Last Updated on December 5, 2012 by
Random thoughts as I scan the complete list of 2013 Grammy nominations in all 81 categories:
-Ed Sheeran got overlooked for Best New Artist, but he was rightfully rewarded with a Song of the Year nod for “The A Team,” a beautiful song about a troubled girl. He won’t win, since he’s up against “We Are Young” and “Call Me Maybe,” the latter of which will get a whole lot of “guilty pleasure” votes.
-Marilyn Manson is nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for “No Reflection.” This is his fourth Grammy nod. It always makes me happy when Manson gets recognized by the Recording Academy, since former Grammy host Kelsey Grammer once mocked Manson during the broadcast by saying “you will not see his bony white ass on stage tonight.”
-I’m happy to see Florence & the Machine honored with multiple nods, even they failed to appear in Album of the Year, which would have made the competition a whole lot more interesting.
-The dance categories are much more fun now that they are open exclusively to electronic artists. Skrillex got multiple nominations again, while Avicii, deadmau5, Calvin Harris and Swedish House Mafia also received well-deserved noms.
-Several categories have only three nominations. That’s bizarre. Why even have the award if you can’t scrounge up more worthy contenders?
-Amy Winehouse got another posthumous nod. This time, she’s in the Rap field for “Cherry Wine,” a collaboration with Nas. Last year, Winehouse won for her duet with Tony Bennett,” Body and Soul.”
-Alison Krauss is nominated again, this time for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “I Just Come Here for the Music” with Don Williams. I love the lady, but come on, Alison has won way too many Grammys. Her career total of 27 awards is second all-time behind only Sir Georg Solti. For perspective: That’s more than the late Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston won combined.
-Best Spoken Word Album is always a strange mish-mash of comedians and politicians. This year’s pack includes Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton, Rachel Maddow and Ellen DeGeneres. Who do liberals love most?
-I’m thrilled to see the following acts get nominated: M83, the Avett Brothers, Amadou & Mariam, Kathy Griffin, Tegan & Sara
-Artists who got too many nominations (sorry): Kelly Clarkson, Mumford & Sons, Coldplay, the Lumineers
-Artists who didn’t do as well as I thought they would: Rihanna, Pink, Drake
What are your thoughts on the list of 2013 Grammy nominees? Leave a comment with your opinion!
