LL Cool J Hosts Live Grammy Nominations Concert

Tonight was CBS's primer for the first award show of the 2010 season. The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards will air on January 31st at the Staples Center. It was pretty obvious from the start that CBS just needed to fill an hour and must be sponsors of The Black Eyed Peas. The pop group co-hosted. LL Cool J started things off with a great rap, then BEP took over with "I Gotta Feeling" (which we got to hear in the background throughout the concert).

*Grammy Award winners are picked by voting members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).

Grammy Nomination: Song of the Year

Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)"
Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me"
Lady GaGa - "Poker Face"
Maxwell - "Pretty Wings"
Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody"

I think Beyonce will pull out the Grammy win for Song of the Year. Taylor Swift has been taking all the categories at the popular vote awards, but this is a more mature audience. George Lopez read the nominations and gave a feeble attempt at a joke when he announced "Use Somebody" by Tiger Woods.

Grammy Nominations: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group w/Vocals

The Black Eyed Peas - "I Gotta Feeling"
Bon Jovi - "We Weren't Born to Follow"
The Fray - "Never Say Never"
Darryl Hall & John Oates - "Sara Smile"
MGMT - "Kids"

While I would love to see this Grammy go to Bon Jovi, it will likely go to The Black Eyed Peas. I don't like anything about BEP. I think they are bubble gum pop, but I don't vote. It's nice to see so many epic musicians and bands involved in the Grammy's again. My guess would be that we will not be seeing BEP getting a nod in 25 years, and that's the difference.

Nick Jonas gave us a peek at his solo band, Nick Jonas and the Association. Singing "I Want Someone to Love Me For Who I Am", Nick Jonas gave a pandering performance to his teeny bopper backers. The problem is that he still sounds like he's about 12 years old. It sounded a little like an old Hanson song to me.

Things got a little odd when the Grammy Concert and Maxwell gave a tribute to Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson won a record 8 Grammys for his Thriller album. Maxwell (or someone) chose a song from Thriller. It could have been a medley of the four songs Michael Jackson was nominated for on the Thriller album. It could have been a dance routine. Instead it was "The Lady in My Life" sung falteringly by Maxwell in a bad falsetto. Near the end he got his senses about him and dropped an octave, but it was too late. What a weird song choice. What a weird way to honor the King of Pop.

Grammy Nominations: Best Rock Album

U2 - No Line on the Horizon
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey & the Groogrux King
ACDC - Black Ice
Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood - Live in Madison Square Garden

Now this is a tough category. All veteran bands and incredible musicians, I think Green Day will take (and deserve) the Grammy. I would not be disappointed if any of the nominees won this category.

Grammy Nominations: Best Rap Solo Perfomance

Drake - "Best I Ever Had"
Eminem - "Beautiful"
Jay-Z - "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-tune)
Kid Cudi - "Day 'N' Nite"
Mos Def - "Casa Bey"

This category is a toss up between Drake and Eminem. I think Drake will take the win.

Grammy Nominations: Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group w/Vocals

Brooks & Dunn - "Cowgirls Don't Cry"
Sugarland - "It Happens"
Lady Antebellum - "I Run to You"
Zac Brown Band - "Chicken Fried"
Rascal Flatts - "Here Comes Good-bye"

Another tough category, I will bet Rascal Flatts takes home the prize. They have been winning all the country group awards this year (lucky for them Taylor Swift is a solo act), and I think the Grammy voters will follow suit.

The biggest highlight of the night came when the nominations for Record of the Year and Album of the year were read by Smokey Robinson and Ringo Starr. The crowd was truly appreciative of both music greats. Ringo Starr is just too cool, dragging the 60's into the 21st century with style. Smokey was humble as always and mentioned his thanks to Maxwell's tribute to Michael Jackson.

Grammy Nominations: Record of the Year

Beyonce - "Halo"
Black Eyed Peas - "I Gotta Feeling"
Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody"
Lady GaGa - "Poker Face"
Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me"

Let the Lady GaGa shunning continue, I think Taylor Swift will take the Grammy for Record of the Year. Beyonce will hopefully take Song of the Year so that makes them sort of even (not even sure of the difference in the categories). Lady GaGa has been left out this year in the awards with tons of nominations. She is stuck in the sophomore stage of no longer a "Best New" act and not good enough to face the majors yet. She can sing, but Lady GaGa is more of an act. Smokey Robinson through out a joke to Taylor Swift, "Don't worry Taylor, Kanye isn't here..." (crickets).

Grammy Nominations: Album of the Year

Beyonce - I Am... Sasha Fierce
Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D.
Lady GaGa - The Fame
Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey & the Groogrux King
Taylor Swift - Fearless

I hope Beyonce takes the Grammy here. Surely The Black Eyed Peas followers aren't voting, well they likely are. I still hope Beyonce wins this one. Good to see the Dave Matthews Band back on top of the nomination pile again.

So the young Taylor Swift is leading the Grammy nomination race this year, not hard to believe. I don't think she will win all that she is nominated for, but it's highly unlikely that Taylor Swift won't win any.

That's it for the Grammy Nomination Concert. Here is a full list of all the Grammy nominations in all the categories. See you at the Staples Center on January 31st for all the winners.

Source:
GRAMMY.com