Record of the Year

“I Still Have Faith In You,” ABBA
“Freedom,” Jon Batiste
“I Get A Kick Out Of You,” Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
“Peaches,” Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
“Right On Time,” Brandi Carlile
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat Featuring SZA
“Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish
“Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X
“drivers license,” Olivia Rodrigo
“Leave The Door Open,” Silk Sonic

Our Consensus Pick: “Happier Than Ever”
Predicted Win: “Leave the Door Open”

This decade, Record of The Year has been Eilish’s award. 2020 saw Eilish receive the award for “bad guy,” and last year, she did again for “everything i wanted.” This year she has seven artist nominations, including many for “Happier Than Ever.”

The song’s first half, a contemplative folk ballad, features acoustic, intimate verses that questions the abusive treatment of Eilish’s boyfriend, but, in the second half, the song transforms into an enraged tirade backed by distorted electric guitars and tortured screams. This song deserves the award for its sheer power, showcasing Eilish’s talent and her producers’ versatility in a way we’ve never seen. Even if the award is more likely to go to Rodrigo or Silk Sonic, especially since no artist has ever won Record of the Year three times in a row, “Happier Than Ever” feels like a reset for Eilish. It’s a truly special song that pushes the boundaries of pop music, and we believe it deserves Record of the Year for its creativity.

Song of the Year

“Bad Habits,” Ed Sheeran
“A Beautiful Noise,” Alicia Keys Featuring Brandi Carlile
“drivers license,” Olivia Rodrigo
“Fight For You,” H.E.R.
“Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat Featuring SZA
“Leave The Door Open,” Silk Sonic
“Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X
“Peaches,” Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
“Right On Time,” Brandi Carlile

Our Consensus Pick: “Montero”
Predicted Win: “drivers license”

Lil Nas X was one of the most controversial figures in pop music last year. Everything about Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” from the song itself and the music video to the arabic shoes Nas sports in the music video seems designed to generate thinkpieces and outraged Fox News segments. And it did. At the core, however, is a surprisingly genuine song: It doesn’t restrict or obscure its identity, instead putting it on full display through intricate songwriting.

“Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” tells the story of a complex relationship, of the hookup partner Nas is with and the complex feelings tied to him. It’s a multifaceted, unabashedly queer track that reveals authenticity to a degree often unseen in songs of its kind. The song cycles through excitement, worry, lust and desperation, and its queerness is presented in neither a statement-making way nor in a concealed way — its queerness is simply an aspect of its love.

“Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” feels like more of a breakthrough than any other nominee. The controversy it stirred up and the track’s lyricism belie a pop paradigm shift, inspired by Lil Nas X and backed by his exceptional songwriting.

Album of the Year

“We Are,” Jon Batiste
“Love For Sale,” Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
“Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe),” Justin Bieber
“Planet Her (Deluxe),” Doja Cat
“Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish
“Back Of My Mind,” H.E.R.
“Montero,” Lil Nas X
“Sour,” Olivia Rodrigo
“Evermore,” Taylor Swift
“Donda,” Kanye West

Our Consensus Pick: “Sour”
Predicted Win: “Sour”

2021 was Olivia Rodrigo’s year. “SOUR,” her debut album, was globally the most streamed album, and for good reason. Her popularity skyrocketed upon the release of piano ballad “drivers license,” bittersweet indie-pop song “deja vu” and spiteful pop-punk banger “good 4 u.”

We unanimously voted for “SOUR” because of its incredible production and relatable, detailed experiences. Rodrigo’s vocals are crisp and genuine, amplifying the relatable rawness of her lyrics. The emotions Rodrigo conveys, from jealousy to nostalgia, are universal. With layered instrumentals that retain simplicity, any listener will be completely swept up in Rodrigo’s journey through heartbreak.

Grammy watchers have predicted a Rodrigo sweep, and it’s clear why: With “SOUR” already winning the People’s Choice Awards and iHeartRadio Music Awards, it seems fitting that the beloved album and artist will continue to garner acclaim at the Grammys. Rodrigo’s previous success and over 6 billion Spotify streams to her name indicate that we expect great things from this new artist – at the Grammys and beyond.

Best Pop Duo or Group Performance

“I Get a Kick Out of You,” Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
“Lonely,” Justin Bieber & benny blanco
“Butter,” BTS
“Higher Power,” Coldplay
“Kiss Me More,” Doja Cat feat. SZA

Consensus Pick: “Butter”
Predicted Win: “Butter”

Within 13 minutes, BTS’s “Butter” had already broken a record. Within less than a quarter of an hour, its YouTube video had racked up 10 million views, the fastest music video to do so in history. If BTS were to win, they would be the first K-pop band to win the big three American music awards: the Grammys, American Music Awards and the Billboard Music Awards. The group’s discography tends to contain moving and inspirational songs. This stands in contrast to “Butter,” a sunny English-language pop single.

The song’s summery vibe is obvious in its happy vocals and lyrics, all merged, in the words of BTS, “smooth like butter.” The song’s performance features vocals and dance, filled with jazz-like background acoustics, occasional ad-libs sung by the boy band, and background vocals paired with the high notes of a saxophone and the beat of a drum. From hair to outfits to the lyrics of “Butter,” everything is exactly what comes to mind when you think of the word, and BTS’s talent has completely convinced us they deserve the award.