From Frank Ocean’s huge rookie showing to Justin Bieber’s absence from the ballot, the nominations for the 55th annual Grammy Awards are sure to generate buzz and controversy. The Daily Beast looks at some of the biggest lauds, surprises and snubs among the 2012 nods.
AP Photo (3); Getty Images (bottom left)
Laud: The blues rock duo out of Akron, Ohio, was one of the big winners of the night earning six nominations. Guitarist Dan Auerbach was nominated for Producer of the Year for his work on El Camino, which also is up for Album of the Year, while the duo’s song “Lonely Boy” earned three nominations, including Best Rock Song and Record of the Year. For the majority of their career, the Black Keys have played in the enormous shadow cast by the White Stripes, but it looks like they may have finally struck gold with their seventh studio album.
Laud: He might not have scored as many nominations as The Black Keys, but Jack White was able to earn three nods in his first year as a solo artist. It’s been a huge year for White, and with the success of his debut solo album, Blunderbuss, it’s pretty surprising he didn’t earn more nominations. Still, if he manages to beat the Black Keys’ El Camino and Mumford & Sons’s Babel for Album of the Year, then he could accomplish something he never did in his many years with the White Stripes.
Surprise: Frank Ocean had a great night as well, earning six nominations. But what makes his feat stand apart from others is that he’s a rookie. It was no surprise to see Ocean in the running for Best New Artist, but the fact that his album Channel Orange is competing for Album of the Year while his song “Thinkin Bout You” is up for Record of the Year is pretty impressive. He’s facing some tough competition, but his career is off to a fantastic start.
Laud: Don’t forget about the interestingly named fun.; New York’s indie pop band also earned six nominations in its first year. The group’s hit single “We Are Young” was one of the most popular songs of the year and earned three of their six nominations, including Record of the Year. And fun. looks to be the favorite for Best New Artist, as well as having a chance to win some of the weaker categories such as Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album.
Snub: Nicki Minaj is easily one of the biggest female artists on the hip-hop scene, and she has had a big year following the release of her second album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded. So it came as a surprise when Minaj didn’t receive any nominations this year. The success of singles like “Starships” and “Beez in the Trap” and collaborations with Lil Wayne seemed to make her a shoe-in for at least one or two nominations.
Snub: Just when it looked like boy bands were finally a thing of the past, One Direction jumped onto the scene and proved everyone wrong. The British heartthrobs have sold out venues around the world to screaming teen girls, but they got no love from the Grammys, as they were left off the ballot.
Snub: Speaking of teen heartthrobs who were left out of the party, Justin Bieber also was nowhere to be found among this year’s Grammy nominees. Beliebers were outraged when Beiber came up empty last year, and it looks like they’ll have to wait at least another year before the Canadian pop star has a shot at winning his first Grammy.
Laud: This year was all about the dudes, as the only women who really got any love were Kelly Clarkson and Florence Welch of Florence & the Machine, who gained five nominations between the two of them. Clarkson may have earned more nominations, but don’t be surprised Welch pulls off an upset or two. Last year, fellow British diva Adele was the big winner of the Grammys, and voters may show the same kind of love to Florence & the Machine’s album Ceremonials, and their song “Shake it Out,” which are up for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Group Performance respectively.
Surprise: The group, of Monsters and Men, won the hearts of thousands of indie rock fans at music festivals throughout the country this year, and their popularity and success made them likely candidates to compete for Best New Artist. The Icelandic folk group, however, was left off the bill. But if Bon Iver was able to Win Best New Artist last year with his sophomore album, there’s still hope for of Monsters and Men on their next album.
Surprise: Alabama Shakes also has gained a reputation on the music-festival circuit, and the band has found itself in the middle of a competitive race for Best New Artist. The band’s growing popularity is well deserved and the blaring vocals of frontwoman Brittany Howard make the act a force to be reckoned with on the blues rock scene, but their Grammy nominations come as a bit of a surprise. Alabama Shakes seem like long shots to win Best New Artist or Best Rock Performance with their song “Hold On,” but it’s always nice to see a talented young band get recognition.
