14th "An Irish Person" Music Awards: Part V - FINAL REVIEW

Well it seems fitting to write my final ode to the music of 2016-2017 on the day of music's biggest night. Yes the Grammy Awards are tonight and I'm hoping that Lorde and Kendrick Lamar win a whole bunch. Anyway this was a great year in music with heavy hitters like Lorde and Kendrick Lamar releasing truly great albums of music that the fact they came during the same year is beyond me because they are arguable the greatest achievements by each of the artists. Below is a quick review of my winners and nominees from this year.

14TH "AN IRISH BOY" MUSIC AWARDS:

OUTSTANDING ALBUM OF THE YEAR:

Kendrick Lamar, "DAMN." (Produced by Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, Dr. Dre, 9th Wonder, The Alchemist, Bēkon, BadBadNotGood, Cardo DJ Dahi, Greg Kurstin, James Blake, Kuk Harrell, Mike Will Made It, Pluss, Ricci Riera, Sounwave, Steve Lacy, Terrace Martin, Tae Beast, Teddy Walton & Yung Exclusive)

Lorde, "Melodrama" (Produced by Lorde, Jack Antonoff,Jean-Benoît Dunckel, Flume, Frank Dukes, Kuk Harrell, Joel Little, Malay, S1 & Andrew Wyatt)

A Tribe Called Quest, "We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" (Produced by A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip & Blair Wells)

The Weekend, "Starboy" (Produced by Abel Tesfayem, Doc McKinney, Ali Payami, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Ben Billions, Benny Blanco ,Bobby Raps, Cashmere Cat, Cirkut, Daft Punk, Diplo, Frank Dukes, Jake One, Labrinth, Max Martin, Mano, Metro Boomin, Prince 85 & Swish)

The xx, "I See You" (Produced by Jamie Smith, Rodaidh McDonald & Romy Madley Croft)

OUTSTANDING RECORD OF THE YEAR:

Kesha, "Praying" (Producered by Ryan Lewis)

Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid, “1-800-273-8255” (Produced by Logic & 6ix)

Lorde, "Green Light" (Produced by Lorde, Jack Antonoff, Frank Dukes & Kuk Harrell)

Pink, “What About Us” (Produced by Steve Mac)

The Weekend ft. Daft Punk, "I Feel It Coming" (Produced by Daft Punk, Doc McKinney, Cirkut & The Weeknd)

OUTSTANDING SONG OF THE YEAR:

Kendrick Lamar, "Humble" (Written by Kendrick Duckworth, Michael Williams II & Asheton Hogan)

Kesha, "Praying" (Written by Kesha Sebert, Ryan Lewis, Ben Abraham & Andrew Joslyn)

Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid, “1-800-273-8255” (Written by Sir Robert Hall II, Arjun Ivatury, Alessia Caracciolo, Khalid Robinson & Drew Taggart)

Lorde, "Perfect Places" (Written by Ella Yelich-O'Connor & Jack Antonoff)

The Weekend ft. Daft Punk, "I Feel It Coming" (Written by Abel Tesfaye, Thomas Bangalter. Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Martin McKinney, Henry Walter & Eric Chedeville)

OUTSTANDING NEW ARTIST:

Julia Michaels

Khalid

SZA

OUTSTANDING POP PERFORMANCE:

Ed Sheeran, "Shape of You"

Kesha, "Praying"

Lana Del Rey, "Love"

Lorde, "Green Light"

Pink, “What About Us”

OUTSTANDING POP ALBUM:

Ed Sheeran, "Divide"

Kesha, "Rainbow"

Lana Del Rey, "Lust for Life"

Lorde, "Melodrama"

Michael Buble, “Nothing But Me”

OUTSTANDING R&B PERFORMANCE:

Bruno Mars, "24k Magic"

Childish Gambino, “Redbone”

SZA, “The Weekend”

Trey Songz, “Nobody Else But You”

The Weekend ft. Daft Punk, "I Feel It Coming"

OUTSTANDING R&B ALBUM:

Childish Gambino, “Awaken, My Love!”

JoJo, "Mad Love."

Tinashe, "Nightride"

Trey Songz, “Tremaine the Album”

The Weekend, "Starboy"

OUTSTANDING COUNTRY PERFORMANCE:

Chris Stapleton, “Either Way”

Kenny Chesney, “All the Pretty Girls”

Lady Antebellum, “You Look Good”

Little Big Men, “Better Man”

Miranda Lambert, "We Should Be Friends"

OUTSTANDING COUNTRY ALBUM:

Alison Krauss, "Windy City"

Chris Stapleton, “From A Room: Volume 2”

Kenny Chesney, “Cosmic Hallelujah”

Lady Antebellum, “Heart Break”

Miranda Lambert, "The Weight of These Wings"

OUTSTANDING RAP PERFORMANCE:

Drake, "Fake Love"

J. Cole, "Neighbours"

Kendrick Lamar, "Humble"

Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid, “1-800-273-8255”

A Tribe Called Quest, "We the People...."

OUTSTANDING RAP ALBUM:

Drake, "More Life"

J. Cole, "4 Your Eyez Only"

Kendrick Lamar, "DAMN."

Logic, “Everybody”

A Tribe Called Quest, "We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service"

OUTSTANDING MUSIC VIDEO:

Kendrick Lamar, “Humble” (Directed by Dave Meyers & The Little Homies)

Kesha, "Praying" (Directed by Jonas Åkerlund)

Lorde, "Perfect Places" (Directed by Grant Singer)

Taylor Swift, "Look What You Just Made Me Do" (Directed by Joseph Kahn)

The Weekend, "Starboy" (Directed Grant Singer)

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCORE (FILM, STAGE, TV):

Hans Zimmer for Dunkirk

Daniel Hart for A Ghost Story

Mica Levi for Jackie

Max Richter for The Leftovers

Nicholas Britell for Moonlight

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG (FILM, STAGE, TV):

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, “Remember That We Suffered” (Written by Adam Schlesinger, Rachel Bloom, Jack Dolgen, Dan Gregor and Jerome Kurtenbach)

Fifty Shades Darker, “I Don’t Want to Live Forever” (Written by Taylor Swift, Sam Dew & Jack Antonoff)

The Flash, “Runnin’ Home To You” (Written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul)

Leap!, “Cut to the Feeling” (Written by Carly Rae Jepsen, Simon Wilcox & Nolan Lambroza)

Moana, "How Far I'll Go" (Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda)

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PERFORMER (FILM, STAGE, TV):

Denée Benton as Natasha Rostova in “NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812”

Rachel Bloom as Rebecca Nora Bunch in “CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND”

Donna Lynn Champlin as Paula Proctor in “CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND”

Auli’i Cravalho as Moana in “MOANA”

Bette Midler as Dolly Gallagher Levi in “HELLO, DOLLY!”

14th "An Irish Person" Music Awards: Part IV

OUTSTANDING RAP ALBUM:

Drake, "More Life"

J. Cole, "4 Your Eyez Only"

Kendrick Lamar, "DAMN."

Logic, “Everybody”

A Tribe Called Quest, "We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service"

AND THE WINNER IS:

KENDRICK LAMAR, "DAMN."

This is the eight win and fourteenth nomination for Kendrick Lamar. He previously won for Album: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), Rap Performance: King Kunta (2015), Freedom (2016), Humble (2017), Rap Album: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) & untitled unmastered (2016). He was also nominated for Song: King Kunta (2015), New Artist (2013), Rap Performance: i (2014), Poetic Justice (2013), Rap Album: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2013).

OUTSTANDING SONG OF THE YEAR:
Kendrick Lamar, "Humble" (Written by Kendrick Duckworth, Michael Williams II & Asheton Hogan)
Kesha, "Praying" (Written by Kesha Sebert, Ryan Lewis, Ben Abraham & Andrew Joslyn)
Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid, “1-800-273-8255” (Written by Sir Robert Hall II, Arjun Ivatury, Alessia Caracciolo, Khalid Robinson & Drew Taggart)
Lorde, "Perfect Places" (Written by Ella Yelich-O'Connor & Jack Antonoff)
The Weekend ft. Daft Punk, "I Feel It Coming" (Written by Abel Tesfaye, Thomas Bangalter. Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, Martin McKinney, Henry Walter & Eric Chedeville)

AND THE WINNER IS:

KESHA, "PRAYING" (WRITTEN BY KESHA SEBERT, RYAN LEWIS, BEN ABRAHAM & ANDREW JOSLYN)

OUTSTANDING RECORD OF THE YEAR:
Kesha, "Praying" (Producered by Ryan Lewis)
Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid, “1-800-273-8255” (Produced by Logic & 6ix)
Lorde, "Green Light" (Produced by Lorde, Jack Antonoff, Frank Dukes & Kuk Harrell)
Pink, “What About Us” (Produced by Steve Mac)
The Weekend ft. Daft Punk, "I Feel It Coming" (Produced by Daft Punk, Doc McKinney, Cirkut & The Weeknd)

AND THE WINNER IS:

LORDE, "GREEN LIGHT" (PRODUCED BY LORDE, JACK ANTONOFF, FRANK DUKES & KUK HARRELL)

OUTSTANDING ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Kendrick Lamar, "DAMN." (Produced by Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, Dr. Dre, 9th Wonder, The Alchemist, Bēkon, BadBadNotGood, Cardo DJ Dahi, Greg Kurstin, James Blake, Kuk Harrell, Mike Will Made It, Pluss, Ricci Riera, Sounwave, Steve Lacy, Terrace Martin, Tae Beast, Teddy Walton & Yung Exclusive)
Lorde, "Melodrama" (Produced by Lorde, Jack Antonoff,Jean-Benoît Dunckel, Flume, Frank Dukes, Kuk Harrell, Joel Little, Malay, S1 & Andrew Wyatt)
A Tribe Called Quest, "We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service" (Produced by A Tribe Called Quest, Q-Tip & Blair Wells)
The Weekend, "Starboy" (Produced by Abel Tesfayem, Doc McKinney, Ali Payami, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Ben Billions, Benny Blanco ,Bobby Raps, Cashmere Cat, Cirkut, Daft Punk, Diplo, Frank Dukes, Jake One, Labrinth, Max Martin, Mano, Metro Boomin, Prince 85 & Swish)
The xx, "I See You" (Produced by Jamie Smith, Rodaidh McDonald & Romy Madley Croft)

AND THE WINNER IS:

LORDE, "MELODRAMA"

14th "An Irish Person" Music Awards: Part III

OUTSTANDING RAP PERFORMANCE:

Drake, "Fake Love"

J. Cole, "Neighbours"

Kendrick Lamar, "Humble"

Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid, “1-800-273-8255”

A Tribe Called Quest, "We the People...."

AND THE WINNER IS:

KENDRICK LAMAR, "HUMBLE"

This is the seventh win and thirteenth nomination for Kendrick Lamar. He previously won for Album: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), Rap Performance: King Kunta (2015), Freedom (2016), Rap Album: To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) & untitled unmastered (2016). He was also nominated for Song: King Kunta (2015), New Artist (2013), Rap Performance: i (2014), Poetic Justice (2013), Rap Album: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2013).

OUTSTANDING POP PERFORMANCE:

Ed Sheeran, "Shape of You"

Kesha, "Praying"

Lana Del Rey, "Love"

Lorde, "Green Light"

Pink, “What About Us”

AND THE WINNER IS:

KESHA, "PRAYING"

This is first win and nomination for Kesha.

OUTSTANDING POP ALBUM:

Ed Sheeran, "Divide"

Kesha, "Rainbow"

Lana Del Rey, "Lust for Life"

Lorde, "Melodrama"

Michael Buble, “Nothing But Me”

AND THE WINNER IS:

LORDE, "MELODRAMA"

This is the fourth win and eight nomination for Lorde. She previously won for Record (2013), New Artist (2013) and Pop Performance (2013). She was also nominated for Album (2013), Song (2013), Pop Performance (2017) and Pop Album (2013).

OUTSTANDING NEW ARTIST:

Julia Michaels
Khalid
SZA

AND THE WINNER IS:

SZA

14th "An Irish Person" Music Awards: Part II

OUTSTANDING COUNTRY PERFORMANCE:

Chris Stapleton, “Either Way”

Kenny Chesney, “All the Pretty Girls”

Lady Antebellum, “You Look Good”

Little Big Men, “Better Man”

Miranda Lambert, "We Should Be Friends"

AND THE WINNER IS:

MIRANDA LAMBERT, "WE SHOULD BE FRIENDS"

This is the second win and eleventh overall nomination for Miranda Lambert. She won prior for Country Album (2014). She was previously nomination in Country Performance (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) and Country Album (2010, 2012).

OUTSTANDING COUNTRY ALBUM:

Alison Krauss, "Windy City"
Chris Stapleton, “From A Room: Volume 2”
Kenny Chesney, “Cosmic Hallelujah”
Lady Antebellum, “Heart Break”
Miranda Lambert, "The Weight of These Wings"

AND THE WINNER IS:

MIRANDA LAMBERT, "THE WEIGHT OF THESE WINGS"

This is the third win and twelfth overall nomination for Miranda Lambert. She won prior for Country Performance (2017) and Country Album (2014). She was previously nomination in Country Performance (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) and Country Album (2010, 2012).

OUTSTANDING R&B PERFORMANCE:

Bruno Mars, "24k Magic"
Childish Gambino, “Redbone”
SZA, “The Weekend”
Trey Songz, “Nobody Else But You”
The Weekend ft. Daft Punk, "I Feel It Coming"

AND THE WINNER IS:

THE WEEKEND FT. DAFT PUNK, "I FEEL IT COMING"

These are the first wins and nominations for The Weekend and Daft Punk.

OUTSTANDING R&B ALBUM:

Childish Gambino, “Awaken, My Love!”
JoJo, "Mad Love."
Tinashe, "Nightride"
Trey Songz, “Tremaine the Album”
The Weekend, "Starboy"

AND THE WINNER IS:

CHILDISH GAMBINO, "AWAKEN, MY LOVE!"

This is the first win and third nomination for Childish Gambino. He was previously nominated for R&B Performance (2017) & Rap Album (2014).

14th "An Irish Person" Music Awards: Part I

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PERFORMER (FILM/TV/STAGE):

Denée Benton as Natasha Rostova in “NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812”

Rachel Bloom as Rebecca Nora Bunch in “CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND”

Donna Lynn Champlin as Paula Proctor in “CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND”

Auli’i Cravalho as Moana in “MOANA”

Bette Midler as Dolly Gallagher Levi in “HELLO, DOLLY!”

AND THE WINNER IS:

AULI'I CRAVALHO AS MOANA IN "MOANA

This is the first win and nomination for Auli’i Cravalho. She wins for her performance as Moana in the 2016 Disney film Moana.

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCORE (FILM/TV/STAGE):

Hans Zimmer for Dunkirk

Daniel Hart for A Ghost Story

Mica Levi for Jackie

Max Richter for The Leftovers

Nicholas Britell for Moonlight

AND THE WINNER IS:

MICA LEVI FOR JACKIE

This is the second win nomination for Mica Levi. She previously won for Under the Skin (2014).

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG (FILM/TV/STAGE):

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, “Remember That We Suffered” (Written by Adam Schlesinger, Rachel Bloom, Jack Dolgen, Dan Gregor and Jerome Kurtenbach)

Fifty Shades Darker, “I Don’t Want to Live Forever” (Written by Taylor Swift, Sam Dew & Jack Antonoff)

The Flash, “Runnin’ Home To You” (Written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul)

Leap!, “Cut to the Feeling” (Written by Carly Rae Jepsen, Simon Wilcox & Nolan Lambroza)

Moana, "How Far I'll Go" (Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda)

AND THE WINNER IS:

MOANA, "HOW FAR I'LL GO" (MUSIC AND LYRICS BY LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA)

This is the second win and fourth nomination for Lin-Manuel Miranda for his composing of "How Far I'll Go". He previously won "It's Quiet Uptown" (2016) and was nominated for scoring Hamilton (2016) and composing "Wait for It" (2016).

OUTSTANDING MUSIC VIDEO:

Kendrick Lamar, “Humble” (Directed by Dave Meyers & The Little Homies)

Kesha, "Praying" (Directed by Jonas Åkerlund)

Lorde, "Perfect Places" (Directed by Grant Singer)

Taylor Swift, "Look What You Just Made Me Do" (Directed by Joseph Kahn)

The Weekend, "Starboy" (Directed Grant Singer)

AND THE WINNER IS:

TAYLOR SWIFT, "LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO" (DIRECTED BY JOSEPH KAHN)

This is the first win and fifth nomination for Joseph Kahn. He was previously nominated for directing Toxic (2004), Get Up (2007), Forever (2008) & Love the Way You Lie (2010).

14th "AN IRISH PERSON" MUSIC Awards ANNOUCEMENT!!!

Before I announce what I think are the best films for 2017 I will also be announcing what I consider the best music of 2016-2017. I try to follow the grammy calender and announcing these winners/nominees is a build-up to the Grammy awards that are going to air Sunday 28th. I really try to open myself to all the music out there and while I don't follow certain genres (i.e. disco, rock, etc) I do feel well informed to say what I think is the best music of the year.

I will be starting on the 20th announcing 4 sets of winners and nominees every second day as a lead to music's biggest night. See you then and hopefully, if you haven't heard any of this music I will nominate you might try to see that music out.