The Grammys are often criticized for offering an inaccurate picture of the "best" music of a given year, but every so often, decisions made by the Recording Academy defy all explanation. Past years have given us such memorably bizarre moments as Jethro Tull's win over Metallica for Best Heavy Metal Performance and last year's Best Dance Recording nomination for No Doubt. Here's a sample of this year's more puzzling nominees:
Dead-locked Categories:
This year's preponderance of deceased nominees has created interesting situations in at least two categories. Five-time nominee, Warren Zevon, is up against the thrice-nominated George Harrison in the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance category. Also, former singer/breather Rosemary Clooney is up against the not-dead Bette Midler's tribute to, well, Rosemary Clooney for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Apparently nothing's better for musical careers than taking dirt naps; are you listening, Kelly Osbourne?
The New Old Artist:
The Grammys often reward long-struggling acts with a Best New Artist nomination--once they've broken into the pop mainstream, that is. This year's old new artist contender is Fountains of Wayne, who formed in 1996 and released their third album last year. Next year, our money is on a certain fresh breath of Latino flair, an up-and-coming outfit know among the indie crowd simply as... Menudo.
Last Year's Hit, This Year's Grammy Nominee:
With an Oct. 1, 2002 to Sept. 30, 2003 eligibility period, many songs and albums we've all long grown tired of are dusted off and played again. This year we get one last chance to decipher the backwards chorus to Missy Elliott's "Work It." We'd rather have another helping of Janet Jackson's "accidental" floppage, but for now it looks like we'll have to keep hitting the rewind button. Thanks for the mammaries, TiVo.
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