Where is “Drunk In Love”? What happened to DJ Mustard? And who could have seen Brandy Clark coming? Inside the biggest shocks and letdowns.
Now that (almost) all of the 57th annual Grammy Award nominations have been revealed, we can eye the 82 categories announced and parse through the no-brainer nods as well as the most glaring omissions and biggest shockers. Although the Grammy voting community tries its best every year, there are still a few categories worth throwing your hands up over in both exasperation and elation.
For months, we assumed that “Drunk in Love,” Beyonce’s fiercely loved ode to marital sex featuring hubby Jay Z, would be leading the way in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories, along with Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me.” Smith’s sensitive anthem scored nods in both of the biggest song categories, but “Drunk in Love” was left out in the cold, having to settle for best R&B song and best R&B performance nominations. If Beyonce doesn’t get an Album of the Year nomination, Queen Bey’s omission in the major categories will cause many fans to wake up in the kitchen saying, “How the hell did this shit happen?”
Ariana Grande & Katy Perry Left Out of Major Categories
Also left out of the major categories (barring a pending Album of the Year nomination, of course) were Ariana Grande and Katy Perry, who each enjoyed stunningly successful years peppered with Hot 100 hits. Grande was once again shunned for Best New Artist competition, and “Problem” — a song we thought would score a Record of the Year nod — was passed over; similarly, Perry’s “Dark Horse” could have made some noise in the major song categories, but was relegated to the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category (where it will compete against Grande and her “Bang Bang” pals). It’s hard to be disappointed with multiple nominations for each pop superstar, but getting shrugged off for “All About That Bass,” “Shake It Off” and “Fancy” has to sting a bit.
A tenderly written song like “All of Me” seems like catnip for the primary songwriting category, and yet John Legend’s hit ballad can only be found in the Best Pop Solo Performance field. And after Idina Menzel’s Oscar win for the Frozen standout, “Let It Go” was passed over altogether, with the Frozen soundtrack only competing in the best compilation soundtrack for visual media category. The snow never bothered Menzel anyway… but maybe a Grammy snub will.
DJ Mustard Is Off the Beat
All year long, DJ Mustard has been celebrated for his ubiquitous sound splashing across hip-hop radio, on songs like Tinashe’s “2 On” and Jeremih’s “Don’t Tell ‘Em” and on albums like YG’s My Krazy Life. Somehow, Mustard was not included in the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category, which made room for producers with relatively quiet years like Paul Epworth and Greg Kurstin.
“Happy” Is a Little Bit Sad
Pharrell Williams can’t complain too much after getting lucky at the Grammys last year alongside Daft Punk, but geez, did everyone just get too sick of “Happy” to nominate the No. 1 hit for any of the major awards? Best Pop Solo Performance is nice, but with its sunny message and extended run atop the Hot 100, Williams could have reasonably expected more.
One of the big winners of Friday’s nominations is Meghan Trainor, whose “All About That Bass” scored rather surprising nods in both the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories. After the plus-size anthem bumped Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” from the top of the Hot 100 chart, Trainor began covering Swift’s smash in concert; now, she’ll try to trump it in the two biggest song categories at the Grammys.
Miley (Finally) Scores a Nod
Smilers rejoice! Miley Cyrus, that ever-controversial pop diva, watched her comeback album Bangerz barrel into the Best Pop Vocal Album category on Friday, giving the 22-year-old her first-ever Grammy nomination. We would have been OK with seeing the still-fantastic “Wrecking Ball” snag a nomination or two in the song categories, but we’ll take what we can get.
Check out the nominations for the major categories below. You can see the full list of 2015 Grammy nominees right here.
Best New Artist
Bastille
Iggy Azalea
Brandy Clark
Haim
Sam Smith
Record of the Year
“Fancy,” Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX
“Chandelier,” Sia
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” Sam Smith
“Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift
“All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor
Song of the Year
“Chandelier,” Sia
“All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor
“Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” Sam Smith
“Take Me to Church,” Hozier
Best Rap Album
The New Classic, Iggy Azalea
Because the Internet, Childish Gambino
Nobody’s Smiling, Common
The Marshall Mathers LP2, Eminem
Oxymoron, ScHoolboy Q
Blacc Hollywood, Wiz Khalifa
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Fancy,” Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX
“A Sky Full of Stars,” Coldplay
“Say Something,” A Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
“Bang Bang,” Ariana Grande, Jessie J & Nicki Minaj
“Dark Horse,” Katy Perry ft. Juicy J
Best Rap Performance
“305,” Childish Gambino
“0 to 100/The Catch Up,” Drake
“Rap God,” Eminem
“i,” Kendrick Lamar
“All I Need Is You,” Lecrae
Best Alternative Music Album
This Is All Yours, alt-J
Reflektor, Arcade Fire
Melophobia, Cage the Elephant
St. Vincent, St. Vincent
Lazaretto, Jack White
Best Rock Album
Ryan Adams, Ryan Adams
Morning Phase, Beck
Turn Blue, The Black Keys
Hypnotic Eye, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Songs of Innocence, U2
Best Rock Song
“Ain’t It Fun,” Paramore
“Blue Moon,” Beck
“Fever,” The Black Keys
“Gimme Something Good,” Ryan Adams
“Lazaretto,” Jack White
Best Country Album
Riser, Dierks Bentley
The Outsiders, Eric Church
The Way I’m Livin’, Lee Ann Womack
12 Stories, Brandy Clark
Platinum, Miranda Lambert
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
“Blak Majik,” Common ft. Jhené Aiko
“The Monster,” Eminem ft. Rihanna
“Tuesday,” I Love Makonnen ft. Drake
“Studio,” ScHoolboy Q ft. BJ The Chicago Kid
“Bound 2,” Kanye West & Charlie Wilson
Best Rap Song
“Anaconda,” Nicki Minaj
“Bound 2,” Kanye West & Charlie Wilson
“i,” Kendrick Lamar
“We Dem Boyz,” Wiz Khalifa
“0 to 100/The Catch Up,” Drake
Best Country Song
“American Kids,” Kenny Chesney
“Automatic,” Miranda Lambert
“Give Me Back My Hometown,” Eric Church
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” Glen Campbell
“Meanwhile Back at Mama’s,” Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Gentle On My Mind,” The Band Perry
“Somethin’ Bad,” Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood
“Day Drinking,” Little Big Town
“Meanwhile Back At Mama’s,” Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill
“Raise ‘Em Up,” Keith Urban ft. Eric Church
Best Country Solo Performance
“Give Me Me Back My Hometown,” Eric Church
“Invisible,” Hunter Hayes
“Automatic,” Miranda Lambert
“Something In the Water,” Carrie Underwood
“Cop Car,” Keith Urban
Best Pop Vocal Album
Ghost Stories, Coldplay
Bangerz, Miley Cyrus
My Everything, Ariana Grande
Prism, Katy Perry
x, Ed Sheeran
In the Lonely Hour, Sam Smith
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Sail Out, Jhene Aiko
Beyonce, Beyonce
X, Chris Brown
Mali Is, Mali Music
G I R L, Pharrell Williams
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Syro, Aphex Twin
While (1, Deadmaus
Nabuma Rubberband, Little Dragon
Do It Again, Röyksopp & Robyn
Damage Control, Mat Zo
Best Dance Recording
“Never Say Never,” Basement Jaxx
“Rather Be,” Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne
“F for You,” Disclosure ft. Mary J. Blige
“I Got U,” Duke Dumont ft. Jax Jones
“Faded,” Zhu
Best Latin Pop Album
Tangos, Ruben Blades
Elypse, Camila
Raiz, Lila Downs, Niña Pastori & Soledad Pastorutti
Loco de Amor, Juanes
Gracias Por Estar Aqui, Marco Antonio Solis
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
American Hustle
Guardians of the Galaxy
Frozen
Get On Up: The James Brown Story
The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Music Video
“We Exist,” Arcade Fire
“Turn Down for What,” DJ Snake & Lil Jon
“Chandelier,” Sia
“Happy,” Pharrell Williams
“The Golden Age,” Woodkid ft. Max Richter
Best Music Film
Beyoncé & Jay Z: On The Run Tour, Beyoncé & Jay Z
Ghost Stories, Coldplay
20 Feet From Stardom, Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer & Judith Hill
Metallica: Through The Never, Metallica
The Truth About Love Tour: Live From Melbourne, Pink
Best Pop Solo Performance
“All of Me,” John Legend
“Chandelier,” Sia
“Stay With Me,” Sam Smith
“Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift
“Happy,” Pharrell Williams
Best Reggae Album
Ziggy Marley, Fly Rasta
Lee “Scratch” Perry, Back on the Controls
Sean Paul, Full Frequency
Shaggy, Out of Many, One Music
Sly & Robbie & Spicy Chocolate, The Reggae Power
Soja, Amid the Noise and the Haste
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Cheek to Cheek, Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett
Sending You a Little Christmas, Johnny Mathis
Nostalgia, Annie Lennox
Partners, Barbra Streisand
Night Songs, Barry Manilow
Best Americana Album
The River & The Thread, Rosanne Cash
Terms of My Surrener, John Hiatt
Bluesamericana, Keb’ Mo’
A Dotted Line, Nickel Creek
Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, Sturgill Simpson
Best Spoken Word Album
Actors Anonymous, James Franco
A Call to Action, Jimmy Carter
Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America, John Waters
A Fighting Chance, Elizabeth Warren
Diary of a Mad Diva, Joan Rivers
We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration and the Power of Song, Gloria Gaynor
Best Gospel Album
Help, Erica Campbell
Amazing, Ricky Dillard & New G
Withholding Nothing: Live, William McDowell
Forever Yours, Smokie Norful
Vintage Worship, Anita Wilson
Best Rock Performance
“Gimme Something Good,” Ryan Adams
“Do I Wanna Know?”, Arctic Monkeys
“Blue Moon,” Beck
“Fever,” The Black Keys
“Lazaretto,” Jack White
Best Metal Performance
“Neon Knights,” Anthrax
“High Road,” Mastodon
“Heartbreaker,” Motörhead
“The Negative One,” Slipknot
“The Last In Line,” Tenacious D
Best R&B Performance
“Drunk In Love,” Beyoncé ft. Jay Z
“New Flame,” Chris Brown ft. Usher & Rick Ross
“It’s Your World,” Jennifer Hudson ft. R. Kelly
“Like This,” Ledisi
“Good Kisser,” Usher
Best R&B Song
“Drunk In Love,” Beyonce ft. Jay Z
“Good Kisser,” Usher
“New Flame,” Chris Brown ft. Usher & Rick Ross
“Options (Wolfjames Version),” Luke James ft. Rick Ross
“The Worst,” Jhené Aiko
Best R&B Album
Islander, Bernhoft
Lift Your Spirit, Aloe Blacc
Love, Marriage & Divorce, Toni Braxton & Babyface
Black Radio 2, Robert Glasper Experiment
Give The People What They Want, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Source-Billboard
