2022 Grammy Award Predictions

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On April 3, 2022, the 64th annual Grammy Awards Ceremony will take place. While I believe that award show categories are becoming obsolete with the number of genre-bending albums we see today, I can’t help but make my predictions. Take a look at my Grammy predictions for the 2022 Grammy Awards and comment your thoughts below!

Record of the Year

MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X

I was obsessed with this song when it was being on social media, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The story behind “MONTERO” combined with the production by Take A Daytrip makes this record too infectious to deny. I think “MONTERO” has a unique edge when thinking of what the Recording Academy is looking for in ROTY. The somewhat heavy subject matter plus the dancey beat makes it the perfect contender for this category. 

Album of the Year

Evermore – Taylor Swift

This was a difficult one, and even I shocked myself with this prediction. First and foremost, I actually did not listen to this album, so this prediction becomes even more interesting. I honestly didn’t feel like any other album had AOTY potential, especially since the highly-anticipated Silk Sonic album wasn’t nominated. I’m saying Evermore will win because I can’t deny the traction that this album received from both fans and critics. I think the folky take from Taylor Swift will push this album to the forefront of the category. A close second or another possible winner might be Sour by Olivia Rodrigo.  

Song of the Year

Right On Time – Brandi Carlile

Considering that SOTY is a category focused primarily on a track’s quality of songwriting, I believe Brandi Carlile has the most potential here. The Recording Academy loves to sneak in a winner that no one sees coming, and I think Carlile might be that winner to make everyone’s heads turn. I would not consider myself a huge fan of her music, but I am aware of Brandi Carlile’s songwriting abilities and the many praises she receives for that talent. “Right On Time” is a song detailing pain and betrayal in a couple’s relationship that is tragic but oddly needed to make the relationship stronger. I haven’t heard a song quite like it, and I think that makes her a top pick in this category.

Best New Artist

Olivia Rodrigo

I think it would be crazy for Olivia Rodrigo to not walk away with a Grammy this year, and Best New Artist feels like the most appropriate category for her. Rodrigo’s entry into the music, following her Disney fame, is reminiscent of Billie Eilish and her notable Grammy run following her debut album. “Drivers license” was a song that captivated many with its simple yet relatable subject matter, and Sour as an album was a fantastic showcase of Rodrigo’s vocal capability and musical flexibility, blending traditional pop elements with nostalgic pop-punk elements. All in all, I believe she is very deserving of this win. 

Best Pop Vocal Album

Planet Her (Deluxe) – Doja Cat

Doja Cat shocked me with Planet Her. The cool thing about Doja Cat is her ability to blend her notable rap talent with her perfectly placed pop vocals. Planet Her has plenty of standout tracks with tons of replay value such as “Need To Know,” “Kiss Me More” which has been nominated in several other categories, and many more. I think the best quality of Planet Her is the variety of songs available on the album. No song feels unnecessary and Planet Her seamlessly bends genres to make it a standout pop album. 

Best R&B Album

Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan

Everything about Heaux Tales is amazing. Jazmine Sullivan worked in silence, crafting the perfect album to tell the stories of women from all walks of life. The album has all facets of R&B on lock from an upbeat party jam (“Put It Down”) to a heartwrenching ballad (“Lost One”) to a powerhouse acoustic moment (“Girl Like Me” ft. H.E.R.) Heaux Tales has an expert combination of A+ vocals, a cohesive subject matter, and clear songwriting. I’d be very surprised if this album doesn’t win.  

Best Rap Album

Call Me If You Get Lost – Tyler the Creator

I feel like this honestly goes without saying. Tyler’s music is aging like wine: it only gets better with time. As soon as listeners heard CMIYGL, the Grammy speculations started flying left and right, and admittedly so. The album is complete with top-notch production, an amazing storyline, some of Tyler’s best rapping amongst his CMIYGL collaborators (NBA Youngboy, Lil Wayne, Brent Faiyaz, DAISY WORLD, etc.), and immense attention to detail required to make a cohesive album like this one. This category will be a tough one, but I think Sir Baudelaire has it in the bag.   

Tune in to the 64th Grammy Award Ceremony on April 3 at 8pm EST. Click here to see the complete nomination list and learn where to watch the ceremony. Also, check my Twitter to see live tweets of the event!

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