Happy December!

So today, it feels like Christmas. Even though the sun is shinning brightly and there is no snow, the world at large is still blessing us with cheer. My cheer today came in two ways:

1. Val brought The Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack to the office. We may have spent the better part of the morning listening to it (and perhaps singing along).
2. Grammy Noms are out!

To celebrate this wondrous occasion I would like to list my picks for some of this year's winners. I purposely left out categories like "Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album", "Best Polka Album", or "Best Chamber Album". Please find it in your heart to forgive me.

My votes for the 51st Grammy Awards:

Record Of The Year
(Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.)

• Chasing Pavements
  Adele
• Viva La Vida
  Coldplay
  I wish I could vote for Adele here, but Coldplay has it in the bag.
  

• Bleeding Love
  Leona Lewis
  
  
• Paper Planes
  M.I.A
  
  
• Please Read The Letter
  Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
  
  
  

Album Of The Year
(Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.)

• Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
  Coldplay
  
  
• Tha Carter III
  Lil Wayne
  
  
• Year Of The Gentleman
  Ne-Yo
  
  
• Raising Sand
  Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
  
  
• In Rainbows
  Radiohead
  Seriously? These guys were a powerhouse this year. Who else could release a record and let fans pay whatever they wanted for it? Don't even mess with Radiohead.
  
  

Song Of The Year
(A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

• American Boy
  William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters (Estelle Featuring Kanye West)
  
  
• Chasing Pavements
  Adele Adkins & Eg White, songwriters (Adele)
  
  
• I'm Yours
  Jason Mraz, songwriter (Jason Mraz)
  

This song is currently my ringtone. I would love to have a Grammy Award winning ringtone. Go Jason!

• Love Song
  Sara Bareilles, songwriter (Sara Bareilles)
  
  
  
• Viva La Vida
  Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay)
  
  

Best New Artist
(For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.)

• Adele
  I have been an Adele fan since she was just a free download of the week on itunes. and I TOTALLY back her up on the win for best new artisit!
  
  
• Duffy
  
  
• Jonas Brothers
  
  
• Lady Antebellum
  
  
• Jazmine Sullivan
  
  

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Chasing Pavements
  Adele
  
  
• Love Song
  Sara Bareilles
  
  
• Mercy
  Duffy
  
  

• Bleeding Love
• Leona Lewis

This one is for Hali. BTW, props to the British lady invasion this year.

• I Kissed A Girl
  Katy Perry
  
  
• So What
  Pink
  
  

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

• All Summer Long
  Kid Rock
  
  
• Say
  John Mayer
  
  
  
• That Was Me
  Paul McCartney
  
  

• I'm Yours
• Jason Mraz
  

Go ringtone!

• Closer
  Ne-Yo
  
  
  
• Wichita Lineman
  James Taylor
  
  

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
(For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Viva La Vida
  Coldplay
  
  
• Waiting In The Weeds
  Eagles
  
  
• Going On
  Gnarls Barkley
  
  
• Won't Go Home Without You
  Maroon 5
  
  
• Apologize
  OneRepublic
  
  This one is for Leilani.
  

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Lesson Learned
  Alicia Keys & John Mayer
  
  
  
• 4 Minutes
  Madonna, Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
  They get the grammy just for being who they are. He brought sexy back and she is 50. Nuff said.
  
• Rich Woman
  Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
  
  
• If I Never See Your Face Again
  Rihanna & Maroon 5
  
  
• No Air
  Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown