Who should win record of the year?

Grammy nominees have just come out, and while I was reading over them between classes, I decided that my thoughts needed to be shared. To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about the Grammy Awards. As a voracious listener of the Real Slim Shady, I hold a grudge against the Grammys a little bit, but that doesn’t mean that the concept isn’t somewhat valid. Although I don’t believe the Grammys demonstrate the best music across the world, I think that they appropriately respond to popular culture and which artists carry a critical audience. 

Let’s go ahead and kick off my judging of the Record of the Year. The nominations were as follows: “Don’t Shut Me Down” by ABBA, “Easy On Me” by Adele, “BREAK MY SOUL” by Beyoncé, “Good Morning Gorgeous” by Mary J. Blige, “You And Me On The Rock” by Brandi Carlile featuring Lucius, “Woman” by Doja Cat, “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy, “The Heart Part 5” by Kendrick Lamar, “About Damn Time” by Lizzo, and “As It Was” by Harry Styles. To be honest, there are two songs on this list that I hadn’t heard before, “Don’t Shut Me Down” and “Good Morning Gorgeous,” but of course, in order to appropriately rank these, I have now listened. 

Now, I present to you four rankings. The first is my list from favorite to least favorite. Then, I will list the most sonically satisfying in my opinion. The third list will be the most lyrically advanced and the last will be my guess for the Grammy winner. 

My Favorites

1. “The Heart Part 5” by Kendrick Lamar

Lyrically advanced with creative and evolving sound.

2. “Easy On Me” by Adele

Incredible vocals, meaningful lyrics, and gorgeous building sound.

3. “You And Me On The Rock” by Brandi Carlile 

A very happy and simple song with amazing imagery and sound.

4. “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy

So sonically satisfying in a fun and unique genre mix.

5. “BREAK MY SOUL” by Beyoncé

Gorgeous bop with solid lyrics and sound but slightly repetitive. 

6. “About Damn Time” by Lizzo

Super fun bop with simple but meaningful lyrics, only slightly repetitive sonically. 

7. “Woman” by Doja Cat

Sonically gorgeous but lyrically lacking. 

8. “Don’t Shut Me Down” by ABBA

Beautiful and sweet lyrics but sonically simple in the ABBA fashion.

9. “Good Morning Gorgeous” by Mary J. Blige

Sonically okay, lyrically weird, and not very smooth.

10. “As It Was” by Harry Styles

Very repetitive, the sound doesn’t fit my taste, and while the lyrics are good they don’t hold deep meaning in my opinion. 

Sonically

  1. “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy
  2. “The Heart Part 5” by Kendrick Lamar
  3. “Easy On Me” by Adele
  4. “Woman” by Doja Cat
  5. “BREAK MY SOUL” by Beyoncé
  6. “As It Was” by Harry Styles
  7. “Don’t Shut Me Down” By ABBA
  8. “Good Morning Gorgeous” by Mary J. Blige
  9. “You And Me On The Rock” by Brandi Carlile
  10. “About Damn Time” by Lizzo

Lyricality

  1. “You And Me On The Rock” by Brandi Carlile 
  2. “The Heart Part 5” by Kendrick Lamar
  3. “Easy On Me” by Adele
  4. “Don’t Shut Me Down” by ABBA
  5. “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy
  6. “Woman” by Doja Cat
  7. “Good Morning Gorgeous” by Mary J. Blige
  8. “BREAK MY SOUL” by Beyoncé
  9. “About Damn Time” by Lizzo
  10. “As It Was” by Harry Styles

Grammy Winner Prediction

1. “Easy On Me” by Adele

Adele is a Grammy favorite and her reemergence sets her up for a win to be very popular.

2. “As It Was” by Harry Styles

Everybody loves Harry Styles and wants to see him win.

3. “About Damn Time” by Lizzo

The Grammys love Lizzo. 

4. “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy

For how popular this song is, I figure the Grammys could make it a winner. 

5. “BREAK MY SOUL” by Beyoncé

The Grammys love Beyoncé, but I feel like she’s going to win other awards.

6. “The Heart Part 5” by Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar’s newest album was so phenomenal and this song is stunning to the point where even if the Grammys don’t agree, I’m putting it here. 

7. “Don’t Shut Me Down” By ABBA

ABBA just resurfaced and I think that could be good for them, but they haven’t been noticed by the Grammys before. 

8. “You And Me On The Rock” by Brandi Carlile

I just can’t see the Grammys picking a song in this genre mix with lower popularity. 

9. “Woman” by Doja Cat

I think this was nominated because Doja Cat is popular, but I can’t imagine it warranting an award like this.  

10. “Good Morning Gorgeous” by Mary J. Blige

I don’t know why this was nominated considering I hadn’t even heard of it until I was writing this article. 

Edited by Helen Slawson