Grammy Predictions: Part 4

One of my favorite categories at the Grammy Awards is Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, because usualllly my fave songs are nominated!

This year, the category runs the gamut of pop queens to sultry piano songstresses. Here are the nominees:

Sara Bareilles "King of Anything"

Beyonce "Halo (Live)"

Norah Jones "Chasing Pirates"

Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"

Katy Perry "Teenage Dream"

Who Will Win: "Bad Romance" was inescapable this year, and I think that Grammy voters will want to make up for the fact that neither two of the awards she won last year were televised. Plus, it's a pretty AWESOME song.

Who Should Win: "Bad Romance". I loved Sara Bareilles' "King of Anything", and I wouldn't mind seeing her scoop up the gold. Beyonce has won a ridiculous 16 Grammys, and this "live" version isn't anything special. Norah Jones (another Grammy fave) has been somewhat low key as of lately, and "Chasing Pirates" doesn't stack up to "Don't Know Why" or even "Sunrise".

Who do you think will walk award with the Grammy?

(Image courtesy of ning.com)

We're All Still Gaga for Gaga

The Grammys are next weekend, and I'm sure you're all buzzing with excitement and predicting who's going to win and what everyone is going to where and who's going to perform...that might just be me.

BUT, the More Than Musiq poll asking you to vote for your pick of who should win Album of the Year is officially closed, and the top dog that you chose to take home the gold iss....

LADY GAGA!

Kind of an obvious pick, but still much deserved. The Fame Monster garnered 33% of the votes, nudging out the runner-up, Eminem's Recovery, which earned 25%.

The results are quite in line with most critic's prediction, who say that Gaga and Em are definitely the two front runners to take home the top prize. My money's on Eminem still, but I wouldn't be surprised if Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta pulled an upset.

Stay tuned for another MTM poll, and more Grammy predictions leading up to the big day!

(Image courtesy of http://www.fanpop.com)

Grammy Predictions: Part 3

February 13th is creeping up on us, and in no time the Grammy Awards will be knockin' on our front door, with all of music's heavy hitters rubbing their miniature Snooki look alike troll for good luck.

This week's category that More Than Musiq will be looking at is Best New Artist. Here are the nominees:

Justin Bieber

Drake

Florence & The Machine

Mumford & Sons

Esperanza Spalding

Who Will Win: My money's on the new prince of hip hop, Drake. Not only is he well respected in the rap world and on the pop charts, but he's had 2 HUGE years, racking up a number of hit singles and a chart topping debut album.

Who Should Win: While I wouldn't be opposed to Drake taking home the trophy, I think both Florence & The Machine and Mumford & Sons should be recognized for bringing some originality and actual talent to a year in which auto-tune became the new vocal coach.

Unfortunately for Esperanza Spalding, NO ONE actually knows who she is. And for our boy Biebs I think that he's still got a couple more years to earn respect from his elders, but I wouldn't put it past the Grammys to simply hand the kid the prize for sheer ratings gold.

We'll just have to wait until February 13 to find out!!!

(Image courtesy of http://www.inquisitr.com/)

Chris Colfer = Golden Globe Winner!

This is SO Great!

Glee's Chris Colfer just won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Series Musical or Comedy!!

He totally deserves it. His character Kurt is the most prominent gay figure on television right now, and he delivers an emotional performance every week. And in season two, where most of the scripts and story lines are a little dull and predictable, Colfer still packs an emotional punch as the only openly gay student who faces bullying and taunting every day.

Congrats!

AND on a different note...

This is More Than Musiq's 500th blog post!! I can't believe it's been over a year and a half since I first started writing this bad boy, but it's been so fun! Thanks to all who are reading!

(Image courtesy os zap2it.com)

New Poll: Who Should Win Album of the Year?

There's a new poll on MTM, and it's a good one!!

This week we ask "Who should win Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards?" And Heereeee are the nominees:

Arcade Fire "The Suburbs"

Eminem "Recovery"

Lady Antebellum "Need You Now"

Lady Gaga "The Fame Monster"

Katy Perry "Teenage Dream"

Hmmm...tough decision. I know who I'D choose, but it's up to you to decide for yourself! So go vote at the bottom of the page and share your thoughts with More Than Musiq!

(Image courtesy of http://socialmedia.kuinteractive.com/)

Grammy Predicitions Part 2

It's time for another round of Grammy predictions!!

The show is still a little ways away, but there are just SO many categories to get through, we need to start chit chatting about them!

Today's category is Best Dance Recording, here are the nominees:

"Rocket" - Goldfrapp

"In For the Kill" - La Roux

"Dance in the Dark" - Lady Gaga

"Only Girl (in the World)" - Rihanna

"Dancing on My Own" - Robyn

Who I Want to Win: This is a super tough category, with tons of heavy hitters, but I'm gonna go with my gut and say ROBYN. She has a HUGE breakout year in 2010, releasing 3 critically acclaimed albums and snagging a whole new group of fans. "Dancing on My Own" is electro-pop perfection, and if anyone deserves to take home this award it's her.

Who Will Probably Win: Gaga or La Roux will probabbllyy take home this award. Ms. Gaga is bound to take home at least one of her 6 nominations, but this is one of her lesser known songs, and "In for the Kill" was a substantial hit for the British band.

But I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for ROBYN!! Love her!!

(Image courtesy of http://www.demeterclarc.com/)

Grammy Prediction Time!!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! It's Grammy prediction time!!!!

The nominations for the 53rd Annual Grammy Award were announced last week, and there is TONS to discuss!

First the essentials - Eminem scored a leading 10 nominations, including Album of the Year for Recovery, while his monster single with Rihanna "Love the Way You Lie" scored nods in the Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration categories, just to name a few.

Hot R&B newcomer Bruno Mars comes in second with total nominations, scoring 7, with mentions in the Record of the Year category for "Nothing on You", his duet with rapper B.O.B.

Lady Gaga, Lady Antebellum, and Jay-Z all managed to snag 6 nominations apiece, with Gaga scoring her second consecutive Album of the Year nod in two years for The Fame Monster, as well as Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Bad Romance".

Check out the entire list of nominees at the Grammy Awards website, but stay HERE for More Than Musiq's first prediction category, and we're starting with a big one folks; Album of the Year.

Here are the nominees:

The Suburbs by The Arcade Fire

Recovery by Eminem

Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

The Fame Monster by Lady Gaga

Teenage Dream by Katy Perry

Winner: Eminem

- If anybody had a bigger comeback this year than Eminem, I'd be happy for you to point them out. But 2010 belonged to Marshall Mathers, who scored a chart topping critically acclaimed album that was his most well received disc in years, but he also scored one of the year's biggest songs with the #1 smash "Love the Way You Lie".

Eminem went through a hell of a lot during the past 5 years, (drug addiction, depression), and Recovery is his "Coming out of the Dark" stage. I'm not even a huge fan, but this album is a powerful declaration that Em still has what it takes to rock the world, and he deserves to take home the big prize this year.

His biggest competitor will be the new grand dame of pop, Miz Gaga. She followed her huge 2009 with a just-as-huge 2010, with her massive smashes "Bad Romance", "Alejandro", and "Telephone", her duet with Beyonce.

The Fame Monster is just an EP, which could hurt its chances with voters. However, the disc was a fan favorite, moving 1.3 million copies in 2010, and some people may still be peeved about her losing to Taylor Swift last year, and throw some votes her way.

This year's "What the F?" award goes to the Arcade Fire getting an Album of the Year nomination. The Canadian indie rock band are relatively unknown (when compared to the other nominees), and their album The Suburbs, has only sold a little over 300,000 copies in the U.S.

Also...I love her...but how did Katy Perry's Teenage Dream get in here? I'm baffled. Although Perry has ruled the radio with 3 insanely popular songs, ("California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", and "Firework"), this pop pastry of an album really has no business being here.

Notable Omissions: Where is Miranda Lambert's Revolution!?!?! This was one of the best albums of the year HANDS DOWN, and although it did earn a Best Country Album mention (which she better win), it would have been nice to see her in the big category. It also would have been nice if Florence and the Machine's album Lungs saw more Grammy love, although it was great to see them in the Best New Artist category.

Stay tuned for more Grammy Predictions from More Than Musiq!!!

(Image courtesy of villagevoice.com)

Eminem, Lady A Lead AMA Nominations

It has been quite a comeback year for Eminem, after scoring a massive album and massive #1, "Love the Way You Lie". Now Slim Shady has more to celebrate, as he ties Lady Antebellum for the most nominations at this year's American Music Awards, with 5 nods.

Em is up for Artist of the Year, going up against heavyweights Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Katy Perry, and of course, Lady Gaga.

My money is on Gaga, since she was shut out last year, and um, well she's the biggest star in the world right now.

Eminem is also up for Favorite Male Artist, Favorite Album (for Recovery), Favorite Male Rap Artist, and Favorite Rap Album.

Country titans Lady Antebellum scored nods in the Breakthrough Artist category, as well as Favorite Band Duo/Group Pop, Favorite Band/Duo Country, Favorite Country Album, and Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.

Other artists with multiple nominations are Bieber with 4, and Perry, Ke$ha, B.o.B., and Usher, who all garnered 3 apiece.

For a full list of nominees, head over to Billboard.com and check it out!!

(Image courtesy of bittenandbound.com)

Emmy's Deliver

Now I'm not a fashion guru or anything, but I have to say that my pick for the best dressed of the night at the Emmy Awards is Lea Michelle!!!

Our fave Glee girl was smokin' in a dark blue Oscar de la Renta gown, and although she lost the Best Actress in a Comedy Series to Edie Falco, she's still a winner in my book!

Overall the Emmys were WAY better than past years, (I admit though that Neil Patrick Harris was a knockout host last year), and Jimmy Fallon gets the thumbs up for working the audience last night.

Modern Family and Mad Men were the big winners of the night, taking home the trophies for Best Comedy Series and Best Drama Series, with Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet taking home the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. For more on the Emmys head to EW.com.

Did you tune into the show this year? What did you think?

(Image courtesy of EW.com)

VMA's Go GooGoo for Gaga

The MTV Video Music Award nominations were announced yesterday, and to no one's surprise Lady Gaga scored a leading 13 nominations (a new record for the show), including nods for Video of the Year, Female Video, Pop Video, and Dance Video. The funny this is that in three of those above mentioned categories, Gaga is nominated TWICE. Her solo effort "Bad Romance" and her collaboration with Beyonce "Telephone" and "Videophone" all snagged a crap load of nominations.

Excessive, isn't it?

In the "WTF was MTV thinking?" category, Jared Leto's marginally popular band 30 Seconds to Mars grabbed a Video of the Year nomination for "Kings and Queens."

...um what?

Noticeable shut outs include the Black Eyed Peas and BRITNEY, with neither act scoring a nomination this year. (Although, in Brit's defense she didn't really have any new music out this past year, other than "3", and the video was nothing to shout about.)

Click here for a full list of nominations reported by Billboard.com. (MTV's site is too cluttered with silly things, Billboard gives you the nominees straight.)

(Image courtesy of hollyscoop.com)

Emmy Predictions Part 3

Alright folks, here's part 3 of More Than Musiq's Emmy predictions. This week we take a look at the drama queens, as well as outstanding drama series. And awayyy we go

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series:

Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)

Mariska Hargitay (Special Victims Unit)

Glenn Close (Damages)

Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

January Jones (Mad Men)

Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)

Winner: Margulies has pretty much got this one in the bag, after having already wona Golden Globe and a SAG Award for her role as the wife of a politician (played by Chris Noth) caught in a scandal. And everyone always loves an actor who wins for a second solid role (she took home an Emmy for her work in ER).

Who Could Upset: I'd love to see the stunning January Jones pull a surprise win in this category. Her portrayal of Don Draper's bitter ex is equal parts ice cold queen and vulnerable little girl.

Outstanding Drama Series:

Lost

Breaking Bad

Dexter

Mad Men

True Blood

The Good Wife

Winner: Mad Men. The critical darling just scored its best ratings ever for the season 4 premiere, with Don Draper having to rebuild his career and fix his personal life. It's a smart show, with arguably the strongest ensemble cast on television.

Who Could Upset: I would be happy to see True Blood or Dexter take this one. True Blood's pure outrageous nature makes it unlike anything else on TV, while the character Dexter (played by Emmy worthy Michael C. Hall) truly came into his own in the last season, trying to search within for what's left of his humanity. Both shows are addictive.

(Image courtesy of amuseline.com)

Emmy Predictions Part 2

Today More Than Musiq looks at two big categories, Outstanding Performance Actor in a Comedy and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:

Chris Colfer (Glee)

Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)

Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)

Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

Winner: This might be one of the most interesting categories at this year's Emmy Awards. four of the nominees are newcomers, while two (Cryer and NPH) have been nominated (with Cryer winning last year) before. I think that after the stellar last year Neil Patrick Harris has had, the trophy will go to him. Everyone loves a child star who rises above to become an even become real star.

Who Could Upset: I would FREAK out if this happened, (and I have a feeling it could), if Chris Colfer won this award. Although all the Modern Family men had a huge breakout year, I think unfortunately they'll just cancel each other out when voters make their choice. Colfer broke out in Glee and has become one of the most loved characters on the show. His performance goes well beyond his young age, combining brass sassy-ness but intense vulnerability all at the same time. My vote (if I had one) would go to him.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:

Jane Lynch (Glee)

Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)

Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)

Julie Bowen (Modern Family)

Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)

Holland Taylor (Two and a Half Men)

Winner: No contest. Jane Lynch has OWNED this category ever since her name was announced. As the ruthless Sue Sylvester on Glee no one has had such a massive breakout year than Lynch. She's been making people laugh for years in movies like 40 Year-Old Virgin and Best in Show, and now it's her time to shine. If she doesn't win this then I'm shaving my head and beating a paparazzi car with my umbrella.

Who Could Upset: You shut your mouth when you're talking to me.

(Image courtesy of examiner.com)

It's Emmy Time!!

As many of you probably know, the Emmy Award nominations were announced yesterday, and there has been a lot of buzz going around Hollywood- Who was snubbed? What surprises were there?

For the next month and a half leading up to the show, More Than Musiq will offer some predictions in the major categories this year.

If you haven't seen the nominees yet, check it out at EW.com. If you have seen them, check out my predictions for some of the big categories (please note: I'm a HUGE Glee fan...but I try to be unbiased.)

Here we go:

Outstanding Comedy Series

-Glee

-Modern Family

-Curb Your Enthusiasm

-Nurse Jackie

-30 Rock

-The Office

Winner - 30 Rock. The Tina Fey comedy has been consistent for years, and is always an Emmy favorite. Fey has cemented herself as a comedy icon, so it will be hard to topple this critical giant.

Who Could Upset- Modern Family was one of the breakout comedies of the year, and earned multiple nominations for the actors in the show. If I were to base my predictions on the first half of the first season, I would totally go for Glee, but the second half of the season fell short of expectations (although I still loved it)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

-Lea Michelle (Glee)

-Tina Fey (30 Rock)

-Toni Collette (The United States of Tara)

-Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)

-Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)

-Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

Winner - Toni Collette. She took home the same prize last year, although most people hadn't even heard of her show. Tina Fey has won so many Emmys now no one can keep track, and Edie Falco's fantastic role in Nurse Jackie runs the drama line a little too closely for voters to actually consider her a comedy contender.

Who Could Upset - The fabulous Amy Poehler found her footing after a shaky season 1, but Parks has really upped its game, and so has the lead actress. Poehler's character is funny, but sincere, dim-witted, but kind hearted, and could be the black sheep to win this year.

(Image courtesy of kotaku.com)

Daytime Emmys Like Ellen (obv) and Cash Cab?

The Datime Emmy Awards were last night, and to no one's surpise the Ellen Degeneres Show won its 5th award for Best Talk Show. Duh, she's the best! Ellen has so many Emmys now she probably uses them as paperweights!

In the "that guy won?" category, Ben Bailey won for Best Game Show Host for Cash Cab, and the show overall was the winner for Best Game Show.

Interesttingg. Cash Cab is an awesome show, but I didn't think that Bailey was the best host.

I would tell you more about the winners...but since daytime tv (aka soaps) aren't really my cup of tea, I'll just leave it at that!

(Image courtesy of tqn.com)

Chris Brown's Road to Redeeming Himself?

I didn't think it was possible, but Chris Brown may have begun the process of redeeming himself last night at the BET Awards.

His dance tribute to Michael Jackson was SO phenomenal, and at the end when he broke down and started crying and couldn't sing, it seemed genuine. Wow.

People in the audience gave him a standing ovation, rightfully so. I have never seen such an on-point tribute to MJ, it was unbelievable. Brown's career has been in the crapper ever since he beat up ex-girlfriend Rihanna, and I assumed he'd be out for the count...forever.

But after last night, i don't know. It really proved that this kid has some serious talent. It will be interesting to see if the industry accepts him back in after everything he has done and been through.

Watch the performance HERE.

Thoughts??

(Image courtesy of bet.com)

MTV Movie Awards: Predictions

Although it's kind of like the ugly red-headed step sister of the VMA's, I still think the the MTV Movie Awards are fun and entertaining. You just need to remember that it's not a real awards show, so take the winners with a grain of salt.

The usual suspects are all in the running; New Moon, Avatar, The Blind Side, and all of its stars managed to snag nominations as well. Here's a run down of some of the categories and my predictions as to who will win!!

BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE

Amanda Seyfried in Dear John

Emma Watson in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Kristen Stewart in The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Sandra Bullock in The Blindside

Zoe Saldana in Avatar

Now you can immediately just erase Seyfried from this category. She's definitely got some acting chops by Dear John is as good a movie as Lindsay Lohan is a role model. Watson has seen some real growth over the last decade portraying Hermione Granger in the Potter series, and she has her best role yet in the darker Half-Blood Prince installment. Saldana was good...as a CGI blue N'Avi creature, but I'm not sure if people even knew it was her...

So that leaves Stewart and Bullock. With her portrayal of super emotional-lip biting-awkward teen Bella Swan, K-Stew took home this same award for the role in the original movie last year, and look for her to do it again. Bullock took home the OSCAR for her role in The Blindside, but the MTV crowd could give two Sh**'s about that. My money is on Stewart.

BEST MALE PERFORMANCE

Channing Tatum in Dear John

Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Robert Pattinson in The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Taylor Lautner in The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Zac Efron in 17 Again

Hahahahaha! I'm sorry, this category is too much. I mean, ZAC EFRON in 17 AGAIN!? Surely you jest. I love me some Zaquisha but please. The good thing about this category is that not one of these performances is good, so it's easier to make a decision. Again, Tatum may be a stone cold fox, but Dear John is about as critically acclaimed as Gigli. Radcliffe is showing so real gusto in this latest installment, but he's filler in this category.

The real battle is between Pattinson and Lautner. When the original Twilight came out, it was all about Edward, but now the tables have turned! Don't be surprised if young Lautner steals Pattinson's thunder. They're both big stars now, so it's almost a toss up. But I'm gonna go with Lautner, because although both of them kind of sucked, I could grate cheese on his abs.

BEST MOVIE

Alice in Wonderland

Avatar

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The Hangover

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

The biggest category of the night is also the most fun, because there are actually some awesome movies up this year! Harry Potter can go; it was a good movie, but it doesn't hold up against the amazing visuals of Avatar or the insane hilariousness of The Hangover. Alice was a spectacle but didn't quite come together. And New Moon can get outta here too- even though the original won for best movie last year, this year's a little different.

So that leaves Avatar, which I believe will definitely win movie of the year. EVERYONE and sister saw it, and it was also a critical darling as well as a commercial powerhouse. (I'm sure you know already but it is the HIGHEST GROSSING MOVIE EVER.)

I saw it three times, and will see it again. This year's winner for MTV's movie of the year is AVATAR.

(Image courtesy of daemonsmovies.com)

Carrie Underwood Becomes Bonafide Country Legend

If you look at what Carrie Underwood has achieved in her short five-year career, it's unbelievable!

The Season 4 American Idol winner is no longer known as just an American Idol winner, she is a bonafide country ICON, moving towards the upper echelon of country legend status.

Last night Underwood became the first female EVER to win back-to-back Entertainer of the Year awards at the Academy of Country Music Awards. She took home the prize last year, becoming one of only a handful of woman to ever win won, but now she has two!!

This is a BIG deal.

Underwood also earned her 12th, yes I said 12th, #1 country single this month with "Temporary Home", and she scored another #1 album.

Her debut release Some Hearts was the biggest selling country album of the DECADE, and she is the best-selling AI winner ever!

Congrats to Miz Underwood on all of her success! (And for a complete list of ACM winners click here!)

(Image courtesy of billboard.com)

Oscars = Highly Predictable, Highly Entertaining

Well there were no surprises during last night's 82nd Academy Awards, unless you consider that the show was actually LESS than 3 hours this year.

Not to toot my own horn but I went 6 for 6 in this year's top categories, but then again I'm assuming most people were pretty accurate with their predictions this year.

The Hurt Locker won for Best Picture, beating out box office titan Avatar, while Hurt Locker Director Kathryn Bigelow became the first female ever to win the Best Director award. All-in-all the film earned 6 awards last night to lead everyone.

The acting categories were no-brainers, but the speeches themselves were pretty good. But I think Monique (winner for Best Supporting Actress for Precious) needs to tone down the seriousness a bit (remember girl, you were in Phat Girls not that long ago...).

Christopher Waltz took home the Best Supporting Actor trophy for his turn as a crazy-ass Nazi in Inglourious Basterds, while Jeff Bridges and Sandra Bullock finished their awards season sweep by winning lead actor and actress in a movie (for Crazy Heart and The Blindside.)

Hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were a hoot, which made the show shorter than it actually was (two and a half hours is still a long time), offering brotherly-like banter while they shared the stage.

Overall a very entertaining, be it predictable show!

(Image courtesy of extratv.warnerbros.com)

Lady Antebellum Lead ACM Nominations

It's been a good 12 months for country trio Lady Antebellum. They've scored multiple #1 hit country singles, a platinum album, a Grammy, and now they're up for a leading 7 Academy of Country Music Awards.

The group scored 5 nominations for the cross-over hit "Need You Now", earning nods in the record, song, and video of the year categories, as well as vocal group and album of the year.

Not far behind Lady A is Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert who both scored 6 nods apiece. Underwood is up for Entertainer of the Year, which she won last year. If she pulls back-to-back wins she'd be the first woman in history to do so.

Others acts in the running for Entertainer of the year include Kenny Chesney (who's won 4 times already), Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, The Zac Brown Band, George Strait, Keith Urban, and Toby Keith (ugh.)

Look for the race to be between Underwood, Swift, and Chesney. I wouldn't be surprised if Taylor took the top prize!!

Check out this Billboard article for more of the nominees!

(Image courtesy of photos.upi.com)

It's a Tie!

For the first time in More Than Musiq's history, there is a 3-way tie in our poll results!

The Oscars are this Sunday, so the big questions for you followers was which movie you thought should win best picture.

And apparently you can't decide!

The three movies you picked to take home the top prize were Avatar, Inglourious Basterds, and Precious. Each film garnered 25% of the votes, while the animated film Up, was a distant second with 12%.

Tune in to the awards this Sunday to see which movie actually wins!

(Image courtesy of eonline.com)