Seriously! Like, I used to be a big chart watcher back in the days of physical media when it (at least seemingly) meant something and was quantifiable. The streaming records set today really don’t mean anything because there’s so many ways to game the system. She wastes so much time on things only psychotic fans care about.
I hope the Grammys don't just rubber-stamp this as Album of the Year because it broke the one-week sales record. I felt like that's what happened with Adele - 25.
I think you're probably right. It obviously will depend (somewhat) on what else comes out this year, but 25 took down Lemonade, so...
It's always possible but TTPD didn't win so there's always hope Then again Midnights won so And as much as I love 1989 it should have gone to TPAB
I disagree on that one. 1989 is exactly the type of culturally dominant hit machine album that should win Album of the Year at that very silly award show. This is also why I have no problem with 21 winning, but take issue with 25.
I simply think the better album should win Album of the Year, might sound crazy I know. I really don't care what represents a "culturally dominant hit machine" lol But at the end of the day it is a very silly awards show true
Yep. want to top the charts without having to game the system ? Make an album good enough to top the charts.
My point is more that 1989 is a more-than-worthy contender and winner of that category. You might like the Kendrick album more, but an extremely beloved blockbuster pop album from a generational talent who was (we thought) at the top of her powers winning album of the year is not a real injustice. There are way too many “what the fuck” outcomes in that category for me to worry about worthy albums beating other also-worthy albums.
Oh yea I didn't mean that 1989 didn't deserve it, just that I truly think TPAB should have taken it. I feel similarly about 24k Magic, would have rather it went to DAMN or Melodrama. And I 100% agree that Lemonade would have been the optimal choice over Adele, also potentially leading the way to a Brat > Cowboy Carter win. Or at the very least we could have had a Renaissance win
The 24K Magic win is a little more puzzling, even though I think that album is a lot of fun. The Grammys really love Bruno Mars, though; not as much as they love Billie Eilish, but he's up there. I would have been OK with a Lemonade win (the Sturgill album would have gotten my vote that year) but the one Beyonce probably should have won was for self-titled. That was not a particularly strong category that year, and it's still such a WTF that Beck won (for an album I like!) over what seemed like the miles-ahead frontrunner. Worst win of all time is probably Mumford & Sons getting it for Babel, though.
I feel like that was probably a year where the votes got split a little too much between the Ed Sheeran and Pharrell albums.
It’s insane that Pharrell album even got nominated. Zero cultural footprint, except for “Happy,” and that was because of “Despicable Me 2.” Looking at the nominations through the years, especially recent, is just crazy. In what world was “Donda” a great album? I also forgot Jon Batiste and Harry Styles both won Album of the Year. Like, why?
grammys have never been relevant, but at least you used to get a couple wildcard nominations. now they're all bought *ahem* campaigned for *ahem* by their labels. she's a shoe-in for best pop vocal on this record, they'll give her something.
Honestly that’s such a tired statement. If Grammys can be bought, how come neither Chappell nor Sabrina walked away with trophies this year? It’s annoying to me that the Grammys have been doing better than any previous point in history at representation and they’re still getting no credit.
the rewards themselves aren’t purchased, but the extensive campaigning needed to even get a nomination is buoyed by major label support. there’s a reason we never see an indie artist nominated for AOTY but something like Bieber’s Swag is.
Feels like a classic make-up call. There was so much love for the debut album (which didn't get nominated) and it carried the inferior follow-up to a win over a field of dramatically more deserving winners. I remember thinking Fun had it sewn up that night, with a possibility for a Frank Ocean upset. Nope. I know that Pharrell probably had a ton of industry good will at that point in time, but man, that album itself was such a nothingburger. So weird that was even nominated, let alone that it probably did have enough juice to do exactly what you said. The Donda nomination is especially vexing, given that they didn't even nominate My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Harry Styles at least makes sense. A hugely popular, widely liked album from a superstar that included arguably the biggest hit of his career. The Jon Batiste year, I didn't see that coming at all. I thought Olivia Rodrigo was going to sweep the big four, and she only won Best New Artist and a few smaller categories.