The Latin Grammys will broadcast from the Mandalay Bay resort in Las Vegas in one week, November 21. The awards ceremony, the biggest in the wide field of Latin music, offers an appropriately wide range of prizes. Performers across a number of genres will vie for 48 awards. The best part, however, is that the night's biggest prizes—Record of The Year, Song of The Year, and Album of The Year—each come with ten nominees, like the Oscar for Best Film, making for more excitement and suspense than the "regular" Grammys. Music Times is going to be so bold as to offer our predictions for each prize.
Be sure to check out our Latin Grammy coverage next week! You can watch the awards yourself on Univision at 8 p.m. Feel free to tell us how wrong (or God forbid, right) we are in the comment section below.
RECORD OF THE YEAR: "Vivir Mi Vida" by Marc Anthony
We live in New York's Inwood neighborhood, so we might be biased by how inescapable this song has been during 2013. Realistically, the track is a cover of Algerian stalwart Khaled's "C'est La Vie," but having spent 16-straight weeks atop the Billboard Hot Latin chart during the summer, it's tough to deny the appeal, or traction, of this track.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Corazón Profundo by Carlos Vives
Vives has already taken home three Latin Grammys in the past, including Best Tropical Album, but this year we think he takes best album overall. Corazón Profundo delivers on what Vives' fans have come to expect, but it also adds a touch of pop-music flourish in the form of singles such as "Volví a Nacer," which might could this record over the hump.
SONG OF THE YEAR: "Um Abraçaço" by Caetano Veloso
We admit, we're playing this one a little close to the belt. Caetano Veloso has been recording for nearly 40 years, and in the process taken on a Dylan-esque songwriting reputation. We're never ones to bet against legends, in any music awards ceremony. Plus, Veloso is nominated for three other awards, so you know he's bound to win at least one...