Grammy Nomination Picks 2016

Aaaaand, here it is! My picks for what I think may be Grammy nominated this year. The actual nominees will be announced Monday, December 7, while the 58th Grammy Award ceremony will be held on February 15, first ever on a Monday.

To be honest, my research for this list was not as thorough as past years, due to the time I had available to dedicate to it. For example, last year I put nominees in 34 categories; this year, only 20. Still, this is what I could accumulate, so I stand by it.

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, 2014 to September 30, 2015.


Record of the Year

"Uptown Funk," Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars; produced by Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, and Bruno Mars

"Lean On," Major Lazer and DJ Snake featuring MØ; produced by Major Lazer and DJ Snake

"See You Again, Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth; produced by DJ Frank E, Charlie Puth, and Andrew Cedar

"Can't Feel My Face," The Weeknd; produced by Max Martin and Ali Payami

"Blank Space," Taylor Swift; produced by Max Martin and Shellback

Album of the Year

1989, Taylor Swift

Traveller, Chris Stapleton

Beauty Behind the Madness, The Weeknd

To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar


Song of the Year

"See You Again," Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth; written by DJ Frank E, Charlie Puth, Wiz Khalifa, and Andrew Cedar

"Blank Space," Taylor Swift; written by Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback

Best New Artist

Chris Stapleton

Meghan Trainor


Best Pop Album

1989, Taylor Swift

Piece by Piece, Kelly Clarkson

E.MO.TION, Carly Rae Jepsen

Beauty Behind the Madness, The Weeknd

Title, Meghan Trainor


Best Solo Pop Performance

"Can't Feel My Face," The Weeknd

"Blank Space," Taylor Swift

"Thinking Out Loud," Ed Sheeran

"Heartbeat Song," Kelly Clarkson



Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

"Like I'm Gonna Lose You," Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend

"Sugar," Maroon 5

"Geronimo," Sheppard

"Shut Up and Dance," Walk the Moon

"Uptown Funk," Mark Ranson featuring Bruno Mars


Best Traditional Pop Album

It's the Girls, Bette Midler


Best Electronic/Dance Album

I Cry When I Laugh, Jess Glynne

Peace Is the Mission, Major Lazer

Motion, Calvin Harris

Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü, Jack Ü

Born in the Echoes, The Chemical Brothers


Best Dance Recording

"Hold My Hand," Jess Glynne

"Lean On," Major Lazer and DJ Snake featuring MØ

"Under Control," Calvin Harris and Alesso featuring Hurts

"Where are Ü Now," Jack Ü featuring Justin Bieber

Best Rock Album

Smoke + Mirrors, Imagine Dragons

American Beauty/American Psycho, Fall Out Boy


Best Rap Album

To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar

If You're Reading This It's Too Late, Drake

The Album About Nothing, Wale


Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

"See You Again," Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth



Best Country Album

Pageant Material, Kacey Musgraves

Storyteller, Carrie Underwood

Traveller, Chris Stapleton

JEKYLL + HYDE, Zac Brown Band


Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

"Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)," Felix Jaehn, remixer (Omi)




Best Folk Album

Picking Up the Pieces, Jewel


Best Musical Theater Album

An American in Paris

Something Rotten!

The Visit

Fun Home

The King and I

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Empire: Season 1

Furious 7

Pitch Perfect 2

Fifty Shades of Grey

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1



Best Song Written for Visual Media

"Glory," from Selma; written by John Stephens, Lonnie Lynn, and Che Smith

"Til It Happens to You," from The Hunting Ground; written by Lady Gaga and Diane Warren

"Grateful," from Beyond the Lights; written Diane Warren

"Yellow Flicker Heartbeat," from The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1; written by Ella Yelich-O'Connor and Joel Little

"See You Again," from Furious 7; written by DJ Frank E, Charlie Puth, Wiz Khalifa, and Andrew Cedar


Best Music Video

"I Won't Let You Down," OK Go

"Bad Blood," Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar

"Elastic Heart," Sia

Soapbox: Hip Hop and Respect Worth Singing About

I wouldn't necessarily call myself a generic fan of hip hop -- hip hop meaning rap and contemporary urban.

However, I think hip hop is a viable form and style of artistic expression, and I have found several gold nuggets I really dig. Despite people's common riffs against the genre, it is a style of expression that can be, at times, transcendent, a mouthpiece for good, and quite fun. I cringe when I hear the retort, "Rap is crap."

My own disinterest in hip hop comes when it is used as an outlet for disrespect -- disrespect for oneself and others, whether in sexuality, violence, or extreme substance consumption. To be honest, my interest in any art form and style is compromised when disrespectful tones are used and glorified -- be it in country or pop music, paintings, films, and whatever else. I bring it up in hip hop, though, because it seems to be a perpetuating overt theme that often defines the genre. (And only recently, I realized it to be the root of my general hip hop disinterest).

- Sexuality -

Now, it's very nice that the boys go after your big booty, but girl! that seriously cannot be your best asset. And if it is, we definitely have some work to do! Please, respect yo'self (and yo booty) by realizing that there's more to you than that and that all your goodies --physically, mentally, and emotionally -- the entire ensemble of you -- are topics worth singing about. They are precious. You are precious. Respect them; respect you. Also, respect your man by making him live a higher standard than getting you simply cuz he like yo booty! Bring him up with you. If he don't, kick him to the curb. You deserve better, and believe me, better is out there. You will find the respect you deserve.

Likewise, I think it is dazzling and just delightful that you pimp them hoes like no other, but dude! Live it up in LOVE, fool -- true love! Love is scary -- we all know. But, ah, it's worth it, I'm sure, even if it ain't yo style. If you have the power and charm to sweep the ladies off their feet to want to serve and please you, use that power and charm to teach them their true value and true self-respect in who they are as women -- every aspect of them. Give them the respect they deserve. Teach and help them to respect themselves. And by all means, be respectful to yourself by seeking an honest love and then respecting that relationship. These are worth singing about.

- Violence -

As for violence, I'm pretty sure we all can agree there is a higher road. If you think violence is the answer for your situation, take a deep breath, count to 10, walk it off -- whatever. Just don't blow it out of proportion. We get it -- something was important to you and now you want revenge. Pretty sure bustin' a cap in anyone, even the popo, is not a respectful (or honorable) way of getting what you want. Let's sit down, talk it out, get you into college, get you a job, put your life in some respectable direction -- there is a world beyond your hurt, even for you -- there is a world out there for you. We hear you. You're hurt. We validate you. As with any hurt, true healing is possible when you look for it. Grieve it in a healthy outlet. Draw a picture. Go fishing. Watch the sunrise. Anything of peace and beauty. Or, maybe physical activity -- go for a run, pump iron, kick balls around -- anything to let off steam. Now, let's get out there and do some good, fun things today! No guns, knives, or fists necessary. Redemption and healing are worth singing about.

If you really want to talk about violence, perhaps war would be your cup of tea. Yeah, war! War is an awesome subject in the category of violence. We have wars all around the world; wars in history; wars in our own streets. Even, wars in our own homes. Shoot, let's throw them all into a song or rap and share their parallelisms in a way that will blow everyone's minds. We only have us here on this planet. We're all here together. Is it really worth fighting our brothers overseas, or even here at home? Is there really a situation worth that? Again, come on, let's not blow this out of proportion. Where is the respect and honor in war? Surely, that is something worth exploring and, surely, something worth singing about. Spread the love, y'all.

- Substances -

And last but not least, if your weed, crack, meth, booze, slutty partying, or whatever is all you enjoy and look forward to doing, we have got to get you some new hobbies. The world is big, yo! No matter where you live. Get up and see and experience. Go and do. Respect yourself. Respect your life. Make great memories. Make great friends. Make great cookies! It doesn't matter! Just get off your flat, lazy butt and sober up. The days are a-countin'. What will you have done with them? Are you enjoying them? A great, active, full life is worth singing about. Whatever situations you are avoiding with your addictions, face them. Correct them. Correct yourself. Respect yourself by fixing them and moving on. You are not alone. Support and love is there, no matter where you've been or what you've done. You are not as far gone as you think. Get out there and truly live it up! Honest recovery is worth singing about.


I respect hip hop. I really do. There are some gems out there -- gems that explore true love, that dishonor and explore domestic violence, that are a voice for mental health, and much more. But there are also some real poopers that praise doing a short and unfulfilling number on yourself.

There is power in positivity. Personally, I would find more respect for hip hop if true respect were more implemented in its tradition. Then, it would be worth singing about.

"Run Away With" Carly Rae Jepsen in Teenage Dream 2.0

I've only been halfway there with Carly Rae Jepsen's recent releases, but this is the one!

On Friday, Jepsen released her new single "Run Away With Me" to rampant praise by critics -- some referring to it as "Teenage Dream 2.0," with its youthful, dreamy call.

It's nowhere near the infection of "Call Me Maybe" but holds more broad appeal than lead single "I Really Like You" from upcoming album E.MO.TION.

The accompanying music video fittingly follows Jepsen journeying through Paris, New York, and Tokyo. Though the vid is fairly generic, it has its fun and is an enjoyable look, especially with a great deal of the footage being candid. Regarding the filming, even, Jepsen has commented, "I didn't even know we were making a music video until about halfway through it."

In all, the catchy pop tune is a sweet, fun, danceable summer jam. Check it out!