Collaboratively Written by Charlotte Freitag and Delaney DeAngelis
Wonder who is going to win the Grammy’s this year? We’ve gone through the list and created our predictions, but also the standout albums we think have the best chance. Read on for our predictions and make sure to follow us on Twitter for all of the best Grammy coverage!
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Alright”-Kendrick Lamar Songwriter(s): Kendrick Duckworth, Kawan Prather, Mark Anthony Spears and Pharrell Williams
“Blank Space”-Taylor Swift Songwriter(s): Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift
“Girl Crush”-Little Big Town Songwriter(s): Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, and Liz Rose
“See You Again”-Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth Songwriter(s): Andrew Cedar, Justin Franks, Charles Puth and Cameron Thomaz
“Thinking Out Loud”-Ed Sheeran Songwriter(s): Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge
Our Winner: The Song of the Year category is different than Record of the Year—it’s given to the songwriters, not the performer or producer. Song of the Year has to go to Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift for the song “Blank Space.” Taylor Swift dominated 2015, and “Blank Space” is one of the biggest hits from her album “1989”. This track that criticizes the media prying into Swift’s life and relationship was met with widespread commercial and critical success, and it’s very likely it will win this category.
Best New Artist
Courtney Barnet
James Bay
Sam Hunt
Tori Kelly
Meghan Trainor
Our Winner: The nominees for best new artist include Courtney Barnet, James Bay, Sam Hunt, Tori Kelly and Meghan Trainor. While Trainor has the most name recognition, it doesn’t mean the Recording Acadamy will automatically choose her. Courtney Barnet and James Bay lack the name recognitions, and Tori Kelly has yet to have a single break into the top 50. Country singer Sam Hunt has a fair shot, though a country singer hasn’t won since 2010, since the Zac Brown Band. Any of these artists have a shot at the award, though it will probably end up going to Sam Hunt. Hunt and Trainor have the most name recognition, but some people don’t take Trainor seriously as an artist, which could hurt her in this category.
Best Pop Solo Performance
“Heartbeat Song”-Kelly Clarkson
“Love Me Like You Do”-Ellie Goulding
“Thinking Out Loud”-Ed Sheeran
“Blank Space”-Taylor Swift
“Can’t Feel My Face”-The Weeknd
Our Winner: 2015 was a huge year for The Weeknd. Several of his songs reached radio play, including “Can’t Feel My Face.” This song will most likely win this category because it was one of the biggest hits of 2015 and really launched The Weeknd’s career. The catchy song was played on radios constantly; it was almost guaranteed that this song was going to be heard in the car. All of the songs in this category were huge commercial successes, but The Weeknd’s breakout song will likely take this one.
Best Pop Due/Group Performance
“Ship To Wreck”-Florence & The Machine
“Sugar”-Maroon 5
“Uptown Funk”-Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
“Bad Blood”-Taylor Swift fear. Kendrick Lamar
“See You Again”-Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
Our Winner: This category features many pop hits, including “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar, but no song reached such widespread success like Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars. It seemed like almost overnight the song reached a huge success. The incredibly catchy song stayed popular for most of 2015 and became a huge part of pop culture. Taylor Swift may be the biggest name in this category, but she’ll likely win a different category, leaving Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars to win.
Best Pop Vocal Album
Piece by Piece by Kelly Clarkson
How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful-Florence & The Machine
Uptown Special by Mark Ronson
1989 by Taylor Swift
Before This World by James Taylor
Our Winner: There are many great albums up for this category, but again, it’s most likely going to go to Taylor Swift for her album “1989.” The album is different than most of her albums—it’s the first time her album is not described as country. The album yielded six successful singles and reached critical success that the other nominees—Kelly Clarkson, Florence and the Machine, Mark Ronson and James Taylor–didn’t quite reach.
Best Rock Performance
“Don’t Wanna Fight”-Alabama Shakes
“What Kind of Man”-Florence & The Machine
“Something From Nothing”-Foo Fighters
“Ex’s and Oh’s”-Ellie King
“Moaning Lisa Smile”-Wolf Alice
Our Winner: One of six nominations for Alabama Shakes, best rock song is likely to be one of their wins. “Don’t Wanna Fight” is the band’s most successful single off of the critically acclaimed album, “Sound & Color.” There are many great contenders for this award—Florence & The Machine, Food Fighters, Ellie King and Wolf Alice—but the funky soulful tune will likely take the award.
Best Rock Song
“Don’t Wanna Fight”-Alabama Shakes Songwriters: Alabama Shakes
“Ex’s and Oh’s”-Elle King Songwriters: Dave Bassett and Elle Kind
“Hold Back The River”-James Bay Songwriters: Iain Archer and James Bay
“Lydia”-Highly Suspect Songwriters: Richard Meyer, Ryan Meyer and Johnny Stevens
“What Kind of Man”-Florence & The Machine Songwriters: John Hill, Tom Hull and Florence Welch
Our Winner: There are so many great songs nominated for best rock song, it’s hard to predict which will win. It will probably come down two “Don’t Wanna Fight” by Alabama Shakes and “Hold Back The River” by James Bay. James Bay may be the underdog between the two, but since Alabama Shakes is nominated for many other awards, I think James Bay will take this one. “Hold Back The River” is the most recognizable song of Bay’s, and it’s filled with beautiful lyrics likely to help it win for best rock song, which would be given to the songwriters Iain Archer and James Bay.
Best Rock Album
Chaos and the Calm by James Bay
Kintsugi by Death Cab For Cutie
Mister Asylum by Highly Suspect
Drones by Muse
.5: The Gray Chapter by Slipknot
Our Winner: Best rock album will likely come down between “Chaos and the Calm” by James Bay or “Drones” by Muse. The problem for Bay is that his music isn’t as heavy and typical rock like the other nominees, much of it leans on the side of pop or indie. He’s nominated in many other categories, so the Recording Academy may pass on him for this award. Muse is a more established, recognizable band, and their album debuted at number one.
Best Alternative Music Album
Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes
Vulnicura by Björk
The Waterfall by My Morning Jacket
Currents by Tame Impala
Star Wars by Wilco
Our Winner: This category will likely go to “Sound & Color” by Alabama Shakes. Their second album, debuting at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, reached critical acclaim. “Sound & Color” is nominated for a whopping six awards. Out of the other nominees—Björk, My Morning Jacket, Tame Impala and Wilco—it is the most recognizable of the nominees. The very unique album deserves to win the award in this category.
Best Song Written for Visual Media
Earned It by The Weeknd (Fifty Shades of Grey)
Glory by Common & John Legend (Selma)
Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding (Fifty Shades of Grey)
See You Again by Wiz Khalida feat. Charlie Puth (Furious 7)
‘Til It Happens To You by Lady Gaga (The Hunting Ground)
Our Winner: There were many great songs that were made for movies, but it all comes down between “Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding for 50 Shades of Grey and “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth for Furious 7. Both songs were huge hits, but the award will most likely be handed to “See You Again.” The song, a tribute to the late Paul Walker, was a huge success, and holds the record for most streams in a single day on Spotify in the U.S. Since the song is attached to Furious 7 and Paul Walker, the song will more than likely win this category.
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