While the Grammys might be a popularity contest, the awards show remains music’s biggest night of the year. Someone has to win — even if that someone isn’t our ideal candidate. So, consider our picks below an analysis of who we think should win and who we would expect the Recording Academy to choose. The Grammys will not be aired live in our time zone. The awards show will be broadcast on a one-hour tape-delay beginning at 7 p.m. on CBS. You can follow our commentary on and on Twitter @RVRB and @Official_MattM.
Record of the year
“Fancy” — Iggy Azalea
“Chandelier” — Sia
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)” — Sam Smith
“Shake It Off” — Taylor Swift
“All About That Bass” — Meghan Trainor
Our pick: Taylor Swift can’t hold a boyfriend, but her relationship with the Grammys is strong. She currently reigns as the youngest musician to win album of the year, and has a total of seven Grammys. She has history on her side, and the only one standing in her way here is Sia’s smash hit.
Album of the year
“Beyoncé” — Beyoncé
“In the Lonely Hour” — Sam Smith
F “Morning Phase” — Beck
“X” — Ed Sheeran
“Girl” — Pharrell Williams
Our pick: Should we be seeing Beyoncé’s name more on the list of Grammy nominations? Yes (and not only because her name is her album’s name). Though she’s noticeably absent in other big categories, Queen B deserves this one. This is the album that brought the phrase “pulling a Beyoncé” into the vernacular, meaning her album was a surprise release.
Best new artist
Sam Smith
Haim
Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Brandy Clark
Our pick: If he doesn’t cash in on his other five nominations, Sam Smith can certainly expect to take home the best new-artist trophy.
Song of the year
“All About That Bass” — Meghan Trainor
“Chandelier” — Sia
“Shake It Off” — Taylor Swift
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)” — Sam Smith
“Take Me to Church” — Hozier
Our pick: The odds are in Sam Smith’s favor for song of the year, which also went to a newcomer in 2014.
Best rap album
“The New Classic” — Iggy Azalea
“Nobody’s Smiling” — Common
“Oxymoron” — Schoolboy Q
“Blacc Hollywood” — Wiz Khalifa
“Because the Internet” — Childish Gambino
“The Marshall Mathers LP” — Eminem
Our pick: This one is always a toss-up. Remember Macklemore’s upset last year? With four total nominations, this would be Iggy Azalea’s consolation prize if she ends up empty-handed in the other categories. But it would be great to see Schoolboy Q take Azalea to class.
Best alternative music album
“St. Vincent” — St. Vincent
“This Is All Yours” — Alt-J
“Melophobia” — Cage the Elephant
“Reflektor” — Arcade Fire
“Lazaretto” — Jack White
Our pick: This category tends to be one of the hardest to predict, and this year is tougher than ever, with the best list of nominees for a single award. Arcade Fire and Jack White certainly have the most name recognition here (along with past wins). But St. Vincent’s self-titled album shines the brightest in this group.
