Bradley’s 2022 GRAMMY Picks

The Recording Academy (2022)

No matter your opinion on them, the GRAMMYs remain the biggest accolade an artist within the music industry can win. It’s simply a dream for many. Much like last year, this years award ceremony, originally set for January 31st, has been postponed to April 3rd and relocated to Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The Recording Academy has faced criticism for alleged bias against specifically female and Black artists; however, they have made strives towards fixing past mistakes by diversifying their voting body and dropping controversial “secret nomination review committees.”

With all being said, here’s my expectations for a handful of categories from the yearly, “music’s biggest night.”

Album of the Year

1. Planet Her – Doja Cat

2. Back of My Mind – H.E.R

3. Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish

4. We Are – Jon Batiste

5. Donda – Kanye West

6. Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

7. Justice – Justin Bieber

8. MONTERO – Lil Nas X

9. Evermore – Taylor Swift

10. Love For Sale – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

Will Win: Love For Sale – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

Should Win: Love For Sale – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

Hear me out, to the average person I know this might not sound realistic when they see albums such as Sour, Happier Than Ever, and of course Planet Her; however, to a music aficionado Love For Sale has something none of the other nominees have — the legend Tony Bennett. The creation of this album begun in 2018, just about two years after the 95 year old’s unfortunate diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, and is the second duet album from Lady Gaga and him. With this being a bittersweet farewell album from a musical legend alongside his superstar leading lady, it’s hard not to imagine Recording Academy voters simply being swayed by the duo themselves and their beautiful rendition of Cole Porter classics from the American songbook.

Song of the Year

1. Right on Time – Brandi Carlile

2. drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo

3. Leave The Door Open – Silk Sonic

4. Bad Habits – Ed Sheeran

5. Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish

6. A Beautiful Noise – Alicia Keys ft. Brandi Carlile

7. Fight For You – H.E.R.

8. Kiss Me More – Doja Cat ft. SZA

9. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X

10. Peaches – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Giveon

Will Win: drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo or Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish

Should Win: drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo

Song of the Year is an award based on songwriting and this list of nominees are definitely not the best written songs of the year; however, going off of these nominees, either drivers license or Happier Than Ever will walk away with this award. In my opinion Olivia Rodrigo should take it as I believe her songwriting on drivers license connected with audiences best. She might’ve just gotten her “…drivers license last week…” but now it’s time for a GRAMMY win. I do think it’s a possibly that Silk Sonic could be a surprise win with their hit song, Leave The Door Open, as well.

Record of the Year

1. I Still Have Faith In You – ABBA

2. Freedom – Jon Batiste

3. I Get a Kick Out of You – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

4. Peaches – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Giveon

5. Right On Time – Brandi Carlile

6. Kiss Me More – Doja Cat ft. SZA

7. Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish

8. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X

9. drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo

10. Leave The Door Open – Silk Sonic

Will Win: Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish or Leave The Door Open – Silk Sonic

Should Win: I Still Have Faith In You – ABBA

The production on title track, Happier Than Ever, is definitely a production highlight of 2021 which is why Eilish will most likely walk away with this award. Silk Sonic’s Leave The Door Open could also find it’s way to the big win of the night with the radio friendly hit. But in my opinion, the legendary group ABBA deserves to finally walk away with their first GRAMMY. Being the groups first new material in 40 years, the song has proven to be a hit not only within the United States but undoubtedly within Europe as well, garnering over 35 million views on the music video. The song is a blast from the past that sounds like it could have been released at the height of the groups Eurovision fame. Withstanding the testament of time, ABBA is still being enjoyed by millions.

Best New Artist

1. Arooj Aftab

2. Jimmie Allen

3. Baby Keem

4. FINNEAS

5. Glass Animals

6. Japanese Breakfast

7. The Kid Laroi

8. Arlo Parks

9. Olivia Rodrigo

10. Saweetie

Will Win: Olivia Rodrigo

Should Win: Olivia Rodrigo

While there are artists such as Japanese Breakfast and Glass Animals on this list who have released some amazing work, nobody on this list reaches the sheer impact Olivia Rodrigo has made with her explosion of a debut. Within a year she has become a name that everybody knows and has released one of the most successful debut albums in recent years. She filled radio, streaming, and social media — Olivia Rodrigo was the newest star who shined the brightest throughout all of 2021.

Best Pop Vocal Album

1. Justice – Justin Bieber

2. Planet Her – Doja Cat

3. Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish

4. Positions – Ariana Grande

5. Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

Will Win: Sour – Olivia Rodrigo or Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish

Should Win: Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

While “GRAMMY darling” Billie Eilish has a chance to win this award, I think that Olivia Rodrigo will be the one to take it with Sour. This album filled the majority of the general public’s playlists & car rides, and truly took the world by storm. Sour has become one of the most streamed albums in recent Spotify history and has remained within the top 10 of Billboard’s 200 Album Chart since its release last year. Love it or hate it, the sheer success of this debut body of work puts it at the forefront in comparison to the other nominees on this list.

Best Alternative Music Album

1. Shore – Fleet Foxes

2. If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power – Halsey

3. Jubilee – Japanese Breakfast

4. Collapsed In Sunbeams – Arlo Parks

5. Daddy’s Home – St. Vincent

Will Win: Daddy’s Home – St. Vincent

Should Win: Daddy’s Home – St. Vincent

There are many great albums nominated in this category, but St. Vincent’s Daddy’s Home is the true standout star from the bunch for me. The production and composition on each and every track doesn’t sound like anything in music today, she transports the listener straight back to the funky 1960s and 70s with this album. It proved to be a departure from her previous, more pop sound explored on 2017s Masseduction. Produced by herself & Jack Antonoff, and released to critical acclaim; St. Vincent will be walking away with this category.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

1. I Get a Kick Out of You – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

2. Lonely – Justin Bieber ft. Benny Blanco

3. Butter – BTS

4. High Power – Coldplay

5. Kiss Me More – Doja Cat ft. SZA

Will Win: I Get A Kick Out of You – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga or Kiss Me More – Doja Cat ft. SZA

Should Win: I Get A Kick Out of You – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga or Kiss Me More – Doja Cat ft. SZA

This is a 2 song race between 2 cemented musical legends and 2 rising stars within the music industry with I Get A Kick Out of You and Kiss Me More. The legendary duo Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett perfectly put an end to the historic, almost century long, career of Tony Bennett with the warm and undoubtedly sweet cover of I Get A Kick Out of You. If won, this will be Gaga’s third time winning this category within the last 4 years. Kiss Me More is a dreamy, disco inspired track that encapsulated playlists throughout 2021. With great pop production (sadly by Dr. Luke) and two rising stars in Doja Cat & SZA, this may definitely be their category for the taking.

Best R&B Song

1. Leave The Door Open – Silk Sonic

2. Damage – H.E.R.

3. Good Days – SZA

4. Pick Up Your Feelings – Jazmine Sullivan

5. Heartbreak Anniversary – Giveon

Will Win: Leave the Door Open – Silk Sonic

Should Win: Good Days – SZA

The Recording Academy will most likely snub SZA’s mesmerizing Good Days in favor of the smash single Leave the Door Open by Bruno Mars & Anderson Paak – who make up the duo, Silk Sonic. The success alone of Silk Sonic’s track will lead them to GRAMMY gold. While I think the song is good, it doesn’t live up to SZA’s angelic melody and heavenly vocals on Good Days. This will unquestionably be one of the biggest snubs of the night.

Best Music Video

1. Montero (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X

2. Freedom – Jon Batiste

3. I Get a Kick Out of You – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

4. Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish

5. Good 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo

6. Peaches – Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Caesar & Giveon

7. Shot in the Dark – AC/DC

Will Win: Montero (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X

Should Win: Montero (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X is proving to be a creative talent with each and every one of his new music videos. His controversial music videos create waves that mimic pop visionaries such as Lady Gaga when she first entered the scene — the music video for Montero (Call Me By Your Name) is no exception. Lil Nas X brings a breath a fresh air when compared to countless other male artists whose music videos are uninspired, unoriginal, and plain boring. With controversy, creativity, and visual effects, Lil Nas X leads the pack to win this award.