Grammys 2021 predictions

Music is a very powerful force. It can lift us up when we are down. It can give us something to relate to when we feel alone. It can make us cry. It can make us dance. It can save people. This power to bring forth emotion is rarely found in other art forms, which separates music from the rest. This kind of power is stronger in some music than others, and it deserves recognition. This is where the Grammys come in.

Today I will be talking about the 2021 Grammys. Despite this year being difficult, to say the least, the music has been on a different level to other years. I will only be covering the most important categories and the categories with the most conversation surrounding them. The favourites to win will be in bold. Something to keep in mind is that only music released between September 1st 2019 and August 31st 2020 are eligible for awards. So while Ariana Grande’s new album Positions is being considered by many as her best so far, she will have to wait for the 2022 Grammys. 

Best New Artist:

Nominations:

Megan Thee Stallion

Doja Cat

Conan Gray

Ava Max

Pop Smoke

Blackpink

Phoebe Bridgers

Summer Walker

Snubs:

Gabby Barrett

King Princess

Alec Benjamin

Ingrid Andress

This year has shone a light on multiple new artists. Some already had a lot of influence in other countries (like K-pop group Blackpink), but received worldwide success. Some have had their first big hits this year (like rapper Meghan Thee Stallion). However, each artist has brought something new to the industry and is fully deserving of a nomination. Despite some controversy this year, Doja Cat is still the front runner considering she has won the same category in multiple other award shows like the VMA’s. The artist’s popularity skyrocketed after songs like Say So became smash hits after going viral on TikTok. Up and coming RnB artist Summer Walker is another controversial figure, but the quality of her music takes her above and beyond. Phoebe Bridgers is the dark horse, but her critical reception might take her above and beyond in the end

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Record of the Year (awarded to the performer AND the production team)

Nominations:

Harry Styles - Watermelon Sugar

Roddy Rich - The Box

The Weeknd - Blinding Lights

Post Malone - Circles

Dua Lipa - Don’t Start Now

Billie Eilish - Everything I Wanted

Meghan Thee Stallion and Beyonce - Savage 

Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande - Rain On Me

Snubs

Doja Cat - Say So

The Chicks - Gaslighter

BTS - Dynamite

Taylor Swift - Cardigan 

Rina Sawayma - XS

Chloe x Halle - Do It

Meghan Thee Stallion and Cardi B - WAP

Jessie Ware - Spotlight

Beyonce - Black Parade

This is one of the most challenging years to predict when it comes to record of the year nominations, as every song on this list has been a smash hit. Songs like Cardigan by Taylor Swift have been substantial critical success’ along with peaking at number 1, but with so many record-breaking songs, and iconic collaborations, it’s hard to say that it will make it into the top 8 records. It is highly unlikely that The Weeknd will not win this category with Blinding Lights because it’s been the best critically received, it went viral, Reputation and it broke the record for most weeks on Billboard Top 5. However, if the voters do not go for the safe choice, Post Malone’s Circles (which is another record breaker) is another well-respected hit. The complete shot in the dark which is far less likely to win than the previous 2, is Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles (which I’m certain he and his team will choose over Adore You). It took the number 1 spot on the Billboard 100 over 6 months after it’s release. If going based on numbers and cultural impact alone, WAP would have been a front runner, but it seems too crude for Grammy’s taste

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Song of the Year (awarded to the songwriter)

Nominations:

Harry Styles - Watermelon Sugar

Roddy Rich - The Box

The Weeknd - Blinding Lights

Post Malone - Circles

Dua Lipa - Don’t Start Now

Taylor Swift - Cardigan

Meghan Thee Stallion and Beyonce - Savage Remix

Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande - Rain On Me

Snubs

Lewis Capaldi - Before You Go

Doja Cat - Say So

Beyonce - Black Parade

The Chicks - Gaslighter

Billie Eilish - Everything I Wanted

BTS - Dynamite

Rina Sawayma - XS

Chloe x Halle - Do It

Jessie Ware - Spotlight

The nominations and winners for song of the year and record of the year are often the same or very similar. The difference I have made to this list is swapping Cardigan by Taylor Swift and Everything I Wanted by Billie Eilish, as the songwriting is taken a lot more into account for song of the year. Taylor’s writing is some of the most impressive on this list. Again I would be very surprised if The Weeknd or Post Malone doesn’t take the award, but the shot in the dark for this one is Taylor Swift’s Cardigan as in the past the Grammys have loved to reward artists writing their own music in the song of the year category.

Album of the Year

Nominations:

Taylor Swift - Folklore

Fetch the Bolt Cutters - Fiona Apple

The Weeknd - After Hours

Harry Styles - Fine Line

FKA Twigs - Magdalene

Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia

Post Malone - Hollywood’s Bleeding

Lady Gaga - Chromatica

Snubs:

Rina Sawayama - Sawayama

Chloe x Halle - Ungodly Hour

The Chicks - Gaslighter

Jessie Ware - What’s Your Pleasure

Brittany Howard - Jaime

Childish Gambino - 3.15.20’

Meghan Thee Stallion - Suga

Tame Impala - The Slow Rush

Selena Gomez - Rare

BTS - Map of the Soul: 7

Phoebe Bridger - Punisher

Summer Walker - Over It

No one is going to be completely happy with the complete list of nominations, due to the sheer amount of brilliant music that came out this year. I have taken this list based on critics reviews and the general consensus of the public, but if I were being completely biased, my list would look completely different. This is the beauty of music; different people can find brilliance in different things. But while there may be albums people enjoy more, it would be surprising if this year is not a battle between The Weeknd and Taylor Swift for top spot. 

On one hand, we have a progressive RnB album that has brought new elements to the genre through its fusion with dream-pop in After Hours. On the other hand, we have a lyrical masterpiece that feels nostalgic of Taylor’s old sound while showing how much she has grown as a person and an artist. Folklore is the safer choice, especially as it has been seen as a “return to form” after Reputation and Lover divided critics and fans. It would be her 3rd album of the year win (after Fearless and 1989), making her the woman with the most album of the year wins, and tied with Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra as the artist with the most album of the year wins. After Hours is also very deserving, and I dont think there would be many complaints if this album won. Fetch The Boltcutters is another very critically acclaimed album (one of the highest-rated this year), but I don’t think it has the cultural impact of the other 2 front runners. It left many listeners confused rather than impressed. If the Grammys end up nominating Rina Sawayama for her self titled debut album, she might actually have a chance as it is one of the most impressively mixed and written albums of this year. Chloe x Halle’s Ungodly Hour is a masterpiece; however, I think they will nominate it for RnB album of the year rather than the general award.

 

Overall this has been an excellent year for music, and it has been one of the things holding a lot of people together. This list of nominations was made based on chart numbers, cultural impact, critical acclaim and the predictions of others. I recommend trying to listen to new music, as you just might find a masterpiece. 

By Catherine Noorlandt  
Edited by Preethigaa Kumaresan