Last week, the Recording Academy released the Grammy nominations for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. This year’s options consist of rising stars and artists who have defined their genre for this generation. Beyonce earned 11 new Grammy nominations, followed closely behind by Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar and other notable names. This award season is sure to spark debate on the merits of music, so this week, the Opinion section weighs in on which artist deserves which award.
Evelyn Pazan, Associate Opinion Editor: As an avid EDM, techno and house listener, you know I need to comment on the Best Dance/Electronic Recording Category. To me, good EDM makes it impossible to sit still. If I am not bouncing in my seat or nodding my head, the song missed the mark. That being said, “She’s Gone, Dance On” by Disclosure absolutely deserves to win this category. This tune defined my summer and is a fantastic song to study to or to use during weekend festivities. It has a familiar beat in the back and catchy lyrics. It simply makes you want to move. Listen to it and disagree. I dare you.
I feel like it is important to note two songs that I believe shouldn’t even be included in the category. While “Neverender” by Justice and Tame Impala and “Witchy” by KAYTRANADA and Childish Gambino have a familiar electric feel, I think they’ve taken on too much of a poppy note to be considered EDM. They’re both good songs, don’t get me wrong. Just not what I am looking for. “Loved” is just unique enough to make the cut. You’re safe for now, Four Tet.
Had “She’s Gone, Dance On” not been nominated, “leavemealone” by Fredagain.. and Baby Keem would’ve been my choice. I am a massive Fredagain.. fan and I think he deserves a lot of recognition for other songs, but this one just didn’t hit for me. Had it been more popular, I think “Jungle” would have been an awesome nomination for this category instead. Just another year of Fredagain..’s best songs being ignored.
Tomas Hinckley, Opinion Editor: “Not like us” by Kendrick Lamar needs to win song of the year. I give incredible respect when I say this to the other nominees in this category (except Shaboozy and Taylor Swift, frankly I think their inclusion is disrespectful, but I digress), but “Not like us” was a cultural phenomenon. Any pop song that goes viral on TikTok can contend for song of the year (LITERALLY JUST LOOK AT SHABOOZY), but Kendrick is unique among these. This was a diss track, against not just an artist, but against culture-vulturism in general, yet it managed to get so incredibly popular and take the attention of the entirety of America. Kendrick had everybody calling Drake a pedophile on the radio, in schools, at parties and even in other continents…do you even understand how hard that is to do??? Kendrick not only united so much of the rap industry under this song, but literally brought together warring Los Angeles gangs at “The Pop Out” concert against Drake. This wasn’t a song; this was a moment in time that will never be recreated again. Sabrina, Chappel, and all the other nominees in this category will eventually be replaced in the infinite cycle of pop hits, but “Not like us” is something that we will never see again.
With all this being said I know he won’t win because the Grammy’s are racist, so who cares anyways?
Patrick Minnerly, Weekly Columnist:
As a musical theater nerd, I’m hoping for the revival of Merrily We Roll Along to win Best Musical Theater Album. It features both Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe, who both won Tony Awards for their performances. Plus, they are just both awesome people who deserve the world. Who doesn’t love King George III and Harry Potter working together? They and the rest of the incredible cast should at least get another award. And if Merrily We Roll Along doesn’t win, The Notebook should get the nod for Joy Woods’ amazing vocals on “My Days” alone.
Raegan Skelly, Contributor:
Chappell Roan needs to win Best New Artist. No offense to the other artists nominated, but Roan and Sabrina Carpenter are very clearly the most obvious picks. Both artists have had breakthrough years, and both were nominated in all the “Big Four” Grammy categories (Record of the Year, Song of The Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist). The edge that Roan has in this category is that she is fresh off her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” which came out in September of 2023, while Carpenter’s sixth album “Short n’ Sweet” was released in August of 2024. A lot of people believe that due to this longevity, Carpenter shouldn’t even be nominated, even though she is eligible for the award. Chappell Roan may have debuted in 2017, only 4 years after Carpenter, but just got mainstream, while Carpenter’s has been riding a steady stream of lower-list fame since her “Girl Meets World” days and found Billboard acclaim with her fifth album “emails i can’t send” in 2022. Best New Artist is about who broke into mainstream popularity, but should also be an artist of quality, and both are the case for Chappell Roan.
Amber Greene, Contributor:
The best duo/group performance has to be Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars on Die with a Smile. Not only did it release unexpectedly but still was able to top charts and break records. Bruno Mars’ ability to release a song every few years and perform years old albums speaks to his quality of song writing and him as a musician in general. The soft rock sound of the song is different from what we have heard Gaga or Mars perform before, yet it fits their vocal blend perfectly. The other contenders in this category are good as features, however the combined sound of Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars makes them worthy of this award.
Noa Climor, Contributor:
I truly need Chappell Roan to win. “The Rise and fall of a Midwest Princess” had such an intense cultural impact, and Roan’s rise to fame and success with this album makes her worthy of an award. (or multiple) also, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Can’t Catch Me Now” which was written for “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” should 100% win for best song written for visual media. I think it’s such a beautiful song and it works so perfectly for the movie.
Jimena Rivera, Contributor:
I don’t just want “Not Like Us” to win Record of the Year, I NEED IT TO WIN. While I agree that the other nominations deserve the recognition, Kendrick literally rallied the entire planet against a singular cause while also creating a certified BANGER. So I’m going to need the Recording Academy to actually listen to the people for once and hand that award over to Kendrick, because that man deserves his icon status.