GRAMMY Watch - General Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

The only sure thing about the major categories for this year's Grammy Awards is that Justin Bieber will win Best New Artist, even if I am kicking and screaming about it. Not saying the kid don't have talent, just that at least 2.5 of the nominees seem so obscure that it is kind of a joke to even still have the category, if they are gonna nominate some of these virtual nobodies. Drake technically isn't even a new artist, considering he had TWO PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS last year (this is the reason I made the choice for my pick the way I did)! And where the hell is Kesha?! So, all that being taken into consideration, it is almost like it is by design for Bieber to get the win here.

As for Record, Album and Song - the Academy got ballsy with some of the nominees in these categories - they will either stop it there or go all the way. I say RUN WITH IT!

Please...take the Granny out of Grammy - for once in your lives!

Record of the Year

This has to be one of the best contests ever at the Grammy Awards - there are so many ways they could go.

My Pick: EMPIRE STATE OF MIND - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

Angela Hunte, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Shux, producers;

Ken "Duro" Ifill, Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton & Ann Mincieli,

engineers/mixers

Track from: The Blueprint 3

[Roc Nation]

My Prediction: NOTHIN' ON YOU - B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars

The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine, engineer/mixer

Track from: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray

[Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

So, like, where have you gone this past year where you haven't heard these two songs booming out of somebody's speakers. THAT is what Record of the Year should be about. Sure, I could get lazy and predict Lady Antebellum here. Because if the Academy stays safe, as they probably will, then YES, Lady Antebellum will get Record, Song and Album - something tells me that isn't gonna be the case this time around - we already had that surprise sweep a few years back a la Dixie Chicks and haven't heard a peep from them since.

Album of the Year

My Pick & Prediction: Recovery - Eminem [Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]

Grammy loves career defining albums and this is one of them. Not counting any of the other nominees out here, just that Eminem has the momentum this year is all.

Song of the Year

My Pick: F*** YOU - Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters

(Cee Lo Green) [Elektra]

My Prediction: NEED YOU NOW - Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott,

songwriters (Lady Antebellum) (Track from: Need You Now) [Capitol Records Nashville; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing/DWHaywood Music/Radiobulletspublishing, EMI

Foray Music/Hillary Dawn Songs, Year of the Dog Music, Darth Buddha Music]

I really will squeal with delight if Cee Lo Green actually wins here. What a statement the Academy would make by embracing this. They may think the nomination is enough. though.

Best New Artist

My Pick: Florence & the Machine (wouldn't mind Drake, although he had 2 nods LAST year)

My Prediction: Justin Bieber

GRAMMY Watch - Pop Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

As I wind up my Grammy Award preview, I do so while nursing a bad bug. I had planned to post real time tomorrow evening both here and on Twitter, but in lieu of me fighting whatever bug is currently going around, I have decided to rest up tomorrow. I guess, for what it is worth, it is a bit better than my coverage last year - where I waited till the last minute to post my predictions then caught one helluva flu bug and couldn't even finish my picks & predictions. I didn't even watch any of the telecast, I was so bad off. And anyone who knows me, knows, that was a first time ever life experience. I normally make it a point to catch all of the major show business awards shows. To miss an Grammy Award telecast is unheard of! Well, it happened. My best case scenario will be to rest up as much as I can tonight and tomorrow, nurse this bug, watch the Awards telecast, go back to sleep and wake up Monday and carry my fat behind on into the office. Not an exciting plan, but a plan nonetheless.

It is what it is. It is what I can do.

That being said, I still have some picks and predicting to do.

Best Pop Female Vocal Performance

Did they REALLY have to nominate a live performance of Halo by Be-YAWN-say? Seriously. I already told you I was under the weather. Are they trying to kill me already? Norah Jones has already been over rewarded as well. I wouldn't mind seeing Sara Bereilles pull an upset, but I am betting that won't happen. It is definitely between Gaga and Perry, at least - it should be.

My Pick: BAD ROMANCE - Lady Gaga (Track from: The Fame Monster)

[Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope]

My Prediction: TEENAGE DREAM - Katy Perry (Track from: Teenage Dream) [Capitol Records]

Best Pop Male Vocal Performance

Though he doesn't deserve it, Michael Jackson will receive the first of many (to come over the next several years) posthumous Grammy Awards this year. And it is a shame, because actually his This Is It is the weakest of the five nominees. I actually hope he loses here, but I know better. Don't mean to sound cold and heartless, but that was just about how I felt about his delivery in this wretched song.

My Pick: JUST THE WAY YOU ARE - Bruno Mars [Elektra]

My Prediction: THIS IS IT - Michael Jackson [Epic]

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

The Glee cast is nominated? Really? WTF? Are you effing kidding me?

My pick: BABYFATHER - Sade (Track from: Soldier Of Love) [Epic]

My Prediction: HEY, SOUL SISTER (LIVE) - Train (Columbia)

I also wouldn't mind Maroon 5 winning here.

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

I almost kinda want California Gurls by Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg to win, only because poor ol' Snoop has never gotten Grammy gold. Always the nominee, never a winner. Poor fella. And I would pick Telephone, but that would mean Be-YAWN-say would have another undeserved Grammy Award. Love Lady Gaga, but that is where I draw the line.

My Pick: IMAGINE - Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff

Beck & Oumou Sangare (Track from: The Imagine Project) [Hancock Records]

My Prediction: AIRPLANES, PART II - B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams (Track from: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray) [Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

My Pick: NESSUN DORMA - Jeff Beck (Track from: Emotion & Commotion) [Rhino]

My Prediction: SLEEPWALK - The Brian Setzer Orchestra (Track from: Don't Mess With A Big Band) [Surfdog Records]

Best Pop Instrumental Album

My Pick & Prediciton: EVERYTHING IS EVERYTHING: THE MUSIC OF DONNY

HATHAWAY - Kirk Whalum [Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue]

Best Pop Vocal Album

I kinda want Susan Boyle to win here, even over Gaga. Tough competition. Anyone, but Bieber will do - and I truly think Perry has the edge. Her album screams Pop music of today. I think she will prevail.

My Pick: I DREAMED A DREAM - Susan Boyle [Sony/SYCO Music/Columbia Records]

My Prediction: TEENAGE DREAM - Katy Perry [Capitol Records]

GRAMMY WATCH - Dance and Traditional Pop Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

While I may be gaga over Lady GaGa, I wonder about how the Academy may feel about her. Seeing as the jury is still out as to why Bad Romance wasn't a Record or Song of the Year nominee - it is tough to call her as the winner in the wee dance cat. That being said, I am hopeful. As for Traditional Pop - Michael Buble seems to be the popular choice, I am always a fan of Barbra Striesand - and, hey, Johnny Mathis has never even won a Grammy Award, although he is in the Recording Academy's prestigious Hall of Fame - I think he is way overdue, as he still sounds as smooth as silk. We shall see, if Grammy does the right thing here.

Don't bet on it though.

Best Dance Recording

My Pick: DANCE IN THE DARK - Lady Gaga; Fernando Garibay & Lady Gaga, producers; Robert Orton, mixer (Track from: The Fame Monster) [Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope]

My Prediction: ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) - Rihanna [Island Def Jam]

And don't count out LaRoux - they are the only ones in this category nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album - so they may pull an upset...BUT, I think Rihanna's ties with R&B, Rap & Pop voting members will pull her through over La GaGa.

Best Electronic/Dance Album

My Pick & Prediction: FURTHER - [Astralwerks] - The Chemical Brothers

Chemical Brothers is well known and beloved in this category. However, and again, don't count out LaRoux. People who didn't for them in the previous category may think they are worthy here. And then there is always Groove Armada - just depends how electronic they want to go here.

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

My Pick & Prediction: LET IT BE ME: MATHIS IN NASHVILLE - Johnny Mathis

[Columbia Records]

I really want Mathis to win, so I will predict him...lol, as if that will make it so. Michael Buble, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart & Barbra Streisand are all here - WOW! What a competition, when you really look at it. Shall be interesting... Part of me still thinks Buble really, but I am putting the positive vibes in the universe to finally give Mr. Mathis his due already.

GRAMMY WATCH - R&B Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

Grammy loves a comeback... No... Better yet, Grammy LOVES a comeback, and that sentiment may show more here in the R&B music field more so than anywhere else on the Grammy ballot this year. Soul/R&B music surely has gotten younger these past years. We can surely see that there is a whole new crop of neo-soul veterans here. The genre has totally opened itself up to new, yet very familiar faces. I think some of these categories are the hardest to call and, if I were a betting man, I would think a lot of these races are really too close to call. A lot will depend if the Grammy voters are going for sentiment vs. talent, vice versa - or a little of both. I am hoping for the latter of the three scenarios.

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

What can I say? With Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Jill Scott out of the running this category should be quite interesting to see who comes up the eventual winner.

My Pick: EVERYTHING TO ME - Monica (track from "Still Standing") [J Records]

My Prediction: BITTERSWEET - Fantasia (Track from "Back to Me") [J Records/19 Recordings LLC/ S Records)

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

I really want El DeBarge to win this for some reason. He went through hell and back in his personal life and has taken his comeback, criticisms and applause all in stride - and, you know what, this latest album is his best work, in my opinion. When I spoke of comebacks, this is the type of story I was talking about. Not the pseudo-type of comeback from say....mmmm, the likes of Fantasia - you know, song-stressed diva takes a bottle of pills crying suicide and is wheeled out on cue some two weeks later on every talk show imaginable - and all within the month before her album's release. mmmm-Yeah, right - okay. Whatever. Hope, for her sake, that was all just a string of coincidences. Either way, I have a feeling she will get the Grammy in the previous mentioned category. Not saying she is a shoo-in, but she had the story this year out of those five nominees, even if it was only a story for five minutes. Here, in the male category, either man would be getting his due. It is quite competitive. I think Usher has the momentum, but I sure wouldn't mind being wrong - THIS time.

My Pick: SECOND CHANCE - El DeBarge [Geffen]

My Prediction: THERE GOES MY BABY - Usher (Track from: Raymond V Raymond) [Jive/ LaFace]

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Ugh... Why, oh why do I get the feeling Aretha Franklin will win another undeserved Grammy Award? Okay, yell... scream - beat me up, but you know what I am saying. We all love Aretha, but dayum... I can count at least a few of her Grammy wins from the past that were questionable. She IS the Queen of Soul, so she IS unbeatable a lot of the times. I am just saying, this one she can sit out - health problems this past year, Lord knows, I said some prayers for ol' girl, but her duet with Ronald Isley is certainly not the best in this category. Not this time around. This category used to be so competitive too. Back when the likes of The Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Four Tops and the like were around. What has happened to the GOOD R&B groups? Lately this category has been laced with artists featuring artists and duets and vice versas...who can keep up? And then there is Sade, who really is more of a solo artist seemingly being nice to her back up band. That is cute and I think she should win in any category, but she has cost herself more Grammy wins spreading the wealth for sure. I am sure she could care less, as that is the type of artist she appears to be - all for the art foregoing accolades; if accolades come, so be it - she seems very 'comme ce, comme ca' about it all. And the jury is out on whether Soldier of Love should even be in this category. It feels more pop, than r&b to me, which is THE ONLY reason I actually didn't select Sade as my pick for this category.

So, don't get it twisted. This is in no way an attack on our beloved Aretha. The whole category is jacked anymore. May the best (well, er....) one win.

My Pick: SHINE - John Legend & The Roots (Track from: Wake Up!) [G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia Records/Home School Records]

My Prediction: YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND - Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin [Island/Def Jam Recordings]

Gee, I hope I am wrong.

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Great to see Betty Wright getting a mention in this category and I wouldn't mind seeing John Legend and The Roots pulling an upset here, but there is that but... That being said...

My Pick & Prediction: WHEN A WOMAN LOVES - R. Kelly [Jive Records]

STRONGEST R&B joint I have heard in years, I think R will be hard to beat here.

Best Urban/Alternative Performance

While I love Janelle Monae, Cee Lo Green pretty much has this one in the bag. His song is not only nominated in the top two categories on the ballot (Record & Song of the Year), it resonates with just about anyone who has been jaded. Finally, someone put these words to a catchy tune - not to mention what it says about freedom of speech and for censorship. Bravo, Mr. Green!

My Pick & Prediction: F*** YOU - Cee Lo Green [Elektra]

Best R&B Song

My Pick & Prediction: SECOND CHANCE - El Debarge & Mischke, songwriters (El DeBarge)

[Geffen; Publishers: myElmusic, mischemusic/Universal Music]

Best R&B Album

My Pick & Prediction: WAKE UP! - John Legend & The Roots [G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia Records/Home School Records]

I wouldn't mind Jaheim sneakin' in here as well. I just think John Legend's work with The Roots is inspiring on many different levels - and I think Grammy will feel the same way too.

Best Contemporary R&B Album

My Pick: THE ARCHANDROID - Janelle Monáe [Bad Boy/Wondaland/Atlantic]

I know she doesn't have a snow cone's chance in Phoenix of winning, but dang what an upset it would be!

My Prediction: RAYMOND V RAYMOND - Usher [Jive]

Don't count R Kelly out here either. Usher's album had more hits though and he resonates with more of the general voting body, in my opinion.

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on Sunday, February 13, 2011 on CBS at 8pm, EST. For complete coverage and full list of nominees, please visit the Grammy website.

-----

This marks my 250th blog post here - Thank YOU for your continued support!

GRAMMY WATCH - Rap Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

I remember when the rap category emerged in the late 1980s and everybody in the industry was thinking it may not last, but a few years. Well, guess what? It is it's own field now with five categories and a lot of the nominees in this field have crossed over into many other fields, including the top four general categories. Eminem is definitely one to watch this year, as he leads all artists with the most nominations (with 10). He has already won a career 11 Grammy Awards in the past and could make a bit of history by getting into the over 20 club. Even if he wins five awards Grammy night, he will be in the elite top ten all-time artists with the most Grammy Award wins. For more on this, check out the article on it at Wikipedia.

Best Rap Solo Performance

My Pick: OVER - Drake (Track from: Thank Me Later) [Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown]

My Prediction: NOT AFRAID - Eminem (Track from: Recovery) [Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

My Pick & Prediction: ON TO THE NEXT ONE - Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz (Track from: The Blueprint 3) [Roc Nation]

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

THREE of the nominees in this category are also nominated for Record of the Year. That has to be historical somehow. This one is so hard to call. I know which one I would vote for, but as to who will actually win - it is a toss up. I based my prediction on how a 'General' voting body of the recording academy may vote. See, voting members of the recording academy vote in the four general categories and can vote in up to no more than eight (8) of the 29 fields of music. So, let's say I were a voting member of the Academy. My field of expertise is Spoken Word, but I have also dabbled in a bit of music theory and know a thing or two about other fields of music. So I would vote for the top four general categories and my field of Spoken Word, but I would also be able to vote in Pop, Rap, R&B, Classical, Production, etc. up to seven more fields. So, honey, someone from Streisand to Swizz Beatz could vote from Pop to Rap to Country to Gospel in two seconds flat - so, I had to really think that process through when predicting this category (and some other ones too) . So, keep that in mind before complaining, if one of your favorite artists doesn't win come Awards night.

My Pick: EMPIRE STATE OF MIND - Jay-Z & Alicia Keys (Track from: The Blueprint 3

[Roc Nation]

My Prediction: LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE - Eminem & Rihanna (Track from: Recovery)

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]

BUT, part of me thinks Nothin' On You, too...ugh... lol - see what I mean? Ha!

Best Rap Song

My Pick: EMPIRE STATE OF MIND - Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters

(Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys) (Track from: The Blueprint 3)

[Roc Nation; Publishers: Carter Boys Music/Al Shuckburgh/Global Talent Publishing/Foray Music/Masani Elshabazz Music/EMI April Music/J Sewell Publishing/Lellow

Productions/Twenty Nine Black Music/Gambi Music]

My Prediction: LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE - Alexander Grant, Holly Hafferman & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem & Rihanna) (Track from: Recovery) [Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Shroom Shady Music/Universal Music

Publishing/Universal Music-Z Songs/Hotel Bravo Music/M. Shop Publishing]

Love the Way You Lie is the only song in this category nominated for Song of the Year, so it seems logical to think it will win here. However, two songs by Eminem from his Recover album are nominated in this category. He may cancel himself out. It is too bad because Not Afraid seems like such an anthem to me. Nothin' On You could also rain on his parade here too. Something about the pop feel to that tune makes me think it will resonate with more Academy voters. These rap cats will be close though, throughout - and I love it. It says a lot about a music genre that so many were so against early on.

Best Rap Album

My Pick: HOW I GOT OVER - The Roots [Def Jam Recordings]

Hey, what can I say? Jimmy Fallon's late night gab fest is one of my favorite shows and The Roots do so well as his band. I gotta show them some love. Just plain, good BAND music. Love them for their style. They truly have their own sound that sets them apart from their contemporaries, but let;s face it... We know there is a shoo-in in this category hands down...

My Prediction: RECOVERY - Eminem [Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]

Only Jay-Z could pull an upset here, and it would be deservedly so.

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on Sunday, February 13, 2011 on CBS at 8pm, EST. For complete coverage and a full list of nominees, please visit the Grammy website.

GRAMMY WATCH - New Age & Jazz Music Categories

My pre- Grammy Award coverage gets jazzed up! Ha. Some fine, fabulous and beloved artists are always in these categories. Again, very competitive this year, but with all the veteran musicians in this field of music, I would expect nothing less. So, grab a nice glass of wine and check out some of these recordings - and chill out!

Best New Age Album

Kitaro's music is just about as close to heaven one can get, musically.

My Pick & Prediction: SACRED JOURNEY OF KU-KAI, VOLUME 4 - Kitaro

[Domo Records] (pictured, CREDIT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER)

Best Contemporary Jazz Album

My Pick & Prediction: THE STANLEY CLARKE BAND - The Stanley Clarke Band

[Heads Up International]

FYI - Jeff Lorber Fusion may give Stanley a run for his money though.

Best Jazz Vocal Album

My Pick & Prediction: ELEANORA FAGAN (1915-1959): TO BILLIE WITH LOVE

FROM DEE DEE - Dee Dee Bridgewater [Emarcy]

Ms. Bridgewater has kinda owned this category in recent years, after many years of being nominated without wins. Now that she has been winning, I think she has this one in the bag - and deservedly so.

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

What a battle we are in for! Just sayin'.

My Pick: A CHANGE IS GONNA COME - Herbie Hancock, soloist Track from: The Imagine Project [Hancock Records]

My Prediction: VAN GOGH - Wynton Marsalis, soloist Track from: Portrait In Seven Shades (Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra) [Jazz At Lincoln Center]

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group

My Pick & Prediction: MOODY 4B - James Moody [IPO Recordings]

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

My Pick & Prediction: 54 - Metropole Orkest, John Scofield & Vince Mendoza

[Emarcy/Universal]

Best Latin Jazz Album

My Pick & Prediction: CHUCHO'S STEPS - Chucho Valdés And The Afro-Cuban Messengers

[Four Quarters Entertainment]

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on Sunday, February 13, 2011 on CBS at 8pm, EST. For complete coverage and a full list of nominees, please visit the Grammy website.

GRAMMY WATCH: Gospel Categories - Picks & Predictions

Traditionally crossover artists have fared very well in the Gospel categories like Amy Grant, Bebe & Cece Winans, Shirley Caesar, Ricky Skaggs and Lalah Hathaway - all nominees this year (some multiple times) and all with storied, well traveled careers. It should be a big night for these and other Gospel music artists. Praise God, it was a banner year!

Best Gospel Performance

My Pick: HE'S BEEN JUST THAT GOOD - Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway Track from: The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter III [Rendezvous Music/ Mack Avenue Records]

My Prediction: GRACE - BeBe & CeCe Winans Track from: Still [B&C/Malaco]

Best Gospel Song

My Pick: IT'S WHAT I DO - Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum &

Lalah Hathaway) Track from: The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter III [Rendezvous Music/ Mack Avenue Records; Publishers: Whalumusic/Jerry Peters Music]

My Prediction: RETURN TO SENDER - Gordon Kennedy, songwriter (Ricky Skaggs)

Track from: Mosaic [Skaggs Family Records; Publishers]

Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album

My Pick: CHURCH MUSIC - David Crowder Band [Sparrow Records / Sixstepsrecords]

My Prediction: BEAUTIFUL THINGS - Gungor [Brash Music]

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album

My Pick & Prediction: MOSAIC - Ricky Skaggs [Skaggs Family Records]

Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album

My Pick & Prediction: THE REASON - Diamond Rio [Word]

Although I liked Ty Herndon's Journey On too - it will be very close I think.

Best Traditional Gospel Album

This is a very competitive category this year, probably one of the most competitive one's in this category. Back in the day, Shirley Caesar was unbeatable and she is always my favorite. That being said, I think she may be sitting this one out.

My Pick: A CITY CALLED HEAVEN - Shirley Caesar [Light Records]

My Prediction: HERE I AM - Marvin Sapp [Verity]

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

My Pick & Prediction: STILL - BeBe & CeCe Winans [B&C/Malaco]

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on Sunday, February 13, 2011 on CBS at 8pm, EST. For complete coverage and a full list of nominees, please visit the Grammy website.

GRAMMY WATCH - Latin Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

While I personally don't understand, or perhaps do not agree with NARAS continuous inclusion of the Latin music categories for the regular Grammy Awards (since they have a Latin wing to the recording academy now that also present the Latin Grammy Awards), the fact remains these categories still exist. So, here goes with my picks and predictions in these categories. It just seems like the Latin artists get to double dip every year now and I don't understand why they branched off in the first place, other than to pull more money out of it's membership and advertisers to have a separate awards show for this particular wing.

Best Latin Pop Album

My Pick & Prediction:

PARAISO EXPRESS - Alejandro Sanz [Warner Music Latina] (pictured)

Best Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban Album

My Pick: 1977 - Ana Tijoux [Nacional Redcords]

My Prediction: BULEVAR 2000 - Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich+Fussible

[Nacional Records]

Best Tropical Latin Album

My Pick: VIVA LA TRADICIÓN - Spanish Harlem Orchestra [Concord Picante]

My Prediction: IRREPETIBLE - Gilberto Santa Rosa [Sony Music Latin]

Best Tejano Album

My Pick: COOKIN - Tortilla Factory [Tortilla Records]

My Prediction: RECUERDOS - Little Joe & La Familia [TDI Records]

Best Norteño Album

My Pick: CLASSIC - Intocable [Sony Music Latin]

My Prediction: INDISPENSABLE - Angel Fresnillo [Disa Universal Music]

Best Banda Album

My Pick & Prediction: CON LA FUERZA DEL CORRIDO - El Chapo [Disa Universal]

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 13, 2011 on CBS at 8pm, EST. For complete coverage and full list of nominees, please visit the Grammy website.

GRAMMY WATCH: Americana and Bluegrass Categories (American Roots) - Picks & Predictions

This weekend, I will be resuming my pre-Grammy Awards coverage with my picks and predictions in ALL categories. I have done this for many years and am finally doing it on my blog. Last year, I waited till the last minute, got the flu day of the Awards and totally could not finish the task. There is so much music out there and I embrace it all. This year's Americana category has five great nominees Rosanne Cash, Los Lobos, Willie Nelson, Robert Plant and Mavis Staples. It has to be one of the most competitive categories this year. Holy canoli!

Best Americana Album

My Pick: COUNTRY MUSIC - Willie Nelson [Rounder]

My Prediction: BAND OF JOY - Robert Plant [Rounder]

Best Bluegrass Album

My Pick & Prediction:

MOUNTAIN SOUL II - Patty Loveless [Saguaro Road]

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on CBS on Sunday, February 13 at 8pm, EST. For complete coverage and list of nominees, please visit the Grammy website.

GRAMMY WATCH - Blues (American Roots) Categories - Picks & Predicitons

Can you say 'ladies night'? For once, the two blues categories could (and should) go to two vibrant divas in song. Blues music (at least as far as Grammy's goes) seems to be nothing more than a Gentleman's club to date. Since the category's inception in 1970, when it was Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording (including Traditional Blues), only four women have won in one or the other (two newer categories are Best Traditional Blues or Best Contemporary Blues Album). Koko Taylor was the first (albeit in a group) in 1984 for Blues Explosion. Bonnie Raitt won (in a duet with John Lee Hooker) in 1989. Etta James was actually the first female solo winner in the category (Contemporary) in 2003 for Let's Roll!. James won her second in 2004 (this time in the Traditional category) for Blues to the Bone. Irma Thomas' After the Rain won in 2006 (Contemporary).

This year the Billboard Blues charts were dominated by two female artists in particular - Cyndi Lauper & Bettye LaVette. Both are nominated and I believe each lady has a strong chance at making a bit of history - even if I am the only one to take notice. Both recordings are solid efforts and both artists have certainly paid their dues and are quite deserving. Both are up against some of the best of the best in Blues music, legends even, many past winners numerous times in their respective categories.

That being said - it just may be time for the gentlemen to step to the side and let the Divas of Blues have their day, if not night.

Kudos to them both!

Best Contemporary Blues Album

My Pick & Prediction:

INTERPRETATIONS: THE BRITISH ROCK SONGBOOK

Bettye LaVette

[ANTI-]

Best Traditional Blues Album

My Pick & Prediction:

MEMPHIS BLUES

Cyndi Lauper

[Mercer Street Records]

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on Sunday, February 13, 2011 on CBS at 8pm, EST. To get full coverage and to see the complete list of nominees, please visit the Grammy site.

GRAMMY WATCH - Folk, Hawaiian, Native American, Zydeco & Cajun (American Roots) Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

One of the continuously growing fields of music that has expanded the most with the Grammy Awards is folk music. It used to be just one category, then the Academy split between two (traditional & contemporary), then in the last decade or so came a separate category for Native American music, then Hawaiian music and, most recently, Zydeco or Cajun music. I have included links to a variety of articles and websites (just hover over each genre previously listed) to give an idea of what each one sounds like and why they actually differ from one another. I found my research fascinating and it did assist me in my picks and predictions, which in these specialty categories I have found I either do (or guess) very well, or tank terribly. I am proud to say, this year I have researched my little Grammy project the most than previous years, so it will be interesting to see what my batting average ends up being when all is said and done.

Best Hawaiian Music Album

My Pick & Prediction:

HUANA KE ALOHA

Tia Carrere

[Daniel Ho Creations]

Best Traditional Folk Album

Ricky Skaggs can do no wrong. Musically, his use of instrumentation has made him legendary in Bluegrass, Country and Southern Gospel music - all genres which he has won Grammy Awards for in the past. This, his first solo effort, I am sure Grammy voters will award him in a fourth genre - that being in Folk music. Very well deserved.

My Pick & Prediction:

RICKY SKAGGS SOLO: SONGS MY DAD LOVED

Ricky Skaggs

[Skaggs Family Records]

Best Contemporary Folk Album

My Pick:

LOVE IS STRANGE - EN VIVO CON TINO

Jackson Browne & David Lindley

[Inside Recordings]

My Prediction:

THE AGE OF MIRACLES

Mary Chapin Carpenter

[Zoe Records]

Best Native American Music Album

My Pick & Prediction:

XI

Bear Creek

[Canyon Records]

Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album

My Pick:

ZYDECO JUNKIE

Chubby Carrier And The Bayou Swamp Band

[Swampadellic Records]

My Prediction:

CREOLE MOON: LIVE AT THE BLUE MOON SALOON

Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole

[Valcour Records]

or vice versa...lol

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on Sunday, February 13, 2010 on CBS at 8pm, EST. For complete coverage and full nominees list, please visit the Grammy site.

GRAMMY WATCH - World Music and Reggae Categories - Picks & Predictions

While my personal growing love for world music, most notably the poetry and rhythms of Reggae, some artists I have come to love went unnoticed this year. Some of these lesser known about Grammy fields have a seemingly separate set of rules, and eligibility ends August 31st now - as opposed to the many years when the awards year ended the end of September. Not sure if that has anything to do with NAS & Damien Jr. Gong Marley's sensational and instantly classic Distant Relatives album or Gyptian's triumphant breakthrough effort with Hold You not being nominated in the reggae category or not, but these two omissions peeved me the morning the Grammy nominations were announced.

PLEASE tell me it is a simple release date issue and they will have a chance next year. Clearly, these two discs were two of the best albums of the year, let alone 'reggae' albums and for them to not be Grammy nominated gives me a headache. LOL. Now, don't get me wrong, the six nominated albums are not chopped liver. The fact that none of them topped the charts on Billboard leads me to also believe that either Billboard needs to expand the cap on their Reggae chart or the musical genre is growing faster than people can track and chart it.

Either way, steps need to be taken to get these Reggae and World Music artists more airplay, sales and recognition. Their booming sounds and percussive passion is like heaven.

Best Reggae Album

The fact that Gregory Isaacs left this earth last year without ever getting a Grammy mention is disturbing to me. I hope the voters feel the same way and give him a posthumous win here. The competition is fierce though, Buju Banton, Lee Perry, Bob Sinclair, Sly & Robbie and Andrew Tosh's heartfelt tribute to legendary Peter Tosh were all finely made albums (again supporting my argument about the broader appeal this genre has obtained in recent years). It just all goes back to Gregory Isaacs for me, and with such a vast amount of his hundreds of recordings and his crossover appeal to Children's music and R&B - he should get the Grammy he should have gotten way before now.

My Pick & Prediction:

ISAACS MEETS ISAAC

Gregory Isaacs & King Isaac

[King Isaac Music]

Best Traditional World Music Album

If the Soweto Gospel Choir doesn't get a Grammy win in the Classical categories they are mentioned in, I think they will definitely win here. Their sounds is about as close to God one can get, musically. Truly, a triumphant and joyous story - and recording.

My Pick & Prediction:

GRACE

Soweto Gospel Choir

[Shanachie Entertainment]

Best Contemporary World Music Album

Bela Fleck is, and will always be hard to beat. Anyone who knows the history, knows this.

...but I liked what I heard from Sergio Mendes a little bit more.

My Pick:

BOM TEMPO

Sergio Mendes

[Concord Records]

My Prediction:

THROW DOWN YOUR HEART , AFRICA SESSIONS

PART 2: UNRELEASED TRACKS

Béla Fleck

[Acoustic Planet Records]

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on Sunday, February 13, 2011 on CBS at 8pm, EST. For complete coverage and full nominees list, please visit the Grammy site.

GRAMMY WATCH - Children's, Spoken Word & Comedy Categories - Picks & Predicitions

IF I were a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), this would be my niche field of expertise. I have to admit, as the years have gone by these categories have gotten much broader and more competitive. They certainly offer up Grammy choices to some of the finest actors and comedians...people who one would not normally consider a Grammy Award contender.

Best Musical Album For Children

The fact that 91 year old Pete Seeger is still effectively making music is worthy of an award in and of itself. I think he will win here, no problem.

My Pick & Prediction:

TOMORROW'S CHILDREN

Pete Seeger With The Rivertown Kids And Friends

[Appleseed]

Best Spoken Word Album For Children

This looks to be a showdown between two British dames. Emma Thompson is nominated for her whimsical reading of Nanny McPhee Returns, but Julie Andrews project pretty much covered her life's work and impressed me more. I think the Academy will reward her for her efforts.

My Pick & Prediction:

JULIE ANDREWS' COLLECTION OF POEMS, SONGS,

AND LULLABIES

Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton

[Hachette Audio]

Best Spoken Word Album

This is a very competitive category this year, and the material covers such a wide variety one has to think when predicting these categories who in the Academy has selected Spoken Word as one of their niches. If it is the younger voters, Sarah Silverman and Craig Ferguson have an edge. Elder Academy members may vote Carol Burnett or Woody Allen's way. Those in the middle, or with a vast taste for all things young, old and in between may give it to Jon Stewart or Michael J. Fox. Plus, Fox is always, always a sentimental favorite for his fight with Parkinson's. Just about anything he has been nominated for this past decade he has won - and I think he will win here as well. Though, part of me hopes I am wrong, because I am always lead to wonder if he is winning because the work is actually good - or because of his condition.

My Pick:

THIS TIME TOGETHER: LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION

Carol Burnett [Random House Audio]

My Prediction:

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE

FUTURE...

Michael J. Fox [Hyperion Audio]

Best Comedy Album

This category has a who's who in today's comedy. All of these albums will have you rolling on the floor in laughter in some spots and most have a companion DVD. Flight of the Conchords has an edge, being the only predominantly musical choice. The other four: Margaret Cho, Kathy Griffin, Lewis Black and Robin Williams spoken word feats showcase some amazing writing - and, most importantly, delivery skills. Kudos to all five, because this category had lost its luster for awhile. It is definitely back!

My Pick:

CHO DEPENDENT

Margaret Cho [Clownery Records]

My Prediction:

5. WEAPONS OF SELF DESTRUCTION

Robin Williams [Columbia Records]

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on CBS on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 8pm, EST. To get complete coverage and see the complete list of nominees, please visit the Grammy website.

GRAMMY WATCH - Musical Show Category - Picks & Predictions

This is TOUGH! This category is always so good and solid to me. Seriously, ANYONE could win. I am not a huge fan of Green Day... Not hating on them, but I just can't really get into their music and was very skeptical when the musical came out. I also think their rock and pop background will help their musical in this particular category. It just seems obvious to me here.

Musically, I can most personally feel, live and thrive my way through FELA! - I just love all the rhythm, and again - the material was a pleasant surprise when adapted into this modern masterpiece of theatre and dance.

For this category, because it is so good, I am listing the full nominations list for it.

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 8pm/EST. For complete coverage and list of nominees, visit the Grammy website.

And the nominees are:

Best Musical Show Album

AMERICAN IDIOT (FEATURING GREEN DAY)

Billie Joe Armstrong, producer (Green Day, composers; Billie

Joe Armstrong, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With John

Gallagher, Jr., Michael Esper & Others) [Reprise]

FELA!

Robert Sher, producer (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, composer; Fela

Anikulapo-Kuti, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With Sahr

Ngaujah, Lillias White & Others) [Knitting Factory]

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Tommy Krasker, producer (Stephen Sondheim, composer;

Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (2009 Broadway Revival Cast

With Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angela Lansbury & Others)

[Nonesuch - PS Classics]

PROMISES, PROMISES

David Caddick & David Lai, producers (Burt Bacharach,

composer; Hal David, lyricist) (New Broadway Cast With

Sean Hayes, Kristin Chenoweth & Others) [Masterworks Broadway]

SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM

Philip Chaffin & Tommy Krasker, producers (Stephen

Sondheim, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (Original

Broadway Cast With Barbara Cook , Vanessa Williams, Tom

Wopat & Others) [PS Classics]

My Pick: FELA!

My Prediction: AMERICAN IDIOT (FEATURING GREEN DAY)

Fasten your seatbelts, it's gonna be a bumpy ride! LOL

GRAMMY WATCH - Package, Notes & Historical Album Categories - Picks & Predictions

This next set of categories in my Grammy Award preview is for the packaging of recordings and Historical Album. These usually cover those big, bawdy, awesome packaged, multiple CD/DVD sets, some with books, all artistically manipulated to give music fans an 'ooh and ahh' experience in their journey.

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on CBS on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 8pm/EST. For complete Grammy Award coverage and to see the complete list of nominees, be sure to visit the Grammy website.

Best Recording Package

Not sure why it took 5 people to create the packaging for Eggs by Oh No Ono, it was so simple.

My pick & prediction:

HADESTOWN

Brian Grunert, art director (Anaïs Mitchell)

[Righteous Babe Records]

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

My pick & prediction:

UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS (LIMITED

EDITION BOX SET)

Rob Jones & Jack White III, art directors (The White Stripes)

[Third Man/Warner Bros.]

Best Album Notes

My pick & prediction:

ALAN LOMAX IN HAITI: RECORDINGS FOR THE

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 1936-1937

Gage Averill, album notes writer (Various Artists)

[Harte Recordings]

Best Historical Album

My pick:

ALAN LOMAX IN HAITI: RECORDINGS FOR THE

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 1936-1937

Jeffrey A. Greenberg, David Katznelson & Anna Lomax

Wood, compilation producers; Steve Rosenthal & Warren

Russell-Smith, mastering engineers (Various Artists)

[Harte Recordings]

My prediction:

THE BEATLES (THE ORIGINAL STUDIO RECORDINGS)

Jeff Jones, compilation producer; Paul Hicks, Sean Magee,

Guy Massey, Sam Okell & Steve Rooke, mastering engineers

(The Beatles) [Capitol/Apple]

GRAMMY WATCH - Production, Remixer & Surround Sound Categories - Picks & Predictions

My Grammy Award preview coverage continues with those behind the scenes categories, which showcase some very important processes in the recording industry. For full coverage and list of nominees, feel free to visit the Grammy website. The Grammy Awards will be telecast live on CBS on Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 8pm/EST.

Best Surround Sound Album

My pick:

SONGS AND STORIES (MONSTER MUSIC VERSION)

Don Murray, surround mix engineer; Sangwook Nam & Doug

Sax, surround mastering engineers; John Burk, Noel Lee &

Marcus Miller, surround producers (George Benson)

[Concord Records/Monster Music]

My prediction:

BRITTEN'S ORCHESTRA

Keith O. Johnson, surround mix engineer; Keith O. Johnson,

surround mastering engineer; David Frost, surround

producer (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)

[Reference Recordings]

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

My pick & prediction:

REVOLVER (DAVID GUETTA'S ONE LOVE CLUB

REMIX)

David Guetta, remixer (Madonna)

[Warner Bros.]

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Tight category and, as usual, there are a couple of questionable ones (Rob Cavallo & Danger Mouse) and a couple glaring omissions (will.i.am & Timbaland). I think it will be a battle between Redone and The Smeezingtons between the two parties were nothin' but chart topping #1 songs.

My pick:

REDONE

• Alejandro (Lady Gaga) (S)

• Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) (S)

• The Fame Monster (Lady Gaga) (A)

• I Like It (Enrique Iglesias Featuring Pitbull) (S)

• More (Usher) (T)

• We Are The World 25 For Haiti (Artists For Haiti) (S)

• Whole Lotta Love (Mary J. Blige) (S)

My prediction:

THE SMEEZINGTONS (BRUNO MARS, PHILIP

LAWRENCE, ARI LEVINE) (pictured; CREDIT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER)

• Billionaire (Travie McCoy Featuring Bruno Mars) (T)

• Bow Chicka Wow Wow (Mike Posner) (T)

• F*** You (Cee Lo Green) (S)

• Island Queen (Sean Kingston) (T)

• Just The Way You Are (Bruno Mars) (S)

• Nothin' On You (B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars) (T)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

My pick & prediction:

BATTLE STUDIES

Michael H. Brauer, Joe Ferla, Chad Franscoviak & Manny

Marroquin, engineers (John Mayer)

GRAMMY WATCH - Classical Music Categories - Picks & Predictions

The Classical categories are always a crap shoot for me. I do my best to research the nominees, but there are always so many. For this post, I am listing only my picks and predictions. For the complete list, as always, visit the Grammy website. Some years, I am on the money and others not so much. My picks are what I like from what I have heard. Predictions, on the other hand, are hard for me as a lot of times I have to base it on history and instinct. Although, that pretty much is what predicting the way an industry may go, as opposed to another, is all about. It depends on if this year will be one when a label or symphony orchestra votes in a bloc or not. Yes, this does happen with the Grammy Awards, in my opinion, and historically it shows it's face more so in these Classical categories more than anywhere else. We shall see. Wish me luck - I'm going in...

Best Classical Vocal Performance

My Pick & Prediction:

OMBRE DE MON AMANT - FRENCH BAROQUE ARIAS

Anne Sofie Von Otter (William Christie; Les Arts Florissants)

[Deutsche Grammophon] (pictured, CREDIT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER)

Best Classical Contemporary Composition

My Pick & Prediction:

DAUGHERTY, MICHAEL: DEUS EX MACHINA

Michael Daugherty (Giancarlo Guerrero)

Track from: Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony [Naxos]

Best Small Ensemble Performance

My Pick:

VICTORIA: LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH

Peter Phillips, conductor; The Tallis Scholars [Gimell]

My Prediction:

CEREMONY AND DEVOTION - MUSIC FOR THE

TUDORS - Harry Christophers, conductor; The Sixteen [CORO]

Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra)

It will be a battle between the Decca artists.

My pick:

CHOPIN: THE NOCTURNES - Nelson Freire [Decca]

My prediction:

PAGANINI: 24 CAPRICES - Julia Fischer [Decca]

Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)

My pick:

MOZART: PIANO CONCERTOS NOS. 23 & 24

Mitsuko Uchida (The Cleveland Orchestra) [Decca]

My prediction:

DAUGHERTY: DEUS EX MACHINA

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Terrence Wilson (Nashville

Symphony) Track from: Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony [Naxos]

Best Choral Performance

My pick & prediction:

VERDI: REQUIEM

Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master (Ildar

Abdrazakov, Olga Borodina, Barbara Frittoli & Mario

Zeffiri; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony

Chorus) [CSO Resound]

Best Opera Recording

My pick & prediction:

SULLIVAN: IVANHOE

David Lloyd-Jones, conductor; Neal Davies, Geraldine

McGreevy, James Rutherford, Toby Spence & Janice Watson;

Brian Pidgeon, producer (BBC National Orchestra Of Wales;

Adrian Partington Singers) [Chandos]

Best Orchestral Performance

My Pick:

STRAVINSKY: PULCINELLA; SYMPHONY IN THREE

MOVEMENTS; FOUR ÉTUDES

Pierre Boulez, conductor (Roxana Constantinescu, Kyle

Ketelsen & Nicholas Phan; Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

[CSO Resound]

My Prediction:

DAUGHERTY: METROPOLIS SYMPHONY; DEUS EX

MACHINA

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor (Terrence Wilson; Nashville

Symphony) [Naxos]

Best Classical Album

My Pick:

VERDI: REQUIEM

Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master;

Christopher Alder, producer; David Frost, Tom Lazarus &

Christopher Willis, engineers/mixers (Ildar Abdrazakov, Olga

Borodina, Barbara Frittoli & Mario Zeffiri; Chicago

Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus) [CSO Resound]

My prediction:

DAUGHERTY: METROPOLIS SYMPHONY; DEUS EX

MACHINA

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer;

Mark Donahue, John Hill & Dirk Sobotka, engineers/mixers

(Terrence Wilson; Nashville Symphony Orchestra) [Naxos]

Producer of the Year, Classical

My Pick: David Frost

My Prediction: Blanton Aspaugh

Best Engineered Album, Classical

My pick & prediction:

VOCABULARIES

Steve Miller, Allen Sides & Roger Treece, engineers (Bobby

McFerrin) [Emarcy]

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS - Sunday, February 13, 2011.

GRAMMY WATCH - Best Classical Crossover Album - Picks & Predictions

In a year where Sting overtook the Classical Albums charts on Billboard, he is noticeably absent from the Grammy's list for this category. That being said, it is still a dog fight in my eyes. All I can say is WOW! This is what it is all about. Some of the best really shine the brightest here and that is why I covered it alone, as opposed to with the other several Classical categories.

And the nominees are:

Best Classical Crossover Album

MEETING OF THE SPIRITS
Matt Haimovitz (Amaryllis Jarczyk, Jan Jarczyk, John
McLaughlin, Dominic Painchaud, Leanna Rutt & Matt
Wilson) [Oxingale Records]

OFF THE MAP
The Silk Road Ensemble [World Village]

ROOTS - MY LIFE, MY SONG
Jessye Norman (Ira Coleman, Steve Johns, Mike Lovatt,
Mark Markham & Martin Williams) [Sony Classical]

TIN, CHRISTOPHER: CALLING ALL DAWNS
Lucas Richman, conductor (Sussan Deyhim, Lia, Kaori
Omura, Dulce Pontes, Jia Ruhan, Aoi Tada & Frederica von
Stade; Anonymous 4 & Soweto Gospel Choir; Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra) [Tin Works Publishing]

VOCABULARIES
Bobby McFerrin
[Emarcy/Universal

Jessye Norman has had a long and storied career and her look back on not only that in Roots, but her life as well is a surefire tour de force. Silk Road Ensemble and Matt Haimovitz put forth solid efforts. Soweto Gospel Choir with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, just the culmination of that work coming together and the back story of it makes you want to cheer for them. Definitely a heart tugger. Bobby McFerrin will definitely get votes from his pop and jazz families, and deservedly so with him expanding his already broad range. His Vocabularies is definitely a feather in his cap.

My Pick: Jessye Norman

My Predicition: Bobby McFerrin

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on CBS - Sunday, February 13.

For more information on the nominees and for full coverage visit www.grammy.com.

GRAMMY WATCH - Music Video Categories - Predictions & Picks

Last year, I waited till the last minute, got horribly ill and couldn't finish my blogs about the Grammy Awards - with my annual picks and predictions. In fact, for the first time in my life, I totally missed the entire broadcast altogether. Anyone who knows me knows that the four major U.S. showbusiness awards dates are almost like a national holiday for me - these next several blogs will be all about the music, which is food for my soul.

This year, as always, the Grammy nominations provide a hodge podge of what the music industry sees as it's best worthy of recognition. They have gotten younger in their choices, but all in all every category has what should be there along with one or two surprises - and, of course, a few glaring omissions.

I am kicking off my Grammy coverage with two categories that I have always argued whether or not Grammy ever gets it right. Sometimes they reward an artist for career achievement here, without having to give them a vocal Grammy (ie Janet Jackson and Madonna won their first Grammy Awards in these categories), other times they go so left field one wonders who is choosing in these categories (if anyone at all). Short Form is for those videos we lay people seemingly catch on MTV, VH1, et al - Long Form is collections, concerts, documentaries with longer running times.

Best Short Form Music Video

AIN'T NO GRAVE / THE JOHNNY CASH PROJECT

Chris Milk, video director; Jennifer Heath, Aaron Koblin & Rick

Rubin, video producers [American/Universal] (Johnny Cash)

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE (EXPLICIT VERSION)

Joseph Kahn, video director; Maryann Tanedo, video producer

[Aftermath] Eminem & Rihanna

STYLO

Pete Candeland & Jamie Hewlett, video directors; Cara Speller,

video producer

[Virgin Records] Gorillaz, Mos Def & Bobby Womack

F*** YOU

Matt Stawski, video director; Paul Bock, video producer

[Elektra] Cee Lo Green

BAD ROMANCE

Francis Lawrence, video director; Heather Heller, video producer

[Streamline/Interscope/KonLive/Cherrytree] Lady Gaga

I say it is between Lady Gaga and Cee Lo Green. First of all, let it be known I am tickled pink about F*** YOU getting some nominations. It says a lot about censorship, freedom of speech, etc. Cee Lo Green I ain't mad at ya! I love it. However, Lady Gaga simply, very simply worked the hell out of that Bad Romance video and I hope she gets the prize here. Don't count out Eminem & Rihanna (Em has the most nominations this year with 10) and everybody industry wide loves them some Johnny Cass and I wouldn't be surprised if they reward him posthumously here.

My Pick: Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

My Prediction: Bad Romance - Lady Gaga, BUT...she may be 'too popular' for Granny tastes among elder Grammy voters beaming it to Cash, or those who want to make a bold statement guiding Grammy Cee-Lo Green's way.

Best Long Form Music Video

NO DISTANCE LEFT TO RUN

Blur. Will Lovelace, Dylan Southern & Giorgio Testi, video directors;

Thomas Benski, Laura Collins & Lucas Ochoa, video producers

[Parlophone/EMI]

WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE

(The Doors). Tom Dicillo, video director; John Beug, Jeff Jampol, Peter

Jankowski & Dick Wolf, video producers [Eagle Vision]

THE GREATEST EARS IN TOWN: THE ARIF MARDIN

STORY

(Arif Mardin) Doug Biro & Joe Mardin, video directors; Doug Biro & Joe

Mardin, video producers [Nunoise Records]

RUSH: BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE

Rush. Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen, video directors; Sam Dunn & Scot

McFadyen, video producers [Zoe]

UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS

The White Stripes. Emmett Malloy, video director; Ian Montone & Mike Sarkissian,

video producers [Third Man/Warner Bros.]

A lot of history here. The Doors, Rush, Arif Mardin, White Stripes, Blur... WOW!

My pick: Arif Mardin - Gone, but not forgotten - he was such an awesome producer and this would be a nice testament to his legacy.

My prediction: The White Stripes are Grammy darlings and I just have a hunch about this one.

-----

Photo: Lady Gaga, from Nick Knight photo shoot, CREDIT TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on Sundays, February 13 - 8pm on CBS.

For more about the Grammy Awards visit their website.