Grammys 2008: Best New Artist thoughts

The nominees:

Feist

Ledisi

Paramore

Taylor Swift

Amy Winehouse

Pretty eclectic, surprising mix here.

Winehouse, Swift and Feist were givens, even though Winehouse and Feist aren't new artists, per se. As far as the Friends-of-Fall-Out-Boy (FOFOB) camp is concerned, my guess would have been rappers Gym Class Heroes over pop-punk act Paramore, although Paramore is the better act.

But kudos to the Grammys for introducing the world to Bay Area-based R&B singer Ledisi, even though she's far from a new artist. The Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl announced the category and couldn't even pronounce her name, telling the press that she was so new, no one knew who she was yet.

A quick reaction:

Comments

[RBBrittain]

Before you complain about someone not really being "new", read the Grammy rule: "For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist." All of the nominees qualify under that definition, even though under the old strict rule that excluded Whitney Houston back in '85 only Taylor Swift would qualify.

That said, BNA to me is the most surprising--especially Ledisi & Paramore. Though Paramore was recognized as an up-and-comer, there were lots of bands ahead of them. And the "R&B surprise" was thought to be Chrisette Michele; no one mentioned Ledisi. Or did they intentionally nominate someone with a dozen years in the business to provide extra cover for a possible Jennifer Hudson nomination next year?