The 59th Annual Grammy Awards takes place tonight, and since it is pretty much the biggest celebration of the music industry going, we can expect everyone who is anyone to be there.
While the line-up for performers is very impressive – Katy Perry, Adele, Bruno Mars, Daft Punk, The Weeknd, John Legend and apparently Lady Gaga will be dueting with Metallica – all eyes will be on who brings home the big award of the night.
So here’s a run down on the five nominees, all the background info you might need on them, and the odds that Vegas has on them to win.
Adele – 25
Clip via Adele VEVO
Singles to date: Hello, When We Were Young, Send My Love (To Your New Lover), Water Under The Bridge
Notable producers: Danger Mouse, Paul Epworth, Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Ariel Rechtshaid, Shellback, The Smeezingtons, Ryan Tedder
Interesting factoid: if Adele wins, she’ll be the first artist since Stevie Wonder to win Album Of The Year for two consecutive albums, something that not even The Beatles, Michael Jackson or U2 have been able to pull of.
Sample review: “Whether she’s holding notes with the strength of a suspension bridge or enjoying a rare lighthearted “whoo-hoo!” on “Sweetest Devotion,” her incredible phrasing – the way she can infuse any line with nuance and power – is more proof that she’s among the greatest interpreters of romantic lyrics.” – Rolling Stone
Vegas odds to win: 2/1
Beyonce – Lemonade
Clip via Beyonce VEVO
Singles to date: Formation, Sorry, Hold Up, Freedom, All Night
Notable producers: James Blake, BOOTS, Mike Dean, Diplo, Hit-Boy, Just Blaze, Beyoncé Knowles, Ezra Koenig, Mike Will Made-It, Jack White
Interesting factoid: if Beyonce wins, she will become only the fourth African-American woman to take home the top award, and the first since Lauryn Hill won for The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill back in 1998.
Sample review: “Lemonade marks Beyoncé’s most accomplished work yet. It is the perfect combination of the sharp songwriting of 4 with the visual storytelling acumen of her self-titled record. Here, we see Beyoncé fully coming into her own: wise, accomplished, and in defense of herself.” – Consequence Of Sound
Vegas odds to win: 1/2
Drake – Views
Clip via Drake VEVO
Singles to date: Hotline Bling, One Dance, Pop Style, Controlla, Too Good
Notable producers: Boi-1Da, Noah “40” Shebib, Kanye West, Wizkid
Interesting factoid: if Drake wins, Views will become only the rap album ever to win the top prize, following in the footsteps of Outkast’s seminal 2003 album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Sample review: “Views should be a slog. But remarkably, his signature brand of downbeat introspection remains gripping.” – NME
Vegas odds to win: 15/1
Justin Bieber – Purpose
Clip via Justin Bieber VEVO
Singles to date: What Do You Mean?, Sorry, Love Yourself, Company
Notable producers: Benny Blanco, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Mike Dean, Diplo, Skrillex
Interesting factoid: if Justin Bieber wins, we’ll eat our hat.
Sample review: “The album boasts a consistent palette of lush, low-key electro-dance sounds: sun-warped synths, chipmunk accent vocals, rattling trap hi-hats, and loads of bass…. It’s in this Spotify-age blend of dance, hip-hop, R&B and classic smooth-dude vocalizing that Bieber truly shows his growth.” – Billboard
Vegas odds to win: 9/1
Sturgill Simpson – A Sailor’s Guide To Earth
Clip via Sturgill Simpson Music
Singles to date: Brace For Impact (Live A Little), In Bloom
Notable producers: just Sturgill Simpson, all on his lonesome
Interesting factoid: less than three years ago, Sturgill was a complete unknown, regularly playing dive bars with less than 50 people in the audience.
Sample review: “Sturgill Simpson has been running in a different direction for a while, and with A Sailor’s Guide To Earth, he’s finally arrived in another world.” – Exclaim
Vegas odds to win: 22/1
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