Category: pop music

The year in concerts saw a variety of performers representing a spectrum of genres. From indie to oldies, country to classic, rock to R&B and everything in between there was something for music lovers of all stripes.

The concert lineup for 2022 included tour stops by pop icon Elton John, classic rockers The Eagles, Joe Walsh and The Who, country queen Reba McEntire, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and many other world-famous acts, as well as those known locally, regionally and nationally.

More music:Zac Brown Band to kick off ‘From the Fire Tour’ at Nationwide Arena in June

The Dispatch asked its concert reviewers — Margaret Quamme, Curtis Schieber and Lynn Green — to take a look back at the live shows they had attended in 2022 and render their opinions on the best of the bunch. Below are their favorites.

Margaret Quamme’s picks

∙ Dua Lipa, Feb. 26, Schottenstein Center

Performing 90 minutes of danceworthy music, the singer-songwriter bounced, strutted, jumped, skipped and kicked across two stages connected by a long runway, appearing thoroughly comfortable and at ease. Her “Future Nostalgia” tour, based largely on the 2020 album of the same name that has produced hit after hit and for which she won a Grammy for best pop vocal album, kept the focus on the songs from that album, with just a few detours into songs from her earlier work. Both the music and the visuals playfully harkened back to the ’80s, with a nod to that era’s shiny, iridescent vision of the future.

∙ Tyler, The Creator, Feb. 27, Schottenstein Center

The unsettling, intense and generally astonishing concert pulled the audience in the packed arena between a slickly polished surface and the roiling emotions and human malfunctions underneath. Navigating an allergic reaction, looking a little sweaty and occasionally hoarse, he fed on the enthusiasm of the audience as, in a special effects-heavy show involving a two-story mansion, a rocking boat and a beach grass strewn island, he ranged through 11 remarkably varied years of music, returning to his raw roots.

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∙ Keith Urban, Sept. 23, Nationwide Arena

Urban thrives on live performance, and his exhilarating show, carefully crafted and unfussy, didn’t let special effects get in the way of music. Not one of those singers who uses a guitar primarily as a prop to provide musical bona fides, Urban treats the instrument as an extension of body and voice, not showboating but frequently throwing in a brief, sizzling solo. He uses country music as a home base, respecting its traditions, and then stretching and playing with it, as he performed with excellent backing musicians whom he gave plenty of time to soar.

More music:Def Leppard, Motley Crue bringing ‘The World Tour’ to Ohio Stadium on Aug. 8

Curtis Schieber’s picks

∙ Tom Rush (opening for Janis Ian), May 18, Southern Theatre

Folkie Tom Rush opened a magical night of music-making, at 81 confirming he is a national treasure still. Singing the songs of several of the songwriters he brought to national attention first, including Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and a few of his own, he delivered a set that will ring in this writer’s ear for years to come. His performance combined the nobility of his age and the skill learned from 60-plus years on stage, with a passion for song that lit the Southern. Ian’s set followed suit and the two ended the evening with an incandescent duet on the latter’s “Better Times Will Come.”

∙ Tame Impala, May 26, Kemba Live

It is difficult to imagine many other bands that could conjure as much sunny optimism under such challenging circumstances as Tame Impala had done for 10,000-plus soaked fans who had waited through five hours of rain in a parking lot concert venue. For 90 minutes, the drenched crowd danced as gleefully as if it were frugging on a sunny California beach. The pop and rave grooves of Impala’s newest album, “Slow Rush,” and its deep psychedelic back catalog inspired a euphoria that contradicted the dark storm that accompanied the entire set.

∙ !!! (chk chk chk), June 18, Rumba Café

“This is pop and there’s no defense/Silly, it’s stupid, it’s just pretend/Comes in waves, it’s got nothing to say/And if you ask me, it’s better that way.” This quote from !!!’s song “This Is Pop” puts it all into words for the New York band but it comes nowhere close to describing the experience of watching the motley crew put it into practice. During 70 minutes of sheer mayhem, the group turned Chic’s funk, ‘70s disco and ‘80s avant-punk into a potent political commentary on personal hang-ups and a humorless social climate. In short, it was both smart and stupid fun.

∙ Spoon (opening for Interpol), Aug. 30, Kemba Live

The concert season offered a textbook lesson on matching opener to headliner, when Spoon’s cheeky, smart and explosive pop introduced Interpol’s ponderous, bombastic drama in Kemba Live. A seemingly ideal balance of opposites, the billing was simply upside down. A newly injected love of funk gave Spoon’s set an expansiveness that Interpol’s monotone simply couldn’t match. And lead singer Britt Daniel’s brilliant, self-effacing songs were at times comical and at others emotionally baring. In fact, Spoon’s extended set could have satisfyingly filled the evening by itself.

More music:Shania Twain to bring ‘Queen of Me’ tour to Columbus’ Value City Arena on Oct. 27

Lynn Green’s picks

∙ Caamp, Oct. 21, Nationwide Arena

Caamp’s Lavender Days tour brought a stage full of greenery, purple flowers, pastel instruments, cowhide rugs and strings of fairy lights. This, plus the band’s lavender suits, hinted at a touch of sentimentality, but the band delivered no such thing. Instead, Caamp delivered brash confidence, along with a substantial repertoire of songs from both “Lavender Days” and its earlier albums. Whether Meier is singing about colorful characters, shadowy introspection, running away to a new life or a tender and sincere romance, his lyrics are forthright and honest. The band, as a whole, steers clear of cloying sentimentality and approaches even the deepest and most conflicting of emotions with a dose of good old Midwest resilience. Meier’s raspy vocals add both a gritty charm and a wholesome realness.

∙ The Who, Oct. 9, Schottenstein Center

The infamous theatrics have toned down, as has the volume, but the defiant spirit is still there, and the music still speaks for itself. This is a band of guys who need to prove nothing more and can simply enjoy doing what they do best: being musicians. The band has grown up over the decades, and so have the songs, and that change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Pete Townshend’s technique remains masterful and expressive. “I’m One” was beautifully packaged, the counterpoint of his vocals and guitar perfectly honed. Roger Daltrey’s singing is eerily unchanged from decades ago, still full of subtle control and a range of inflection that other singers struggle to master.

∙ Reba McEntire, Dec. 2, Nationwide Arena

Reba cruised through many of her biggest hits, often in small, thematic packages, keeping the energy flowing. There’s never a dull moment when she commands the stage. Whether it’s the spunk of “Little Rock,” the poignancy of “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” or the sass of her latest No. 1 hit, “Turn On the Radio,” she captures some of the deepest and most conflicted emotions adulthood has to offer. Her sparkle hasn’t dimmed a bit over the decades. She’s a bastion of resilience, the queen of broken hearts, and she continues to dance in the ashes of failed relationships. She’s as beloved today as she was 45 years ago.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Year in review: Big music stars came to Columbus in 2022

© Robert Hanashiro/Beth Garrabrant/Lillie Eiger/Mason Poole
Clockwise from left: Bad Bunny. Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Beyoncé all produced some of the best songs of 2022.

On today’s episode of the 5 Things podcast:

Music in 2022, what were the trends? What were the disappointments?

5 Things Sunday host James Brown sat down with USA TODAY music reporter Melissa Ruggieri to talk about the year of music in 2022.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

She also talks about what she thinks we will see in 2023 in terms of touring, residencies and if we will continue to see a return to pre pandemic levels.

For more on the 2022 year in music, read:

Beyoncé’s ‘Break My Soul.’ Taylor Swift’s ‘Anti-Hero.’ These are the 10 best songs of 2022, ranked.

Follow James Brown and Melissa Ruggieri on Twitter.

If you have a comment about the show or a question or topic you’d like us to discuss, send James Brown an email at jabrown@usatoday.com or podcasts@usatoday.com. You can also leave him a voicemail at 585-484-0339. We might have you on the show.

Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here.

Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text. 

James Brown:                  Hello and welcome to 5 Things. I’m James Brown. It’s Sunday, December 25th, 2022. Go Bills. Every week we take an idea or concept in Go Deep, and this week we’re talking about the music year that was, with Melissa Ruggieri. She’s a music reporter for USA Today. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than with Melissa. We’re going to hop into a time machine. We’ll look back and forward at the business, the stars and everything surrounding music. Who was overlooked and can rock make a comeback? Melissa, welcome to 5 Things.

Melissa Ruggieri:          Great to be here. Thank you for having me again.

James Brown:                  Ready to go back in time?

Melissa Ruggieri:          How far back?

James Brown:                  Just about a year.

Melissa Ruggieri:          Okay.

James Brown:                  Think back to 2021.

Melissa Ruggieri:          Okay.

James Brown:                  It’s late in the year, and you’re having a conversation where you’re discussing what you were looking forward to in 2022. What was on that list, and what happened and what didn’t?

Melissa Ruggieri:          Well, I was expecting to see Adele in Las Vegas in January of 2022 and got there just in time to be turned away from my Covid test, because she had just made the announcement that she was postponing/canceling the residency 24 hours before it was supposed to start. So that was the end of January, and that kicked off a year of much tumultuousness, I guess, in the music industry. But it did work out fine, because I was able to see her in November when she eventually restarted the residency.

                                           And I actually had a tear come to my eye when she walked out on stage, just because it had been so long and I had some issues with the ticketing and that kind of stuff. So when I actually saw her on the stage in front of me, even up from my very high balcony seat, it was a relief that this was actually happening. And it’s a good thing that it’s happening, because it’s a wonderful show, and she’s there through March. So she even rolls into 2023. So next year when we talk about this, who knows, she might be part of the conversation again.

James Brown:                  Are you just a huge Adele fan?

Melissa Ruggieri:          I am an Adele fan. Not a huge Adele fan. I think some of her stuff is a little repetitive and a little whiny, but I do think she’s got a beautiful voice. I like the majority of her music, and you don’t get to see her live very often. And since this was canceled, because she was not happy with the production, I was really curious to see what she was actually going to come up with for the revamp version of it. And I got to say, her instincts were right.

                                           I mean, I don’t know what the original looked like, but this new show is absolutely phenomenal just in the production value and the song choice and just what her ability to insert herself into the show. Because she’s such a great personality, and that really comes through as well. So I think people who are spending a lot of money on these tickets to go are at least going to get a really worthwhile experience. Like when Celine was first in Vegas 15, 20 years ago, people didn’t know what to expect, and they walked out of there going, “Oh my God, who knew this was possible?” And I think with Adele, she raised the bar even for herself.

James Brown:                  My instant reaction when I think of acts in Vegas, I think about legacy acts. You mentioned Celine. Celine had come off a run of massive hits in the 90s. My Heart will Go on, et cetera, and she was past her prime, arguably.

Melissa Ruggieri:          Arguably, I would say that she found a new avenue for herself. While she may have been diminished at radio by that point, she started this whole new platform of live performance with the people coming to her. And I think that’s what some of the younger artists are finding too. Like Miranda Lambert actually started a residency this past year in Vegas. Carrie Underwood, Katie Perry, they all did.

                                           And when I’ve talked to all of them, they’ve all said the same thing, which is, “It’s really nice to be able to just unpack for a couple of weeks and not have to worry about getting on a tour bus.” I mean, Miranda Lambert’s like, “It’s great not to wake up in a parking lot on the tour bus.” And it’s so true, because you think of the grueling schedules that these current artists have running around the country, running around the globe, and here they’re able to at least situate themselves and let the fans come to them.

                                           And look, even the night that Adele canceled, I talked to a lot of really disappointed fans. Some had come from overseas, they didn’t find out until they landed, much like I did, just a few hours before. But they all had the attitude of, “Well, we’re in Vegas, so it’s not as if there’s nothing else for us to do here. And we certainly would like to get our money back from the tickets, but at least we’re going to make the best of it.”

                                           And so with having these artists in Vegas, it’s the same kind of thing. You’re getting people to come out to combine a vacation with going to see a top artist that they might not have been able to see, especially if you live in a smaller city, maybe they aren’t coming to your city. So this is your chance.

James Brown:                  That’s an interesting trend. Adele, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, top artists doing this. What other trends have you seen?

Melissa Ruggieri:          Well, Harry Styles did something interesting in that he did these many residencies, but he was on the road, but he was setting himself up for 10, 12 shows in a certain city. So he was at Madison Square Garden for two weeks. He was out in LA for two weeks. He was in Chicago for two weeks. And that also, even though he didn’t come, I live in the DC area, he didn’t play anywhere here.

                                           So I still though, would’ve had the opportunity throughout a two weeks span if I wanted to take the train up to New York or take a flight up to Chicago or whatever to go see him. So you’re giving fans in other cities the opportunity to still come to you. And he then is also able to set up his production in the place that he wanted, whatever arena he’s chosen to set it up in.

                                           Now, the arenas may or may not love it, because that also blocks off time that they can’t schedule other concerts or sporting events or whatever. But I’m sure an artist like Harry is bringing in enough money that they’re good with that situation. And Metallica is doing the same thing. Next year, they’re doing a stadium tour where they’re doing two nights in every city, and each show is going to be a completely different show.

                                           So I think they’re taking that same approach of maybe it’s not as long as what Harry was doing. Like I said, it was normally a couple weeks for him in each city, but just to take a couple of nights and do something different for the fans, which is a cool thing to do. So yeah, I think we might see more of that coming up as well, because why not really? Harry’s proven that it works.

James Brown:                  And it seems like it gives the artist more control.

Melissa Ruggieri:          It does. It does. Yes. Yeah. Well, Vegas especially, because again, going back to Adele, that was her whole thing. She wanted that production to be the way she wanted, and those types of shows aren’t made to travel. Carrie Underwood said the same thing, that her show in Vegas that started last year, actually, I think she started December of ’21.

                                           It has all these aerial things and all kinds of pyro and stuff that she can’t necessarily take on the road with her. So the show that she does in Vegas is still a little bit different than the tour that she’s just finished. So that gives the artists an opportunity to do two kinds of different things as well, which is cool.

James Brown:                  And most artists make their money primarily through touring, correct?

Melissa Ruggieri:          These days, yep. They sure do. Yeah, there’s no money to be made in music anymore. Mariah Carey was on Stephen Colbert the other night talking about her Christmas song and Christmasy things or whatever, and she reiterated the point that these streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, the artist gets one 16th of a penny for every stream.

                                           Now some of them have billions of streams, but even when you do the math, which I’m not very good at, but you’re not talking about 5 million CD sales at 16, 18 bucks a pop or album sales back in the seventies that bands were selling tens of millions of as well. So it’s a completely different model, and that’s why… And this past year, we also saw the most robust comeback of the live music industry, because we all know what had happened the two previous years and 2021, people were starting to come back a little bit, and fans were starting to go back into venues with a little less cautiousness.

                                           But 2022 was probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, touring year ever in the live music industry, because you had all these artists who couldn’t be on the road for a year and a half or two years, and this pent up demand for people who wanted to go to these shows. So yeah, it worked out great for everybody.

James Brown:                  Do you expect that to continue to spiral into next year? Or will things return to a pre pandemic norm?

Melissa Ruggieri:          I think it will be a little quieter in ’23. I don’t think there’ll be… Because what happened in 2022 is that since so many shows and tours were canceled midway in 2021, when the pandemic reared itself, again, you had the issue of artists not being able… There wasn’t enough room for them to play. So again, you look at all these venues across the country, they do other things in these venues.

                                           They have hockey games and basketball games and community theater shows and stuff like that. So dates were already taken for other things. And then you’ve got this confluence of artists who all want to play in the same 12-month period. So there were a lot of artists who took a step back and said, “You know what, maybe I’ll sit this one out and wait till ’23.”

                                           Taylor Swift is a good example. She probably could have released her album a little earlier and probably could have started a tour late fall, but why not wait until March of 2023, do it right, hit all the stadiums, be able to be outside when the weather’s a little warmer, all that stuff. So I do think we’re going to see a very busy live music season in ’23, but maybe not to the extent that we saw this current year.

James Brown:                  That makes sense. Any big disappointments out of 2022?

Melissa Ruggieri:          Oh gosh. Disappointments. Well, I guess disappointments are always subjective. I think people were maybe hoping that Rihanna would release something more than just a single this year. But with the Super Bowl halftime performance coming up for her in February, I think we’ll hear more from her. She has said that she’s not planning on releasing an album, but I do think that there’ll be a little bit more than just the one new song from her.

                                           I think people might have liked to have heard Beyonce announce a tour for 2023 since her album came out in the summer, and she certainly could have announced something in the fall, but I don’t know what’s going on with that. I haven’t heard anything, as far as, what her plans are, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we see her on the road in 2023. Janet Jackson actually just announced a tour for next year, which is a nice comeback for her as well.

                                           But as far as anything really disappointing… Now, if Adele had not rescheduled that Vegas thing, I think a lot of fans would’ve been disappointed, because a lot of us had our money tied up waiting to see what was going to happen. And as I said, these were not cheap tickets, so that would’ve been really annoying. But I think for the most part, I guess you could say it was a disappointment for Taylor Swift fans who weren’t able to get tickets for her tour.

                                           What can you do when you’ve got 100 million people trying to get tickets, and there are only 50 million available, just throwing out numbers. It’s just supply and demand. And with her, she has the good problem of there being so much demand that she basically broke the internet, and fans were getting really frustrated about not being able to get tickets. So that could be a disappointment in a way. But if you’re one of the tens of millions of people who got tickets to her tour, then yeah, you’re good.

James Brown:                  And let’s say we get back into that time machine. It’s 10 years from now, and we look back on 2022, what were the things that were bigger than most of us recognize today?

Melissa Ruggieri:          I think not enough people recognize the popularity and power of Bad Bunny. This is a guy who broke through in a huge way this year from the Latin community into more mainstream. But yet a lot of people still aren’t aware of the accomplishments he’s had. I mean, he was just named Billboard’s Top Artist of the Year. His album, Un Verano Sin Ti, is the number one album of the year on the Billboard 200.

                                           He’s also Billboard’s Top Male Artist of the year. Taylor’s number two, by the way. Oh, Taylor’s number two of Artists of the Year, and she’s number one for female artists. But I mean, he really was everywhere. But yet, when I talk to a lot of people who aren’t necessarily steeped in music or interest or whatever, they give me that puzzled look like, “Oh, is he Spanish? Is he…? What does he do? What are his songs?”

                                           And then if you name some songs, they still look at you a little puzzled too. So I think that it’s a growing trend with Latin music really coming through. But I do think that not enough people maybe have recognized the power of it, particularly this year with Bad Bunny just doing some astounding things, selling out stadiums around the world. I mean, the guy is just really huge.

James Brown:                  I would think it may speak to the fragmentation of today we’re all in digital bubbles that are reinforcing our choices.

Melissa Ruggieri:          You’re so true. It’s so true. You go back to the days when MTV was MTV, and you might see a video from Kate Bush, and then you might see a video from Motley Crue. You are being exposed to a lot more stuff. Whereas sure, we all live in the click the thing that’s most synonymous with our viewpoints, even if you’re reading something and on the music front when you’ve got all these algorithms that, “Oh, so you like this, you might like that.”

                                           And you are still going to miss a whole lot of stuff. Because when you look at Spotify, there are thousands and thousands of songs on there, and anybody can really upload a song. How do you really weed through it? And if you’re not somebody who’s clicked, “I’m interested in Latin music,” then you’re probably not going to hear from some of these Latin artists like Bad Bunny.

James Brown:                  Is there a thing that was huge that we’re going to look back and think, really?

Melissa Ruggieri:          Oh gosh, I’d have to think about that. I’m trying to think. Every year there does seem to be the weird one hit wonder or some kind of trend that you roll your eyes at. But I can’t… Nothing’s popped into mind immediately this year. I don’t even think there was a song that truly annoyed me. I didn’t really have any of that this year.

                                           And maybe I was listening to more varied outlets of things, and I wasn’t listening to the same genre of music as much, so I didn’t hear the same songs as much. So that’s a possibility. My favorite band of the year who really broke out is an Italian rock band. Their name looks like Maneskin, but that’s pronounced Maneskin. And they are really just fun and charismatic and tight as a band. I saw them over the summer play a little venue in New York for a Sirius XM show with about 800 people in it.

                                           And then I just saw them last week here in DC play for 6,000 people at a club. And just the ability that these guys and the girls, the female bass player, have to captivate and their songs are just… I mean, people who say Rock and roll is dead, they obviously have not discovered Maneskin yet, because rock and roll is very much alive, and it came from Italy. My people, not that I’m giving a plug to my people. It doesn’t hurt that they’re from Italy, but they’re really a great band. And if you haven’t checked them out and you like rock music…

                                           I mean, they’re pretty hard rock. And they’ve got their debut English album coming out in January. They’ve released a couple of albums that have been part Italian, part American, they had a hit over the summer with supermodel. That was their breakthrough. They’d been on some award shows on SNL, so they were getting some buzz. I hope that we’ll see a lot more of them next year when the album comes out too.

James Brown:                  Maneskin.

Melissa Ruggieri:          Maneskin.

James Brown:                  Maneskin.

Melissa Ruggieri:          Maneskin, yes. It’s weird. They’re Italian, but it’s a Danish word. The bass player, she’s part Danish. So that’s where they came up with the name. They just thought it sounded cool, apparently.

James Brown:                  To your point, a friend of mine and I really like rock, and we look around and we don’t see much on the modern American rock scene. Any chance that changes at all? Do you see any sprouts there?

Melissa Ruggieri:          Yeah, there are seeds. Rap has become the most popular music genre. So that is what is primarily on the charts. And then of course, your big pop stars like Taylor or Harry are still doing very well. But as far as guitar oriented rock and roll, there is a bit of a dirt, but there are glimmers.

James Brown:                  Maneskin, of course. Greta Van Fleet is a band that’s been around for a few years that are a young, really good rock band. They sound very much like Led Zeppelin, even though they claim that they weren’t an influence. I’m not really sure how that’s possible, because the singer actually sounds almost exactly like a young Robert Plant. Have you heard them?

                                           Yes, I’ve seen them. And no, I don’t believe that at all.

Melissa Ruggieri:          Yes. So there’s got to be. And Wolfgang Van Halen, this kid is just phenomenal. He’s a wonderful songwriter. He plays every instrument. I mean, music is in his blood, obviously. He’s the son of Eddie Van Halen, the late great Eddie Van Halen, one of the best guitarists, if not the best guitarist ever. And Wolf, he’s been around music and playing music since he was a toddler, basically. This kid though, he’s just really gone out there and making a name for himself with his band Mammoth WVH, and good for him.

                                           He’s been on many tours. He’s going to be touring with Metallica next year. Did some of his own touring this past year, the small stuff, the clubs. And that’s what you got to love about a lot of rock bands, because they still know that the way you become a great performer is by playing to 300 people in a club. Then graduating to the bigger club, and then the theater, and then maybe an opening slot on an arena tour, and then your own arena tour.

                                           You know what I mean? So many artists today, they just want to start off at their own arena tour, and then they find themselves playing to half empty venues because they’re not quite there yet. They haven’t really even honed their abilities as a live band. Wolfgang has been out there for a couple of years now, just playing small, mid-size places, but yet he can hold his own just fine opening for Metallica with his band on the stadium show. So I think it’s funny that the future of rock could be the offspring of one of the most celebrated rock legends of all time.

                                           But hey, if it works that way, that’s great. Greta Van Fleet, I’d like to hear some more from them. I haven’t heard a ton from them lately, but I think they’re a really good band. And they’re a really good live band too. That’s the other thing with rock bands, you really want to check them out live, because sometimes things that you hear on record, you might go, “Yeah, that’s okay.”

                                           But seeing them live, and Maneskin’s an example of that too. Supermodel, it’s a fun song. They did a great cover of the Four Seasons, Beggin’. They turned it into a really rough rock song, and that’s perfectly good on record too. But when you see them live, that’s where the energy comes from. That’s where the visceral punch comes from in rock and roll. So I always encourage anybody to go see live music as much as you can, because you’re not going to get that feeling just looking at a video screen or putting your headphones on or whatever. It’s just not the same.

James Brown:                  Any famous last words?

Melissa Ruggieri:          Go see live music in 2023. Those are my last words. Go support musicians who aren’t necessarily the ones making millions of dollars every year. Go support the people who are just out there on the road, in the tour bus, waking up in the parking lots every day, just playing their hearts out, because they’re the ones that… Like we were saying, this is the way that they make a living now and they need people like us to go out there and support them.

James Brown:                  Melissa Ruggieri, thanks for joining me.

Melissa Ruggieri:          Thank you. This was great.

James Brown:                  If you liked this show, write us a review on Apple Podcast or wherever you’re listening. And do me a favor, share with a friend. What do you think of the show? Email me at jabrown@usatoday.com or leave me a message 585-484-0339. We might have you on the show. Thanks to Alexis Gustin and Shannon Ray Green for their production assistance, and from all of us at USA Today, thanks for listening. I’m James Brown, and as always, be well.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2022: The year in music

Okay, for this Sunday’s music diary, I decided to postpone, until next week, 1969, top 100 regular pop music, and post, instead, pop Christmas music.

And, I am posting this on Saturday night, Christmas Eve.

Here is a link to my source: 

digitaldreamdoor.com/… 

I chose only a few from that list.

You may feel free to add, in your comment, more songs from that list, or, any other Christmas songs you want to post.

The first one I am posting, and the last two, are not from that list.

This is a nice one I heard from a music CD, years ago: 

I cannot get enough of that song. I have never heard it, in any other collection of Christmas music, just this Neil Diamond recording. Seems a little more warm and beautiful, than most Christmas songs, so, I do not know why most artists have skipped it.

Number 99:

Okay, this duet includes Frank Sinatra, and Cyndi Lauper. Sinatra died in 1998, so,they did this duet, before then. I included this song, because, Cyndi Lauper just performed, True Colors, at the signing of the bill, to protect same sex marriage, and interracial marriage. (I was just in an interracial marriage, for ten years. My Black wife, Tonia, died, on the 10th of March, 2022. I know I keep repeating this, but, I never know if someone is reading this, who did not know the back story.) The signing of the bill was exciting. She stopped, in her song, at the line, “Don’t be afraid!”

Number 97: 

This is a song that calls for peace, not war. This was recorded during the war in Vietnam, so, I suppose that is what he was singing about. I recall one or two other Christmas songs, with a similar message. We will see how many of them I post here. And, we have a war going on, in Ukraine, at this time, so, these songs fit these times.

Number 82: 

I like his style.

Number 76: 

After the introduction, when we hear the actual song, Silent Night, the solo is precise, the high notes, flawless. Nice.

Number 69: 

Way back when, as I heard that song on the radio, I think it was this version. So nice.

Number 67:

Oh, now, here we go! I came across this one, years ago, on YouTube. I played it, over and over. This was recorded less than a year before Bing Crosby died, if I recall my research, at the time. I enjoy the comedy skit, leading up to the song itself. Savor this one. So well done, in my opinion.

Number 66: 

Yes, this one is such a standard, to my ears. He seems like another crooner, but, better than Sinatra, in my opinion. 

Number 60: 

I truly like the unique vocal style, of Johnny Mathis.

Number 53: 

I do not recall hearing that one before. But, it’s nice. 

Number 49: 

Oh, yes, so precise! And you don’t need anyone to sing that for you. You already know all the words, so you can sing it, if you like, right? 

www.lyricsforchristmas.com/… 

There’s a happy feeling
nothing in the world can buy,
When they pass around the coffee
and the pumpkin pie
It’ll nearly be like a picture print
by Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
we remember all through our lives!

Number 42: 

I like the voice of Burl Ives. I think he wrote this song, back in the sixties. Well done.

Number 29: 

Her voice was truly unique. This was, apparently, recorded in the early fifties, before I was born. She mentions a brand new 1954 car. I was born in 1955.

Number 28: 

Yes. Christmas, in the sixties, had to have this song. Period.

Number 25: 

For those who were hooked on the Beach Boys sound, but wanted Christmas music, they had what they wanted, right here.

Number 24:

I had forgotten how well I know this song. It is painful for me, since it reminds me of my first wife, Pam, who died in 2008. And, it reminds me of Karen Carpenter, who died in 1983, at the age of 32. But the song is so well done, so precise, so pretty, so warm.

Number 21: 

I do not recall hearing this version before, but it’s great sixties rock and roll Christmas music.

Number 15: 

I had forgotten how many great crooners were recording great Christmas songs, in the sixties.

Number 11: 

This was always a standard part of a sixties Christmas.

Number 6: 

Man, oh, man, that is truly one of the best songs, and his voice was so amazing. Wow.

Number 4:

This one is older than me. Fun little Christmas novelty song.

Number 1: 

Of course, this is the number one classic Christmas song.

There was a diary posted about this song, and it is from Ukraine, so, I want to post it here: 

After I posted all these songs here, I remembered the big hit, by Mariah Carey, All I Want For Christmas Is You. I looked it up, and found a newer video, and it made me cry. Remember, in the comment after the second video, near the top, I mentioned that, in 2011, I married a Black woman, Tonia, and she died, on the 10th of March, 2022. So, that is part of why this Mariah Carey video made me cry.

en.wikipedia.org/… 

Mariah Carey was born on March 27, 1969,^[a] in Huntington, New York.^[15][16] Her name is derived from the song “They Call the Wind Maria”, originally from the 1951 Broadway musical Paint Your Wagon.^[17][18] She is the youngest of three children born to Patricia (née Hickey), a former opera singer and vocal coach of Irish descent, and Alfred Roy Carey, an aeronautical engineer of African-American and black Venezuelan-American lineage.^[19] The last name Carey was adopted by her Venezuelan grandfather, Francisco Núñez, after he emigrated to New York.^[20][16] Patricia’s family disowned her for marrying a black man.^[20] Racial tensions prevented the Carey family from integrating into their community. While they lived in Huntington their neighbors poisoned the family dog and set fire to their car.^[

Mariah Carey is Irish and Black. Tonia was Irish and Black. And, in the video, Mariah Carey shows us a little girl, who looks mixed, like her, and, in the last scene, you see the little girl’s Black mother, and white father.

She first recorded this song, in 1994, but this video, is newer, from 2019: 

Happy Christmas!

Merry Holidays!

Hugs!

Take care of yourself, and your family and friends.

And, again, hugs.

© Mashable Composite; HYBE Corporation / STARSHIP Entertainment / CUBE Entertainment / ADOR
14 of the best, most influential K-pop performances of 2022

If 2022 K-pop had a theme, it would be “historic.” This year was huge for K-pop debuts, hiatuses, and reunions, with new groups such as NMIXX making their debut, famous groups like KARA reuniting, and current groups including BTS announcing big changes going forward. And throughout all of this, K-pop artists just kept conquering the world, delivering banger after banger.

From Stray Kids’ “Charmer” to iKON’s “FOR YOU,” these past 12 months have been absolutely filled with great K-pop songs. Still, there were some K-pop performances that had a bigger impact than most in 2022. Whether they went viral, kicked off a TikTok trend, or marked an important moment for the group, this year had no shortage of significant K-pop performances that made an impression far beyond their own fandom.

In chronological order, here are some of the best, most influential K-pop performances of 2022.

1. ‘DARARI’ by TREASURE becomes an adorable TikTok trend

TREASURE underwent significant changes this year, as members Mashiho and Bang Ye-dam departed the group due to health reasons and to pursue music production, respectively. But before TREASURE’s lineup was reduced from 12 to 10, the two-year-old group went viral on TikTok with their B-side track “DARARI,” which lists Bang Ye-dam as one of its composers and lyricists.

Just days after “DARARI” was released on Feb. 15, TikTok user Aidafi3 posted a simple dance video in which she mimicked listening to a sped-up version of the bright love song through headphones. Viewed 45 million times, her cute choreography quickly became a TikTok dance trend, spreading among creators, other K-pop idols, and eventually to TREASURE themselves. The group even used Aidafi3’s unmistakable moves in the official choreography for “DARARI,” seamlessly incorporating them with added footwork.

2. ‘Tomboy’ by (G)-IDLE tops South Korea’s music charts

“Tomboy” was (G)-IDLE’s first song as five members following dancer Soojin’s departure from the group last year. Yet despite this apparent setback, it became the girl group’s most popular song yet, achieving (G)-IDLE’s first perfect all-kill by topping all South Korea’s major music charts simultaneously. “Tomboy” has also accumulated over 190 million views on its music video, exceeding (G)-IDLE’s previous frontrunner “Oh my god” by a few million.

Written by (G)-IDLE leader Soyeon, “Tomboy” is an attitude-fueled pop-punk song declaring the group’s intention to behave exactly how they want rather than submit to being model, demure girlfriends. While “Oh my god” certainly gained (G)-IDLE well-deserved attention, “Tomboy” was a breakout song that made clear this K-pop group isn’t going anywhere — and still has a lot to say.

3. BIGBANG’s ‘Still Life’ ends their four-year hiatus

BIGBANG are commonly called the Kings of K-pop, and have reigned with that title for over a decade. Having debuted 16 years ago in 2006, this celebrated K-pop boy group was instrumental in driving Korean entertainment media’s international popularity, and are highly regarded as innovative and influential trendsetters.

As such, BIGBANG’s long-awaited April release was significant both for the group and the K-pop scene as a whole. Not only did single “Still Life” mark BIGBANG’s first new song since suspending activities to complete their mandatory military service in 2018, but it was also the iconic group’s first single as four members after dancer Seungri officially left in 2019. A sentimental song that reflects BIGBANG’s maturity, “Still Life” debuted in the Billboard Global 200 chart’s top 10 and has since racked up 77 million views on its music video.

4. IVE’s ‘LOVE DIVE’ puts the rookie group in the history books

IVE only debuted in December last year, but the K-pop girl group has been making waves from the moment their debut song “Eleven” dropped. They followed up that success in 2022 with April single “LOVE DIVE,” a dark pop tune which won both the MAMA Award and Melon Music Award for Song of the Year. This was no small feat, especially considering the rookie group was up against K-pop giants such as BTS, BLACKPINK, and BIGBANG.

Both of these awards are also daesang — the most prestigious prize given at an annual award show. As such, winning these accolades made IVE one of only four K-pop girl groups to take home both a rookie award and a daesang in the same year, following in the footsteps of Miss A, 2NE1, and aespa. As of writing, the music video for “LOVE DIVE” has almost 180 million views on YouTube.

5. ‘ZOOM’ by Jessi has TikTok creators dancing

If you spend any time on TikTok, there’s a good chance you’ll recognise Jessi’s “ZOOM” within moments of hitting play. The opening of the rapper’s hip hop single became a viral dance challenge on the video sharing app this year, with thousands of creators copying Jessi’s attitude-filled choreography. Some even paired it with dynamic camerawork or outfit transitions, contributing to 4.4 million TikTok clips that have jumped on the sound.

“ZOOM” was also significant for Jessi as her last release under PSY’s record label P Nation, having opted not to renew her contract in order to pursue other endeavours. Jessi hasn’t yet revealed what said endeavours will be, but it’s looking as though 2023 will be an important year for her.

6. 2NE1 reunite to perform hit ‘I Am The Best’ at Coachella

It’s been six years since 2NE1 disbanded, which is almost as long as the four-member group had been active. Even so, half a dozen years is far from enough time to allow anyone to forget this unquestionably legendary group. 2NE1 were instrumental in the global spread of Korean media and had a massive impact on the K-pop scene, credited with expanding the scope of K-pop girl groups by eschewing cute or sexy concepts to focus on themes of women’s empowerment.

It was therefore thrilling to see 2NE1 come together for a historic surprise reunion on the second day of Coachella 2022. Closing out record label 88rising’s showcase, Bom, CL, Dara, and Minzy treated a screaming audience with a performance of their assertive hit 2011 single “I Am The Best” — a song that is consistently included in lists of the best K-pop songs of all time.

7. PSY returns to the stage with ‘That That’ (feat. SUGA of BTS)

PSY’s hit song “Gangnam Style” took Western markets by storm in 2012, catapulting the solo artist and his galloping horse dance to international attention. PSY then proved he wasn’t a one-hit wonder with successful singles such as “Gentleman” and “Daddy (feat. CL of 2NE1),” before taking a break in 2018 and founding entertainment company P Nation.

“That That” marked PSY’s first return to the stage in four years, which would be significant enough by itself. However the upbeat song was also a collaboration with BTS’ rapper SUGA. Though SUGA only intended to write and produce “That That,” PSY gradually roped him into featuring on it, learning the choreography, and having the time of his life hamming it up in the music video. The joyful clip has since racked over 380 million views in just seven months.

8. ‘NANANA’ leads GOT7’s first album after leaving their company 

When GOT7 left JYP Entertainment in 2021, many fans feared the boy group was disbanding. It was a fair assumption. While it isn’t unheard of for K-pop groups to continue without the entertainment companies that formed them, it’s still a relatively uncommon arrangement, and GOT7 had already been together for seven years. Fortunately the seven-member boy group were quick to assert they were sticking together, reassuring fans with single “Encore” before taking a break to focus on solo projects.

This year, GOT7 followed up on their promise with “NANANA,” the lead single of their first album without JYP Entertainment. With writing credits including leader JAY B (under the pseudonym Def.), “NANANA” was an important step forward for GOT7, demonstrating the group’s new direction and ambitions for the future while simultaneously returning them to their roots.

9. ‘POP!’ by NAYEON bubbles over to TikTok

TWICE’s vocalist NAYEON made her solo debut in June, releasing an album of bright and bubbly pop songs led by the energetic tune “POP!” This love song was addictive enough by itself, racking up almost 160 million views in five months and offering the type of bright optimism we could all do with a lot more of. 

But what really gave “POP!” an edge over the competition was its simple yet memorable choreography, which has inspired numerous dance covers and a TikTok trend. The sound has been used over 2 million times on the video sharing platform, with countless creators and celebrities copying NAYEON’s cute popping hand gestures.

10. ‘Hype Boy’ by NewJeans gets South Korea’s military dancing

NewJeans only debuted this July, but you’d never know it judging by how much attention they’ve earned in just five short months of activity. The rookie girl group’s appropriately-titled debut song “Attention” was already warmly received, but their popularity really took off with their EP’s second single “Hype Boy”. NewJeans’ fun, catchy love song won fans and impressed their seniors, while its lively choreography became a popular dance trend that was picked up by K-pop idols such as GOT7’s JAY B and Stray Kids’ Changbin.

Yet while numerous artists jumped on the trend, the most notable “Hype Boy” dance cover was by a group of idols completing their mandatory military service. The video of enlisted K-pop idols shaking it to “Hype Boy” in uniform went viral across multiple platforms, with just one copy of one video on Twitter gaining 8.2 million views alone. The widely-shared performance featured SF9’s Inseong, ONF members E-Tion and J-US, Spectrum’s Jongchan, and dancer Kim Namwook, all of whom were serving in more ways than one.

11. Girls’ Generation marks their 15th anniversary with ‘FOREVER 1’

For some, the first K-pop song to captivate them was “Boy With Luv” by BTS (feat. Halsey). For others, it was PSY’s aforementioned “Gangnam Style”. But for countless listeners across the world, the tune that taught them to love K-pop was the 2009 bubblegum bop “Gee” by Girls’ Generation.

Girls’ Generation are record-breaking K-pop icons who have been together for as long as some other idols have been alive, even if they haven’t technically been active for the entire time. While this year marked Girls’ Generation’s 15th anniversary, the group has been on hiatus since 2017 as the members have focused on their respective solo careers.

“FOREVER 1” was Girls’ Generation’s first new release as a group in five years, offering the celebratory 2010s throwback in a return that some fans feared would never come. As such, the cheers and fanchants during the group’s first live performance of “FOREVER 1” certainly seemed sweeter than usual, finally welcoming the well-respected K-pop veterans back to the stage after their long absence.

12. ‘Pink Venom’ returns BLACKPINK to the area

BLACKPINK are undoubtedly skilled singers, rappers, and dancers, but arguably what they excel at most is making their fans crave more. Though the K-pop girl group never officially went on hiatus, BLACKPINK’s last released song together was back in 2020, which is practically an eternity in the fast-moving K-pop scene. The members kept fans fed by diverting focus to their solo careers in the interim, but it wasn’t the same as seeing all four on stage together.

“Pink Venom” was Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa’s highly awaited return as a group, once again delivering BLACKPINK’s unmistakably fierce sound to their fans. The music video gained over 480 million views in just four months, reflecting the group’s overwhelming global popularity and demonstrating that, no matter how long BLACKPINK aren’t in their area, the fans will always wait for them to come back.

13. BTS delivers the first ever live performance of ‘Run BTS’

Global superstars BTS announced in October that the group would be going on hiatus until 2025, finally ending years of speculation by enabling the members to enlist for their mandatory military service as well as pursue solo opportunities. The biggest K-pop group in the world wasn’t about to up and leave without a proper goodbye, though.

Before revealing their enlistment plans, BTS held one last big concert in Busan to support the local government’s bid to host the World Expo 2030. With free tickets offered via a lottery, eager fans gathered from all over the world to see BTS perform songs ranging from older tunes such as “Butterfly” to English hits like “Butter.” 

It was overall a fantastic night for fans, but arguably the standout was BTS’ first and to date only live performance of “Run BTS” (not to be confused with “RUN” or their reality series Run BTS). Released this year as part of BTS’ anthology album Proof, “Run BTS” departs from the group’s recent dance-pop sound to deliver a hip hop banger that reflects on the group’s journey, returns to their musical roots, and shows the world exactly why millions of people have become fans.

14. LE SSERAFIM perseveres with ‘ANTIFRAGILE’

As the first K-pop girl group to debut under BTS’ company since 2012, all eyes were already on LE SSERAFIM before they ever took the stage. Unfortunately, their May debut ended up being one of the rockiest in recent memory. Just over three weeks after LE SSERAFIM officially debuted, their vocalist Kim Ga-ram was put on hiatus before being removed from the group altogether. It seemed an inauspicious start for the new idols whose careers had only just begun. 

Nevertheless, the remaining quintet continued on to release “ANTIFRAGILE” just three months later, determined to demonstrate the resilience they sing about. The lead single of LE SSERAFIM’s second EP, “ANTIFRAGILE” boldly brought the group into a new era after their difficult start, proclaiming that, no matter how big the setback, nothing will stop these rookies from pushing forward.

Back in 2017, though Grammy voters expressed their love of Beyoncé’s Lemonade with an album of the year nomination, it was Adele’s grand album 25 that won the ultimate honor. It sold 10 million copies within a year in the U.S. alone (unprecedentedly selling 3.38 million units in its first week) — in a climate where hitting 1 million was heroic. “Hello,” indeed!

That storyline could be repeated at the 2023 Grammys, where Beyoncé’s Renaissance and Adele’s 30 again will go head-to-head for album of the year.

But there are other heavyweights ready to disrupt the night: Like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar may finally win his first top album trophy thanks to the success of his fifth release, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti is the most popular album of 2022, not to mention the first Latin project to be nominated for the top Grammy in the show’s 65-year history — and a win for him could cement Latin music’s domination of pop culture.

Many of us have resided at Harry’s House during the past year as we watched the former One Direction singer become pop’s certified “It” boy with his Mick Jagger-style stage presence and addictive, ear-candy melodies. Other big Grammy contenders for top awards are Lizzo, Brandi Carlile, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z and Taylor Swift. Here, THR takes a look at the major players, from the most to least number of nominations, who are competing for album of the year and other categories at the 2023 Grammys.

BEYONCÉ

2023 NOMINATIONS 9

CAREER NOMINATIONS 88

GRAMMY WINS 28

Beyoncé has won only one top Grammy so far — song of the year for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” And if she doesn’t win one of the big three (album, song or record of the year) at the 2023 Grammys, she’ll still walk away from the show making history if she wins three out of nine nominations. Then she’ll tie the record for most Grammy wins of all time, set by late Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti, who died in 1997 and won 31 honors. One or two of those three may come in the dance category, for best dance/electronica album (Renaissance) and best dance/electronica recording (“Break My Soul”). And with bids in the R&B categories, Beyoncé is all but set to become the queen of the Grammys.

KENDRICK LAMAR

2023 NOMINATIONS 8

CAREER NOMINATIONS 47

GRAMMY WINS 14

Rap’s had a bad history at winning the big categories at the Grammys. It was only in 2019 when the genre finally prevailed and won the Grammys for record and song of the year thanks to Childish Gambino’s “This Is America.” And only two rap-based acts have won album of the year: Lauryn Hill and OutKast. If there’s a rapper who is next to win the big honor, it’s Lamar. One thing we know for sure: Lamar will, at least, sweep the rap categories.

ADELE

2023 NOMINATIONS 7

CAREER NOMINATIONS 25

GRAMMY WINS 15

Despite major competition, there was no chance Adele was losing the big three Grammys in 2012 with 21 and “Rolling in the Deep” and in 2017 with 25 and “Hello.” But times have changed, and voters won’t go easy on the songstress this go-round. While 30 was critically acclaimed and “Easy on Me” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the album and song didn’t make large enough splashes to guarantee wins. Where Adele most likely will add to her gramophone collection: best music film for Adele: One Night Only, which won all five Emmys it was nominated for.

BRANDI CARLILE

2023 NOMINATIONS 7

CAREER NOMINATIONS 24

GRAMMY WINS 6

Carlile has become a critical darling at the Grammys, earning multiple nominations for the past five consecutive years — not only for her own music but for her work as a producer and songwriter for others and her country music supergroup, The Highwomen. And this year she has reached new heights: Along with nominations in the country and American roots fields, she scored her first-ever nominations in rock (best rock song and best rock performance for “Broken Horses”). And if voters from the country, rock, Americana, folk and bluegrass genres align, Carlile’s In These Silent Days might be a loud winner, especially for album of the year.

HARRY STYLES

2023 NOMINATIONS 6

CAREER NOMINATIONS 9

GRAMMY WINS 1

No one has had quite the year Styles has. He launched several top 10 hits, and “As It Was” nearly set a record for most weeks at No. 1. Harry’s House dominated on streaming services and the pop charts. And his electrifying live shows have become a must-see, even if you weren’t a big fan before going. He already has won one Grammy — best pop solo performance for “Watermelon Sugar” — but he’s finally competing for the big three for the first time, and he has a chance to be the next Brit to dominate America’s biggest music show.

MARY J. BLIGE

2023 NOMINATIONS 6

CAREER NOMINATIONS 37

GRAMMY WINS 9

The last time one of Blige’s albums competed at the Grammys was at the 2009 show. So it was a nice surprise when the Recording Academy announced that Good Morning Gorgeous was up for six honors this year. But it’s not shocking — the two-time Oscar nominee is, indeed, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. And she has some special helpers working as secret weapons — H.E.R. and Anderson .Paak, contemporary stars whom Grammy voters love. H.E.R. co-wrote and co-produced Blige’s title track, while .Paak contributed to several songs on the album, including “Here With Me,” which is nominated for best R&B performance.

LIZZO

2023 NOMINATIONS 5

CAREER NOMINATIONS 13

GRAMMY WINS 3

It’s about damn time Lizzo wins another Grammy, if voters have their way. She was the top nominee at the 2020 show with her major-label debut album and the ubiquitous hit “Truth Hurts,” which won best pop solo performance. She’s back again with the TikTok-approved jam “About Damn Time,” and the success of the song helped her album Special score nominations for album of the year and best pop vocal album.

JAY-Z

2023 NOMINATIONS 5

CAREER NOMINATIONS 88

GRAMMY WINS 24

Jay-Z held the record for most Grammy nominations of all time — until his wife flipped the script this year. Renaissance helped Beyoncé reach 88 nominations, and funnily enough, Jay-Z’s five nominations this year match the feat. And what’s even sweeter? Two of Jay-Z’s nominations are for his contributions to Beyoncé’s album. His other three are for his guest verse on DJ Khaled’s “God Did,” which is up for song of the year, best rap performance and best rap song.

TAYLOR SWIFT

2023 NOMINATIONS 4

CAREER NOMINATIONS 46

GRAMMY WINS 11

Taylor Swift’s latest album, Midnights, will qualify for the Grammys in 2024, but she still has a chance to own the show in 2023. She could reach one of her goals and win her first-ever song of the year honor — an award reserved for writers — with the rerelease of her 2012 song “All Too Well.” The short film created for the song, which Swift directed and is being pushed for Oscar contention, earned a Grammy nomination for best music video. Her other bids include best country song (“I Bet You Think About Me”) and best song written from visual media (“Carolina”).

BAD BUNNY

2023 NOMINATIONS 3

CAREER NOMINATIONS 9

GRAMMY WINS 2

Bad Bunny shockingly earned only three Grammy noms after launching the year’s biggest album and monster hits like “Tití Me Preguntó” and “Me Porto Bonito” (with Chencho Corleone). Neither earned song nor record of the year nods, something the Recording Academy needs to answer for. And while there isn’t a category for Latin songs at the Grammys — only Latin albums — the situation raises a question: Did Bad Bunny’s team attempt to submit him to the rap or global music categories but get kicked to another genre? He did receive one nomination in pop: best pop solo performance for “Moscow Mule.” But with the year he had, Bad Bunny’s music should have been celebrated across multiple categories and genres.

This story first appeared in the Dec. 16 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.