

THE BELOW ARTICLE WAS TAKEN FROM REUTERS UK.COM
Rap star Kanye West scored a leading eight nominations for the 50th annual Grammy Awards this year, the music industry’s highest honours, organizers said on Thursday. Five acts received five nominations each; rock band the Foo Fighters, rapper Jay-Z, hip-hop producer Timbaland, pop singer Justin Timberlake, and R&B singer T-Pain.
Troubled singer Amy Winehouse, whose promising career has been sidelined by drug and alcohol problems, followed with six Grammy bids. Winehouse, 24, was nominated in all four of the top categories: record of the year, album of the year, song of the year (a songwriter’s award), and best new artist. Her second disc, “Back to Black,” will compete for album of the year with West’s “Graduation,” the Foo Fighters’ “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace,” country singer Vince Gill’s “These Days,” and jazz pianist Herbie Hancock’s “River: The Joni Letters.”
Winehouse’s autobiographical single “Rehab” will vie for record of the year with the Foo Fighters’ “The Pretender,” Timberlake’s “What Goes Around … Comes Around,” and tracks from two R&B singers; Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” and Rihanna’s Umbrella,” featuring Jay-Z. “Rehab” and “Umbrella” were nominated for song of the year, alongside country star Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats,” pop band Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah,” and singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae’s “Like a Star.”

My opinion? I am VERY disapointed that Feist was not nominated for Album and Record of the year. Her second solo c.d. “The Reminder” is a piece of pop heaven. A few other snubs? Lily Allen, The Arcade Fire, Mika, Peter, Bjorn & John and Robin Thicke! The Grammy’s have always been geared to the older set, which is why Herbie Hancock, Paul McCartney and some of these other acts made such an impression on voters.

Lastly, when don’t The Foo Fighter’s sweep at Grammy time? Granted, I like David Grohl, but when have they really put out a stellar album with certified commercial hits? I guess I can be thankful that Daughtry and Fergie weren’t nominated for anything (that we know of), then I’d really be pissed. I am excited for the actual Grammy nomination list to come out so I can see the dance, pop and alternative category nominees. Stay tuned to this blog for the full list of grammy nominations when they are released!
