
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 15, 1991                   TAG: 9102150089
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Mark Morrison
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

MARK'S GRAMMY GUESSES

Record of the Year: Skinheads don't win Grammys, at least not the really big ones. So don't look for Sinead O'Connor to walk away a winner here, as most people are expecting. Despite the success of "Nothing Compares 2 U," she is still a little too weird for most academy voters.

That leaves Bette Midler, M.C. Hammer, Mariah Carey and Phil Collins. Midler won't win because she won this award last year. Hammer won't win because "U Can't Touch This" is a rip-off of "Super Freak" by Rick James. Carey won't win because she hasn't paid her dues yet.

By process of elimination, the winner has to be Phil Collins for "Another Day In Paradise." Phil has paid his dues. And with its message about the homeless, "Another Day In Paradise," is timed just right to appeal to pop music's penchant for hip causes. Album of the Year: Quincy Jones has

already won 19 Grammys. Here against Phil Collins, Mariah Carey, M.C. Hammer and Wilson Phillips, he should win another, but he won't. This year belongs to Phil, whose "But Seriously" should win going away. Song of the Year:

Causes are hip, and Phil's timing with "Another Day In Paradise" is right. This should complete his sweep of the big three, although I agree with my colleague. Phil isn't really deserving, he's just due.

My main trouble with Prince is that he doesn't he spell all of his words out. It's really annoying. Best New Artist: Mariah Carey is the clear

favorite here and the likely winner. But to stay true to country music's devoted following in Western Virginia, I'll be pulling for the dark-horse Kentucky Headhunters.

Best Pop Vocal Performance Female: Mariah Carey has the best song in the group and delivers the best performance. She might even have the best voice in the group, although it would be close between her and Whitney Houston.

Best Pop Vocal Performance Male: I'd cast my vote for Roy Orbison out of respect, but don't expect academy voters to do the same. Instead, it'll be between Phil Collins for "Another Day In Paradise" and Michael Bolton for "Georgia On My Mind," with the nod going to Bolton.

It would make sense to pick Phil, in light of his predicted sweep. But his performance here doesn't exactly spark fireworks. On the other hand, Bolton took on a legend, Ray Charles, and fared pretty well. He should win here, even though he also won this award last year.

Best Pop Vocal Performance Duo or Group: The Righteous Brothers? All they did was re-record an old hit, "Unchained Melody." Heart? Wilson Phillips? And Bruce Hornsby (even though he's from Virginia)? Ugh.

That leaves either the B-52's with "Roam" or Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville with "All My Love." Linda and Aaron won this award last year, and I don't see them pulling a repeat. So, I'm picking the B-52's.

Best Rock Vocal Performance Female: Why are Janet Jackson and Alannah Myles even nominated in this category? Then we have Stevie Nicks, who is washed-up, and Tina Turner, who had her day at the Grammys a few years back.

The only deserving winner here is Melissa Etheridge.

Best Rock Vocal Performance Male: My colleague is so far off on this pick that it goes beyond imagination. If Jon Bon Jovi wins here, I will eat a copy of "Blaze of Glory," record jacket, vinyl and all. The clear winner is Neil Young, for so many reasons I won't even go into them all. Jon Bon Jovi, ha!

Best Rock Vocal Performance Duo or Group: The choice here is obvious. Aerosmith is drug-free, rocking again in a big way and should win walking away. Best Hard Rock Performance Vocal: This is a tough one, between legends AC/DC, semi-legends Motley Crue, newcomers Faith No More and Jane's Addiction and last year's winners, Living Colour.

I'll go with Faith No More for no particular reason.

Best R&B Vocal Performance Female: It's been a big year for Janet Jackson. Best R&B Vocal Performance Male: I'll pick Luther Vandross,

because I vaguely remember listening to part of his "Here and Now" once when I was scanning the dial of my car radio. Best R&B Performance Duo or

Group: Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge and Barry White for their "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)." Seems like a lot of talent and vocal power squeezed into just one little song. Rap Solo Performance: Vanilla

Ice is trying to cash in on rap's popularity just to make a buck. So eliminate him off the top. All hail Queen Latifa. Best Rap Performance Duo or

Group: I hope the academy voters won't be a bunch of pansies here; they should vote for substance instead of cool names. This award should go to "Fear of a Black Planet" by Public Enemy.

Best Country Vocal Performance Female: "You Lie" by Reba McEntire. An easy choice because she is the only nominee who bothered to perform in the Roanoke Valley during the past year. Her competition: K.T. Oslin, Carlene Carter, Mary-Chapin Carpenter and Kathy Mattea. Best Country Vocal Performance

Male: The big winners at the Grammys this year will be Phil Collins and Garth Brooks. Look for him to win here for his drink-along, sing-along "Friends in Low Places." He'll also snatch the Best Country song award.

Note: George Strait, winner of the Country Music Association's prestigious Entertainer of the Year award the last two years, is nowhere to be found among this year's Grammy nominees. Strikes me that something is wrong here.

Best Country Performance Duo or Group: I'd like to see the Kentucky Headhunters win, but The Judds will likely get the sympathy vote.

by CNB