The “Lonely Boy”s might hoist the award for Album of the Year, while Mumford & Sons will wait.
Acclaimed releases of the past year will win awards for their recent successes at the Grammy Awards.
The Grammy Awards are the industry standards, as well as a popularity contest, said Glenn Webb, Dixie State College department chair of music.
There’s the artistic side as well as the performance and non-performance side, like production that determines the deciding votes.
Webb said The voters’ choices shift every year because, although the voting body is large enough to be objective, preferences are still subjective. Each voter has biases and blind spots, so Album of the Year has to be a hybrid to amass the most votes to win.
Album of the Year nominations are “El Camino,” by The Black Keys; “Channel Orange,” by Frank Ocean; “Some Nights,” by Fun.; “Blunderbuss,” by Jack White; and “Babel,” by Mumford & Sons.
“As far as what’s listed for Album of the Year, I would like to see Fun. win it, but I’m thinking The Black Keys will,” said Darren Chase, a senior communication major from Las Vegas. “The Black Keys have been and are on tour, while I don’t think Fun. is. I think it’s like anything. They’re the freshest on the mind.”
The Black Keys, Fun. and Mumford & Sons are all nominated for six awards.
“I think Mumford & Sons [will win] because indie is so in,” said Lynnell Lee, a freshman biology major from St. George.
Mumford & Sons were nominated for Best New Artist in 2011, just like the 2013 nominations: Alabama Shakes, Frank Ocean, Fun., Hunter Hayes and The Lumineers.
“I think Fun. has a good chance of winning because they had the most hits,” Chase said.
Many DSC students think Fun. will win New Artist.
“New Artist — I’d give that to Fun.,” said Molly Pack, DSC costume shop manager. “I feel like within a year they made a name for themselves.”
Some DSC students feel that there are artists who were overlooked.
“Imagine Dragons definitely deserves [Best New Artist],” said Ben Zufelt, a senior communication major from St. George. “Both their songs that are really big right now are completely different.”
Gotye is another new artist who isn’t nominated. However, “Somebody I Used to Know” is nominated for Record of the Year.
Other nominees include “Lonely Boy,” by The Black Keys; “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” by Kelly Clarkson; “Thinking Bout You,” by Frank Ocean; and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” by Taylor Swift.
“I think Gotye is going to win Record of the Year just because it was on top for so long, but Taylor may give him a run for his money just because,” Chase said.
Tracks up for Song of the Year include “Call Me Maybe,” by Carly Rae Jepsen; “The A Team,” by Ed Sheeran; “Adorn,” by Miguel; “Stronger,” by Kelly Clarkson; and “We are Young,” by Fun.
“Even though I don’t like that song by Fun., I think they’ll win because they’re so mainstream,” said Makenzi Bird, a freshman general education major from St. George.
Go to the Dixie Sun’s Facebook page and Twitter to comment on your favorite nominees. The 55th Grammy Awards will be broadcast on CBS Feb. 10 at 6 p.m.
