The Dave Matthews Band can raise a glass of Big Whiskey to their Groo Grux honor, and the Black Eyed Peas do have members who are not Fergie (will.i.am, dude with weird hair, other dude with weird hair). But the real battle for Album of the Year is clearly between three powerhouse female nominees: Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce (watch the Grammys live on CBS on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 at 8 p.m. ET/PT).
If this were a numbers game, Beyonce would take it—she’s got 10 nominations total to Taylor’s eight and Gaga’s five. It’s also, arguably, the pinnacle achievement of her recording career. But (Imma not even finish this tired-ass meme) we’ve all seen how a certain country-pop kewpie managed to grab Beowulf’s seemingly sure thing once before; voters and consumers alike seem hypnotized by Taylor’s ringleted everygirl charms.
And Gaga? She sort of owned the pop-culture conversation in 2009; her currency here shouldn’t be underestimated, though her strenuously outre style may turn off the Academy’s notoriously stodgy voters (remember these?). What’s also interesting is who’s not on the list: Green Day and U2 (who took the prize in 2006) got multiple noms in Rock categories, but were shut out of the top honor. (Bono: you’re fiRED!)
And there are also no showings for the sort of indie powerhouse—Radiohead last year, Gnarls Barkley in 2007, the White Stripes in 2004—that gives the race at least a little frisson of cool. Then again, no grey-ponytail party either (Plant & Krauss last year, Herbie Hancock the one before that); typical geezer catnip like the Clapton/Winwood live CD will have to settle for its Rock nods.
What do you think, readers—any horrible injustices here, or is it all just about right? And out of the final five, whose ballot box would you be checking? No bluffin’ with your muffin allowed.
More from EW.com’s Music Mix:
Susan Boyle scores year’s biggest sales week by far; Andrea Bocelli, Adam Lambert, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna sell well
Michael Jackson tops 2009 Google and Yahoo searches
Amazon gives away Gaga, Tori Amos MP3s in ‘25 Days of Free’ promotion
Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, U2: Who will be nominated for Grammys tomorrow?
HBO airs Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concerts: Your favorite moments?
KELLY CLARKSON, All I Ever Wanted was a better album than all of em. Metacritic score of 70!
I AGREE! Is such a good album from someone who can actually sing..
it was okay. everybody was nice when they reviewed the album because she fell on her face after going up against Clive Davis on the last album. Leona Lewis’ album was much better.
Just because DMB’s GrooGrux wasn’t a pop culture phenomenon, it doesn’t mean it’s any less of a phenomenal album. It’s a fabulous showing from Dave, and obviously there for a reason. Hey, maybe all the ladies will cancel each other out. There’s about 20 other categories they can all win in.
Oh, surprise surprise. EW made a U2 crack. Shocked they didn’t write an entire article about how upset they are that Twilight isn’t up for Album of the Year.
Lmao! HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE got nominated though. YESH!
Twig-Lite did get a Soundtrack nod, so… meh.
i am actually glad U2 did not get an album of the year nod. no matter what they get nominated for they win. let somebody else have a grammy ok? and “no line” was by FAR their weakest album in a while. although it shouldn’t really matter there were no huge singles and there wasn’t a lot of exposure for them this time. don’t just nominate people because they always get it. and PS i am a u2 fan
THANK YOU!! I’m so sick of the Grammy Foundation (or whatever they’re called) being on U2′s balls. They could release a blank disc and they’ll still get nominated for it! Their last three albums all sound the same anyways. I feel like they get nominated JUST because they’re U2 and it doesn’t seem fair. P.S. I am also a U2 fan.
If Taylor wins over Beyonce, there will be riots in the street.
that’s so true. Actually, I don’t care who wins but no Taylor, please
Led by that snake “Rev” Al Sharpton.
this has nothing to do with al. give it a rest. i love taylor. bop to her videos all the time. know the words to most of her songs, but despite his poor taste in delivering the message, kanye was right. taylor is not in the same class with beyonce. she has a very limited vocal range, and a voice that cracks at high pitch. sadly the rally for taylor is hurting other good singers now. she did NOT deserve all those awards at the cma’s nor the ama’s. and anyone who says even a hint of a bad word against her is given the ropeadope, poor wynona.
hoping the grammy voters go for talent and not sympathy backlash.
Pop Watch: Why wasn’t Jacob nominated for Best New Artist.
I can realistically see Beyonce win all 3 major awards. Lady Gaga will just have to be happy about being nominated. Black Eyed Peas has a chance with Record of the Year with “I gotta feeling”. I LOVE Dave Matthews Band, but will not factor in at all. Taylor Swift is the biggest threat to Beyonce.
SO HAPPY about Maxwell’s Pretty Wings nominated for best song. so well deserved. what a beautiful song.
RECORD OF THE YEAR:
winner: Halo, Beyonce
preference: Halo, Beyonce
maybe: I Gotta Feeling, Black Eyed Peas
BEST ALBUM
winner: I Am Sasha Fierce, Beyonce
preference: I Am Sasha Fierce, Beyonce
maybe: Fearless, Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR:
winner: You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift
preference: Pretty Wings, Maxwell
maybe: Single Ladies, Beyonce
(Single Ladies shouldve been the record of the year, Halo should be in the song of they year, since Halo is more about the lyrics- which is what the award stands for- songwriting.
Tell Beyonce & The Black Eye Peas to go on the BET Awards show. No white artists get nominated on that so caleed awards show!
mcm i thought the same thing. beyonce’s tracks were reversed. i couldn’t believe it, single ladies should have been record. who’s in charge?
EW/Twilight Grammy Special Coverage: Was Bella robbed not getting a Best Bluegrass Album nod?
Haha! XD
Bluegrass?! That’s far too emotional for Bella!!! She needs to be in the Spoken Word Category for her album “The Sylvia Plath Lullabies.”
Seriously, The Black Eyed Peas don’t deserve any nominations this year. I’ve been a fan of theirs for a long time, and I’ve even defended them when people got annoyed by how mainstream their music became, claiming they were selling out. But The E.N.D. is not a good album. I was excited when I heard they were making a new album, but when it came out, I was greatly disappointed. Most Disappointing Album of the Year is the only award they should win. They do not deserve an Album of the Year nod. The Grammys really frustrate me sometimes. This is supposed to be a credible awards show. There were so many albums that were better this year. Once again, popularity trumps quality in the eyes of Grammy voters.
I really loved Beyonce’s album. Some many beautiful ballads and great uptempos. Her voice is glorious.
I think that because U2′s album didn’t perform as well as previous efforts, they didn’t put them in the top awards. But Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift were DOING IT this year! Each of them had multiple hits and I’m sure it will be a showdown between those 3. Gaga will sweep the dance category and some top awards, Taylor may win Album of The Year and Beyonce might win Record and Song of the Year and the R&B category awards.
I really don’t know? Its between Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Has there ever been a tie in Grammy history. Don’t get me wrong Dave Matthews sounds good. Taylor Swift is all right, and Blake Eye Peas album was ok. But B and Gaga albums has definitely been the most entertaining since late 2008.
Owl City was ROBBED! Thank the lords there’s no Tokio Hotel… got tired of the tweenybopper spam over at Billboard.com
A-frakking-men! Owl City was indubidaly ROBBED!!!!
I really hope that Lady GaGa wins.
I mean sure she dresses weirdly, but look at it this way, she can sing live, and she has had some really good stuff come out. I like Taylor Swift and all but I honestly think, IMO, that it’s just gonna be a “pity win” for all that’s happened to her this year. I mean yeah her album sold a crap load of albums and she is amazingly talented but after everything that has happened this year, I just think that it’s just a pity win. Now Beyonce has some good stuff too, but I think Lady GaGa will win. If she doesn’t, that’s okay. Next year, The Fame Monster will get nominated, then we will see who wins then. =]
Given the selection all based on popularity, Grammy’s sold out to remain relevant somehow lol. Beyonce should take it. Kelly Clarkson was robbed as first poster said!
DMB, sadly, won’t win, but they sure do deserve it. It would be a nice tribute to LeRoi Moore.