“I’d Like to Thank the Academy”
Image Courtesy: Grammy Awards
With Grammy season in full swing, the music industry is eager to find out who will be at the top of the 2025 nominations. The past year brought forth many new artists while continuing to preserve some of our favorites— many of us are probably getting déjà vu from Taylor Swift’s Grammy-to-Superbowl pipeline where she was able to take part in two separate accolades in a row. This year’s lineup seems to have a decent mix of genres, heavily emphasizing female pop artists. If anyone thinks this was an accident, I assure you, it is not. The Grammys showcase musical artistry while commemorating artists, representing culture, and investing in the industry's future. The awards emphasize the top songs, artists, and albums showcasing what we have most identified with throughout the year, helping us understand how artists have molded societal taste in a way that connects with the audience creatively.
Image Courtesy: Glamour
Starting with one of the most predictable nominees, Taylor Swift is yet again in the running for various categories, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. Already holding the record for most wins for album of the year, Swift has successfully won 14 Grammys at the age of 35 years old. Last year, she triumphantly earned album of the year for Midnights. This coincides with her most recent nomination, reflecting her influence on our generation and the power that she has on such a wide range of individuals. Her strong feminine energy and resilient attitude inspire people of all ages to achieve anything they set their minds to.
Reflecting the emphasis on the pop princess era we’ve seen in 2024 are many other female artists alongside her. Competing for Record of the Year, we have Chappell Roan, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Beyonce. Although these artists have distinct variations in their styles and techniques, they each embrace their femininity and uniquely lean into the pop genre. Their presence as nominees indicates the revival of pop stars that has been prominent in the past year. In this list of female artists, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan join the nominations as newcomers. These stars took the genre by storm as they had an abundantly successful year while promoting messages about confidence and what it means to be a strong woman. Charli XCX successfully coined the term “brat” as an adjective. The introduction of the term happened shortly after her album release as we entered “brat summer,” which inspired many women to take risks with their style and get out of their comfort zone.
Image Courtesy: Teen Vogue
Sabrina Carpenter achieved milestone accomplishments by shocking audiences with her album tour as she embraced her sexuality and broke boundaries on what is socially acceptable for female artists to do on stage. Last but certainly not least, Chappell Roan embraces her feminine energy by being open about her sexual orientation and dressing in extravagant drag outfits, such as Marie Antoinette and the Statue of Liberty. Roan is a role model for many people struggling with comfort and confidence. She is an irreplaceable artist who has freshly joined this year’s Grammy lineup of strong women.
The remaining two nominees for Record of the Year are Kendrick Lamar and The Beatles—two very contrasting artists. However, both of them serve as a reflection of the past year and establish themselves as interesting yet competitive contestants to the rest of the list. Compared to last year’s nominees, these two have something in common with Nominee John Batiste in 2024; they are the only nominated males.
Image Courtesy: Nola
Since John Batiste was the only male represented, he did not win amongst his female counterparts; despite this, it will be interesting to see the outcome for the two nominated male artists this year.
The Grammys serve as an outstanding medium to highlight innovative musicians while paying respect to the talented performers who shine each year, paying homage to those who connect with audiences and communicate through music. The nominees get recognition, and we can see some of our favorite artists perform, succeed, and sometimes make history. This year showcases many new faces in the music industry while including some familiar faces. Regardless of who leaves holding a Grammy, it is sure to be an entertaining watch for us all.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabella Bowman
Editor: Emily Montarroyos
Graphic Designer: Ryan Hanak
Tallahassee