http://www.calendarlive.c...e-channels

September 12, 2004

POP EYE

Prince tops Grammy possibles

His may be the most intriguing name surfacing in the early handicapping of the Grammys.

By Steve Hochman, Special to The Times

Prince almost stole the show as a performer at the Grammy Awards this year. Can he steal it again in the 47th edition of the prestigious music honors Feb. 13 at Staples Center — but this time as an award winner?

His may be the most intriguing name surfacing in the early handicapping of the Grammys as the Sept. 30 cutoff for eligible releases approaches.


Longtime Grammy insiders and observers surveyed by Pop Eye consider Prince's "Musicology" to be among the favorites for album of the year consideration. The album was the centerpiece of an amazing comeback that included a new accessibility and one of the year's most successful concert tours.

Noah Callahan-Bever, senior editor of Vibe magazine, said Prince is likely to get attention "for delivering the kind of record people wanted him to make and for having launched the campaign on the Grammy show … which can't hurt."

The album of the year nominees list could be dominated by African American urban music stars to an unprecedented extent, with R&B singer Usher's "Confessions," dominant rap rookie Kanye West's "College Dropout" and 2001 multi-Grammy-winner Alicia Keys' "Diary of Alicia Keys" among the top choices of those surveyed.

Singer Norah Jones — the queen of the 2002 Grammys with best album and new artist among the awards won for her debut album, "Come Away With Me" — may have the best chance of crashing the urban party, though support for her current album, "Feels Like Home," seems relatively lukewarm at this point.

"If it comes to pass that hip-hop and urban albums dominate the album of the year category, all you can say is it's a long time coming," says Joe Levy, deputy managing editor of Rolling Stone magazine. "Artistically it's the most important music and commercially one of the dominant musics for well over a decade. And it's music where new talent is constantly emerging and pushing the boundaries."

There's even a chance that Prince could get a nomination and not be the senior R&B figure on the album ballot. There's strong sentiment for Ray Charles, who died in June and whose duets album "Genius Loves Company" came out in August — though the general feeling is that the record is not strong enough to gather the level of support that went to Warren Zevon's posthumous "The Wind" last year.

No clear choice

Predicting nominations has become complicated in recent years, with the final selections in the top awards categories now made by a blue-ribbon panel, choosing from the 20 entries receiving the most votes from the general Recording Academy membership.

That gives an almost-anything-can-happen spin to the process, as when Radiohead's "OK Computer" got a 1998 album nomination when the English group was basically a hipster favorite rather than a mainstream name.

This year, though, there doesn't seem to be an obvious candidate to fill that role.

"There wasn't a Radiohead or Coldplay or White Stripes," says Vibe's Callahan-Bever. "There was nothing going on."

Franz Ferdinand is one band that could move into that slot, but the Scottish post-punk revivalists seem a longshot for album consideration, though a strong bet for a best new artist nomination. Other leading candidates in that category include the bands Maroon 5 and Los Lonely Boys, as well as country newcomer Gretchen Wilson and rapper West.

Both West and Usher have made great strides in reaching beyond the urban markets, but neither seems to have quite the cross-cultural appeal that swept OutKast to its album win for last year's "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below."

"Usher has a really good chance," says Alan Light, editor in chief of Tracks magazine and a former editor of Rolling Stone, Spin and Vibe. "He's put a decent career under his belt, getting strong on stage."

The tepid support for Jones is a bit of a surprise, considering that her second album has sold very well, if not quite to the phenomenal level of the debut.

"I expect it's the same picture that it was for her tour this summer — scale down," says Rolling Stone's Levy. "She had to scale down the size of venues. I think she'll scale down on Grammy nominations. But she makes intimate records, so it's fine for her to scale down."

Loretta Lynn's "Van Lear Rose," which saw the country veteran in a dynamic collaboration with Jack White of the White Stripes, seemed a strong candidate when it came out. But while the album received tremendous attention, it never built much momentum in mainstream consciousness.

Rounding out the field

Other names expected to get serious consideration include Black Eyed Peas, Jill Scott, Van Hunt, the Beastie Boys, the Shins and Modest Mouse. The last could wind up being this year's Shelby Lynne, who was best new artist in 2000 after eligibility rules were changed to allow consideration of artists who had made a leap from relative obscurity to mainstream recognition.

Modest Mouse has been making records for more than a decade, but is only now enjoying its first mainstream hit with its current album "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" and single "Float On."

Cool...I wondered when this edition of the Los Angeles Times was coming out, and what it had to say about Prince...

He may be nominated for a bunch of gramaphones, but Ushraye will end up winning most of the main catagories, if Grammy trends stay true to form. Beyonce's a nice girl, but DID SHE really deserve the bounty she got? And Alicia is lovely, but why was India Arie ignored during that year's run, only to get some lil' recognition for her last album?
We'll ust have to wait to see what the Grammy commitee chooses.

I think Musicology could have a strong chance. Besides, after that little cocksure bit he did at the MTV awards, about the competition between him and Justin, that turned me off. I wonder if it bothered others.

MUSICOLOGY FOR ALBUM AND SONG OF THE YEAR IN 2005!

My bet is that it'll kick ass at the Grammy's and be Album of the Year; not because it's his best album, but because it's very fashionable to dig on Prince this year and the album has been a solid performer on the Billboard charts and he's been in the game for twenty five years.

The Grammy people love to reward all that.

The genius is - that with nominations and then probably major wins, it will begin to really sell at retail just as the concert giveaways are over.

Nope.. Im tellin you right now, No album of the years.. nadda

depending on what category.. but its for damn sure (although i dont care too much for him) That usher is gonna bring home those grammies.. he has been the hot item for the last 5 months.. his album has done wonders..


he'll get'em


Somone document this post.. and bring it back in feb.. cause there is not a doubt in my mind usha's gonna do it
[Edited 9/11/04 0:22am]

Pop Eye? That's a funny name. Are they strong to the finish cuz they eat their spinach? Sorry, I couldn't resist the wisecrack.

If that damn Usher wasn't there, I'd say Prince would be the big winner this year. As it is, with Usher, I'd say Prince has a 40% chance of being the big winner, which is still pretty good. No matter what, he WILL take home some trophies.

Luv & Peace,
Alex
Clubbin' in Mpls/A Night w. Prince

It's a bizarre world. Who would have thought a year or 2 ago that we would be discussing Prince winning a handful of grammies?! And with an album that most people here think is okay but nothing near his best most creative stuff. All those great albums over the years and he might win with this album? It just shows that the most important ingredient in success is TIMING.

metalorange said:

Promotion.

Sdldawn said:

I agree with you, but you never really know. This is the Grammy's and they just don't go on popularity. Sometimes, they do have a "veteran" win in the major categories. I remember about 3 years ago, Steely Dan swept the Grammy with their album. It was one that many people didn't expect to win because some other artist was "hot".

I do hope Prince gets lots of nods this year, but I would rather him be nominated for a few awards and win one or 2. "Dear Mr. Man" should be nominated for record of the year. It kicks major ass (IMO).

N.E.W.S. won nothing at this years Grammy awards, it could go either way.

Marrk said:

LOL amen.


Can u say "corporate world"?

Hey... If they nominated him for NEWS (for being innovative) you know Musicology is going to get SOMETHING ... Musicology is way more than just another Prince album. It is a new way to package and deliver an artist. Musicology will be recognized.

If Usher takes home 8 or more at the Grammy's, lord help us.

I hope Prince takes home at least one.

I think Prince will win one, he's had a good year. But that damn Usher is in the running so Prince probably won't get as much recognition as he deserves.

talk about hype. i thnk it could bad.

Milty said:

why do you think it could be bad, Milty?

SquarePeg said:

sorry i should have explained myself better. what i should have said was that it's would be great if P did get nominated, even win! but i think to be speculating this early can only be a bad thing especially if he doesn't even get on the ballot.
plus i don't think Musicology (as much as i may like it) is Grammy winning material. if they give it to him, it would only be out of sympathy or respect. i always seem to remember these kinds of early hype never panning out in the end.

hmmm, good chance usher might get snubbed!

because sometimes it happens like that...I predict Prince winning at least 2 awards!

5 Artists with Albums better than Musicology this year...

Angie Stone
The Killers
Velvet Revolver
The Stills
Alicia Keys

at best, Prince deserves a nod and win for R&B Single ("Musicology").

I'm already praying that Prince gets a bunch of nods and wins them all. I think Prince can do it and I will probably lose my mind if all of that happens.

i don't wanta be a poet cuz i don't wanta blow it i don't care to win awards
all i wanna do is dance thats music sex romance
try my best to never get bored.





The Electric Purple,
Prince

WildAndPeaceful said:

I agree! I dont think he will be a big winner this year, because most likely Usher will be the big winner . I hope he takes one home for Musicology though.

Marrk said:

You know, I think I disagree. You can promote the hell out of a thing but if the timing is wrong, it will do nothing. If the timing is right, you hardly need any promotion. Recent big Grammy winners Alicia and Norah came from nowhere - where the albums brilliant? Not really, but the timing of them was just right. Post 9/11 reflective piano jazz tinged soulful unthreatening music. Prince has actually done loads of promotion for albums that came to nothing, because people were tired of him. Now he's been seen as being away for a while and having come back refreshed, Purple Rain anniversary, big tour, etc - it's called synchronicity.

Hmmm perhaps we'll get to see Usher and Prince onstage in the same night. Usher can do his thing, Prince can do his-then people will see how much Usher pales in comparison.

>> Alicia is lovely, but why was India Arie ignored during that year's run, only to get some lil' recognition for her last album?
I could not agree more.

>> Usher can do his thing, Prince can do his-then people will see how much Usher pales in comparison.[/quote]


That's obvious, w/o having to see them on the same stage.

Yeah.

>> he's been seen as being away for a while and having come back refreshed, Purple Rain anniversary, big tour, etc - it's called synchronicity.[/quote]

purplecam said:

He could do a Denzel and Pacino, who won Oscars for lesser works, Training Day and Scent of A Woman, kind of as a token of appreciation for the total body of his work.