2011 Grammy Award Nominations Recap, Gospel Nominees & Predictions
Eminem received 10 nominations for the 53rd Grammy Awards
The full list of nominess in all other categories can be viewed at http://www.grammys.com/.
Eminem tops the list with 10 Grammy nominations for the come back album, "Recovery," including a nod for Album of theYear.
I'm hoping to see Marshall (his real name) and Rihanna rock "Love the Way You Lie" at the Grammys, which was nominated for Song of the Year.
R&B's soulfully sleek El Debarge also made a valiant comeback this year, earning two Grammy nominations for "Second Chance" (Best Male R & B Vocal Performance and Best R & B Song.)
If last night's performances were any indication, it's going the be a great show. (2010 sure was a good year in music across the board, but I'll save my thoughts on that for another entry.)
Ever looking like a pin up doll, Katy Perry opened the hour long show with a performance of "California Girls." (She and her background dancers looked more like they were walking in a winter wonderland with the shimmery silver and white body suits they wore.) Perry delivered an icy hot performance and was thrilled her "Teenage Dream" CD that "California Girls" came from was nominated for Album of the Year.
"Bieber Fever" paid off as Justin Bieber was nominated for Artist of the Year. The lad played his guitar and sang his heart out via satellite from London. When LL asked him how he felt about the nomination he was grateful, but not as enthused as I'd imagined he'd be. Yet, he's so humble. He said he doesn't see himself as this big huge star. (Sidebar: Didn't LL say Bieber was going to do a new version of his popular "Baby"? The music and lyrics sounded completely different to me, as in like a completely different song.)
Bieber's definitely got skills, but the best performance of the night came from chooo chooooo -- Train (nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo for Group with Vocals)! They probably never sounded better singing "Hey, Soul Sister." B.o.B and Bruno Mars (nominated for Record of the Year for the song "Nothing on You") and Miranda Lambert (nominated for Best Female Voal Country Performance, "The House That Built Me") all had commendable performances too, but Train sounded better than ever.
Of the five categoreis announced I'm slightly worried about the prosepcts for the Song of the Year. That Cee Lo Green's "Forget You" (the F-You song) even has a chance to best a song as lyrically thoughtful as Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" makes me nervous. Green received four noms, so there's a good chance he'll win something. Perish the thought when in future Grammy flash backs to this enormous honor, the "F You" song is mentioned in the same breath as songs like Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings," or even Bey's "Ring on It." (In my most sarcastic thought voice: classy, real classy). It's a fun, catchy song that lots of people can relate too, but not "Song of the Year" caliber.
The category that captivates me the most was not announced last night-- Category 14. Best Traditional Vocal Album. Take a look at names in this category:
14. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.
Crazy Love
Michael Bublé
[143/Reprise]
The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time
Barry Manilow
[Arista Records]
Let It Be Me: Mathis In Nashville
Johnny Mathis
[Columbia Records]
Fly Me To The Moon…The Great American Songbook: Volume V
Rod Stewart
[J Records]
Love Is The Answer
Barbra Streisand
[Columbia Records]
All hail the legends: Steisand, Manilow, Stewart, and Mathis are all contendors for the traditional pop vocals award, along with the much younger vocal impresario Michael Bublé. The newcomer fits right in with these singing giants. I'll be waiting with baited breath to see who wins this one and won't be too shocked if it's Bublé.
As far as surprising nominations go, the gospel category is filled with them. If you're a gospel music junkie like me, just take a look at the categories listed and you'll automatically know what I mean.
I've color coded my predictions with yellow for the likely winner and the lavender for favorites.
Congratulations to all the nominees!
Best Gospel Performance
For solo, duo, group as collaborative performances. Singles or tracks with vocal containing Gospel lyrics. All genres of Gospel music are eligible.
He Wants It All
Forever Jones
Track from: Get Ready
[EMI Gospel].
You Hold My World
Israel Houghton
Track from: Love God. Love People.
[Integrity Music].
Nobody Greater
VaShawn Mitchell
Track from: Triumphant
[EMI Gospel].
He's Been Just That Good
Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway
Track from: The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter III
[Rendezvous Music/ Mack Avenue Records].
Grace
BeBe & CeCe Winans
Track from: Still
[B&C/Malaco].
Best Gospel Song
Beautiful Things
Lisa Gungor & Michael Gungor, songwriters (Gungor)
Track from: Beautiful Things
[Brash Music].
Better Than A Hallelujah
Sarah Hart & Chapin Hartford, songwriters (Amy Grant)
Track from: Somewhere Down The Road
[Amy Grant Productions/ Sparrow Records; Publishers: River Oaks Music, spiritandsong.com Publishing, Sony/Tree Music Publishing, Michael Puryear Music].
It's What I Do
Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway)
Track from: The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter III
[Rendezvous Music/ Mack Avenue Records; Publishers: Whalumusic/Jerry Peters Music].
Our God
Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris
Tomlin)
Track from: Passion: Awakening
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords; Publishers: Thankyou Music, sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Said And Done Music/Vamos Publishing/Jonas Myrin/SHOUT! Publishing].
Return To Sender
Gordon Kennedy, songwriter (Ricky Skaggs)
Track from: Mosaic
[Skaggs Family Records; Publisher: GlennJoy Music].
Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album
For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.
Church Music
David Crowder Band
[Sparrow Records / Sixstepsrecords].
For Those Who Wait
Fireflight
[Flicker Records].
Beautiful Things
Gungor
[Brash Music].
Rehab
Lecrae
[Reach Records].
Hello Hurricane
Switchfoot
[Atlantic Recording Corp/ Credential Recordings].
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.
Beauty Will Rise
Steven Curtis Chapman
[Sparrow Records].
Love God. Love People.
Israel Houghton
[Integrity Music].
Pieces Of A Real Heart
Sanctus Real
[Sparrow Records].
Mosaic
Ricky Skaggs
[Skaggs Family Records].
Tonight
TobyMac
[ForeFront Records].
Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album
For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.
Times Like These
Austins Bridge
[Daywind Records].
The Reason
Diamond Rio
[Word].
Expecting Good Things
Jeff & Sheri Easter
[Spring Hill Music Group/She Loved Music].Journey On
Ty Herndon
[FUNL Music].
Live At Oak Tree: Karen Peck & New River
Karen Peck & New River
[Daywind Records].Back to top
Best Traditional Gospel Album
For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.
The Experience
Vanessa Bell Armstrong
[EMI Gospel].
A City Called Heaven
Shirley Caesar
[Light Records].
Downtown Church
Patty Griffin
[Credential Recordings].
Here I Am
Marvin Sapp
[Verity].
All In One
Karen Clark Sheard
[KaRew Records/ EMI Gospel].
Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album
For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.
Get Ready
Forever Jones
[EMI Gospel].
Love Unstoppable
Fred Hammond
[Verity].
Triumphant
VaShawn Mitchell
[EMI Gospel].
Aaron Sledge
Aaron Sledge
[EMI Gospel].
Still
BeBe & CeCe Winans
[B&C/Malaco]
