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- Here's who should win record of the year at the 2021 Grammy Awards
Here's who should win record of the year at the 2021 Grammy Awards
Callie Ahlgrim
![Here's who should win record of the year at the 2021 Grammy Awards](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-81467839%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-183859%2Fhereaposs-who-should-win-record-of-the-year-at-the-2021-grammy-awards.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
- The 2021 Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
- Insider ranked all eight nominees for record of the year to determine who should win.
- "Savage" by Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé is the clear choice, due to quality and cultural impact.
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.
8. "Say So" by Doja Cat
![8. "Say So" by Doja Cat](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-81467979,width-700,height-525,imgsize-351571/8-quotsay-soquot-by-doja-cat.jpg)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: No. 1
After a viral YouTube video and a string of moderately buzzy singles, "Say So" became Doja Cat's true breakout moment.
The shimmery, disco-charged track was released as the fifth single from her sophomore album, "Hot Pink," and quickly inspired a dance craze on TikTok. Doja even paid tribute to the trend in her official music video.
"Say So" finally made it to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after Nicki Minaj was recruited for a remix.
Highlight: Doja makes excellent use of her breezy vocals and nimble rap skills, flitting between styles with charming ease.
Downfall: The song suffers by virtue of its hefty competitors. The 2021 record of the year category is absolutely stacked, and "Say So" — while catchy and fun — feels somewhat standard by comparison.
We also can't ignore that a win for "Say So" would be a win for Lukasz Gottwald, aka Dr. Luke, who produced and cowrote the song under the pseudonym Tyson Trax.
"Say So" marked Gottwald's return to the charts after Kesha sued him in 2014 over accusations of sexual assault, battery, and other allegations.
For critics and fans alike, this is an unwelcome comeback. Although Kesha eventually dropped the lawsuit, the "High Road" singer has steadfastly maintained her accusations, and it's difficult to throw support behind a song that partly belongs to an alleged abuser.
7. "Circles" by Post Malone
![7. "Circles" by Post Malone](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-81467972,width-700,height-525,imgsize-408432/7-quotcirclesquot-by-post-malone.jpg)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: No. 1 for three weeks
"Circles" was released as the third single from Post Malone's third studio album, "Hollywood's Bleeding."
As Slate's Chris Molanphy wrote, the song manages to toe the line between sunny and somber: "The melody is sparkling, with prominent guitar arpeggios and a wistful sigh of a chorus that, dare I say it, soars."
And like many of Malone's previous hits, "Circles" proved indefatigable, returning to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in three separate months. It eventually broke a record for the most weeks spent in the chart's top 10, previously held by — you guessed it — Post Malone.
Highlight: Malone is at his best when he's not cosplaying Black hip-hop stars, and thankfully, "Circles" leans into his psychedelic-folk side. These are some thick Tame-Impala-meets-Fleetwood-Mac vibes, which is just about as groovy as it gets.
Downfall: While praising "Circles" as "a really strong pop song," Molanphy also noted that it embodies Malone's "anything-for-a-hit ethos." The pseudo-rapper has habitually mutated to fit the landscape, subsisting on catchy hooks and flimsy lyrics.
While there isn't anything necessarily wrong with that strategy ("I have to credit the guy for his survival skills," Molanphy wrote), there isn't anything striking or fresh about it, either.
Malone isn't doing anything that doesn't already work.
6. "Colors" by Black Pumas
![6. "Colors" by Black Pumas](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-81467965,width-700,height-525,imgsize-470222/6-quotcolorsquot-by-black-pumas.jpg)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: N/A
"Colors" was the third single from "Black Pumas," the self-titled debut album from the Texan band, comprised of singer Eric Burton and instrumentalist Adrian Quesada.
Written by Burton and produced by Quesada, "Colors" captures the suave duo's classic blend of funk, rock, and soul.
Burton's elastic voice, aided by springy guitars and backup vocals from The Soul Supporters, catalogs the multi-colored natural beauty that surrounds him — and gently salutes the importance of diversity, community, and self-love.
"Eric woke up midday and started the song as the sun was going down," Quesada told AfroPunk. "He was inspired by the rich multicolored hues of the sky. The song was written in the themes of mortality and togetherness."
Highlight: Burton's lyricism is thoughtful, graceful, and affecting. "Colors" might've felt more at home competing for song of the year instead.
Downfall: Much like "Black Pumas," which is up for album of the year, "Colors" seems out of place among its fellow nominees.
There's simply no denying its lack of cultural impact, or even general awareness. Despite the band's several high-profile nominations, their best song has never cracked the Billboard Hot 100.
Of course, a low profile doesn't necessarily translate to lesser quality. "Colors" is cinematic and objectively enchanting.
But for an award that's meant to reflect the taste and pulse of the current sonic landscape, at least to some extent, "Colors" would be a left-field choice and truly bewildering winner.
5. "Everything I Wanted" by Billie Eilish
![5. "Everything I Wanted" by Billie Eilish](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-81467964,width-700,height-525,imgsize-424700/5-quoteverything-i-wantedquot-by-billie-eilish.jpg)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: No. 8
"Everything I Wanted" was released as a standalone single in late 2019. Like most all Billie Eilish songs, it was produced by her brother, Finneas O'Connell, and cowritten by the pair.
Unlike the rest of Eilish's songs, O'Connell initially refused to finish "Everything I Wanted" because it made him feel like an "enabler." The lyrics describe a dream Eilish had about jumping off a building, during a time when she was experiencing suicidal ideation.
This pain and tenderness shine through, making it the teenager's most gut-wrenching song to date. But it's also one of her most comforting.
Months later, after Eilish had gone to therapy, the siblings realized they could infuse the song with hope — without sacrificing its intimate, dark honesty. Now, in the chorus, O'Connell harmonizes with Eilish while she sings about her brother's love and support. "Everything I Wanted" became an homage to their unbreakable bond.
Highlight: As always, Eilish's voice is something precious to behold, but O'Connell's production here is the stuff of legends.
"Everything I Wanted" is minimal and masterfully emotive, swashing and receding like a wave, leaving glossy debris in its wake: bits of sorrow, tension, comfort, mystery, calm, and fervor, all waiting for you to collect.
Downfall: Eilish and O'Connell, 19 and 23 respectively, took home five Grammys apiece last year — including this very award, bestowed for "Bad Guy."
While that fact doesn't make "Everything I Wanted" less deserving of praise, it would probably make a consecutive sweep seem like overkill. The siblings have already been glorified — sensibly, yet still disproportionately — in their young careers, and another win here would be out of touch.
4. "Rockstar" by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
![4. "Rockstar" by DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-81467958,width-700,height-525,imgsize-317068/4-quotrockstarquot-by-dababy-featuring-roddy-ricch.jpg)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: No. 1 for seven weeks
"Rockstar" is easily the most dominant song among this year's nominees. It was released as the second single from DaBaby's third album, "Blame It on Baby," and reigned atop the Hot 100 for nearly two months straight.
The track boasts a slick marriage of pop and hip-hop: a bright, instantly memorable guitar lick and melodic hook are contrasted with DaBaby's fiery precision.
Throw in the Young Thug-reminiscent sing-rapping of Roddy Ricch — whose own smash hit "The Box" was nominated for song of the year — and the sheer star power of "Rockstar" is undeniable.
Highlight: The pace and tone is deceptively jaunty, nearly masking rare moments of DaBaby vulnerability. He describes his own PTSD ("I'm always waking up in cold sweats like I got the flu"), vows to protect his young daughter while fretting about her trauma, and subtly pays tribute to Black Lives Matter.
Downfall: "Rockstar" has the clear edge when it comes to chart performance, and certainly scores well for charisma and catchiness.
But "Rockstar" doesn't measure up to some of its challengers in other respects — particularly when it comes to cultural impact. "Rockstar" is a hit, of course, but that doesn't make it the hit. It follows a generally familiar formula.
3. "Black Parade" by Beyoncé
![3. "Black Parade" by Beyoncé](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-81467952,width-700,height-525,imgsize-459954/3-quotblack-paradequot-by-beyoncxe9.jpg)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: No. 37
"Black Parade" might be the most explicitly political single that Beyoncé has ever released (that is, if you consider Black joy and racial equality to be "political" ideals).
The song was released on Juneteenth, a date that commemorates the end of slavery in the US. It also played during the credits of Beyoncé's most recent visual album, "Black Is King," which examines racial heritage and the African Diaspora through the lens of Disney's "The Lion King."
Beyoncé litters the song with quick and complex references: to Baobabs, a tree native to Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar; Oshun, the river goddess in Yoruba cosmology; Mansa Musa, the 10th emperor of the Mali Empire in West Africa.
Highlight: "Being Black, maybe that's the reason why / They always mad."
Downfall: I'm not convinced that Beyoncé intended to "change the game with that digital drop" this time around.
"Black Parade" is confident and solid, yet missing a certain oomph. The song feels more like a statement of purpose than a vie for chart dominance or industry recognition. The release was designed to accent existing projects and promote a new initiative of the same name — announced mere hours earlier — which aims to support Black-owned businesses.
Beyoncé is an artist with a holistic vision, and her cultural impact is immeasurable. But that also means that one song might not seem as grand on its own.
"Black Parade" just didn't land with the same comet-sized crash the average person might expect — either for a classic Beyoncé single, or for a record of the year winner.
2. "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa
![2. "Don](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-81467945,width-700,height-525,imgsize-324315/2-quotdonapost-start-nowquot-by-dua-lipa.jpg)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: No. 2
"Don't Start Now" was the lead single from Dua Lipa's sophomore album, "Future Nostalgia."
It's been described as "the peak of pop catharsis" (Rolling Stone), a "dance floor jawdropper" (Entertainment Weekly), a "swift, anthemic antidote" (Spin), and "a perfect song" (me, on many occassions).
After earning immediate critical acclaim, it became clear that "Don't Start Now" had a rare and special staying power. Nearly five months after its debut at No. 30, it finally reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (blocked from the top spot by streaming jauggernaut "The Box").
The song has come to represent a multicolored pop triumph: an early herald of disco's revival; Lipa's arrival as a household name; and, most importantly, an emblem of music's extraordinary power for escapism, particularly in times of crisis.
Highlight: I'm tempted to say the whole thing, though full disclosure: "Don't Start Now" was my most-played song last year on Spotify. (It wasn't even released in 2020, but October 2019.) I'm still not tired of it. And I'm not the only one.
Downfall: This was a tough call, and voters might disagree. But "Savage" deserves it more.
1. "Savage" by Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé
![1. "Savage" by Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-81467943,width-700,height-525,imgsize-627846/1-quotsavagequot-by-megan-thee-stallion-featuring-beyoncxe9.jpg)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: No. 1
"Savage" was originally included on Megan Thee Stallion's EP "Suga." Although it hadn't yet been promoted as a single, the hot-girl energy was intoxicating and fan fervor was immediate — particularly on TikTok, where Keara Wilson's choreography took over.
Two months later, a remix with Beyoncé was unveiled, and the bar for power-couple collaborations was permanently raised.
The aforementioned oomph that "Black Parade" was missing? Beyoncé saved it all for Megan. Although "Savage" was already a hit, the two Texans tangling created a tornado-like effect, sucking everyone into its orbit. The combination was impossible to resist.
The remix was ranked among 2020's best songs by a variety of publications, including Pitchfork (No. 4), Billboard (No. 3), NPR (No. 3), Complex (No. 2), and Insider (No. 2).
Highlight: "Savage" was a whole moment — a cultural reset, if you will. It managed to capture and shape the zeitgeist in a way unmatched by its fellow nominees.
In fact, a triumph for "Savage" on Sunday would have a similarly momentous effect. It would be the first all-female collaboration in Grammys history to win record of the year, and just the second rap song to do so.
Downfall: "Don't Start Now" is a fierce competitor and Lipa is heavily favored in multiple categories. Plus, the Grammys have a history of racism (and disrespecting Beyoncé specifically), so there's definitely a chance that "Savage" loses. Here's hoping the voters chose wisely.
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