Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline lyrics

Where it began,
I can't begin to knowin'
But then I know it's growing strong
Was in the spring
And spring became the summer
Who'd have believed you'd come along.

Hands, touchin' hands
Reachin' out, touchin' me touchin' you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined
To believe they never would
But now I, look at the night
And it don't seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two.

And when I hurt,
Hurtin' runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when I'm with you
Warm, touchin' warm
Reachin' out, touchin' me touchin' you
Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined,
To believe they never would
Oh, no, no

Sweet Caroline
Good times never seemed so good
Sweet Caroline,
I believe they never could
Sweet Caroline.........

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51st Grammy Awards 2009 Winners / Results

51st Grammy Awards 2009 Winners and Results. The 2009 Grammy Awards Complete list of Winners. There are about 7,000 people who vote in the nominating and final voting process. These people are artists, producers, engineers, mixers and mastering engineers. Academy members are to vote based upon quality alone. They are not to be influenced by mass sales or personal friendships.

Stay tune on this blog for I'll post the 2009 Grammy Awards Winners below:
(The 2009 Grammy Awards Winners will be highlighted as announced)

Record of the Year

* "Chasing Pavements" – Adele
o Eg White, producer; Tom Elmhirst & Steve Price, engineers/mixers
* "Viva la Vida" – Coldplay
o Markus Dravs, Brian Eno & Rik Simpson, producers; Michael Brauer & Rik Simpson, engineers/mixers
* "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis
o Ryan Tedder, producer; Craig Durrance, Phil Tan & Ryan Tedder, engineers/mixers
* "Paper Planes" – M.I.A.
o Diplo, producer; Switch, engineer/mixer
* "Please Read the Letter" – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
o T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer

Album of the Year

* Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends – Coldplay
o Markus Dravs, Brian Eno & Rik Simpson, producers; Michael H. Brauer, Markus Dravs, John O'Mahoney, Rik Simpson & Andy Wallace, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
* Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne
o Babyface, Brisco, Fabolous, Jay-Z, Kidd Kidd, Busta Rhymes, Juelz Santana, D. Smith, Static Major, T-Pain & Bobby Valentino, featured artists; The Alchemist, Bangladesh, David Banner, Vaushaun "Maestro" Brooks, Cool & Dre, Andrews "Drew" Correa, Darius "Deezle" Harrison, Jim Jonsin, Mousa, Pro Jay, Rodnae, Skillz & Play, D. Smith, Swizz Beatz, Robin Thicke, T-Pain & Kanye West, producers; Angel Aponte, Joshua Berkman, Andrew Dawson, Joe G, Darius "Deezle" Harrison, Fabian Marasciullo, Miguel Scott, Robin Thicke, Julian Vasquez & Gina Victoria, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
* Year of the Gentleman – Ne-Yo
o Chuck Harmony, Ne-Yo, Polow da Don, Stargate, Stereotypes, Syience, Shea Taylor & Shomari "Sho" Wilson, producers; Kirven Arrington, Jeff Chestek, Kevin "KD" Davis, Mikkel Eriksen, Jaymz Hardy Martin III, Geno Regist, Phil Tan & Tony Terrebonne, engineers/mixers; Herb Powers Jr., mastering engineer
* Raising Sand – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
o T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer
* In Rainbows – Radiohead
o Nigel Godrich, producer; Nigel Godrich, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Hugo Nicolson & Richard Woodcraft, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer

Song of the Year

* "American Boy" – Estelle featuring Kanye West
o Estelle, Keith Harris, John Legend, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, Kanye West & will.i.am, songwriters
* "Chasing Pavements" – Adele
o Adele & Eg White, songwriters
* "I'm Yours" – Jason Mraz
o Jason Mraz, songwriter
* "Love Song" - Sara Bareilles
o Sara Bareilles, songwriter
* "Viva La Vida" – Coldplay
o Coldplay, songwriters

Best New Artist

* Adele
* Duffy
* Jonas Brothers
* Lady Antebellum
* Jazmine Sullivan

Pop field

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

* "Chasing Pavements" – Adele
* "Love Song" - Sara Bareilles
* "Mercy" – Duffy
* "Bleeding Love" – Leona Lewis
* "I Kissed a Girl" – Katy Perry
* "So What" – P!nk

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

* "All Summer Long" – Kid Rock
* "Say" – John Mayer
* "That Was Me" – Paul McCartney
* "I'm Yours" – Jason Mraz
* "Closer" – Ne-Yo
* "Wichita Lineman" – James Taylor

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

* "Viva la Vida" – Coldplay
* "Waiting in the Weeds" – Eagles
* "Going On" – Gnarls Barkley
* "Won't Go Home Without You" – Maroon 5
* "Apologize" – OneRepublic

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals

* "Lesson Learned" – Alicia Keys featuring John Mayer
* "4 Minutes" – Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
* "Rich Woman" – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
* "If I Never See Your Face Again" – Maroon 5 featuring Rihanna
* "No Air" – Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

* "Love Appetite" – Steve Cropper & Felix Cavaliere
* "I Dreamed There Was No War" – Eagles
* "Fortune Teller" – Fourplay
* "Steppin' Out" – Stanley Jordan
* "Blast!" – Marcus Miller

Best Pop Instrumental Album

* Sax for Stax – Gerald Albright
* Greatest Hits Rerecorded Volume One – Larry Carlton
* Jingle All the Way – Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
* The Spice of Life – Earl Klugh
* A Night Before Christmas – Spyro Gyra

Best Pop Vocal Album

* Detours – Sheryl Crow
* Rockferry – Duffy
* Long Road Out of Eden – Eagles
* Spirit – Leona Lewis
* Covers – James Taylor

Dance field

Best Dance Recording

* "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" – Daft Punk
o Daft Punk, producers/mixers
* "Ready for the Floor" – Hot Chip
o Hot Chip, producers; Dan Carey, mixer
* "Just Dance" – Lady GaGa featuring Colby O'Donis
o RedOne, producer; Robert Orton, mixer
* "Give It 2 Me" – Madonna
o Madonna & The Neptunes, producers; Andrew Coleman & Spike Stent, mixers
* "Disturbia" – Rihanna
o Brian Kennedy, producer; Phil Tan, mixer
* "Black and Gold" – Sam Sparro
o Jesse Rogg & Sam Sparro, producers; Jeremy Wheatley, mixer

Best Electronic/Dance Album

* New York City – Brazilian Girls
* Alive 2007 – Daft Punk
* Bring Ya to the Brink – Cyndi Lauper
* X – Kylie Minogue
* Last Night – Moby
* Robyn – Robyn

Traditional Pop field

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

* Still Unforgettable – Natalie Cole
* The Sinatra Project – Michael Feinstein
* Noël – Josh Groban
* In the Swing of Christmas – Barry Manilow
* Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall – Rufus Wainwright

Rock field

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

* "Gravity" – John Mayer
* "I Saw Her Standing There" – Paul McCartney
* "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" – Bruce Springsteen
* "Rise" – Eddie Vedder
* "No Hidden Path" – Neil Young

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

* "Rock N Roll Train" – AC/DC
* "Violet Hill" – Coldplay
* "Long Road Out of Eden" – Eagles
* "Sex on Fire" – Kings of Leon
* "House of Cards" – Radiohead

Best Hard Rock Performance

* "Inside the Fire" – Disturbed
* "Visions" – Judas Priest
* "Wax Simulacra" – The Mars Volta
* "Saints of Los Angeles" – Mötley Crüe
* "Lords of Salem" – Rob Zombie

Best Metal Performance

* "Heroes of Our Time" – DragonForce
* "Nostradamus" – Judas Priest
* "My Apocalypse" – Metallica
* "Under My Thumb" – Ministry
* "Psychosocial" – Slipknot

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

* "Castellorizon" – David Gilmour
* "Suicide & Redemption" – Metallica
* "34 Ghosts IV"[1] – Nine Inch Nails
* "Hope" – Rush
* "Peaches En Regalia" – Zappa Plays Zappa

Best Rock Song

* "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" – Bruce Springsteen
o Bruce Springsteen, songwriter
* "House of Cards" – Radiohead
o Radiohead, songwriters
* "I Will Possess Your Heart" – Death Cab for Cutie
o Death Cab for Cutie, songwriters
* "Sex on Fire" – Kings of Leon
o Kings of Leon, songwriters
* "Violet Hill" – Coldplay
o Coldplay, songwriters

Best Rock Album

* Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends – Coldplay
* Rock N Roll Jesus – Kid Rock
* Only by the Night – Kings of Leon
* Death Magnetic – Metallica
* Consolers of the Lonely – The Raconteurs

Alternative field

Best Alternative Music Album

* Modern Guilt – Beck
* Narrow Stairs – Death Cab for Cutie
* The Odd Couple – Gnarls Barkley
* Evil Urges – My Morning Jacket
* In Rainbows – Radiohead

R&B field

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

* "Me, Myself and I" – Beyoncé Knowles
* "Heaven Sent" – Keyshia Cole
* "Spotlight" – Jennifer Hudson
* "Superwoman" – Alicia Keys
* "Need U Bad" – Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

* "You're the Only One" – Eric Benét
* "Take You Down" – Chris Brown
* "Miss Independent" – Ne-Yo
* "Can't Help But Wait" – Trey Songz
* "Here I Stand" – Usher

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

* "Ribbon in the Sky" – Boyz II Men
* "Words" – Anthony David featuring India.Arie
* "Stay with Me (By the Sea)" – Al Green featuring John Legend
* "I'm His Only Woman" – Jennifer Hudson featuring Fantasia
* "Never Give You Up" – Raphael Saadiq featuring Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

* "A Change Is Gonna Come" – Wayne Brady
* "You've Got the Love I Need" – Al Green featuring Anthony Hamilton
* "Baby I Know" – (Linda Jones) with Helen Bruner & Terry Jones
* "Love That Girl" – Raphael Saadiq
* "In Love with Another Man" – Jazmine Sullivan

Best Urban/Alternative Performance

* "Say Goodbye to Love" – Kenna
* "Wanna Be" – Maiysha
* "Be OK" – Chrisette Michele featuring will.i.am
* "Many Moons" – Janelle Monáe
* "Lovin You (Music)" – Wayna featuring Kokayi

Best R&B Song

* "Bust Your Windows" – Jazmine Sullivan
o Salaam Remi & Jazmine Sullivan, songwriters (Deandre Way, songwriter)
* "Customer" – Raheem DeVaughn
o Carvin & Ivan, Raheem DeVaughn, K. Oliver & J. Smith, songwriters
* "Heaven Sent" – Keyshia Cole
o Keyshia Cole, Jason Farmer & Alex Francis, songwriters
* "Miss Independent" – Ne-Yo
o Ne-Yo & StarGate, songwriters
* "Spotlight" – Jennifer Hudson
o Ne-Yo & StarGate, songwriters

Best R&B Album

* Love & Life – Eric Benét
* Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA – Boyz II Men
* Lay It Down – Al Green
* Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson
* The Way I See It – Raphael Saadiq

Best Contemporary R&B Album

* Growing Pains – Mary J. Blige
* Back of My Lac' – J. Holiday
* First Love – Karina
* Year of the Gentleman – Ne-Yo
* Fearless – Jazmine Sullivan

Rap/Hip-Hop field

Best Rap Solo Performance

* "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..." – Jay-Z
* "A Milli" – Lil Wayne
* "Paris, Tokyo" – Lupe Fiasco
* "N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and the Master)" – Nas
* "Sexual Eruption" – Snoop Dogg

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

* "Royal Flush" – Big Boi featuring André 3000 & Raekwon
* "Swagga Like Us" – T.I. & Jay-Z featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne
* "Mr. Carter" – Lil Wayne featuring Jay-Z
* "Wish You Would" – Ludacris featuring T.I.
* "Put On" – Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

* "American Boy" – Estelle featuring Kanye West
* "Low" – Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
* "Green Light" – John Legend featuring Andre 3000
* "Got Money" – Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain
* "Superstar" – Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos

Best Rap Song

* "Lollipop" – Lil Wayne featuring Static Major
o D. Harrison, Lil Wayne, J. Scheffer, Static Major & R. Zamor, songwriters
* "Low" – Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
o Flo Rida, M. Humphrey & T-Pain, songwriters
* "Sexual Eruption" – Snoop Dogg
o S. Lovejoy, Snoop Dogg & Shawty Redd, songwriters
* "Superstar" – Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos
o Lupe Fiasco & Soundtrakk, songwriters
* "Swagga Like Us" – T.I. & Jay-Z featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne
o T.I., Lil Wayne, Jay-Z & Kanye West, songwriters (Diplo, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, M.I.A., Paul Simonon & Joe Strummer, songwriters)

Best Rap Album

* American Gangster – Jay-Z
* Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne
* Lupe Fiasco's The Cool – Lupe Fiasco
* Untitled – Nas
* Paper Trail – T.I.

Country field

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

* "For These Times" – Martina McBride
* "What I Cannot Change" – LeAnn Rimes
* "Last Name" – Carrie Underwood
* "Last Call" – Lee Ann Womack
* "This Is Me You're Talking To" – Trisha Yearwood

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

* "You're Gonna Miss This" – Trace Adkins
* "In Color" – Jamey Johnson
* "Just Got Started Lovin' You" – James Otto
* "Letter to Me" – Brad Paisley
* "Troubadour" – George Strait

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals

* "God Must Be Busy" – Brooks & Dunn
* "Love Don't Live Here" – Lady Antebellum
* "Every Day" – Rascal Flatts
* "Blue Side of the Mountain" – The SteelDrivers
* "Stay" – Sugarland

Best Country Collaboration with Vocals

* "Shiftwork" – Kenny Chesney & George Strait
* "Killing the Blues" – Robert Plant & Alison Kraus
* "House of Cash" – George Strait & Patty Loveless
* "Life in a Northern Town" – Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town
* "Let the Wind Chase You" – Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban

Best Country Instrumental Performance

* "Sumatra" – Cherryholmes
* "Two Small Cars in Rome" – Jerry Douglas & Lloyd Green
* "Sleigh Ride" – Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
* "Is This America? (Katrina 2005)" – Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby
* "Cluster Pluck" – Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner

Best Country Song

* "Dig Two Graves" – Ashley Gorley & Bob Regan, songwriters (Randy Travis)
* "I Saw God Today" – Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell & Wade Kirby, songwriters (George Strait)
* "In Color" – Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller & James Otto, songwriters (Jamey Johnson)
* "Stay" – Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland)
* "You're Gonna Miss This" – Ashley Gorley & Lee Thomas Miller, songwriters (Trace Adkins)

Best Country Album

* That Lonesome Song – Jamey Johnson
* Sleepless Nights – Patty Loveless
* Troubadour – George Strait
* Around the Bend – Randy Travis
* Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love – Trisha Yearwood

Best Bluegrass Album

* Cherryholmes III: Don't Believe – Cherryholmes
* Del McCoury Band — Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – Del McCoury Band
* The Ultimate Collection / Live At The Ryman – Earl Scruggs With Family & Friends
* Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 And 1947 – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
* Wheels – Dan Tyminski

New Age field

Best New Age Album

* Meditations – William Ackerman
* Pathfinder – Will Clipman
* Peace Time – Jack DeJohnette
* Ambrosia – Peter Kater
* The Scent of Light – Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra

Jazz field

Best Contemporary Jazz Album

* Randy In Brasil – Randy Brecker
* Floating Point – John McLaughlin
* Cannon Re-Loaded: All-Star Celebration Of Cannonball Adderley – Various Artists
* Miles From India – Various Artists
* Lifecycle – Yellowjackets featuring Mike Stern

Best Jazz Vocal Album

* Imagina: Songs Of Brasil – Karrin Allyson
* Breakfast On The Morning Tram – Stacey Kent
* If Less Is More...Nothing Is Everything – Kate McGarry
* Loverly – Cassandra Wilson
* Distances – Norma Winstone

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo

* Be-Bop – Terence Blanchard (Track from: Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival)
* Seven Steps To Heaven – Till Brönner (Track from: The Standard (Take 6))
* Waltz For Debby – Gary Burton & Chick Corea (Track from: The New Crystal Silence)
* Son of Thirteen – Pat Metheny (Track from: Day Trip)
* Be-Bop – James Moody (Track from: Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival)

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group

(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of Instrumental tracks.)

* The New Crystal Silence – Chick Corea & Gary Burton
* History, Mystery – Bill Frisell
* Brad Mehldau Trio: Live – Brad Mehldau Trio
* Day Trip – Pat Metheny With Christian McBride & Antonio Sanchez
* Standards – Alan Pasqua, Dave Carpenter & Peter Erskine Trio

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

* Appearing Nightly – Carla Bley and Her Remarkable Big Band
* Act Your Age – Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
* Symphonica – Joe Lovano With WDR Big Band & Rundfunk Orchestra
* Blauklang – Vince Mendoza
* Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard – The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

Best Latin Jazz Album

* Afro Bop Alliance – Caribbean Jazz Project
* The Latin Side Of Wayne Shorter – Conrad Herwig & The Latin Side Band
* Song For Chico – Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
* Nouveau Latino – Nestor Torres
* Marooned/Aislado – Papo Vázquez The Mighty Pirates

Gospel field

Best Gospel Performance

* "I Understand" – Kim Burrell, Rance Allen, BeBe Winans, Mariah Carey & Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church Choir
* "East to West" – Casting Crowns
* "Get Up" – Mary Mary
* "Shall We Gather at the River" – Take 6
* "Waging War" – CeCe Winans

Best Gospel Song

* "Cover Me" – 21:03 with Fred Hammond, Smokie Norful & J. Moss
o James L. Moss, songwriter
* "Get Up" – Mary Mary
o Warryn Campbell, Eric Dawkins & Mary Mary, songwriters
* "Give Me Your Eyes" – Brandon Heath
o Brandon Heath & Jason Ingram, songwriters
* "Help Me Believe" – Kirk Franklin
o Kirk Franklin, songwriter
* "You Reign" – MercyMe
o Steven Curtis Chapman & MercyMe, songwriters

Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album

* Hello – After Edmund
* Our World Redeemed – Flame
* We Need Each Other – Sanctus Real
* Rock What You Got – Superchick
* Alive and Transported – TobyMac

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album

* This Moment – Steven Curtis Chapman
* What If We – Brandon Heath
* Opposite Way – Leeland
* Hello Love – Chris Tomlin
* Thy Kingdom Come – CeCe Winans

Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album

* Room for More – Booth Brothers
* Lovin' Life – Gaither Vocal Band
* Steps to Heaven – Charlie Louvin
* Hymned Again – Bart Millard
* Ephesians One – Karen Peck & New River

Best Traditional Gospel Album

* Down in New Orleans – The Blind Boys of Alabama
* I'll Say Yes – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
* Take It Back – Dorinda Clark Cole
* Deitrick Haddon Presents . . . Together In Worship – Voices Of Unity
* Bishop Charles E. Blake Presents... No Limit – The West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

* Reflections – Jason Champion
* The Fight of My Life – Kirk Franklin
* The Sound – Mary Mary
* Donald Lawrence Introduces: Family Prayer – The Murrills
* Stand Out – Tye Tribbett & G.A.

Latin field

Best Latin Pop Album

* Cara B – Jorge Drexler
* Palabras del Silencio – Luis Fonsi
* La Vida... Es un Ratico – Juanes
* Cómplices – Luis Miguel
* Tarde O Temprano – Tommy Torres

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

* Sonidos Gold – Grupo Fantasma
* 45 – Jaguares
* La Verdad – Locos por Juana
* Tijuana Sound Machine – Nortec Collective
* Mediocre – Ximena Sariñana

Best Latin Urban Album

* La Novela – Akwid
* La Sinfonia – La Sinfonía
* The Royalty/La Realeza – R.K.M. & Ken-Y
* En lo Claro – Voltio
* Los Extraterrestres – Wisin y Yandel

Best Tropical Latin Album

* Cuba: Un Viaje Musical — A Musical Journey – Albita, Rey Ruiz & Donato Poveda
* Renacer – DLG
* Señor Bachata – José Feliciano
* Frutero Moderno – Gonzalo Grau y La Clave Secreta
* Back On The Streets... Taste Of Spanish Harlem Vol. 2 – New Swing Sextet

Best Regional Mexican Album

* Amor, Dolor y Lágrimas: Música Ranchera – Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano
* Desde México: "Cumbia Cusinela" – Huichol Musical
* Vámonos Pa'l Río – Los Pikadientes de Caborca
* Canciones de Amor – Mariachi Divas
* A Puro Dolor – Nadia

Best Tejano Album

* Music Lessons – Chente Barrera y Taconazo
* Friends & Legends – Joe Posada
* Viva La Revolucion – Ruben Ramos & The Mexican Revolution
* All That Jazz... – Tortilla Factory
* Heir To The Throne – Albert Zamora

Best Norteño Album

* Me Enamore de Un Angel – Los Palominos
* Raíces – Los Tigres del Norte
* Corridos: Defendiendo El Honor – Pesado
* Six Pack – Siggno
* Cuidado – Solido

Best Banda Album

* Tu Inspiracion – Alacranes Musical
* Que Bonito... ¡Es Lo Bonito! – Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga
* Vive Y Dejame Vivir – Cuisillos
* Tiro de Gracia – Lupillo Rivera
* No Es De Madera – Joan Sebastian

Blues field

Best Traditional Blues Album

* The Blues Rolls On – Elvin Bishop
* Skin Deep – Buddy Guy
* All Odds Against Me – John Lee Hooker Jr.
* One Kind Favor – B.B. King
* Pinetop Perkins & Friends – Pinetop Perkins & Friends

Best Contemporary Blues Album

* Peace, Love & BBQ – Marcia Ball
* A Fire – Solomon Burke
* City That Care Forgot – Dr. John And The Lower 911
* Maestro – Taj Mahal
* Simply Grand – Irma Thomas

Folk field

Best Traditional Folk Album

* Coal – Kathy Mattea
* Comedians & Angels – Tom Paxton
* Bring Me Home – Peggy Seeger
* At 89 – Pete Seeger
* Strangers in Another Country – Rosalie Sorrels

Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album

* Day After Tomorrow – Joan Baez
* I, Flathead – Ry Cooder
* Sex & Gasoline – Rodney Crowell
* All I Intended to Be – Emmylou Harris
* Raising Sand by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

Best Native American Music Album

* Songs from the Black Hills – Bryan Akipa
* Spo'Mo'Kin'Nan – Black Lodge
* Red Rock – Northern Cree
* Come to Me Great Mystery: Native American Healing Songs – Various Artists (Tom Wasinger, producer)
* Faith – Kevin Yazzie

Best Hawaiian Music Album

* 'Ikena – Tia Carrere & Daniel Ho
* 'Aumakua – Amy Hanaiali'i
* Force of Nature – Led Kaapana & Mike Kaawa
* Hawaiian Slack Key Kings Masters Series Vol. II – Various Artists (Chris Lau & Milton Lau, producers)
* The Spirit of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar – Various Artists (Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Dennis Kamakahi, Paul Konwiser & Wayne Wong, producers)

Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album

* Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – BeauSoleil & Michael Doucet
* From Now On – Michael Doucet
* Homage Au Passé – Pine Leaf Boys
* Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
* Cedric Watson – Cedric Watson

Reggae field

Best Reggae Album

* Jah Is Real – Burning Spear
* Let's Get Physical – Elephant Man
* Vibes – Heavy D
* Repentance – Lee "Scratch" Perry
* Intoxication – Shaggy
* Amazing – Sly & Robbie

World Music field

Best Traditional World Music Album

* Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey – Debashish Bhattacharya
* The Mandé Variations – Toumani Diabaté
* Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
* Dancing in the Light – Lakshmi Shankar

Best Contemporary World Music Album

* Shake Away – Lila Downs
* Banda Larga Cordel – Gilberto Gil
* Global Drum Project – Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju & Giovanni Hidalgo
* Rokku Mi Rokka (Give and Take) – Youssou N'Dour
* Live at the Nelson Mandela Theater – Soweto Gospel Choir

Polka field

Best Polka Album

* El Maestro del Acordeón y Sus Polkas – Paulino Bernal
* Speechless – LynnMarie & Charlie Kelley As The Boxhounds
* Back to Back Hall of Fame Polkas – Walter Ostanek & His Band, Jerry Darlak & The Touch And Bob Kravos & His Band
* Hungry for More – Polka Family Band
* Let the Whole World Sing – Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra

Children's Music field

Best Musical Album For Children

* Beethoven's Wig 4: Dance Along Symphonies – Beethoven's Wig
* Big Round World – Trout Fishing in America
* Here Come the 123s – They Might Be Giants
* Here Comes Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could – Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could
* The Shoe Bird – Gerard Schwarz Conducting the Seattle Symphony

Best Spoken Word Album for Children

* Around the Campfire – Buck Howdy With BB
* The Big One-Oh – Dean Pitchford
* Brown Bear and Friends – Gwyneth Paltrow
* The Cricket in Times Square – Tony Shalhoub
* Yes To Running! Bill Harley Live – Bill Harley

Spoken Word field

Best Spoken Word Album

* An Inconvenient Truth – Beau Bridges, Cynthia Nixon & Blair Underwood
* Born Standing Up – Steve Martin
* I Am America (And So Can You!) – Stephen Colbert (& Various Artists)
* Life Beyond Measure – Sidney Poitier
* When You Are Engulfed in Flames – David Sedaris

Comedy field

Best Comedy Album

* Anticipation – Lewis Black
* Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords
* For Your Consideration – Kathy Griffin
* It's Bad for Ya – George Carlin
* Songs of the Bushmen – Harry Shearer

Musical Show field

Best Musical Show Album

* Gypsy – 2008 Broadway Cast with Patti LuPone & Others
o Robert Sher, producer (Jule Styne, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist)
* In the Heights – Original Broadway Cast with Lin-Manuel Miranda & Others
o Kurt Deutsch, Alex Lacamoire, Andrés Levin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joel Moss & Bill Sherman, producers; Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer/lyricist
* The Little Mermaid – Original Broadway Cast with Sierra Boggess, Tituss Burgess & Others
o Bruce Botnick, Michael Kosarin, Alan Menken & Chris Montan, producers; Alan Menken, composer; Glenn Slater, lyricist (Howard Ashman, lyricist)
* South Pacific – New Broadway Cast with Kelli O'Hara, Paulo Szot & Others
o David Caddick, David Lai & Ted Sperling, producers (Richard Rodgers, composer; Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist)
* Young Frankenstein – Original Broadway Cast with Roger Bart, Megan Mullally, Sutton Foster & Others
o Doug Besterman, producer; Mel Brooks, composer/lyricist

Soundtrack field

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

* American Gangster
* August Rush
* Juno
* Mamma Mia!
* Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Best Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

* The Dark Knight
o James Newton Howard & Hans Zimmer, composers
* Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
o John Williams, composer
* Iron Man
o Ramin Djawadi, composer
* There Will Be Blood
o Jonny Greenwood, composer
* WALL-E
o Thomas Newman, composer

Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

* Down to Earth (from WALL-E) – Peter Gabriel
o Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman, songwriters
* Ever Ever After (from Enchanted) – Carrie Underwood
o Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz, songwriters
* Say (from The Bucket List) – John Mayer
o John Mayer, songwriter
* That's How You Know (from Enchanted) – Amy Adams
o Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz, songwriters
* Walk Hard (from Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) – John C. Reilly
o Judd Apatow, Marshall Crenshaw, Jake Kasdan & John C. Reilly, songwriters

Composing / Arranging field

Best Instrumental Composition

* "The Adventures of Mutt" (From "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull") – John Williams
o John Williams, composer
* "Alegria" – Chick Corea & Gary Burton
o Chick Corea, composer
* "Claire's Closet" – Yellowjackets featuring Mike Stern
o Russell Ferrante, composer
* "Danzón De Etiqueta" – Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin
o Dave Grusin, composer
* "Hit The Ground Running" – Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band
o Gordon Goodwin, composer

Best Instrumental Arrangement

* "Define Dancing" (From "WALL-E") – Thomas Newman
o Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman, arrangers
* "Down in the Valley" – Frank Macchia featuring The Prague Orchestra
o Frank Macchia, arranger
* "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" – Joe Lovano with WDR Big Band & Rundfunk Orchestra
o Michael Abene, arranger
* "St. Louis Blues" – The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
o Bob Brookmeyer, arranger
* "Yesterdays" – Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band featuring Art Tatum
o Gordon Goodwin, arranger

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

* "Alfie" – Traincha & The Metropole Orchestra
o Vince Mendoza, arranger
* "Grace" – Take 6
o Cedric Dent, arranger
* "Here's That Rainy Day" – Natalie Cole
o Nan Schwartz, arranger
* "Johnny One Note" – John Pizzarelli
o Don Sebesky, arranger
* "Lazy Afternoon" – Danilo Perez
o Claus Ogerman, arranger

Package field

Best Recording Package

* Death Magnetic – Bruce Duckworth, Sarah Moffatt & David Turner, art directors (Metallica)
* Hawk Nelson...Is My Friend! – Don Clark, art director (Hawk Nelson)
* Nouns – No Age & Brian Roettinger, art directors (No Age)
* Radio Retaliation – Neal Ashby, Matthew Curry & Patrick Donohue, art directors (Thievery Corporation)
* Summer Rains – Amanda Barrett, Abby DeWald, Renee Jablow & Rick Whitmore, art directors (The Ditty Bops)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

* Ghosts I–IV – Jeff Anderson, Trent Reznor & Rob Sheridan, art directors (Nine Inch Nails)
* In Rainbows – Stanley Donwood, Mel Maxwell & Xian Munro, art directors (Radiohead)
* Poems & Songs – Qing-Yang Xiao, art director (Wu Sheng)
* Pretty. Odd. – Alex Kirzhner & Panic At The Disco, art directors (Panic At The Disco)
* @#%&*! Smilers – Aimee Mann & Gail Marowitz, art directors (Aimee Mann)

Album notes field

Best Album Notes

* Art Of Field Recording Volume I: Fifty Years Of Traditional American Music – Documented By Art Rosenbaum; Art Rosenbaum, album notes writer (Various Artists)
* Debate '08: Taft And Bryan Campaign On The Edison Phonograph – Patrick Feaster & David Giovannoni, album notes writers (William Jennings Bryan & William Howard Taft)
* Kind Of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition – Francis Davis, album notes writer (Miles Davis)
* Rare & Unreleased Recordings From The Golden Reign Of The Queen Of Soul – David Ritz & Jerry Wexler, album notes writers (Aretha Franklin)
* The Unsung Father Of Country Music: 1925-1934 – Henry "Hank" Sapoznik, album notes writer (Ernest V. Stoneman)

Historical field

Best Historical Album

* Art Of Field Recording Volume I: Fifty Years Of Traditional American Music – Documented By Art Rosenbaum; Steven Lance Ledbetter & Art Rosenbaum, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
* Classic Columbia, OKeh And Vocalion Lester Young With Count Basie (1936-1940) – Scott Wenzel, compilation producer; Malcolm Addey, Michael Brooks, Matt Cavaluzzo, Andreas Meyer & Mark Wilder, mastering engineers (Lester Young With Count Basie)
* Debate '08: Taft And Bryan Campaign On The Edison Phonograph – David Giovannoni, Meagan Hennessey & Richard Martin, compilation producers; Richard Martin, mastering engineer (William Jennings Bryan & William Howard Taft)
* Polk Miller & His Old South Quartette – Ken Flaherty, Jr., compilation producer; Marcos Sueiro Bal, Ken Flaherty, Jr., Kurt Nauck & Glenn Sage, mastering engineers (Polk Miller & His Old South Quartette)
* To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story – Richard Seidel, compilation producer; Mark G. Wilder, mastering engineer (Nina Simone)

Production, Non-Classical field

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

* Consolers of the Lonely – The Raconteurs
o Joe Chiccarelli, Vance Powell & Jack White III, engineers
* Just A Little Lovin' – Shelby Lynne
o Al Schmitt, engineer
* Lay It Down – Al Green
o Jimmy Douglass, Russell "The Dragon" Elevado & John Smeltz, engineers
* Still Unforgettable – Natalie Cole
o Steve Genewick, Al Schmitt & Bill Schnee, engineers
* We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. – Jason Mraz
o Dyre Gormsen & Tony Maserati, engineers

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

* Danger Mouse
o Attack & Release (The Black Keys)
o Modern Guilt (Beck)
o The Odd Couple (Gnarls Barkley)
* Nigel Godrich
o In Rainbows (Radiohead)
* Johnny K
o Big Bad World (Plain White T's)
o The Illusion of Progress (Staind)
o Light from Above (Black Tide)
o 3 Doors Down (3 Doors Down)
* Rick Rubin
o Death Magnetic (Metallica)
o Home Before Dark (Neil Diamond)
o Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy) (Ours)
o Seeing Things (Jakob Dylan)
o Weezer (Red Album) (Weezer)
* will.i.am
o "American Boy" (Estelle featuring Kanye West)
o Encanto (Sergio Mendes)
o "Funky Bahia" (Sergio Mendes featuring will.i.am & Siedah Garrett)
o "In the Ayer" (Flo Rida featuring will.i.am)
o "Pick It Up" (Fergie)
o "Picture Perfect" (Chris Brown featuring will.i.am)
o "What's Your Name" (Usher featuring will.i.am)

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

* "Closer" (StoneBridge Radio Edit)
o StoneBridge, remixer (Ne-Yo)
* "Electric Feel" (Justice Remix)
o Justice, remixers (MGMT)
* "4 Minutes" (Junkie XL Remix)
o Junkie XL, remixer (Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland)
* "Just Fine" (Moto Blanco Remix)
o Moto Blanco, remixers (Mary J. Blige)
* "The Longest Road" (Deadmau5 Remix)
o Deadmau5, remixer (Morgan Page featuring Lissie)


Best Surround Sound Album
(For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.)


* Divertimenti
Morten Lindberg & Hans Peter L'Orange, surround mix engineers; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Øyvind Gimse & TrondheimSolistene)
[2L]




* Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition; Night On Bald Mountain; Prelude To Khovanshchina
Michael Bishop, surround mix engineer; Michael Bishop, surround mastering engineer; Robert Woods, surround producer (Paavo Järvi & Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
[Telarc]



* Rheinberger: Sacred Choral Works
John Newton, surround mix engineer; Jonathan Cooper & Mark Donahue, surround mastering engineers; Blanton Alspaugh, surround producer (Charles Bruffy, Phoenix Bach Choir & Kansas City Chorale)
[Chandos]



* Ringo 5.1 The Surround Sound Collection
Bruce Sugar, surround mix engineer; Chris Bellman, surround mastering engineer; Bill Crowley, Ringo Starr & Bruce Sugar, surround producers (Ringo Starr)
[Koch]



* Sensurround + B-Sides
Tohru Takayama, surround mix engineer; Keigo Oyamada, surround producer (Cornelius)
[Everloving]

Field 29 — Production, Classical

Best Engineered Album, Classical
(An Engineer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.))


* Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Fred Vogler, engineer (Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic)
[Deutsche Grammophon]



* Divertimenti
Morten Lindberg & Hans Peter L'Orange, engineers (Øyvind Gimse & TrondheimSolistene)
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]



* Puccini: La Bohème
Michael Bishop, engineer (Robert Spano & Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus)
[Telarc]



* Respighi: Church Windows, Brazilian Impressions, Rossiniana
John Newton, engineer (JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
[Naxos]




* Traditions And Transformations: Sounds Of Silk Road Chicago
David Frost, Tom Lazarus & Christopher Willis, engineers (Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Alan Gilbert, Silk Road Ensemble, Wu Man, Yo-Yo Ma & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
[CSO Resound]

Category 97

Producer Of The Year, Classical
(A Producer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)



* David Frost
o Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic)
o Right Through The Bone — Julius Röntgen Chamber Music (ARC Ensemble)
o Schubert: Sonata In D Maj.; Liszt: Don Juan Fantasy (Min Kwon)
o Traditions And Transformations: Sounds Of Silk Road Chicago (Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Alan Gilbert, Yo-Yo Ma, Silk Road Ensemble, Wu Man & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)




* David Groves
o Baroque (Gabriela Montero)
o Beethoven: Piano Sonatas (Jonathan Biss)
o Polish Spirit (Nigel Kennedy & Jacek Kaspszyk)
o Respighi: Roman Trilogy, Il Tramonto (Antonio Pappano)
o Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 (Martha Argerich)




* Judith Sherman
o Carter, Elliott: String Quartets Nos. 1 And 5 (Pacifica Quartet)
o Piano Music Of Salonen, Stucky And Lutoslawski (Gloria Cheng)
o Reich: Daniel Variations (Grant Gershon, Alan Pierson, Los Angeles Master Chorale & London Sinfonietta)
o Riley, Terry: The Cusp Of Magic (Kronos Quartet & Wu Man)
o String Poetic (Jennifer Koh & Reiko Uchida)




* Robert Woods
o Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition, Night On Bald Mountain, Prelude To Khovanshchina (Paavo Järvi & Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
o Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5, Lieutenant Kijé Suite (Paavo Järvi & Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
o Puccini: La Bohème (Robert Spano & Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus)
o Ravel: Boléro (Erich Kunzel & Cincinnati Pops Orchestra)
o Revolutionary (Cameron Carpenter)




* Robina G. Young
o Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 18, Nos. 1-6 (Tokyo String Quartet)
o Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 'Eroica' (Andrew Manze & Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra)
o Birds On Fire (Fretwork)
o Heavenly Harmonies (Stile Antico)
o Scattered Rhymes (Paul Hillier, Orlando Consort & The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir)

Field 30 — Classical

Best Classical Album
(Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s) if other than the Artist.)


* Maria
Cecilia Bartoli; Christopher Raeburn, producer; Wolf-Dieter Karwatky & Philip Siney, engineers/mixers (Adam Fischer; Orchestra La Scintilla)
[Decca Records]



* O'Regan, Tarik: Threshold Of Night
Craig Hella Johnson, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer; John Newton, engineer/mixer; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Company Of Strings; Company Of Voices & Conspirare)
[Harmonia Mundi]



* Schoenberg/Sibelius: Violin Concertos
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Hilary Hahn; Sid McLauchlan & Arend Prohmann, producers; Stephan Flock, engineer/mixer (Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra)
[Deutsche Grammophon]



* Spotless Rose: Hymns To The Virgin Mary
Charles Bruffy, conductor; Phoenix Chorale; Blanton Alspaugh, producer; John Newton, engineer/mixer; Jonathan Cooper & Mark Donahue, mastering engineers
[Chandos]




* Weill: Rise And Fall Of The City Of Mahagonny
James Conlon, conductor; Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone & Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler, producer (Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich & Robert Wörle; Los Angeles Opera Chorus; Los Angeles Opera Orchestra)
[EuroArts]

Category 99

Best Orchestral Performance
(Award to the Conductor and to the Orchestra.)


* D'Indy: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1
Rumon Gamba, conductor (Iceland Symphony Orchestra)
[Chandos]



* Glazunov: Symphony No. 6, La Mer, Introduction And Dance From Salome
José Serebrier, conductor (Royal Scottish National Orchestra)
[Warner Classics & Jazz]



* Prokofiev: Scythian Suite, Op. 20
Alan Gilbert, conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Track from: Traditions And Transformations: Sounds Of Silk Road Chicago
[CSO Resound]




* Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4
Bernard Haitink, conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
[CSO Resound]



* Walden, Chris: Symphony No. 1, The Four Elements
Chris Walden, conductor (Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra)
[Origin Classical]

Category 100

Best Opera Recording
(Award to the Conductor, Album Producer(s) and Principal Soloists.)


* Tan Dun: The First Emperor
Tan Dun, conductor; Michelle DeYoung, Plácido Domingo, Elizabeth Futral, Paul Groves, Wu Hsing-Kuo & Hao Jiang Tian; Jay David Saks, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
[EMI Classics]



* Lully: Psyché
Paul O´Dette & Stephen Stubbs, conductors; Colin Balzer, Karina Gauvin, Carolyn Sampson & Aaron Sheehan; Renate Wolter-Seevers, producer (Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra; Boston Early Music Festival Chorus)
[CPO]



* Monteverdi: L'Orfeo
Rinaldo Alessandrini, conductor; Sara Mingardo, Monica Piccinini, Anna Simboli & Furio Zanasi; Jean-Pierre Loisil, producer (Concerto Italiano)
[Naive Classique]



* Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin
Valery Gergiev, conductor; Renée Fleming, Dmitri Hvorostovsky & Ramón Vargas; Jay David Saks, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
[Decca]




* Weill: Rise And Fall Of The City Of Mahagonny
James Conlon, conductor; Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone & Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler, producer (Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich & Robert Wörle; Los Angeles Opera Orchestra; Los Angeles Opera Chorus)
[EuroArts]

Category 101

Best Choral Performance
(Award to the Choral Conductor, and to the Orchestra Conductor if an Orchestra is on the recording, and to the Choral Director or Chorus Master if applicable.)


* O'Regan, Tarik: Threshold Of Night
Craig Hella Johnson, conductor (Company Of Strings; Company Of Voices & Conspirare)
[Harmonia Mundi]



* Rheinberger: Sacred Choral Works
Charles Bruffy, conductor (Kansas City Chorale & Phoenix Bach Choir)
[Chandos]




* Symphony Of Psalms
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor; Simon Halsey, chorus master (Berliner Philharmoniker; Rundfunkchor Berlin)
Track from: Stravinsky: Symphonies
[EMI Classics]



* Szymanowski, Karol: Stabat Mater
Antoni Wit, conductor; Henryk Wojnarowski, chorus master (Jaroslaw Brek, Iwona Hossa & Ewa Marciniec; Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra; Warsaw Philharmonic Choir)
[Naxos]



* Tippett: A Child Of Our Time
Colin Davis, conductor; Joseph Cullen, chorus master (Steve Davislim, Mihoko Fujimura, Matthew Rose & Indra Thomas; London Symphony Orchestra; London Symphony Chorus)
[LSO Live]

Category 102

Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)
(Award to the Instrumental Soloist(s) and to the Conductor.)


* Bloch/Lees:Violin Concertos
John McLaughlin Williams, conductor; Elmar Oliveira (National Symphony Orchestra Of Ukraine)
[Artek]



* Harrison: Pipa Concerto
Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor; Wu Man (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Track from: Traditions And Transformations: Sounds Of Silk Road Chicago
[CSO Resound]



* Mozart: Piano Concertos 17 & 20
Leif Ove Andsnes (Norwegian Chamber Orchestra)
[EMI Classics]



* Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos 2 & 5
Charles Dutoit, conductor; Jean-Yves Thibaudet (L'Orchestre De La Suisse Romande)
[Decca Records]




* Schoenberg/Sibelius: Violin Concertos
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Hilary Hahn (Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra)
[Deutsche Grammophon]

Category 103

Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra)
(Award to the Instrumental Soloist.)


* In A State Of Jazz
Marc-André Hamelin
[Hyperion]




* Piano Music Of Salonen, Stucky, And Lutoslawski
Gloria Cheng
[Telarc]



* Red Cliff Capriccio
Wei Li
[First Impression Music]



* Revolutionary
Cameron Carpenter
[Telarc]



* Strange Toys
Joan Jeanrenaud
[Talking House Records]

Category 104

Best Chamber Music Performance
(Award to the Artists.)


* Brahms: String Quartet Op. 51, No. 2, Piano Quintet Op. 34
Stephen Hough; Takács Quartet
[Hyperion]




* Carter, Elliott: String Quartets Nos. 1 And 5
Pacifica Quartet
[Naxos]



* Folk Songs
Trio Mediaeval
[ECM New Series]



* Right Through The Bone — Julius Röntgen Chamber Music
ARC Ensemble
[RCA Red Seal]



* String Poetic
Jennifer Koh & Reiko Uchida
[Cedille Records]

Category 105

Best Small Ensemble Performance
(Award to the Ensemble (and to the Conductor.))


* Divertimenti
Øyvind Gimse, conductor; TrondheimSolistene
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]



* Tan Dun: Pipa Concerto; Hayashi: Viola Concerto; Takemitsu: Nostalgia
Roman Balashov, conductor; Yuri Bashmet; Moscow Soloists (Wu Man)
[Onyx Classics]



* Im Wunderschoenen Monat Mai
Reinbert De Leeuw, conductor; Barbara Sukowa; Schoenberg Ensemble
[Winter & Winter]



* Monk: Impermanence
Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble
[ECM New Series]




* Spotless Rose: Hymns To The Virgin Mary
Charles Bruffy, conductor; Phoenix Chorale
[Chandos]

Category 106

Best Classical Vocal Performance
(Award to the Vocal Soloist(s).)



* Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems Of Bob Dylan
Hila Plitmann (JoAnn Falletta; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
[Naxos]



* Fussell, Charles: Wilde
Sanford Sylvan (Gil Rose; Boston Modern Orchestra Project)
[BMOP/Sound]



* Gomidas Songs
Isabel Bayrakdarian (Eduard Topchjan; Serouj Kradjian; Chamber Players Of The Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra)
[Nonesuch Records]



* Maria
Cecilia Bartoli (Adam Fischer; Orchestra La Scintilla)
[Decca Records]



* Terezín: Theresienstadt
Anne Sofie Von Otter (Christian Gerhaher & Daniel Hope; Bengt Forsberg & Gerold Huber)
[Deutsche Grammophon]

Category 107

Best Classical Contemporary Composition
(A Composer's Award. (For a contemporary classical composition composed within the last 25 years, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year.) Award to the librettist, if applicable.)


* Dalbavie: Concerto Pour Flûte
Marc-André Dalbavie (Peter Eötvös)
Track from: Dalbavie/Jarrell/Pintscher: Flute Concertos
[EMI Classics]



* Gandolfi: The Garden Of Cosmic Speculation
Michael Gandolfi (Robert Spano)
[Telarc]




* Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems Of Bob Dylan
John Corigliano (JoAnn Falletta)
Track from: Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems Of Bob Dylan
[Naxos]



* Violin Concerto No. 2
George Tsontakis (Douglas Boyd)
Track from: Tsontakis: Violin Concerto No. 2, Clair De Lune
[Koch Int'l Clasiscs]



* Walden, Chris: Symphony No. 1, The Four Elements
Chris Walden (Chris Walden)
[Origin Classical]

Best Classical Crossover Album
(Award to the Artist(s) and/or to the Conductor.)


* Baroque
Gabriela Montero
[EMI Classics]



* Indigo Road
Ronn McFarlane
[Dorian Sono Luminus]



* Olde School
East Village Opera Company
[Decca Records]



* The Othello Syndrome
Uri Caine Ensemble
[Winter & Winter]




* Simple Gifts
The King's Singers
[Signum Records]

Music videos field

Best Short Form Music Video

* "Honey" – Erykah Badu
o Erykah Badu & Mr. Roboto, video directors; Megan Gutman, video producer
* "Who's Gonna Save My Soul" – Gnarls Barkley
o Chris Milk, video director; Anne Johnson, video producer
* "Another Way to Die" – Alicia Keys & Jack White
o PR Brown & MK12, video directors; Mick Ebeling, Sheira Rees-Davies & Jane Tredget, video producers
* "House of Cards" – Radiohead
o James Frost, video director; Dawn Fanning, video producer
* "Pork and Beans" – Weezer
o Mathew Cullen, video director; Bernard Rahill, video producer

Best Long Form Music Video

* "Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles" – John Mayer
o Danny Clinch, video director; Lindha Narvaez, video producer
* "Runnin' Down a Dream" – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
o Peter Bogdanovich, video director; Skot Bright, video producer
* "Good Girl Gone Bad Live" – Rihanna
o Paul Caslin, video director; John Paveley, Ruth Paveley & Rupert Style, video producers
* "Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story" – Various Artists
o Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville, video directors; Mark Crosby, Robert Gordon & Morgan Neville, video producers
* "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" – The Who
o Paul Crowder & Murray Lerner, video directors; Murray Lerner, Robert Rosenberg & Nigel Sinclair, video producers



Visit the following to view the 51st Grammy Awards Nominees. Check the following link to watch the 51st Grammy Awards Live: 51st Grammy Awards Live.

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Rihanna Beaten: Chris Brown Arrested

Rihanna who had seemingly a fairytale romance with fellow music superstar Chris Brown was allegedly beaten. What is known with certainty is that Chris Brown was arrested as a part of an investigation for alleged domestic violence felony battery. See photos and video here.

Both Chris Brown and Rihanna canceled their performances at the 2009 Grammy Awards. Replacing them was a duet of “Let’s Stay Together” by Justin Timberlake and Al Green. Ironic though coincidental choice of songs in these circumstances.

That same night, February 8, 2009, Chris Brown was arrested. The arrest was confirmed by LAPD and caught on tape by TMZ. However, as per law, the victim’s identity is not released as anyone involved in an incident of domestic violence is entitled to confidentiality. He was later released from police custody after posting $50,000 bail.

There was no confirmation or denial from Rihanna, only a vaguely worded statement from her publicist: “Rihanna is well. Thank you for your concern and support.”

Along with the aforementioned Grammy performances canceled. The singers had last appeared together Saturday night at the star-studded Clive Davis pre-Grammy party in Beverly Hills. Both of the chart-topping, internationally known singers are quite young; Chris Brown(”Forever”) is 19 and Rihanna (”Disturbia,” “Don’t Stop the Music”) is a few days away from her 21st birthday. Prior to this disturbing incident they had been the delight (and paycheck) of paparazzi with their occasional episodes of public affection, charming coyness and matching tattoos. The story is developing.

More photos and video are below.

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Robert Plant reaps Grammy glory

The Grammy Awards have a funny way with vindication these days.

Four decades after his hard-rock howl earned the scorn of critics and the neglect of the rock establishment, Robert Plant got a little justice from his peers Sunday night.

With collaborator Alison Krauss, the former Led Zeppelin front man racked up five Grammy wins to assemble a quietly dominant night at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. The duo’s album of ethereal Americana music, “Raising Sand,” garnered solid reviews when it was released 17 months ago. Sunday it became the music industry’s focal point, providing Plant and Krauss with trophies for album of the year, record of the year and best pop collaboration, among others.

“Good things happen out of nowhere,” said T-Bone Burnett, the producer who groomed the Plant-Krauss collaboration and played guitar on most of the album’s tracks.

“I’m bewildered,” Plant said. “It’s a good way to spend a Sunday.”

Krauss’ five trophies propelled the 37-year-old fiddler ahead of Motown legend Stevie Wonder on the all-time winners list. The onetime teenage prodigy, who began racking up her Grammy wins in the early 1990s, now boasts 26 -- good for third best in history, behind George Solti (31) and Quincy Jones (27).

Plant’s triumph at age 60 fits an ongoing Grammy trend of atonement for older artists at the expense of top-selling younger acts. Led Zeppelin was the best-selling band of its era, but earned little contemporary respect beyond its massive base of teenage hard-rock fans. Sunday night was the latest in what’s been a gradual embrace of Zeppelin and Plant by the mainstream music establishment during the past decade.

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant arrive at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Sunday’s two runner-ups were the highest-profile acts of ’08: Lil Wayne grabbed four awards, including best rap album, for his stellar disc “Tha Carter III,” while Coldplay took song of the year for “Viva la Vida” and best rock album for the disc of that name.

The British quartet didn’t need an album of the year win to shore up its claim as the world’s biggest rock band, but it certainly wouldn’t have hurt the cause. Front man Chris Martin, meantime, seemed eager to preempt criticism of the group’s win in the best rock album category, where it topped such heavy hitters as Metallica.

“We’re not, of course, the heaviest of rock bands, as you may have noticed,” he said. “We’re more of the limestone kind of rock: a little softer, but just as charming.”

It was an appropriately humble, milquetoast sort of moment for the 51st Grammys. Sunday was one of the most sizzle-free Grammy events in recent memory, marked by tepid live performances, unmemorable acceptance speeches and low-key presenters with dud jokes.

Fittingly for an era of splintered music tastes, it was a Grammy show with no overarching theme -- and few dazzling moments. A forgettable opening hour included a limp leadoff set by U2, which performed its go-nowhere new single “Get On Your Boots.”

This was mostly a night for familiar music figures, but there were a few new faces to be seen. British neo-soul singer Adele, chomping gum and choking back tears, took the best new artist trophy while giving props to fellow rookies Duffy and the Jonas Brothers.

Keeping with a tradition established earlier in the decade, the 31/2-hour ceremony was presented without a main host. The maneuver keeps the gala moving briskly -- and offers face time to a wider assortment of stars -- but it also leaves the Grammy show without a real center. Late-night comedian Craig Ferguson’s brief but spirited slot as presenter was a quick reminder what a charismatic emcee can bring to the affair.

The Jonases tried to grab an injection of credibility via Wonder, who manned a keyboard and swapped vocals with the teen sensations on “Burnin’ Up” and his own “Superstition.” Wonder seemed game for the moment, but the medley of chirpy funk fell flat.

Performance highlights included a lovely, powerful rendition of “You Pulled Me Through” by Jennifer Hudson, who capped a dramatic year by winning best R&B album. Iconic British band Radiohead, in its first U.S. television appearance in nearly a decade, delivered a pulsing, sublime performance of “15 Step” with -- yes -- the University of Southern California marching band.

Detroit’s Kid Rock once again got shut out by the Recording Academy’s 11,000 voters -- missing out on trophies for best rock album and male pop performance.

Dressed for the occasion in a sharp modern suit and hat, hair pulled back in a ponytail, he whipped up a vigorous medley of songs from his “Rock N Roll Jesus” album, with a shout-out to late Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell.

Smokey Robinson joined young bucks Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo as vocal accompaniment for a wide-grinning Detroiter Abdul (Duke) Fakir, as the ad hoc quartet performed a brisk medley of Four Tops tunes to mark the Motown group’s lifetime achievement award.

This morning’s water-cooler talking points will include Whitney Houston, making her biggest public appearance since leaving husband Bobby Brown two years ago and undergoing rehabilitation for drug addiction. The 45-year-old looked far healthier than she did earlier this decade, eliciting a standing ovation as she stepped out to present the best R&B album award. But Grammy viewers were sure to have noticed what seemed to be slurred speech and a halting manner from the former pop queen.

But the real chatter will involve a pair of no-shows. R&B power couple Chris Brown and Rihanna didn’t make their scheduled appearance after a long day of rumors about a violent domestic dispute the previous night. Brown surrendered to Los Angeles police Sunday, according to several media outlets, and was reported to be free on a $50,000 bail.

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SMOKEY ROBINSON - SMOKEY URGES KANYE TO 'CHILL OUT'

Soul man SMOKEY ROBINSON has sent a stern message to KANYE WEST - "relax".The Motown great is disappointed West rages about missing out on Grammys and MTV music honours at big awards shows - because the rapper should be grateful he's in showbusiness.
Robinson admits he hasn't always been a winner, but he has learned to accept losing with grace - and he urges West to do the same.

In a pre-Grammy Awards chat with Los Angeles DJ Valentine, the Tears of A Clown singer said, "Showbusiness is not that kind of business. Showbusiness is up and down and in and out and over and under and you have to be prepared for that if you're gonna be a part of it.

"Kanye's a great young artist, so just relax... Even to be nominated is a blessing."
Rapper West has made a name for himself as a sore loser, threatening to boycott awards shows that don't honour him and taking to the stage to protest others' wins over him.

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M.I.A. Pregnant (Pictures)

British/Sri Lankan star M.I.A. is pregnant, although her rep has not confirmed the pregnancy as of yet. M.I.A., 31, was photographed on October 11 in Brooklyn, New York performing with rapper T.I. and N.E.R.D. Obviously those rumors of M.I.A. being pregnant are true. The father is said to be singer and guitarist Benjamin Brewer.

M.I.A., whose real name is Mathangi Arulpragasam, performed at the 30th anniversary celebration of designer denim brand Diesel in New York on Saturday night.

The even photos show M.I.A., 31, holding her pregnant belly throughout her show, as she performed with T.I. and N.E.R.D.

There have been rumors of M.I.A.’s pregnancy after she canceled her European tour in June of 2008. Around the same time she said she planned to marry “The Exit” singer/guitarist Benjamin Brewer.

M.I.A.’s spokesperson has not yet commented on the pregnancy reports.

Click Thumbnails for Larger Images

Here’s a video of M.I.A. from the Diesel show:

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M.I.A. Says Baby Was 'Getting His Swagga On' During Grammys

M.I.A. Says Baby Was 'Getting His Swagga On' During Grammys
Pregnant MC also discusses her 'Slumdog Millionaire' Oscar nomination on the red carpet.

Before a very pregnant M.I.A. graced the stage at the Grammy Awards on Sunday (February 8), she told us her baby was poised to be a hip-hop star. That makes sense, because he's already hit the stage with Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I. and Lil Wayne (not to mention his MC mom) for their "Swagga Like Us" performance.

"He's getting ready for Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. So far, so good," she said on the Grammy red carpet. "I just don't know what labor is. It's my first baby. So I'm not walking around going, 'Maybe this is it.' The baby is just moving around, getting his swagga on."

On top of her performance, the mom-to-be was up for Record of the Year for her hit "Paper Planes" but lost out to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. She still has a chance to win at the Oscars for her contribution to the "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack.

More M.I.A. Pregnant (Pictures)

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Blink-182 Make Reunion Official on Grammy Stage

“Isn’t it great to see the Jonas Brothers and Stevie Wonder back together again,” blink-182’s Mark Hoppus joked as his band — together again — took the stage at the Grammy Awards to present the trophy for Best Rock Album to Coldplay. “We used to play music together, and we decided to play music together once again,” added Travis Barker. The bottom line: “Blink-182 is back.”

A statement released just after their Grammy appearance reads, “Hi. We’re blink-182. This past week there’ve been a lot of questions about the current status of the band, and we wanted you to hear it straight from us. To put it simply, We’re back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again. Friendships reformed. 17 years deep in our legacy.”

The band leave things with the words “Summer 2009. Thanks and get ready…”

The band has been officially on hiatus since February 2005; since then Tom DeLonge has gone on to form Angels & Airwaves, while Hoppus and Barker put together +44. In November 2008, after the jet crash that nearly killed Barker, Hoppus blogged that the threesome had resumed communication. “In the midst of everything else that has happened lately, Tom, Travis, and I have all spoken together,” he wrote. “First through a number of phone calls, and then a couple of weeks ago we all hung out for a few hours. … We’re just reconnecting as friends after four years of not talking.” The band’s next album would be their first since 2003’s blink-182.

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Chandra Grahan in India on February 9 – Place and Timings of February 2009 Lunar Eclipse

Chandra Grahan, which according to NASA is a penumbral (partial) lunar eclipse, will be visible on February 9, 2009 in India. In penumbral eclipse there will be a partial shadow of earth on the moon. The Eclipse will be visible at Moonrise along the western coast of India in cities like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Cochin, Trivandrum, Pune and Chennai. Partial lunar eclipse will be visible in Kolkata, Patna, Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Lucknow, Delhi, Shimla, Bhopal and Srinagar.

The timing of the Penumbral eclipse according to NASA in all places in India is given from 18:09 to 22:08. Middle Eclipse will be at 20:08.

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What to do during Chandra Grahan and the map of lunar eclipse in February 2009

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Mumbai police seeks FBI's help on VoIP proof in 26/11

As Mumbai police is finalising its chargesheet in the 26/11 terror strike cases, the crime branch has approached the FBI for help in attaching the proof of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services being used by terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba with their masters in port-city of Karachi in Pakistan.

While Mumbai's crime branch has maintained a studied silence over the filing of chargesheet, sources in investigating agencies said the US investigating agency's help had been sought in sharing the proofs like call details made through VoIP and from the Satellite phone.

Though the case is water-tight but these kind of proofs would further nail Pakistan's claims that the conspiracy of 26/11 was not hatched in that country, senior officials in the investigation agency said, adding the Islamabad's claims that the conspiracy was hatched in Bangladesh was absolutely wrong.

India and the United States share a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) which came into effect on December three, 2005.

According to the treaty, the ability of the two countries to pursue their common objective of law enforcement of putting in place a legal mechanism to enable them to provide to each other assistance in connection with the investigation, prosecution, prevention and suppression of crime including those relating to terrorism.

source

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GATE 2009 Key | GATE 2009 Analysis | Solutions

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2009 will be held on February 8, 2009 from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.

* GATE 2009 Answerkey, Solutions (IES made easy)
* GATE 2009 Answerkey, Solutions (Gatementor)
* Gate overview, Sample papers, analysis (Onestop Gate)

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an all-India examination administered and conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technology
on behalf of the National Coordinating Board - GATE, Department of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India.

GATE - Websites :
http://gate.iisc.ernet.in/
http://www.iitd.ac.in/gate
Related : gate 2009 answers, gate 2009 answer key, gate 2009 solutions, gate 2009, gate 2009 solution

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100% perfect Grammy Awards predictions

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
"Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," Coldplay
"Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne
"Year of the Gentleman," Ne-Yo
X - "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
"In Rainbows," Radiohead

RECORD OF THE YEAR
(Award to the Recording Artist)
"Chasing Pavements," Adele
X - "Viva La Vida," Coldplay
"Bleeding Love," Leona Lewis
"Paper Planes," M.I.A
"Please Read the Letter," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

SONG OF THE YEAR
(Award to the Songwriter)
"American Boy," (Estelle Featuring Kanye West) William Adams, Keith Harris, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, John Stephens, Estelle Swaray & Kanye West, songwriters
"Chasing Pavements" (Adele) Adele Adkins & Eg White, songwriters
"I'm Yours" (Jason Mraz) Jason Mraz, songwriter
"Love Song" (Sara Bareilles) Sara Bareilles, songwriter
X - "Viva La Vida" (Coldplay) Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters

The only suspense in the top Grammys races is which awards will be doled out to Coldplay and which ones to the duo of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Will Plant/Krauss claim best album, as seems logical, leaving the prize for best record to Coldplay? Or the other way around? Or will one team sweep both races?

Remember back in 2002 when virtually all Grammy pundits thought Alicia Keys would win best record for "Fallin'"? It was widely expected that she'd also win best song too. The two awards agree about 60% of the time. If those two Grammy categories split, pundits figured that Alicia Keys at least would keep best record and U2 would siphon off the song victory for "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of," which was Bono's lament of the suicide of his pal Michael Hutchence, late lead singer of INXS.

The latter tune wasn't up for best record, though. A different U2 tune was — "Walk On," which was about Burmese activist Aung San Suu Kyi, but it was widely adopted as an inspiring anthem of endurance about Sept. 11 attack by terrorists on the World Trade Center.

What happened? A weird Grammy flip-flop. Alicia Keys won best song, but not record! That was odd. While the tune was admired for its writing, it was revered for its performance, so that didn't add up. U2 won best record for "Walk On." Nobody saw that coming.

Veterans tend to win the album award (Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles, Steely Dan in recent years), so it's believed that Plant's team takes that this year. But Plant/Krauss could pull off a sweep like the Dixie Chicks did in 2007. Sweeps are common at showbiz awards. Or at least a mini-sweep might happen here. Plant/Krauss are nominated for best record, but not song. (Does Coldplay get that as consolation?) The last time a veteran chap was teamed up with a pretty young thrush in the record and song categories, he won — quite recently: Ray Charles with Norah Jones. (He won both, she just claimed the record prize.) It's possible that Coldplay could sweep all three, but unlikely. Plant/Krauss will take record or album. Probably album.

Colplay is guaranteed the best song award. No rival is strong enough to beat the hipsters there. It's just a question of whether the Brit band is strong enough to claim best record too. Indeed, they proved to be four years ago when Coldplay's "Clocks" took that Grammy crown.

Since "Viva La Vida" was such a super-hit and "Please Read the Letter" was not, that suggests Coldplay will claim best record and song, leaving the album prize to Plant/Krauss. That prediction all falls into place nicely according to past voting patterns.

What about all of those other Grammy nominees, you ask? Well, to be quite frank about it, most are there because of political correctness. A Secret Committee of "music experts" is assembled by the recording academy every year to listen to the 20 entries of music that get the most votes for best record, song, album and new artist (Grammy's top four awards — together they're known as the "General Field") from the whole membership. The committee likes to add lots of hip-hop that doesn't have a prayer to win. Rap's never won best record or song and only once took best album: "Speakerboxxx: The Love Below." Outkast had to win that year or else the whole music industry would've burnt down the normally fuddy-duddy academy.

Most pundits (who forgot about the fuddy-duddy issue) predicted "Late Registration" would win best album in 2006, but, come on, Kanye West was too creepy and In-Yo-Face for the geezer Grammy voters, which swallowed Outkast when they had to because the duo was cool in a slick establishment way, not wacky like Kanye.

Therefore, when you are looking over the top races, nix all of the hip-hoppers from your predix. Grammy voters think they already gave at the office.

Radiohead was placed here by the Secret Committee as a matter of conscience (it's a sainted band in the rock world now) and balance of music sound. No chance to win. Leona Lewis is the sexy R&B diva du jour, but she's not in the same heavyweight league as Alicia Keys or Norah Jones. So forget it. Adele is even more lightweight — she just had a nifty video and great exposure on "Saturday Night Live." Voters may give her best new artist as a consolation prize.

Just because cool, edgy music acts are nominated in these races, don't make the mistake of thinking that they must therefore have broad support across NARAS. Most of those nominees are put on the list by the Secret Committee so that the Grammys look cool, not because they're serious contenders to win.

And also they're placed there so that Tony Bennett doesn't land another top nom -- and win. The academy was so embarrassed by Bennett's best-album victory for "MTV Unplugged" in 1995 that it whipped up these Secret Committees to clean up the ballots in the future, make them look presentable, boot off any fuddy-duddies who might win before the ballots are handed off to the full academy membership for voting. When trying to predict who'll win in these top four races, you can usually throw out window dressing like Radiohead and Ne-Yo and whittle down the contenders to just a few who have a real shot.

When you go through that process of elimination in the General Field this year, you end up with Coldplay and Plant/Krauss. That's how we know they're the front-runners.

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On Darwin's 200th, a theory still in controversy

It's well known that Charles Darwin's groundbreaking theory of evolution made many people furious because it contradicted the Biblical view of creation. But few know that it also created problems for Darwin at home with his deeply religious wife, Emma.

Darwin held back the book to avoid offending his wife, said Ruth Padel, the naturalist's great-great-granddaughter. "She said he seemed to be putting God further and further off," Padel said in her north London home. "But they talked it through, and she said, "Don't change any of your ideas for fear of hurting me.'"

The 1859 publication of "On the Origin of Species" changed scientific thought forever — and generated opposition that continues to this day. It is this elegant explanation of how species evolve through natural selection that makes Darwin's 200th birthday on Feb. 12 such a major event.

More than 300 birthday celebrations are planned in Britain alone, where Darwin's face graces the 10-pound bill along with that of Queen Elizabeth II. Shrewsbury, the central England town where Darwin was born and raised, is holding a monthlong festival for its most famous son. And a permanent exhibition re-creating some of his most famous experiments is opening at Down House, his former home near London.

Many more events are planned worldwide, including the Second World Summit on evolution in the Galapagos islands in August. In Australia, the Perth Mint is putting out a special commemorative silver coin.

Even Darwin's ideological adversaries concede that he was a towering figure.

Director Bob Bloomfield poses for a portrait by the statue of British naturalist Charles Darwin ahead of an interview with the Associated Press at the Natural History Museum in London, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009. Bloomfield, special projects director at the museum, said Darwin was cautious not only because he didn't want to offend his wife, but also because he understood that the concept of man's evolution from other animals was controversial. He didn't want to present it simply as a hypothesis, but as an explanation buttressed by many observations and facts. The 1859 publication of "On the Origin of Species" changed scientific thought forever _ and generated opposition that continues to this day. It is this elegant explanation of how species evolve through natural selection that makes Darwin's 200th birthday on Feb. 12 such a major event. (AP Photo/Akira Suemori)

"He was clearly extremely important, his thinking changed the world," said Paul Taylor, a spokesman for Answers in Genesis, a prominent group that rejects Darwin's theory of evolution in favor of a literal interpretation of the Bible. "We disagree with his conclusions, with the way he made extrapolations, but he was a very careful observer and we've got a lot to be grateful for."

Bob Bloomfield, special projects director at London's Museum of Natural History, said Darwin was cautious not only because he didn't want to offend his wife, but also because he understood that the concept of man's evolution from other animals was controversial. He didn't want to present it simply as a hypothesis, but as an explanation buttressed by many observations and facts.

"He knew he had to make an absolutely iron-cast case for his theory," Bloomfield said. "He was one of the earliest true scientists where everything he was prepared to write about had to be based on evidence."

Darwin's small, handwritten diaries are on display at a major exhibit at the Museum of Natural History, as well as thousands of specimens he collected. Some came from his fabled five-year trip to South America aboard the Beagle, when he visited the remote Galapagos Islands and saw how some species had adapted to its strange, demanding environment.

The diaries offer insights into Darwin's meticulous, analytical approach. He even lists the pros and cons of getting married.

The advantages? A wife would be a constant companion, a friend in old age, and fill the house with music and feminine chitchat. The cons? Losing the freedom to come and go as he pleased and to read as much as he wanted at night. Visiting relatives. And he would have to spend money on children, not books.

After much deliberation, Darwin renounced the single life: "One cannot live this solitary life, with groggy old age, friendless & cold, & childless staring one in ones face, already beginning to wrinkle," he concluded.

It is in the diaries that Darwin's personality best comes through, said Padel, one of 72 great-great-grandchildren.

"That's where his real life was," said Padel, an acclaimed poet. "He had the most amazing sense of wonder. He was always thinking, 'How does that work?' And that led him to everything."

Once he married, Darwin turned his family into willing research assistants. He enlisted his wife to play piano to a jar of earthworms placed on the piano lid to see if they would respond to music (they didn't).

Stephen Keynes, a great-grandson, said Darwin also enlisted his children to throw flour on bees so the path of their flight could be followed. There are no reports of any of the children being stung.

"He was the most wonderful father, ever," said Keynes, 81. "He allowed his children access to his study where he was working at any time."

Darwin was also an innovator at home. He put wheels on the chair in his study so he could get to his specimens more quickly — and, bingo, the modern office chair was invented.

His passion to understand nature's unseen workings made him a frequent visitor to the London Zoo, where he made friends with an orangutan called Jenny. He offered Jenny a mouth organ and showed her her reflection in the mirror. He also noted that when her keeper would not give her an apple, she pouted and sulked like a child. These seemingly trivial observations helped Darwin develop his theory that man evolved from primates.

"He was very interested in the expressions of animals and in particular primates and how similar they could be to humans," said Becky Coe, an education director at the zoo, which is setting up a temporary "Darwin Trail" using animals to help explain evolution. Coe said Darwin went back to the zoo time and time again to make sure he had physical evidence for every aspect of his theory.

Darwin's inquisitiveness outlasted his physical vigor.

"Late in life when he was quite ill, he would look at plants curling up at the window, bending to the light, and he would wonder, 'How do they do that?'" said Padel. "He was constantly thinking of relationships and that led him to understand natural selection. He realized that every population is in competition with every other. He realized that is how species adapt, because they are always competing for light, water and food."

What would he be doing if he were alive today?

Padel thinks he would probably be studying DNA and the immune system. And she thinks the great scribbler would be online much of the time.

"He'd be a demon at e-mail," she said.

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