If I Was the Only One Who Voted for the Grammys, Vol. 4
“I would leave if only I could find a reason. I’m mean because I grew up in New England.”
What a year for music! At the real Grammys, Taylor Swift broke a decades-old record held by Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon for the most Album of the Year wins ever by a single artist. That’s like if a director managed to beat John Ford’s record of four Best Director wins, but it’s even more impressive because Album of the Year is like the Grammys’ Best Picture award. And it was deserved, too! I loved Midnights!
At our Grammys, though, we don’t follow those ludicrous awards calendars that the real show does. We’re not in some janky September 2022 to October 2023 window. January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023, baby! That’s all we need. Well, we could do with that long-awaited Rihanna album. But aside from that! We vibe.
No new categories have been added this year. I thought about expanding into other genres, but there is just a really hard zeitgeist to wrap your arms around in the world of music. It’s not as easy to parse and sort through as it is in the movie or television realm. Either that or I’m just not well-versed in how the music scene grows and morphs throughout the year. I tried listening to All Songs Considered! I did try. There’s just an unwieldy amount of music out there, especially when you’re like me and you’re still exploring the genres of the years gone by.
I enjoy the balance I’m seeing this year, ultimately. Yes, a couple will always rise to the top, but I feel like the nominations have a good ebb and flow to them. Plus, I love whenever awarded and nominated artists from past years return and emerge as true modern stalwarts in subsequent years. Always fun to watch a Best New Artist winner graduate into the major categories! It was a riveting year for music that spawned intrigue and entertainment from myriad forms and tones. Let’s give out some meaningless and hypothetical trophies!
Album of the Year
Barbie the Album — Mark Ronson
Guts — Olivia Rodrigo
The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We — Mitski
The Maybe Man — AJR
Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride — Jason Mraz
Stick Season — Noah Kahan
As has already been described in my Top 10 Albums of 2023 article, Noah Kahan’s Stick Season (specifically, the We’ll All Be Here Forever edition), was my favorite album of the year. I think it has a chance to go down as one of the absolute finest of the decade, too. He’s a songwriter my girlfriend introduced to me and I’ve really resonated with his lyrical brilliance and New England homage. I love being from there and I love that he’s from there, too! It’s a phenomenal album and worth a listen, even if it is enhanced by fall vibes. It’s never my favorite thing to have the biggest category first, but I value the surprise element. Fortunately, with the Grammys, there are still plenty of enthralling categories to come!
Previous Winners: Folklore by Taylor Swift, Sour by Olivia Rodrigo, Midnights by Taylor Swift
Soundtrack of the Year
Barbie the Album
The Bear
Dumb Money
Wish
Wonka
I mean, it makes sense, right? If a documentary gets a Best Picture nomination, it’s probably going to win Best Documentary. Here, the soundtrack album curated by Mark Ronson for Barbie earned a Black Panther-esque nomination for Album of the Year, so it is the dominant, juggernaut winner of the Soundtrack of the Year category. The Bear’s second season and Dumb Money both cultivated a remarkable collection of music (shoutout to some quality acronyms: R.E.M. and WAP) for their stories. Wish and Wonka both stand alone as formidable musical achievements in cinema, even if only the latter was a quality movie, too. But Barbie just clears them all out of the (matte) water.
Previous Winners: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Elvis
Music Video of the Year
“Bad Idea Right?” by Olivia Rodrigo
“I Can See You” by Taylor Swift
“I Feel Like Dancing” by Jason Mraz
“Maybe Man” by AJR
“My Love Mine All Mine” by Mitski
Lots of good videos here, but only one is truly transcendent. Taylor Swift does not always roll out the regal treatment for her vault tracks on these re-recordings (1989 just seemed to come and go with nary a pip!), but for a shimmering moment in summer 2023, it was Speak Now’s time to shine. The “Enchanted” dress was re-vamped, “Long Live” was added to the setlist, and the vault tracks delivered with a music video premiere at the St. Louis Eras Tour dates. Obviously, the music video for “I Can See You” is a metaphor for Taylor Swift reclaiming her work through the re-recording project. However, I love that Joey King, Presley Cash, and Taylor Lautner — all key figures from the Speak Now era — returned to take part in it. It makes it feel like there’s a whole corridor of the Taylor Swift experience with recurring figures and built-in lore. This video appealed to that satisfaction very well.
Previous Winners: “Savior Complex” by Phoebe Bridgers, “I Still Have Faith in You” by ABBA, “As It Was” by Harry Styles
The Paul McCartney Award for Lifetime Achievement in Music
Jimmy Buffett
I have always felt that if I knew I was dying and I wanted to feel peaceful about it, I would put on “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett. Maybe the person who created that song, lived by it, and built an entire brand empire around it does not feel the same, but at the very least his honey voice gave it to the rest of us. This is only one fraction of Jimmy Buffett’s legacy: the vibes. From a song perspective, there is obviously so much more. “Bubbles Up,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” “Tin Cup Chalice,” “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” “Son of a Son of a Sailor” (the album of the same name this song originates from earned an Album of the Year nomination for me on my own Grammys in 1978), “Fins,” “Wondering Where the Lions Are,” “Come Monday.” All great songs that extend the legacy past the song that became a novelty chain restaurant’s namesake. Likewise, Buffett’s legacy goes beyond vibes, too. He was not just the king of taking it easy, sipping a tropical drink, and forgetting about work for a while. He was charitable of means and of spirit. He was an adventurer with a life full of stories worth telling. And he had the soul and mind of an artist who knew that what he made went far beyond his own voice and pen. Truly, Buffett’s work went back into the world and became ours. For many people in this station in life, it wouldn’t matter if they were the ones singing the songs, as long as the vibes were abound. But for Buffett, it did matter. People didn’t just want his energy. They wanted him. When you’re that good on top of being that talented, it does matter and others do want to be around you. That’s the best legacy any of us can hope for, I reckon. Buffett died on September 1, 2023, but “Buffett” is forever.
Previous Winners: Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Elton John
Best New Artist
Boygenius
Donnie and Joe Emerson
Noah Kahan
Laufey
Reneé Rapp
Again, this is similar to the Barbie the Album one. When you’ve already been confirmed to be the man behind the “Album of the Year” category, it seems like a no-brainer that you’ll win the Best New Artist category, too. It’s an interesting batch this year! I thought Dan + Shay were new to the world, but apparently they were only new to me, for example. And that left me in a pickle regarding Boygenius, as the group was new, but Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker are known entities in the indie rock scene. Ultimately, I decided I would’ve allowed the Traveling Wilburys in here, so Boygenius deserved it, too — as the Traveling Wilburys of sad girl soundscapes. Another odd addition to the batch comes in the form of Donnie and Joe Emerson, folk songwriters from the 1970s who went largely unremarked upon at the time, but have since been rediscovered and propped up as viable artists now (see the 2023 film about them, Dreamin’ Wild, starring Casey Affleck and Walton Goggins). Lastly, Rapp and Laufey are pretty understandable inclusions, despite being from disparate genres (Rapp is like the princess who was promised and Laufey is like Vince Guaraldi with lyrics). Ultimately, it obviously belongs to Kahan. I’m interested in all of these artists, but only Kahan has me desperate to see what he does next.
Previous Winners: Phoebe Bridgers, Olivia Rodrigo, Mitski
Producer of the Year
Jack Antonoff
Aaron Dessner
Dan Nigro
Mark Ronson
Gabe Simon
Not voting for Jack Antonoff here is like all the people who didn’t vote for Bill Belichick for Coach of the Year during that era when the Patriots dominated so much that he became the obvious one to choose as the greatest coach of all-time. However, I do believe it’s time to spread the wealth to others whom have earned the title just as much as Antonoff did. I nearly sided with Dan Nigro here because I think what he and Olivia Rodrigo did with Guts was impressive and, in my opinion, the album tops Sour (the former just came out in a more competitive year for new music). Yet, Mark Ronson’s achievement with the Barbie soundtrack is remarkable. Not only did he bring together a wide range of talent to create something thematically, narratively, and sonically cohesive (Nicki Minaj, Karol G, Sam Smith, Tame Impala, Brandi Carlile, Khalid, Billie Eilish), but he also brought “I’m Just Ken” to life, which feels like it went beyond director Greta Gerwig’s wildest expectations for how that sequence of the film would transpose on screen. To achieve that and create an itinerary of bangers that can make you cry and make you jam? Gotta give it up for one of the modern Renaissance producers. Tons of credit to you there, Ronson.
Previous Winners: Aaron Dessner, Jack Antonoff, Jack Antonoff
Group of the Year
AJR
The Beatles
Boygenius
Foo Fighters
Paramore
I really wanted to give this to The Beatles. I mean, “Now and Then” came out in 2023! We’re never going to get a new song by The Beatles ever again! Wouldn’t this be the only chance I’ll ever have to recognize The Beatles as the Group of the Year in an authentic way? Ultimately, though, that’s what my spreadsheet last year was for. It was tempting, but it wasn’t right. The other bands nominated here had genuine work during 2023 from band members who were not last alive in 1980. And it really came down to the fact that, of my album ranking for the year, AJR placed the highest. Paramore’s new album, This Is Why, was solid, but not their best work (nor did it ever have to be). Foo Fighters’ But Here We Are was a moving ode to their late drummer, Taylor Hawkins. Yet, AJR’s The Maybe Man was just a league ahead, as my favorite record produced by a group this year. It vacillates between being wrenching and euphoric, while always maintaining the sound that is carefully produced (and easily recognized) by the three brothers. While listening to their 2023 entry in their discography, I was reminded of fun., which demonstrated to me that AJR is truly the heir apparent in the lineage of great musical groups.
Previous Winners: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, ABBA, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Artist of the Year
Noah Kahan
Mitski
Jason Mraz
Olivia Rodrigo
Ed Sheeran
How exciting is it when the Best New Artist is also the Artist of the Year? That is how amazing the new Noah Kahan album is! If I haven’t convinced you by now to give it a listen, you probably do not like folk music. And that’s okay! But if you do, you know Kahan is the real deal and absolutely deserving of this recognition. No music was more moving and satisfying to me than his this year. Jason Mraz will win this one day. Rodrigo has before. Mitski has a shot, too. And hey, good for you, Ed Sheeran! Way to work with Aaron Dessner and find a new and fascinating avenue for your career! But the 2023 music landscape begins and ends with Kahan, for me.
Previous Winners: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles
Record of the Year
“Cha Cha Cha” by Johannes Naukkarinen, Aleksi Nurmi, and Jukka Sorsa
“Dance the Night” by Dua Lipa, Picard Brothers, Mark Ronson, and Andrew Wyatt
“Dial Drunk” by Noah Kahan and Gabe Simon
“I Can See You” by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff
“Lovesick Romeo” by Jason Mraz and Martin Terefe
“Now and Then” by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Giles Martin, and Jeff Lynne
“Say Don’t Go” by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff
“Stick Season” by Noah Kahan and Gabe Simon
“SunKissing” by Hailee Steinfeld and KOZ
“Waking Up Dreaming” by Shania Twain and David Stewart
Record of the Year is the category that can best honor the excellence in music producing from the past year. The instrumentation, the sonic identity, the way a song sounds musically. That’s what we’re honoring here. So, pretty good lineup, huh? The only good use of A.I. so far as seen in the new Beatles song, the latest step in Hailee Steinfeld’s quest to dominate summer singles for radio play, the best Shania Twain song in years, the poppiest number from Barbie, the all-time ripper from Eurovision. They’re all here! However, I really went back and forth between three for the win here. Jason Mraz’s “Lovesick Romeo” is one of the most appealing and smooth songs in his entire catalog and I almost sided with it, but it’s just kind of hard to deny how much 2023 was Noah Kahan’s year. And even though I loved “Dial Drunk” and its subsequent remix with Post Malone, it has to be “Stick Season.” No song made me want to immediately press replay on it the way this one did. It’s a testament to how incredible it is that every cover of it slaps just as hard, too.
Previous Winners: “‘Tis the Damn Season” by Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner, “Don’t Shut Me Down” by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, “Maroon” by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff
Song of the Year
“The Day I Was Born” by Ed Sheeran and Aaron Dessner
“Foolish One” by Taylor Swift
“I’m Just Ken” by Ryan Gosling, Mark Ronson, and Andrew Wyatt
“Inertia” by Adam Met, Jack Met, and Ryan Met
“Love Is Embarrassing” by Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro
“My Love Mine All Mine” by Mitski
“Paul Revere” by Noah Kahan
“Slut!” by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Patrik Berger
“Stick Season” by Noah Kahan
“Wings of Time” by Tame Impala, Nick Allbrook, and Kevin Parker
And “Stick Season” is also undoubtedly deserving of being named the Song of the Year, which recognizes an immaculate achievement in songwriting! The way it sounds and the way it reads as poetry: both of these combined turned “Stick Season” into the number one song of the year in my corner of the world. Just look at this run of lyrical brilliance below.
“Now I am stuck between my anger and the blame that I can’t face
And memories are somethin’ even smoking weed does not replace
And I am terrified of weather ’cause I see you when it rains
Doc told me to travel, but there’s Covid on the planes
And I love Vermont, but it’s the season of the sticks
And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed
And it’s half my fault, but I just like to play the victim
I’ll drink alcohol ’til my friends come home for Christmas
And I’ll dream each night of some version of you
That I might not have, but I did not lose
Now you’re tire tracks and one pair of shoes
And I’m split in half, but that’ll have to do
So I thought that if I piled something good on all my bad
That I could cancel out the darkness I inherited from dad
No, I am no longer funny, ’cause I miss the way you laugh
You once called me forever, now you still can’t call me back.”
Gosh, I just love it. I can hear it! I can feel it! That is the mark of a great song. There are so many amazing choices here. Two of Swift’s finest vault tracks, an end-credits song for a fantasy film that grows on me more every day, another Kahan gem, album-defining songs by Rodrigo, Mitski, Sheeran, and AJR, a hilarious ode to dismantling masculinity sung by our finest movie star. Really, I would’ve been happy with any of these winners, but I just know “Stick Season” will stand against the forgotten vultures of time and enter into a musical pantheon forever. I’d be remorseful in subsequent years if I didn’t recognize it now, which is exactly what I want to do and exactly what it deserves because it was the best song of the entire year. Thank you for it, Noah Kahan.
Previous Winners: “August” by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff, “Mr. Perfectly Fine” by Taylor Swift, “As It Was” by Harry Styles, Kid Harpoon, and Tyler Johnson
Most Individual Nominations
Noah Kahan (6)
Taylor Swift (5)
Jack Antonoff (4)
AJR, Mitski, Jason Mraz, Olivia Rodrigo, Mark Ronson, Gabe Simon (3)
The Beatles, Boygenius, Aaron Dessner, Dan Nigro, Ed Sheeran, Andrew Wyatt (2)
Nick Allbrook, Patrik Berger, Picard Brothers, Donnie and Joe Emerson, Foo Fighters, Ryan Gosling, Tame Impala, KOZ, Laufey, Dua Lipa, Jeff Lynne, Giles Martin, Johannes Naukkarinen, Aleksi Nurmi, Paramore, Kevin Parker, Reneé Rapp, Jukka Sorsa, Hailee Steinfeld, David Stewart, Martin Terefe, Shania Twain (1)
Most Album Nominations
Stick Season (5)
Barbie the Album (4)
1989 (Taylor’s Version), Guts, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We, The Maybe Man, Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride (3)
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (2)
1967–1970, Autumn Variations, The Bear, Dumb Money, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Eurovision Song Contest 2023, Sommerhits, Queen of Me, Wish, Wonka (1)
Most Individual Wins
Noah Kahan (4)*
AJR, Mark Ronson, Gabe Simon, Taylor Swift (1)
*=ties Taylor Swift’s 2020 record for most individual wins — with four.
Most Album Wins
Stick Season (3)*
Barbie the Album, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (1)
*=breaks Folklore’s 2020 record for most album wins.
