Random Thoughts on The Grammy Nominations
Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 12:21AM The Grammy Awards are not, as a general rule, anything that merits the attention of The Film Experience but it doesn't mean we can't discuss them briefly as an intermission between Oscariffic posting. Obviously I'm rooting for "Call Me Maybe" THE song of the year and indefatigably fun. And you already know that I wish Record of the Year Nominee "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was the title of a movie.
But given this blog's metier, we have to focus on movie-related categories first and foremost.
BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
The Descendants (Various Artists)
Marley (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
Midnight in Paris (Various Artists)
The Muppets (Various Artists)
Rock of Ages (Various Artists)
I've never understood quite what people saw in The Descendants soundtrack (ooh, Hawaiian music. How obvious!) but I love the nomination for its fellow 2011 Best Picture nominee Midnight in Paris.
QUESTION: Will this be the only award outside of the Razzies that the Rock of Ages film adaptation receives?
SNUBBED: Excuse me but where the hell is the Smash CD?
MORE MUSIC after the jump...
BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
The Adventures of TinTin - The Secret of the Unicorn (John Williams)
The Artist (Ludovic Bource)
The Dark Knight Rises (Hans Zimmer)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross)
Hugo (Howard Shore)
Journey (Austin Wintory)
The Artist won the Oscar for Score but I suspect that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo might win the Grammy. Not that I know how to predict the Grammys. It's a foreign language to me or science fiction -- The Grammys are a galaxy far far away from Oscar.
BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA
The Hunger Games "Abraham's Daughter"
Brave "Learn Me Right"
Smash "Let Me Be Your Star"
The Muppets "Man or Muppet"
The Hunger Games "Safe & Sound"
QUESTION: Will this look anything like Oscar's Best Song category this year?
ANSWER: No, since most of these won't be eligible.
Best Short Form Music Video
Foster the People "Houdini"
Jay-Z & Kanye West Feat. Frank Ocean & The Dream "No Church in the Wild"
M.I.A. "Bad Girls"
Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris "We Found Love"
Woodkid "Run Boy Run"
M.I.A.'s video give me uncomfortable flashbacks to Sex & The City 2's Abu Dabi hijinx. Trivia: This video was directed by Romaine Gavras who is the son of Oscar winner Costa-Gavras (of Z and Missing fame)
Remember when "We Found Love" played during Magic Mike? That was awesome. Magic Mike has a great soundtrack.
BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM
Follies
The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess
Newsies
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Once: A New Musical
Shut up. I love show tunes. I wish they were making a movie of The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess right now with this exact cast so that Audra McDonald could have an Oscar to go with all her Tony trophies.
And finally, this last featured category is easily my favorite category not just for its what the fuck undefinable -- how are these records at all categorizable with each other? -- but for the inclusion of not 1, not 2 but 3 of my favorite musicians (Fiona, Bjork, and Waits). I'm rooting for Fiona because that record is a wow and she's had a rough month (sniffle)
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Fiona Apple The Idler Wheel is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
Bjork Biophilia
Goyte Making Mirrors
M 83 Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
Tom Waits Bad As Me
This one is easily my favorite category this year and not just for its what the fuck undefinable -- how are these records at all categorizable with each other? It's my favorite because in one category they've nominated not 1, not 2, but 3 of my favorite musicians (Fiona, Bjork, and Waits). I'm rooting for Fiona because that record is a wow and she's had a rough few months *sniffle*
And finally a congratulations to Jack Black whose band Tenacious D received a nomination for Best Comedy Album for "Rize of the Fenix" the same day Bernie was cited by the National Board of Review
Given Bernie's success thus far in movie awards season at the Gothams, Spirit Awards, and today's NBR citation, Jack Black will be walking lots of red carpets this year, including the Grammys!
Reader Comments (10)
The "No Church In The Wild" video is only ok. The song is just so good that it makes the video seem way better than what it actually is. "We Found Love" should take this in a walk, even though I do love M.I.A.'s vid too. As for the other awards, man does Fiona Apple deserve some love for that album. Maybe my favorite of hers yet and she was awesome in concert. Knowing the Grammys though, Gotye will win. Sigh. I'm behind on my theater, but Porgy and Bess should take this easy. Similarly I'm thinking "Safe and Sound" will easily net TSwift her 10 millionth Grammy win. And she'll make the same stupid face this time too.
Way way too little love for Fiona Apple's The Idler Wheel...! Album of the year easily (Hot Knife and Valentine anyone?) although it is her least accessible yet so I shouldn't be too surprised. Thrilled to see Frank Ocean get so much love though, Channel ORANGE was the other massively impressive album of the year and I spent so much of my summer listening to it. Kind of wish Pyramids was getting as much love as Thinkin Bout You though.
Alternative is the safe word for what can't be easily categorized. Makes sense they'd all be here.
Did you see the songs they put on the SMASH album? Missing so many great songs from "Bombshell" and spends too much with Katherine McPhee's Glee-esque pop covers. Blegh.
I'm stil waiting for a Call Me Maybe rendition by the podcast gang ;)
Nat,
can you please go straight to Nicole Kidman's interview please?
I am dying in suspense
LOL @ "Nicole Kidman" waiting to see her and Nat's interview.
But i totally agree with Glenn. I think they're waiting until the second season to release the full Bombshell album. There's probably a song or two that they might add to the show. and speaking of season 2, Nat did you see the trailer yet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrTX73FmTEI
I'm stoked yet very upset that i have to wait until February. Plus, i like how Bernadette Peters only role on the show is to make me feel terrible for Ivy.
How is Set Fire to the Rain, the best song of last year, not up for Record of the Year? And WHY did they change the rules to include six songs for that category? And why did they throw both men and women into the vocal categories? What the holy ----!
No MDNA made me sad. I think there must've been some song worth recognizing on that album in the electronic/dance category.
Interestingly, Gavras also directed No Church in the Wild. A feature film can't be too far off.