Will Adele reign supreme for her album '30'? Will Harry Styles conquer with "As It Was"? We pick our favorites to win at the Grammys this year
(Clockwise from top) Coldplay, Adele, Harry Styles and Doja Cat are among top Grammy nominees this year.
Grammys 2023 Roundtable: Who’s Taking Home the Big Wins?
It’s Grammy week and 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.
Beyoncé and Adele are pitted up against one another again…the last time that happened, Adele won, will Bey triumph this year or will they both lose out to the unstoppable Bad Bunny? Can ABBA finally actually win a Grammy? Will Harry Styles or Lizzo’s larger than life media personalities win over Grammy voters? Does anyone have a lock at Best New Artist this year like Olivia Rodrigo did last year? So many questions will be answered on February 5th, 2023 at this year’s Grammy Awards.
AV: Hey guys, so it’s Grammy time again. How are we feeling about it this year?
DB: Excited as always to see who goes home with the prize and if there are any upsets in some of the categories.
AT: No year at the Grammys is without controversy and contention and I think that’s part of the reason I’m tuned in these days. That, and the Indian and South Asian artists nominated this year! I’m keen to see if Berklee Indian Ensemble or Ricky Kej can score a win.
AV: It’s interesting that Silk Sonic decided to remove their album from consideration after winning big last year with the single “Leave The Door Open.” A very classy move from Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. Wish some of the other artists would follow suit. Of course, Beyoncé is probably waiting to become the most decorated winner of all-time this year and even if she doesn’t win the big categories, she’ll still make history.
AV: I’m going to start with probably the weirdest category of nominees. First up is Best Rock Performance – for new vocal or instrumental solo, duo/group or collaboration.
Best Rock Performance
What do you guys think? Who’s gonna win? Who should win?
DB: It’s heartening to see Jeff Beck’s name there after his sad demise, along with Ozzy Osbourne who recently announced his retirement from touring. Quite a diverse bunch of nominees indeed.
AT: It’s so wild that Turnstile can be nominated in the same category as Bryan Adams but here we are. Really nice to see Brandi Carlile in here as well.
AV: It’s strange that we keep expanding the categories of R&B and Rap yet Rock has been lumped together to include soft-rock legends and hard-rock gods. I can’t fathom what the older generations would think to hear that Bryan Adams, Brandi Carlile and Ozzy Osbourne are classified in the same genre!
Anyways, who do you think should win?
Will Win: The Black Keys (AV)
Should Win: The Black Keys (AV)
Will Win: The Black Keys (DB)
Should Win: The Black Keys (DB)
Will Win: The Black Keys (AT)
Should Win: Turnstile (AT)
AV: Okay next we’ve got Best Dance/Electronic Album, vocal or instrumental.
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album
Who takes home gold? Who deserves it?
AT: Just like the Rock category, it’s kinda odd to see Beyoncé in here but we know fully well that Renaissance is just that kind of record. I’d really like to see ODESZA win it, though.
DB: After just experiencing Diplo perform in Mumbai, as a live act, he surely knows how to make people dance. However, he’s up against some stiff competition.
AV: ODESZA keeps expanding their sound and The Last Goodbye was one of my favorite albums of last year, period. But Renaissance is the only album also nominated for Album Of The Year so sigh, Beyoncé will win.
Will Win: Beyoncé (AV)
Should Win: ODESZA (AV)
Will Win: Beyoncé (DB)
Should Win: Diplo (DB)
Will Win: Beyoncé (AT)
Should Win: ODESZA (AT)
AV: Okay, next up is Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Lots of heavy-hitters here.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Quite a list! Who wins?
DB: It’s lovely to see ABBA on here, feels like the time is now for them. The Coldplay and BTS collab was one that made quite a few waves upon its release though.
AT: I agree with David on both counts here. Everyone looks like a quite a solid pick in this category but maybe we’ll see Coldplay and BTS take this one.
AV: I think this is where ABBA scores. They’ve never won and this will be sort of a Lifetime Achievement Award. Of course, I could be completely wrong and Sam Smith & Kim Petras take home gold as they had a Number One hit and made history based on their identities. If I had my way, I’d actually give it to Post Malone & Doja Cat. Both weird yet somehow, they blended well and created the love song of the year.
Will Win: ABBA (AV)
Should Win: Post Malone & Doja Cat (AV)
Will Win: ABBA (DB)
Should Win: ABBA (DB)
Will Win: Coldplay & BTS (AT)
Should Win: ABBA (AT)
AV: Now we have Best Melodic Rap Performance, for a solo or collaborative performance containing both elements of R&B melodies and Rap.
Best Melodic Rap Performance
Who takes home the gold? Who deserves it?
AT: You know, I was just watching Kendrick Lamar’s live from Paris concert the other day and realized how powerful his album is, particularly songs like “Die Hard.” It’s K.dot all the way for me.
DB: I may have heard snippets of “First Class” on Instagram reels than any other song this past year. For its popularity alone I think that the song will take home the prize for Jack Harlow.
AV: I think this is between “First Class” and “Wait For U.” I think either winning is fine with me but there would be some serious throwdown if Harlow won in a category stacked with legends. Of course, knowing Grammys, they might award Latto a year too late for a song that technically wasn’t eligible because it released the previous year so they can get away with it by nominating a “live” version.
Will Win: Latto (AV)
Should Win: Future Featuring Drake & Tems OR Jack Harlow (AV)
Will Win: Jack Harlow (DB)
Should Win: Jack Harlow (DB)
Will Win: Kendrick Lamar (AT)
Should Win: Kendrick Lamar (AT)
AV: An interesting category this year is Best Global Music Album.
Who takes it home? Who should win?
DB: It will be quite a feat if the Berklee Indian Ensemble win. Their album Shuruaat is well produced, I’m backing them.
AT: This is such a refreshing category. I love what Burna Boy has done for afrobeats but also understand the toil that’s gone into Shuruaat by the Berklee Indian Ensemble. Angélique Kidjo is the reigning queen too so I wonder if she’ll continue her strong run.
AV: I think the nomination itself should be enough for the Berklee Indian Ensemble and Anoushka Shankar’s live album was good but she’s done better. There was no bigger global star than Burna Boy so I think he takes home the gold and deserves to!
Will Win: Burna Boy (AV)
Should Win: Burna Boy (AV)
Will Win: Berklee Indian Ensemble (DB)
Should Win: Berklee Indian Ensemble (DB)
Will Win: Angélique Kidjo (AT)
Should Win: Burna Boy (AT)
AV: Ooh, this is a first! Songwriters of the Year, Non-Classical.
What do we think? Who deserves it?
AT: It’s a real treat to see names get recognized at the Grammys for songwriting. You never know who’s going to end up here next, because this lineup alone looks formidable. It’s gotta go to Tobias Jesso Jr. or The-Dream this time.
DB: It’s hard to look past Tobias Jesso Jr. His volume of successful work speaks for itself.
AV: I think Tobias Jesso Jr. has earned this – he’s worked with the most number of nominated artists including Adele and Harry Styles. While I think Amy Allen is a force to be reckoned with and The-Dream is a legend, this Jesso’s.
Will Win: Tobias Jesso Jr. (AV)
Should Win: Tobias Jesso Jr. (AV)
Will Win: Tobias Jesso Jr. (DB)
Should Win: Tobias Jesso Jr. (DB)
Will Win: Tobias Jesso Jr. (AT)
Should Win: Tobias Jesso Jr. (AT)
AV: Alrighty, here we go with the biggies. Record Of The Year – now with 10 nominees!
Record of the Year
Who’s taking this home? Who deserves the Grammy actually?
DB: For me it’s a toss-up between “About Damn Time” and “As It Was.” I think Harry Styles might just edge it out and take home the prize here.
AT: The Grammys dare not deny Adele this year, I imagine. Lest they face angry fans and critics alike. She’s a force unto herself. The surprise win here, if any, would be Steve Lacy.
AV: This one for me is easy. “Easy On Me” captured a nature like no other song on this list did. Across age ranges, across radio, streaming, kids and grandparents alike. It feels old, that’s the only issue but truly, no other song on this list can compare.
Will Win: Adele (AV)
Should Win: Adele (AV)
Will Win: Harry Styles (DB)
Should Win: Lizzo (DB)
Will Win: Lizzo (AT)
Should Win: Adele (AT)
AV: Okay, this is a tough one. Best Pop Vocal Album. For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new pop vocal recordings.
Who wins this? Who actually deserves this?
DB: Would love to see ABBA win, but Harry Styles has this in the bag I feel.
AT: This one has Harry’s name all over it. It was such a massive success and had critics’ nod all the way. It would be well deserved, unless ABBA has something to say about it.
AV: Could there be any ABBA sweep? Nah, I think this will likely go to Harry Styles. And seriously, Coldplay? Ugh. Not this year. I personally think 30 is the strongest album of the lot.
Will Win: Harry Styles (AV)
Should Win: Adele (AV)
Will Win: Harry Styles (DB)
Should Win: Abba (DB)
Will Win: Harry Styles (AT)
Should Win: Harry Styles (AT)
AV: Okay, Best New Artist. Some may not feel like they are “new” but whatever, they fit the ever-changing Grammy criterions for the category!
Who’s taking this home? And deserving it?
DB: So much talent here. The future of music is looking bright indeed. It’ll good to see Anitta win this category though.
AT: It would be killer to see Wet Leg get on that Grammy stage and say something totally outrageous if they picked up the award. Another favorite for me is Måneskin just for how disruptive they’ve been.
AV: I’d be happy if Muni Long or Wet Leg won but likely it’s between Latto and Anitta. I’ll be honest, I’d not be upset if Anitta won. Love her, even though it feels weird to have her in this category. Omar Apollo is a dark horse but I think there isn’t enough support around him.
Will Win: Latto (AV)
Should Win: Muni Long (AV)
Will Win: Latto (DB)
Should Win: Anitta (DB)
Will Win: Måneskin (AT)
Should Win: Wet Leg (AT)
AV: Alrighty, Song Of The Year. A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year.
Song of the Year
Who do we think takes this? And should win?
AT: How can anyone objectively decide between hits like “About Damn Time,” “Easy On Me,” “Break My Soul” and “As It Was”? These ruled public consciousness like no others. It’s a tough call but a real deserving surprise would be the 10-minute song winning this. Taylor Swift has been known to give tough competition, just wondering if the Grammys would give in.
DB: From all the nominees its Bonnie Raitt that stands out. Everyone else has a team of songwriters and here’s Raitt writing and performing “Just Like That” on her own, as it should be. That’s quite something.
AV: My biggest WTF moment this year was with Gayle getting a nod for “ABCDEFU.” A joke. I think realistically this is between Taylor Swift and Adele. Working in Swift’s favor is the lack of nominations elsewhere so this might be the only place to award the song (besides it likely winning Best Music Video). Lyrically though, “Easy On Me” is genius. One could make an argument for “The Heart Part 5” but I’m sorry, Adele deserves this.
Will Win: Taylor Swift (AV)
Should Win: Adele (AV)
Will Win: Taylor Swift (DB)
Should Win: Bonnie Raitt (DB)
Will Win: Harry Styles (AT)
Should Win: Taylor Swift (AT)
AV: Now we have Best Pop Solo Performance. This is probably the most dynamic category and literally the one where anyone could win!
The most eclectic “pop” category ever! Who wins? Who should?
DB: Mr. Styles for me, it’s hard to look past his crisp vocals.
AT: It’s so tough to pick when it comes to all of their vocal performances on each track. I think Doja Cat should win but Adele will win.
AV: I’m going to sound like a broken record and say “Easy On Me” was hands down the best vocal performance BUT I actually think the most dynamic vocals of the lot is Doja Cat. “Woman” sounds like it features three different artists but it’s all Doja. Just for that this woman deserves the Grammy!
Will Win: Harry Styles (AV)
Should Win: Doja Cat or Adele (AV)
Will Win: Harry Styles (DB)
Should Win: Doja Cat or Lizzo (DB)
Will Win: Adele (AT)
Should Win: Doja Cat (AT)
AV: And finally we have ALBUM OF THE YEAR.
Who takes the gold home, and do they deserve to!
AT: There’s a whole lot to really appreciate in here but also a few unremarkable inclusions. Since we’re talking about who should and will win, it’s likely to be Adele out here. A real surprise would be Bad Bunny!
DB: On the whole, I liked Coldplay’s album, but just with how the past year has shaped up and the enormous success that came with Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti, feels as though the public is leaning towards his side.
AV: There is only one album here that deserves it this year, give the Grammy to Bad Bunny. I seriously hope if he doesn’t win, it goes to Kendrick Lamar because the rest of the albums simply don’t deserve it (yup, I’m looking at you Beyoncé, Adele, Lizzo AND Harry Styles!)
Will Win: Bad Bunny (AV)
Should Win: Bad Bunny (AV)
Will Win: Bad Bunny (DB)
Should Win: Coldplay (DB)
Will Win: Adele (AT)
Should Win: Bad Bunny (AT)
AV: …and we have a wrap! I’m very curious if any of our predictions come to fruition and if there are some unexpected surprises! Stay tuned!
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