The 2025 Grammy Awards nominations were announced Nov. 8 by the Recording Academy, and I have some major problems with some of the lineup.
Arguably the most controversial is the Beatles’ nomination for Record Of The Year with their track “Now And Then.” If you’re confused how a group that has multiple members who have passed away released a new record, the surviving bandmates were able to use AI to remaster original demo tapes. Sure, I love “All my Loving” just as much as the next person, but that shouldn’t mean The Beatles get to hog a precious spotlight for one of the most prestigious music awards because the song they released was AI.
I don’t care if this is a homage, or even a tribute, as I would much rather have had them release the original, unfinished ballad John Lennon recorded back in 1977. An artist spends all of their life honing their skills and perfecting their craft. Using generative technology to complete a dead artist’s unfinished song is the equivalent of spitting on their grave. Beatles fans can shove their heartaches down the yellow brick road for all I care: It looks to me that Paul Mcartney and the others dented their Rolls-Royce’s, needed some extra cash and managed to rack up a Grammy nomination in the process.
Next up, is Sabrina Carpenter’s nomination for Best New Artist. Now this one I just don’t understand. Was “Feather” or “Nonsense” not popular enough? Or have the judges just been living under a rock for all of 2022, if not longer since Carpenter has been releasing music since 2014. Before 2024, few people knew about Chappell Roan or Benson Boone, but I can guarantee enough people knew Sabrina Carpenter for her to not be a good nominee in the category.
Finally, I do not think Taylor Swift’s “Tortured Poets Department” deserves a single award, let alone a Grammy.While I wait for her rabid fans’ pitchforks to subside, I want to say I do enjoy a good Taylor Swift song. I even have entire albums saved to my Spotify. But it seems that every year Swift gets lazier and lazier. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even differentiate the songs from one another in her latest album. Where’s the spice? Where’s the catchy pop-esque melody I’ve known Taylor Swift to imbue? I might’ve enjoyed this album if I were a 14 year old chronically on pinterest, but alas I am a 17 year old who just wants a catchy album and not an english lesson.
