Our Picks For The 59th Grammys Based On This Morning’s Nominations
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The list of this year’s Grammy nominees were released this morning. And while plenty folk wanted to argue about who got snubbed and who didn’t deserve whatever, we’re selecting our favorites from the list given. Check out our pictures and let us know if you agree or disagree in the comment section below.
Record of the Year
Hello- Adele
Formation- Beyoncé
Work- Rihanna
Stressed Out- Twenty One Pilots
7 Years- Lukas Graham
As much as I regarded “Work” as a bit lazy from a vocal standpoint, I cannot deny the affect it had on the world. Not to mention the lesson it taught on Patois and the ways in which people who tried to cover it in proper English were slandered on Twitter. And while I love King Bey, “Formation,” in all of its glory, wasn’t song of the year. I was a big fan of “Hello” but I have to represent for the Black girls, always.
Album of the Year
25- Adele
Lemonade- Beyoncé
Views- Drake
A Sailor’s Guide To Earth– Sturgill Simpson
Purpose-Justin Bieber
Ya tú sabes! Lemonade changed the entire game in ways that I can’t say these other albums did.
Song of the year
Formation- Beyoncé
Hello- Adele
I Took A Pill In Ibiza- Mike Posner, songwriter (Mike Posner)
Love Yourself- Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin & Ed Sheeran, songwriters (Justin Bieber)
Best New Artist
Chance The Rapper
Anderson Paak
Maren Morris
The Chainsmokers
Kelsea Ballerini
Honestly, Anderson Paak is pretty dope and extremely talented. But Chance’s music and message speak to me on a deeper level.
Best Pop Duo
Closer- The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey
7 Years- Lukas Graham
Work- Rihanna Featuring Drake
Cheap Thrills- Sia Featuring Sean Paul
Stressed Out- Twenty One Pilots
It would be nice for Sean Paul to win another Grammy, (He won his first for Reggae Album of the year in 2004.), “Cheap Thrills” just doesn’t go harder than “Work.”
Best Traditional R&B Performance
The Three of Me- William Bell
Woman’s World- BJ The Chicago Kid
Sleeping With The One I Love- Fantasia
Angel- Lalah Hathaway
Can’t Wait- Jill Scott
I saw Fantasia perform “Sleeping With The One I Love” in person and it was a spiritual experience.
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Lemonade – Beyonce
Ology- Gallant
We Are King – KING
Malibu – Anderson Paak
Anti – Rihanna
Best R&B Album
In My Mind- BJ The Chicago Kid
Lalah Hathaway Live- Lalah Hathaway
Velvet Portraits- Terrace Martin
Healing Season- Mint Condition
Smoke Jones- Mya
Am I the only one who missed the memo that Mya released an album this year? Must have been solid. Considering the fact that I have yet to listen to it, I’m voting based on the vocal stylings of Lalah Hathaway and favoritism, which is nothing new to the Grammy’s.
Best Rap Performance
No Problem- Chance The Rapper Featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz
Panda- Desiigner
Pop Style – Drake Featuing The Throne
All The Way Up- Fat Joe & Remy Ma Feat French Montana and Infared
That Part- ScHoolboy Q Featuring Kanye West
It would be awesome for Remy Ma to win a Grammy but seriously, outside of her verse and the first few chords of the song, “All The Way Up” bores me after about 1 minute. And being a dread head myself, “No Problem” speaks to me.
Best Rap Song
All The Way Up- Fat Joe & Remy Ma Feat French Montana and Infared
Famous- Kanye West and Rihanna
Hotline Bling- Drake
No Problem- Chance The Rapper Featuring Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz
Ultralight Beam- Kanye West Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream
Best Rap Album
Coloring Book
And The Anonymous Nobody – De La Soul
Major Key – DJ Khaled
Views- Drake
Blank Face LP – ScHoolboy Q
The Life of Pablo – Kanye West
No competition in my personal opinion.
Best Gospel Performance/Song
It’s Alright, It’s Ok- Shirley Caesar Featuring Anthony Hamilton; Stanley Brown & Courtney Rumble, songwriters
You’re Bigger [Live]- Jekalyn Carr; Allundria Carr, songwriter
Made A Way [Live]- Travis Greene; Travis Greene, songwriter
God Provides- Tamela Mann; Kirk Franklin, songwriter
Better- Hezekiah Walker; Jason Clayborn, Gabriel Hatcher & Hezekiah Walker, songwriters
It’s been quite the year for Mama Caesar hasn’t it? Might as well keep the party going.
Best Gospel Album
Listen- Tim Bowman Jr.
Fill This House- Shirley Caesar
A Worshipper’s Heart [Live]- Todd Dulaney
Losing My Religion- Kirk Franklin
Demonstrate [Live]- William Murphy
I also had the pleasure of seeing Kirk Franklin perform live this year. Phenomenal.
Best Musical Theater Album
The Color Purple
Bright Star
Fiddler On The Roof
Kinky Boots
Waitress
No competition.
Sony Pictures Classic
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Straight Outta Compton
Amy
Miles Ahead
Suicide Squad (Collector’s Edition)
Vinyl: The Essentials Season 1
Despite my desire, I didn’t get a chance to see Miles Ahead. And while I appreciate some of the songs for the Straight Outta Compton soundtrack, I definitely want to compare it to Miles.
Best Music Video
Formation – Beyonce
River- Leon Bridges
Up & Up- Coldplay
Gosh- Jamie XX
Upside Down & Inside Out- Ok Go
Best Music Film
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead– Steve Aoki
The Beatles: Eight Days A Week The Touring Years– (The Beatles)
The Music Of Strangers– Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble
American Saturday Night: Live From The Grand Ole Opry– (Various Artists)
Lemonade- Beyoncé
Got to.
Feel free to fight me on any of my picks. You can check out the full list of nominees here.
Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.
