The Grammys: picks and predictions
The Grammys will air this Sunday, Feb. 2, capping off an excellent year of music. The BluePrints staff discussed and voted on who they think should win major categories. Here are our picks and predictions for the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Song of the year – This award recognizes outstanding songwriting by an artist
The nominees:
“TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” by Beyoncé ● “Please, Please, Please” by Sabrina Carpenter ● “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar ● “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift and Post Malone ● “Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars ● “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozy ● “Good Luck Babe!” by Chappell Roan
Our pick: “Good Luck Babe!” by Chappell Roan
Our prediction: “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
Chappell Roan’s sapphic synth pop hit catalyzed her breakout year, and we love its catchy chorus and fun production. But it is unlikely that Roan can escape the orbit of the Grammys juggernaut who is Billie Eilish, who has won this award twice already, including last year for “What Was I Made For.” We think she is likely to win again.
Record of the year – This award recognizes outstanding songwriting as well as outstanding production and composition
The nominees:
“Fortnight” by Taylor Swift and Post Malone ● “Good Luck Babe!” by Chappell Roan ● “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar ● “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish ● “360” by Charli xcx ● “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter ● “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” by Beyoncé ● “Now and Then” by the Beatles
Our pick: “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
Our prediction: “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
Record of the Year honors commercial success and rarely goes to the same song as song of the year. Because of this, BluePrints staff prefers “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” to “Good Luck Babe!” for this award. But we think that neither can outrun the mega hit that was “Espresso,” the Sabrina Carpenter bop that dominated the airwaves and social media this spring and summer.
Best Rap Song – This award recognizes outstanding writing and production of a Rap song
The nominees:
“Yea Glo!” by Glorilla ● “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar ● “Like That” by Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar ● “Carnival” by Kanye West and Ty Dolly $ign ● “Asteroids” by Marlenna Evans
Our pick: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
Our prediction: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
2024 was a standout year for rap, as evidenced by the strength of this year’s nominees. The genre produced quite a few hits in the past year, and artists like Glorilla and Doechii broke into the mainstream. But far and away the biggest story in rap music — maybe in all music — was the feud between industry titans Kendrick Lamar and Drake. “Not Like Us” was the culmination of the months-long beef, and it managed to become one of the defining hits of the year. It is hard to see any other song beating “Not Like Us,” especially as it is nominated in many of the other major categories.
Best Latin pop album – This award recognizes an outstanding album by an artist from latin america
The nominees:
“Orquídeas” by Kali Uchis ● “Las Mujeres Ya no Lloren” by Shakira ● “GARCÍA” by Kany Garcia ● “El Viaje” by Luis Fonsi ● “Funk Generation” by Anitta
Our pick: “Orquídeas” by Kali Uchis
Our prediction: “Las Mujeres Ya no Lloren” by Shakira
Kali Uchis delivered a solid Latin pop album in “Orquídeas,” a genre hopping follow up to “Red Moon in Venus.” But many of the Spanish language songs that dominated the past few years (TQG, Bzarrap music sessions vol. 53, El Jefe) are on “Las Mujeres Ya no Lloren,” and a Grammy seems the perfect culmination of the Shakira resurgence.
Best new artist – This award recognizes an artist who debuted or entered the mainstream in the past year
The nominees:
Teddy Swims ● Shaboozey ● Chappell Roan ● RAYE ● Doechii ● Sabrina Carpenter ● Benson Boone
Our pick: Chappell Roan
Our prediction: Chappell Roan
Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan are the clear frontrunners for the win here. Although some think Sabrina Carpenter should receive this award, we feel that Chappell Roan is most deserving for the title. Carpenter has become a bigger artist this past year, however, she has been known in the industry for almost a decade, as opposed to Roan who came into fame faster and more recently.
Best pop vocal album – This award recognizes an outstanding pop music album
The nominees:
“THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” by Taylor Swift ● “Chappell Roan The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” by Chappell Roan ● “eternal sunshine” by Ariana Grande ● “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” by Billie Eilish ● “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter
Our pick: “eternal sunshine” by Ariana Grande
Our prediction: “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter
For an album that produced one of the year’s biggest hits in “we can’t be friends,” “eternal sunshine” seems conspicuously absent from this year’s Grammys nominations. Nevertheless, we appreciated the light, airy production and cohesive vision of the album. Unfortunately, the time does not seem right for the eternally snubbed Ariana Grande, and we think that the Academy will instead honor the hit producing “Short n’ Sweet.”
Best music video – This award recognizes an outstanding music video for a song
The nominees:
“Fortnight” by Taylor Swift (featuring Post Malone) ● “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar ● “Houdini” by Eminem ● “360” Charli xcx ● “Tailor Swif” by A$AP Rocky
Our prediction: “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift (featuring Post Malone)
Our pick: “360” Charli xcx
The Academy has to throw Taylor Swift at least one bone, and as her prospects in other areas are lacking, this category appears to be her best shot at a win. Our staff thinks that the icon filled “360” music video is the best candidate for a win.
Album of the year – This award recognizes the best album released in the last year
The nominees:
“THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” by Taylor Swift ● “Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” by Chappell Roan ● “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” by Billie Eilish ● “Djesse Vol. 4” by Jacob Collier ● “BRAT” by Charli xcx ● “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter ● “COWBOY CARTER” by Beyoncé ● “New Blue Sun” by André 3000
Our pick: “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” by Billie Eilish
Our prediction: “COWBOY CARTER” by Beyoncé
This is the most stacked album of the year category in quite a while, with showings from entrenched pop legends as well as new upstarts. It is doubtful that the Academy would give Taylor Swift two wins in a row, especially for an album as tepid as “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT,” so it appears to be a three horse race between “BRAT”, “COWBOY CARTER”, and “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT.” A case can be made for all three, but we think that “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” is the most compelling because of its composition and the variety in the album. The songs are relatable and heartfelt, along with having great lyricism and making listeners feel. As for the Academy, we think that they will award the honor to Beyoncé after four losses in the category, even if “COWBOY CARTER” isn’t the strongest album in the lineup.
