We all like to pretend we are experts at picking award show winners, but looking at past Grammy choices, it’s clear that the Grammys’ unpredictability remains a very real feature of the institution. From Beck’s Album of the Year last year to recent hauls from Bon Iver and Arcade Fire, there have been many times when the Grammys have thrown us for a loop, both for good and for bad.
That said, the unpredictability tends to work in the favor of white artists, rock and pop artists, and uncontroversial choices. Sure, it is great that Grammy nominations, unlike acting awards shows, don’t raise as many issues about under-representation, but that doesn’t always carry all the way through to who wins Grammys. With Kendrick Lamar nominated for 11 awards this year, the bulk of which are for his landmark To Pimp a Butterfly (which already saw track “i” win two awards last year), the Grammy voters have a prime opportunity to not only award a deserving artist who isn’t safe or easy, but one who is also a departure from their whitewashing tendencies.
Should the night not go Lamar’s way, that would likely mean good things not only for The Weeknd and Taylor Swift, but also for thinkpiece writers across the media lands. Essentially, the best thing for the Grammys to do in 2016 is be predictable, to surprise no one and reward the most deserving artist. We’ll have to wait until Monday, February 15th to see what happens (and to see an intense slate of performances including Swift, Lamar, Adele, Lady Gaga saluting David Bowie, and Rihanna), but for now, check out the Consequence of Sound staff’s choices for who should win and who will win at the 2016 Grammy Awards.
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