As 2020 comes to a close, the Grammys will look back on a year of unique music, with new and old artists producing records that defined the beginning of the decade. Many students at Cypress are looking forward to seeing their favorite artists at the forefront of these nominations, including Beyonce, Doja Cat, Harry Styles, Post Malone, and much more. For every prominent category, Cypress students pitched in their opinions and voted for their predictions for the winners. 

Category 1: Record of the Year

Nominees: 

BLACK PARADE- Beyoncé
COLORS-Black Pumas
ROCKSTAR- DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch
SAY SO- Doja Cat
EVERYTHING I WANTED- Billie Eilish
DON’T START NOW- Dua Lipa
CIRCLES- Post Malone
SAVAGE- Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé

Predicted Winner: Say So by Doja Cat (28.1%)

 Doja Cat has stood out this year and made an undeniable impact on the music scene with the release of her song, “Say So.” Say So’s catchy and flirtatious tune went viral upon its release in November of 2019, quickly winning fans across the internet. Just mention the song and you’ll find yourself singing and dancing. The votes for this category came extremely close, with “Say So” barely winning over Savage by Megan Thee Stallion by a margin of 3%. Most students felt divided over who they believed would win the category, but we believe Say So stands out above the rest because of its lovable sound and long-lasting favor with radio stations and casual listeners alike.

Category 2: Album of the Year

Nominees: 

CHILOMBO- Jhené Aiko
BLACK PUMAS (DELUXE EDITION)- Black Pumas

EVERYDAY LIFE- Coldplay
DJESSE VOL.3- Jacob Collier
WOMEN IN MUSIC PT. III- HAIM
FUTURE NOSTALGIA- Dua Lipa
HOLLYWOOD’S BLEEDING- Post Malone
FOLKLORE- Taylor Swift

Predicted Winner: Folklore by Taylor Swift (50.8%)

One of the most highlighted and anticipated categories in the Grammys is Album of the Year. Among the incredible albums and artists nominated, Taylor Swift was the most voted for artist among Cypress students with her album, Folklore. Swift took the music scene by storm during quarantine, releasing a bittersweet record featuring her popular songs “Cardigan” and “August”, as well as unique ballads “Exile” and “My Tears Ricochet”. We predict that Swift will take the award for album of the year home because compared to her previous albums, this is the most distinct and mature sounding body of work she has ever released, and we found it to be an escapist’s perfect album during our free time in quarantine. She is unafraid to experiment with alternative/indie styles and sounds, while also paying homage to her past country records. Folklore took Swift on a journey through uncharted territory and impressed listeners with its weight and substance, earning the top spot on nominations for Album of the Year.

Category 3: Song Of The Year

BLACK PARADE-Beyoncé

THE BOX- Roddy Ricch
CARDIGAN- Taylor Swift
CIRCLES- Post Malone
DON’T START NOW- Dua Lipa
EVERYTHING I WANTED- Billie Eilish
I CAN’T BREATHE- H.E.R.
IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING- Julia Michaels & JP Saxe

Predicted Winner: The Box by Roddy Ricch (26.6%)

Roddy Ricch was an unexpected artist to blow up this year, but his creative ad-lib beat (“Ee-er”) and the memorable flow of his lyrics (“Pour up the whole d*mn seal, I’ma get lazy/I got the mojo-deals, we been trappin’ like the ’80s’) in The Box made him an instant hit. We love this song for it’s catchy tune, which everyone has sung along to at some point. In our opinion, Ricch has a strong chance of winning as the song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and his unique rapping style gives him a signature sound that has made him popular among young listeners. He manages to weave melody and rap, resulting in the chart-topping, unforgettable song, “The Box.”

Category 4: Best New Artist

INGRID ANDRESS
PHOEBE BRIDGERS
CHIKA
NOAH CYRUS
D SMOKE
DOJA CAT
KAYTRANADA
MEGAN THEE STALLION

Predicted Winner: Megan Thee Stallion (44.6%)

Megan Thee Stallion made waves as one of this decade’s most popular up and coming female rappers and dominated the student polls as Best New Artist. Ever since her chart topping tracks “Hot Girl Summer” and “Savage” dropped, she gained our respect as a beacon of confidence and powerful femininity. According to Billboard, she officially began her career posting freestyles on the internet while she was studying at her local university. Her videos, which highlighted her authentic style and fiery rap flow, quickly garnered popularity and led to her 2018 project, Tina Snow. As a fan of her work, our writer Kat hopes to see her win Best New Artist: her humble background and hardworking personality earned her our support! All in all, Megan Thee Stallion’s explosive success, star reputation in the rap scene, and acclaimed records have quickly earned her a spot in the Grammys as this year’s Best New Artist. On the night of the Grammys, we predict Megan Thee Stallion will be taking the award. 

Category 5: Best Pop Solo Performance

YUMMY- Justin Bieber
SAY SO- Doja Cat
EVERYTHING I WANTED- Billie Eilish
DON’T START NOW- Dua Lipa
WATERMELON SUGAR- Harry Styles
CARDIGAN- Taylor Swift

Predicted Winner: Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles (60.9%)

From Harry Styles’ record-breaking album, Fine Line, comes the popular summer tune “Watermelon Sugar,” which has been breaking multiple records and swarming all forms of media. Our writer, Julia, is a proud fan of Styles’ music and hopes to see him succeed at this year’s Grammy’s. Apparently, a good amount of other Cypress students feel the same way. “Watermelon Sugar” proved that the combination of electric guitar, catchy melodies, and anthemic horns are the perfect recipe for a summer hit.

Category 6: Best Pop Vocal Album

CHANGES- Justin Bieber
CHROMATICA- Lady Gaga
FUTURE NOSTALGIA- Dua Lipa
FINE LINE- Harry Styles
FOLKLORE- Taylor Swift

Predicted Winner: Fine Line by Harry Styles (49.2%)

The release of Harry Styles’ sophomore album, Fine Line, was highly anticipated and was quick to make waves in the music industry. When Julia first heard Fine Line, she felt like she was taken to another world. The psychedelic sounds had a powerful impact and the thoughtful use of lyrics gave every song depth. After it’s release in December of 2019, Fine Line became massively popular among the general public due to singles, such as “Golden”, “Adore You”, and “Watermelon Sugar”, even breaking new records as Styles became the first British male artist to debut at No. 1 with his first two albums. Longtime fans of Harry have watched him grow and mature through his music: this album is a testament to his unique sound that he has cultivated over his past decade and will surely win him an award at the Grammys.