Richmond isn't one of the biggest cities in the country by any means, but we've had a thriving music scene for a long time, so it's no surprise that when the big awards shows roll around every year, there are always a few local acts in the mix. The Grammys are the longest-running music awards currently being given out on an annual basis, and this year's 55th Annual Grammy Awards has several Richmond-area musicians in competition for awards. Will they win? Let's diagnose their chances right now:
Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
Local Nominee: Lamb Of God, "Ghost Walking"
Why they were nominated: RVA metal veterans Lamb Of God's seventh studio album, Resolution, hit the metal world hard this year, reaching #3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and reaching the #1 spot on the Rock and Hard Rock charts. Lead single "Ghost Walking" is the perfect example of what made the album such a huge hit, mixing traditional Southern tinges with the brand of modern American metal that Lamb Of God have defined with their work over the past decade.
Who they're up against: Anthrax, "I'm Alive"; Halestorm, "Love Bites (So Do I)"; Iron Maiden, "Blood Brothers"; Marilyn Manson, "No Reflection"; Megadeth, "Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)"
Will they win?: They certainly should. Other than pop-metal revivalists Halestorm, who sound like the late 80s but are actually only on their second album, most of Lamb Of God's competition in this category are groups much older and less relevant than they are. Lamb Of God are at the perfect point in their career to receive this honor, and Resolution might just be their best work yet, but regardless of whether they should have an effect, you can't expect Randy Blythe's current legal problems not to be taken into account by the voters. And besides, the National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences, who are in charge of awarding the Grammys, are widely regarded as stuffy, and have always been a bit weird about their metal category--they infamously awarded the first-ever metal Grammy to Jethro Tull. Nothing that bizarre is possible this year, but they'll probably take this opportunity to recognize a past-their-prime group who didn't receive proper recognition when they were at their peak, so expect this one to go to either Anthrax or Megadeth.
Best R&B Song
Local Nominee: Trey Songz, "Heart Attack" (though technically this award goes to songwriters rather than performers, so if Trey gets this one, he'll share it with Benjamin Levin and Rico Love)
Why it was nominated: This Petersburg singer is a perennial R&B hitmaker, and his fifth album, Chapter V, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 when it came out last August. "Heart Attack" was the first single, and actually dropped back in March, several months in advance of the album from which it was taken. It reached the top 10 on the Hot R&B Singles chart, and for good reason--this catchy lost-love jam is driven by an excellent synth hook and a knocking beat, over which Songz delivers a bold vocal that avoids edging into needless melodrama.
What it's up against: Miguel, "Adorn"; Tamia, "Beautiful Surprise"; Anthony Hamilton, "Pray For Me"; Elle Varner, "Refill"
Will it win?: My theory is that Miguel's outstanding single "Adorn" is a shoo-in for the category. Songz and Elle Varner both provide solid competition, but 2012 in R&B was dominated by Miguel (and by another singer we'll be discussing momentarily), so I'd be surprised to see Songz take it. He's got a small outside chance at it, though, so don't count him out just yet.
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Local Nominee: Chris Brown, Fortune
Why it was nominated: Regardless of what you think of this Tappahanock native's personal life (and I think we've told you enough lately about our own feelings on the subject), Chris Brown has been a perennial hitmaker in the R&B and hip hop scene since showing up in 2005 at age 16 with debut single "Run It!"Fortune, originally intended as the second disc of his 2011 album F.A.M.E., hit #1 on the Billboard Top 200 when it was finally released last June (after being delayed by more than six months). While two of its singles, "Turn It Up" and "Don't Wake Me Up," reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, nothing from the album performed quite as well as 2011's ubiquitous "Look At Me Now" (feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne).
What it's up against: Miguel, Kaleidoscope Dream; Frank Ocean, Channel Orange
Will it win?: If I say "I hope not," you'll think I'm hating, but my saying that has nothing to do with Chris Brown or his album. The truth is that Kaleidoscope Dream was one of my top 5 albums in any genre last year, and I want to see it win. More likely is that Frank Ocean, who received a lot of positive press for his extremely well-handled revelation of his bisexuality last year, will get the award. Channel Orange is the only one of these albums also nominated for Album Of The Year, and frankly, with competition from Mumford & Sons and fun., I don't see Ocean getting that one--nor will he, in all likelihood, win Record Of The Year for Channel Orange's "Thinkin Bout You," which is up against fun. (again) and Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know." I'm guessing NARAS will give him Urban Contemporary Album as a consolation prize.
Best Rap Performance/Best Rap Song
Local Nominee: Pusha T, along with Kanye West, Big Sean & 2 Chainz, "Mercy" (The second of these two is another songwriter award, and between the four people credited for the sample of Reggie Stepper's "Cuh Oonu" and the songwriters credited for GOOD Music's work on the track, Pusha T will have to share this award with 13 other people)
Why it was nominated: The Grammy voters love them some Kanye West--he has 18 Grammys, and is nominated for six more this year. In fact, he's up against himself in both of these categories for his Watch The Throne track with Jay Z, "Niggas In Paris." As part of Kanye's GOOD Music crew, Pusha T benefits from his association with West, at least in NARAS's eyes. However, VA residents know that Pusha, of Hampton Roads duo Clipse, has a lot to offer on his own behalf. Though he only gets 12 bars on this track, he takes the opportunity to set himself apart from the other rappers on the track (though Kanye also deserves credit for a pretty great verse), making it obvious why this single from GOOD Music's group album Cruel Summer hit the top of Billboard's Rap Songs chart, and reached #13 on the Hot 100.
What it's up against: In the Best Rap Performance category: Drake feat. Lil Wayne, "HYFR"; Jay Z & Kanye West, "Niggas In Paris"; Nas, "Daughters"; Young Jeezy feat. Jay Z & Andre 3000, "I Do"
In the Best Rap Song category: Nas, "Daughters"; Wale featuring Miguel, "Lotus Flower Bomb"; Drake featuring Lil Wayne, "The Motto"; Jay-Z & Kanye West, "Niggas In Paris"; Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars, "Young, Wild & Free"
Will it win?: It seems obvious to me that "Niggas In Paris" will win at least one of these categories--if I had to guess, I'd assume it's more likely they'll give Performance to Jay & Kanye, thereby opening up an opportunity for "Mercy" to take Best Rap Song. And since we know the NARAS voters love Kanye, that doesn't seem too unlikely a scenario. Nas should probably take at least one of these categories, but the stuffiness of NARAS comes into play here--Nas has had nine nominations in the past and has four this year, but he's never actually won a Grammy. Will this year be the year that changes? It should be, but then, there are other categories it could happen in, so that may not affect what happens with these awards. Right now, I'll say "Mercy" has around a 50% chance of winning whichever of these categories does not go to "Niggas In Paris." But it's still possible that that song will win both categories, so who knows?
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Local Nominee: Jason Mraz, Love Is A Four-Letter Word (This is a category that is won by engineers, so technically it will be Joe Chiccarelli, Steve Churchyard, Lars Fox, Graham Hope, Tony Maserati, Morgan Stratton, & Bob Ludwig who win this, not Jason Mraz, but hey, Mechanicsville native Mraz has lived in California since before he was famous anyway, so why split hairs?)
Why it was nominated: Tough to say, really. I mean, I know Love Is A Four-Letter Word has done pretty well, hitting #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and yielding a top 10 single in "I Won't Give Up," but this award is actually given out due to sonic qualities captured by studio employees in a manner that pleases members of an organization called the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. I doubt I can even hear the things that make people pick one album over another in a category like this.
What it's up against: Melody Gardot, The Absence; Ryan Adams, Ashes & Fire; Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile, The Goat Rodeo Sessions; Rebecca Pidgeon, Slingshot
Will it win?: This where we get into weird categories that focus on obscure details most music fans have no idea about. This award will probably be given out before the actual television show even starts, and you won't hear about the results at all unless you read about them the next morning in the newspaper. The fact that this category pits coffeehouse balladeer Mraz against jazz singer Melody Gardot, classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and alt-country artist Ryan Adams should tell you that there's something inscrutable going on here. Other than the fact that there's apparently a Ryan Adams album from a year and a half ago that I still haven't checked out (whoops), I can't tell you a thing about this category.
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
Local Nominee: eighth blackbird, Meanwhile
Why they were nominated: That's not your first question, though, is it? Your first question is "Who?" No worries, it was mine too. eighth blackbird (who purposely eschew capital letters) is a six-piece that plays wind, stringed, and percussion instruments. Originally based in Chicago, they hold a longterm Ensemble-In-Residence position at University Of Richmond, which is why they're showing up in this article. Meanwhile, their fifth album, was released last September and features tracks composed by Philip Glass and Phillipe Hurel, among others. If you're curious, you can watch them perform the album's opening track, "Still Life With Avalanche," by clicking here.
Who they're up against: Modern Mandolin Quartet, Americana; ZOFO Duet, Mind Meld; Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Profanes Et Sacrees; Los Angeles Percussion Quartet, Rupa-Khandha
Will they win?: Hoo boy, I have no clue. I am totally out of my element where this category is concerned. It'd be neat if they did, because then we could all go, "Oh hey, they're from here!" and impress the people we're watching the Grammys with by making them think we're highly cultured. Except we'll never have the chance, because this is another category that will almost certainly be awarded before the telecast starts. Oh well.
The 2013 Grammy Awards Ceremony will be broadcast on CBS tonight at 8 PM. For a full list of the nominees in all categories, click HERE.