Final Grammy Predictions 2013

Edited on Nov. 27
Edited on Dec. 3

This is going to be my final set of predictions before the nominations tomorrow night. I've also include generalized numbers on how many, and in which categories, some singers will get. Most of this is speculation, but I'm more than confident in most of my picks.

Anywho, look below to see how I think will be certain Grammy nominees on Dec. 5



Album of the Year
Ceremonials, Florence + The Machine
Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
El Camino, The Black Keys
Take Care, Drake
Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen

Alternates:
Babel, Mumford & Sons
Making Mirrors, Gotye
Talk That Talk, Rihanna
Tempest, Bob Dylan


An even mix of potential nominees, this year's slate could be loads better than the pop-saturated crowd last year. With "Ceremonials" being submitted in the pop categories it could be the only pop nominee if it goes as I predicted. Even though I think it's an alternative album, the unconventional "pop" factor of its lead singles makes it a different, yet successful pop album.

With a seasoned vet (Springsteen), commercially applauded R&B and rap artists (Frank Ocean and Drake) and an alternative Grammy darling (The Black Keys), there's something for EVERYONE this year. Any substitution of my picks with an alternate would be great and not entirely unwelcome — though Rihanna would stick out more against these endearing and serious acts.

One thing I'm sure of is that Adele's "21" won't be nominated, even as the best-selling album for a second year in a row.


Record of the Year
Set Fire to the Rain (Live), Adele
Somebody That I Used Know, Gotye f/ Kimbra
Shake it Out, Florence + The Machine
Thinkin Bout You, Frank Ocean
We Are Young, fun. f/ Janelle Monae


Alternates:
Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen
Ho Hey, The Lumineers
Lonely Boy, The Black Keys
Take Care, Drake
We Found Love, Rihanna f/ Calvin Harris (eligibility pending)

If anything, I think two or three of my definites will make it (Gotye, F+TM, fun.), with one or two alternates sliding in with a possible outside pick getting in as well.


Song of the Year

Over You, (Miranda Lambert) Songwriters: Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton
Shake it Out (Florence + The Machine) Songwriters: Florence Welch and Paul Epworth
Thinkin Bout You (Frank Ocean) Songwriters: Frank Ocean and N. Cobey
We Are Young (fun. f/ Janelle Monae) Songwriters: fun. and Jeff Bhasker
We Take Care of Our Own (Bruce Springsteen) Songwriter: Bruce Springsteen

Alternates:
Ho Hey (The Lumineers) Songwriters: Wesley Schultz and Jeremy Fraites

Paul Epworth won record and song of the year earlier this year for Rolling In The Deep, and could compete in those categories again with Shake It Out. Proven to be a master producer and songwriter (winning four Grammys in February), more bids seem imminent with this adult contemporary hit from the powerhouse English group.

Frank Ocean will probably grab nods in all general fields because of his critically acclaimed album, so they'll want to recognize his songwriting ability. Usually one country song sneaks in this year, along with a rock track. Is fun. pop or alternative? Either way they'll probably get in to.


Best New Artist
fun.
Gotye
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean
Emile Sandé

Alternates:
Carly Rae Jepsen
Lana Del Rey
Sia

Of the three that I am most certain of are Frank Ocean, fun., and Gotye. Emile I'm keeping around because they like to nominate at least one strong female R&B artist every year, and her album has been doing moderately well here thus far. Also, she's British and the Grammys love to nominate new English songbirds.

Lana Del Rey. What is there to say about her? She's interesting, she has that sultry voice you can pick out in a second, and she's original. But you might want to overlook her SNL performance from January.

One-hit wonder Gotye could break in based on the strength of Somebody That I Used To Know. The Lumineers have been doing quite well with the track Ho Hey, so they could secure the "folk/rock/alternative" spot recently filled by winner Bon Iver and Mumford & Sons.

Potential Grammy count:
Frank Ocean (7)- AotY, RotY, SotY, BNA, Urban Contemporary R&B album, solo R&B performance, R&B song.
Florence and the Machine (6)- AotY, RotY, SotY, pop album, pop duo, song for visual media.
fun. (5)- RotY, SotY, BNA, alternative album, pop duo.
Gotye (4)- RotY, BNA, pop duo, alternative album.
Paul Epworth (4)- AotY, RotY, SotY, Producer of the Year (non-classical)
Adele- RotY, solo pop, music video (long form)