Best Music of 2020

The nominations for the 63rd Grammy Awards were announced. Beyoncé has the most nominations with nine. A chunk of her nominations came from her being featured on the song "Savage" by Megan Thee Stallion. However, the majority of her nods came from her song "Black Parade," which is up for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song. It's the song that Beyoncé released on Juneteenth in honor of her home state of Texas and the proceeds from the song went to support Black-owned businesses. It was the end-credits song for her film Black Is King, which is also up for a Grammy for Best Music Film. Black Is King premiered on Disney+ on July 31. It was Beyoncé's interpretation of The Lion King (2019) in which she was a voice. Even if I didn't know about the nonprofit aspect of "Black Parade," it would still be my pick to win all the categories in which it's nominated.

Beyoncé obviously has the most nominations with nine. Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Roddy Ricch are tied in second place with six nominations each. Right now, the odds are either Taylor Swift or Dua Lipa will win the ultimate prize of Album of the Year with the edge leaning toward Taylor Swift whose album Folklore has gotten more critical acclaim. According to Metacritic's Best of 2020: Music Critic Top Ten Lists, Folklore is the highest rated of all the names nominated for Album of the Year.

However, according to critics, the album that is considered the best is Fiona Apple's Fetch the Bolt Cutters. It scored a 100 by 11 critics and then was ranked #1 by 28 critics. It has near universal acclaim. Fiona Apple only received three nominations for it: Best Alternative Music Album, Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song. The latter two were for her track "Shameika." It topped the Rock and Alternative Albums charts on Billboard. However, it wasn't the hit that Folklore was, which is considered the best-selling album of 2020, spending eight weeks as number-one.

The other two artists of note are both rappers. One is Roddy Ricch who is only 22. Yet, he's not the youngest of the artists he's nominated against. He's nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and in both those categories, he's up against Billie Eilish who's only 19. He's nominated against himself in the categories of Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. The reason is due to his song "The Box" and the song "Rockstar" by DaBaby featuring him. It certainly increases his chances of walking away with a Grammy Award.

Yet, no article about music this year can be written without including the other artist of note from the Grammy list and that's Megan Thee Stallion who's up for four prizes. She's up for Record of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best New Artist. All of it is for her song "Savage," which featured Beyoncé. It was number-one on the charts. It was certified platinum. It was the first of two hit songs she had in 2020. She was featured on Cardi B's controversial song, "WAP." If that wasn't enough, Megan Thee Stallion also survived a shooting in 2020, which preceded the release of her debut album.

Megan Thee Stallion is one of eight names nominated for Best New Artist. Interestingly, half of them are part of the LGBTQ community. Phoebe Bridgers, the white indie rock singer, has identified as bisexual. Chika, the rapper from Alabama with Nigerian parents, also says she's bisexual. Doja Cat, the 25-year-old of mixed heritage, has identified as being sexually fluid or into anybody. Kaytranada, the Haitian-Canadian, has revealed he's gay. The most famous of the LGBTQ nominees might be Ricky Martin who's up for Best Latin Pop or Urban Album. It's notable that Pablo Alborán who was nominated in the same category at the 61st Grammys came out as gay this year. The queer artist with the most nominations though is Brittany Howard. The biracial 32-year-old, also from Alabama, identifies as lesbian. She's up for five Grammys, including Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, Best R&B Performance, Best American Roots Performance and Best Alternative Music Album. It's all for her album Jaime.

Of course, the Grammys have been criticized for its lack of Black winners in the major categories, such as Album of the Year. A Black artist hasn't won that category in over a decade, not since 2008. That streak is unlikely to change this year, but Black artists have made interesting in-roads in unlikely areas. I've noticed a trend of Black artists in country music. This past year in particular saw three artists release albums. Jimmie Allen who's based in Nashville but is from Milton, Delaware, released his EP, Bettie James in July. Kane Brown released his Mixtape, Vol. 1 in August. Mickey Guyton released her album Bridges in September. Her country song "Black Like Me" is subversive in so many subtle ways. All three artists though are ones to keep an eye out or maybe an ear out.

Here is my list of 35 albums that I really enjoyed in 2020 and 24 songs that I also feel are worth sharing.

Best Folk / Country

WORLD ON THE GROUND by Sarah Jarosz
MONOVISION by Ray LaMontagne
ITALIAN ICE by Nicole Atkins
EXPECTATIONS by Katie Pruitt
NIGHTFALL by Little Big Town
THAT'S HOW RUMORS GET STARTED by Margo Price
SAD HUNK by Bahamas
OLD FLOWERS by Courtney Marie Andrews

Best Rock / Alternative

FETCH THE BOLT CUTTERS by Fiona Apple
EL DORADO by Marcus King
VELVET by Adam Lambert
SEX EDUCATION [sndtrk] by Ezra Furman
TROUBLE AND STRIFE by Joan Osborne

Best Pop / Electronic

SET MY HEART ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY by Perfume Genius
LOVE, DEATH & DANCING by Jack Garratt
WOMEN IN MUSIC PT. III by Haim
CAPE GOD by Allie X
HOW I'M FEELING by Lauv
TURN DOWN THE SOUND by Nikki Yanofsky
SUCH PRETTY FORKS IN THE ROAD by Alanis Morissette
IN A DREAM by Troye Sivan

Best R&B / Soul

THE ALBUM by Teyana Taylor
BLACK PUMAS (DELUXE) by Black Pumas
UNGODLY HOUR by Chloe x Halle
ALICIA by Alicia Keys
B7 by Brandy
ALL LOVE EVERYTHING by Aloe Blacc
JAGUAR by Victoria Monét
ANCHORS & ELEPHANTS (2019) by Jennah Bell

Best Rap / Hip Hop

3.15.20 by Childish Gambino
RTJ4 by Run the Jewels
CIRCLES by Mac Miller (posthumously)
SUPERGOOD by Duckwrth
ANIME, TRAUMA AND DIVORCE by Open Mike Eagle
NO PRESSURE by Logic

Best Individual Song from Non-Listed Album

"Savage" by Megan Thee Stallion f/ Beyoncé
"Speak Now" by Leslie Odom Jr. (from One Night in Miami)
"Turntables" by Janelle Monáe (from All In: The Fight for Democracy)
"Hear My Voice" by Celeste (from The Trial of the Chicago 7)
"Sour Flower" by Lianne La Havas
"Black Like Me" by Mickey Guyton
"Fight the Power: Remix 2020" by Public Enemy
"Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa
"All Mean Nothing" by The Aces
"Nothing's Impossible" by Caroline Rose
"Everything I Live For" by La Roux
"Harm None" by Jess Williamson
"Belladonna" by Son Little
"...Again" by dvsn f/ Shantel May
"WHOO" by Nick Hakim
"Sparrow" by Ashley McBryde
"Tell Me That You Love Me" by Tami Neilson
"All Is Dead To Me" by Muzz
"Is It True" by Tame Impala
"Teeth" by 5 Seconds of Summer
"Comeback" by Carly Rae Jepsen
"Gold" by James Alexander Bright
"Baptismal" by Blitzen Trapper
"So Alive" by Jonathan Wilson