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Pop Rocks! : 2012 Grammy Predictions

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By Jared Murray

This year’s Best Pop Solo Performance category is more of a dumping ground for the most popular songs of the year rather than a heated race between the actual best pop songs of the year. Songs nominated in the category include: “Someone Like You” by Adele, “Yoü And I” by Lady Gaga, “Grenade” by Bruno Mars, “Firework” by Katy Perry and “F***in’ Perfect” by P!nk.

British singer Adele has had a record breaking year, both in album sales and chart performance. Her plaintive second single “Someone Like You” garnered her much critical acclaim and commercial success thanks to her large fan base of forlorn teenage girls. Her simple yet emotive performance definitely makes her a contender for the award.

Lady Gaga’s “Yoü And I” finds the pop star in her natural habitat: heartbroken and playing the piano. While that combination may boring to some, the result is truly a genuine sounding pop song from a woman known for being anything but. Featuring some top-notch belting from Gaga, and honky-tonk vibe along with an impressive guitar solo from Queen’s Brian May, “Yoü And I” is not a song to underestimate or sing along with quietly.

Another song about love, “Grenade” by the smooth singing Bruno Mars is the only song sung by a male to be nominated in this category this year. The synth-driven song finds Bruno trying to make his lover feel bad for their lack of dedication in the relationship. Despite the excellent vocals and an irresistible chorus, “Grenade” is unlikely to be a serious contender for the coveted gramophone.

Whether you like it or not, Katy Perry had a stellar year. Her self-empowerment single “Firework” is a delectable slice of dancepop that had everyone singing their heads off. Sadly, even the song’s catchy beat could not save itself from some questionable lyrics (plastic bags, really?) and Katy’s near-yelling vocals in the chorus. Hopefully her nomination was not meant to be serious, especially when looking at many better pop songs having come out last year.

Following the trend of self-love anthems seen this year, P!nk’s “F***kin’ Perfect” is a fun and energetic song from one of pop music’s veterans. Clearly written for her fans, the sometimes electropop song doesn’t have many distinct characteristics to set itself apart from everything else on the radio today, making it an extremely unlikely winner.

My predictions:

Who Will Win: “Someone Like You” by Adele

Who Should Win: “Someone Like You” by Adele

Dark Horse: “Yoü And I” by Lady Gaga

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Rocking to the beat: 2012 Best Dance/Electronica Album predictions

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By Jared Murray

This year’s nominations for the February 12th Grammys’  Best Dance/Electronica Album showcase the many equally
wonderful variations found in dance music today: Cut Copy’s 80’s tinged summer-sounding goodness;
the relentless and sometimes aggressive house music of Deadmau5; Robyn’s forward-thinking, sassy
dancepop; the bleeping dubstep of Skrillex; and the Eurodance stylings of David Guetta.

Having recently becoming popular riding the wave of dubstep, electronic dance music with
overwhelming bass and tight percussion samples, Skrillex may be the first to come to mind after hearing
all of the nominees. The nine-song EP consist of well-produced and always energetic dubstep with influences from house music. Despite the music producer’s large teenage fan base, Skrillex’s EP Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites remains an unlikely winner of the coveted gramophone.

French music producer David Guetta is no stranger to the Grammy Awards, having won two
Grammys in the past two years. His two-disc album Nothing But the Beat serves up a heaping portion of
Top 40-friendly hits. Being primarily a music producer, Guetta leaves the singing to more capable people,
with the vocals being contributed by artists such as Nicki Minaj, Sia, Will.i.am and more.

While certainly no media darlings, Australian electronic band Cut Copy has been getting lots of
positive attention for their latest album Zonoscope. The 11-track album showcases the band’s newfound
sound; the guitar work often found in their last album In Ghost Colors has been replaced almost entirely
with handclaps and 80’s style synthesizers, and only shows up to add to the texture of a song.

Deadmau5 fifth studio album 4×4=12 continues his trend of hard hitting house music fused with
electronics and synthesizers. The album is mostly instrumental, leaving Deadmau5’s melodies and beats
to do all of the talking. However exciting that may sound, Deadmau5’s real appeal lies in his energetic
and light-filled live shows.

Swedish pop-sensation Robyn finished off her critically acclaimed series of Body Talk mini-
albums with Body Talk, Pt. 3. The songs found off the 5-song EP exhibit a mildly futuristic tone in
regards to dancepop. Robyn’s expertly controlled and always emotional vocals compliment the
sometimes icy and mechanical sounding Eurodance and help to emphasize the occasional melancholy
lyrics.

My predictions:

Who should win: Body Talk, Pt. 3 by Robyn

Dark horse: Zonoscope by Cut Copy

Who will probably win: Nothing But the Beat by David Guetta