2014 Grammy Predictions: Pop and Dance/Electronica

Best Pop Vocal Album
Will Win/Should Win - Justin Timberlake "The 20/20 Experience"
Could Win - Lorde "Pure Heroine" or Bruno Mars "Unorthodox Jukebox"
Commentary - The only Pop album to make the Album of the Year cut was Sara Bareilles' The Blessed Unrest. So she would probably be the obvious front runner in her genre category, right? Well, she didn't manage a nomination here, another strange anomaly in Grammy voting (I really have to look at those voting procedures). So it probably comes down to Lorde vs. Justin Timberlake. Royals got in at SOTY and ROTY, but I think Timberlake will take at least one consolation prize after getting snubbed in general categories. Plus as an album, The 20/20 Experience is a more complete one than Lorde, whose album is good, but not all of the records have quite the pop of Royals.

Best Pop Solo Vocal Performance
Will Win - Lorde "Royals"
Could Win - Justin Timberlake "Mirrors" or Katy Perry "Roar" or Sara Bareilles "Brave"
Should Win - Lorde or Katy Perry.
Commentary - This is  a tough race. Justin Timberlake's Mirrors was snubbed in both general categories, but he is popular enough to do well here. Katy Perry got a Song of the Year nomination, and is still on the radio all the time. And Sara Bareilles Brave has gotten a lot of exposure lately in commercials, and other venues. Plus she got an Album of the Year nomination. But this is a performance award, and Lorde's ROTY and SOTY nominations should be enough to push her over the top.

Best Pop Duo/Group Vocal Performance
Will Win - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell "Get Lucky
Could Win - Honestly, all of them.
Should Win - P!ink and Nate Ruess "Just Give Me a Reason"
Commentary - Once again, a lot of options for voters to choose from. My personal pick would be P!nk and Nate Ruess, who managed a SOTY nomination, but there are too many big performances here, I think it will be drowned out. Stay is catchy, but that is the one I don't think will happen. Suit and Tie is a real threat here, but I think they will honor the duo of Jay-Z and JT in the Rap category. So it comes down the two. Blurred Lines was the hit of the summer, but I think that Daft Punk is too popular this year to be ignored. I expect the infectious Get Lucky to get lucky here.

Best Traditional Pop Album
Will Win - Michael Buble "To Be Loved"
Could Win - Tony Bennett "Viva Duets"
Should Win - Cee-Lo "Cee-Lo's Magic Moments"
Commentary - I really don't care here, but I do think that Buble is the one to beat.

Best Dance/Electronica Album
Will Win/Should Win - Daft Punk "Random Access Memories"
Could Win - Calvin Harris "18 Months"
Commentary - Daft Punk made electronica actually something of value this year, other than dancing drunk in a club. They made something old new, and made something without substance feel important. They are taking this one in a walk.

Best Dance Recording
Will Win/Should Win - Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch "Sweet Nothing"
Could Win - Zedd feat. Foxes "Clarity"
Commentary - Calvin Harris has done a lot of collaborations across the music industry, and combine that with Florence of Florence + The Machine, and I think you have Grammy gold.