Pop Stops picks the Grammy winners

Who will take home the gold gramophones honor artists for stellar musical achievement this year? The 44^th Annual Grammy Awards Show is just a few nights away – Wednesday – so, once again, it’s time to take a look back at the best (or at least the most popular) recordings of the past year. Were your favorite albums and artists nominated? Who do you think will win?

The 2000-2001 Grammy eligibility year (Oct. 1, 2000-Sept. 30, 2001) produced a wide range of music from new and old artists, but rockers U2 received the most nods, with eight Grammy nominations, including the categories Song and Record of the Year. New soul artist India.Arie was right behind, though, and is pitted against U2 in the above two categories. She is nominated in seven categories for her debut album. Alison Krauss, Brian McKnight and Outkast are up for statues in five categories and T-Bone Burnett, Nelly Furtado, Train, Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) and Lucin are up in four.

This year, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the group that oversees the Grammy Awards, also introduced a new category. There is now a Best Rap/Collaboration category, recognizing the frequent collaborations of rap acts with other artists.

The Grammy Awards cover the whole spectrum of music, from pop to blues to rap to classical to children’s recordings. I can’t claim to have listened to every recording released this year (and must admit to a strong deficiency in the jazz, classical, gospel and blues sections) so this "Grammy Picks" list will focus on awards in the pop/rock/country field – the usual purview of the "Pop Stops" column. I’ll cover nearly half of the Grammy categories, including the newly created Best Rap/Collaboration category. For a complete listing of all 101 categories of awards, check out the Grammy web site at www.grammy.com.

Every year I’m asked after the telecast, "How did you do? Did you guess right? Did you successfully ‘pick’ the Grammys?" Well, in the past, I didn't try to guess which artists would win — I offered a list of who I wanted to win (often not the same thing!). This year, the list includes my best guess of who will win the Grammies (my picks to win have an ). However, if there’s another album in the category that I think deserves to win but probably won’t, I’ll note this by putting a PS next to the box (Pop Stops pick). There also are my comments on some categories.

So make your own checkmarks and have some fun. See how your votes compare Wednesday!

EDITOR'S NOTE: I've added red x's designating the winners. These did not appear in the original column published prior to the awards show.

Record Of The Year
Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) if other than the artist. This category is for a commercially released single, or track from a current year's album.

"Video" by India.Arie from Acoustic Soul

"Fallin'" by Alicia Keys from Songs In A Minor

"Ms. Jackson" by Outkast from Stankonia

"Drops Of Jupiter" by Train from Drops Of Jupiter

x "Walk On" by U2 from All That You Can't Leave Behind

U2 and Train are in strong competition with India.Arie in both this and the Song of the Year categories. I’m betting on Train for both and bet India wins the New Artist and U2 takes Best Album.

Album Of The Year
Award to the Artist(s), and to the Album Producer(s) and Recording Engineer(s), if other than the artist.

Acoustic Soul – India.Arie

Love And Theft – Bob Dylan

Stankonia – Outkast

All That You Can't Leave Behind – U2

x O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Soundtrack) Various Artists

Song Of The Year
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

"Drops Of Jupiter" – Charlie Colin, Rob Hotchkiss, Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford & Scott Underwood, songwriters (recorded by Train) from Drops Of Jupiter

x "Fallin'" – Alicia Keys, songwriter (recorded by Alicia Keys) from Songs In A Minor

"I'm Like A Bird" – Nelly Furtado, songwriter (recorded by Nelly Furtado) from Whoa, Nelly!

"Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" by U2, songwriter (recorded by U2) from All That You Can't Leave Behind

"Video" – India.Arie, Carlos "Six July" Broady, Reginald Harris & Shannon Sanders, songwriters (recorded by India.Arie) from Acoustic Soul

Best New Artist
For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.

India.Arie

Nelly Furtado

David Gray

x Alicia Keys

@ Linkin Park

While Arie is clearly the Academy favorite here, having gotten nods in six other categories as well, for my money, Linkin Park’s updating of the Beastie Boys’ hard rock-meets-rap sound was the most interesting new sonic blast of the past year.

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

x "I'm Like A Bird" – Nelly Furtado from Whoa, Nelly!

"There You'll Be – Faith Hill from Pearl Harbor - Music From The Motion Picture

PS "Someone To Call My Lover" – Janet Jackson from All For You

"By Your Side" – Sade from Lovers Rock

"Essence" – Lucinda Williams from Essence

Nelly has too many nominations not to take something home, so my bet is she wins this category. I prefer Janet’s effort.

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

"Fill Me In" – Craig David from Born To Do It

"You Rock My World" – Michael Jackson

"I Want Love" – Elton John from Songs From The West Coast

"Still" – Brian McKnight from Superhero

x "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" – James Taylor from The Nearness of You

Frankly, I wouldn’t have nominated any of these tracks. Edwin McCain, David Mead, David Garza, Glenn Phillips and Ben Folds all offered superior efforts.

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
For established duos or groups. Singles or Tracks only.

"Shape Of My Heart" – Backstreet Boys from Black & Blue

"Superman (It's Not Easy)" – Five For Fighting from America Town

Gone – *NSYNC from Celebrity

"Imitation Of Life" – R.E.M. from Reveal

x "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of" – U2 from All That You Can't Leave Behind

Backstreet Boys may give Five For Fighting some strong competition, but I’m betting on "Superman."

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
For a collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.

x "Lady Marmalade" – Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink from Moulin Rouge - Music From Baz Luhrmann's Film

PS "New York State Of Mind" – Tony Bennett & Billy Joel

"Nobody Wants To Be Lonely" – Ricky Martin With Christina Aguilera from Sound Loaded

"My Kind Of Girl" – Brian McKnight & Justin Timberlake from Superhero

"It Wasn't Me" – Shaggy Featuring Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent from Hot Shot

Best Pop Instrumental Performance
For instrumental recordings, with or without vocal coloring, by an Orchestra, Group or Soloist. Singles or Tracks only.

"Room 335" – Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather from No Substitutions - Live In Osaka

x "Reptile" – Eric Clapton from Reptile

"Short Circuit" – Daft Punk from Discovery

"Rain" – Eric Johnson from Alien Love Child: Live And Beyond

"There You'll Be" – Kirk Whalum from Unconditional

This category doesn’t usually strike me in any way…but last year, two instrumental pop-rock-dance albums made my best of 2001 album list, a rare thing. And neither of those exceptional discs got the nod here or in the Best Rock Instrumental category. My vote would have been for Mint Royale or SafriDuo on these lists.

Best Dance Recording
For solo artists, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental. Singles or tracks only.

"One More Time" – Daft Punk from Discovery

"I Feel Loved" – Depeche Mode from Exciter

"Out Of Nowhere" – Gloria Estefan from Greatest Hits Vol. II

x "All For You" – Janet Jackson from All For You

"Angel" – Lionel Richie from Renaissance

Best Pop Instrumental Album
For solo artists, duos or groups.

Aartb – Acoustic Alchemy

x No Substitutions - Live In Osaka – Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather

A Smooth Jazz Christmas – Dave Koz And Friends

Voice – Neal Schon

Unconditional – Kirk Whalum

Best Pop Vocal Album
For solo artists, duos or groups.

Whoa, Nelly! – Nelly Furtado

PS All For You – Janet Jackson

Songs From The West Coast – Elton John

Celebrity – *NSYNC

x Lovers Rock – Sade

Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

PS "Strange Little Girl" – Tori Amos from Strange Little Girls

"I Want To Be In Love" – Melissa Etheridge from Skin

"This Is Love" – PJ Harvey from Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea

"Planets Of The Universe" – Stevie Nicks from Trouble In Shangri-La

x Get Right With God – Lucinda Williams from Essence

Amos’ album got some critical praise, but hasn’t been a huge success on the charts. My bet is the most popular song in this category, "I Want to Be in Love," will win.

Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

"New York, New York" – Ryan Adams from Gold

"Superman Inside" – Eric Clapton from Reptile

"Honest With Me" – Bob Dylan from Love And Theft

x "Dig In" – Lenny Kravitz from Lenny

"Peaceful World" – John Mellencamp

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
For Duos or Groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

"Jaded" – Aerosmith from Just Push Play

"Yellow" – Coldplay from Parachutes

"The Space Between" – Dave Matthews Band from Everyday

"Drops Of Jupiter" – Train from Drops Of Jupiter

x "Elevation" – U2 from All That You Can't Leave Behind

Best Hard Rock Performance
For solo vocals, or Duos/Groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

"Smooth Criminal" – Alien Ant Farm from ANThology

x "Crawling" – Linkin Park from Hybrid Theory

"Alive" – P.O.D. from Satellite

"Renegades Of Funk" – Rage Against The Machine from Renegades

PS "Your Disease" – Saliva from Every Six Seconds

This category is one of the few that has me torn on who I want and who I think will win, which means it actually covers some of the important releases of the year. I wish, however, it had included Spike 1000 and Stabbing Westward in its nominees.

Best Metal Performance
For solo vocals, or Duos/Groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

"The Wizard – Black Sabbath from Ozzfest 2001 The Second Millennium

"Disciple – Slayer from God Hates Us All

"Left Behind – Slipknot from Iowa

"Chop Suey!" – System Of A Down from Toxicity

x "Schism" – Tool from Lateralus

Best Rock Instrumental Performance
Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal Instrumentals. Singles or Tracks only.

"High Falls" – The Allman Brothers Band from Peakin' At The Beacon

x "Dirty Mind" – Jeff Beck from You Had It Coming

"Vampires" – Godsmack from Awake

"Always With Me, Always With You" – Joe Satriani from Live In San Francisco

"Whispering A Prayer" – Steve Vai from Alive In An Ultra World

Best Rock Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock & Metal songs. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only. x "Drops Of Jupiter" – Charlie Colin, Rob Hotchkiss, Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford & Scott Underwood, songwriters (Train) from Drops Of Jupiter

"Elevation" – U2, songwriter (U2) from All That You Can't Leave Behind

PS "Jaded" – Marti Frederiksen & Steven Tyler, songwriters (Aerosmith) from Just Push Play

"Walk On" – U2, songwriter (U2) from All That You Can't Leave Behind

"Yellow" – Guy Berryman, Jon Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin,

songwriters (Coldplay) from Parachutes

With two songs up in the same category, it’s a safe bet U2 will win, though I prefer Aerosmith.

Best Rock Album
For solo artists, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental. Includes Hard Rock and Metal.

Gold – Ryan Adams

Just Push Play – Aerosmith

Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea – PJ Harvey

Hybrid Theory – Linkin Park

x All That You Can't Leave Behind – U2

Sugarbomb’s mix of modernism and classic pop-rock harmony topped my list for albums of 2001. It should have been included here.

Best Alternative Music Album
For solos, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental.

PS Strange Little Girls – Tori Amos

Vespertine – Björk

x Parachutes – Coldplay

Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars – Fatboy Slim

Amnesiac – Radiohead

Radiohead’s adventurousness wowed the Academy last year. I’m betting it’ll do it again. But Amos could have a shot here.

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

"Rock The Boat" – Aaliyah from Aaliyah

"Video" – India.Arie from Acoustic Soul

"Family Affair" – Mary J. Blige from No More Drama

"Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!) " – Blu Cantrell

x "Fallin' "– Alicia Keys from Songs In A Minor

"A Long Walk" – Jill Scott from Who Is Jill Scott? Words And Sounds Vol.1

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

"Missing You" – Case from Open Letter

"Lifetime" – Maxwell from Now

"Love Of My Life" – Brian McKnight from Superhero

"Love" – Musiq Soulchild from Aijuswanaseing

x "U Remind Me" – Usher from 8701

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
For a Rap/Sung vocal collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.

x "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" – Eve Featuring Gwen Stefani from Scorpion

"Livin' It Up" – Ja Rule Featuring Case from Pain Is Love

"Where The Party At" – Jagged Edge Featuring Nelly from Jagged Little Thrill

"Area Codes" – Ludacris Featuring Nate Dogg from Rush Hour 2 - Soundtrack

"W" – Mystic & Planet Asia from Cuts For Luck And Scars For Freedom

Eve and Gwen achieved the most widespread exposure of the artists in this new category.

Best Rap Album
For solo artists, duos or groups.

Scorpion – Eve

Pain Is Love – Ja Rule

The Blueprint – Jay-Z

Back For The First Time – Ludacris

x Stankonia – Outkast

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

"Long Gone Lonesome Blues" – Sheryl Crow from Timeless - Hank Williams Tribute (Various Artists)

"There Is No Arizona" – Jamie O'Neal from Shiver

x "Shine" – Dolly Parton from Little Sparrow

"Cold, Cold Heart" – Lucinda Williams from Timeless - Hank Williams Tribute (Various Artists)

"I Would've Loved You Anyway" – Trisha Yearwood from Inside Out

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

"Lovesick Blues" – Ryan Adams from: Timeless - Hank Williams Tribute (Various Artists)

PS "I Dreamed About Mama Last Night" – Johnny Cash from: Timeless - Hanks Williams Tribute (Various Artists)

"San Antonio Girl" – Lyle Lovett from Anthology Volume One - Cowboy Man

"Grown Men Don't Cry" – Tim McGraw from Set This Circus Down

"Marie" – Willie Nelson from Poet: A Tribute To Townes Van Zandt (Various Artists/FreeFalls Entertainments)

x "O Death" – Ralph Stanley from: O Brother, Where Art Thou? - Soundtrack (Various Artists)

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
For established Duos or Groups. Singles or Tracks only.

"Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" – Asleep At The Wheel from The Very Best Of Asleep At The Wheel

"Ain't Nothing 'Bout You" – Brooks & Dunn from Steers & Stripes

"One More Day" – Diamond Rio from One More Day

x "The Lucky One" – Alison Krauss + Union Station from New Favorite

"I'm Already There" – Lonestar from I'm Already There

Best Country Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

"I'm Already There" – Gary Baker, Richie McDonald & Frank Myers, songwriters (Lonestar) from I'm Already There

x "The Lucky One" – Robert Lee Castleman, songwriter (Alison Krauss + Union Station) from New Favorite

"One More Day" – Steven Dale Jones & Bobby Tomberlin, songwriters (Diamond Rio) from One More Day

"There Is No Arizona" – Lisa Drew, Jamie O'Neal & Shaye Smith, songwriters (Jamie O'Neal) from Shiver

"When I Think About Angels" – Roxie Dean, Jamie O'Neal & Sonny Tillis, songwriters (Jamie O'Neal) from Shiver

Best Country Album
For solo artists, Duos or Groups, vocal or instrumental.

One More Day – Diamond Rio

Set This Circus Down – Tim McGraw

Rainbow Connection – Willie Nelson

x Timeless - Hank Williams Tribute (Various Artists) – Luke Lewis, Mary Martin & Bruce Garner, producers

Inside Out – Trisha Yearwood

Given the number of individual nominations for Timeless, I can’t believe that any other artist has a chance, but you never know.

Best Bluegrass Album
For solos, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental. x New Favorite – Alison Krauss + Union Station

Mountain Soul – Patty Loveless

Little Sparrow – Dolly Parton

History Of The Future – Ricky Skaggs And Kentucky Thunder

Clinch Mountain Sweethearts – Ralph Stanley (& Friends)

Best New Age Album
For solo artists, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental.

Live From Montana – Philip Aaberg

Cello Blue – David Darling

x A Day Without Rain – Enya

Ancient – Kitaro

Sacred Spirit II - More Chants & Dances Of The Native Americans – Sacred Spirit

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
Award to the Artist(s) and/or Producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album, or to the individual(s) actively responsible for the concept and musical direction and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable. Albums only.

Bridget Jones's Diary (Various Artists) – Nick Angel & Kathy Nelson, producers

Moulin Rouge! (Various Artists) – Baz Luhrmann, Anton Monsted & Marius DeVries, producers

x O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Various Artists) – T Bone Burnett, producer

Shrek (Various Artists) – Michael Ostin & Marylata E. Jacob, producers

The Sopranos: Peppers & Eggs (Various Artists) – David Chase & Martin Bruestle, producers (Columbia/Sony Music Soundtrax)

Best Score Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
Award to Composer(s) for an original composition (not an adaptation) written specifically for a motion picture, television or other visual media.

A. I. Artificial Intelligence – John Williams, composer (John Williams)

Chocolat – Rachel Portman, composer (Rachel Portman)

x Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Tan Dun, composer (Tan Dun)

Men Of Honor – Mark Isham, composer (Mark Isham)

PS Planet Of The Apes – Danny Elfman, composer (Danny Elfman)

Traffic – Cliff Martinez, composer (Cliff Martinez)

Best Boxed Recording Package

x Brain In A Box - The Science Fiction Collection – Hugh Brown & Steve Vance, art directors (Various Artists)

Charlie Parker: The Complete Savoy And Dial Studio Recordings 1944-1948 – Christian Calabró, art director (Charlie Parker)

El Cancionero/Mas Y Mas: A History Of The Band From East L.A. – James Austin, Hugh Brown, Louie Pérez, Al Quattrocchi & Jeff Smith, art directors (Los Lobos)

Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia 1933-1944 – Ron Jaramillo & Adam Owett, art directors (Billie Holiday)

The Long Road To Freedom - An Anthology Of Black Music – Carol Bobolts, Jaime Boyle & Deb Schuler, art directors (Various Artists)

Best Short Form Music Video
For an individual track or single promotional clip. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer.

"Fly Away From Here" – Aerosmith; Joseph Kahn, video director; Greg Tharp, video producer

"One Minute Man" – Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Featuring Ludacris; David Meyers, video director; Ron Mohrhoff, video producer

x "Weapon Of Choice" – Fatboy Slim Featuring Bootsy Collins; Spike Jonze, video director; Vincent Landay & Deannie O'Neil, video producers

"Don't Tell Me" – Madonna; Jean-Baptiste Mondino, video director; Maria Gallagher, video producer

"Ms. Jackson" – Outkast; F. Gary Gray, video director; Meredyth Frattolillo, video producer

—John Everson

Originally published in The Star Newspapers February 21, 2002
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