2015 Grammy Predictions – Lisa Pikaard, Al Mannarino & Bill Bodkin
For the full list of Grammy Nominees, click here.
General Grammys
Record of the Year:
Nominees: “Fancy” – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX (The Arcade & The Invisible Men, producers), “Chandelier” – Sia (Greg Kurstin & Jesse Shatkin), “Stay with Me (Darkchild Version)” – Sam Smith (Steve Fitzmaurice, Rodney Jerkins & Jimmy Napes, producers), “Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift (Max Martin & Shellback, producers), “All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor (Kevin Kadish, producer)
Lisa Pikaard: As much as I want to give the Record of the Year to the girl power here, I just can’t see this award going to anyone except Sam Smith. Taylor Swift may be just a little too catchy for her own good and I love “All About That Bass” but the emotion of “Stay With Me” just edges out the women.
Al Mannarino: Surprised “Happy” by Pharrell didn’t get a nomination, but other than that these songs were pretty much expected. There is no real surprise here and any of these over played Top 40 songs could walk away with a win. My money is on Taylor Swift. She is the biggest name in music right now and could walk away with a handful of Grammy awards this year.
Bill Bodkin: The brilliant Joe Levy from Billboard says this should be a two-song race between Sia and T-Swizzle. However, I’m going with Sam Smith – this song is, like Levy said, Smith is a classic Grammy fave. It’s a blend of the modern and classic and this song just happened to be everywhere. Smith all the way.
Album of the Year
Nominees: Morning Phase – Beck (Beck Hansen, producer)
Beyoncé – Beyoncé (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Drake, Jay-Z & Frank Ocean, featured artists; Ammo, Boots, Noel “Detail” Fisher, Jerome Harmon, Hit-Boy, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius “The Dream” Nash, Caroline Polachek, Rey Reel, Noah “40” Shebib, Ryan Tedder, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Key Wane & Pharrell Williams, producers),
x – Ed Sheeran (Jeff Bhasker, Benny Blanco, Jake Gosling, Johnny McDaid, Rick Rubin & Pharrell Williams, producers),
In the Lonely Hour – Sam Smith (Steve Fitzmaurice, Komi, Howard Lawrence, Zane Lowe, Mojam, Jimmy Napes, Naughty Boy, Fraser T Smith, Two Inch Punch & Eg White, producers)
G I R L – Pharrell Williams (Alicia Keys & Justin Timberlake, featured artists; Pharrell Williams, producer)
Lisa Pikaard: Pharrell produced three out of five of these albums. He is the true winner here but since I have to pick just one album, my hope is for X to be the winner by Ed Sheeran. The beauty, emotion, and skill he displays on this record is phenomenal. Every song has a different vibe and sound to it and yet they all shine. That takes true talent. In years past everyone would just hand the award to Beyonce without reading about who else is nominated but not this time. Shine Sheeran, shine!
Al Mannarino: To see Beck be nominated for Album of the Year makes me incredibly happy. I have been listening to Beck since I was middle school. The great thing about the Grammy Awards unlike any other major award ceremony is that it is possible for the underdog to win. Three of the last five winners have been Daft Punk, Mumford & Sons, and Arcade Fire. While they are popular acts they are not necessarily constantly playing on top 40 radio. Yet they all have won the biggest award of the night. I think any of these nominees deserves to win, but it would be incredible if they gave the award to Beck’s incredible album Morning Phase.
Bill Bodkin: I’m going with Sam Smith once again. This guy is just red hot and he’s going to be this year’s Adele.
Song of the Year
Nominees: “All About That Bass” – Kevin Kadish & Meghan Trainor, songwriters (Meghan Trainor), “Chandelier” – Sia Furler & Jesse Shatkin, songwriters (Sia), “Shake It Off” –Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift), “Stay with Me (Darkchild Version)” – James Napier, William Phillips, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty & Sam Smith, songwriters (Sam Smith), “Take Me to Church” – Andrew Hozier-Byrne, songwriter (Hozier)
Lisa Pikaard: While I fear that this may go to “Stay With Me,” I’m hoping the copyright scandal hurts his chances a little bit. I really want to see Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” pull this off. I ranted on “Chandelier” in our Singles Party and have nothing nice to say about that song. “Shake it Off” is so catchy but move over T Swift, it’s time for a new woman to top the music world.
Al Mannarino: never really understood the difference between “Record of the Year” and “Song of the Year,” but it’s great to see Hozier’s ‘Take Me To Church’ get a nomination. The track is so powerful and emotional that it probably should have also been nominated for Record of the Year, but it’s nice to see that it made the cut regardless. I know Sam Smith will most likely win one if not all of the awards he was nominated for, but my money is on ‘Stay With Me’ winning at least song or record of the year.
Bill Bodkin: I think the Petty controversy hurts Smith here and that “Shake It Off” so this way T-Swizz gets her moment in the sun. And it’s catchy ass song.
Best New Artist
Nominees: Iggy Azalea, Bastille, Brandy Clark, HAIM, Sam Smith
Lisa Pikaard: Sam Smith’s emotionally packed tunes edge him past Bastille, Iggy and everyone else on this list. His music was on every station all year long so he deserves it.
Al Mannarino: Sam Smith would have had the category locked if it wasn’t for Iggy Azalea. Smith and Iggy were the biggest names in music over the summer having dominated the radio. Although it would be cool to see Haim or Bastille win, it’s just not going to happen.
Bill Bodkin: This is usually the category where the obvious doesn’t win – so smart money goes to Brandy Clark. Remember Esperanza Spalding? EXACTLY.
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