As the dates grew closer to February 4, anticipation built within the music community for a night of glamor and acclaim: the 66th Grammy Awards. An event known for recognizing talent and creativity, the Grammys, presented by the United States Recording Academy, celebrate achievements across more than twenty-five musical genres. Among the categories are Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist. Winning one of these prestigious awards not only honors an artist’s work but also catapults their career to new heights.
“I can’t wait to see many of my favorite artists being awarded for their hard work and outstanding music,” senior Joyce Cordero said.
One of the most popular categories, the Song of the Year award, a prestigious accolade honoring songwriting excellence, features nominees such as “A&W” by Lana Del Rey, “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift, “Butterfly” by Jon Batiste, “Dance The Night” by Dua Lipa, “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, “Kill Bill” by SZA, “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, and “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish. When asked, many students and teachers expressed this category as their favorite, and this year Billie Eillish and her brother Finneas won the award for their song “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie.”
“For me personally, I’d say Song of the Year is my favorite award because there’s a good chance I would’ve heard the song and recognized it. I wouldn’t recognize the artist because I’m not good with names of artists,” Spanish teacher Mrs. Tiwari said.
Another popular category is the Album of the Year, also known as “The Big Award,” which recognizes overall excellence in the recording industry, regardless of sales or chart positions. Nominees for this award include Jon Batiste for “World Music Radio,” Boy Genius for “The Record,” Miley Cyrus for “Endless Summer Vacation,” and several others, highlighting the varied talent within the industry. This year, Taylor Swift took home the award for album of the year at the 2024 Grammy Awards for her album “Midnights.”
In other categories, like the Best New Artist category, fresh talents like Gracie Abrams, Fred Again, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, Noah Kahan, Victoria Monét and The War and Treaty represent the next wave of influential music creators. This year, Victoria Monét won Best New Artist.
“I think Jelly Roll will win the Best New Artist Grammy nominations because his name is unique and he’s the only artist I heard songs from. He reached a larger audience than some,” history teacher Mr. Chuba said.
On the other side, many students are hoping that Ice Spice wins the award.
“I think Ice Spice will win the award because she is young but also very talented,” junior Esther Panicker said. “Her songs blew up and got the attention of many, many people, especially teenagers. From her iconic orange hair to her music, she is an inspiration to many young people and future artists. Her music is a vibe, and I love to dance to it.”
A Grammy win is more than just an award. Often, the award pushes artists into superstardom. Beyoncé, the record holder for the most Grammy wins, exemplifies the transformative potential of this recognition. After winning her first Grammy, her career took off.
The Grammy Awards are more than a celebration of the past; they also represent the evolving trends and emerging talents destined to shape the future soundscape of the industry. No matter the results, it is certain that whoever wins will receive a huge bonus to their career.
