Grammy Predictions

The Grammy nominations were announced this morning, but rather than discuss who should or shouldn't have been nominated, blah blah blah, I'm going to announce my picks. Well, at least for the categories that I listen to, or know something about, or care about -- or whatever. Because, in all honesty, I know nothing about Polka or Hawaiian music. And, as a disclaimer, I'm willing to admit that my only qualification to make these picks is that I buy a lot of albums, so I'm as likely to be wrong as much as anyone else. But still, everyone is entitled to an opinion.

Here's mine:

1. Best Short Form Music Video
   
   8th Of November -- Big & Rich
   When You Were Young -- The Killers
   Here It Goes Again -- OK Go
   Dani California -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
   Writing On The Walls -- Underoath
   
   To me, this is an easy choice. I've seen all but one of these, and honestly, the only one that stood out at all is OK Go. I mean, I devoted an entire blog entry to how awesome this video is. If it doesn't win, it was robbed. Best. Video. Ever.
   
   
2. Best Country Song
   
   Every Mile A Memory -- Dierks Bentley
   I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today -- Gretchen Wilson
   Jesus, Take The Wheel -- Carrie Underwood
   Like Red On A Rose -- Alan Jackson
   What Hurts The Most -- Rascal Flatts
   
   Alright. I admit it. I occasionally listen to country music that is not the Dixie Chicks. And I really like two of these songs -- I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today and What Hurts the Most. But neither will win. Heck, if Carrie Underwood won the Country Music Award (or whatever the heck those things are called), she'll probably win this too. Maybe Gretchen Wilson will win something else.



3. Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
   
   Who Says You Can't Go Home -- Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles
   Tomorrow Is Forever -- Solomon Burke & Dolly Parton
   Calling Me -- Kenny Rogers & Don Henley
   Midnight Angel -- Rhonda Vincent & Bobby Osborne
   Love Will Always Win -- Trisha Yearwood & Garth Brooks
   
   I just put this in so I could vote for Bon Jovi. Whatever.



4. Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
   
   Not Ready To Make Nice -- Dixie Chicks
   Heaven's My Home -- The Duhks
   Boondocks -- Little Big Town
   What Hurts The Most -- Rascal Flatts
   Leave The Pieces -- The Wreckers
   
   Love the Dixie Chicks. Love the Wreckers. Like Rascal Flatts. I think the latter will win this one, though.



5. Best Alternative Music Album
   
   Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not -- Arctic Monkeys
   At War With The Mystics -- The Flaming Lips
   St. Elsewhere -- Gnarls Barkley
   Show Your Bones -- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
   The Eraser -- Thom Yorke
   
   I have no idea why Gnarls Barkley is in this category. They won't win, will they?



6. Best Rock Album
   
   Try! -- John Mayer Trio
   Highway Companion -- Tom Petty
   Broken Boy Soldiers -- The Raconteurs
   Stadium Arcadium -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
   Living With War -- Neil Young
   
   I love the John Mayer Trio album, but it's blues, not rock. I think the Raconteurs will win this, because they're critical darlings. And it's a pretty good album.



7. Best Rock Song
   
   Chasing Cars --Snow Patrol
   Dani California -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
   Lookin' For A Leader -- Neil Young
   Someday Baby -- Bob Dylan
   When You Were Young -- The Killers
   
   This is one of those categories where I like each song for completely different reasons, so none of them stand out. I sort of hope that Snow Patrol win this one, because they're like nothing else out there right now. But I can't get When You Were Young out of my head lately.



8. Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
   
   Talk -- Coldplay
   How To Save A Life -- The Fray
   Steady, As She Goes -- The Raconteurs
   Dani California -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
   The Saints Are Coming -- U2 & Green Day
   
   See #3 and substitute "U2" for "Bon Jovi." No, seriously, even though the song was supposed to benefit Katrina victims, I don't think it'll win. I love How to Save a Life, but it won't win either (too "pop"). Coldplay is so last year, so give my vote, again, to the Raconteurs. And it's a great song.



9. Best Dance Recording
   
   Suffer Well -- Depeche Mode
   Ooh La La -- Goldfrapp
   Get Together -- Madonna
   I'm With Stupid -- Pet Shop Boys
   Sexy Back -- Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
   
   Still trying to figure out how Depeche Mode wound up in this category. Give my vote to J.T.



10. Best Pop Vocal Album
    
    Back To Basics -- Christina Aguilera
    Back To Bedlam -- James Blunt
    The River In Reverse -- Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
    Continuum -- John Mayer
    FutureSex/LoveSounds -- Justin Timberlake
    
    I really like the John Mayer album, but it won't win. And James Blunt is annoying. And as much as I like Elvis Costello . . . It'll be between Xtina and J.T. I think Xtina will win.



11. Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
    
    For Once In My Life -- Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder
    One -- Mary J. Blige & U2
    Always On Your Side -- Sheryl Crow & Sting
    Promiscuous -- Nelly Furtado & Timbaland
    Hips Don't Lie -- Shakira & Wyclef Jean
    
    I didn't like the new version of One the first time I heard it, but it's starting to grow on me. Just the same, I think it's going to go to Promiscuous or Hips Don't Lie. I vote for the latter.



12. Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
    
    My Humps -- The Black Eyed Peas
    I Will Follow You Into The Dark -- Death Cab For Cutie
    Over My Head (Cable Car)-- The Fray
    Is It Any Wonder? -- Keane
    Stickwitu -- The Pussycat Dolls
    
    Just for the record, My Humps is a seriously dumb song. I think it's going to be between The Fray and Keane. I don't care which.



13. Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
    
    You're Beautiful -- James Blunt
    Save Room -- John Legend
    Waiting On The World To Change -- John Mayer
    Jenny Wren -- Paul McCartney
    Bad Day -- Daniel Powter
    
    I'd like to see either of the Johns win this one. Mostly because I'm sick of James Blunt and Daniel Powter.



14. Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
    
    Ain't No Other Man -- Christina Aguilera
    Unwritten -- Natasha Bedingfield
    You Can Close Your Eyes -- Sheryl Crow
    Stupid Girls -- Pink
    Black Horse And The Cherry Tree -- KT Tunstall
    
    There is something about each of these that annoys me. KT Tunstall is the least annoying.



15. Best New Artist
    
    James Blunt
    Chris Brown
    Imogen Heap
    Corinne Bailey Rae
    Carrie Underwood
    
    Since this is the kiss of death, I sincerely hope that James Blunt wins this. He is whiny and malnourished-looking.



16. Song Of The Year
    
    Be Without You -- Mary J. Blige
    Jesus, Take The Wheel -- Carrie Underwood
    Not Ready To Make Nice --Dixie Chicks
    Put Your Records On --Corinne Bailey Rae
    You're Beautiful -- James Blunt
    
    Please, God, let the Dixie Chicks win this. This song kicks ass.



17. Album Of The Year
    
    Taking The Long Way -- Dixie Chicks
    St. Elsewhere -- Gnarls Barkley
    Continuum -- John Mayer
    Stadium Arcadium -- Red Hot Chili Peppers
    FutureSex/LoveSounds -- Justin Timberlake
    
    I can think of reasons that any of these artists can or should win this, or why they won't. I originally was tempted to say Gnarls Barkley would win this, but honestly, they're all about the song, not the album. I hope the Dixie Chicks win.



18. Record Of The Year
    
    Be Without You -- Mary J. Blige
    You're Beautiful -- James Blunt
    Not Ready To Make Nice -- Dixie Chicks
    Crazy --Gnarls Barkley
    Put Your Records On -- Corinne Bailey Rae
    
    When I close my eyes and think of the theme song to this year, it's Crazy. Not only is it awesome, but it can't be classified into any one genre. If it doesn't win I'll be surprised.

So, there you go. My list.

What do you think?