After the 64th annual Grammy Awards were delayed from January until this Sunday, April 3 — when they will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (airing at 8 p.m. ET on CBS with host Trevor Noah) — some of these nominees feel as if they came out last decade instead of last year.
Indeed, the nominations were announced in November, and the release cutoff for nominees to be eligible was way back in September. Which explains why Adele isn’t even nominated for her smash single “Easy on Me” or her blockbuster album “30.”
But that certainly opens up the field for the rest of the contenders. And really, there are no clear favorites in the top categories, which should make for a few surprises when the envelopes are at long last opened.
Record of the Year
“I Still Have Faith in You” — Abba
“Freedom” — Jon Batiste
“I Get a Kick Out of You” — Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
“Peaches” — Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
“Right on Time” — Brandi Carlile
“Kiss Me More” — Doja Cat Featuring SZA
“Happier Than Ever” — Billie Eilish
Will win: Bennett and Gaga. There’s no way the Recording Academy is not going to pay a Big 4 salute to the legendary Bennett, who, suffering from Alzheimer’s disease at 95, will be watching from his New York City home while Gaga reps for both of them at the Grammys. And while they’ve also got a shot at winning Album of the Year, with no clear favorite in this category, they’ve got an even better chance here.
Should win: Silk Sonic. In terms of pure musicianship, straight-up soul and the smoothest of sexiness, “Leave the Door Open” was untouchable.
Album of the Year
“We Are” — Jon Batiste
“Love for Sale” — Tony Bennett And Lady Gaga
“Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe)” — Justin Bieber
“Planet Her (Deluxe)” — Doja Cat
“Happier Than Ever” — Billie Eilish
“Back of My Mind” — H.E.R.
“Montero” — Lil Nas X
“Sour” — Olivia Rodrigo
“Evermore” — Taylor Swift
“Donda” — Kanye West
Will win, should win: Batiste. Leading with 11 nominations for the kind of prestige project that Grammy voters feel good about acknowledging, Batiste is hard to beat. And with the pop vote likely to split between Bieber, Eilish and Rodrigo, his chances improve. His biggest threat is a sentimental sweep for Bennett and Gaga. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that he is a well-liked musician’s musician who has played the game perfectly in his Grammy campaign.
Song of the Year
“Bad Habits” — Ed Sheeran
“A Beautiful Noise” — Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile
“Drivers License” — Olivia Rodrigo
“Fight for You” — H.E.R.
“Happier Than Ever” — Billie Eilish
“Kiss Me More” — Doja Cat Featuring SZA
“Leave the Door Open” — Silk Sonic
“Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” — Lil Nas X
“Peaches” — Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon
“Right on Time” — Brandi Carlile
Will win: Rodrigo. She may not quite be this year’s Billie Eilish, but she’s close enough.
Should win: Billie Eilish is still Billish Eilish, and her shape-shifting song is quite frankly on another level from Rodrigo’s.
Best New Artist
Arooj Aftab
Jimmie Allen
Baby Keem
Finneas
Glass Animals
Japanese Breakfast
The Kid Laroi
Arlo Parks
Olivia Rodrigo
Saweetie
Will win, should win: Rodrigo. It was her year — no one else is even close. But although he has yet to make his real breakthrough as an artist, Eilish’s producer-brother Finneas is the true all-around talent here.
Best Pop Vocal Album
“Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe),” Justin Bieber
“Planet Her (Deluxe),” Doja Cat
“Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish
“Positions,” Ariana Grande
“Sour,” Olivia Rodrigo
Will win: Rodrigo. Voters will feel as if they’ve awarded Eilish enough already. And there’s no other real competition here.
Should win: Eilish. Tina said it, folks: Sometimes the best is simply the best.
Best Rock Album
“Power Up,” AC/DC
“Capitol Cuts – Live From Studio A,” Black Pumas
“No One Sings Like You Anymore Vol. 1,” Chris Cornell
“Medicine at Midnight,” Foo Fighters
“McCartney III,” Paul McCartney
Will win: McCartney. If the voting had been within the last week, it would be the Foos all the way after the sudden death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. But otherwise, there’s no way to compete with the living Beatles legend.
Should win: Cornell. Because five years after his death, his posthumous album reminded us that he possessed one of the best rock voices ever.
Best R&B Performance
“Lost You,” Snoh Aalegra
“Peaches,” Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon
“Damage,” H.E.R.
“Leave the Door Open,” Silk Sonic
“Pick Up Your Feelings,” Jazmine Sullivan
Will win: Silk Sonic. Leave the floor open for this retro-soul superduo.
Should win: Sullivan. It’s a tough call with Silk Sonic, but how does this R&B diva not have a single Grammy yet after 15 nominations?
Best Rap Performance
“Family Ties” — Baby Keem ft. Kendrick Lamar
“Up” — Cardi B
“My . Life” — J. Cole ft. 21 Savage & Morray
“Thot Sh**” — Megan Thee Stallion
Will win, should win: Cardi B. She ratcheted up anticipation for her long-awaited sophomore album even more with “Up.”