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"Adele, Adele, Adele... She should leave with an armful of Grammys, it was her year and it still is."
—-Lenny Beer

TWO HANDICAPPED GUYS HANDICAP THE GRAMMYS

Once Again, HITS’ Beer and Trakin Pick the Winners, and Their Noses
Trakin: Are we in total agreement Adele sweeps all three major categories, Record, Song and Album?

Beer:
Yes we are, but I would like to give some kudos to the other great work in these major categories:

Trakin:
Go right ahead... Does anyone else have a chance of pulling an upset?

Beer:
In any normal year, “Grenade,” “The Cave,” “Firework” or “Holocene” could easily win. And special kudos to Bruno Mars and his brilliant team (ran into Brandon Creed the other night).

Trakin:
Agreed. He has obviously established himself as a Grammy favorite. I'm not ready to count out Foo Fighters, either, another Academy darling, in the album category... How about you?

Beer:
Adele, Adele, Adele... She should leave with an armful of Grammys, it was her year and it still is.

Trakin:
Wouldn't it be funny if "Holocene" won something after Bon Iver turned down the opportunity to perform?

Beer:
Well, the Best New Artist category, as usual, is wide open and that includes Bon Iver.

Trakin
I'm beginning to smell a Skrillex upset. The Grammys are so in bed with this dance/electronica movement, it's not funny. They produced a whole movie about it. Or is Nicki Minaj a lock here?

Beer:
I totally agree, a Skrillex upset is definitely one to be considered.... You can never underestimate the Grammy agenda although, on sheer power alone, I am staying with Nicki Minaj as the "deserved" winner.

Trakin:
This category is always tough to figger... I can't really decide, but I'll go with the DJ in an "upset." Best Pop Solo Performance looks like a sure thing for Adele, over Gaga, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and Pink, no?

Beer:
And kudos to the other contenders, The Band Perry made an enormous impact, the aforementioned Bon Iver is a force, and newcomer J. Cole has burst onto the scene
I just don't see how Adele can lose in any category she appears, so how many will that be for her?

Trakin:
So far, that's four out of a possible six. Here's the first toss-up... Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse over The Black Keys, Coldplay, Foster the People, Maroon 5? I’m going with the sentimental factor here, not necessarily what I like best..

Beer:
"Moves Like Jagger" is an enormous hit, Coldplay always gets votes, but I'm going with Tony and Amy as well

Trakin:
Best Pop Vocal Album is another Adele victory over Cee Lo Green, Gaga, Bruno Mars and Rihanna, right? That would be five.

Beer:
Bruno Mars is just in the wrong year; I think he is gonna get a lot of second place finishes.

Trakin:
True that... Here's a good race in Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Tony Bennett vs. Barbra Streisand, with Susan Boyle, Harry Connick, Jr. and Seth MacFarlane in the mix... Who do you like? I gotta think Tony gets the nod here...

Beer:
Agree on Tony and I'm giving the Best Dance category win to Skrillex

Trakin:
Ditto that... Best Rock Performance gotta be a lock for Foo Fighters, though the field includes Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Radiohead and The Decemberists.

Beer:
I'll take Coldplay in an upset.

Trakin:
Best Rock Song... This is Mumford & Sons' chance for redemption... “The Cave” over Decemberists, Coldplay, Radiohead and Foos again.

Beer:
Agree again with Mumford

Trakin:
Best Rock Albuim: Foo Fighters again? Jeff Beck, Kings of Leon, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Wilco are the other nominees.

Beer:
I'll go Foos this time.

Trakin [1:13 P.M.]:
Best Alternative Music Album... This is Bon Iver's to lose no? Competition includes Death Cab, Foster, My Morning Jacket and Radiohead...

Beer:
Yeah, with the big noms, one would think he wins this one.. although Radiohead’s always dangerous even with sub-par work

Trakin:
Sub-par? That was my #1 album of the year... but I agree, the bloom is somewhat off the “Lotus Flower,” so to speak.

Beer:
Radiohead was your #1 of the year? Please pass whatever it is you are smoking.

Trakin:
Ready for the R&B categories? Best R&B Performance: Marsha Ambrosius, Ledisi, Kelly Price, Corinne Bailey Rae, Charles Wilson. Ledisi would seem to be a Grammy pick here, no?

Beer:
They love Ledisi, as do I.

Trakin:
Best R&B Album… Is this Chris Brown's redemption? El DeBarge, R. Kelly, Ledisi and Kelly Price are the other nominees.

Beer:
I don't think so, though it is an odd field and he should win.... but I’ll go with Ledisi, a Grammy fave

Trakin:
The Rap categories are very competitive. Wanna start with Best Rap Performance? Can Jay Z and Kanye hold off Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj & Drake, Wiz Khalifa and Lupe Fiasco? I think they can.

Beer:
Jay and K need a W, I am with you…

Trakin:
Best Rap Album is a real heavyweight battle...I’m going with Throne over Carter IV, Lupe Fiasco, Nicki Minaj and Kanye… Or does Nicki use her momentum for an upset here? Your call.

Beer:
J and K again, sticking with the EVENT theory

Trakin:
Best Rap Song is a good one, too. :"Otis" vs. Ye's "All of the Lights," Eminem's "I Need a Doctor," Lupe Fiasco and, finally, Wiz Khalifa's smash "Black and Yellow." That's a tough one. I'm thinking this one goes to Em and Dre... just a hunch.

Beer:
I have no real favorite here. I don't like “Otis,” but it should have some resonance..... I'll take Kanye

Trakin:
Wanna take a shot at some Country categories for the hell of it, cowboy?

Beer:
Oh boy… When you're looking at me, you're looking at Country.

Trakin:
Best Country Solo Performance: I like Jason Aldean over Martina McBride, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood...

Beer:
I haven't heard any of these songs…

Trakin:
Best Country Album pits Aldean vs. Swift, George Strait, Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton and Eric Church.

Beer:
I vote Lady A...

Trakin:
I'm gonna say Taylor Swift, even though both seemed to fit in better last year... Wanna move to Best Comedy Album? Weird Al Yankovic, Patton Oswalt, Louis C.K., Kathy Griffin, Lonely Island… I’m a big fan of all five.

Beer:
I loooove Louis C.K..... and Patton Oswalt is great in the Charlize Theron movie.
Trakin: Kathy Griffin, on the odd chance she'll strip on camera.

Beer:
Ick ick ick… Are we done yet? Will The Civil Wars win a Grammy or steal the show with their incredible vocals?

Trakin:
You like them in the Best Folk category over Gillian Welch, Fleet Foxes, Steve Earle and Eddie Vedder?

Beer:
Yes, the Fleet Foxes album was a disappointment as was the Vedder.

Trakin:
Do you think The Civil Wars have a better shot in the Best Country Duo/Group against Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter or Thompson Square?

Beer:
I do not... Aldean and Clarkson win here.

Trakin:
One last question... Who will deliver a game-changing performance this year?

Beer:
I am hoping it will be The Civil Wars, who should have been in Best New Artist and also in Best Album..... They are still the best-kept secret in the music business.

Trakin:
From your mouths to Grammy voters' ears... though it's a little too late at this point. I have a feeling The Civil Wars are going to be fixtures at this Grammy thing.

Beer:
Hey, I wailed about Mumford last year, and this year they got the belated deserved noms....one never knows.
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