The Grammys are approaching in less than two weeks, meaning it is time to reflect on the award ceremony's best and worst moments. Although the award show is widely regarded as a significant night in the music industry, there's a noticeable disparity between the preferences of Grammy voters and the general public. This disconnect is apparent in the award show's secretive voting practices, historical gatekeeping, and indifference toward emerging genres. Consequently, the Grammys are often recognized more for notable snubs than for their prestige. In no particular order, here are five major Grammy upsets from recent history.
2014: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis take home the Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song win over Kendrick Lamar
During the 2014 Grammy Awards, rap fans were stunned when Macklemore, known for hits like "Thrift Shop" and "Same Love," secured the Best Rap Album award for "The Heist" over Kendrick Lamar's Good Kid, "M.A.A.D. City." The Seattle rapper reached out to Lamar after the award ceremony, stating: "You got robbed. I wanted you to win. You should have." This message was later posted by Mackelmore on Instagram, a move that was questioned by other artists. While Macklemore hasn't been too active in recent years, Lamar is now widely hailed as hip-hop royalty, and would later go on to win in the same category for "To Pimp A Butterfly," "DAMN.," and "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers."
2015: Beck Wins for "Morning Phase" over Beyoncé's Self-Titled
Pop music legend Beyoncé faced a prior snub when she lost in the Album of the Year category for 2008's "I Am...Sasha Fierce." In a surprising turn, Beck's "Morning Phase" clinched the Grammy for Album of the Year at the 2015 Grammy Awards, surpassing the highly celebrated pop icon, whose latest self-titled album received overwhelming critical acclaim and commercial success. The announcement left the audience and even Beck himself seemingly stunned and later revealed he anticipated Beyoncé to be the winner. A CNN Report from the time questioned "How did Beck beat out Beyonce?" citing the surprise visual album, innovation and immense success, and contrasts it with Beck's fading star power, less impressive chart performance and sales and its lack of relevancy.
1998: Jethro Tull Beats Metallica for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental
For those who may not know, Jethro Tull is a British progressive rock band with a distinctive sound blended with folk, blues, and rock elements. The band is led by flautist and vocalist Ian Anderson and is known for its eclectic sound characterized by complex compositions and surreal lyrics. Their music spans various genres, incorporating classical and jazz elements alongside traditional rock instruments. The band achieved notable success in the late '60s and '70s with albums like "Aqualung" and "Thick as a Brick."
In contrast, Metallica is an iconic American heavy metal band known for their aggressive sound, powerful riffs, and energetic performances. Metallica is also considered one of the pioneering bands in the thrash metal genre and remains an influential and enduring force in the heavy metal genre. As one can imagine, metal enthusiasts were surprised when a progressive rock band from the 70s secured the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance award, surpassing a genuine hard rock/metal band, leading to criticism and mockery of the voting academy that still persists.
2001: Steely Dan Wins Album of the Year Over Eminem And Radiohead
Audiences were shocked when Steely Dan secured the Album of the Year award at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards for "Two Against Nature," surpassing the highly anticipated "The Marshall Mathers LP" by Eminem and Radiohead's seminal album "Kid A."
Steely Dan was most active during the 1970s. The band was formed in 1972 and released several critically acclaimed albums during that decade. While they continued releasing music and tours afterward, their peak creative period and commercial success were concentrated in the 1970s and early 80s.
Even now, "The Marshall Mathers LP" is considered a significant and highly acclaimed work in hip-hop history. The album, known for its complex lyricism, dark humor, and provocative content, received critical acclaim for its innovative approach to storytelling and became a commercial success. Likewise, "Kid A" received widespread critical acclaim for its innovation, marking a significant shift in Radiohead's musical direction. It is regarded as one of the landmark albums of the 21st century.
2008: Herbie Hancock Beats Out Amy Winehouse and Kanye West For Album of the Year
Though Herbie Hancock is a legendary American jazz pianist, keyboardist, composer, and bandleader, many believe his Album of the Year win for his 2007 Joni Mitchell tribute album "River: The Joni Letters" led to not one, but two of the biggest Grammy snubs in history.
While both Winehouse and West did win big, with Amy Winehouse securing the most wins of the night at 5 Grammys and Kanye West taking home four awards, including Best Rap Album, many argue that if "Back to Black," the favorite to win, was to lose the Album of the Year award in 2008, Kanye West's "Graduation" would have been a more fitting contender. While "River" has been largely forgotten, Back to Black" and "Graduation" are considered modern classics.
In revisiting these Grammy shockers, we witness the unpredictable twists that have defined the music industry's prestigious awards. These upsets, whether surprising or controversial, have left a lasting impact on musical legacies.
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