Courtesy photo

Sensing that their awards show was waning in its cultural relevance, Grammy officials have done what any aging entity would do in times of tribulation. They turned to a youth movement. That shift has never been more prevalent than the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, slated for Sunday, Feb. 10, on CBS. Among the artists nominated for the much-coveted Album of the Year award are Kanye West (age 30), Amy Winehouse (24), and Foo Fighters (frontman Dave Grohl is 39). Here's a breakdown of some of the prominent categories:
 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
NOMINEES: Foo Fighters (Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace); Vince Gill (These Days); Herbie Hancock (River: The Joni Letters); Kanye West (Graduation); Amy Winehouse (Back To Black)
WHO SHOULD WIN: Amy Winehouse
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: Kanye West
THE 210 TAKE: Drug addiction, spousal issues and other tabloid fodder aside, Winehouse not only put out one of the best albums of the past few years, she wrote all of the songs as well. Even so, Graduation is Kanye's third-straight release to garner an Album of the Year nomination, so it makes sense that he'll be rewarded with the prize, even if his best album — The College Dropout — came out four years ago.

RECORD OF THE YEAR (SINGLE)
NOMINEES: Beyoncé (“Irreplaceable”); Foo Fighters (“The Pretender”); Rihanna featuring Jay-Z (“Umbrella”); Justin Timberlake (“What Goes Around ..... Comes Around”); Amy Winehouse (“Rehab”)
WHO SHOULD WIN: Rihanna
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: Amy Winehouse
THE 210 TAKE: For better or worse, depending on your point of view, “Umbrella” ella, ella, was the song of 2007. Even so, this could be Winehouse's night to shine ..... assuming she shows up to the awards show.

BEST ROCK ALBUM
NOMINEES: Daughtry (Daughtry); John Fogerty (Revival); Foo Fighters (Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace); Bruce Springsteen (Magic); Wilco (Sky Blue Sky)
WHO SHOULD WIN: Wilco
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: Foo Fighters
THE 210 TAKE: Considering they got nominated in the Album of the Year category, it stands to reason Foo Fighters won't have much trouble claiming this particular prize. But that doesn't mean they deserve it, particularly when Wilco put out yet another five-star record.

BEST RAP ALBUM
NOMINEES: Common (Finding Forever); Jay-Z (Kingdom Come); Nas (Hip-Hop Is Dead); T.I. (T.I. vs. T.I.P.); Kanye West (Graduation)
WHO SHOULD WIN: Kanye West
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: Kanye West
THE 210 TAKE: The easiest call of the night.

BEST NEW ARTIST
NOMINEES: Feist, Ledisi, Paramore, Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse
WHO SHOULD WIN: Amy Winehouse
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: Amy Winehouse
THE 210 TAKE: The fact that Winehouse earned more nominations than everyone not named Kanye West, including a nomination in each of the “big four” categories, probably takes the suspense right out of this particular award.

BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
NOMINEES: Christina Aguilera (“Candyman”); Feist (“1234”); Fergie (“Big Girls Don't Cry”); Nelly Furtado (“Say It Right”); Amy Winehouse (“Rehab”)
WHO SHOULD WIN: Feist
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: Amy Winehouse
THE 210 TAKE: Feist, the Broken Social Scene member gone solo, stormed radio charts worldwide with “1234,” and maybe they'll reward her for putting out such a quality, and popular, song. Or maybe they'll do the logical thing — give the award to someone whose song is also nominated for Record and Song of the Year.

BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
NOMINEES: Michael Buble (“Everything”); John Mayer (“Belief”); Paul McCartney (“Dance Tonight”); Seal (“Amazing”); Justin Timberlake (“What Goes Around ..... Comes Around”)
WHO SHOULD WIN: Justin Timberlake
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: Justin Timberlake
THE 210 TAKE: The Grammy's youth movement continues, as they throw a bone to the 27-year-old Timberlake, perhaps the world's biggest pop star at the moment.

SONG OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITERS AWARD)
NOMINEES: “Before He Cheats” (John Kear and Chris Tompkins); “Hey There Delilah” (Tom Higgenson); “Like A Star” (Corinne Bailey Rae); “Rehab” (Amy Winehouse); “Umbrella” (Jay-Z, Kuk Harrell, Terius “Dream” Nash and Christopher Stewart)
WHAT SHOULD WIN: “Umbrella”
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: “Rehab”
THE 210 TAKE: Winehouse wrote “Rehab,” while Rihanna simply provided vocals on “Umbrella.” Expect Grammy voters to take note of the distinction.
 
words: clint hale | 210SA