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Grammy Awards: A guide to music's biggest night

Grammy Awards: A guide to music's biggest night
by Albert Rodriguez - SGN A&E Writer Music's biggest night, the Grammy Awards on Sunday, will pit Mary J. Blige against the Dixie Chicks, Madonna against Goldfrapp, Justin Timberlake against James Blunt, The Killers against Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Death Cab for Cutie against The Black Eyed Peas. Speaking of DCFC, I sent best wishes to the Seattle-based group via one of the band member's girlfriends. They are nominated twice this year. The Police will open the ceremony, and expect lots of skin on the red carpet, especially from Christina Aguilera and those purr-fectly curved Pussycat Dolls. And if John Mayer arrives with Jessica Simpson, I'm voluntarily quitting his fan club. She's gross. Here is a preview of the awards ceremony and key categories. 49th Annual Grammy Awards Sunday, February 11 - 8pm (main event on CBS); 5pm (red carpet arrivals and early awards on MTV, VH1, and E!) Performers: The Police, Dixie Chicks, Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige, John Mayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beyonce, James Blunt, John Legend, Carrie Underwood, Gnarls Barkley, Ludacris, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Presenters: Jennifer Hudson, Melissa Etheridge, Pink, Terence Howard, Stevie Wonder, Nelly Furtado, Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Rock, The Black Eyed Peas, Ciara, Rihanna, Queen Latifah, and Joan Baez. RECORD OF THE YEAR Nominees: Be Without You - Mary J. Blige; You're Beautiful - James Blunt; Not Ready to Make Nice - Dixie Chicks; Crazy - Gnarls Barkley; Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae Will win: Be Without You - Blige released the best single of her career and she's long overdue for a big Grammy night. This is the first time she's been up for a big prize. You do the math. Should win: Not Ready to Make Nice - Never mind that the Dixie Chicks lashed out at the president two years ago, when his popularity was still high. Or, that it sparked a red state backlash when they refused to apologize. But it's the boldly written, gorgeously arranged song about the experience that should be remembered. ALBUM OF THE YEAR Nominees: Taking the Long Way - Dixie Chicks; St. Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley; Continuum - John Mayer; Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers; Futuresex / Lovesounds - Justin Timberlake Will win: Taking the Long Way - Country radio slammed the door on the outspoken, ballsy Chicks. But the trio has huge support from the Recording Academy, and a win here will prove it. Should win: Taking the Long Way - Gutsy and brilliant, this album will go down in history as one of country music's best recordings. SONG OF THE YEAR Nominees: Be Without You; Jesus, Take the Wheel; Not Ready to Make Nice; Put Your Records On; You're Beautiful Will win: Jesus, Take the Wheel - I smell an upset for Underwood's soaring tearjerker, which could result from the songs by Blige and Dixie Chicks splitting votes. Should win: Not Ready to Make Nice - In any other year, I'd vote for Blige's sumptuous ballad. But the Chicks' song is stronger, both lyrically and musically. Sorry Mary. BEST NEW ARTIST Nominees: James Blunt; Chris Brown; Imogen Heap; Corinne Bailey Rae; Carrie Underwood Will win: Corinne Bailey Rae - Female solo acts always do well in this category (Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Paula Cole). And Rae's jazzy-pop will remind Grammy voters of another BNA winner, Norah Jones. Should win: James Blunt - Beneath the cutie pie looks and made-for-Starbucks sound, Blunt is a fine singer-songwriter with the potential to be the next Elton John. BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL Nominees: Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera; Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield; You Can Close Your Eyes - Sheryl Crow; Stupid Girls - Pink; Black Horse and the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall Will win: Ain't No Other Man - This one goes to Aguilera, by a landslide. Should win: Ain't No Other Man - She tried something different, and she succeeded artistically and commercially. You go Christina! BEST DANCE RECORDING Nominees: Suffer Well - Depeche Mode; Ooh La La - Goldfrapp; Get Together - Madonna; I'm with Stupid - Pet Shop Boys; Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake and Timbaland Will win: Sexy Back - JT won't go home empty-handed with a win here. Should win: Ooh La La - By a shoestring, I give my vote to Goldfrapp's saucy club hit over JT's bouncy hip-pop number. BEST ROCK SONG Nominees: Chasing Cars; Dani California; Lookin' for a Leader; Someday Baby; When You Were Young Will win: Someday Baby - Dylan mysteriously didn't make the Album of the Year cut. Here's where he'll get redemption. Should win: When You Were Young - Just when you thought The Killers couldn't produce another great single, they prove us wrong. BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM Nominees: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys; At War with the Mystics - The Flaming Lips; St. Elsewhere - Gnarls Barkley; The Eraser - Thom Yorke; Show Your Bones - Yeah Yeah Yeahs Will win: St. Elsewhere - It's nominated for Album of the Year, which makes it a favorite here. Should win: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - England's spoiled Monkeys delivered on a lot of hype with an amazing album that should win, but I'll be just as happy if Yorke pulls it out for his electro-rock stunner. BEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL Nominees: Every Mile a Memory - Dierks Bentley; The Reason Why - Vince Gill; The Seashores of Old Mexico - George Strait; Would You Go with Me - Josh Turner; Once in a Lifetime - Keith Urban Will win: The Reason Why - Never count Gill out of any Grammy contest, he's well loved. Though, Urban may steal this one. Should win: Every Mile a Memory - I could make a serious case for Turner's nominated entry, but Bentley is my pick from this competitive field. BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO Nominees: 8th of November - Big & Rich; When You Were Young - The Killers; Here It Goes Again - OK Go; Dani California - Red Hot Chili Peppers; Writing on the Walls - Underoath Will win: Dani California - The Peppers are the most nominated rock act this year, and they're assured a win here for a comically, entertaining video that sees Anthony Kiedis in various rock star disguises. Should win: When You Were Young - Brandon Flowers looks muy caliente in this video with wonderful scenery and a Mexican western feel. But, kudos to OK Go for a funny dance-workout.