The 61st annual Grammys will be Feb. 10. Frequently appearing names on the nominations list include Cardi B, Drake, Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Janelle Monáe, and Post Malone. Upon first seeing the nominations, I felt disappointed not to see Mitski’s Be the Cowboy in various categories. All of this started a month of thinking about just what one of these awards mean… high profile recognition? More money and supporters? But can an award ever replace the genuine connection that someone feels?
Mitski, a singer-songwriter who has released albums since 2012, has gained recognition for her alternative pop songs that make a listener want to cry out of joy and sadness, occasionally at the same time. Since its Aug. 17 release, her most recent album Be the Cowboy has received the honor of being the longest running No. 1 album on the North American College and Community chart, a listing of the top albums being played by college and university radio stations in North America.
Additionally, the album was included on lists of the best albums of 2018 by publications such as Billboard, The New York Times, Pitchfork, and NPR. When the Grammy nominations came out, however, Mitski’s sole nomination for the awards program is for “Best Recording Package.” If won, this award would actually be given to Mary Banas, a designer and art director who created the visual presentation of Mitski’s album.
Clearly the Recording Academy didn’t know that I listened to Be the Cowboy exclusively on a 33-hour travel journey from Cambridge, England, back to Oklahoma City. Maybe they didn’t know that one of the most important inspirations in my life is an August 2015 Mitski tweet, immortalized on my Methodist Hall kitchen wall, that reads, “fuck effortlessness. fuck that. try really hard and let everyone see.”
In a research attempt, I spent hours scrolling through Mitski’s Twitter, looking for the perfect tweet to represent her. But what I found instead was a depiction of an incredibly dynamic woman who cannot be fully understood solely within the lens of a column. In October 2017, she wrote, “hope i never forget to make ugly music about ugly feelings.” She shares controversial astrological advice that continues to be controversial (don’t worry, I checked with some Libras, the sign in question). When she is challenged by users, she responds eloquently, clarifying her position on topics. And when she makes mistakes, she’s quick to say that she is learning to understand her misstep and actively working to fix it. Mitski is most definitely an artist I admire.
So, maybe we’ve put too much emphasis on winning awards. To be nominated in a strangely specific category is surely an honor, but isn’t it enough of a feat that an artist devoted their life to writing, performing or producing music? After all, it was Mitski herself who tweeted, “you learn your craft as much as you can so that when the magic comes swimming down the river you have the net to catch it.” In her typical inadvertent, understated way, she encouraged online followers to continue their work and their craft, regardless of who is recognizing them.
On the evening of Jan. 28, a “leaked” list of Grammy winners circulated on the Grammys’ home page and on Twitter. The Recording Academy, who hosts the program, was quick to make a statement. A spokesperson for the group said “There is no legitimacy to this. Grammy Awards results are not shared, even with Recording Academy staff members, until the day of the Grammy Awards ceremony…”
In the leaked list, Be the Cowboy won its category.
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