The Grammy Awards claim to be music’s biggest night, an exciting spectacle of live performance and major upsets honoring the best in the biz. With 84 categories, it’s easy to get lost in the fanfare of an awards ceremony that is as self-congratulating -- members of The Academy, i.e., people who have won a Grammy previously or qualify as an industry professional -- as it is exhaustive, recognizing everything from Record of the Year to Best Album Notes.
This year’s ceremony, which airs on Sunday on CBS live from Los Angeles, promises some historic moments, including in memoriam tributes to Prince and George Michael, Katy Perry’s first performance of “Chained To The Rhythm,” her new song featuring Skip Marley, and a genre-scrambling union of Lady Gaga performing with Metallica.
For those who want to play catch up on a year of music or want a guide map of what to expect when it comes to the winners and losers, Vanyaland presents its prediction of the winners in 10 of the Grammys’ biggest categories.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Closer” by The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey
“7 Years” by Lukas Graham
“Work” by Rihanna feat. Drake
“Cheap Thrills” by Sia feat. Sean Paul
“Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots
Who Will Win: Based on the ubiquity of “Closer,” The Chainsmokers and Halsey could give Rihanna and Drake a run for their money. No matter, this award has Rihanna and Drake written all over it. It’s an unwritten rule that The Academy considers the chemistry in each of these performances. None was hotter than “Work,” which continues to steam up the clubs even in the middle of winter. It’s all in Rihanna’s voice. Plus, the Rihanna/Drake narrative is too perfect: he’s been chasing her since they collaborated on “What’s My Name?”
The Dark Horse: The mass appeal of “7 Years” makes it a noteworthy contender. The true dark horse here is “Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots. The group is a crossover success, and “Stressed Out” is the kind of great alt performance that deserves recognition.