Five songs that should have won Record of the Year at the Grammys

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According to the Grammy Awards regulations, when the committee bestows the Record of the Year accolade, they do so to recognize outstanding artistic accomplishment, exceptional technical skill, and overall superior quality within the recording industry, regardless of album sales or chart rankings.

It appears as though the Grammys overlook or choose to ignore the chart rankings of some of today’s top songs, even those widely recognized as great.

Among numerous potential top songs for the Grammys, why did those listed below not make the cut? Perhaps the songs simply weren’t quite in sync with the current zeitgeist. Regardless, it seems the Grammys may have something to be ashamed of.

The Grammy Awards completely whiffed on giving these song Record of the Year nods

The Rolling Stones – “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (1965)

Was it the hinting lyrics, the constant use of Brian Jones’ fuzz riff that everyone subsequently attempted to replicate, or perhaps its premature release? For whatever reason, this song didn’t receive a Grammy nomination and wasn’t even acknowledged at the time. The oversight seemingly didn’t hinder the Rolling Stones significantly.

Al Green – “Let’s Stay Together” (1971)

In 1971, when this single was released, Al Green was the undisputed soul and crossover king, and this song essentially became his trademark melody. Surprisingly, it missed out on the Record of the Year award, and even failed to receive a nomination in any R&B categories. A significant oversight indeed.

Prince – “Little Red Corvette” (1982)

Prince didn’t win a Grammy for Record of the Year, but let me clarify that he already had seven Grammys to his name. Remarkably, none of the first three songs from his album “1999” were nominated for this particular award, but those tracks are undeniably hits.

Bruce Springsteen – “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984)

The award-winning song ‘Dancing in the Dark’ was exceptional, but another could have taken its place. It might have been due to differences in interpretation of the song’s lyrics.

Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)

As a music enthusiast, I can’t help but reflect on a moment when an artist, with a sound that would soon become iconic, was overlooked by the Grammys. People might say this artist missed their chance because the ballots for the year had already been cast. But at that time, the genre they represented – grunge – was still relatively unknown and seemed foreign to many Grammy voters. So, did they really have a shot? I’d say, unfortunately, no.

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2025-01-30 14:00