We can all agree that 2020 has been a difficult year (subtext: a year none of us wants to live through, ever again). But the thing that has kept us going is art and entertainment. And with the announcement of the nominees for the 63rd edition of the Grammy Awards on Tuesday, we can’t keep calm for the awards show, which is just around the corner. (Okay, so that might be a slight exaggeration – the Grammy Awards premiere on the 31st of January, 2021.)
The Recording Academy held a virtual show (is there any other way to hold a show anymore?) to announce the potential awardees. Here is everything you need to know about the show:
1. The Major Awards
As with any award show in the music industry, it’s always good to keep an eye out for the hotly contested categories, a.k.a The Big Three. Consisting of Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year, 2021’s major Grammy nominees include Taylor Swift for Folklore, Doja Cat for Say So, and Beyoncé for Black Parade respectively.
2. The Nomination Leaders
You know those children in school who have to be the best at everything? These musicians are no different; every year, there are a few who lead the race. This year, to no one’s surprise, Beyoncé is leading the race with nine nominations overall. Taylor Swift, who has received six nods, could win album of the year for a record-breaking third time. Dua Lipa also picked up six nominations for the disco-tinged Future Nostalgia. Other leading nominees to keep in mind are Billie Eilish and Doja Cat, making for a female-centric hold over the major categories of the show. We love to see it.
3. The Host
If you’ve been on the internet or watched an English television show in the past two years, chances are you’ve heard of Trevor Noah. The talk show host, known for his signature wit and charm, is hosting the 2021 Grammy Awards – and we can’t keep calm for the humour-filled performance that lies ahead. Also, fun fact: Trevor Noah was nominated for a Grammy earlier this year.
4. The First-Timers
British Pop-singer Harry Styles picked up his first-ever Grammy nomination in the pop genre categories, while everyone’s favourite Korean band, BTS scored their first nomination with the hit single Dynamite.
5. The Underdogs
Many of the nominees are far from being household names – but are packed with talent. A few of the names to watch out for (and listen to!) include retro rock band Black Pumas and British multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier, along with rapper Roddy Ricch.
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6. The Shade
Award shows are known sometimes to fail to recognise talent. Case in point for the 2021 Grammy Awards: The Weeknd. There was disappointment for the R&B star, who was completely shut out of the show with no nominations, despite having the biggest-selling album of 2020 in the US with After Hours.
Who are you rooting for at the show?
