Beech Tree News Network

Grammy nominations were released the morning I write this and there were some notable snubs.  The past years mixtures of Country, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B and Pop are non-existent this year.  Same can be said for album of the year, record of the year and best new artist.  Basically, if you’re a country music fan, don’t bother watching the Grammy’s.
“This is an honest reflection of the state and direction of music in 2017-18”, says recording academy president Neil Portnow.  Well, I never have really let the Grammy’s or any other awards show dictate my music listening choices.  I hope you don’t.  Jay-Z is up for Record, Album and Song of the Year.  Whatever.  For the first time in 3 years, country music was shut out of the top categories.  This leaves the likes of Miranda Lambert and her “The Weight Of These Wings” album out in the cold. 
Metallica were snubbed for album of the year but got a single of the year nod in the Rock category.  Everybody thought Ed Sheeran would be a lock for the top categories.  His album and song Shape Of You garnered a paltry two nominations in pop categories. 
Lady Gaga was expected to get Song of the Year nod for “Million Reasons”.  Didn’t happen.  She was expected to get Album of the Year nomination for JoAnne.  Didn’t happen.  Childish Gambino, the moniker used by actor Donald Glover(from Community), has his Awaken My Love album and “Redbone” single nominated.  Imagine if a cast member from the cancelled comedy Community won a Grammy? That’d actually be pretty neat.
We won’t really know for sure if Grammy voters have cooled on Taylor Swift until next year, when her album Reputation is eligible.  But, her supposedly anticipated single “Look What You Made Me Do” was shut out.  Awards-wise, it looks like Taylor’s jump from Country to Pop hasn’t been fruitful.  Could folks be souring on Ms. Swift? I’m sure she’ll walk away with a Grammy or two next year when her album is eligible. 
Who walks away with what in a few months? Who loses? Who’s going to watch? We’ll find out, or not if we don’t watch, The 60th Annual Grammy Awards will be held January 28, 2018.