Although album of the year is widely considered the music industry's biggest honor, record of the year is still afforded a certain prestige. It's historically the final category announced at the Grammy Awards.
As opposed to song of the year, which only recognizes the lyricists, record of the year is more comprehensive; the award goes to the artist(s), producer(s), and engineer(s). Theoretically, this accounts for qualities like vocal technique, arrangement, mixing and mastering, thematic resonance, and cultural impact.
At the 63rd annual ceremony on Sunday, a variety of No. 1 hit singles and A-list collaborations will go to head-to-head. Several may be deserving of the award, but only one can win.
Insider ranked all eight nominees to determine who should. The songs are listed from least to most worthy below.