So September is over - Grammy deadline is up - who will rob U2

[melon]

Who the hell is Alicia Keys? God...not another rap or pop trash phenomenon I hope.

Melon

------------------
"He had lived through an age when men and women with energy and ruthlessness but without much ability or persistence excelled. And even though most of them had gone under, their ignorance had confused Roy, making him wonder whether the things he had striven to learn, and thought of as 'culture,' were irrelevant. Everything was supposed to be the same: commercials, Beethoven's late quartets, pop records, shopfronts, Freud, multi-coloured hair. Greatness, comparison, value, depth: gone, gone, gone. Anything could give some pleasure; he saw that. But not everything provided the sustenance of a deeper understanding." - Hanif Kureishi, Love in a Blue Time

[Diemen]

Originally posted by melon:
Who the hell is Alicia Keys? God...not another rap or pop trash phenomenon I hope.

Melon

No melon, she actually has talent (she's a pretty good pianist for one). No dance routines in her music . It's not exactly my type of music anyway (kinda r&b-ish, kinda poppish), but I can appreciate her talent.

[tackleberry]

Actually I think U2 has a good chance at winning. They won't give it to Bob Dylan because he was already awarded a couple years ago with Time Out of Mind album. I think Alicia Keys' song will have a very good chance at winning song of the year, but not album. Keep in mind too, that Paul Simon won album of the year in 1986 for Graceland, and then the next year won song of the year beating U2's Still Haven't Found. So maybe the reverse will happen for ATYCLB. Also, I don't see anyone else who even comes close to this album's success, including the singles release that have done well on the charts and with radio air play: Beautiful Day, Elevation, and now Stuck. So, lets keep the faith.

------------------
"You gotta put the women and children first, but you've got an unquenchable thirst for New York..."

[Hitman]

I have a feeling it's going to be Keys...BUT
I do think U2 has a very legitimate shot, because they and their album have maintained steam for the whole year...
They are still on the forefront of conciousness....

How sweet it would be!!!

[u2utah]

Alicia Keys is probably their only real competition.

BTW, why do you think they're touring in the USA right before Grammy nominations, rather than going to places they haven't toured? Could it be that they want to remind the acadamy voters that they've got a great record out there which just happens to be eligible this year?

[Hitman]

Originally posted by u2utah:
Alicia Keys is probably their only real competition.

BTW, why do you think they're touring in the USA right before Grammy nominations, rather than going to places they haven't toured? Could it be that they want to remind the acadamy voters that they've got a great record out there which just happens to be eligible this year?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.................

Bono is a smart guy, eh?

[Bonochick]

Anybody feel that R.E.M.'s album will be some good competition? I haven't heard it myself, but I have heard rave reviews.

------------------
Trust In God...But Lock Your Doors

[Hitman]

Originally posted by Bonochick:
Anybody feel that R.E.M.'s album will be some good competition? I haven't heard it myself, but I have heard rave reviews.

I've heard it and....

NO

[HelloAngel]

I don't really feel that Alicia Keys will be nominated for Album of the Year ...

Let me back up and say that I believe she is very talented, and that 'Fallin' is a bright light in the Pop world - but the RIAA loves to give the Grammy to more broad-reaching influential albums from artists like Santana, Paul Simon, Steely Dan (tho I believe their popularity has waned)and Lauryn Hill.. albums that really make a difference. The other songs on her album don't sound all that terribly different from Faith Evans, Mary J, and other R&B singers.

Keep in mind that while she seems like she is all over the place to a younger, more "aware" audience.. most people over 35 probably have no idea who she is. And the RIAA likes to make everything a pretty package for Album of the Year... so truly, and I really believe this... look for Dylan, Simon and U2 to nab the nomination.

In addition, the argument can be posited that Keys' stunning debut atop Billboard is a strong indicator - the majority of the record buying public aged 14-28 (who she appeals to) are the ones bumping her album right now... not Mrs Jones down your block.

This is only a guess.

------------------
Here's to the few who forgive what you do
and the fewer who don't even care
--Leonard Cohen

[Hitman]

Most people over 35 had no idea who Lauren Hill was. Or Alanis Morissette for that matter........

Truth is, they usually vote for what they feel was the best reasonably successful album on the charts that year.

[Flying FuManchu]

Only on a U2 board would U2 be robbed of album of the year in the Grammys.

I like a lot of the music in the mainstream, but ATYCLB has been able to get a 2nd wind these days with Stuck. After listening to it again a couple of times, it has a greater place in America especially with the whole WTC tragedy. I think its a strong contender for Grammy with that in mind. Not to mention its agreat seller and critically acclaimed.

------------------
~ "You can't resist her. She's in your bones. She is your marrow and your ride home. You can't avoid her. She's in the air; in between molecules of oxygen and carbon dioxide." ~ RC

[U2Kitten]

My prediction: Someone WILL rob U2 and we will all be sick. If they could have been eligible last year when the Grammys were on a U2 appreciation kick they would have won.

However, I don't believe they will win this year, even though they deserve it and are by far the class of the music business.

My reason:
(Hold flames please! These are realistic if not valid points)
*PC will come into play. Last year, Steely Dan won, they were the token 'old' white guy rock and roll genre Album of the Year. My prediction- U2 will lose, and lose because they are old, classic, white, male and rock genre. The winner, whomever it will be, will be either a woman, a country star or band, or rap or pop genre. I hope I am wrong, but I don't think I am. Don't flame me, things like this happen all the time, it's reality.

I don't expect them to win but I do believe they are the best and should win. Maybe I will be wrong, and the Grammys will find some other category to patronize all genres.

[Bonochick]

Originally posted by U2Kitten:
My prediction: Someone WILL rob U2 and we will all be sick. If they could have been eligible last year when the Grammys were on a U2 appreciation kick they would have won.

As you pointed out later in your post, Steely Dan won all of those awards. If ATYCLB had been nominated against Steely Dan, I bet Steely Dan would have won it.

------------------
Trust In God...But Lock Your Doors

[U2Kitten]

The sad thing about Steely Dan winning last year is that back in the 70's and early 80's when they were good they never won a Grammy, and their new album was certainly not their best. Many people were going, 'why Steely Dan?' I have another controversial theory. Steely Dan was snubbed by the Grammys back in their glory days of success, and now that they have returned from many years of silence, it was like the voters suddenly remembered them and realized they deserved a Grammy so they gave them what had been coming to them. I have talked to people about this and they think that could be it, considering the quality of their latest work compared with that in the past. It's like a football official who makes a bad call and 'makes it up' to the team later by making a bad call against the other guys later in the game, it's called 'payback.' Maybe they think that by doing that they are somehow making it right, making up for the past. Carlos Santana deserved recoginition for his past work, but was most glorified after teaming up with pop stars which got him the attention.

If all was right with the world, U2 would win, but I feel they will feel obligated to patronize another genre, so Keyes will probably suit their criteria for a choice.

[Hawkfire]

U2kitten, I agree the Grammies might make a conscientious effort to appear more "diverse" by patronizing a different genre/sector/sex/race than U2.

While of course I will be rooting for U2 for album of the year (even though I personally think ATYCLB is their worst album since at least Rattle, probably since War), it might be better for U2 to NOT win. A backlash would almost inevitably follow, with critics who are right now praising U2's every song and show snickering about how the same album garnered major awards two consecutive years. U2 worked hard (or, on a slightly more pessimistic tone, compromised quite a bit) to win back those who were alienated by PopMart. While I would just assume see those non-fans buzz off, obviously it is important to u2...therefore a critical backlash for winning "too many" Grammies might hurt in the minds of these people.

[U2Kitten]

Many fans were 'won back' by ATYCLB because it was for most fans, as well as the public in general, a good album. AB and ZOOROPA won Grammy awards, and they deserved them. Pop was not nominated, perhaps because it was not up to U2's standards to the Grammy voters or many other people. I don't want to start a Pop battle, but to insinuate fans 'buzz off' for not liking Popmart is unfair and opinionated, just as is your assertation that ATYCLB is inferior. Not every fan is going to like every album by any artist, it's just a fact of life. It doesn't make a person any less a fan who should 'buzz off.' I like ATYCLB and I think it is popular for a reason- more people can enjoy it and relate to it. What's wrong with that? ATYCLB is a fantastic and heartfelt album that deserves all the accolades it can get. Of course, the 'diverse' thing remains

[Hawkfire]

Well, I fully appreciate why ATYCLB has been successful and understand a lot of people have enjoyed this album (I like it, as well, just not as much as U2's more recent albums - I think Walk On, Kite and IALW are all great). POP actually was nominated, in the "Best Rock Album" category, but not surprisingly lost out (to John Fogerty of all people) as the album was hard to pigeonhole as a "rock" album.

I guess what I loved about Zooropa and POP was that U2 was saying "we don't give a s#$%!" in terms of sales or popularity or what might work well on the radio...they were in full experimental mode and the results, while often not entirely successful, were (in my opinion) always INTERESTING. ATYCLB plays it very close to the vest, it is a very safe, marketable album. Because the songs are fairly strong (by and large), I think U2 is good enough to get away with it for one album, but I'd advise them not to return to that well again...in other words, the next album for their own longevity and relevance I'd like to see them do something different.

I hope that explains where I'm coming from with my last post. I didn't mean to insinuate those who dislike POP should "buzz off" - I meant I wish U2 didn't care so much that some people didn't like it (and have that influence their thinking).

[U2Kitten]

I believe that ATYCLB was the album they wanted to make, because they wanted to. I don't think they were trying to please anyone or be commercially successful, if they were they would have sold out to the current rock/rap or teenpop trends. Our guys sport no face piercings and follow no choreographer. They did what they did it because that is where they are right now, that was what was on their minds and in their hearts, and it just happened to be something that more fans appreciated. It's an excellent album, and I love it more every time I listen to it.

[U2Kitten]

Oh, and don't forget how when they first came out they were 'trying to save rock' and telling the boy bands to 'move over, we are the men!' They were making a statement with what they wanted to do and they knew it was good.

[drumkeeran]

Definitely cannot think of a more critically acclaimed album than ATYCLB during the nomination period. As "Beautiful Day" was released as a single to catch last year's period, it deserved the accolades it got.

The events on Sept 11 have given most ATYCLB songs a new meaning, as a soundtrack to our grief. Certainly GRAMMY will acknowledge this. Although, Dylan's Love and Theft will provide well deserved competition. Who knows?? GRAMMY loves Bono's speeches anyways.

------------------
If your glass house should crack....POE