Grammys 2022 Roundtable: Who’s Taking Home The Big Wins? (Part 2)

While the Grammys have figured out the ceremony will be held on April 3rd, Rolling Stone India’s own David Britto (DB), Anurag Tagat (AT) and Amit Vaidya (AV) discuss this year’s nominees, the likely winners and who they wished in an ideal world would win. 

Check out part 1 and read on for our predictions in the next set of categories.

AV: Okay, I know this may not be your strong suit but let’s talk about Best Country Song. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year.

“Better Than We Found It”

Jessie Jo Dillon, Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins & Laura Veltz, songwriters (Maren Morris)

“camera roll”

Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)

“Cold”

Dave Cobb, J.T. Cure, Derek Mixon & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Chris Stapleton)

“Country Again”

Zach Crowell, Ashley Gorley & Thomas Rhett, songwriters (Thomas Rhett)

“Fancy Like”

Cameron Bartolini, Walker Hayes, Josh Jenkins & Shane Stevens, songwriters (Walker Hayes)

“Remember Her Name”

Mickey Guyton, Blake Hubbard, Jarrod Ingram & Parker Welling, songwriters (Mickey Guyton)

Who takes it home? 

DB: Love me some country music, Christ Stapleton’s “Cold” will win this in my opinion. It has a nice chord progression which sits nicely with the vocals and overall instrumentation. 

AT:  I think Chris Stapleton too or Kacey Musgraves, considering they’ve been Grammy faves. 

AV: It would really be cool to see Walker Hayes win especially because the song became such a massive crossover hit but my money is on Mickey Guyton here. Who deserves it? 

DB: “camera roll” has a nice modern touch to it. It could also be a worthy winner. 

AT: I enjoyed “camera roll” as well. I’d give it to Kacey. 

AV: I love Kacey and “camera roll” but I honestly think Walker Hayes winning would make me really happy.  

Will Win: Chris Stapleton (AT, DB), Mickey Guyton (AV)

Should Win: Kacey Musgraves (AT, DB), Walker Hayes (AV)

AV: Ooh, this is a fun one. Best Music Video. Awarded to the artist, video director and video producer. 

“Shot In The Dark”

AC/DC

David Mallet, video director; Dione Orrom, video producer

“Freedom”

Jon Batiste

Alan Ferguson, video director; Alex P. Willson, video producer

“I Get A Kick Out Of You”

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga

Jennifer Lebeau, video director; Danny Bennett, Bobby Campbell & Jennifer Lebeau, video producers

“Peaches”

Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon

Colin Tilley, video director; Jamee Ranta & Jack Winter, video producers

“Happier Than Ever”

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish, video director; Michelle An, Chelsea Dodson & David Moore, video producers

“Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”

Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X & Tanu Muino, video directors; Frank Borin, Ivanna Borin, Marco De Molina & Saul Levitz, video producers

“Good 4 U”

Olivia Rodrigo

Petra Collins, video director; Christiana Divona, Marissa Ramirez & Tiffany Suh, video producers

What do we think? 

AT: Jon Batiste better take home something, although Billie Eilish’s video for “Happier Than Ever” was quite powerful. I think she might get it. 

DB: I think Jon Batiste’s video for “Freedom” will take home the win.

AV: First of all, what the heck is “Peaches” doing in this? I mean really? I’m agreeing with you David that “Freedom” is going to win here. But who should win? 

AT: I think Jon Batiste might miss out on a Grammy in other categories, so I hope he at least gets this one!

DB: AC/DC’s video for “Shot In The Dark” should win, it’s so rare to see a band performing their song in a video these days with all the over-produced ones doing the rounds. There’s a certain charm with a video like this. 

AV: I won’t say it’s the best music video ever but solely based on the massive response that the music video generated, I’m going with Lil Nas X here. Most people don’t really care for the artform much anymore and X has sort of brought shock, surprise and controversy again to the format – it helped that the song was actually good. I think he’s done more for music videos in general this year than anyone else. 

Will Win: Billie Eilish (AT), Jon Batiste (DB, AV)

Should Win: Jon Batiste (AT), AC/DC (DB), Lil Nas X (AV)

AV: Best Dance/Electronic Recording. For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances. Vocal or Instrumental. Singles or tracks only.

“Hero”

Afrojack & David Guetta

Afrojack, David Guetta, Kuk Harrell & Stargate, producers; Elio Debets, mixer

“Loom”

Ólafur Arnalds Featuring Bonobo

Ólafur Arnalds & Simon Green, producers; Ólafur Arnalds, mixer

“Before”

James Blake

James Blake & Dom Maker, producers; James Blake, mixer

“Heartbreak”

Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

Simon Green & Orlando Higginbottom, producers; Simon Green & Orlando Higginbottom, mixers

“You Can Do It”

Caribou

Dan Snaith, producer; David Wrench, mixer

“Alive”

Rüfüs Du Sol

Jason Evigan & Rüfüs Du Sol, producers; Cassian Stewart-Kasimba, mixer

“The Business”

Tiësto

Hightower, Julia Karlsson & Tiësto, producers; Tiësto, mixer

Who’s taking this home?

DB: “Hero” seems like the one that it’ll win here. 

AT: This is actually a bit tough, given the diversity and experience shared between all these nominees. James Blake is probably taking this one home, because he got some major acclaim across the board. 

AV: These nominations are eclectic but the Grammys tend to award really strange winners in this category historically so I’m literally going to randomly pick Caribou. Why? Why not!  

And who should win? 

DB: Can’t ignore “Heartbreak,” it has everything you’d want in an electronic track. 

AT: I agree with David, maybe it should go to Bonobo and TEED!

AV: We all agree! I would love to see Bonobo win for either of the tracks but I agree it should be for the one with TEED!

Will Win: Afrojack/David Guetta (DB), James Blake (AT), Caribou (AV)

Should Win: Bonobo and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (AT, DB, AV)

AV: Okay, this is a tough one. Best Pop Vocal Album. For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new pop vocal recordings.

Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe)

Justin Bieber

Planet Her (Deluxe)

Doja Cat

Happier Than Ever

Billie Eilish

Positions

Ariana Grande

Sour

Olivia Rodrigo

Who wins this? 

DB: Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever is going to claim this one. So much to admire from the record. 

AT: Yeah. Billie and Finneas might just be running up to that stage once again for this album. Sublime.

AV: I’d be super pissed if Billie wins again, I just hope enough older Grammy voters take Olivia Rodrigo more seriously and give her this. Now who should win? 

DB: Olivia Rodrigo has made quite an impact with her debut record Sour; would be nice to see her win this. 

AT: Given the critical acclaim and all the year-end love she received, definitely Olivia Rodrigo for Sour.

AV: I think Rodrigo will win but I’ll buck you both here and say I wouldn’t mind if Doja Cat was the spoiler here. For me, either of these albums would be fine over Eilish or Bieber!!! 

Will Win: Billie Eilish (AT, DB), Olivia Rodrigo (AV)

Should Win: Olivia Rodrigo (AT, DB), Doja Cat (AV)

Stay tuned for the third and final part where we discuss the Big 4 at the Grammys 2022.