Grammy Nominations: Taylor, SZA, Meryl Streep (!), and "Barbie"
Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 11:50AM
NATHANIEL R in Barbie, Billie Eilish, EGOT, Grammys, Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift, Troye Sivan

by Nathaniel R

The Grammys are not a focus here at TFE (pick your lane!) but we do like to sound off at least a bit when the nominations are announced. Our primary excuse is that there are some categories that overlap with the acting arts (film, tv, stage). But before we get to those a quick look at the big four categories. The nominees for the top prizes at the 66th Grammys are...

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Because the Grammys have a nearly infinite amount of categories most of these are also up for another 'album' honor Miley, Taylor, and Oliva (Pop Vocal) boygenius (Alternative), Janelle and SZA (Progressive R&B).

Surprises? While most Grammy pundits have proclaimed Taylor Swift the one to beat this year, SZA is the overall nomination leader with 9 nominations. Some notable snubs: Pundits were somewhat high on the chances of Morgan Wallen "One Thing at a Time", Foo Fighters "But Here We Are", and "Barbie the Album" showing up in this category but they didn't.

And the three other most high profile categories...

RECORD OF THE YEAR
for performers

 

SONG OF THE YEAR
for songwriters

"Anti-Hero", "Flowers", "Kill Bill", "Vampire" and "What Was I Made For?" hit both of the top single song categories making them major threats for wins. Interestingly enough Taylor Swift has never won in this particular category though she's been up an all-time record number of times (seven now). 

BEST NEW ARTIST

Okay now on to the categories with film, tv, and theater overlap which is more our speed.

MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM

While the delightful Kimberly Akimbo was the big winner coming out of the Tony Awards, this Grammy Award feels very competitive as none of the contenders feel like inevitabilities. Though all five of these shows were well regarded and successful none were the kind of blockbuster phenomenons that can result in crossover slam dunk Grammy appeal (given that Grammy has the most populist taste of the big awards shows).  Kimberly Akimbo is probably too 'small' to repeat its win here. Might it be Sweeney Todd. It's still running with the original stars during Grammy time (Tony nominees Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford leave the show in January after which Tony winners Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster replace them as Sweeney & Mrs Lovett). 

COMEDY ALBUM

Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle have both won in this category (or earlier iterations of it) previously. Sarah Silverman and Trevor Noah are previous nominees. Wanda Sykes is the only first time nominee here.

AUDIO BOOK NARRATION

This is Meryl Streep's 7th Grammy nomination across four categories (Compilation Soundtrack, Recording for Children, Audio Book, Spoken Word Album) but she's actually never won. She has 3 Oscars and 3 Emmys but she's still waiting on a Tony to Triple Crown or a Tony and a Grammy to EGOT. 

Michelle Obama won in this category quite recently for "Becoming"

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

Though the overall story of the Grammy Awards was 'women rule!' with 80% of the big nominations, curiously the music video category is almost all men this year. But we're happy to see Troye Sivan nab his first Grammy nominations ("Rush" right here and in Dance recording).

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA

Given its #1 film of the year status and the huge amount of Grammy nominations for its songs, Barbie The Album has to be the frontrunner. 

 

BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA

They said "only John Williams and Ludwig Göransson -- we refuse to listen to anyone else!"

BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA

They said "only Barbie songs please!"

What were your fav Grammy nominations? 

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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