Reaction: 2019 Grammy Award Nominations

After spending some time analyzing the 2019 Grammy Award Nominations, Brent Faulkner gives his ‘two cents’ about the good and the bad.

Every single year, I have some sort of objection regarding the Grammy nominations.  Honestly, it wouldn’t be The Grammys if I didn’t ‘cry foul’ about some sort of snub or an undeserved nomination.  The 2019 edition of the Grammy nominations is no different – this guy has some beef! But there are also plenty of things that I actually liked.  So, without further ado, here’s one guy’s reactions to the 2019 Grammy Award Nominations.  No predictions, only reactions to select fields!

Record of the Year

• Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin, “I Like It”
• Brandi Carlile, “The Joke” 
• Childish Gambino, “This is America”
• Drake, “God’s Plan” 
• Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, “Shallow”
• Kendrick Lamar & SZA, “All the Stars”
• Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage, “Rockstar” 
• Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, “The Middle”

Commentary: Record of the Year seems to have something for everybody, encompassing rap, Latin, pop, R&B, dance, soundtrack, and singer/songwriter. With the exception of the Brandi Carlile record, “The Joke,” the rest of the records were sizable hits.  With “The Joke,” a fine song, I question if it’s a ‘fit’ given the ‘commercial’ tilt of this category, particularly as of late.  Honestly, no major objections other than questioning the inclusion of “The Joke.”

Album of the Year

• Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy
• Brandi Carlile, By the Way, I Forgive You
• Drake, Scorpion
• H.E.R., H.E.R.
• Post Malone, Beerbongs & Bentley
• Janelle Monáe, Dirty Computer
• Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour
• Various Artists, Black Panther: The Album, Music from and Inspired By

Commentary: My, how the Grammys have changed.  This Album of the Year list is by far the most ‘urban’ I’ve ever seen.  For the most part, the nomination cover the crowd-pleasers (Cardi B, Drake, and Post Malone), while also honoring artists laying claim to the ‘best of their genre’ (Janelle Monáe and Kacey Musgraves).  Once again, Brandi Carlile’s nomination comes as a surprise, but it’s also not ‘out of step’ with the Recording Academy.  Also, it gives rock sort of a ‘soft’ representative you might say.  I’m shocked to see H.E.R. nominated, but I’m also happy to see a rising star get some recognition. I’m not completely shocked to see Black Panther, but if the Kendrick Lamar-heavy project earns K-Dot the big award when it’s all said and done, wouldn’t that be bittersweet given better projects that lost?

There are some snubs.  Sam Smith’s The Thrill of it All is totally missing in action.  After so much success with In the Lonely Hour, I would’ve expected the fine follow-up to rack up nominations (it comes up empty).  Taylor Swift didn’t deserve a nomination in this category for Reputation in my opinion, but, it’s a bit surprising that the album doesn’t get recognized.  As far as other worthy nominees that I didn’t expect to be nominated but could’ve, what about Father John Misty (God’s Favorite Customer), Ghost (Prequelle), Shawn Mendes (Shawn Mendes) or Arctic Monkeys (Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino).

Song of the Year

• Kendrick Lamar & SZA, “All the Stars”
• Ella Mai, “Boo’d Up”
• Drake, “God’s Plan”
• Shawn Mendes, “In My Blood”
• Brandi Carlile, “The Joke”
• Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, “The Middle”
• Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, “Shallow”
• Childish Gambino, “This is America”

Commentary: Another category with songs representative of the Grammy eligibility year.  To me, “The Joke” is more fitting in this category as opposed to record of the year.  That said, the numerous nominations for Carlile make me wonder if a potential big night is possible come February 2019… food for thought.  I’m happy to see Shawn Mendes and Ella Mai get some love in this category, while I’m a bit more skeptical about the inclusion of “The Middle” (best fit in the record category) and “Shallow” (a bit overhyped in my opinion).  Even with my skepticisms, I don’t see any big-time snubs, save for the likes of Sam Smith (“Too Good at Goodbyes” for example).

Best New Artist

• Chloe x Halle
• Luke Combs
• Greta Van Fleet
• E.R.
• Dua Lipa
• Margo Price
• Bebe Rexha
• Jorja Smith

Commentary: There are some fine nominations in this category.  Chloe x Halle, Luke Combs, H.E.R., Dua Lipa, Margo Price, and Jorja Smith I’m all onboard with.  Bebe Rexha isn’t totally far-fetched, but she’s been around for a while now, including a high-profile appearance on G-Eazy’s “Me, Myself & I” back in 2015. Greta Van Fleet seems like a stretch, considering so-so reviews for both of their respective projects (particularly Anthem of the Peaceful Army).

Best Pop Solo Performance

• Beck, “Colors”
• Camila Cabello, “Havana (Live)”
• Ariana Grande, “God is a Woman”
• Lady Gaga, “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)”
• Post Malone, “Better Now” 

Commentary: I’m not really into this pop solo performances to be perfectly honest.  Beck is definitely out of place with “Colors”.  Also, while Post Malone sings, it just feels suspect to nominate him for “Better Now” in a pop category… There are snubs, including Sam Smith (“Too Good at Goodbyes” or “Pray”), Kelly Clarkson (“I Don’t Think About You”), and Troye Sivan (“My My My!”).

Best Pop Vocal Album 

• Camila Cabello, Camila
• Kelly Clarkson, Meaning of Life
• Ariana Grande, Sweetener
• Shawn Mendes, Shawn Mendes
• P!nk, Beautiful Trauma
• Taylor Swift, Reputation

Commentary: This is a solid pop category. My only serious quibble is the omission of – wait for it – Sam Smith’s The Thrill of It All.

Best Rock Album

• Alice in Chains, Rainier Fog
• Fall Out Boy, M A N I A
• Ghost, Prequelle
• Greta Van Fleet, From the Fires
• Weezer, Pacific Daydream

Commentary: It feels like the rock category grows weaker year by year.  I personally can get behind two of the five nominees – Alice in Chains (Rainier Fog) and Ghost (Prequelle). Otherwise, there are question marks in my mind.  Fall Out Boy doesn’t deserve a nomination for their questionable M A N I A album, and the same could be said for Weezer and Pacific Daydream.  I haven’t personally heard Greta Van Fleet’s From the Fires, so I’ll reserve judgement.

Best Alternative Music Album

• Arctic Monkeys, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino
• Beck, Colors
• Björk, Utopia
• David Byrne, American Utopia
• Vincent, MASSEDUCTION 

Commentary: The alternative music album category is always one of my favorites.  Furthermore, it’s always one of the toughest to win.  Once again, this is a tough category, but I’m ecstatic to see Arctic Monkeys nominated for Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino.  No surprise to see St. Vincent, who has previously won this category, nominated for Masseduction.

Best Urban Contemporary Album

• The Carters, Everything is Love
• Chloe x Halle, The Kids are Alright
• Chris Dave and the Drumhedz, Chris Dave and the Drumhedz
• Miguel, War & Leisure
• Meshell Ndegeocello, Ventriloquism

Commentary: I’m most familiar with two albums in this category: Miguel (War & Leisure) and The Carters (Everything is Love).  Would I consider The Carters’ album ‘urban contemporary’? I’m not sure… there’s plenty of rap, so 51% must’ve been taken at its most literal when nominating this project.  I’m familiar enough with Chloe x Halle to know that they deserve the nomination for The Kids are Alright – several songs have appeared on playlists on The Musical Hype.  There is one big-time snub – album of the year nominee Janelle Monáe for Dirty Computer in either this category or Best R&B Album.  WTF?

Best Rap Album

• Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy
• Mac Miller, Swimming
• Nipsey Hussle, Victory Lap
• Pusha T, Daytona
• Travis Scott, ASTROWORLD

Commentary: This is not a bad set of nominees in the least.  I’m also pleasantly surprised to see Mac Miller and Nipsey Hussle (a more underrated rapper) earn nominations.  Pusha T is underrated, but as great as Daytona, it would’ve been a travesty had he NOT received a nomination.  Crowd-pleasers Cardi B and Travis Scott, who delivered the best album of his career in my opinion, both deserve nods here.  The biggest snub might be Kids See Ghosts, a project ranked among the best of 2018 regardless of genre.

Best Country Album

• Kelsea Ballerini, Unapologetically
• Brothers Osborne, Port Saint Joe
• Ashley McBryde, Girl Going Nowhere
• Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour
• Chris Stapleton, From a Room: Volume 2 

Commentary: Some solid nominations here, particularly Kacey Musgraves and Chris Stapleton.  That said, where is Tim McGraw and Faith Hill for The Rest of Our Life?