This weekend, the 56th annual Grammy Awards will take over Los Angeles’ Staples Center. As music’s biggest stars gather to applaud each other’s accomplishments, we’ll be at home watching and placing bets on who will walk away with a golden grammophone. We have no idea what the Grammy judges look like (or listen to), but if it were up to us, the results would probably be different.
Will Kendrick get his time to shine? Can Taylor add another one to her trophy case? Do you think Jay Z will win all of his nominations?
After much consideration, we present to you: Vixen’s Grammy Award winners.
Photo Credits: Getty/WireImage
Record of the Year:
Get Lucky – Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
Royals – Lorde
Locked Out Of Heaven – Bruno Mars
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
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Pharrell Williams put his magic touch on not one, but two of the biggest hits of 2013. Combined with a movie score and Oscar nomination, he’s already won. Chances are the Grammy’s will pick “Blurred Lines” or “Get Lucky,” but if it were up to us, the winner would be….
//www.youtube.com/embed/zwT6DZCQi9k
“Blurred Lines!” Robin Thicke’s gotten the short end of the stick for years and we think it’s about time he won something.
Album of the Year:
The Blessed Unrest – Sara Bareilles
Random Access Memories – Daft Punk
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City – Kendrick Lamar
The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Red – Taylor Swift
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All five of these artists have had a monumental year. Sara Bareilles’ “Brave” was practically everywhere, Daft Punk made an incredible comeback, Macklemore practically hijacked radio waves and as for Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar: do we really need to explain?
If the past has taught us anything, it’s that the Grammy voters love Taylor, but we hope the underdog takes this one.
//www.youtube.com/embed/GF8aaTu2kg0
Dear Grammy’s: Please don’t kill our vibe by not giving this one to Kendrick. He deserves it and definitely has our vote.
Song of the Year:
Just Give Me A Reason – Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Pink Featuring Nate Ruess)
Locked Out Of Heaven – Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Roar – Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry & Henry Walter, songwriters (Katy Perry)
Royals – Joel Little & Ella Yelich O’Connor, songwriters (Lorde)
Same Love – Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Mary Lambert
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One thing we appreciate about music in the past year is the level of songwriting. Now, more than ever, it seems artists are paying attention to what they say, as evidenced by this year’s “Song of the Year” category. We love all five of these songs and the powerful messages they carry.
With more nominations than his four competitors, we think Macklemore will walk away with a Grammy, but if it were up to us, the winner would be…
//www.youtube.com/embed/OpQFFLBMEPI
Pink, of course! Her heart wrenching duet with FUN!’s Nate Reuss is not only relatable, but pretty damn catchy. We don’t know about you, but we think it’s high time a lady take home this award.
Best New Artist:
James Blake
Kendrick Lamar
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Kacey Musgraves
Ed Sheeran
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This is always a surprise category. While we all think the “popular” choice will win, it’s usually the one we’ve never listened to. We’re placing our bets on Kacey Musgraves or James Blake, but we hope the winner is…
//www.youtube.com/embed/yyr2gEouEMM
Kendrick Lamar. Noone has made an impact quite as profound as this Compton native.
Best Pop Solo Performance:
Brave – Sara Bareilles
Royals – Lorde
When I Was Your Man – Bruno Mars
Roar – Katy Perry
Mirrors – Justin Timberlake
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All of these songs dominated radio, however, we think the Grammy’s will go with comeback king Justin Timberlake. And you know what?….
//www.youtube.com/embed/uuZE_IRwLNI
We’re okay with that! He’s our top pick for “Best Pop Solo Performance.” In fact, we have a feeling this won’t be his only win for the night.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
Get Lucky – Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
Just Give Me A Reason – Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
Stay – Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke Featuring TI & Pharrell
Suit & Tie – Justin Timberlake & Jay Z
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Again, we think this category means another win for Pharrell, but for which song?
If “Blurred Lines” doesn’t win this or any category, we’ll be highly upset.
Best Pop Vocal Album:
Paradise – Lana Del Rey
Pure Heroine – Lorde
Unorthodox Jukebox – Bruno Mars
Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke
The 20/20 Experience: The Complete Experience – Justin Timberlake
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As much as we love our Vixens, we think this category belows to the boys in 2014. The Grammys will probably choose Bruno Mars, but our pick is….
//www.youtube.com/embed/IsUsVbTj2AY
Justin Timberlake! He took back the pop game with The 20/20 Experience and deserves the proper recognition.
Best R&B Song:
Best Of Me – Anthony Hamilton & Jairus Mozee, songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)
Love And War – Tamar Braxton, Darhyl Camper, Jr., LaShawn Daniels & Makeba Riddick, songwriters (Tamar Braxton)
Only One – PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring Stevie Wonder)
Pusher Love Girl – James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)
Without Me – Fantasia Barrino, Missy Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert, Harmony Samuels & Kyle Stewart, songwriters (Fantasia Featuring Kelly Rowland & Missy Elliot)
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While many are probably side-eyeing J.T.’s inclusion in this category, the reality is that he will probably take this one, too. However, things are a bit different on our wishlist….
//www.youtube.com/embed/_ITujo4gbNU
Tamar definitely deserves this Grammy. Her album was R&B perfection and that voice soars on the debut single.
Best R&B Album:
R&B Divas – Faith Evans
Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys
Love In The Future – John Legend
Better – Chrisette Michele
Three Kings – TGT
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This category is always a toss-up, as good R&B music is never in short supply. However, a choice must be made and our’s is….
//www.youtube.com/embed/450p7goxZqg
John Legend! Already a veteran in the music game, John continues to evolve his sound past what we were first introduced to ten years ago.
Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Love And War – Tamar Braxton
Side Effects Of You – Fantasia
One: In The Chamber – Salaam Remi
Unapologetic – Rihanna
New York: A Love Story – Mack Wilds
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Tamar has already won a Grammy in our eyes, but does her album deserve one, too?….
//www.youtube.com/embed/ehcVomMexkY
Nope! Say what you will, but Rihanna’s LP was damn good, both musically and commercially.
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
Power Trip – J. Cole Featuring Miguel
Part II (On The Run) – Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé
Holy Grail – Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake
Remember You – Wiz Khalifa Featuring The Weeknd
Now Or Never – Kendrick Lamar Featuring Mary J. Blige
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With more nominations than anyone, Jay Z is predicted to win at least one Grammy. Although he has two songs in this category, we hope it goes to someone else….
//www.youtube.com/embed/7AjD7nKiUQ4
It’s a travesty that J. Cole’s Born Sinner only got one nomination. At least give him this one!
Best Rap Album:
Nothing Was The Same – Drake
Magna Carta…Holy Grail – Jay Z
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City – Kendrick Lamar
The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Yeezus – Kanye West
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Yea, yea, yea. We can almost guarantee that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (unfortunately) win rap’s highest honor. However, the real winner- at least to us- is…
Drake AND Kendrick Lamar. Both of their albums are so amazing; we can’t pick just one!
Best R&B Performance
Love And War- Tamar Braxton
Best Of Me- Anthony Hamilton
Nakamarra- Hiatus Kaiyote Featuring Q-Tip
How Many Drinks?- Miguel Featuring Kendrick Lamar
Something -Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway
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We bet Kendrick never thought he would be nominated for an R&B award. We’re placing bets on Miguel or Tamar, but our Grammy goes to….
//www.youtube.com/embed/nY-Xk3sGr6Q
Miguel and Kendrick!
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Please Come Home- Gary Clark Jr.
Get It Right- Fantasia
Quiet Fire- Maysa
Hey Laura- Gregory Porter
Yesterday- Ryan Shaw
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I’m going to be honest. We had to refresh our memory on a lot of these, but as predicted, our Grammy goes to…
//www.youtube.com/embed/-yWem55bjOU
Fantasia. This woman has been through A LOT since winning American Idol, but one thing’s for sure: that voice is Grammy gold!
Best Rap Performance
Started From The Bottom- Drake
Berzerk- Eminem
Tom Ford- Jay Z
Swimming Pools (Drank)- Kendrick Lamar
Thrift Shop-mMacklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz
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We love all five of these men equally, but only one can have the Grammy. Based on lyrics and impact alone, we think Eminem will add this to his trophy case, what say we?
//www.youtube.com/embed/8-ejyHzz3XE
Kendrick is the king of the Grammy’s in our eyes!
Best Rap Song
F***in’ Problems
Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Kendrick Lamar, Rakim Mayers & Noah Shebib, songwriters (ASAP Rocky Featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
Holy Grail
Shawn Carter, Terius Nash, J. Harmon, Timothy Mosley, Justin Timberlake & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl & Krist Novoselic, songwriters) (Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake)
New Slaves
Christopher Breaux, Ben Bronfman, Mike Dean, Louis Johnson, Malik Jones, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Smith, Kanye West & Cydell Young, songwriters (Anna Adamis & Gabor Presser, songwriters) (Kanye West)
Started From The Bottom
W. Coleman, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Bruno Sanfilippo, songwriter) (Drake)
Thrift Shop
Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz
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Again, this is a tough category. Based on lyrics, we predict “Holy Grail” takes this one, but does it match up with our hypothetical award?
//www.youtube.com/embed/6AIdXisPqHc
Yes! “Holy Grail” is definitely our favorite rap song of the past year.
Vixens: sound off on your Grammy predictions below.