Defying expectations that his controversial lyrics would shut him out of the running, rapper Eminem collected four Grammy nominations as the contenders were announced in Los Angeles Wednesday January 3.
Eminem, who has garnered criticism for his alleged lyrical homophobia and misogyny and now faces assault charges in Michigan, was nominated for album of the year for his top-selling Marshall Mathers LP. He also received nods for rap album of the year, solo rap performance and rap performance in a duo or band for Forgot About Dre on the album Dr. Dre 2001.
Rap impresario Dre himself earned five nominations, including producer of the year. Singer-songwriter Beyonce Knowles also collected five nominations as a member of Destiny's Child and as a writer on the group's Say My Name and for the song Independent Women Part I from Charlie's Angels.
Other nominees in the album of the year category are Two Against Nature by jazz-infused veterans Steely Dan, Kid A by British cult band Radiohead, You're the One by Paul Simon and Beck's funk-inspired Midnite Vultures.
Despite winning two Grammys last year, Eminem's growing infamy, not to mention the assault charge and his protracted family-court battles, could make him unattractive to the mainstream-minded National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
"Ordinarily one of the year's biggest-selling records that has been critically acclaimed is a lock for the showcase nominations, like best record or album. But too many people have too many problems with him," said Alan Light, editor of Spin magazine.
Indeed, the rapper's song The Real Slim Shady was bypassed in the record and song of the year categories by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. "I do think it's a major snub," said Tom O'Neil, author of the book The Grammys and a historian of the awards.
Vince Gill also had four nominations, including best country album for Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye, and country song for Feels Like Love. He was also nominated for country male vocalist for Feels Like Love and country collaboration with vocals, for a duet with his wife, Amy Grant, on the song When I Look Into Your Heart.
Nominees for record of the year are Say My Name by Destiny's Child, I Try by Macy Gray, Music by Madonna, Bye Bye Bye by 'N Sync and Beautiful Day by U2.
The nominees for best new artist were country singers Shelby Lynne and Brad Paisley, hard rockers Papa Roach, R&B songstress Jill Scott and Thong Song maestro Sisqo.
The year's teen pop sensations also got some recognition. Britney Spears, one of the year's leading album sellers, was nominated for pop vocal album for Oops! ... I Did It Again and female pop vocal performance for the song of the same name.
Spears' likely date for the ceremony, 'N Sync singer Justin Timberlake, may also be stepping up to the podium. The boy-band sensation whose No Strings Attached was the year's biggest-selling album was also nominated for pop performance by a duo or group for Bye Bye Bye and pop vocal album.
Grammy introduced two new categories this year: best Native American music album and best pop instrumental album.
The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS on Feb. 21 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Awards will be presented in 100 categories.
If living somewhere around the middle east look for times of broadcast in your area on www.orbit.net. There will be both, a live broadcast and a ‘day after’ broadcast on Orbit’s Hollywood Channel.
Meanwhile, Following is a partial list of this year’s Grammy Award Nominees, supplied by Agence France Presse:
Record Of The Year:
-- "Say My Name" - Destiny's Child (from The Writing's On The Wall)
-- "I Try" - Macy Gray (from On How Life Is)
-- "Music" - Madonna (from Music)
-- "Bye Bye Bye" - NSync (from No Strings Attached)
-- "Beautiful Day" - U2 (from All That You Can't Leave Behind)
Album Of The Year:
-- "Midnite Vultures" - Beck
-- "The Marshall Mathers LP" - Eminem
-- "Kid A" Radiohead
-- "You're The One" - Paul Simon
-- "Two Against Nature" - Steely Dan
Song Of The Year (awarded to the songwriter):
-- "Beautiful Day" - U2
-- "Breathe" - Stephanie Bentley and Holly Lamar (Faith Hill)
-- "I Hope You Dance" - Mark Sanders and Tia Sellers (Lee Ann Womack)
-- "I Try" Macy Gray, Jinsoo Lim, Jeremy Ruzumna and David Wilder (Macy Gray)
-- "Say My Name" LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins, Rodney Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson and Kelendria Rowland (Destiny's Child)
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance:
-- "What A Girl Wants" - Christina Aguilera
-- "I Try" - Macy Gray
-- "Music" - Madonna
-- "Save Me" - Aimee Mann
-- "Both Sides Now" - Joni Mitchell
-- "Oops!...I Did It Again" - Britney Spears
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance:
-- "You Sang To Me" - Marc Anthony
-- "Taking You Home" - Don Henley
-- "She Bangs" - Ricky Martin
-- "6, 8, 12" - Brian McKnight
-- "She Walks This Earth (Soberana Rosa)" – Sting
Best Country Song:
-- “Breathe” – Faith Hill
-- “Feels Like Love” – Vince Gill
-- “I Hope You Dance” – Lee Ann Womack
-- “One Voice” – Billy Gilman
--“The Way You Love Me” – Faith Hill
Best Pop Album:
--“Inside Job” – Don Henley
-- “Music” – Madonna
-- “No Srings Attached” – ‘N Sync
-- “Oops!… I Did It Again” – Britney Spears
-- “Two Against Nature” – Steely Dan
Best Rock Album:
-- “Crush” - Bon Jovi
-- “There is Nothing Left to Lose” - Foo Fighters
-- “Mad Season” - Matchbox Twenty
-- “Return of Satrun” - No Doubt
-- “The Battle of Los Angeles” - Rage Against the Machine
Best Rap Album:
-- “…And Then There Was X” - DMX
-- “Dr. Dre 2001” - Dr. Dre
-- “The Marshall Mathers LP” - Eminem
-- “Vol.3… Life & Times of S.Carter” - Jay-Z
-- “Country Grammar” - Nelly
Best Alternative Music Band:
-- “When the Pawn” – Fiona Apple
-- “Midnite Vultures” – Beck
-- “Bloodflowers” – The Cure
-- “Liverpool Sound Collage” – Paul McCartney
-- “Kid A” – Radiohead
Best Latin Pop Album:
-- "Mi Reflejo" - Christina Aguilera
-- "Oscar De La Hoya" - Oscar De La Hoya
-- "Vivo" - Luis Miguel
-- "El Alma Al Aire" - Alejandro Sanz
-- "Shakira - MTV Unplugged" - Shakira
Best World Music Album:
-- "Water From The Well" - The Chieftains
-- "Joao Voz E Violao" - Joao Gilberto
-- "Homeland" - Miriam Makeba
-- "Joko (The Link)" - Youssou N'Dour
-- "Journey With The Sun" Paul Winter and The Earth Band
Best New Artist:
-- Shelby Lynne
-- Brad Paisley
-- Papa Roach
-- Jill Scott
-- Sisqo
Best Music Video:
-- "Fire" Busta Rhymes
-- "Learn To Fly" Foo Fighters
-- "What Do You Say" Reba McEntire
-- "Broken Home" Papa Roach
-- "Will 2K" Will Smith
