(You can read my predictions for this year’s GRAMMYs here)

On Feb. 5, the 2023 GRAMMYs took place. There were many great performances and many awards given. Many surprised the world– and me.

For Record of the Year, Lizzo won for “About Damn Time”. I thought that Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” would win. It blew up over the summer of last year and became so popular. Of course, “About Damn Time” is still a great song. I just thought that Lizzo would win Best Pop Vocal Album for her 2022 songs. I’m still happy with this outcome.

I correctly predicted that Harry Styles would win Album of the Year with “Harry’s House”. It was inevitable. A person with that much previous success is an obvious choice for the Recording Academy. Many people loved it and if you didn’t, you’d probably get attacked. Based on the streams, the statistics, and the songs, it deserved to win.

The Song of the Year surprised me. Bonnie Raitt, the 73-year-old songstress, won Song of the Year for “Just Like That”. I didn’t expect it; even Raitt didn’t expect it! But after all the success of her career, it was inevitable that she’d earn the award. Plus, the people who vote on the GRAMMYs are old and favor the old.

The Best New Artist came out of nowhere. Samara Joy is 22 years old, from the Bronx, and a Jazz singer. I hadn’t heard of her until the GRAMMYs. I think many people agree. I’m glad that they chose a young person of color for the Best New Artist. She definitely deserves the recognition and has the potential to become a star. 

Harry Styles just keeps earning GRAMMYs. Other than Album of the Year, he also earned Best Pop Vocal Album. Everyone saw it coming. Look at the fangirls. Look at the reviews. Look at his past successes. Look at the Album of The Year. Everyone saw it coming; of course he earned two GRAMMYs.

For Best Rock Album, I was hoping for Spoon to win. But no. Disappointment is everywhere.  The Recording Academy went with a rather predictable choice. Ozzy Osbourne, the rock idol, earned yet another award for ‘Patient Number 9’. I was sincerely hoping for my favorite of the nominees to earn it. What a shame. Sadly, they did not.

Let’s talk about another genre that ended up disappointing me: Alternative. Somehow, Wet Leg took Best Alternative Album for their eponymous album. I don’t know how that happened. In my humble opinion, Big Thief deserved to win. Their lengthy album– with an even longer name, “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe You”– is excellent, and is more worthy than ‘Wet Leg’.

All hail the queen. Beyoncé won her 53rd GRAMMY for ‘Renaissance’. With Best R&B Album (and many other 2023 GRAMMYs), she is now the person holding the record for most GRAMMYs won. This woman skyrocketed to stardom because of her excellent music. When you’re a superstar like Beyoncé, you deserve every honor you earn.

I was holding out for someone younger to win Best Country Album. But I am not from the Recording Academy, and they chose someone older. Someone 89 years old, in fact. Willie Nelson won his 12th GRAMMY for his album ‘A Beautiful Time’. I don’t listen to much Country, so I feel pretty indifferent about the Best Country Album.

And finally, Best Rap Album. There were some big names this year, but it was pretty obvious who they’d pick. Kendrick Lamar won Best Rap Album for  “Mr Morale and the Big Steppers”. To echo the last paragraph. I’m not a big rap listener, and I don’t know much about the genre. I based it off of talent, and fame.

We’ve had another great year of music. The new year brings new experiences and expectations. The new year also brings new songs, new albums, and new talent. Let’s hope that it’s just as good as the last one.