Grammy Nomination Picks 2017

BAM! Here is my list of what I think may be nominated for a Grammy this year. The actual nominees will be announced Tuesday, December 6, while the 59th Grammy Award ceremony will be held Sunday, February 12, 2017.

Sooooo, in recent years I've felt like I've under-reseached my lists due to time constraints. But this year takes the cake! I am so embarrassed by how little time I've had to put this together that I nearly did not post it. Still, here is what I have--my skeleton of a list--in all its late-posting glory! Enjoy. What do you think should 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, 2015 to September 30, 2016.


Album of the Year

25, Adele

Lemonade, Beyoncé

Blackstar, David Bowie

Blonde, Frank Ocean


Record of the Year

"Hello," Adele; produced by Greg Kurstin

"Closer," The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey; produced by The Chainsmokers

"Adventure of a Lifetime," Coldplay; produced by Rick Simpson and Stargate



Song of the Year

"Hello," Adele; written by Adele Adkins and Greg Kurstin

"I Took a Pill in Ibiza" (SeeB remix), Mike Posner; written by Mike Posner

"Closer," The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey; written by Andrew Taggart, Ashley Frangipane, Shaun Frank, Federic Kennett, Isaac Slade, and Joe King




Best New Artist

Lukas Graham

Alessia Cara

The Chainsmokers

Zayn

Best Pop Vocal Album

Purpose, Justin Bieber

25, Adele

Dangerous Woman, Ariana Grande

This Is Acting, Sia


Best Pop Solo Performance

"Hello," Adele

"Alive," Sia

"Can't Stop the Feeling!" Justin Timberlake

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

"Side to Side," Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj

"The Greatest," Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar

"This is What You Came For," Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna

"Closer," The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey

"Adventure of a Lifetime," Coldplay


Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway, Barbra Streisand


Best Rock Album

Blackstar, David Bowie

The Getaway, Red Hot Chili Peppers


Best Rock Performance

"Don't Hurt Yourself," Beyoncé featuring Jack White


Best Rock Song

"Heathens," Twenty One Pilots; written Tyler Joseph


Best Alternative Music Album

I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful, yet So Unaware of It, The 1975


Best Urban Contemporary Album

Lemonade, Beyoncé

Anti, Rihanna

Blonde, Frank Ocean


Best Rap Album

Life of Pablo, Kanye West

Fetty Wap, Fetty Wap

untitled unmastered., Kendrick Lamar



Best Rap Performance

"One Dance," Drake

"Panda," Desiigner


Best Rap/Sung Performance

"Work," Rihanna featuring Drake


Best Country Album

Black, Dierks Bentley

Dig Your Roots, Florida Georgia Line

Best Country Solo Performance

"Tennessee Whiskey," Chris Stapleton


Best Country Duo/Group Performance

"H.O.L.Y.," Florida Georgia Line

"Different for Girls," Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King


Best Country Song

"Humble and Kind," Tim McGraw; written by Lori McKenna

"Different for Girls," Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King; written by J.T. Harding and Shane McAnally


Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

"I Took A Pill In Ibiza (Seeb Remix)," Seeb, remixer (Mike Posner)


Best Musical Theater Album

School of Rock

Bright Star

Waitress


Best Song Written for Visual Media

"Writing's on the Wall," from Spectre; written by Jimmy Napes and Sam Smith

"Can't Stop the Feeling!" from Trolls; written by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin, and Shellback

"Heathens," from Suicide Squad; written by Tyler Joseph


Best Music Video

"Hello," Adele

"The Greatest," Sia

"Up&Up," Coldplay

Album Review: Pharrell William's "G I R L"

Pharrell Williams' recent string of hits continues with the release of his first album in eight years, G I R L. The full-length effort has already debuted at #1 in the U.K. and is expected to chart well stateside. The studio release comes at a hot time in Pharrell's career, following an incredibly successful year of collaborations with Robin Thicke and Daft Punk and his work on the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack. An album seems a logical thing to do in this productive flow of creativity -- and it is sure to be a profitable choice.

The name GIRL comes from many meanings. He loves his women (or woman, I should say). How do you know? He tells you -- plenty of times in this record. The entire album is a praise of the female but not in the objectifying way of most male artists with a hip hop background. He respects women. He's sensitive, and in a way, that brings the girl out of him to even consult, "Dear diary," as in track "Marilyn Monroe," and to "go inward to experience the outer space," like in "Lost Queen" hidden track "Freq."

Still, Pharrell likes his sex, admitting, "Half of me is good, the other half nasty," ("Lost Queen") and, boy -- er, girl -- does he get nasty in "Come Get It Bae" and especially in "Gush," which beginning recalled parts of Dannii Minogue's "Push" for me in the oozing of the word. And through it all, he tries to maintain respect and treat her well, citing, "I could be the guy to treat you/ to a nice movie, feed you/ But I don't wanna mislead you/ Tonight I think I wanna be dirty, girl/ ...My momma didn't raise me that way."

Pharrell wrote and produced all tracks on this record, save "Marilyn Monroe," which credits Ann-Marie Calhoun as a co-writer. However, much of the funk sound appears similar to works by Justin Timberlake, but why shouldn't it when Pharrell co-wrote and -produced several tracks on Justin's first album? Justin even is featured in "Brand New." Alicia Keys comes in on "Know Who You Are," while Kelly Osbourne, Timbaland, Miley Cyrus, Daft Punk, and JoJo are also featured in backgrounds through the album. Pharrell completely takes a break from rapping on this effort and even sings high enough to casually use his falsetto through much of the album, recalling another reference to the album's title.

As a whole, every song stays positive and pro-female. I wonder if he wrote some of these songs for female artists but changed them slightly to match himself. The album is united in its charming expression of Pharrell, but the catching, standout cuts are few.

Standout Tracks include opening, romance-confessional "Marilyn Monroe," breezy Timberlake-duet "Brand New," and feel-good song of the year "Happy."

Would I recommend it? What I really like about this album is that every song is expressed positively. There are no drowned-world, self-pity, or break-up cuts. At the same time, it feels substance-less. The pop moments are the highlights of this album, but if you get off on neo soul and funk in your R&B, you probably will really take to this album as a complete set.

I give G I R L 3 out of 5 stars.

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

8/1 Chart Highlights: One Direction Debuts Big; Selena Gomez Earns First #1 Album

Thanks to massive amounts of downloads and streaming, One Direction receives their highest peak on the Hot 100 with "Best Song Ever," debuting at #2 behind Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," which holds its crown atop the chart as the longest running #1 of the year at eight weeks from continued growth on radio airplay ranking in this week with the second highest audience since the Radio Songs chart's debut in December 1990. Mariah Carey's 2005 "We Belong Together" holds the record for most radio impressions in a single week. Miley Cyrus, Imagine Dragons, Daft Punk, and Bruno Mars fall one position to make room for the One Direction debut, while Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Florida Georgia Line each fall three, granting Anna Kendrick and Jay-Z one position gains. This is Imagine Dragons' 48th week on the chart with "Radioactive," and with such a high position this far in the game, their song can easily become a contender as one of the longest-running singles when it bows off the chart.

HOT 100 top 10
1. Robin Thick featuring T.I. and Pharrell                  "Blurred Lines"
2. One Direction                                                                    "Best Song Ever"
3. Miley Cyrus                                                                        "We Can't Stop"
4. Imagine Dragons                                                              "Radioactive"
5. Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams                      "Get Lucky"
6. Bruno Mars                                                                         "Treasure"
7. Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake                            "Holy Grail"
8. Anna Kendrick                                                                   "Cups (Pitch Perfect's When I'm Gone)"
9. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton "Can't Hold Us Down"
10. Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly                      "Cruise"

Selena Gomez gains her first #1 on the Billboard 200 with the debut of her new album Stars Dance. She pushes Jay-Z's Magna Carta...Holy Grail to the chart's second position after its two-week reign on top. Marc Anthony's Spanish-language album 3.0, rock group We Came As Romans' Tracing Back Roots, and compilation Rich Gang also debut at #'s 5, 8, and 9, respectfully, while the works of Kidz Bop Kids, Florida Georgia Line, Imagine Dragons, and Justin Timberlake fall one position. The soundtrack of Disney Channel's Teen Beach Movie raises 8-3, due to its first full week of sales since its premiere on July 19. Rebroadcasts of the film and a quick turnaround DVD release on July 30 are expected to impact album sales in the near future.

BILLBOARD 200 top 10
1. Selena Gomez                 Stars Dance
2. Jay-Z                                 Magna Carta...Holy Grail
3. Soundtrack                     Teen Beach Movie
4. Kidz Bop Kids                 Kidz Bop 24
5. Marc Anthony               3.0
6. Florida Georgia Line   Here's To The Good Times
7. Imagine Dragons         Night Visions
8. We Came As Romans  Tracing Back Roots
9. Various Artists             Rich Gang
10. Justin Timberlake     The 20/20 Experience

Monday Review: Believe by Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber’s latest release Believe is nothing short of what would be expected from an international pop icon with polished songwriting appropriate for a pop-hungry audience. He even contributed writing talent to most of the tracks. The album is really good and plays well as a next step in Bieber's career journey. The production sound is at par with the pop-perfect songwriting, containing every electronic fizzle and beep popular in modern dance-pop. Entertainment Weekly stated, "It's the rare album that tries to be everything to everyone and largely succeeds." What can you expect when the album’s producer and songwriter list includes enough names to run a Wal-Mart? There’s enough insight to go around to cover all bases. This also explains why the album is so polished.

Bieber’s vocals have deepened and matured, as well as his beautiful R&B flavoring (this may dismay every guy who enjoys making Bieber puberty jokes; the lad’s growing up). The eighteen-year-old still sounds like a teenager but has shed his tweenie voice. All comparisons he’s getting to Justin Timberlake are understandable, even if Bieber isn’t taking kindly to what’s said. It doesn’t seem he’s tried to sound like Timberlake, but rather, in his exploration of his voice, he has happened upon a product that is strongly akin. Still, he comes across as a definitive pop star.

Standout tracks include opener and promo single "All Around The World," a club-ready dance track that sounds cousin to Britney Spears' "Till the World Ends" and welcomes another collaboration with Ludacris; the gorgeous, acoustic-guitar-featuring "Catching Feelings;" Nicki Minaj collaboration "Beauty And A Beat;" and "Thought of You."

A downfall of the album, though, is that Bieber sounds bored in a few tracks, especially near the end of album.

If you question his talent, check out this album to give Bieber Fever at least some legitimacy.

I give Believe 4 out of 5 stars.