Eminem, once a music-industry pariah, cleaned up at the nationally televised nominations Wednesday for the 53rd annual Grammy Awards.
Nearly a decade after he divided Grammy voters because of his explicit lyrics and was denied an album of the year award in favor of Steely Dan, he scored 10 nominations, including the trifecta of album of the year (“Recovery”) and song and record of the year (“Love the Way You Lie”).
It was a big night as well for pop-soul newcomer Bruno Mars with seven nominations; hip-hop kingpin Jay Z, country-pop band Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga with six; and rapper B.O.B., classical producer-pianist David Frost, rocker Jeff Beck, R&B singer John Legend and Bruno Mars collaborator Philip Lawrence with five.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, long a favorite of Grammy voters, appears destined to sweep the classical field at awards time. The CSO picked up nominations in no fewer than four classical categories. Music director Riccardo Muti’s recording of the Verdi Requiem with the orchestra and Chicago Symphony Chorus was nominated both for best classical album and best choral performance. Conductor emeritus Pierre Boulez’s CSO album of “Pulcinella” and other Stravinsky works is in the running for best orchestral performance. And Bernard Haitink’s CSO recordings of Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony and Strauss’ “Ein Heldenleben” are certain to boost James Mallinson’s chances of being named classical producer of the year. All four releases are available on the orchestra’s in-house label, CSO Resound.
For the second year in a row, host L.L. Cool J found himself stumbling around when he wandered off script. He traded awkward Southern accents with presenter Craig Ferguson, and his interview technique needs work.
“Do you feel incredible? Do you feel amazing?” he asked four-time nominee Katy Perry, who couldn’t help but agree that she was, indeed, all of the above.
Otherwise, it was a relatively dull hour with no strong takeaway live performances and little star power: No Eminem, no Jay-Z, no Lady Gaga. Album-of-the-year nominees Arcade Fire would’ve been a nice balance for the pop-heavy performance lineup, which included Bruno Mars and Perry. Protean soul singer Cee-Lo Green was actually in attendance, but wasn’t invited to perform his censor-baiting hit, “F--- You,” nominated for both song and record of the year. Easily the biggest charmer on the telecast was a nonperformer, Stevie Wonder, who provided a typically impish introduction for the album of the year nominees.
Among nominees with Chicago or Illinois connections were R. Kelly with two (for best traditional R&B performance for “When a Woman Loves,” best contemporary R&B album for “Untitled”), Mavis Staples (best Americana album), Pochohontas, Ill., native Gretchen Wilson (best country Song), Common (best rap/sung collaboration), Laurie Anderson (best pop instrumental performance), 97-year-old pianist Pinetop Perkins and drummer Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (best traditional blues album), James Cotton (best traditional blues album), VaShawn Mitchell with two (best gospel performance, best contemporary R&B gospel album), Herbie Hancock with two (best improvised jazz solo, best instrumental arrangement accompanying vocalist), Pierre Boulez (best orchestral performance), Kathy Griffin (best comedy album), Justin Roberts (best childrens album), and Buddy Guy (best contemporary blues album).
Winners in the 109 categories will be announced Feb. 13 at the Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. The nominations by the Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences cover music released from Sept. 1, 2009, to Sept. 30, 2010.
greg@gregkot.com