Grammy Nominations 2022: Biggest Wins, Losses, and Surprises
The biggest night in music is upon us, and the Academy’s full list of contenders have been revealed, but who will win big this year?
The Recording Academy released their star-studded list of nominees for the 64th Grammy Awards yesterday, which will broadcast live from Los Angeles’s STAPLES Centre on January 31st. Highly anticipated categories include; Best New Artist, won last year by Megan Thee Stallion; Record of the Year, which was previously awarded to Billie Ellish’s ‘Everything I Wanted’; Song of the Year, currently held by H.E.R. for ‘I Can’t Breathe’; and, the big one, Album of the Year, which Taylor Swift took home last year, for her indie-adjacent record ‘folklore’.
Taylor Swift won album of the year at the 63rd annual awards for her album ‘folklore’
The Recording Academy announced back in April, that 2022’s show will be unlike any other, as their award-giving process has been put through some major reparations this past year. For starters, they’ve abolished their use of secret committees to help determine the show’s winners. They’ve also extended the number of nominees allowed per-category from eight to ten in a bid to widen the musical talent each award represents.
Among 86 different categories, artists leading the pack are: Jon Batiste, who’s album ‘We Are’ sees him nominated for 11 different Grammys; followed by Doja Cat, H.E.R. and Justin Bieber, who are tied at eight; as well as this year’s breakout Pop Princess Olivia Rodrigo, who sits at 7, alongside fellow teen sensation, Billie Ellish.
Jon Batiste, this year’s most-nominated artist, performs at ACL Music Festival in Texas
For rapper Jay-Z, next year’s show will mark a huge achievement in his long-standing career. With 83 nominations under his belt, he’s now the most Grammy-nominated artist of all time. The 64th Awards will also be monumental for ABBA, whose first-ever Grammy nominated song: ‘I Still Have Faith In You’ is up for Record of the Year. Here’s hoping this one won’t go slipping through their fingers.
ABBA perform in 1976. This year’s nomination will be a first in their 48-year career.
But not everyone’s pleased with this year’s nods. Pop star Miley Cyrus, whose album: ‘Plastic Hearts’ came out last November, took to Twitter to air her grievances, sharing an article entitled ‘30 Artists Who Haven’t Won Grammys’, captioning the tweet: “In good company,”. Rapper Machine Gun Kelly, whose Grammys virginity also remains intact this year, wrote: “wtf is wrong with the Grammys.”, later adding: “the ones who gas you up only come around when the flames on.”
The list of nominees wasn’t short of surprises either. ‘Bad Habits’, Ed Sheeran’s most dance-y track to date, was nominated as Song of the Year. Up for Album of the Year was ‘Love For Sale’, Lady Gaga’s collaborative jazz record with 95-year-old music legend Tony Bennett, a follow-up to 2014’s ‘Cheek to Cheek’. Finally, despite being six decades into his career, Paul McCartney certainly had a ticket to ride this year, snagging himself two nominations. His song ‘Find My Way’ is up for Best Rock Song, while ‘McCartney III’ is in contention for Best Rock Album, chalking McCartney’s career-total up to a whopping 81.
Sir Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga together at the 2012 Grammys. Both are nominated this year.
Other heavy-hitters among this year’s line-up include; Silk-Sonic, which is singer Bruno Mars and rapper Anderson .Paak’s R&B superduo, for their song ‘Leave The Door Open’; Lil Nas X, who’s up for three of the ‘big four’ categories, his single ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name) quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the year, thanks to its controversial video; and Yeezus himself, Kanye West, who, back in August, rented out an entire stadium to perform surprise release ‘Donda’ in its entirety.
Rapper Kanye West during an extravagant live performance of his new album ‘Donda’, in August
The 64th Grammys’ host, presenters and performers are yet to be announced, but after what has been one the wildest years ever for music, viewers can expect nothing short of a rollercoaster ride at next January’s highly anticipated ceremony.
Here’s a list of nominees up for the ‘big four’ categories:
Record of the Year
ABBA – ‘I Still Have Faith in You’
Jon Batiste – ‘Freedom’
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – ‘I Get a Kick Out of You’
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Cesar & Giveon – ‘Peaches’
Brandi Carlile – ‘Right on Time’
Doja Cat ft. SZA – ‘Kiss Me More’
Billie Eilish – ‘Happier Than Ever’
Lil Nas X – ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’
Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Drivers License’
Silk Sonic – ‘Leave the Door Open’
Album of the Year
Jon Batiste – ‘We Are’
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – ‘Love for Sale’
Justin Bieber – ‘Justice’
Doja Cat – ‘Planet Her’
Billie Eilish – ‘Happier Than Ever’
H.E.R. – ‘Back of My Mind’
Lil Nas X – ‘Montero’
Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Sour’
Taylor Swift – ‘evermore
Kanye West – ‘Donda’
Song of the Year
Ed Sheeran – ‘Bad Habits’
Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile – ‘A Beautiful Noise’
Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Drivers License’
H.E.R. – ‘Fight for You’
Billie Eilish – ‘Happier Than Ever’
Doja Cat ft. SZA – ‘Kiss Me More’
Silk Sonic – ‘Leave the Door Open’
Lil Nas X – ‘Montero (Call Me by Your Name)’
Justin Bieber ft. Daniel Cesar & Giveon – ‘Peaches’
Brandi Carlile – ‘Right on Time’
Best New Artist
Arooj Aftab
Jimmie Allen
Baby Keem
Finneas
Glass Animals
Japanese Breakfast
The Kid Laroi
Arlo Parks
Olivia Rodrigo
Saweetie