The Grammys have never been known to get hip-hop right, but when it comes to electronic music, they have arguable been even worse. The category of Best Dance Recording was just created in 1998, even though the genre was invented in the United States in the late 1970s, early 1980s. Pop artists like Cher, Jent Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears have dominated the category over producer, DJs like Moby, Fatboy Slim, Justice, Daft Punk and Bassment Jaxx who have been snubbed by songs like Baha Men "Who Let The Dogs Out."
2015 hold promise as the Grammy committee decided to make up their past transgressions and shocked the world with a surprising and deserving batch of nominees.
Never Say Never - Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx, producers; Basement Jaxx, mixers
Label: Atlantic Jaxx/[Pias]
Rather Be - Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne
Grace Chatto & Jack Patterson, producers; Wez Clarke & Jack Patterson, mixers
Track from: New Eyes
Label: Big Beat/Atlantic
F For You - Disclosure Featuring Mary J. Blige
Disclosure, producer; Disclosure, mixer
Track from: Settle (Deluxe)
Label: Cherrytree/Interscope Records
I Got U - Duke Dumont Featuring Jax Jones
Duke Dumont & Jax Jones, producers; Tommy Forrest, mixer
Label: Astralwerks
Faded - Zhu
Zhu, producer; Zhu, mixer
Label: Mind Of A Genius
A case can be made for each song as to why they should or might win. Who will win will inevitably come down to star power and radio play. Bassment Jaxx may get the odd tally from older voters who remember seeing them in the 1990s, but it is unlikely they will make some noise and though ZHU was invited to the dance, his journey unfortunately stops here.
It comes down to the three who received serious radio play. Duke Dumont never climbed the charts like Disclosure and Clean Bandit, but "I Got U" dominated summer of 2014. That being said, its impact was not felt beyond some radio play and the electronic music scene, thus the real choice comes down to Clean Bandit and Disclosure since Clean Bandit is still fresh on many voters minds and Disclosure is well, Disclosure. They are the reason this category is filled with the acts that are here today and 2015 will be the year the duo are rewarded for their work. Even if the song is a simple rehash of an album track from Settle with Mary J Blige on top, the added effect of a 9-time winner in incalculable.
The songwriting and classical song structure of "Rather Be" will stick with the music purists among the Grammy voters and may keep it close, but at the end of the day, Disclosure wins out.
Who Will Win: F For You - Disclosure Featuring Mary J. Blige
When it comes to who should win, the outcome it not nearly as clear. Bassment Jaxx "Never Say Never" is catchy, but it lacks the depth that the other nominees have and is not the finest work the pair have put out.
Duke Dumont's "I Got U" had all of the makings of a Ibiza summer anthem, but for the Grammy's a track needs to go beyond just the pool parties and summer beach clubs to earn a Grammy nod. This is unfortunately the trap that ZHU "Faded" falls into. His lack of name recognition and pure recognition will turns off voters and though the song may be the strongest pure dance song in the category with its understated song structure and simple, yet evocative melody, aided by ZHU's falsetto, it does not have the cross-over appeal required for the Grammys.
We are left with the two original choices. Disclosure's "F For You" is a very strong song on its own and the duo do deserve a Grammy win, but not this one. The Mary J. Blige rendition is almost identical to the original and really only gets passed in because of her.
Clean Bandit and their ability to fuse classical and dance has been unique to pop-dance tracks and to the nominees. The complex song structure and the stellar songwriting puts it one step above the rest. Clean Bandit, the award should be yours.
Who Should Win: Rather Be - Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne
