Pulp music reporters predict the 2017 Grammys nominations so you don't have to

On the 12th of February 2017, you will have your two eyes glued to the television and your two thumbs slamming the Twittersphere with your really important opinions, hoping maybe just this once Beyonce will like your tweet. 2016 has been a ripper of a year for music, and the 59th Annual Grammy Awards will surely follow suit.

The following are our predictions for each major category’s nominations. And, dare we be so bold, our picks for the winners...


RECORD OF THE YEAR

• Closer (feat. Halsey) – The Chainsmokers
• Hello – Adele
• One Dance (feat. Wizkid & Kyla) – Drake (WINNER)
• Can’t Stop The Feeling – Justin Timberlake
• Cheap Thrills (feat. Sean Paul) – Sia

Okay so you’re probably wondering why The Chainsmokers even made it on this list, but as a rule of thumb, The Recording Academy always nominates something fairly gimmicky to appeal to young radio fans (see: nomination of Iggy Azalea's ‘Fancy’). Whilst the rest of the nominees have some serious talent, it was the dancehall revival that Drake brought that not only got him the most streamed song EVER on Spotify, but potentially the Grammy nod. 2016 has undoubtedly been the year of Drake. Releasing Views in April, Drake’s work has been showered with mainstream success like never before. An artist with an ear like no other, the charm of ‘One Dance’ is grounded in the chorus’ sample of Kyla’s 2008 release ‘Do You Mind’. This song is a Pinterest board of things that have inspired Drake. Kyla’s vocals and Afrobeat sounds have obviously sparked his interest, and from this he has crafted an absolute banger.  


ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• 25 – Adele (WINNER)
• Lemonade – Beyoncé
• Views – Drake
• Blackstar – David Bowie
• A Moon Shaped Pool – Radiohead

So, this is a really tough category, because anyone who is anyone released something this year. If we analyse the hip-hop genre, the most likely contenders for this award include Drake, Kanye & Chance the Rapper. We’ve chosen Drake as the hip-hop nominee because of the massive success he’s seen in 2016. Nevertheless, Views isn’t that great of an album - and Grammys have a bit of a history for snubbing talented rap artists (see: the time Macklemore won, or when 1989 won album of the year). David Bowie and Radiohead take up the alternative nominations on this list, pumping out some of the most innovate, coherent albums the genre has seen in the most recent decade. Although we believe the Queen B is most deserving of the award, it seems unlikely given how much the Grammys love a bit of Adele.


SONG OF THE YEAR

• Work (feat. Drake) – Rihanna
• Love Yourself – Justin Bieber
• Cheap Thrills (feat. Sean Paul) – Sia
• Hello - Adele  (WINNER)
• 7 Years - Lukas Graham

British vocal powerhouse Adele has an astounding 10 Grammy awards already under her belt. Going for 11 may seem excessive, but her album titles show that the woman loves a good odd number. With one of the strongest voices and sweetest personalities, Adele is one for the mums. Her pre-established popularity was the driving force behind the success of the song, but it has all the fundamentals there to make it completely deserving of this award. The only real threat to Adele in this category is Sia’s ‘Cheap Thrills’. Both ladies have incredible talent, but Adele has this timeless class which is sure to get her the win.


BEST NEW ARTIST

• Chance the Rapper (WINNER)
• Flume
• Shawn Mendes
• Desiigner
• An irrelevant country artist

Chance definitely has this one in the bag. He’s loved on radio, he’s loved by the hip-hop community, he’s loved by critics, AND he single-handedly changed the nomination process to allow for free music to be considered. Since this is his first “released album” (don’t get me started), he 100% has this one in the bag - and not to mention, he definitely deserves it. The concept of the best ‘new’ artist is always baffling, especially considering that many of these artists have been around and kicking for a very long time now. What's particularly notable about Chance however, is that not only is his commercial prominence new, but so is the direction he is taking his music.