Below is a list of a few of the major categories and MY winner predictions and the reasoning behind such predictions.
Record of the Year
Halo - Beyonce
I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas
Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
Poker Face - Lady Gaga
You Belong with Me - Taylor Swift
PREDICTION: "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. Arguably the most critically praised and commercially successful song of the past year, "Poker Face" is Lady Gaga's pièce de résistance, solidifying dance-pop's domination on radio and in the record stores, while lyrically ambiguous enough to garner varying interpretations as to the song's meaning. However, "You Belong with Me" would not be a surprising upset in this category.
Album of the Year
I Am... Sasha Fierce - Beyonce
The E.N.D. - The Black Eyed Peas
The Fame - Lady Gaga
Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King - Dave Matthews Band
Fearless - Taylor Swift
PREDICTION: Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King. This particular album has received very favorable reviews from critics and has been a particularly strong album contender for this cateogory for quite sometime. In particular, this category often goes to an album that has received substantial praise from the critics and public, while also retaining an ability to be likable across different cohorts of listeners. Fearless by Taylor Swift is once again a close second for this category.
Song of the Year
Poker Face - Lady Gaga
Pretty Wings - Maxwell
Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce
Use Somebody - Kings of Leon
You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift
PREDICTION: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce. This is a songwriters' award but since Beyonce has songwriting credits, she will be a receiver of this award, should she win (which I think she will). This song far exceeded expectations and, coupled with the widespread popularity of the music video, became a pop culture phenomenon. I find it hard to believe that this song, with its substantial cultural impact, would be denied the honor of Song of the Year. However, a close second in this category is "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon.
Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings
PREDICTION: The Ting Tings. While The Ting Tings have not achieved the success here as they have in their native UK, they managed to score two songs on the top 30 songs on pop radio, with "That's Not My Name" reaching 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, an impressive feat for a group that had virtually no promotion in the US for any of the singles (with the NOTABLE exception, of course, of the use of "Shut Up and Let Me Go" on an iPod commercial over a year ago). This category is a little tricky, with a potential upset coming with Keri Hilson or MGMT in this category.
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Hometown Glory - Adele
Halo - Beyonce
Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
Sober - Pink
You Belong with Me - Taylor Swift
PREDICTION: "You Belong with Me" by Taylor Swift. This song has become one of country music's most successful songs in the past decade, peaking just shy of the peak spot on the Billboard Hot 100 at #2. Furthermore, it has become Swift's breakthrough song in pop and adult contemporary radio formats, while attracting critical appeal and fan jubilation. "Hometown Glory" is a very likely candidate for this award as well, as she did take two awards last year, even at the young age of 20 just one year after her debut album was released in the UK. This would not be a surprising victory for this Brit at all.
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
This Time - John Legend
Love You - Maxwell
Make it Mine - Jason Mraz
If You Don't Know Me By Now - Seal
All About the Love Again - Stevie Wonder
PREDICTION: "All About the Love Again" by Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder has always been a Grammy favorite and this song will likely be no exception, giving the R&B/Rock/Pop musician another award to fill his already (rightfully) crowded mantle of golden gramophones. A close second is possible with Maxwell's "Love You."
More award predictions will be added shortly as we near showtime Sunday evening!
