2011 Grammy Nominations!

Subject: 2011 Grammy Nominations! Thu 02 Dec 2010, 1:16 am

Here is the full list in a spoiler:

http://theenvelope.latimes.com/awards/grammys/la-et-env-grammys-nominees-2010-list,0,2463095.htmlstory

Spoiler:

http://entertainment.latimes.com/awards/....ars-cee-lo.html

Grammy nominations: Eminem leads with 10, Bruno Mars has 7, and Cee-Lo? Forget it

December 1, 2010 | 8:14 pm

The beleaguered record industry couldn’t have been happier about the return to the spotlight in 2010 of rapper Eminem, the biggest-selling artist of the new millennium, and heaped upon him a field-leading 10 Grammy Award nominations for his “Recovery” album, including nods in all three top categories of album, record and song of the year.

Although it was widely expected that Eminem would do well in this year’s Grammy competition, Hawaiian-born producer-singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Bruno Mars caught many by surprise as runner-up to Eminem with seven nominations, announced Wednesday in conjunction with a televised Grammy nomination concert from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.
Mars is competing with himself in the record of the year category for his production and vocals on rapper B.o.B’s “Nothin’ on You,” and as one of the producers of R&B-soul singer Cee-Lo Green’s broadcast-confounding hit single “… You.”

Given that each record of the year nominee is traditionally performed live on the awards telecast, which will be held Feb. 13 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Grammy ceremony producers will have a challenge in how to present a song on national television in which the profanity is not simply a casual toss-off that’s easily excised, but central to the song’s message from a guy to the girl who has dumped him. Expectations are that Green will perform the PG-rated “Forget You” version that allowed many radio stations to play it during the year.

Wednesday’s telecast skirted the issue by listing only the names of the artists who recorded the nominated songs, not the titles. When presenters Dave Grohl and Selena Gomez announced the titles, Gomez referred to it as “the song otherwise known as ‘Forget You.'”

The other three nominees for record of the year, which honors performance, production and engineering, are “Love the Way You Lie” from Eminem and Rihanna; Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ love letter to the Big Apple, “Empire State of Mind”; and country trio Lady Antebellum’s romantically desperate closing-time phone call, “Need You Now,” which also earned the country trio an album of the year nomination.

Eminem and Lady A are vying in the album category with Lady Gaga’s “The Fame Monster,” Katy Perry’s frothy “Teenage Dream” and the latest critically acclaimed effort from Canadian indie rock group Arcade Fire, “The Suburbs.” Eminem also got nominations for pop vocal collaboration, short-form music video and every rap category in which he was eligible: rap solo performance, rap-sung collaboration, rap album and twice for rap song.

Green’s profanity-laced send-off also is up for song of the year, which is strictly a songwriter’s award, along with the Lady Antebellum hit written by Dave Haywood, Josy Kear, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott; Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman and Marshall Mathers’ “Love The Way You Lie”; Ray LaMontagne’s “Beg Steal or Borrow”; and Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin’s “The House That Built Me,” a hit for Texas firebrand Miranda Lambert, who landed three nominations of her own in country categories.

Lambert got humorously political in choosing “Only Prettier” for her performance segment, in which she sang, “Let’s shake hands and reach across those party lines.… We might think differently, but we got a lot in common you will see/We’re just like you, only prettier.”

Teen idol Justin Bieber shares space in the new artist category with Canadian rapper Drake, Portland, Ore.-born jazz-pop musican Esperanza Spalding and a pair of English groups, Florence & the Machine and rock quartet Mumford & Sons.

“I can’t believe I’m in this position … I don’t know what to say,” Bieber told show host LL Cool J after the new-artist nominees were named. “It feels good.”

There are a bounty of multiple nominees this year, with Jay-Z, Lady Gaga and Lady Antebellum scoring six each, and five apiece to rapper B.o.B., classical producer David Frost, English guitar hero Jeff Beck , R&B-soul singer-songwriter John Legend and songwriter-producer Philip Lawrence.

Some were surprised that Southern California’s Katy Perry made it into one of the marquee categories not for her summer-dominating hit single “California Gurls,” which would have set up an east-west rivalry with Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” in the record of the year competition, but instead in the best-album field with her critically drubbed “Teenage Dream,” which scored a 52 out of a possible 100 on the review aggregate website Metacritic.com.

"It's amazing," Perry said during the telecast. "It’s like no other award shows, because I feel like you’re being recognized by your peers. Being nominated is kind of like a win, but if I win, I’ll take that.”

Arcade Fire’s album has received the highest marks from critics among the category’s nominees, with an average score of 86, compared to a 77 for Lady Gaga’s “The Fame Monster,” 63 for “Need You Now” and a 62 for “Recovery.”

This year’s nominations raise the question of the continued impact of “American Idol,” as none of the show's winners were in the top four fields. Adam Lambert did snag a nod in the male pop vocal performance category for the track “Whataya Want From Me” from his debut album “For Your Entertainment.”

TV's newest music-focused hit show, “Glee,” made its debut in Grammyland with two nominations: in the duo or group pop vocal category for the Glee cast’s version of Journey’s hit “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and in best compilation soundtrack album for “Glee: The Music, Volume 1.”

Not surprisingly, “Britain’s Got Talent” phenom Susan Boyle collected another jewel in the crown of her fairytale success story with a nomination for pop vocal album, a category in which she’s up against Bieber, Perry, Lady Gaga and John Mayer.

Bay Area punk band Green Day is nominated, but not in the alternative music category. Instead, the cast album for the Broadway production of “American Idiot” is in the running for musical show album along with the Afro-pop-centric “Fela!,” “Promises, Promises" and two Stephen Sondheim shows, “A Little Night Music” and “Sondheim on Sondheim.”

Grammys are awarded for recordings released during the eligibility period between Sept. 1, 2009, and Sept. 30, 2010, and are decided on by about 12,000 voting members of the Recording

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/grammys/

Quick reactions to some of the major Grammy categories. Pop & Hiss continues to provide analysis throughout the night, as well as in the days and weeks leading up to the Feb. 13 ceremony at the Staples Center.

The nominees:

Album of the Year

"The Suburbs," Arcade Fire
"Recovery," Eminem
"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
"The Fame Monster," Lady Gaga
"Teenage Dream," Katy Perry

The highlight: The Arcade Fire's nomination is a major win for independent labels and Merge Records in particular. Grammys do not typically dip their toes into independent waters, and the Arcade Fire, though having a No. 1 album, are still an adventurous pick. Remember, this is the same award show that has recently favored the likes of Dave Matthews and the Foo Fighters when it comes to rock 'n' roll. A complex concept album about the effects of being raised in an urban sprawl, "The Suburbs" is an album that takes its time, letting its grand orchestrations unfold with patience.

The bad: Lady Antebellum's perfectly coiffed adult contemporary takes little risks, Eminem's "Recovery," though one of the artist's more analytical works, is not on par with hip-hop albums from the likes of Big Boi, the Roots or Jay-Z, and Lady Gaga's "The Fame Monster," though an improvement on her album "The Fame," was billed as an EP and a new album is around the corner. Outside of the Arcade Fire, however, Lady Gaga is the field's most risk-taking artist.

The downright horrible: Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" has no business here, as it's a pandering concoction of ditsy lyrics, childish sexual innuendos and overly-glossy production that reeks of session musician hackery. Though she's cute-as-a-button in a banana costume, Perry is more Hugh Hefner fantasy than artist.

Robbed? There are 108 Grammy categories, and one can make a list of twice as many albums more deserving of this honor than at least three of these candidates. The field completely overlooked anything in R&B, missing an opportunity to recognize Sade's "Soldier of Love." Also, if voters wanted a pop artist, they should have gone with Rihanna's "Rated R."
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The nominees:

Best New Artist:

Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence & the Machine
Mumford & Sons
Esperanza Spalding

The good: There are some strong contenders here, the one Grammy category with an option to introduce audiences to lesser-known artists. Though there are no unknowns, Florence the Machine's soulful rock aims big and has lots of potential, and the Mumford & Sons are nearly hate-proof. The act delivers traditionalism with fire and spark, and live the band will win plenty of new converts should it be invited to perform on the telecast. Though not a new artist -- Esperanza Spalding is on her third album -- the jazz singer and bassist is a young virtuoso who's equally comfortable with classical and funk. Finally, rap newcomer Drake, though not the experimentalist of Kid Cudi, is one of the genre's stronger rising stars, and his inward-looking emotional approach recalls the work of Kanye West.

The bad: That leaves just one nominee in Justin Bieber. The teen pop star and Usher protege can make the tweens swoon, but he needs to grow beyond his producer's shadows before he's recognized by the Grammys. I have to disagree with my coworker/pal Ann Powers here, especially when there are artists like pop/R&B fanatic V.V. Brown on the ballot.

Robbed? Kid Cudi, first and foremost, as well as the worldly hip-hop of K'naan. Noise artistes Sleigh Bells deserved a look, and electronic minimalists the xx were out-and-out the year's most adventurous breakout.
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The now-annual televised Grammy news conference opened with a conundrum. Staged at downtown's L.A. Live, Katy Perry performed in a low-cut silvery dress and wore a Christmas tree top on her head. The performance was staged in front of L.A. Live's Christmas tree of lights, a metallic structure that looks more like a weapon than anything festive. Yet it is uniquely Los Angeles. For a city with paved parks, a steel Christmas tree seems just about right.

But the question: Which creation was more manufactured? The pop tart vessel that is Perry, or the foreboding L.A. Live Christmas tree behind her? Her performance of "California Gurls" left it a toss-up. Perry and crew were postcard pretty, but it doesn't celebrate anything other than West Coast vapidness. Perry sings with gusto, but the of-so-perfect arrangements don't suit her sometimes wobbly voice.

Inside Club Nokia, Bruno Mars performed his "Just the Way You," a cut that's all mush and no substance. Yet Mars' talents were recognized moments later when song of the year noms were announced. They were as follows:

Category:

Song of the year:

The nominees:
"Beg Steal Or Borrow" — Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)
"... You" — Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green)
"The House That Built Me" —Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"Love the Way You Lie" — Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Rihanna)
"Need You Now" — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

The good: Bravo for recognizing Cee Lo Green and his hit "Forget You," a song that had a more profane title in its original incarnation. Yet it's a gleeful tale of bitterness, and Cee Lo has a blast with it, turning it into a charming pop tune. Miranda Lambert's "The House That Built Me" is a thing of beauty, showing off her range as a country vocalist. Ray LaMontagne, though a little too-middle-of-the-word for this writer, is a songwriter in the classical mold.

The bad: Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" was inescapable, sure, but it's the weak link here. The act's breakthrough hit, it's pleasant-enough adult pop, but voters showed they can dig beyond the hits by recognizing LaMontagne, and the trend should have continued. Likewise, "Love the Way You Lie" is all manufactured drama, and though Kanye West's "Power" wasn't submitted, songs like Janelle Monae's "Tightrope" don't telegraph its emotions so obviously. At least, however, Train wasn't nominated.
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The nominees:

Record of the Year:

"Nothin' On You" — B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
"Love the Way You Lie" — Eminem Featuring Rihanna
"... You" — Cee Lo Green
"Empire State Of Mind" — Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
"Need You Now" — Lady Antebellum

The highlight: Like the song of the year field, the standout here is Cee Lo's explicit "Forget You." Record of the year is a production award, and the innocence in which Cee Lo delivers his hits is downright admirable. But there's really not much to discuss, as this award is going to "Empire State of Mind," and it's hard to argue. Even those who are sick of songs about New York and Los Angeles (this guy) have a hard time resisting the anthemic pull that Jay-Z and Alicia Keys deliver.

The real winner: Bruno Mars. The deft songwriter/producer had a hand in two tracks in this category, "Nothin' On You" and "Forget You." A hitmaker is born.

Could do without: Lady Antebellum. See the song of the year post. Ditto for "Love the Way You Lie," an emotional bomb that hits with the subtlety of a John Williams score.

Robbed? Music fans, for one, who deserve an award show that's going to recognize popular trends while also highlighting below-the-radar artists. But beyond that, where's Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance, a song that deserves to be applauded in a production field? Or how about an act that has celebrated the art of production on each and every one of its albums such as LCD Soundsystem, who submitted the catchy-silly "Drunk Girls"?

Of course a lot of other categories will be up soon so I will try to edit this.

Any thoughts?

Subject: Re: 2011 Grammy Nominations! Thu 02 Dec 2010, 1:35 am

WHAT THE FUCK? Empire State of Mind for Record of the Year? That shit came out in fucking 2009!

WHAAAA? Drake for Best New Artist? He broke onto the scene in 2008. WTF?! That Bieber kid has been around for a minute too.

My vote for Album of the Year goes to Eminem.

I don't know most of the peeps in those other categories, but I'm not understanding a few of these nominations.

Subject: Re: 2011 Grammy Nominations! Thu 02 Dec 2010, 1:57 am

Who I want to win:

Album of the Year: Either Eminem or Lady Gaga. So sad Florence was snubbed but whatever she better walk off with at least one golden Grammy!

Record of the Year: Eminem is my first choice. Cee Lo and Bruno Mars would be cool as well. The article makes it seem that Jay Z has it in the bag but I hope Eminem/Rihanna can beat his and Alicia's ass in a mixed tag match! ;D

Song of the Year: Again Eminem of Cee Lo.

Best New Artist: Better be Florence the Machine! 2011 Grammy Nominations! 9121

If not her I will take Drake but if Bieber gets one vote to win, or heaven help us all he actually wins it, the Grammy voters are fucktards.. Rolling Eyes

Subject: Re: 2011 Grammy Nominations! Thu 02 Dec 2010, 2:00 am

i hope florence wins, her songs are awesome. it better not be the biebs

Subject: Re: 2011 Grammy Nominations! Thu 02 Dec 2010, 4:02 am

AWESOME Champeen wrote:: WHAAAA? Drake for Best New Artist? He broke onto the scene in 2008. WTF?! That Bieber kid has been around for a minute too.

There was a new rule braught in, we actually posted it here, where the artist will be able to be nominated as "Best New Artist" until they release a full studio album.

Though Drake has been around like forever, he has yet to release a whole album. His album was released late 2009 i believe...AFTER the nomination ballot are sent in...sooo it makes him STILL eligable for "Best New Artist".

Empire state of mind, same story, released in 2009....BUT after the nomination ballets were sent in.....it was the same scenario with Alicia Key's "No One", which was released in December of 2008, BUT nominated in 2009.

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