comment. Clip the following list, make your own Xs and see how you and I each
score during the televised awards show on Wednesday!
Pop Stops Picks for the Grammy Awards
The 41st Annual Grammy Awards Show is just a few days away the night of Feb. 24 and 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.
There always seem to be a couple of artists each year who get nominated in a plethora of categories. Who will walk away with an armful of little gold gramophones this year? Lauryn Hill may need some assistance in getting her Grammys home she's nominated in 10 different categories thanks to the popularity of her first solo album from The Fugees.
The artists who were involved in last year's hit movies are likely to score big this year at the Grammys as well.
Film soundtracks were huge last year, with songs from "Titanic," "Godzilla," "Armageddon" and "City of Angels" popping up again and again on the Grammy nominee list. With six nominations, this looks like the year for Celine Dion to walk away with several awards the biggest movie of the year also spawned the most popular song of the year "My Heart Will Go On," the love theme From "Titanic."
Aerosmith turned up in five categories thanks to their last studio album as well as their recording for the movie "Armageddon" and The Goo Goo Dolls' work on "City of Angels" earned them three nominations. Madonna and Shania Twain each have a handful nominations for their multiplatinum album releases of the past year and the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Natalie Imbruglia also have more than a couple chances to win a statue.
This year's awards cover recordings released during the Grammy Eligibility Year of Oct. 1, 1997-Sept. 30, 1998. The Grammy Awards cover the whole spectrum of music, from pop to blues to rap to classical to children's recordings.
For the purposes of this article, I'll focus on the awards in the pop/rock field. For a complete listing of all 95 categories of awards, check out the Grammy web site at www.grammy.com.
Given the list that the Grammy nominators have offered us (and, as always,
the nominators have opted for some strange omissions and inclusions), here are
my votes for who I think should win, with the occasional
comment. Clip the following list, make your own Xs and see how you and I each
score during the televised awards show on Wednesday!
Editor's Note: Now that the Grammy Awards are over, I've gone ahead and noted with a red X the actual winners (as opposed to my own picks, the black checkmarks).
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.
"The Boy Is Mine" Brandy
& Monica from Never Say Never and from The Boy Is Mine
x
"My Heart Will Go On" Celine Dion from Let's Talk About Love and Titanic
Music From The Motion Picture
"Iris" Goo Goo Dolls from
City Of Angels Music From The Motion Picture
"Ray Of Light" Madonna from
Ray Of Light
"You're Still The One" Shania
Twain from Come On Over
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Award to the Artist(s), and to the Album Producer(s), Recording
Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) if other than the artist.
The Globe Sessions Sheryl Crow
Version 2.0 Garbage
x The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Ray Of Light Madonna
Come On Over Shania Twain
Garbage is a
dark horse in this category, which will likely be taken by Lauryn Hill or Madonna
who each put out tedious but inexplicably popular albums last year.
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. Artists'
names appear in parenthesis. (Singles or Tracks only.)
"I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"
Diane Warren, songwriter (recorded by Aerosmith for Armageddon - The Album)
"Iris" John Rzeznik,
songwriter (recorded by Goo Goo Dolls) from City Of Angels - Music From The
Motion Picture
"Lean On Me" Kirk Franklin, songwriter (recorded by Kirk Franklin With Mary
J. Blige, R. Kelly, Bono, Crystal Lewis & The Family) from The Nu Nu Nation
Project
x
"My Heart Will Go On"
James Horner & Will Jennings, songwriters (recorded by Celine Dion) from Let's
Talk About Love and Titanic - Music From The Motion Picture
"You're Still The One" Robert
John "Mutt" Lange & Shania Twain, songwriters (recorded by Shania Twain) from
Come On Over
"My Heart Will
Go On" certainly deserves Record or Song of the Year, but not both. Hopefully
"Iris" or "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" will take this category.
BEST NEW ARTIST
For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year,
the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.
Backstreet Boys
Andrea Bocelli
Dixie Chicks
x
Lauryn Hill
Natalie Imbruglia
Lauryn Hill is
the popular favorite in this category, but Natalie Imbruglia's disc was far
more inviting and fresh. Where are the other newcomers who scored their first
radio hits last year like Anggun, Athenaeum, Jimmy Ray and Loreena McKennitt?
BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.
"My Favorite Mistake" Sheryl
Crow from The Globe Sessions
x
"My Heart Will Go On"
Celine Dion from Let's Talk About Love and Titanic - Music From The
Motion Picture
"Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You"
Lauryn Hill from The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
"Torn" Natalie Imbruglia from
Left Of The Middle
"Adia" Sarah
McLachlan from Surfacing
Sarah McLachlan
is probably the dark horse of this category, but her vocal work on "Adia" is
precious, delicate and haunting.
BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.
"Save Tonight"
Eagle-Eye Cherry from Desireless
x
"My Father's Eyes" Eric Clapton from Pilgrim
"Anytime" Brian McKnight from
Anytime "Lullaby" Shawn Mullins from
Soul's Core "You Were Meant For Me" Sting
from The Object Of My Affection - Soundtrack
BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL
For established duos or groups. Singles or Tracks only.
"I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"
Aerosmith from Armageddon - The Album "One Week" Barenaked Ladies
from Stunt "Iris" Goo Goo Dolls from
City Of Angels - Music From The Motion Picture "Crush" Dave Matthews Band
from Before These Crowded Streets
x
"Jump Jive An' Wail" The Brian Setzer Orchestra from The Dirty Boogie
This is a tough
category Barenaked Ladies handle some pretty treacherous vocal work on "One
Week," and "Iris" is one of the best "lighter" anthems of the past year. But
my nod goes to Setzer for helping to make swing cool again.
BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
For a collaborative performance by artists who do not normally
perform together. Singles or Tracks only.
"How Come, How Long" Babyface
With Stevie Wonder from MTV Unplugged NYC (Babyface) "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine"
Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt from Where Have All The Flowers Gone - The
Songs Of Pete Seeger (Various Artists)
x
"I Still Have That Other Girl" Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach from
Painted From Memory
"I'm Your Angel"
R. Kelly & Celine Dion from R. "Shenandoah" Van Morrison
& The Chieftains from Long Journey Home (The Chieftains With Various
Artists)
BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
For instrumental recordings, with or without vocal coloring,
by an Orchestra, Group or Soloist. Singles or Tracks only.
"The X-Files
Theme" The Dust Brothers from The X-Files - The Album "Big Country" Bela Fleck And
The Flecktones from Left Of Cool "My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme
From Titanic)" Kenny G "Follow Me" Pat Metheny Group
from Imaginary Day
x
"Sleepwalk" The Brian Setzer Orchestra from The Dirty Boogie
BEST DANCE RECORDING
For solo artists, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental.
Singles or tracks only. Award to the Artist and to the Producer (and/or Mixer)
if other than the Artist.
"When Will You Learn" Boy
George from Winter Party 1998 "Around The World" Daft Punk
from Homework "Heaven's What I Feel" Gloria
Estefan from Gloria! "Disco Inferno" Cyndi Lauper
from A Night At The Roxbury - Soundtrack
x
"Ray Of Light" Madonna from Ray Of Light
Why aren't The
Dust Brothers and Propellerheads in this category? Lauper's cover of "Disco
Inferno" does not belong on any best of the year listing.
BEST POP ALBUM
For solo artists, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental.
Compilation albums by various artists are not eligible. Award to the Artist
and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) of 51% or more
playing time of album.
Pilgrim Eric Clapton
Let's Talk About Love
Celine Dion
Left Of The
Middle Natalie Imbruglia
x
Ray Of Light Madonna The Dirty Boogie The
Brian Setzer Orchestra
BEST FEMALE ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.
"Raspberry Swirl"
Tori Amos from From The Choirgirl Hotel "There Goes The Neighborhood"
Sheryl Crow from The Globe Sessions "Glass House" Ani DiFranco
from Little Plastic Castle
x
"Uninvited" Alanis Morissette from City Of Angels - Music From
The Motion Picture "Can't Let Go" Lucinda Williams
from Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
BEST MALE ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.
"Everybody Here Wants You"
Jeff Buckley from Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk "Almost Saturday Night" John
Fogerty from Premonition "Have A Little Faith In Me"
John Hiatt from The Best Of John Hiatt
x
"Fly Away" Lenny Kravitz from 5
"Your Life Is Now" John Mellencamp from John
Mellencamp
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL
For Duos or Groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.
x
"Pink" Aerosmith from Nine Lives
"The Way" Fastball from All The Pain Money
Can Buy "Celebrity Skin" Hole from
Celebrity Skin "Bitter Sweet Symphony" The
Verve from Urban Hymns "Heroes" The Wallflowers from
Godzilla - The Album
BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE
For solo vocals, or Duos/Groups with vocals. Singles or
Tracks only.
"Psycho Circus" Kiss from
Psycho Circus "The Dope Show" Marilyn Manson
from Mechanical Animals
x
"Fuel" Metallica from ReLoad "Most High" Jimmy Page & Robert
Plant from Walking Into Clarksdale
"Do The Evolution" Pearl Jam from Yield
BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
For solo vocals, or Duos/Groups with vocals. Singles or
Tracks only.
"Bullet Train" Judas Priest
from Jugulator
x
"Better Than You" Metallica from Re-Load "Fried Chicken And Coffee"
Nashville Pussy from Let Them Eat Pussy No Shelter Rage Against The
Machine from Godzilla - The Album Du Hast ΚRammstein from Sehnsucht
BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal Instrumentals. Singles
or Tracks only.
"El Distorto De Melodica"
Everclear from So Much For The Afterglow
x
"The Roots Of Confidence" Pat Metheny Group from Imaginary Day
"Take California" Propellerheads from Decksandrumsandrockandroll "A Train Of Angels" Joe Satriani
from Crystal Planet "Trouble Is ..." Kenny Wayne
Shepherd Band from Trouble Is... "The Ironic Twist" Jimmie
Vaughan from Out There
BEST ROCK SONG
A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock & Metal
songs. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artists' names appear
in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.
"Bitter Sweet Symphony" Richard
Ashcroft, Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, songwriters (recorded by The Verve)
from Urban Hymns
"Celebrity Skin" Billy Corgan, Eric Erlandson
& Courtney Love, songwriters (recorded by Hole) from Celebrity Skin "Closing Time" Dan Wilson,
songwriter (recorded by Semisonic) from Feeling Strangely Fine "Have A Little Faith In Me"
John Hiatt, songwriter (recorded by John Hiatt) from The Best Of John Hiatt
x
"Uninvited" Alanis Morissette, songwriter (recorded by Alanis Morissette)
from City Of Angels - Music From The Motion Picture
This is a particularly weak category "Celebrity
Skin" is the only real "rock" song in this list.
BEST ROCK ALBUM
For solo artists, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental.
Includes Hard Rock and Metal. Compilation albums by various artists are not
eligible. Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)
and/or Mixer(s) of 51% or more playing time of album.
x
"The Globe Sessions" Sheryl Crow Premonition John Fogerty Version 2.0 Garbage
Celebrity Skin Hole Before These Crowded Streets
Dave Matthews Band
Where on this list is Tori Amos, who put out
her first full "rock band" record last year?Or Fastball?
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE
For solos, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental. Compilation
albums by various artists are not eligible. For Albums only.
From The Choirgirl Hotel Tori Amos
x
Hello Nasty Beastie Boys Is This Desire? PJ
Harvey Airbag/How Am I Driving?
Radiohead Adore The Smashing
Pumpkins
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
For solo artists, Duos or Groups, vocal or instrumental.
Compilation albums by various artists are not eligible. Award to the Artist
and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) of 51% or more
playing time of album.
Sevens Garth Brooks
x
Wide Open Spaces Dixie Chicks Faith Faith Hill
Come On Over Shania Twain Where Your Road Leads
Trisha Yearwood
BEST RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE
For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.
"Dangerous" Busta Rhymes
from When Disaster Strikes... "Lost Ones" Lauryn Hill from
The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill "Hard Knock Life" Jay-Z from
Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life "Gone Till November" Wyclef
Jean from Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival
x
"Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" Will Smith from Big Willie Style
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP
For a Duo or Group performance. Singles or Tracks only.
x
"Intergalactic" Beastie Boys from Hello Nasty "Money Ain't A Thang" Jermaine
Dupri Featuring Jay-Z from Life In 1472 - The Original Soundtrack "Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)" Lord
Tariq & Peter Gunz from Make It Reign Rosa Parks OutKast from Aquemini Ghetto Supastar Pras Michel
Featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard And Mya from Bulworth - The Soundtrack
The Beastie Boys should really be in the rock
or alternative category those are the radio outlets that played them. Regardless
of where the Grammys list them, they have to get a vote for one of the most
fun tracks of the year.
BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM
For albums only, either vocal or instrumental.
Sing It! Marcia Ball,
Irma Thomas & Tracy Nelson Heavy Love Buddy Guy Life, Love & The Blues
Etta James
x
Slow Down Keb' Mo'
Deuces Wild B.B. King
BEST CONTEMPORARY FOLK ALBUM
For Albums only, either vocal or instrumental.
Mermaid Avenue Billy
Bragg & Wilco El Corazon Steve Earle Spyboy Emmylou Harris
Step Inside This House Lyle Lovett
x
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road Lucinda Williams
BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR A MOTION PICTURE OR FOR TELEVISION
A Songwriter(s) award. Category is for a song (melody &
lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture or for television and commercially
released on a recording for the first time during the Eligibility Year. Singles
or Tracks only.
"I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" from Armageddon,
Diane Warren, songwriter (recorded by Aerosmith)
x
"My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic, James Horner & Will Jennings,
songwriters (recorded by Celine Dion) "Tomorrow Never Dies" from Tomorrow
Never Dies, Sheryl Crow & Mitchell Froom, songwriters (recorded by Sheryl
Crow) "True To Your Heart" from Mulan,
Matthew Wilder & David Zippel, songwriters (recorded by 98 Degrees And Stevie
Wonder) "Uninvited" from City Of
Angels, Alanis Morissette, songwriter (recorded by Alanis Morissette)
BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
For an individual track or single promotional clip. Award
to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer.
"Pink" Aerosmith Doug Nichol,
video director; Georges Bermann & Jim Czarnecki, video producers "Bachelorette" Bjork Michel
Gondry, video director; Georges Bermann & Julie Fong, video producers
x
"Ray Of Light " Madonna Jonas Akerlund, video director; Nicola Doring, video
producer "All Around The World" Oasis
Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris, video directors; Bart Lipton, video producer "Do The Evolution" Pearl Jam
Kevin Altieri & Todd McFarlane, video directors; Terry Fitzgerald, video producer
Hey Pop Stops readers! If you want to read the reviews of many of these albums,
use the Best of 1998 column for easy links.