Dear listeners,
I can hardly consider I’m saying this, however this yr’s Grammys have been … actually good?
The performances have been virtually uniformly wonderful. Tracy Chapman, radiating pleasure and in advantageous voice, sang “Fast Car” publicly for the primary time in ages, alongside a visibly reverent Luke Combs. (I wrote extra about that second right here.) A regal Joni Mitchell sang “Both Sides Now” and made everyone cry. Billie Eilish and her collaborator brother, Finneas, completely nailed their efficiency of “What Was I Made For?” and confirmed everybody watching why their subsequent win within the track of the yr class was so deserved.
The wins have been additionally fairly evenly unfold. Yes, the universe’s present essential character Taylor Swift took house the night time’s high honor, album of the yr, an award that she’s now gained a document 4 instances. But the one that took house essentially the most Grammys this yr (4) was somebody who didn’t make it to the rostrum throughout the televised ceremony: Phoebe Bridgers, who throughout the preshow picked up three awards along with her trio boygenius and one for a collaboration with SZA. The telecast additionally allowed some rising stars like Karol G, Lainey Wilson and Victoria Monét (who trustworthy Amplifier readers discovered about in Friday’s rundown of one of the best new artist nominees) to make themselves identified.
For at this time’s playlist, we’re going to listen to from some extra of these slightly-less-than-household-name artists who took house Grammys this yr. I selected two picks of my very own, and I additionally requested my fellow Times pop critics Jon Pareles and Jon Caramanica to ship me a couple of of their picks — a mixture of jazz, folks, pop, gospel and extra. Listen under to tracks from Laufey, Peso Pluma and Samara Joy, and take a look at the Bonus Tracks for extra of our Grammy protection.
Don’t wash the forged iron skillet,
Lindsay
Listen alongside whilst you learn.
1. Laufey: “From the Start”
The Icelandic singer and songwriter Laufey (pronounced Lay-vay) gained the normal pop vocal album class with songs like “From the Start,” which she additionally carried out on the preshow. It’s a bossa nova that confesses to “unrequited, terrifying love” with absolute poise. PARELES
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
2. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: “Cast Iron Skillet”
This aching, poetically rendered tune by the veteran Alabama singer-songwriter Jason Isbell — who you may acknowledge from his current position in Martin Scorsese’s movie “Killers of the Flower Moon” — gained greatest American roots track this yr, Isbell’s sixth Grammy. A spotlight from his 2023 album with the 400 Unit, “Weathervanes,” “Cast Iron Skillet” makes use of lived-in element to deliver to life the tales of a number of on a regular basis Southern tragedies. ZOLADZ
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
3. Peso Pluma & Luis R Conriquez: “Siempre Pendientes”
The Mexican corridos tumbados star Peso Pluma had maybe the largest breakout of 2023, with woozy sing-rap songs about road life that grew to become worldwide anthems. He gained greatest música Mexicana album with “Génesis,” however try “Siempre Pendientes,” a 2022 collaboration with Luis R Conriquez that showcases the softness that makes his voice such a draw. CARAMANICA
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
4. Karol G and Shakira: “TQG”
“TQG” stands for “Te Quedó Grande,” roughly translated as “Too much for you to handle.” In this pop-reggaeton duet from Karol G’s “Mañana Será Bonito” (which gained greatest música urbana album), she is joined by Shakira, her fellow famous person from Colombia, to sing about straying exes who desire a second likelihood. The girls have positively moved on, and their cheerful contempt is each tuneful and stinging: “I don’t repeat mistakes,” Karol G taunts. PARELES
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
5. SZA that includes Phoebe Bridgers: “Ghost in the Machine”
During the telecast, SZA — the night time’s most nominated artist — accepted the award for greatest R&B track, given to her luxurious, sleep-smeared hit “Snooze.” But her different win got here in greatest pop duo/group efficiency, for this deeper reduce from her hit album “S.O.S.,” which options fellow multi-Grammy winner Bridgers and finds SZA alternately “craving humanity” whereas additionally envying machines: “Robot get sleep but I don’t power down.” ZOLADZ
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
6. Tye Tribbett & G.A.: “I Want It All Back — Live”
The long-running gospel star Tye Tribbett gained greatest gospel album for “All Things New: Live in Orlando.” Tribbett additionally made among the most dynamic gospel music of the 2000s, eccentric in association and uncommonly energetic. Consider “I Want It All Back — Live,” from his 2006 album “Victory Live!,” which appears to be as conscious of Minneapolis funk and ’80s area rock as of teams like Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers. CARAMANICA
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
7. Samara Joy: “Tight”
A whirlwind of a jazz track, “Tight” (greatest jazz efficiency) is 2 minutes of maximum acrobatics: a syncopated, octave-hopping melody that Samara Joy sings with dizzying shifts of tone and assault. Written by Betty Carter — who sang it even quicker — it’s a tune few singers would dare to try, a lot much less conquer. PARELES
▶ Listen on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube
The Amplifier Playlist
“7 Grammy Winners Worth Another Spin” observe checklist
Track 1: Laufey, “From the Start”
Track 2: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Cast Iron Skillet”
Track 3: Peso Pluma and Luis R Conriquez, “Siempre Pendientes”
Track 4: Karol G and Shakira, “TQG”
Track 5: SZA that includes Phoebe Bridgers, “Ghost in the Machine”
Track 6: Tye Tribbett & G.A., “I Want It All Back”
Track 7: Samara Joy, “Tight”
