The nominations for the 60th Grammy Awards were announced very early this morning and there were some positives and some negatives.
For the first time in 19 years there are no white men nominated in the Best Album category. Unless you’re an Ed Sheeran fan that’s not necessarily a bad thing. “Despacito” earning a Record of the Year nomination after being snubbed at the VMAs is nice payback. “Feel It Still” by Portugal, the Man getting a nod is nice for the underdog as are Cardi B’s two nominations.
There were also some disheartening selections, however. Lorde‘s “Melodrama” in Album of the Year is the only nomination for a woman in either that category or Record of the Year. Kesha’s “Praying,” Miley Cyrus’ “Malibu” or Lady Gaga‘s “Million Reasons” not making Record of the year is head scratching. Dua Lipa not making the Best New Artist field is dumbfounding. And don’t get us started on The Grammys not realizing they should no longer be throwing nominations to The Chainsmokers. And somewhere tens of millions of One Direction fans are crying that as solo artists their heroes were snubbed across the board (although former member Zayn shared one nod). But let’s get to the biggest snub of all: How on earth did Carly Rae Jepsen‘s “Cut to the Feeling” from “Leap!” not make the cut for Best Song Written For Visual Media? When will Carly finally get her due?
(O.K., just took a minute to breathe and collect myself.)
You can check out all of this year’s Grammy nominations here, but let’s just focus on the ones that matter in the context of visual media. Because the Recording Academy, HFPA and AMPAS have such different timelines of consideration there always seems to be a slight delay the year prior for Oscar’s Best Song contenders to get their Grammy due. That means this year’s Song Written for Visual Media category features “La La Land’s” Oscar-winning “City of Stars” going up against Grammy favorite Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana.” Yes, Carly was snubbed, but there were two nominees in the category who are eligible for this year’s Best Original Song Oscar: “Stand Up For Something” from “Marshall” by Common and Diane Warren and “I Don’t Want To Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)” by Zayn and Taylor Swift from “Fifty Shades Darker.” Yes, the old Taylor is dead and the new one wants an Original Song Oscar, er, Grammy too.
It should also be noted that “Chase Me” by Danger Mouse featuring Run the Jewels and Big Boi from the “Baby Driver” soundtrack earned a nomination for Best Rap Song. “Baby Driver” was also nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack alongside “Guardians of the Galaxy, vol. 2,” “Hidden Figures,” “La La Land” and “Moana.”
The best Score Soundtrack category features Hans Zimmer’s “Dunkirk” and “Game of Thrones: Season 7” by Ramin Djawadi, a first for HBO’s celebrated series. Jóhann Jóhannsson’s “Arrival,” Justin Hurwitz’s “La La Land” and, surprisingly, the “Hidden Figures” score by Benjamin Wallfisch, Pharrell Williams & Hans Zimmer (the Recording Academy just loves Zimmer and Pharrell) round out the field.
Here’s a list of all the nominees for the three Visual Media categories.
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
(Award to the artist(s) and/or ‘in studio’ producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album. In the absence of both, award to the one or two individuals proactively responsible for the concept and musical direction of the album and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable. Award also goes to appropriately credited music supervisor(s).)
“Baby Driver”
(Various Artists)
“Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2”
(Various Artists)
“Hidden Figures: The Album”
(Various Artists)
“La La Land”
(Various Artists)
“Moana: The Songs”
(Various Artists)
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
(Award to Composer(s) for an original score created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current legitimate motion picture, television show or series, video games or other visual media.)
“Arrival”
Jóhann Jóhannsson, composer
“Dunkirk”
Hans Zimmer, composer
“Game Of Thrones: Season 7”
Ramin Djawadi, composer
“Hidden Figures”
Benjamin Wallfisch, Pharrell Williams & Hans Zimmer, composers
“La La Land”
Justin Hurwitz, composer
Best Song Written For Visual Media
(A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture, television, video games or other visual media, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)
“City Of Stars”
Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone)
Track from: “La La Land”
“How Far I’ll Go”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, songwriter (Auli’i Cravalho)
Track from: “Moana: The Songs”
“I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)”
Jack Antonoff, Sam Dew & Taylor Swift, songwriters (ZAYN & Taylor Swift)
Track from: “Fifty Shades Darker”
“Never Give Up”
Sia Furler & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Sia)
Track from: “Lion”
“Stand Up For Something”
Common & Diane Warren, songwriters (Andra Day Featuring Common)
Track from: “Marshall”
The 60th Grammy Awards are airing somewhat early this year on Jan. 28th. The ceremony will also return to New York for the first time since 2003.