The Grammy Awards, hosted by the Recording Academy and accessible on CBS and Paramount+, are one of the most popular events in America. It’s a staple of American culture, artistry, and entertainment. This year’s Grammy nominations from the most popular categories include Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Album. The winners of these categories will be announced during the Grammys on February 2nd, 2025.
Record of the Year nominees include “Now and Then,” by The Beatles, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” by Beyoncé, “‘Espresso,” by Sabrina Carpenter, “360”, by Charli XCX, “Birds of a Feather,” by Billie Eilish, “Not Like Us,” by Kendrick Lamar, “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan, and Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone.
Chappell Roan is one of the most unique and creative music artists of 2024, with her newest album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” Roan is an openly queer artist that has used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and organizations, like The Trevor Project. She writes about her experience as a queer artist through her music, with her song “Good Luck, Babe!” which I believe deserves to win Record of the Year. On September 25th, 2024 (via Music World Awards), Roan’s hit single reached the Top 5 on the Hot 100 in the United States and the top 5 on the Billboard Global 200. The record handles deeper, more complex ideas, as the protagonist for the record appears to be confused about their sexuality, but is secretly queer. The lyrics “You’d have to stop the world just to stop the feeling,” are powerful — many people live in a constant state of denial, refusing to accept different ideas of sexuality within them. The record “Good Luck, Babe!” tackles ideas of wanting someone who hasn’t fully come to terms with themselves, and the hardships of love.
Album of the Year nominees are “New Blue Sun,” by André 3000, “Cowboy Carter,” by Beyoncé, “Short n’ Sweet,” by Sabrina Carpenter, “BRAT,” by Charli XCX, “Djesse Vol.4,” by Jacob Collier, “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” by Billie Eilish, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” by Chappell Roan, and “The Tortured Poets Department,” by Taylor Swift.
Billie Eilish’s masterpiece album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” explores a more techno-pop sound, most notably the outro of “L’Amour De Ma Vie.” The song starts melancholy and reflective, but, once listeners expect the tune to stop, it introduces Eilish’s full and gut-wrenching vocal sound. After listening to Eilish’s album, each song on “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is complex, with beats and rhythms that flow in every direction containing many different sounds and vocal tones. This album represents Eilish’s best work in her decade-long musical career, due to her ability to create versatile music. Therefore, “Hit Me Hard and Soft” should win the Grammy for album of the year.
For Song of the Year, the nominations are “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” by Shaboozey, “Birds of a Feather,” by Billie Eilish, and Finneas, “Die With a Smile,” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, “Fortnight,” by Taylor Swift and featuring Post Malone, “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan, “Please Please Please,” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Not Like Us,” by Kendrick Lamar, and “Texas Hold ‘Em,” by Beyoncé.
Kendrick Lamar’s song, “Not Like Us,” stands out in several ways. Lamar has been public about his ongoing battle against rapper Drake for who is the ‘best rapper.’ However, “Not Like Us” powerfully presents Lamar’s disgust regarding Drake’s past actions. In an interview, Lamar said, “The song is the energy of who I am, the type of man I represent.” The song is a social commentary on the darker side of the music industry. Lamar expresses his morals and views about the world through his music. The song “Not Like Us” should win the Grammy for the song of the year due to the piece’s influence on the rap community, and the Lamar and Drake fan base.
For the Best Pop Vocal Album, nominations include “Short n Sweet,” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” by Billie Eilish, “Eternal Sunshine,” by Ariana Grande, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” by Chappell Roan, and “The Tortured Poets Department,” by Taylor Swift.
Sabrina Carpenter, one of the most influential artists of 2024, released her album “Short n Sweet” this year. The album was the soundtrack of my summer. I would blast “Taste,” “Espresso,” “Coincidence” and ‘Dumb and Poetic’ throughout every car ride. Carpenter’s bold personality is ever-present in her music and she has developed her style as a musician this year. Every song on the album is catchy, and listening to them makes you feel like you’ve been chatting with your close friend about your day. Carpenter’s album brings comfort to her audiences, by using humor as a way of dealing with heartbreak. “Short and Sweet” should win Best Pop Vocal Album.
2024 is a breakthrough year in music, with multiple albums topping the charts from some of the world’s biggest artists. Each musician and performer brings authenticity to their sound and should be recognized for their talents.
