EMINEM, KATY PERRY, BRUNO MARS AND LADY GAGA AMONG NOMINEES FOR 53RD GRAMMYS

Bruno Mars at Kool Haus,
November 2010

A big congratulations goes out to my Boy Bruno Mars who exceeded all expectations with a total seven Grammy nominations, as announced last night at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.  Although he was ommited from the category of Best New Artist seeing that his album Doo-Wops & Hooligans was released just after the September 30, 2010 qualifying deadline, he more than made-up ground.  Mars scored nominations for Record of the Year for his collaboration with B.o.B. Nothin' on You, his Writing on Cee Lo's Forget You and his own singing on Best Male Pop Vocal for Just the Way You Are.  He also performed a quiet Acoustic version of that number one smash hit early on in last night's televised Concert.

Eminem was King of the Night with a total eleven nominations, including nods in the Grammys' most coveted categories: Record, Album and Song of the Year for both his album Recovery and mega-hit Love the Way You Lie (ft. Rihanna).  Rihanna also scored a nomination for Best Dance Recording with chart-topper Only Girl (in the World).

Other notable nominees include Country Act Lady Antebellum, which gained a lot of recognition with their Ballad Need You Now.  The group garnered six nominations also for Record, Album and Song of the Year alongside Rapper Jay-Z, who also had the distinction of six nods including Record of the Year for Empire State of Mind (ft. Alicia Keys).  Lady Gaga too received six nominations including Album of the Year with The Fame Monster, although what  arguably could be considered its biggest track Bad Romance, failed to receive nominations for Record and Song of the Year. 

Katy Perry who performed too at the Grammy Nominations Concert raised a few eyebrows when it was learned that her hits California Gurls and Teenage Dream, both among 2010's biggest hits, were overlooked for Record and Song of the Year.  Her album Teenage Dream however, earned a nomination for Album of the Year despite mixed reviews.  She is a strong contender for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for that album's title track.

Canadians fared well with both Drake and Justin Bieber scoring nominations for Best New Artist. Drake's connections purposely withheld a nomination in the Category last year, opting to keep him eligible for this round of voting as his official debut album Thank Me Later was released in 2010; he also had an EP out in 2009 titled So Far Gone.

Burnaby Crooner Michael Bublé also was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Haven't Met You Yet, while another Vancouver area native Cory Monteith of Glee, also garners his first-ever Grammy nominations.  His contributions in Glee are listed twice among nominees for Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals for Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals Version) and Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Glee: The Music, Volume 1.

Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven favourites Goldfrapp and La Roux each garnered two nominations each, both competing for Best Electronic/Dance Album and Best Dance Recording.  Swedish sensation Robyn also received a nomination in the latter category for Dancing on my Own.  Noticably absent though were any nominations whatsoever for Ke$ha who in one year's time has scored two U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number ones (and three Top Ten singles) already.

For a complete list of Nominees, click here.  The 53rd Grammy Awards will take place February 13, 2011 and air at 8 PM EST on CBS.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)