GRAMMY WTF?  1988 Song Of the Year. More: tomorrow.

The Grammy Awards are one of music’s most prestigious trophies. Since the inaugural ceremony in 1959, winners have spanned a vast array of musical styles and winners as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Eminem and Lizzo. There have, however, been some instances where one can’t comprehend the outcomes and omissions. Caffè Lattè looks back on some of the most baffling moments and unsuccessful -yet influential- acts…

GRAMMY WTF?

SONG OF THE YEAR 1988

WINNER:

 

NOMINATED BETTER CHOICE:

Both Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram are praiseworthy vocalists. The former has been adept at switching genres with ease, from rock to country and standards. Her duet with Ingram, from the animated film ‘An American Tale’, was a Top 10 hit in America, Britain and Canada. The ballad is well sung by both, but there was another -more deserving- song nominated in the same category that has grown in stature over subsequent decades.

In 1987, U2 cemented its place among rock music’s best groups. The Irish rockers had just dropped ‘The Joshua Tree’ album and delivered one of its best tracks: “With Or Without You”. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” was issued as the follow-up single. The song was nominated for both Song and Record Of The Year. To be fair, Grammy voters did pick the parent LP in the Album Of The Year category.  

U2 have since been amply compensated for this wrong call. By the end of 2023, the band has been showered with no less than 22 Grammy Awards. But in 1988, U2 were nominated for the first time. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” was a refreshing approach to songcraft both thematically and sonically. Here was a band that had matured into a leading unit, with some of its best work. The fact that “With Or Without You”, also on 'The Joshua Tree', was completely overlooked is similarly incomprehensible.

NEVER WON A GRAMMY AWARD*:

*(excludes life achievement categories)

 

THE WHO

The Who was one of the leaders of British rock in the 1960s. Songwriter and guitarist Pete Townsend helped define a rebellious rock attitude with his poses and onstage destruction of guitars and equipment. The group gave rock ‘n’ roll one of its first anthems in “My Generation”. With ‘Tommy’, the band again proved to be innovative. Among The Who’s most revered tracks are: “I Can See For Miles”, “Pinball Wizard”, “Substitute”, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, “Baba O’Riley”, “Who Are You” and “You Better You Bet”.

With the British Invasion in full swing in the 1960s, it is surprising to see that the group never received a single nomination. To date, the Grammy judges have nominated The Who only twice, on both occasions for a video. The first time was in 1990.