Grammy nominations: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis should roll
Macklemore & Lewis perform at Rumsey Playfield in New York City. (Aug. 16, 2013) Credit: Getty Images
There are so many Grammy-ready stories in music right now that Friday night’s nominations announcement is one of the most unpredictable in years.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis seem set to rake in the nominations. The hip-hop newcomers have changed the lyrical tone of commercial rap with their hits “Same Love” and “Thrift Shop.” They seem to be a lock for landing nominations in all four top categories, though Lorde, the 17-year-old “Royals” sensation, may join them.
Will they reward Justin Timberlake’s return? Of course, Grammy organizers love younger artists who revere older styles of music. Will they honor Taylor Swift’s smash “Red”? Yes, it’s a multi-platinum success that spans several genres. And Kanye West’s sonic achievement “Yeezus” will likely do well in nominations, though his chances of winning in a general category will be slim as usual.
Here’s how the top categories should shape up:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
THE SHOO-INS: Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience”; Kanye West’s “Yeezus”; Taylor Swift’s “Red”; Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “The Heist”
THE GOOD BETS: Lorde’s “Pure Heroine”; John Fogerty’s “Wrote a Song for Everyone”; Bruno Mars’ “Unorthodox Jukebox”
THE LONG SHOTS: David Bowie’s “The Next Day”; Vampire Weekend’s “Modern Vampires of the City”
RECORD OF THE YEAR
THE SHOO-INS: Lorde’s “Royals”; Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors”; Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop”
THE GOOD BETS: Katy Perry’s “Roar”; Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise”; Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”; Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”
THE LONG SHOTS: Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive”; Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven”; Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble”; Jay Z’s “Holy Grail”
SONG OF THE YEAR
THE SHOO-INS: Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors”; Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Same Love”; Lorde’s “Royals”
THE GOOD BETS: Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise”; Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble”; Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive”; Adele’s “Skyfall”
THE LONG SHOTS: P!nk’s “Just Give Me a Reason”; Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven”; Kanye West’s “Bound 2”; Jay Z’s “Holy Grail”
BEST NEW ARTIST
THE SHOO-INS: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Lorde, Kacey Musgraves, Imagine Dragons
THE GOOD BETS: Kendrick Lamar, Florida Georgia Line
THE LONG SHOTS: Haim, Emeli Sande, Ariana Grande
