Grammy Awards 2010: We Pick The Pop Winners
We’re less than a week away from the 2010 Grammy Awards, and we’re anxiously anticipating who will win what, which performance will be talked about the most the following day, and how many costume changes of Lady Gaga’s will involve blood packets. (Our guess: two out of seven.)
This week we’ll be highlighting the Big Four—Best New Artist, and Album, Song and Record of the Year—but for now, we present to you Idolator’s picks for all the major pop categories. And no, we don’t think Taylor Swift will be running to the stage as much as most pundits assume she will be:
BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE Adele, “Hometown Glory” Beyonce, “Halo” Katy Perry, “Hot N Cold” Pink, “Sober” Taylor Swift, “You Belong With Me”
WILL WIN: “You Belong With Me.” This year, if you haven’t figured out already, is all about Taylor, even though every other person on this list could out-sing her. (Hey, we’re just being honest.) SHOULD WIN: Pink. The woman sang this song while upside down at the VMAs and didn’t skip a beat. She deserves it for that alone.
BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE John Legend, “This Time” Maxwell, “Love You” Jason Mraz, “Make It Mine” Seal, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” Stevie Wonder, “All About The Love Again”
WILL WIN: Stevie Wonder. It’s not the greatest song, but it’s Stevie Wonder, and in a fairly weak year for Male Pop songs, he should be a shoe in with older Grammy voters. SHOULD WIN: John Legend’s “This Time” is powerful and understated.
BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS Rosanne Cash & Bruce Springsteen, “Sea Of Heartbreak” Ciara & Justin Timberlake, “Love Sex Magic” Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat, “Lucky” Willie Nelson & Norah Jones, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” Taylor Swift & Colbie Caillat, “Breathe”
WILL WIN: A Taylor Swift win here shouldn’t be a given, as it is in most other categories, especially since Ciara and Justin had the bigger hit with “Love Sex Magic.” Grammy faves Willie and Norah might score an upset, but since their tune is a seasonal song (not to mention a cover), we’re betting voters will go with a song they can shake it to all year round. SHOULD WIN: Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat make such a lovely pair during their sweet duet, we actually believe they’re an item when we hear their performance of “Lucky.”
BEST PERFORMANCE BY POP DUO OR GROUP The Black Eyed Peas, “I Gotta Feeling” Bon Jovi, “We Weren’t Born To Follow” The Fray, “Never Say Never” Daryl Hall & John Oates, “Sara Smile” MGMT, “Kids”
WILL WIN: The Black Eyed Peas. Total dominance on the airwaves isn’t enough for the band, either. This song will live on at weddings and Bar Mitzvah receptions for years to come. L’chaim! SHOULD WIN: The Black Eyed Peas. MGMT’s “Kids” is an instant classic—so much so that Rolling Stone named it one of the 50 best songs of the decade—but “I Gotta Feeling” comes from a more well-known group, and most Grammy voters haven’t listened to adventurous trippy music since the 60s.
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM The Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D. Colbie Caillat, Breakthrough Kelly Clarkson, All I Ever Wanted The Fray, The Fray Pink, Funhouse
WILL WIN: The Black Eyed Peas. Although The E.N.D.‘s alum tracks pale in comparision to its blockbuster singles, the album stll has the momentum to win. SHOULD WIN: Pink, for making a brilliant pop LP while wearing her emotions on her album sleeve. Who else could record a fun, cathartic divorce album—and then get back together with her husbad afterward?
BEST DANCE RECORDING The Black Eyed Peas, “Boom Boom Pow” David Guetta, & Kelly Rowland, “When Love Takes Over” Lady Gaga, “Poker Face” Madonna, “Celebration” Britney Spears, “Womanizer”
WILL WIN: Lady Gaga. The Black Eyed Peas’ should put all their eggs in “I Gotta Feeling” for Grammy night and leave this one for “Poker Face.” SHOULD WIN: Lady Gaga. In a few years, “Boom Boom Pow” may be listened to as a guilty pleasure (if listened to at all), but people will still be dancing to “Poker Face” without irony.
BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM The Crystal Method, Divided By Night David Guetta, One Love Lady Gaga, The Fame LMFAO, Party Rock Pet Shop Boys, Yes
WILL WIN: Lady Gaga has some heavy competition for Album of the Year, but this should be an easy get for her. SHOULD WIN: The Fame. It’s the only Electronic/Dance Album nominee that’s also up for Album of the Year. Simple.
