Dec 05 2008
Grammys Continue Moving in Better Direction
Believe it or not, there are no embarrassing major award nominees for the upcoming 51st Annual Grammy Awards.
The nominees for Album of the Year- announced this week- include alternative and critical darling Radiohead, for In Rainbows(the band’s third nod in the category), as well as Alison Krauss & Robert Plant’s Raising Sand, Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, Ne-Yo’s Year of the Gentleman and rapper Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III.
Just two songs found themselves in both the Song and Record of the Year categories: Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” and Adele’s “Chasing Pavements.” Other Song nominees (awarded to songwriters) include Estelle’s “American Boy,” Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” and Sara Bareilles’ “Love Song,” while other Record nominees (awarded to artists and producers) include Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love,” M.I.A.’s ”Paper Planes” and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on “Please Read The Letter.”
Nothing really says the Grammys’ intent is to represent the best in recorded music- after all, the category is called “Album of the Year,” and that could mean whatever it wants it to. To get an idea of which albums are regarded as the best of a given year, just check out any number of critics’ lists. Doing so gives a decent indication of the albums that have left an indelible impression on those who listen to hundreds and hundreds of albums a year.
The Grammys, on the other hand, has a history of favoring (and nominating/awarding) safe, middle-of-the-road non-threatening acts- think Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Bette Midler. Each has been nominated for, and taken home, the Album of the Year Grammy. None of those acts have been big critical successes, but enjoyed great popularity by playing it safe, adhering to the formula that drives mainstream consumption.
A couple other examples of safe, largely successful Album nominees: Backstreet Boys’ Millennium in 1999, and three- count ‘em three- Mariah Carey albums. In fact, the 1990 nominees may as well have come from Billboard’s list of the year’s top-selling albums: Carey, Phil Collins, M.C. Hammer (!), Wilson Phillips and Quincy Jones (the lowest seller among that lot).
With such non-acclaimed work getting nominated, maybe it’s not that astonishing to discover that The Beatles only won Album of the Year once (out of six tries), for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Or that Elvis Presley (among other legendary and important figures) never won a major Grammy.
One legendary act who had to wait 15 years for her first major Grammy nomination is Madonna. Few acts were bigger in the 80s, and those who were at her popularity level- Michael Jackson and Houston, for instance- received Album of the Year nominations. Like a Virgin and True Blue were huge commercial successes, and weren’t critically panned- yet no major nods, outside Best Female Pop Vocal nominations for “Crazy For You” and “Papa Don’t Preach.”
Furthermore, 1989’s Like a Prayerwas a big critical succes, yet neither the album or its title track got any notices. We’re certain that Madonna’s controversial image and her in-your-face approach to her work had nothing to do with the snubs, right? Uh huh. No safe, non-threatening, middle-of-the-road musician found here, so it was a big NEXT when it came to nominating Madonna.
That is, until she toned down her act, became a mom and released an album that rivals Like a Prayer as her best album- 1998’s Ray of Light.Not only did she garner an Album of the Year nomination, but also Record of the Year for the title track. She didn’t win either of those, but she did snag Best Pop Album, Best Dance Recording and Best Sortform Music Video (her only previous win was for Best Longform Video in 1990).Did it compensate for all the past omissions? Of course not- but, at least it was a start.
Which leads one to wonder: Just what do the Grammys award? We know it’s not intended to mesh with amount of critical acclaim, but at the same time, it’s usually not a replica of the year’s top-selling albums. Moreso, as of late, it’s a mix of popularity (gotta get those ratings, after all), and having some notable acclaim, but simultaneously having enough name recognition (Radiohead).
Also, at times, sentimentality plays a factor- think Natalie Cole’s virtual duets album with her dad Nat, or any veteran act who never won a major Grammy, who releases a subpar album and then takes home the trophy. An act’s passing also could impact the nominations- think Ray Charles’ Genius Loves Company.
So while the Grammys has gotten better in recent times (nominating acts like Eminem, The White Stripes and Radiohead for Album of the Year), there still are oddballs that pop up every now and again (John Mayer, Nelly, Evanescence, Gwen Stefani, any new Paul McCartney album- not that these are horrible, but best of a year?).
Plus, are way too many past head scratchers to make up for; in fact, making the best selections from here on out may never erase some of the laughable nominees and winners. After all, the Grammys’ alternative names aren’t the Grannies and the Shammys for nothin’.
But, at least there won’t likely ever be another Milli Vanilli scandal- the duo won the Best New Artist award in 1989, and then returned that “honor” after it was revealed that they guys didn’t sing a single note on their album. Oops!
