While I'm still sorting through the full Grammy nominations list, I thought I'd link to something from best new artist nominee Ledisi, a neo-soul singer who is a virtual unknown and whose name even stumped music lovers Taylor Hawkins and Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters. "She's so new, we don't even know," Hawkins said.
Of course, the rest of the nominations in the category were delayed by all the hugging once super-cute country teen Taylor Swift got her nod and began hugging the Foos as well as pretty much everyone else onstage.
Ledisi's album "Lost and Found" (Verve) garnered some attention this summer when it rolled out, but her nomination is quite the head-scratcher. Why her instead of the similarly styled Chrisette Michele? What about Daughtry? Or Plain White Ts? Or Lily Allen?
And for those quick to point out that Feist's debut came out in 1999 and Winehouse's in 2003, Ledisi's "Soulsinger" arrived in 1998.
BEST NEW ARTIST NOMINEES:
Feist
Ledisi
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Amy Winehouse
MORE: Kanye West, Amy Winehouse lead Grammy nominations[Newsday]
Comments (1)
On the LEDISI nom:
Trust me, it's well deserved. The Grammy noms, specifically best new artist, are based on when the artist's release garners public attention, not necessarily their first (indie) release. Ledisi has been performing successfully "under the radar" for YEARS and has a huge underground following worldwide. She's "new" to the general public now as you even mentioned she was a "head scratcher."
She's an AMAZING live performer...and mark my words, will go down in the annals of history as the heir to the Ella Fitzgerald/Aretha Franklin/Tina Turner thrones...even if she doesn't win the Grammy popularity contest. If she gets to perform live on the show you'll see exactly what I'm talking about and will scratch your head no more.