While I was flying on Friday, I overheard the father of a family of 5 lean over to his wife and said “Lady GaGa and Elton John are opening the Grammys. They’re both flamboyant.” Wow. GaGa sure got mainstream real quick, didn’t she? There seems to be a bit more buzz about this year’s show, but I am really not all that inspired by the nominees this time around. Having said that, we play what we are dealt, so here go the predictions:
Record of the Year
Halo/Beyoncé
I Gotta Feeling/The Black Eyed Peas
Use Somebody/Kings Of Leon
Poker Face/Lady Gaga
You Belong With Me/Taylor Swift
This one is hard to call, because while Taylor Swift may seem like a pop record to a lot of people, to the Nashville voters, this is a country record. However, some of those Nashville voters will also want to recognize hometown band Kings of Leon. Beyonce, BEPs and GaGa will split their voters, so the race is between Kings and Taylor, but my gut says Kings of Leon will take this one hom.
Song Of The Year
Poker Face/Lady Gaga & RedOne, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
Pretty Wings/Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)/Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)
Use Somebody/Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
You Belong With Me/Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
We could see the Kings walk away with both awards this year, but I have a feeling that Maxwell may have a shot at the Song award. The straight-ahead pop songs (and “Belong”) split the vote again.
Album Of The Year
I Am… Sasha Fierce/Beyoncé
The E.N.D./The Black Eyed Peas
The Fame/Lady Gaga
Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King/Dave Matthews Band
Fearless/Taylor Swift
If Beyonce has a shot at a big award, I think this is the one. However, the canceling effect may kick in again here, and since a lot of people feel that the Dave Matthews Band is long overdue for some recognition, look for a shiny glare from Dave’s head to be staring back at you when the award is handed out.
Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings
Best New Artist always seems to be the most difficult category to pick, because the members normally do a good job of picking a diverse range of artists. In this case, I think MGMT and the Ting Tings cancel each other out, and I don’t know if the Pickups have enough support to pull an upset. Give the edge to Keri, because she’s known behind the scenes as well as on the charts.
Best Dance Recording
Boom Boom Pow/The Black Eyed Peas
When Love Takes Over/David Guetta & Kelly Rowland
Poker Face/Lady Gaga
Celebration/Madonna
Womanizer/Britney Spears
GaGa owns the Dance category this year. Look for Dance Recording and Album to both get picked up by a small woman in a crazy outfit.
In case you’re feeling bad for the Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce and Taylor Swift, I think they respectively will own the Pop, R&B and Country categories.
Stumble It!
Pop Music Notes 
Dude, you called it on the KOL. This better not signal a GaGa shut-out~ I will be so pissed and hate the Kings even more… LOL. Can you tell I’m commenting during the show?
I can. And she got the Dance trophies, as predicted. Now, if she’s shut out for Fame Monster, they’ll have some ‘splaing to do.
So G’Gah won the more fringey grammys? Oh well (he said a little sarcastically, a little surprised). I had very little interest, though I did youtube Pink’s ace performance. And am pleased that Jason Mraz won a grammy. Make It Mine is aces. But Black Eyed Peas? For I gotta feeling – that shouty cacophonous mess that makes Jedward sound like polished vocalists? c’mon!
BEPs owned the pop charts in 2009, so it makes sense, no matter how unbearable that song became.
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