Predictions: Classic Rocker GRAMMYs

The best thing about predicting who will win particular GRAMMY awards is that even if the predictions are wrong, nobody gets hurt. Making wrong predictions is a victimless crime.

The worst thing about GRAMMY predictions is that the actual outcome in any given category in any given year is often unpredictable.

As previously noted, classic rockers are nominated in several categories, and those are the ones I’ll concentrate on.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
• Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi
• Paul McCartney - Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
• Gwen Stefani - Love, Angel, Music, Baby
• U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
• Kanye West - Late Registration

This one comes down to either McCartney or U2. McCartney could be a sentimental favorite (after all, how many more albums can we expect from a 63-year-old artist?) but not in this category.

Prediction: U2

BEST ROCK ALBUM
• Coldplay - X&Y
• Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
• The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang
• U2 - How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
• Neil Young - Prairie Wind

In another category, Neil Young might win and it would be nice to see the Rolling Stones get the recognition, but I don’t have a strong feeling that will happen.

Prediction: U2

Best Rock Album GRAMMY Winners 1995-2005

SONG OF THE YEAR
• Mariah Carey - "We Belong Together"
• John Legend - "Ordinary People"
• Rascal Flatts - "Bless the Broken Road"
• Bruce Springsteen - "Devils & Dust"
• U2 - "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"

This time it’s between U2 and The Boss. Springsteen has a stellar GRAMMY track record, but here again, this is the wrong category.

Prediction: U2

BEST ROCK VOCAL SOLO
• Eric Clapton - "Revolution"
• Robert Plant - "Shine It All Around"
• Bruce Springsteen - "Devils & Dust"
• Rob Thomas - "This Is How a Heart Breaks"
• Neil Young - "The Painter"

This could easily be a toss-up between Clapton, Plant and Springsteen, but since coins only have two sides, I’ll narrow it down to Clapton and Springsteen, since Plant’s song is nominated in another category. Now, if you’ll kindly flip the coin …

Prediction: The Boss

BEST HARD ROCK VOCAL
• Audioslave - "Doesn't Remind Me"
• Nine Inch Nails - "The Hand That Feeds"
• Robert Plant - "Tin Pan Valley"
• Queens of the Stone Age - "Little Sister"
• System of a Down - "B.Y.O.B."

You could make a good case for any of these, but this is another instance in which I believe the sentimental favorite will win. Plant is still doing great stuff, but you have to wonder how many more he has in him.

Prediction: Robert Plant

BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL
• Adrian Belew - "Beat Box Guitar"
• Stewart Copeland - "Birds of Prey"
• Les Paul & Friends - "69 Freedom Special"
• Joe Perry - "Mercy"
• Steve Vai - "Lotus Feet"

Any of these could easily win on merit, but only one can win based on incredible longevity. I’ll be very surprised if the sentimental favorite doesn’t win in this category.

Prediction: Les Paul & Friends

MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
• Jack Johnson - "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing"
• Paul McCartney - "Fine Line"
• Seal - "Walk On By"
• Rob Thomas - "Lonely No More"
• Stevie Wonder - "From the Bottom of My Heart"

This category won’t be won by sentiment or longevity, but because it is the best of the five songs.

Prediction: Paul McCartney

POP VOCAL ALBUM
• Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
• Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
• Sheryl Crow - Wildflower
• Paul McCartney - Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
• Gwen Stefani - Love, Angel, Music, Baby

McCartney is again a strong contender, but I think the Academy will feel it has given him his due with the Male Pop Vocal nod and finally inviting him to perform on the telecast.

Prediction: Fiona Apple

Tune in Thursday to see the scorecard on this year’s predictions. In the meantime, what about your predictions? Join the discussion in the Classic Rock Discussion Forum.

(Photo Credits: Bono - © 2005 LIVE 8, Photo by TBC; Robert Plant - Photo by Neil Zlozower; Paul McCartney - © 2005 LIVE 8, Photo by TBC)