The dance awards at the 49th annual Grammys pit Justin Timberlake against Madonna, but the real drama could be in the head-to-head between Goldfrapp and "Oldfrapp."
The Grammys may be expanding every year—this year there are 108 categories in 31 fields—but in a world where somehow Mexican/Mexican-American, Norteño, and Tejano music have each been deemed worthy of a separate category, poor old dance music is still relegated to the rafters with two—count ‘em, two—categories: Best Dance Recording and Best Dance/Electronic Album.
The nominees are:
Best Dance Recording
Get Together—Madonna
Suffer Well—Depeche Mode
I’m with Stupid—Pet Shop Boys
Sexy Back—Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
Ooh La La—Goldfrapp
Best Electronic/Dance Album
Supernature—Goldfrapp
Confessions On A Dance Floor--Madonna
A Lively Mind—Paul Oakenfold
Fundamental—Pet Shop Boys
I thought it would be easy to pick my favorite, but I find I’m really torn. As a child of the 80s (yeah, OK, and somewhat pre-80s as well :-), I’m loving the return of the Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode and never-say-grownup Madonna. On the other hand, “Ooh La La” is delicious, and Timberlake’s song is infectious, no question.
I think it might be somewhat easier for the Grammy judges to choose. We all know how the committee loves to venerate those in the industry who can really push product and, let’s face it, Timberlake is by far the best-seller in this category.
Funnily enough, Madonna seems to have cast her vote for Goldfrapp—she named “Supernature” her favorite album of 2005 (Gotta love how old these nominated songs are, eh? October 1, 2005-September 30, 2006 was the release date range). And it’s been widely reported that everyone from bloggers to Madonna’s own people at Warner Bros. London had taken to calling her “Oldfrapp” for what they see as her copying of Alison Goldfrapp’s style. Should make for an interesting evening on Sunday, no?
But I'm going to stop wishy-washying around and choose: "Sexy Back" and "Get Together" both mix incredibly well and work well on the dance floor; I love, love, love the other three songs, but I think it comes down to these two. And I'm going to reluctantly go with "Sexy Back." There, I said it.
For dance album, I think Goldfrapp will win, but I'm kind of rooting for The Pet Shop Boys anyway--although, seriously, this album is very much in tune with what they've been doing all along. When did they become a "dance" act? So here's a 2-part question for you: 1) Who do you think should win? 2) Who do you think will win?
