Grammy Preview: Record of the Year

Contenders
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Can't Hold Us"
Justin Timberlake "Mirrors"
Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z "Suit and Tie"
P!nk feat. Nate Ruess "Just Give Me a Reason"
Katy Perry "Roar"
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell "Get Lucky"
Lady Gaga "Applause"
Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharrell "Blurred Lines"
Emeli Sande "Next to Me"
David Bowie "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)"
Sara Bareilles "Brave"
Bruno Mars "Locked Out of Heaven"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop"
P!nk "Try"
Drake "Started From the Bottom"
Ed Sheeran "Lego House"
Imagine Dragons "Radioactive"
Kendrick Lamar "Swimming Pools (Drank"
Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu "Q.U.E.E.N"
Elton John "Home Again"
Taylor Swift "I Knew You Were Trouble"
Lorde "Royals"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Same Love"
Rihanna feat. Mikky Echo "Stay"
Icona Pop "I Love It"
Rihanna "Diamonds"
Florida Georgia Line "Cruise"
Fun. "Carry On"
Adele "Skyfall"
Lana Del Rey "Summertime Sadness"
Maroon 5 "Daylight"

Commentary - I'm really not sure where they are going to go this year with the nominees. Justin Timberlake has two options. Most pundits are going with Mirrors, but with Suit and Tie, they can include Jay-Z. The pop divas all have a new crop of contenders including, Katy Perry for Roar, Lady Gaga for Applause, and P!nk with Try and her hit with Nate Ruess of fun. Just Give Me a Reason. Of the bunch P!nk and Nate Ruess as well as Katy Perry are probably the best bets. We do know that Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are sure to get several Grammy nods, but which song of theirs makes it into Record of the Year? I think Can't Hold Us is the best bet, although a nod for Same Love would be an awesome idea. Daft Punk and Pharrell have a great hit in Get Lucky, and could be one of the first major electronica groups to get nominated here. One of the biggest question marks here is Blurred Lines. Sure it is the biggest song of the summer, but will its rape lyrics, and the backlash against them hold it back? I am also inclined to say it won't be nominated simply because while big hits are nominated a lot, they tend to not be the raunchy ones. Another big one I think will be nominated (despite potential eligibility issues) is Emeli Sande's Next to Me. I love the song, but it was released a while back, although Grammy voters sometimes fudge eligibility anyway (just look at some of their new artists). If they do, expect that one to garner votes. It is popular, but also classic sounding. I do not particularly like Bruno Mars, but the Recording Academy does for some reasong, so Locked Out of Heaven will probably be in. Also look out for Adele, fun., Taylor Swift (who I'm sure will get in), Drake, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, Janelle Monae, and Lorde. But most importantly, don't forget David Bowie. The last several years they have snubbed their usual veterans in favor of more popular acts. But his return to the music scene could inspire a reversal of policy, and some Grammy nominations.

Current Predictions
Daft Punk feat. Pharrell "Get Lucky"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Can't Hold Us"
Bruno Mars "Locked Out of Heaven"
Katy Perry "Roar"
Justin Timberlake "Mirrors"