The British band Coldplay, which released “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends,” earned a total seven Grammy Award nominations.
Lil Wayne, whose album “Tha Carter III” has been one of 2008’s great commercial success stories, received eight nominations, including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song (for “Lollipop”). Another blockbuster act, Coldplay, scored seven nominations, including Album of the Year (for “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends”), Record of the Year, and Song of the Year (for “Viva La Vida”), and Ne- Yo, Jay-Z and Kanye West garnered six nominations each.
But there was room for critical darlings as well: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’s collaboration “Raising Sand” earned five nominations, including Album of the Year, as did Radiohead’s “In Rainbows,” a record which was first released as an online download, without the aid or distribution of a record label.
But Metallica, whose long-awaited album “Death Magnetic” was released this summer, picked up just three nominations. And, if you’re curious, don’t look for the Jonas Brothers outside of the Best New Artist category.
Winners will be announced at the 51st Grammy Awards on Feb. 8. Any nominations that surprised, delighted or appalled you? Who got overlooked, and who got overhyped? Post a comment and let us know.
Record of the Year | 9:57 p.m. The nominees are: Adele, “Chasing Pavements”; Coldplay, “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends”; Leona Lewis, “Bleeding Love”; M.I.A., “Paper Planes”; Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, “Please Read The Letter.”
Authenticity! | 9:54 p.m. Performing “Let The Good Times Roll” with John Mayer, an 83- year-old B.B. King has most definitely still got it. And you can tell John Mayer really means it, too, because he closes his eyes and bobs his head.
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group | 9:49 p.m. The nominees are: Big Boi Featuring Raekwon and Andre 3000, “Royal Flush”; Jay-Z and T.I., Featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne, “Swagger Like Us”; Lil Wayne Featuring Jay-Z, “Mr. Carter”; Ludacris Featuring T.I., “Wish You Would”; Young Jeezy Featuring Kanye West, “Put On”
Feel Old Yet? | 9:44 p.m. LL Cool J reminds us that when Brenda Lee’s original version of “I’m Sorry,” now being performed by Taylor Swift, was released in 1960, the musician currently performing it would not “be released” for another 30 years.
I Got Plenty of Gershwin | 9:37 p.m. Among the other artists who have covered “(I Love You) Porgy,” presently being performed by Christina Aguilera: Nina Simone, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald and Chaka Khan.
Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals | 9:34 p.m. The nominees are: Brooks & Dunn, “God Must Be Busy”; Lady Antebellum, “Love Don’t Live Here”; Rascal Flatts, “Every Day”; The Steeldrivers, “Blue Side of the Mountain”; Sugarland, “Stay”
A Dissenting Opinion | 9:33 p.m. Ben Sisario says: “The Foo Fighters’ performance of their song ‘The Pretender’ at the last awards, with a full string section and a violin soloist selected through a YouTube contest called ‘My Grammy Moment,’ was my all-time least favorite Grammy moment. Until now: The Foo Fighters, led by Dave Grohl, performing ‘You’re So Vain,’ hoarsely. And pretty vainly.
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals | 9:32 p.m. The nominees are: Alicia Keys and John Mayer, “Lessons Learned”; Madonna, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, “Four Minutes”; Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, “Rich Woman”; Rihanna and Maroon 5, “If I Never See Your Face Again”; Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown, “No Air”
Clouds in My Red Bull | 9:26 p.m. Yes, if you’re watching right now, you’re hearing Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters cover Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain.” And yes, it’s pretty awesome.
Your Mileage May Vary | 9:21 p.m. Ben Sisario’s pick for early surprise shut-out: Leona Lewis, denied a nomination for best new artist. My pick for artist who most reminds me of my old Speak & Spell toy: Celine Dion.
Album of the Year | 9:20 p.m. The nominees are: Coldplay, “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends”; Lil Wayne, “Tha Carter III”; Ne-Yo, “Year of the Gentleman”; Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, “Raising Sand”; Radiohead, “In Rainbows”
