How Well Did I Do?: Grammys 2006

Well, it's a little late but here is the first of the Prediction Mania follow up posts called How Well Did I Do?

Now, let's see how right (or wrong) I was...

Record Of The Year
"We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey
"Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz feat. De La Soul
"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" by Green Day
"Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani
"Gold Digger" by Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx

I Picked: "We Belong Together"
This Won: "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
Verdict: WRONG

My Thoughts: I don't know why I didn't see this one coming, especially since most of the songs in this category (except for "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams") have an "urbanness" about them. I guess the votes for Mariah, Kanye, and Gwen canceled each other out with Green Day having an edge over the Gorillaz.

Album Of The Year
The Emancipation Of Mimi by Mariah Carey
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard by Paul McCartney
Love.Angel.Music.Baby by Gwen Stefani
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb by U2
Late Registration by Kanye West

I Picked: Late Registration
This Won: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Verdict: WRONG

My Thoughts: Grammy voters to Kanye: "Not yet, Kanye. Not yet." Me to myself: "Why did I forget how much the Grammy voters love U2? They gave three Grammys to "Vertigo" in 2004...a song that was too lazy to even feature Spanish numbers in the right order!"

Song Of The Year
"Bless The Broken Road" written by Bobby Boyd, Jeff Harris, & Marcus Hummon (performed by Rascal Flatts)
"Devils And Dust" written by Bruce Springsteen (performed by Bruce Springsteen)
"Ordinary People" written by W. Adams and J. Stephens (performed by John Legend)
"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" written by U2 (performed by U2)
"We Belong Together" written by J. Austin, M. Carey, J. Dupri, and M. Seal (performed by Mariah Carey)

I Picked: "Ordinary People"
This Won: "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
Verdict: WRONG

My Thoughts: Damn, I failed on all three of the major awards. I guess John Legend's too new to win this honor. Still, I think he deserved it over U2.

Best New Artist
Ciara
Fall Out Boy
Keane
John Legend
Sugarland

I Picked: Fall Out Boy
This Person Won: John Legend
Verdict: WRONG

My Thoughts: This is what you call a moral victory. I wanted John Legend to win but I picked Fall Out Boy because I thought the Grammy voters would do a repeat of last year and not pick the obvious winner. I'm glad that John Legend won although I don't really mind Fall Out Boy that much.

Producer Of The Year (Non-Classical)
Danger Mouse
Nigel Godrich
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Steve Lillywhite
The Neptunes

I Picked: The Neptunes
This Person Won: Steve Lillywhite
Verdict: WRONG

My Thoughts: My quote from the Grammy prediction post:

"I am familiar with every producer except Steve Lillywhite and I don't think he will win."

Apparently, I need to become familiar with Mr. Lillywhite.

Best Rap Album
Be by Common
The Cookbook by Missy Elliott
Encore by Eminem
The Massacre by 50 Cent
Late Registration by Kanye West

I Picked: Late Registration
This Won: Late Registration
Verdict: CORRECT

My Thoughts: Finally I get one right! Damn shame Common got shut out of all his nominations, though. Why did he and Kanye have to release good albums in the same year? Spread out the quality, Chicago!

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Touch by Amerie
The Emancipation Of Mimi by Mariah Carey
Destiny Fulfilled by Destiny's Child
Turning Point by Mario
O by Omarion

I Picked: The Emancipation Of Mimi
This Won: The Emancipation Of Mimi
Verdict: CORRECT

My Thoughts: Was there any doubt that Mimi would take it? That one was as good as Mariah's.


Best Alternative Music Album
Funeral by The Arcade Fire
Guero by Beck
Plans by Death Cab For Cutie
You Could Have It So Much Better by Franz Ferdinand
Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes

I Picked: Plans
This Won: Get Behind Me Satan
Verdict: WRONG

My Thoughts: My favorite album among those nominated is the one that wins. Another moral victory.

Best Rock Album
X&Y by Coldplay
In Your Honor by Foo Fighters
A Bigger Bang by The Rolling Stones
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb by U2
Prairie Wind by Neil Young

I Picked: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
This Won: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Verdict: CORRECT

My Thoughts: Coldplay wishes they were the unstoppable juggernaut U2 is.

Best Pop Vocal Album
Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple
Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson
Wildflower by Sheryl Crow
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard by Paul McCartney
Love.Angel.Music.Baby by Gwen Stefani

I Picked: Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
This Won: Breakaway
Verdict: WRONG

My Thoughts: The American Idol beat the Beatle. Wow. I guess the Grammy voters were as surprised as I was by Breakaway.

Best Electronic/Dance Album
Push The Button by The Chemical Brothers
Human After All By Daft Punk
Palookaville by Fatboy Slim
Minimum-Maximum by Kraftwerk
LCD Soundsystem by LCD Soundsystem

I Picked: Minimum-Maximum
This Won: Push The Button
Verdict: WRONG

My Thoughts: Of the three albums I've heard out of this category, Push The Button was the best.

Overall Tally: 3 out of 11 correct (~27%)

Final Thoughts: I guess I'll describe these awards as "Predictably Unpredictable." The voters went with the tried and true more often than not. Also, they decided to relegate urban artists to their respective categories in terms of wins. Has the hip-hop/R&B backlash begun? We'll see in future years...