3 Reasons to Watch the 2014 Grammy Awards

If you’re a music lover, I’m sure that you would’ve circled January 26 on your calendar from the moment you heard that the date of the music industry’s biggest awards show had been brought forward. The Grammy Awards, whose 56^th staging is fast approaching, traditionally takes place in February each year. However, in order to avoid a clash with the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the organizers and broadcaster CBS agreed to adjust the staging schedule.

French Electronic music duo, Daft Punk, has a few nominations including Record of the Year.

This will allow the 2014 Grammys Awards to soak up all the attention and adulation usually directed its way by a national television audience that numbers in the tens of millions annually. While the date of the show may have changed, there’s a whole lot else that remains the same. The excitement surrounding the event is as frenzied as ever. There’s also a characteristically palpable sense of anticipation as the music industry’s best gear up to occupy center stage on their big night. Here’s a look at three of the reasons why you should watch this year’s Grammy Awards.

 

See Who’ll Win and Who Won’t

The majority of us watch awards shows such as the Grammys to see who’ll walk away with the numerous accolades that are being presented. However, it’s sometimes almost as intriguing to see who doesn’t end up making it on stage to collect a prize at the end of the night. There are many artists who’ll walk into Los Angeles’ Staples Center as pre-event favorites to win the respective awards for which they are nominated. (Oftentimes, they are given this pre-event favorite tag by fans that ultimately won’t have a say in whether they win or lose.) Unfortunately, many of these same artists will leave the building empty-handed. From year to year, it’s almost a given that the members of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), who vote to determine the various winners, will serve up a surprise (or two). What will the big surprises be this year? Will your favorite artist collect a coveted statute? You’ll have to tune in to find out. Here are some of the big award categories in which the surprises could occur:

 

• Record of the Year

This is always one of the biggest awards up for grabs on Grammy night. This year is no different. “Locked Out of Heaven” (Bruno Mars), “Blurred Lines” (Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams), and “Get Lucky” (Daft Punk featuring Pharrell) are among the ones nominated in this prestigious category. “Royals” (Lorde) and “Radioactive” (Imagine Dragons) are the other records that will vie for top honors.    

 

Imagine Dragons

• Album of the Year

Taylor Swift’s Red, Random Access Memories (Daft Punk), The Blessed Unrest (Sara Bareilles), The Heist (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis), and rapper Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City are the musical compilations in with a chance of winning the award for top album. American singer-songwriter Swift is the only one among this year’s nominees who’s previously savored victory in this category. Her 2008 effort Fearless secured her a treasured win in 2010. However, the past is likely to have very little bearing on the present on the night of the 26^th.

 

• Song of the Year

This accolade typically goes to the song that had the most people singing loudly and proudly, crying uncontrollably, or sitting down to think deeply for a while. This year’s nominated songs in the category definitely fit the bill. Bruno Mars’ funky but sensual “Locked Out of Heaven” and Lorde’s inspirational “Royals” are again nominated in another of the night’s premiere categories. The other singles on the ballot include “Just Give Me a Reason” (Pink featuring Nate Ruess), “Roar” (Katy Perry), and “Same Love” (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert).    

 

 

Ringo Star and Paul McCartney are added to the performance lineup.

Enjoy the night’s live performances

The line-up of acts performing on Grammy night is always a stellar one. Many of the musical megastars who are nominated in the various categories will also be taking the stage to thrill the millions of fans around the country who’ll be tuning in. Some of your favorite artists – including Katy Perry, Daft Punk, Pink, Metallica, and Beatles greats Paul McCartney and Ringo Star – are among those already confirmed to perform. Watching such a glittering galaxy of stars performing live on one stage definitely isn’t something you’re able to enjoy every day.   

 

See if Snoop Lion will finally win a Grammy

Reggae isn’t typically one of the genres that attract significant attention at the Grammys. However, the presence of a popular rapper-turned-reggae crooner (Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion) and someone bearing the signature Marley surname (Ziggy Marley) among the nominees has elevated the status of the category this year. (The success of reggae fusion artist Tessanne Chin on The Voice is another of the factors driving revitalized interest in this Jamaica-born genre heading into this year’s staging of the event.) Many people will be watching keenly to see if Snoop will finally end his fruitless run at the Grammys. (He hasn’t managed a win from 15 previous nominations.) Will he finally do it? Your guess is as good as mine.  

 

When to Watch

You can watch the 56^th annual staging of the Grammy Awards on the CBS affiliate in your area. Grammy Award-winning host LL Cool J will be on hand to pilot you through the proceedings. Showtime is 8 p.m. ET.

3 Reasons to Watch the 2014 Grammy Awards