Grammys 2012: Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep’ wins record of the year
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Adele’s gospel-inflected ‘Rolling in the Deep’ was named record of the year at the 54th Grammy Awards, her fifth award out of six nominations. The song was the top-selling single of 2011, having sold 5.81 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and has helped keep her album ‘21’ near the top of the pop charts since its release last February.
Record of the year is awarded to the artist, producers, mixers and engineers. Song of the year is awarded to the songwriter. In addition to Adele, those sharing in ‘Rolling in the Deep’s’ win are producer Paul Epworth, and engineers/mixers Tom Elmhirst and Mark Rankin.
Adele’s ‘Rolling In the Deep’ was no doubt the favorite to win the prize. Steeped in soul traditions, the song’s heavy bass gives it a contemporary feel. In addition to Adele, the category this year featured largely young artists, including the subtle folk-pop of Bon Iver (‘Holocene’), hot producer-songwriter Bruno Mars (‘Grenade’), 2010’s folk-rock breakouts Mumford & Sons (‘The Cave’) and lightweight pop star Katy Perry (‘Firework’).
Grammy voters have been relatively consistent in the record of the year field in recent years, favoring rootsy rock acts and country artists even as the industry has seen a rise in superstar producers. Last year the prize went to the adult-pop song ‘Need You Now’ from Lady Antebellum, and in 2010 the Grammys awarded Southern rock act Kings of Leon for their cellphone-in-the-air-ballad ‘Use Somebody.’
This year’s record of the year crop featured a number of veterans of the category. Bruno Mars, for instance, was nominated along with B.o.B last year for ‘Nothin’ on You,’ and Adele’s ‘Chasing Pavements’ was in contention at the 2009 awards, the year she was named best new artist. Foo Fighters were nominated in 2008, the year Amy Winehouse won for her hit ‘Rehab.’
The Grammys are determined by about 13,000 voting members. The eligibility period for nominated recordings was Oct. 1, 2010, to Sept. 30, 2011. The 2011 awards are being held at Staples Center and telecast on CBS. They are broadcast live except for viewers on the West Coast. The latest headlines and any breaking news will be posted here on Pop & Hiss.
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— Todd Martens
