Jon Batiste, jazz and rhythm & blues musician, author of the OST of ‘Soul’, leads the nominations with eleven nominations in the highest categories
Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo top the list of stars nominated for the Grammy Awards, the most important in American music, which will be presented at the end of January at a gala in Los Angeles. And here the term ‘star’ is important, because it was the jazz and rhythm and blues (R&B) musician Jon Batiste, with an Oscar under his belt for the soundtrack of ‘Soul’, who has given the surprise and the one with the most options to increase its trophy collection, as it has eleven nominations in the top categories.
There are three more nominations than a mega-star like Justin Bieber has received. The Canadian will compete for eight awards at the gala to be held on January 31 in the Californian metropolis, as well as HER and rapper Doja Cat.
Eilish is aiming for seven awards, the same as Olivia Rodrigo, a former Disney Channel actress who hit pop this year with her hit ‘Drivers License’. At 18, Rodrigo is one of the favorites with his first album ‘Sour’. Like Eilish in 2019, Rodrigo has a chance to win the trophies in the top four categories. One of them is Best New Artist, in which she competes with Kid Laroi, Japanese Breakfast, Saweetie and Eilish’s brother Finneas, among others.
In the category of the best Latin pop album, the albums ‘Vertigo’, by Pablo Alborán, ‘Mis Amores’, by Paula Arenas, ‘Hecho a la Antigua’, by Ricardo Arjona, ‘Mis Manos’, by Camilo, aspire to the award. ‘Mendó’, by Alex Cuba and ‘Revelación’, by Selena Gómez.
In the category of best urban music, Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Karol G, Alex Cuba and Kali Uchis compete.
This 64th edition has increased the number of nominees in its most prestigious categories, from 8 to 10, in the face of insistent criticism for the lack of diversity in the awards given by the Recording Academy.
Batiste, longtime musical director of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, has in recent years emerged as an advocate for social justice and protests. The African-American artist, born into a prominent New Orleans music dynasty, will compete with the album ‘We Are’ and the song ‘Freedom’. The musician, who has already been nominated for three Grammy Awards, will face Justin Bieber and Rodrigo in the most reputable categories, such as Album and Record of the Year. It is also at the fore in genres such as R&B, jazz, American roots and contemporary classical composition, as well as competing in categories such as music video and soundtrack, the latter for the acclaimed Pixar film ‘Soul’.
The joint performance of Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett, the popular 95-year-old singer, has six nominations for their work on ‘Love For Sale.’
AC / DC, ABBA and Barack Obama
And rapper and music mogul Jay-Z has already become the artist with the most nominations in the history of these awards, with 83. Until now he was tied with the legendary producer Quincy Jones, who was 80.
Meanwhile, Kanye West has four nominations for her album ‘Donda’ and will face Taylor Swift for the album of the year award, the only category in which she competes thanks to her album ‘Evermore’.
Drake’s song ‘Certified Lover Boy’ was left out of the top categories but is competing for two awards in rap along with West, Nas, J. Cole Tayler, the Creator.
AC / DC, Foo Fighters and Chris Cornell compete in the rock categories, dominated this year by men as opposed to last year, as well as Paul McCartney nominated for two awards.
The Swedish group ABBA, who have returned to sing almost 40 years after their separation, aspires to win the award for the best song of the year with their ‘I Still Have Faith In You’. And in the eclectic talking album category, which includes poetry, audiobooks, and short stories, Barack Obama is top-ranked with ‘A Promised Land.’ He already has two grammys.
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