The Grammy Awards have given us much to think about over the years — J. Lo’s green Versace dress, the world-stopping beauty of FKA Twigs’ pole dance, an unforgivable AOTY snub of Beyoncé’s Lemonade, discourse around the micro-aggressive ‘urban’ music category — certainly, not all of it has been good. Nevertheless, it remains the biggest night of the year for the music industry, providing a reliable annual dose of A-list drama on the day, along with the months of speculation that come before it.
Today, speculation season begins in earnest, with the first official nominations for the 65th Grammys rolling in via live feed on the Recording Academy’s website. According to Hollywood projection site Gold Derby, Adele and her bestselling album 30 are the bookies’ favourite to sweep the awards’ main categories. But have these bookies listened to Renaissance, in order, uncensored, all the way through? We’re just asking a question.
New categories this year include awards for Best Video Game Soundtrack and Best Spoken Word Poetry Album, but all eyes and ears will inevitably be tuned into the top prizes. So, here are those juicy nominations:
Album of the Year:
Voyage — ABBA
30 — Adele
Un Verano Sin Ti — Bad Bunny
Renaissance — Beyoncé
Good Morning Gorgeous — Mary J. Blige
In These Silent Days — Brandi Carlisle
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers — Kendrick Lamar
Record of the Year:
“Don’t Shut Me Down” — ABBA
“Easy On Me” — Adele
“Break My Soul” — Beyoncé
“Good Morning Gorgeous” — Mary J. Blige
“You and Me on the Rock” — Brandi Carlisle
“Woman” — Doja Cat
Best Pop Vocal Album:
Voyage – ABBA
30 – Adele
Music of the Spheres – Coldplay
Special – Lizzo
Harry’s House – Harry Styles
Best Pop Solo Performance:
“Easy On Me” — Adele
“Moscow Mule” — Bad Bunny
“Woman” — Doja Cat
“Bad Habit” — Steve Lacy
“About Damn Time” — Lizzo
“As It Was” — Harry Styles
Best Rap Album:
God Did — DJ Khaled
I Never Liked You — Future
Come Home The Kids Miss You — Jack Harlow
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers — Kendrick Lamar
It’s Almost Dry — Pusha T
Best New Artist:
Anitta
Omar Apollo
Måneskin
DOMi & JD Beck
Latto
Muni Long
Wet Leg
Molly Tuttle
Tobe Nwigwe
Samara Joy
Song of the Year:
“abcdefu” — GAYLE
“About Damn Time” — Lizzo
“All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” — Taylor Swift
“As It Was” — Harry Styles
“Bad Habit” — Steve Lacy
“Break My Soul” — Beyoncé
“Easy On Me” — Adele
“GOD DID” — DJ Khaled
“The Heart Part 5” — Kendrick Lamar
“Just Like That” — Bonnie Raitt
Best Music Video:
“Easy On Me” — Adele
“Yet To Come” — BTS
“Woman” — Doja Cat
“The Heart Part 5” — Kendrick Lamar
“As It Was” — Harry Styles
“All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” — Taylor Swift