TCU Daily Skiff

Wednesday, February 27, 2002

Grabbing the Grammy
By David Reese
Staff Reporter

In the 44-year tradition of the Grammy awards, the awards have not always been known as the most hip or coolest award show out there. This year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has tried to move in the right direction by nominating some lesser known artists like India.Arie and Ryan Adams as well as well known unconventional artists like Outkast and Linkin Park. The Grammy awards will be broadcast 7 p.m. Feb. 27 on CBS (Channel 11). Again, comedian Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” will host the award show.

Below are some of the major awards along with my predictions.

Album of the Year

Nominees:
India.Arie “Acoustic Soul”
Bob Dylan “Love and Theft”
Outkast “Stankonia”
U2 “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”
Various Artists “O Brother Where Art Thou?”

Should Win: U2 “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”
Will Win: U2 “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”

Outkast and India.Arie are automatically out of the race considering the heavy hitters Bob Dylan and U2. The Grammys like to give this award to acts that make a resurgence like Dylan in 1997. U2 should win because they were the highest nominated artists this year and they are well respected throughout many genres of music.

Song of the Year

Nominees:
India.Arie “Video”
Nelly Furtado “I’m Like a Bird”
Alicia Keys “Fallin’”
Train “Drops of Jupiter”
U2 “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of”

Should Win: Alicia Keys “Fallin’”
Will Win: U2 “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of”

These are all nice songs. I think Furtado’s chances are hurt because she is not nominated for Record of the Year. “Drops of Jupiter” is a clever song but have you actually ever listened to the words except for “na na na na na na?” Keys should be the favorite and most deserving, but since Sept. 11, U2’s song has a stronger meaning.

Best New Artist

Nominees:
India.Arie
Nelly Furtado
David Gray
Alicia Keys
Linkin Park

Should Win: Alicia Keys
Will Win: Alicia Keys

If Alicia Keys does not win this award, I will never understand the Grammys, although stranger things have happened in this category. Let me just mention a few names: Paula Cole, Hootie and the Blowfish and Arrested Development. Yeah, they won this award.

Record of the Year

Nominees:
India.Arie “Video”
Alicia Keys “Fallin’”
Outkast “Ms. Jackson”
Train “Drops of Jupiter”
U2 “Walk On”

Should Win: Alicia Keys “Fallin’”
Will Win: Alicia Keys “Fallin’”

There was no song in the year 2001 that was more brilliantly written, produced and performed. Keys brought “real” rhythm and blues to the mass audience. The other nominees are less exciting. Arie, Outkast and Train are unique but not Record of the Year type winners. U2 won this award last year, which could hurt their chances.

Best Pop Album

Janet Jackson KRT Campus

Nominees:
Nelly Furtado “Whoa, Nelly!”
Janet Jackson “All for You”
Elton John “Songs from the West Coast”
‘N Sync “Celebrity”
Sade “Lovers Rock”

Should Win: Nelly Furtado “Whoa, Nelly!”
Will Win: Elton John “Songs from the West Coast”

This is a great category yet the Grammys has rarely given the award to a pop act. Janet Jackson and ‘N Sync have the natural “pop music” stigmatisms. In the past, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Sting and Steely Dan have won this category. For this reason, I think Elton John will win over the voters with his most critically acclaimed album in years although Furtado is the most original and delightful.

Willie Nelson KRT Campus

Best Country Album

Nominees:
Diamond Rio “One More Day”
Tim McGraw “Set This Circus Down”
Willie Nelson “Rainbow Connection”
Various Artists “Timeless – Hank Williams Tribute”
Trisha Yearwood “Inside Out”

Should Win: Tim McGraw “Set This Circus Down”
Will Win: Various Artists “Timeless – Hank Williams Tribute”

I thought the Best Country Album of the year was definitely the “O Brother Where Art Thou?” soundtrack, which garnered an album of the year nomination. It did not even make the cut in this category. Tim McGraw has been overlooked for many years due to his wife Faith Hill’s successes and this should be his moment to shine. Instead, a collection of remakes of Hank Williams’ classics will pull the heartstrings of Grammy voters.

Destiny’s Child KRT Campus

Best R&B Album

Nominees:
Aaliyah “Aaliyah”
India.Arie “Acoustic Soul”
Mary J. Blige “No More Drama”
Alicia Keys “Songs in A Minor”
Destiny’s Child “Survivor”

Should Win: Alicia Keys “Songs in A Minor”
Will Win: India.Arie “Acoustic Soul”

One of the toughest categories during the evening, there could be a point to be made for each of these albums to why they should take Grammy gold. In a different year, Destiny’s Child would take this category without a blink of an eye, but India.Arie and Alicia Keys will fight for the award. I think Keys will sweep many of the awards, but India.Arie should have her best chances here.

Best Rock Album

Nominees:
Ryan Adams “Gold”
Aerosmith “Just Push Play”
PJ Harvey “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea”
Linkin Park “Hybrid Theory”
U2 “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”

Should Win: Linkin Park “Hybrid Theory”
Will Win: U2 “All That You Can’t Leave Behind”

Not the most exciting category. This category features two virtually unknown artists Ryan Adams and PJ Harvey as well as Aerosmith and U2 that are both old timers. The best rock album is no doubt Linkin Park’s “Hybrid Theory” but the Grammys will show their love to U2 which it has done 10 previous times.

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