The artists nominated for the Album of the Year Grammy award have intense competition. New artists rival old ones, creating an interesting scene for this year’s awards.
Well-established artist Taylor Swift was no surprise to see on the list of contenders. The ‘Taylor Nation’ has – and will always be – a force to be reckoned with. Swift was also at the forefront of the public’s mind due to her ‘Eras Tour’ from March 2023 to now.
Swift is undeniably talented, having won 14 Grammys already, but The Tortured Poets Department seemed to lack any special qualities to make it Grammy-worthy. The album is long and eventually starts to feel repetitive.
As expected, there were a few hit songs, with 31 appearing on the Billboard Hot 100, and her song “Fortnight” hitting No. 1. Other notable mentions include: “So Long, London,” “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” and “But Daddy, I Love Him”.
Like Swift, Beyoncé is another artist who is no stranger to awards. Unlike Swift, however, Beyoncé’s album, Cowboy Carter, was unparalleled. She tackled the country genre very well, immediately topping the charts with her song “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM.”
Featuring other country artists like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus and Rumi Carter, she redefined what it means to be a country artist. She blended her iconic Beyoncé soul with classic country to produce unique songs, and remade fan favorites like ‘Jolene’ and “BLACKBIIRD.”
Beyoncé’s willingness to break new ground in such a unique way is Grammy-worthy.
Billie Eilish continues her streak of releasing hit music with her album HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. This album is a blend between her albums Happier Than Ever and WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
Every song on her new album overtook the internet, each gaining popularity through trends.
“SKINNY,” the first song on her album, delivers a heartfelt message that many women resonate with. Billie sings about her issues with her body and how she struggles with people’s perception of her.
In her first verse, she sings, “People say I look happy / Just because I got skinny / But the old me is still me and maybe the real me / And I think she’s pretty.” This covers the ‘hit me hard’ part of her album, immediately setting the tone.
In terms of popularity and sentiment of the songs, Billie’s album outshines both Swift and Beyoncé.
Although there is intense competition between the veteran artists, the new and upcoming ones are also holding their ground.
Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan are the most notable with their albums Short n’ Sweet and The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, respectively.
Former Disney Channel star Carpenter gained her popularity beginning with the exposure of her song “Feather”.
Her popularity continues to rise, as she’s sold out arenas for her Short ‘n Sweet tour. She has an iconic pop-star voice and is also known for the high production value on her tour, quickly making her a fan favorite.
Carpenter’s songs are catchy but don’t necessarily break any new ground – they sound generic. Carpenter put in the work this year, but her prior fame assisted her rise in popularity
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Roan broke new ground in the music industry with her songs. From her beginnings in Willard, Missouri to opening for Olivia Rodrigo, Roan is the product of years of hard work and dedication.
Her songs show her vocal flips, runs and extensive vocal range. These characteristics of Roan gained the public’s attention and the admiration of trained singers.
Charli XCX’s Brat album was rotten right to the core, only producing one hit song that was popular due to the TikTok dance to the song “Apple.” Although her album provided a new genre of pop culture, as an album, Brat is underwhelming.
There is hope for Charli XCX in the future to produce more hit music, but neon green pales in comparison to the other nominees this year.
André 3000 with his album New Blue Sun and Jacob Collier with Djessie Vol. 4 are certainly the least-known artists on the lineup this year.
Djessie Vol. 4 is a blend of jazz rhythm and blues with expressive lyrics. In his most popular song,“Little Blue,” he expresses his love for Little Blue with the lyrics, “There’s a light / That leads me back to you / ‘Cause you’re not so far away.”
With alluring lyrics that transport the listener into the world of his music, Collier is a perfect example of the right artist, wrong time. Collier certainly has the skill to win another Grammy to add to his other six, but the cards are stacked against him this year.
The last and most confusing nomination is New Blue Sun. The songs have no lyrics, they are strictly music. The pitfall of having no lyrics is that it becomes hard to make the song popular through social media trends like the “Apple” dance that helped boost Charlie XCX. The music is relaxing and beautiful, but it is not Grammy-worthy.
The Best Album Grammy winner is a toss-up this year. Based on trends and previous wins, Beyoncé, Swift, Eilish and Roan have the best chance of walking away with the Best Album of the Year Grammy.