LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: (L-R) Billie Eilish and FINNEAS accept the Record of the Year … [+]
Song of the Year is a different award from Record of the Year, though many people who aren’t hyper-focused on the Grammys might not understand the difference. For those who may not be familiar, Song of the Year is given to the writers of the track chosen by voters as the “best” of the year, though what that means is vague.
Sometimes it’s a massive hit, while in other instances–such as last year, when Bonnie Raitt claimed the trophy–it goes to a beautifully-penned tune, regardless of sales or streaming figures.
This time around, all the songs up for the recognition were at least co-written by the musicians who made them hits, so some superstar is about to walk away very happy.
The Nominees
Who Will Win
Who Should Win
Taylor Swift is the likely winner here, but not just because she did a great job with “Anti-Hero.” The superstar currently holds the record for the most Song of the Year nominations of all time with seven. This latest nod helped her break her tie with both Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie.
What separates Swift from those two artists–other than gender, of course–is the fact that she has never won. Despite being one of the most successful songwriters of all time, the Recording Academy hasn’t bestowed Song of the Year upon Swift.
Whether she deserves it for “Anti-Hero” is up for debate, but she is certainly long overdue for this honor. This author would have preferred she scored it for a past release–perhaps “You Belong With Me” or “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film),” which were both nominated, but passed over–but a win is a win.
Billie Eilish could end up beating Swift, however, as her single is very much a part of the awards season chatter this year.
“What Was I Made For?” wasn’t nearly as massive as “Anti-Hero,” but it may be noted for being even more stunning in what it’s accomplished. The track, which was penned for the Barbie movie, shocked many with its understated beauty–something the 22-year-old does better than almost anyone in the industry right now.
The fact that “What Was I Made For?” is also a likely winner of the Best Original Song Academy Award in a few weeks may influence a number of voters. It’s an incredible accomplishment, and even though Eilish won Song of the Year just a few ceremonies back for her breakout smash “Bad Guy,” she deserves it for this composition.
It’s also possible that Miley Cyrus could wind up winning for “Flowers.” That track seems like a more likely Record of the Year contender, but the two categories overlap fairly frequently. That smash was so massive, it could take both trophies, which has certainly happened in the past.
