As if sweeping last week’s ARIA Awards Ceremony wasn’t enough, multi-instrumentalist/hit sensation/global dominator Gotye – who begins his Australian headline tour tonight in Adelaide – is now up for several gong’s at America’s night of nights, the Grammy Awards.
The ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ songwriter has earned three nominations for the 55th Grammy Awards, alongside international stars like R&B storyteller Frank Ocean, who earned nods in three of the four top categories, as well as Kanye West, The Black Keys, fun., Mumford & Sons and Jay-Z.
Gotye’s ubiquitous single, which helped him storm the United States and Europe, leading to it recently being named the highest selling single of 2012, has now led Mr Wally De Backer to potential Grammys glory.
The Kimbra-featuring breakup duet is up for the Record of the Year award as well as the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, facing off against the likes of Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift, The Black Keys, and Kelly Clarkson in the former category; and the likes of Florence + The Machine’s ‘Shake It Out and Maroon 5’s co-hit with Whiz Khalifa, ‘Payphone’ in the latter.
New York City pop troupe fun. are also squaring off directly against De Backer in both categories with their Janelle Monae-featuring hit single, ‘We Are Young’. Given that Gotye’s all-conquering single is already one of most streamed songs of the year according to the UK’s new streaming chart, and its body-paint video clip became one of the most watched YouTube videos of all time, (currently sitting at over 350+ million views) – Mr. Wally DeBacker is a strong contender to take out either category.
Gotye’s third nomination is in the Best Alternative Music Album category for Making Mirrors, the album to which ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ comes from, which has obviously enjoyed a boost in profiled thanks to the unprecedented success of the single. as well as a favourable review from US tastemakers Pitchfork.
Other nominations competing for the Best Alternative Music Album include the recently recuperated Björk for her 2001 album Biophilia, M83’s widescreen electro opus Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, Tom Waits’ 17th studio LP Bad As Me, and Fiona Apple’s first album in seven years, the outrageously titled The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do.
Other artists sweeping the announced nominations include Odd Future associate and popular crooner Frank Ocean, who made waves earlier this year ahead of his major label debut Channel Orange when he released an open letter online acknowledging his fluid sexual preferences as well as an unrequited love affair with another man in his youth.
He’s transcended the controversy and sole more than 300,000 copies after debuting at #2 on the Billboard Top 200, as The Chicago Tribune points out., and Channel Orange a favourite to take out Album of the Year.
Rock fans meanwhile can enjoy that the Album of the Year category is going not to pop and mainstream acts, but Jack White – for his solo debut Blunderbuss – and dynamic garage duo The Black Keys, for El Camino. Rounding out the Album of the Year nominations are fun. for Some Nights and nu-folkies Mumford & Sons, for their sophomore album Babel; not surprising given it was 2012’s most successful album – sales wise.
The 55th Grammy Awards will take place on February 10th 2013 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, and should Gotye win any (or fingers crossed – all) three of his categories, it’ll mark the end of an absolutely killer year of record-breaking accolades. Still, you have to feel bad for De Backer – there’s no way 2013 is ever going to compare…
55th Grammy Awards Nominees
Album of the year
El Camino, The Black Keys
Some Nights, fun.
Babel, Mumford & Sons
Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
Blunderbuss, Jack White
Record of the year
Lonely Boy, The Black Keys
Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You), Kelly Clarkson
We Are Young, fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
Somebody That I Used to Know, Gotye featuring Kimbra
Thinkin Bout You, Frank Ocean
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, Taylor Swift
Song of the year (goes to writer)
The A Team (performed by Ed Sheeran)
Adorn (performed by Miguel)
Call Me Maybe (performed by Carly Rae Jepsen)
Stronger (performed by Kelly Clarkson)
We Are Young (performed by fun. featuring Janelle Monáe)
Best new artist
Alabama Shakes
fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean
Pop solo performance
Set Fire to the Rain (Live), Adele
Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You), Kelly Clarkson
Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen
Wide Awake, Katy Perry
Where Have You Been, Rihanna
Pop duo/group performance
Shake It Out, Florence & The Machine
We Are Young, fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
Somebody That I Used to Know, Gotye featuring Kimbra
Sexy and I Know It, LMFAO
Payphone, Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa
Pop vocal album
Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
Ceremonials, Florence & The Machine
Some Nights, fun.
Overexposed, Maroon 5
The Truth About Love, Pink
Dance recording
Let’s Go, Calvin Harris featuring Ne-Yo
Bangarang, Skrillex featuring Sirah
Don’t You Worry Child, Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin
I Can’t Live Without You, Al Walser
Dance/electronica album
Wonderland, Steve Aoki
Don’t Think, The Chemical Brothers
> Album Title Goes Here <, Deadmau5Fire & Ice, KaskadeBangarang, Skrillex
Traditional pop vocal album
Christmas, Michael Bublé
A Holiday Carole, Carole King
Kisses on the Bottom, Paul McCartney
Rock performance
Hold On, Alabama Shakes
Lonely Boy, The Black Keys
Charlie Brown, Coldplay
I Will Wait, Mumford & Sons
We Take Care of Our Own, Bruce Springsteen
Hard rock/metal performance
I’m Alive, Anthrax
Love Bites (So Do I), Halestorm
Blood Brothers, Iron Maiden
Ghost Walking, Lamb of God
No Reflection, Marilyn Manson
Whose Life (Is It Anyways?), Megadeth
Rock song (goes to writer)
Freedom at 21 (performed by Jack White)
I Will Wait (performed by Mumford & Sons)
Lonely Boy (performed by the Black Keys)
Madness (performed by Muse)
We Take Care of Our Own (performed by Bruce Springsteen)
Rock album
El Camino, The Black Keys
Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay
The 2nd Law, Muse
Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen
Blunderbuss, Jack White
Alternative album
The Idler Wheel Is Wiser …, Fiona Apple
Biophilia, Björk
Making Mirrors, Gotye
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, M83
Bad As Me, Tom Waits
R&B song(goes to writer)
Adorn (performed by Miguel)
Beautiful Surprise (performed by Tamia)
Heart Attack (performed by Trey Songz)
Pray for Me (performed by Anthony Hamilton)
Refill (performed by Elle Varner)
Traditional R&B performance
Lately, Anita Baker
Love on Top, Beyonce
Wrong Side of a Love Song, Melanie Fiona
Real Good Hands, Gregory Porter
If Only You Knew, SWV
R&B performance
Thank You, Estelle
Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.), Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Ledisi
I Want You, Luke James
Adorn, Miguel
Climax, Usher
R&B song (goes to writer)
Adorn (performed by Miguel)
Beautiful Surprise (performed by Tamia)
Heart Attack (performed by Trey Songz)
Pray for Me (performed by Anthony Hamilton)
Refill (performed by Elle Varner)
R&B album
Black Radio, Robert Glasper Experiment
Back to Love, Anthony Hamilton
Write Me Back, R. Kelly
Beautiful Surprise, Tamia
Open Invitation, Tyrese
Urban contemporary album
Fortune, Chris Brown
Kaleidoscope Dream, Miguel
Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
Rap performance
HYFR, Drake featuring Lil’ Wayne
N—– In Paris, Jay-Z and Kanye West
Daughters, Nas
Mercy, Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz
I Do, Young Jeezy featuring Jay-Z and André 3000
Rap/sung collaboration
Wild Ones, Flo Rida featuring Sia
No Church in the Wild, Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean and The-Dream
Tonight (Best You Ever Had), John Legend featuring Ludacris
Cherry Wine, Nas featuring Amy Winehouse
Talk That Talk, Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
Rap song (goes to writer)
Daughters (performed by Nas)
Lotus Flower Bomb (performed by Wale featuring Miguel)
Mercy (performed by Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz)
The Motto (performed by Drake featuring Lil’ Wayne)
N—– In Paris (performed by Jay-Z and Kanye West)
Young, Wild & Free (performed by Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa featuring Bruno Mars)
Rap album
Take Care, Drake
Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1, Lupe Fiasco
Life Is Good, Nas
Undun, The Roots
God Forgives, I Don’t, Rick Ross
Based on a T.R.U. Story, 2 Chainz
Country solo performance
Home, Dierks Bentley
Springsteen, Eric Church
Cost of Livin’, Ronnie Dunn
Wanted, Hunter Hayes
Over, Blake Shelton
Blown Away, Carrie Underwood
Country duo/group performance
Even If It Breaks Your Heart, Eli Young Band
Pontoon, Little Big Town
Safe & Sound, Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars
On the Outskirts of Town, The Time Jumpers
I Just Come Here for the Music, Don Williams featuring Alison Krauss
Country song (goes to writer)
Blown Away (performed Carrie Underwood)
Cost Of Livin’ (performed by Ronnie Dunn)
Even If It Breaks Your Heart (performed by Eli Young Band)
So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore (performed by Alan Jackson)
Springsteen (performed by Eric Church)
Country album
Uncaged, Zac Brown Band
Hunter Hayes, Hunter Hayes
Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran, Jamey Johnson
Four the Record, Miranda Lambert
The Time Jumpers, The Time Jumpers
Producer (non-classical)
Dan Auerbach
Jeff Bhasker
Diplo
Markus Dravs
Salaam Remi
