Brave," Sara Barielles

"Try," Pink

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

"Blurred Lines," Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell

"Same Love," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert

"Just Give Me a Reason," Pink feat. Nate Ruess

"Stay," Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko

"Everything Has Changed," Taylor Swift feat. Ed Sheeran



Best Pop Vocal Album

Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke

Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars

Yours Truly, Ariana Grande

The 20/20 Experience, Justin Timberlake

Unapologetic, Rihanna


Best Dance Recording

"Get Lucky," Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams

"Clarity," Zedd feat. Foxes

"Thinking About You," Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar

"Work Bitch," Britney Spears


Best Electronica/Dance Album

Clarity, Zedd

18 Months, Calvin Harris

Electric, Pet Shop Boys

Random Access Memories, Daft Punk


Best R&B Performance

"Body Party," Ciara

"Beautiful," Mariah Carey feat. Miguel

"Hold On, We're Going Home," Drake feat. Majid Jordan


Best R&B Song

"Beautiful," Mariah Carey feat. Miguel; Written by Mariah Carey, Miguel Pimentel, Nathan Perez, and Brook Davis

"Hold On, We're Going Home," Drake feat. Majid Jordan; Written by Aubrey Graham, Noah Shebib, Majid Al Maskati, and Jordan Ullman



Best Urban Contemporary Album

Ciara, Ciara





Best Rap Performance

"Started from the Bottom," Drake

"Black Skinhead," Kanye West

"Berzerk," Eminem


Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

"Can't Hold Us," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton

"Holy Grail," Jay-Z feat. Justin Timberlake





Best Rap Song

"Thrift Shop," Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz; Written by Ben Haggerty and Ryan Lewis

"Black Skinhead," Kanye West; Written by Kanye West, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Thomas Bangalter, Malik Jones, Cydel Young, Elon Rutberg, Wasalu Jaco, Sakiya Sandifer, Mike Dean, and Derrick Watkins


Best Rap Album

The Heist, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Magna Carter Holy Grail, Jay-Z

Nothing Was the Same, Drake

Yeezus, Kanye West


Best Country Solo Performance

"Red," Taylor Swift


Best Country Duo/Group Performance

"Cruise," Florida Georgia Line

"Everybody's Got Somebody But Me," Hunter Hayes feat. Jason Mraz

"We Were Us," Keith Urban feat. Miranda Lambert

"Highway Don't Care," Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift



Best Country Album

Crash My Party, Luke Bryan

Red, Taylor Swift

Here's to the Good Times, Florida Georgia Line

Two Lanes of Freedom, Tim McGraw



Best Alternative Album

The 1975, The 1975

Pure Heroine, Lorde

In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, Capital Cities

Tales of Us, Goldfrapp


Best Music Video

"Mirrors," Justin Timberlake

"Safe and Sound," Capital Cities



Best Compilation Album for Visual Media

Pitch Perfect, Various Artists


Best Song Written for Visual Media

"Skyfall," Adele; Written by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth for the film Skyfall

"Pi's Lullaby," Bombay Jayashri; Written by Bombay Jayashri and Mychael Danna for the film  Life of Pi

"Suddenly," Hugh Jackman; Written by Herbert Kretzmer, Alain Boublil, and Claude-Michel Schönberg for the film Les Misérables

Best Musical Theater Album

Kinky Boots

Matilda the Musical

A Christmas Story: The Musical


Producer of the Year, non-Classical

Zedd

Pharrell Williams