A look at the 2023 Grammys

2023 Grammy Nominations

Photo: The 2023 Grammys will take place on Feb 5 (Courtesy of The Recording Academy).

The 2023 Grammys will take place on Feb 5 (Courtesy of The Recording Academy).

In 2022, albums by extremely popular artists like Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Beyonce, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and Lizzo came out, making it a big year for the world of music. With the Grammys coming up soon on Feb. 5, it’s uncertain who will take home the “big four” awards for this year. Let’s break down each of the categories, nominees and who is most likely to take home those beautiful record-shaped trophies!

Album of The Year

Album of the Year is the most prestigious award given at the Grammys, recognizing the quality and artistry of a collection of tracks. The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales, chart position, or critical reception." 

Out of the nominees for this year, it’s pretty easy to rule out a few as winners. ABBA’s “Voyage” didn’t make huge waves, and neither did “In These Silent Days” by Brandi Carlile or “Music of the Spheres” by Coldplay.

While it wouldn’t be surprising for “RENAISSANCE” by Beyonce or “Harry’s House” by Harry Styles to take home this award, the biggest contender and possible winner for this award is “Un Verano Sin Ti” by Bad Bunny. Bad Bunny took over the world in 2018 with his breakthrough album “X100pre”. “Un Verano Sin Ti” is his fourth solo studio album, and the first Spanish-Language album to earn a Grammy nomination for the Album of the Year. The album made huge waves this year, with superb production that shows his range as a musician, it’s an obvious pick for winner. 

Record of the Year

The Record of the Year award recognizes a specific recording of a song, and the artists, producers and audio engineers involved in said recording. This year, the nominees for Record of the year include a variety of pop, hip hop and R&B songs.

Out of the nominees, it’s unlikely that “Easy on Me” by Adele or “Don't Shut Me Down” by ABBA will win. These songs don’t stick out, and they fade into the background compared to the rest of the nominees. While “BREAK MY SOUL” by Beyonce is extremely well produced and mixed, it’s unlikely that the already 25 time Grammy winner will secure another trophy, though it’s not impossible. Other popular songs this year nominated include “About Damn Time” by Lizzo and “As it Was” by Harry Styles, both of which would be solid choices. But their popularity can’t compare to the storm of “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy.

Lacy’s album “Gemini Rights” took the world by storm in 2022, with “Bad Habit” at the head. The song’s production is full of catchy vocal mixing and guitar. While it didn’t hit number one on the Hot 100, the song effectively took over popular social media sites like Instagram and Tiktok. The popularity of the song combined with its catchy hook and excellent audio mixing makes it the most likely winner for Record of the Year. 

Song of the Year

Unlike the Record of the Year Grammy, the Song of the Year Grammy is based on the songwriting and composition of a song. Out of the nominees for this year, songs like “abcdefu” by GAYLE and “Just Like That” by Bonnie Ratt will most likely not win. Disappointingly, “The Heart Part 5” by Kenderick Lamar is also an unlikely winner. It’s lyrically brilliant, but its composition is unconventional, composed of non-stop verses. Lamar's lyrical work surpasses many of the artists in this category, and it’s sad to see that won’t be recognized. 

Taylor Swift’s ten minute version of “All Too Well,” is the expected winner for this category. It makes sense for this song to win, with profound lyricism that weaves its way through all ten minutes of the song. While it’s length makes it stand out, the actual composition of the song isn’t anything new. It’s a good choice for the winner, but it’s unfortunate that excellent songs like “The Heart Part 5” don’t stand a chance against it. 

Best New Artist

This category recognizes new, emergent artists who have recent releases that have broken through public consciousness and impacted the present day musical landscape. These artists don’t have to be completely new, which is why familiar names like Måneskin and Wet Leg are included as nominees. 

Improbable winners include jazz singer Samara Joy, bluegrass guitarist Molly Tuttle and indie rock band Wet Leg. Possible winners include rock band Måneskin, indie singer/songwriter Omar Apollo and pop musician Anitta. 

On her way to stardom and rising above all other nominees is Latto, who has already been named best new artist for Billboard and the BET awards respectively. Latto’s second studio album “777” featured famous musicians like Childish Gambino, Lil Wayne and 21 Savage. Her growing popularity and the numerous accomplishments so early into her career make Latto the expected winner of this award.

The Grammy awards are an exciting time to discover new music and artists. At the end of the day, it’s up to the Recording Academy to decide who will take home which award. Tune into the Grammys on Feb. 5 to find out!