Dance Music at the 2013 Grammys
They finally got it right!
or did they…
It’s refreshing to see the Grammys finally recognize dance music properly. No more Kylie Minogue in the best dance category. That’s pop. Sure it’s music that you dance to, but damn… we’re talking about EDM. So let’s first check the past and then talk about Al Walser.
Huge congrats to Eric Prydz for his 2013 nomination in the Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical category!
2004
Best Dance Recording
Winner: “Come Into My World” – Kylie Minogue
(Tiesto headlined the Olympics that year…
and released Traffic, Adagio for Strings and Love Comes Again all on the Just Be album.)
2009
Best Dance Recording
Winner: “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” – Daft Punk
(this song came out in 2001 but was rereleased on the Alive 2007 album)
Nominees:
“Ready for the Floor” – Hot Chip
“Just Dance” – Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’ Donis
“Give It 2 Me” – Madonna
“Disturbia” – Rihanna
“Black & Gold” – Sam Sparro
Best Electronic/Dance Album
Winner: Alive 2007 – Daft Punk
Nominees:
New York City – Brazilian Girls
Bring Ya to the Brink – Cyndi Lauper
X – Kylie Minogue
Last Night – Moby
Robyn – Robyn
2013 EDM Nominees:
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
LMFAO – Sexy and I Know It
Best Dance Recording
Avicii – Levels
Calvin Harris, Ne-Yo – Let’s Go
Skrillex – Bangarang (WINNER)
Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child
Al Walser – I Can’t Live Without You
Best Dance/Electronica Album
Steve Aoki – Wonderland
The Chemical Brothers – Don’t Think
deadmau5 – Album Title Goes Here
Kaskade – Fire & Ice
Skrillex – Bangarang (WINNER)
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Flo-Rida feat. Sia – Wild Ones (co-production credit – Axwell)
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Diplo (nominees from all genres)
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
In My Mind (Axwell Remix)
Lie Down in Darkness (Photek Remix)
Midnight City (Eric Prydz Private Remix)
Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix) (WINNER)
The Veldt (Tommy Trash Remix)
Obviously you see the growth not only in the Grammy voting/selection committee’s taste in music, but in the creation of new categories to better fit a rising genre. Yes dance music has always been here, but it has certainly risen from the underground. What better than the Grammys to reflect that?
As for Al Walser… he’s a random dude, apparently from Lichtenstein, that has been nominated for a Grammy alongside Skrillex, Calvin Harris, Avicii and Swedish House Mafia. We’ll let his interview with the EDM Snob do the talking.