- Title: USA: NOMINEES FOR 43RD GRAMMY AWARDS ANNOUNCED IN LOS ANGELES.
- Date: 3rd January 2001
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 3, 2001) (REUTERS) NOMINEES AND ANNOUNCERS AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL GREENE, PRESIDENT NATIONAL ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS & SCIENCES SAYING: "I don't ever remember us having ten totally different nominees in (the categories) for record and album of the year. Generally there's something that crosses over. So I
- Embargoed: 18th January 2001 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA55ALZSHPAWJ7IE1QV6E935D1M
- Story Text: Rap stars led a diverse field as nominees for the 43rd annual Grammy awards were announced Wednesday (January 3) in Los Angeles.
Pioneering "gangsta" rapper Dr. Dre and his protégé Eminem led a diverse field of nominees for the Grammy Awards, the music industry's top prizes, organizers said on Wednesday.
Dr. Dre picked up five nominations, including producer of the year, as did Beyonce Knowles, a member of female R&B group Destiny's Child. Eminem, whose profanity-laden songs about rape, murder and homophobia have polarized fans and outraged moral crusaders in the past two years, received four nominations. He won two Grammy Awards last year. Another nominated rapper, Nelly a new comer to the industry having released his album "Country Grammar" just seven months ago, is surprised at the pace of his life.
"Everything is just happening so fast. You know I've been out seven months and I'm here at the Grammy's and I don't know. I was talking to Sisqo and he said it took him four years to get here. I'm like wow, I don't think I could have waited four years, I would have lost my mind, but it's all good."
Irish rockers U2 were featured in the song of the year and record of the year categories for their hit single "Beautiful Day." Also competing in both categories is R&B singer Macy Gray, with the soulful ballad "I Try" and the Destiny's Child tune "Say My Name." Members of Destiny's Child said they new they had a hit while in the studio, "You know what, when we were in the studio with Rodney (Jerkins), he had another mix to the song and when he gave us a second mix we were like oh my God, this has got to be a single it's a hit song!"
Best new artist nominees were country singers Shelby Lynne and Brad Paisley, hard rock band Papa Roach, R&B singer Jill Scott and R&B singer Sisqo. Sisqo who was also nominated for best R&B song for his hit "Thong Song" says more is on the way. "I have some brand new stuff coming out in approximately two weeks. So anybody who thought the "Thong Song" was like the extent to my talents, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised".
Unlike previous years, when the field of nominees was dominated by a single artist, such as veteran rock guitarist Carlos Santana or R&B ingenue Lauryn Hill, no one act this year towered over the pack -- a sign of the diversity of worthy offerings. U2 and Macy Gray scored three nominations each as did such acts as pop diva Madonna, blues icon B.B.
King, rock singer Sheryl Crow, rock band the Foo Fighters, and best new artist category nominees Sisqo and Scott. Other contenders for record of the year, for which the award goes to the artist and the producer, were Madonna's "Music" and boy band 'N Sync's "Bye Bye Bye." J.C. Chasez member of 'N Sync is glad to see all their hard word payoff, "We had complete creative control and we laid ourselves out on the line with this record and we put a lot of hard work into it and luckily this is kind of like the hard work has paid off." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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