On Nov. 15, The Recording Academy announced the 2023 Grammy Award nominations. The nominations feature the usual names, but as always it is interesting to see who was, and was not, nominated. 

RECORD OF THE YEAR 

10 tracks were nominated for record of the year. This is a staggeringly large number. In the past, there have been the normal five nominees in this category, but in the past few years, the numbers have been rising. 

Grammy favorites Adele and Beyoncé are back in this category, placed head to head in a rematch of the 59th annual Grammys, which was won by Adele. 

If the academy is trying to break the norm of Adele and Beyoncé this year, Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” Harry Styles’ “As It Was” and Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” are all excellent choices. 

Personally, Kendrick Lamar’s “The Heart Part 5” is the record of the year, but I expect either Adele’s “Easy On Me” or Beyoncé’s “BREAK MY SOUL” to win. 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR 

With a wide breadth of musical eras and styles represented – from ABBA to Coldplay, Bad Bunny to Harry Styles – there are a lot of choices for the album of the year.

While Beyoncé’s “RENAISSANCE,” Lizzo’s “Special” and Adele’s “30” are all exceptional, Harry Styles’ “Harry’s House” feels like the pick to expect.

Styles’ album is full of phenomenal tracks, and though it is not the most cohesive album to exist, the songs on it are all wonderful. 

If Styles does not win, Beyoncé or Adele probably will, as the Grammys love to give them as much praise as humanly possible.

SONG OF THE YEAR 

There are many wonderful songs nominated, like Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit” and Kendrick Lamar’s “The Heart Part 5,” but it would be absolutely unfair to the epic that is “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film)” by Taylor Swift for any consideration to be dealt their way.

Swift should win. End of story. 

BEST NEW ARTIST 

While artists like Måneskin and Tobe Nwigwe are making waves in smaller scenes, Wet Leg has to be the pick for best new artist. 

Wet Leg’s “Chaise Longue” is a fantastic debut single that the band only one-ups with their debut album “Wet Leg.”

NON-GENERAL CATEGORIES

For the non-general field categories, I think Adele and Harry Styles will split the pop genre, each winning an award or two in that field. 

Outside of the general field awards, Beyoncé should win everything she was nominated for. The creative production, unique songwriting and all-around stellar performance on her album “RENAISSANCE” deserves recognition.

In the rock field, Turnstile and IDLES should win most things, but each group will most likely not get anything. Grammy favorites like Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Black Keys will probably be walking away with the awards. 

The rap category at the Grammys has been historically bad. The voting failure of selecting Macklemore over Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Drake or Kanye West in 2014 for Best Rap Album is probably the worst of them all. This year, they should fix these failures by giving every award to Kendrick Lamar. 

Lamar’s album “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” was phenomenal. Though not on par with his earlier works, Lamar easily blows away the rest of the group nominated in any rap award.

Country fans out there, watch for Zach Bryan to win best country performance with “Something in the Orange,” and keep your fingers crossed for Willie Nelson to win best country album and song, as he is getting up in age and this may be one of the last albums he creates.

For those who want to read all of the nominations, check the official Grammy Website. The award ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. on Feb. 5, 2023.