Ask Billboard is updated every Friday. As always, submit your questions about Billboard charts, sales and airplay, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com. Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and country, if outside the U.S.


SHOCK AND AWARDS

Hi Gary,

Could you please tell me about your reaction to this year's Grammy Awards nominations and what you think were the biggest surprises - and snubs?

Thanks!

Chris DeCarlo


Hi Chris,

Billboard will be providing lots more Grammy coverage leading up to when the winners are announced, but in the meantime, let's look at the four general field categories, one-by-one for some early "Ask Billboard" thoughts.

It's difficult to argue with any of the five Record of the Year nominees: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind," Cee Lo Green's ""F**k You (Forget You)," Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie," featuring Rihanna, Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" and B.o.B's "Nothin' on You," featuring Bruno Mars. All five songs spent time in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2010.

While Green's song may be the most original-sounding of the five, a vote for "Love the Way You Lie" would perhaps best reflect a balanced consideration of a song's public acceptance and artistic merit.

A win for Eminem and Rihanna's song would also complement the state of pop music in 2010, a year in which "he raps/she sings" hits, which describes two of the nominees in this category, dominated at radio and retail.

As for songs not nominated, Ke$ha's "TiK ToK" and Katy Perry's "California Gurls," featuring Snoop Dogg, were perhaps overlooked, considering their ubiquity this year. Grammy voters may not be ready to again laud pure pop. Such a styled song hasn't won Record of the Year since Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" in 1999.


It seems surprising, as well, that Ke$ha isn't up for Best New Artist, considering that "TiK ToK" is the Hot 100's No. 1 song of 2010 and one of four top 10s she tallied on the chart this year. Taio Cruz, despite the success of "Break Your Heart" and "Dynamite," also fell short of a nomination in the category. Notably, both singers also write their own music.

Justin Bieber would make a justified Best New Artist recipient, based on his undeniably catchy tracks such as "Baby"; his seemingly instant superstardom; and, fan decibel levels that rose higher than the Empire State Building whenever his name was simply mentioned (never mind when he actually took the stage) at last Friday's (Dec. 10) WHTZ (Z100) "Jingle Ball" at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Singer/rapper Drake, rock acts Florence and the Machine and Mumford and Sons and jazz singer/instrumentalist Esperanza Spalding complete the eclectic rookie field.


Among the Song of the Year nominees are two likely dark horses alongside "F**k You," "Love the Way You Lie" and "Need You Now": Ray LaMontagne's "Beg Steal or Borrow" and Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin's "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert's first Country Songs No. 1.

As Song of the Year is a songwriter award, the vividness in the lyrics of Lambert's hit perhaps best stands out: "Mama cut out pictures of houses for years, from 'Better Homes and Gardens' magazine / Plans were drawn and concrete poured, nail by nail and board by board, Daddy gave life to mama's dream."

Among hit songs not nominated in the category, the clever "BedRock" by Young Money could merit inclusion.


Album of the Year pits indie rock (Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs") and country ("Need You Now") against mainstream rap (Eminem's "Recovery"), dance/pop (Lady Gaga's "The Fame Monster") and unabashed pop (Perry's "Teenage Dream"). Eminem could be a favorite for the category, considering the success of his two 2010 Hot 100 No. 1s ("Not Afraid" and "Love the Way You Lie") and widespread opinion that the set's title mirrors a creative renaissance.

Perry's album, however, became the first by a solo female to yield three consecutive No. 1 radio singles on the Hot 100 in 11 years. And, potential future hits from "Teenage Dream" include "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)" and "E.T."

Similar to the Record of the Year division, a pop-centric collection hasn't won the album category since Dion's "Falling Into You" in 1997.


Plenty of time abounds for spirited debate about the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. All winners will be revealed at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and on CBS, Feb. 13.

As with any topic, please feel free to share your thoughts on the upcoming Grammy Awards in the comments section below.