Grammy Awards Rundown

The 49th Annual Grammy Awards are tomorrow night. Who will win? Who should win? Let's take a look...

Record of the Year

Be Without You - Mary J. Blige
You're Beautiful - James Blunt
Not Ready to Make Nice - Dixie Chicks
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae

I don't think Corinne Bailey Rae or James Blunt have a shot at it, and while Dixie Chicks are frontrunners in the album category, I don't see the Grammys singling them out for Record. This race comes down to a veteran artist at her peak, Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You," and an innovative newcomer, Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy." You could argue Mary deserves the award for the snub of not getting an Album of the Year nomination, but on substance alone this award should and will go to Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy."'

Should win/will win: Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

Album of the Year

Taking the Long Way - Dixie Chicks
St. Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley
Continuum - John Mayer
Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers
FutureSex/Love Sounds - Justin Timberlake

It still looks odd to not see Bob Dylan's Modern Times and Mary J. Blige's Breakthrough among the set, although their inclusion probably would have meant the exclusion of John Mayer's soulful, understated Continuum, which ended up being my personal favorite of the three I own (along with Timberlake and Dixie Chicks). While Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" is a frontrunner for Record, the album as a whole is undeserving, too many weird moments among the good ones. For RHCP, it's "an honor just being nominated." This race comes down to Justin Timberlake, the popular favorite and second-time nominee whose singles have been ubiquitous for the last 6 months, and The Dixie Chicks' pop/country statement of standing their ground. Both are good albums too, and between these two I'm going with The Dixie Chicks for their more consistently good album and the opportunity for the recording industry to stick it to all those who stuck to the Chicks for expressing what they believe.

Should win: Continuum - John Mayer

Will win: Taking the Long Way - Dixie Chicks

Song of the Year

Be Without You - Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jason Perry, songwriters (Mary J. Blige)
Jesus Take the Wheel - Brett James, Hillary Lindsey & Gordie Sampson, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
Not Ready to Make Nice - Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison & Dan Wilson, songwriters (Dixie Chicks)
Put Your Records On - Put Your Records OnJohn Beck, Steve Chrisanthou & Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriters (Corinne Bailey Rae)
You're Beautiful - James Blunt, Amanda Ghost & Sacha Skarbek, songwriters (James Blunt)

The songwriters award. Usually goes to adult contemporary-type fare, so count "Be Without You" and "Jesus Take the Wheel Out." "Put Your Records On" is lovely, but too slight. "You're Beautiful" would appear to be a favorite, as it is lovely too, but not very interesting lyrically. "Not Ready to Make Nice" still gives me goosebumps during its middle 8, and it tells a compelling story.

Should/will win: Not Ready to Make Nice - Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison & Dan Wilson

Best New Artist

James Blunt
Chris Brown
Imogen Heap
Corinne Bailey Rae
Carrie Underwood

Already this decade this award has gone to some pretty impressive talent, including Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5, Alicia Keys, and Norah Jones, so it's not the "curse" it once may have been (of the '90s winners only Mariah Carey and Sheryl Crow are arguably still going strong). James Blunt seems like a strong contender, and my personal favorite, but Carrie Underwood is going to be irresistible as the American Idol that made it.

Should win: James Blunt

Will win: Carrie Underwood

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera
Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
You Can Close Your Eyes - Sheryl Crow
Stupid Girls - Pink
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall

Last year this went very deservingly to Kelly Clarkson, who had been snubbed in the Record and Album of the Year categories (she won both of her nominations though, the other being for Pop Album). Christina Aguilera and Sheryl Crow have won this before, but for better work, "Beautiful" and "All I Wanna Do." Pink's song is great, but would seem an odd choice for Grammy. This race comes down to my personal favorite Natasha Bedingfield's star-making performance for "Unwritten" and KT Tunstall's breakthrough "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." For some reason I'm feeling this will go to Tunstall, as the more Grammy-like choice.

Should win: Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield

Will win: Black Horse and the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

You're Beautiful - James Blunt
Save Room - John Legend
Waiting on the World to Change - John Mayer
Jenny Wren - Paul McCartney
Bad Day - Daniel Powter

John Mayer's already won this twice, first for "Your Body is a Wonderland" and later for "Daughters," so he's a likely favorite. I've never even heard "Jenny Wren," so voters probably haven't either. Count "Bad Day" out. This is probably James Blunt's best chance to win, but I expect he will be edged out by the soulful single from last year's best new artist, John Legend.

Should win: You're Beautiful - James Blunt

Will win: Save Room - John Legend

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal

My Humps - Black Eyed Peas
I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie
Over My Head (Cable Car) - The Fray
Is It Any Wonder? - Keane
Stickwitu - The Pussycat Dolls

This is an odd assortment, isn't it? Recent winners include Maroon 5, Los Lonely Boys, and No Doubt (twice). I really can't see Black Eyed Peas or The Pussycat Dolls wining a Grammy, so count them out. As well as Death Cab for Cutie and Keane for not being known enough. The Fray's popular "Over My Head" should easily win.

Should win: Is It Any Wonder? - Keane

Will win: Over My Head (Cable Car) - The Fray

Best Pop Vocal Collaboration

For Once In My Life - Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder
One - Mary J. Blige & U2
Always On Your Side - Sheryl Crow & Sting
Promiscuous - Nelly Furtado & Timbaland
Hips Don't Lie - Shakira & Wyclef Jean

Surprisingly competitive this year, more so than usual, and includes some very popular songs. "Promiscuous" is the popular choice, but since Nelly Furtado was so looked-over in other categories, I don't expect her to win. Same for Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie." "Always on Your Side" is a lovely ballad by two Grammy favorites, and should be a frontrunner, but the irresistible combination of Mary J. Blige and U2, also Grammy favorites, is unstoppable.

Should win: Always on Your Side - Sheryl Crow & Sting

Will win: One - Mary J. Blige & U2

Best Pop Vocal Album

Back to Basics - Christina Aguilera
Back to Bedlam - James Blunt
The River In Reverse - Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
Continuum - John Mayer
FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

Twice recently this has gone to the Album of the Year winner, but more often goes to another worthy album not nominated in the lead category. That would mean James Blunt's Back to Bedlam (too old for me to be excited about at this point) or Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics (innovative and adventurous, but uneven). I'm going with neither though and say that Justin Timberlake deserves to win with last year's hottest pop album that firmed up his status as a pop music leader.

Should/will win: FutureSex/LoveSounds - Justin Timberlake

Best Dance Recording

Suffer Well - Depeche Mode
Ooh La La - Goldfrapp
Get Together - Madonna
I'm With Stupid - Pet Shop Boys
Sexyback - Justin Timberlake

This usually goes to a popular choice or at least a popular artist. I'd love to think that Madonna could win this, but "Get Together" was barely a blip on the U.S. music scene last year. Despite it being the least "dance" of the pack, Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback," overlooked for Record of the Year, will probably win.

Should win: Get Together - Madonna

Will win: Sexyback - Justin Timberlake

Best Electronic/Dance Album

Supernature - Goldfrapp

Confessions on a Dancefloor - Madonna

A Lively Mind - Oakenfold

Fundamental - Pet Shop Boys

The Garden - Zero 7

Madonna has so few Grammys, it would be nice to see her win, but in all honesty, Goldfrapp's Supernature is a better album and deserves to win. Pet Shop Boys had their best album in years, but did anyone pay attention?

Should/will win: Supernature - Goldfrapp