BEYOND THE NOTES
Adele wins her first Grammy for Best New Artist
February 2, 2025 | Sophia Cortez
With the 67th Annual Grammy Awards around the corner, it's time to revisit some of the Recording Academy's best decisions. Every year, we hear about shocking snubs and controversial wins, but let's take a moment to appreciate the times they truly were spot-on. In no particular order, here are five times the Grammys got it right.
1. Best New Artist (2008) - Adele
Adele's Best New Artist win at the 51st Grammys wasn't just a good decision—it was one of the most memorable moments in Grammy history. Even at 20 years old, the British singer-songwriter was already dominating the music industry. Her powerhouse voice and impressive songwriting make this award seem inevitable in hindsight. 19, her debut album, delivered timeless chart-topping hits like "Chasing Pavements" and "Make You Feel My Love," launching her into global popularity. Nearly two decades later, Adele remains a dominant force, consistently delivering career-defining album releases. The Recording Academy saw the vision—and for once, everyone agreed.
2. Album of the Year (2018) - Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves
Country music often gets unfairly dismissed by mainstream audiences, but Golden Hour transcended genre lines and pulled in even the most hesitant listeners. This wasn't an album about Red Solo cups and pickup trucks—Musgraves crafted something tender, introspective, and sonically rich. It feels like a warm hug from a childhood friend. From "High Horse" to "Slow Burn," the album blends country, pop, and indie influences into a dreamy, introspective, and cohesive masterpiece. The Recording Album took a chance on a country album that defied conventions, and Golden Hour has only grown in stature since.
3. Best R&B Album (2022) - Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan's Heaux Tales wasn't just an album but a cultural moment. With NPR naming it Album of the Year, its win at the Grammys felt more like a validation than a surprise. The album is a masterpiece in storytelling with women in Sullivan's life detailing their personal experiences with love and relationships in spoken word interludes. The intimate interludes bridge the relatable stories of real women and the universal themes throughout the album. Tracks like "Pick Up Your Feelings" and "Lost One" hit hard, while "The Other Side" and "Price Tags" explore ambition and materialism with biting clarity. Heaux Tales plays like a late-night conversation with close friends about love, loss, and everything in between. The album is universal and something anyone can relate to.
4. Best Rap Album (2017) - DAMN. Kendrick Lamar
By 2017, Kendrick Lamar swept the rap category at the 60th Grammy Awards—and for good reason. The album takes multiple turns and twists, shifting from the aggressive, high-energy of "DNA." and "HUMBLE." to more introspective cuts like "LOVE." and "LOYALTY." It's a masterclass in storytelling, tackling faith, identity, and fame with razor-sharp lyricism. The cultural impact of DAMN. is undeniable—it became the first non-classical, non-jazz album to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music. The Grammys got this one right, but anything else would have been a scandal.
5. Best Instrumental Composition (2010) - "Married Life" by Michael Giacchino
It's not often that a piece of music transcends the screen and becomes part of the cultural zeitgeist. Michael Giacchino's "Married Life," best known as the emotional centerpiece of Up, is one of those rare compositions that always come back to life upon hearing the opening clarinet notes. The song is simple and buoyant. With its wistful melody, "Married Life"encapsulates Carl and Ellie's entire love story in just a few minutes, leaving audiences worldwide in tears. Film scores are often overlooked at awards shows, but this win proved that sometimes, a single instrumental piece can leave a lasting cultural imprint.
The Grammys may not always get it right, but it's worth celebrating when they do. These wins weren't just about awarding good music—they acknowledge artists who defined their genres and pushed music forward. With the 67th Grammys approaching, here's to hoping we get more moments that feel just as satisfying.
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