With the Grammys approaching, many wonder which Record of the Year nominee will win the award.
Every year, major artists of the music industry come together to look back on moments from the past year. The Grammys are built on moments that had us most excited and dancing in our seats, the successes of hard work and an industry made up of a community of gifted individuals that shape the world around us through music.
From old favorites to the newcomers who shook things up, 2024 was a major year for music.
One of the biggest awards presented at the Grammys is the Record of the Year. Ranging from various genres of pop, country and rap, Record of the Year is a high achievement that any artists would be honored to recieve.
The first record on the nominations list is Now and Then by The Beatles. Originally written back in the 70’s, the remaining Beatles have come together to produce their last song.
The Beatles are a part of music history and have left an enviable legacy, however, Now and Then, cannot compete with the other records.
Although it stands out for its older style, popular songs in today’s society are fast paced and technologically advanced, with lyrics and vocals that speak of a different time.
The record relies heavily upon the history and reputation of The Beatles and lacks merit on its own.
Next is Beyonce’s Texas Hold’ Em. The song has been considered a political statement as well as a source controversy, as It aimed to speak out on the issues of race and inclusion in the country genre; however, many people have complained of the nature of the song due to Beyonce’s reliance on country music stereotypes.
Billie Eilish has won Record of the Year twice, but her song Birds of a Feather, despite having played many times over the radio and Spotify, has not shown any ‘spark’ that would be necessary to separate it to stand out from other songs.
“Brat summer” is a term that is coined to not only describe the summer of 2024, but a culture that Gen Z and the older half of Gen Alpha have curated.
Charli XCX made an album with songs that perfectly gave ‘the vibes’ of this young generation. 360 was nominated for Record of the Year, and while it has a large cultural influence on many teenagers and young adults, Record of the Year needs to be a reflection of the year as a whole for everybody.
2024 is a year of female singers pushing boundaries, like Chappell Roan. One of the artist’s hit songs is Good Luck, Babe! which made the Record of the Year list. While a trend setter with catchy songs, Good Luck, Babe! does not reach the same popularity as other songs on this list of nominees.
Similarly, Kendrick Lamar took the year by storm with his song Not Like Us, but it has not grown enough in popularity to compete with the other nominees’ major hits and take home Record of the Year.
One of the biggest artists of the 21st century, Taylor Swift,may have come shorter than years past with her song Fortnight. While highly anticipated, the song was too similar to her previous work. Fortnight does not come close to her other songs that have won Record of the Year or reach the greatness that Taylor Swift’s fans have come to expect of her.
From perfume to a Dunkin Donuts collab, Sabrina Carpenter’s hit song Espresso has not only launched the young singer to stardom but has created collabs to go with the song, bolstering its popularity. One of the most played songs of the year and beloved across different age groups, Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter has the potential and reach to win Record of the Year.
With its relatable lyrics and catchy beat, Expresso has something for everyone and has become one of the most listened songs everywhere; it truly encompasses the title of Record of the Year.
