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 Dance Recording
“Tearing Me Up” by Bob Moses
“Don’t Let Me Down” by The Chainsmokers feat. Daya
“Never Be Like You” by Flume feat. Kai
“Rinse & Repeat” by Riton feat. Kah-Lo
“Drinkee” by Sofi Tukker
Who Will Win: In a world of Chainsmokers, it pays to be different. Flume’s “Never Be Like You” is the crossover dance hit that doesn’t include a major drop as the post-chorus. So refreshing! So worthy of the Grammy here.
The Dark Horse: The nomination of Sofi Tukker’s “Drinkee” is a pleasant, deserved surprise. It’s not the winner, though. (Notably, Sofi Tukker’s “Hey Lion” is the surefire anti-single that’s much better.) Flume’s biggest challenge here comes from “Tearing Me Up” by Bob Moses, an award favorite (the RAC remix of which was properly nominated for Best Remixed Recording) that literally sounds like the epitome of dark-horse cool: crossover enough to be rock, pop, and dance all at once. That’s how you make a record. Should “Tearing Me Up” take this, expect it to blow up on pop radio this summer. As it should!