On The Download: Grammy Picks, Song Of The Year

Song of The Year:

“American Boy” William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters

“Love Song” Sara Bareillis songwriter

“I’m Yours” Jason Mraz songwriter

“Chasing Pavements” Adele songwriter

“Viva La Vida” Coldplay songwriters

Song of the Year is one of the most prestigious categories at the Grammys as it is an award for the actual songwriters of a lauded number.

While plenty of pop acts have found a song they’ve performed nominated, in the last decade, Grammy voters have more often than not, given the award to a song, written and performed by the same artist.

There was 2001’s “Beautiful Day,” which was of course, written and performed by U2, who also won the statue in 2006 with “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own.” In 2005, John Mayer won for “Daughters,” and Amy Winehouse nabbed it last year from afar, with “Rehab.”

This year, with the lone exception of “American Boy,” which had a host of songwriters, and its performers — Brit chanteuse Estelle and Yankey rapper Kanye West — on its credits, all of the nominees were solely responsible for their works.

In the past, emotional, heart-string-tugging, guitar-driven tracks, full of universal themes or deep personal experiences, have taken the gramophone home. That of course is bad news for Sara Bareilles and her poppy, piano driven “Love Song,” and Jason Mraz’s Jack Johnson-esque “I’m Yours,” knocking their chances way, way down.

Adele’s “Chasing Pavements,” is sweetly old-fashioned and soft as a summer sunset, but her membership to the “New Amy’s” club, the tag given to British girls who sound like Wino, will trip the red-headed wonder up in her bid for the trophy.

Estelle’s “American Boy” with its fuzzy synths, new-jazz vocals and Kanye West’s climatic collaboration will certainly peak the interest of voters, but unless Joe Satriani’s lawsuit against Coldplay intervenes, it’s “Viva La Vida” that should and will win the award.

Full of inspiring atmospherics – sweeping strings and bold chiming brass bells, which dance behind singer Chris Martin’s tender-sung lyrics about hauntings of a grandiose past — “Viva La Vida” is the kind of substantive song worth of a Grammy.

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