1998 Grammy Awards
By Daniel J. KatzWell, it's Grammy time again, and as usual, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences nominee list is easily criticized. Snubbed breakthrough artists (Elliott Smith, Fat Boy Slim, and Ben Folds Five come to mind), nominees who shouldn't even have tickets to the ceremony (Brandy and Monica), and category distributions that make little or no sense (Metallica in two different genres and Propellerheads in rock.) But what can you do? Here's my take on the major categories.
Record Of The Year
The Boy Is Mine, Brandy and Monica
My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion
Iris, Goo Goo Dolls
Ray of Light, Madonna
You're Still The One, Shania Twain
What's the theme of the Grammys this year? Glad you asked... female vocalists releasing new and revolutionary material. In one of the few categories where Lauryn Hill isn't nominated, the new-and-improved spiritual Madonna's new Grammy-friendly image should win her the award show's final honor, despite the brilliant arrangement of strings and acoustic and slide guitar which makes Iris so enchanting.
As for my real favorite of the year, it's way too close to call. The Rockafeller Skank (Fat Boy Slim), 16 Horses (Soul Coughing) and Rabbit In Your Headlights (UNKLE w/ Thom Yorke) are top contenders in my book.
My Prediction: Madonna
My Pick: Goo Goo Dolls
Album of the Year
The Globe Sessions, Sheryl Crow
Version 2.0, Garbage
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill
Ray of Light, Madonna
Come On Over, Shania Twain
Lauryn Hill is going home with a LOT of Grammys. Hill's solo album scoops up rap and R&B, shoves them in a blender, and spills them out with twice as much soul and emotion in songs that feel disorganized but complete at the same time. While it's not my personal cup of tea, it redefines the two genres and you can dance to it, giving it mainstream appeal.
Soul Coughing's El Oso demonstrates that funky rhythms, bouncy samples, and mind-warping but strangely poetic lyrics can be fused together in more ways than you probably think.
My Prediction/Pick: Lauryn Hill
My Real Pick: El Oso, Soul Coughing
Song of the Year (awarded to songwriter)
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
Iris
Lean On Me
My Heart Will Go On
You're Still The One
Basically, this category asks the voter to decide how each song would fare without its signature voice. We can either focus on the melody and vocal harmony or the instrumental arrangement. I'll take the second route, leading to my choice of Iris and my more spontaneous choice of Uninvited, two haunting orchestral tracks from the City of Angels soundtrack. Somehow I suspect the Academy will go for the catchy tune, and I Don't Want To Miss A Thing and My Heart Will Go On, are too associated with their performers to win.
My Prediction: You're Still The One
My Pick: Iris
My Real Pick: Uninvited, Alanis Morrisette
Best New Artist
Backstreet Boys
Andrea Bocelli
Dixie Chicks
Lauryn Hill
Natalie Imbruglia
Although I have a warm spot in my heart for Natalie, this is Lauryn's year, and she'll take this award easily.
My Prediction/Pick: Lauryn Hill
My Real Pick: Propellerheads
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
My Favorite Mistake, Sheryl Crow
My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion
Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, Lauryn Hill
Torn, Natalie Imbruglia
Adia, Sarah McLachlan
As torturous as her song is, Celine Dion has earned some recognition for having the most popular song of the year. Natalie Imbruglia, on the other hand, released a debut single with sparkling guitar, an infectious melody, and crystal-clear vocals. She's got a terrific career ahead of her, and she deserves this Grammy. The Lauryn Hill song in question is not stellar (and why is she nominated in pop, rap, AND R&B? No wonder she leads this year's nominations...)
My Prediction: Celine Dion
My Pick: Natalie Imbruglia
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Save Tonight, Eagle-Eye Cherry
My Father's Eyes, Eric Clapton
Anytime, Brian McKnight
Lullaby, Shawn Mullins
You Were Meant For Me, Sting
Eric Clapton is a perennial Grammy favorite, but Eagle-Eye Cherry is a rookie with a big-name jazz forefather, and he also had more exposure this year than Clapton. It'll be a close race, but sadly the man who deserves this award isn't nominated; Elliott Smith put out a tuneful album that revolutionized pop, performed at the Oscars, and was snubbed for his efforts. Baby Britain is one of the more pleasant tracks on the album.
My Prediction: Eagle-Eye Cherry or Eric Clapton
My Pick: Eagle-Eye Cherry
My Real Pick: Baby Britain, Elliott Smith
Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing, Aerosmith
One Week, Barenaked Ladies
Iris, Goo Goo Dolls
Crush, Dave Matthews Band
Jump, Jive, An' Wail, Brian Setzer Orchestra
Since they're the only ones nominated for Record of the Year, the Goo Goo Dolls should be a lock. Grammy voters don't always follow the realm of logic, however, so look for a potential upset from Brian Setzer. Personally, I'm obligated to root for underdogs Barenaked Ladies, who finally broke into the mainstream this year. Circles did well on alternative radio, and is the closest to "pop" that El Oso gets.
My Prediction: Goo Goo Dolls
My Pick: Barenaked Ladies
My Real Pick: Circles, Soul Coughing
Best Dance Recording
When Will You Learn, Boy George
Around The World, Daft Punk
Heaven's What I Feel, Gloria Estefan
Disco Inferno, Cyndi Lauper
Ray Of Light, Madonna
If she can win Record of the Year, Madonna can win here. French duo Daft Punk's Around The World was all over the club scene this year, and actually got some MTV exposure before fading back into obscurity. On Her Majesty's Secret Service was the Propellerheads contribution to Shaken But Stirred, an album of James Bond theme covers and remixes. The end result: orchestra meets drum machines. Delicious.
My Prediction: Madonna
My Pick: Daft Punk
My Real Pick: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Propellerheads
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance
Raspberry Swirl, Tori Amos
There Goes The Neighborhood, Sheryl Crow
Glass House, Ani DiFranco
Uninvited, Alanis Morissette
Can't Let Go, Lucinda Williams
Alanis is the most known name here, and as I mentioned earlier, Uninvited is the best written song of the year. Tori Amos is the real story here, however. The frenetic dance beat of Raspberry Swirl completely deviates from her standard expansive piano fare.
My Prediction: Alanis Morissette
My Pick: Tori Amos
Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
Everybody Here Wants You, Jeff Buckley
Almost Saturday Night, John Fogerty
Have A Little Faith In Me, John Hiatt
Fly Away, Lenny Kravitz
Your Life Is Now, John Mellencamp
Jeff Buckley, a Canadian singer-songwriter, passed away this year and will get the credit he's been due for so long.
My Prediction/Pick: Jeff Buckley
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
Pink, Aerosmith
The Way, Fastball
Celebrity Skin, Hole
Bittersweet Symphony, The Verve
Heroes, The Wallflowers
Let it be known that I would never consider Hole to be better performers than the Verve, but neither Bittersweet Symphony or The Way are really rock songs, so neither even belongs in this category. Hole outshines the legitimate rock songs in this category. This, of course, means nothing to the voters, and the Verve should pick up an easy win. For pure guitar rock, however, it was hard to beat the now-defunct band Failure's contribution to the Depeche Mode tribute album, an overdriven rendition of the classic '80s hit, Enjoy The Silence.
My Prediction: The Verve
My Pick: Hole
My Real Pick: Enjoy The Silence, Failure
Best Hard Rock Performance
Psycho Circus, Kiss
The Dope Show, Marilyn Manson
Fuel, Metallica
Most High, Page & Plant
Do The Evolution, Pearl Jam
Conservative voters look to conservative names. Metallica aren't actually misplaced in this category; they haven't played any metal since the early '80s, and Fuel is the essence of hard rock: breakneck riffs, belted vocals and lyrics about fire and twisted steel. It doesn't, however, have the eerie mood, agony, and dynamic contrast of my choice, the closing track on Stabbing Westward's third album.
Oh, and a reminder: NARAS doesn't like Eddie Vedder. He accepted Pearl Jam's first Grammy with the words, "I'm sorry but this means nothing to me."
My Prediction: Page & Plant
My Pick: Metallica
My Real Pick: Waking Up Beside You, Stabbing Westward
Best Metal Performance
Bullet Train, Judas Priest
Better Than You, Metallica
Fried Chicken And Coffee, Nashville Pussy
No Shelter, Rage Against The Machine
Du Hast, Rammstein
Maybe I just have an obsession with loud covers of synthpop songs, but I can't get enough of the new version of Blue Monday. Also impressive this year (and garnering lots of attention) were Orgy's tourmates, German industrial band Rammstein. While Engel is the best song of their album, it never caught on in the United States. Du Hast did, like wildfire.
My Prediction/Pick: Rammstein
My Real Pick: Blue Monday, Orgy
Best Rock Song (awarded to songwriter)
Bittersweet Symphony
Celebrity Skin
Closing Time
Have A Little Faith In Me
Uninvited
Celebrity Skin was written by Billy Corgan and Courtney Love, who will kill each other if they go on stage together. Bittersweet Symphony, the likely victor, bears writing credits from the Verves Richard Ashcroft and the Rolling Stones. They will also kill each other. This could be one of the more interesting presentations of the evening.
My Prediction: Bittersweet Symphony
My Pick: Uninvited
My Real Pick: Bittersweet Symphony or Celebrity Skin (see above)
Best Alternative Music Performance
From The Choirgirl Hotel, Tori Amos
Hello Nasty, Beastie Boys
Is This Desire?, PJ Harvey
Airbag/How Am I Driving? Radiohead
Adore, Smashing Pumpkins
NARAS got all excited about voting for Radiohead last year and is now addicted.
My Prediction/Pick: Radiohead
My Real Pick: El Oso, Soul Coughing
Best R&B Song
All My Life
The Boy Is Mine
Doo Wop (That Thing)
Lean On Me
A Rose Is Still A Rose
Lauryn Hill actually wrote two of the nominated songs; Doo Wop and A Rose Is Still A Rose. She'll win for the former, which is more recognizable, and harder to get out of your head for days at a time.
My Prediction/Pick: Doo Wop
Best R&B Album
Live, Erykah Badu
Never Say Never, Brandy
A Rose Is Still A Rose, Aretha Franklin
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill
Embrya, Maxwell
We've been through this...
My Prediction/Pick: Lauryn Hill
Best Rap Solo Performance
Dangerous, Busta Rhymes
Lost Ones, Lauryn Hill
Hard Knock Life, Jay-Z
Gone Till November, Wyclef Jean
Gettin' Jiggy Wit It, Will Smith
Dangerous came out this year? Gone Till November is a rap song? This category is just ugly, especially since the wrong Jay-Z song was nominated... in Hard Knock Life, he manages to make a song from Annie worse than it already was. His first single was much better. From these nominees, however, Busta Rhymes deserves the nod, and Will Smith, multi-format celebrity, is the frontrunner.
My Prediction: Will Smith
My Pick: Busta Rhymes
My Real Pick: Can I Get A, Jay-Z
Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group
Intergalactic, Beastie Boys
Money Ain't A Thing, Jermaine Dupri w/ Jay-Z
Deja Vu (Uptown Baby), Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz
Rosa Parks, Outkast
Ghetto Superstar, Pras w/ O.D.B. and Mya
Intergalactic was clearly one of the themes of the year, and this is the best place to recognize it. Ghetto Superstar has more variety, more of a rock edge, and holds up better over time.
My Prediction: Beastie Boys
My Pick: Pras and company
Best Rap Album
Capital Punishment, Big Punisher
Life in 1472, Jermaine Dupri
Vol. 2.. Hard Knock Life, Jay-Z
Harlem World, Mase
The Love Movement, A Tribe Called Quest
Supposedly, the Tribe are on their way to retirement, and the industry's aware of it.
My Prediction: A Tribe Called Quest
My Pick: Jay-Z
Best Country Album
Sevens, Garth Brooks
Wide Open Spaces, Dixie Chicks
Faith, Faith Hill
Come On Over, Shania Twain
Where Your Road Leads, Trisha Yearwood
In case you've been living under a rock, Garth Brooks has become synonymous with country. I am going out on a limb here, since Shania Twain is nominated for Record and Album of the Year, but it's on the strength of one major song, and Garth's reputation is more solid. (Plus Canada isn't exactly the country capital of the world.)
My Prediction/Pick: Garth Brooks
Best Short Form Music Video
Pink, Aerosmith
Bachelorette, Bjork
Ray of Light, Madonna
All Around The World, Oasis
Do The Evolution, Pearl Jam
Although Ray of Light picked up the most MTV Awards (and theoretically, they should know what they're talking about), in my opinion, the myriad of images that makes up Do The Evolution rivals Radiohead's Just for best video of all time. Bar none.
My Prediction: Madonna
My Pick: Pearl Jam
If just one of these predictions comes true, I'll be ecstatic. (That should tell you how much faith to have in me) I suggest that, like me, you just sit back Wednesday night and enjoy the show. Then we can all complain the morning after.
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