Best Country Song at the 2015 Grammys is gearing up to be a hotly contested category. This category, which goes to the songwriters of one of country music's big hits of the last year, is filled with some stunning music this year, courtesy of a genre great (Glen Campbell) and some of the most established artists in the biz today (Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Eric Church). So, how to decide who deserves to win?
You have to analyze the songs, of course. Which is exactly what we've done.
Nominees:
"American Kids" (Kenny Chesney), written by Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird & Shane McAnally
"Automatic" (Miranda Lambert), written by Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert
"Give Me Back My Hometown" (Eric Church), written by Eric Church & Luke Laird
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You" (Glen Campbell), written by Glen Campbell & Julian Raymond
"Meanwhile Back at Mama's" (Tim McGraw feat. Faith Hill), written by Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston & Jeffrey Steele
WHO SHOULD WIN: "I'm Not Gonna Miss You"
2014 was a mixed bag for country music -- in the midst of tons of bro-country, there were some real stunning achievements within the genre, making this year's Grammy competition for Best Country Song a tough one. In the end. It seems like the right five songs found their way into the Best Country Song category, with emotional offerings all around. Soaring ballads from Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw and real emotional grabs from Glen Campbell and Eric Church highlight this category. Kenny Chesney's song is a bit of an outlier, despite lyrics that recall the good ol' days, the melody of "American Kids" is a little too lighthearted for The Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (and thus, seemingly making this song less likely to win the Grammy this year).
And though the Lambert, McGraw and Church songs are all touching, beautiful examples of what country music in 2015 can be, there's nothing like the good old days, which come to the ceremony this year courtesy of Glen Campbell's I'll Be Me soundtrack single "I'm Not Gonna Miss You," written by the "Rhinestone Cowboy" himself and his longtime friend Julian Raymond.
"I'm Not Gonna Miss You" has all of the components that make for a stunning song in general, not just a country tune. In the midst of his battle with Alzheimer's disease, "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" touches on what will be gone from Campbell's life at the end of the day, giving a crushing insight to this terrible disease. "You're the last person I will love / You're the last face I will recall / And best of all / I'm not gonna miss you," he sings in the chorus.
If that doesn't pack an emotional punch to the gut, I don't know what does.
WHO WILL WIN: "I'm Not Gonna Miss You"
Glen Campbell and Julian Raymond's "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" not only deserves to win the Grammy, it seems like the most likely to take home the award this Sunday.
Country music, at its roots, is a genre that likes to pay tribute to its elders, and there are few country legends alive that are bigger and better than Glen Campbell. Add in his heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer's, and even if "I'm Not Gonna Miss You" wasn't spectacular, it still seems like the song would be able to take home the Grammy on those factors alone. It is his last song, after all.
But, this song is a winner and the best the genre had to offer in 2015, so it has the aforementioned merits as well.
Though Campbell seems most likely to win the Grammy this year, that doesn't mean we should totally rule out the other nominees. The only song that doesn't seem to stand much of a chance is "American Kids." Since at least 2005, the Grammy for Best Country Song has gone to a heart-wrenching ballad, so there go Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally's chances.
The pattern of history could very easily give this Grammy to Miranda Lambert, Nicolle Galyon and Natalie Hemby's "Automatic." Best Country Song has gone to a female every year since 2007 -- the last male-led group to win the Grammy was Rascall Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road" in 2006.
When it comes to hometown singles, Church's and McGraw's songs are some of the best in country around. With Campbell out of the competition, this award actually feels like it should be Church's, with "Give Me Back My Hometown" glowing as an example of epic country. So, don't rule that song out yet either.
But, we'll just have to see when the Grammys air live on Feb. 8 on CBS.
