JESSICA ONI
Staff Writer
Grammy veteran Mariah Carey, rap phenomenon Kanye West and his talented R&B protégé, John Legend, are preparing to battle it out Wednesday night at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards Ceremony in Los Angeles.
With eight nominations apiece, these three lead this year’s diverse pack of nominees.
Carey’s nominations may come as a surprise to many who thought her career had ended, or at least should have ended, after the failure of her 2001 album “Glitter.”
However, the vocally-gifted singer has proven that she is not ready to disappear from the spotlight just yet, as she holds her ground among an assortment of new artists in both the pop and R&B categories.
Meanwhile, busy Pepperdine students have mixed emotions about the ceremony that will take place.
“I’m a big fan of the underdogs,” senior Jose Ojeda said. “Everyone says Mariah Carey’s gonna win, but I’m the one that says she’s not.”
Seniors Reena Doshi and Abby Varner said they usually only catch part of the ceremony.
“I usually watch the big awards,” Doshi said. “The ones at the end.”
Varner agreed. “I never plan on watching, but if I see it’s on, I’ll watch it,” she said.
While Varner said she thought Carey would take home the most awards, Doshi said she didn’t know much about this year’s nominees.
“I haven’t even looked at who’s nominated,” Doshi said.
Varner cited her busy schedule as the primary reason why she doesn’t consistently watch the awards show.
“It’s essentially a waste of time,” she said. “But I guess it gives producers and (artists) something to strive for.”
Ojeda, Doshi and Varner all agreed that the live performances were the aspect of the ceremony they usually looked forward to the most.
“I think people look at the Grammys more for performances than anything else,” Ojeda said.
As always, music’s famed night will offer plenty of live performances this year. West, Carey and Legend are all scheduled to hit the stage. As are British rockers Coldplay, country music stars Faith Hill and Keith Urban, Best New Artist nominees Sugarland and others.
While Doshi said she wasn’t very familiar with the work of either West or Legend, Ojeda said he plans to continue to root for the underdogs.
“I really believe Mariah Carey will end up winning a lot of awards,” he said. “But I would like to see Legend win.”
As the plethora of novices and veterans nominated vie for their place in music history, the ceremony is sure to offer its share of upsets and surprises for those interested enough to set their homework aside for a couple of hours to tune in.
The 48th Annual Grammy Awards airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. on CBS.
Here are the Graphic staff’s picks for the biggest awards of the night of the Grammys:
Record of the Year:
We Belong Together (Mariah Carey)
Feel Good Inc (Gorrillaz Feat. De La Soul)
Boulevard of Broke Dreams (Greenday)
Hollaback Girl (Gwen Stefani)
Gold Digger (Kanye West)
Staff pick: Boulevard of Broke Dreams
Album of the Year:
The Emancipation of Mimi (Mariah Carey)
Chaos And Creation In The Background (Paul McCartney)
Love. Angel. Music. Baby (Gwen Stefani)
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (U2)
Late Registration (Kanye West)
Staff pick: Late Registration
Song of the Year:
Bless the Broken Road (Rascal Flatts)
Devils & Dust (Bruce Springstein)
Ordinary People (John Legend)
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own (U2)
We Belong Together (Mariah Carey)
Staff pick: Bless the Broken Road
Best New Artist:
Ciara
Fall Out Boy
Keane
John Legend
Sugarland
Staff pick: Keane
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance:
“It’s Like That” (Mariah Carey)
“Since U Been Gone” (Kelly Clarkson)
“Good is Good” (Sheryl Crow)
“I Will Not Be Broken” (Bonnie Raitt)
“Hollaback Girl” (Gwen Stefani)
Staff pick: “Since U Been Gone”
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance:
“Sitting, Waiting, Wishing” (Jack Johnson)
“Fine Line” (Paul McCartney)
“Walk On By” (Seal)
“Lonely No More” (Rob Thomas)
“From The Bottom of My Heart” (Stevie Wonder)
Staff pick: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
Best Rock Album
X & Y (Coldplay)
In Your Honor (Foo Fighter)
The Bigger Bang (The Rolling Stones)
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (U2)
Prairie Wind (Neil Young)
Staff pick: X & Y
Best R & B Contemporary Album
Touch (Amerie)
The Emancipation of Mimi (Mariah Carey)
Destiny Fulfilled (Destiny’s Child)
Turning point (Mario)
O (Omarion)
Staff pick: The Emancipation of Mimi
Best Country Song
Alcohol (Brad Paisley)
All jacked Up (Gretchen Wilson)
Bless the Broken Road (Rascal Flatts)
I Hope (Dixie Chicks)
I Hate Myself In The Morning (Lee Ann Womack)
Staff pick: Bless the Broken Road
Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group
Don’t Phunk with My Heart- Black Eyed Peas
The Corner- Common Feat. The Last Poets
Encore- Eminem feat. Dr. Dre & 50 Cent
Hate it or Love It- The Game Feat. 50 Cent
Wait (Ying Yang Twins)
Staff pick: Don’t Phunk with My Heart
02-02-2006
