Grammy nominations announced Wednesday hailed Sapp’s latest gospel gem, with surprising nods to the likes of Dr. John, Gotye, Joan Osborne and the Alabama Shakes … with the usual head-scratchers. (Commentary)
Marvin Sapp has earned Grammy nominations in three different gospel categories.
The Grammys have always been a mixed bag.
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So Wednesday’s announcement of nominees for the 55th annual Grammys – with some select categories revealed in another over-hyped network TV production featuring pop darlings Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Maroon 5 and Ne-Yo – came with the usual assortment of nods to the ho-hum, this-is-to-be-expected and that-actually-makes-sense.
Consequently, the high-profile record, song and album of the year categories not surprisingly boast superstars like Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift but also put critically acclaimed and deserving acts such as The Black Keys, Jack White and Mumford & Sons in the spotlight for the upcoming Grammy Awards show in February.
But perhaps no one is more deserving than Grand Rapids’ own gospel powerhouse Marvin Sapp.
And on Wednesday night, the Recording Academy showed its Grammy love by nominating Sapp for three awards in three different categories: best gospel/contemporary Christian performance and best gospel song (for Sapp’s “My Testimony,” written with Aaron Lindsey) and best gospel album (for “I Win”).
When I touched base with Sapp immediately after the Recording Academy posted the list of nominations late Wednesday night, he clearly was thrilled. The renowned Grand Rapids gospel powerhouse has been nominated many times in the past, but has yet to bring home one of those coveted Grammy Awards.
“Three categories, oh my God,” he gushed. “But thanks be to God. He’s awesome.”
So is Sapp’s talent, which is on display in all three of those nominations and it’s hard to imagine that this well-respected singer won’t win at least one of those categories this time around. (In the best gospel performance category, he faces competition from Casting Crowns, Tamela Mann, Mary Mary and Matt Redman, but Sapp’s emotionally powerful, inspiring rendition of “My Testimony” is spine-tingling.)
Still, in Sapp’s view, it’s just about getting recognized by the industry in the nomination process. Upon leaving empty-handed in 2011 after his eighth Grammy nomination, Sapp was gracious as always.
“It’s always an honor to be nominated. That’s the same old speech, but it’s true. It’s just a blessing to be nominated,” he told me. “I’m just enjoying the ride.”
The Black Keys are getting plenty of Grammy love these days.
I’m guessing he’ll enjoy the ride home even more come Feb. 10 when winners are announced. After all, the title of his nominated album is “I Win.” (Check out his video for “My Testimony” below.)
As for the nominations tally, The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, pop group fun., rapper Jay-Z, folk phenoms Mumford & Sons, R&B singer Frank Ocean, and rapper Kanye West snagged six each, with jazz pianist Chick Corea, R&B singer Miguel and The Black Keys earning five. Corea’s sweet handful is truly astonishing … and overdue.
After years of toiling in relative blues-infused, garage-rock obscurity while cultivating an ultra-devoted fan base, it seems odd that the Akron duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, aka The Black Keys, are suddenly everybody’s favorite band, but more power to these boys for finally hitting paydirt.
Other welcome surprises:
Gotye (featuring Kimbra) getting nominated for record of the year for “Somebody that I Used to Know,” an undeniably infectious tune that’s one of my picks for song of the year, just because it’s so darned catchy.
Dr. John
Dr. John (with producer Auerbach) and Joan Osborne for best blues album for “Locked Down” and “Bring It On Home,” respectively. I’d give Grammys to both of ’em.
Carolina Chocolate Drops for “Leaving Eden” for best folk album, Tom Waits, Fiona Apple and Gotye for best alternative music album, and the entire best Americana album category (almost always my favorite) with nods to Bonnie Raitt (who played a phenomenal show at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park last summer), The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, John Fullbright and The Avett Brothers. Good luck picking a winner out of this distinguished bunch.
Same goes for the best rock performance and best rock album categories, which include the likes of The Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Muse, Jack White and Bruce Springsteen.
See the full list of nominees at the official Grammy website.
Perhaps the biggest omission of the night? No Grammy love for Bob Dylan’s highly acclaimed “Tempest” album (followed by Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s “Psychedelic Pill” and Green Day’s “Uno,” though these might have been released too late for Grammy consideration).
Dylan’s album ranked fourth on Rolling Stone magazine’s Top 50 list of albums of the year which came out this week, and I can’t disagree with that assessment: Dylan’s “Tempest” is a gritty triumph of an album for an iconic 71-year-old artist in spite of nightly ups and downs in his “never-ending tour.”
But the Grammys also overlooked real gems by John Mayer, Cloud Nothings, Gary Clark Jr. and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes.
Hence, that mixed bag thing.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
