K-pop Singers Challenge New Records with Collaboration Song Featuring Band Coldplay
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The group BTS has been nominated for the prestigious American popular music awards, the Grammy Awards, for the third consecutive year.
The Recording Academy, which organizes the Grammy Awards, announced the nominees for the 65th Grammy Awards on the 15th (local time). BTS was nominated in two categories: 'Best Pop Duo/Group Performance' for their collaboration with Coldplay on the song "My Universe," and 'Best Music Video' for "Yet To Come."
Previously, BTS attended the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019 as the first Koreans invited as presenters. At the 62nd Grammy Awards in 2020, they continued their connection by performing on stage with Lil Nas X. In 2021, at the 63rd Grammy Awards, they gained attention by being nominated in the 'Best Pop Duo/Group Performance' category for "Dynamite." This was the first time a Korean act was nominated in a popular music category rather than classical, although they did not win. The following year, at the 64th Grammy Awards, they were again nominated in the same category for "Butter," but unfortunately did not win.
Having built a relationship with the Grammy Awards since 2019, BTS is drawing attention as they are nominated in two categories, raising hopes of becoming the first K-pop idol group to win.
BTS was nominated for the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category with their collaboration "My Universe" with Coldplay. Competing against BTS are ABBA's "Don't Shut Me Down," Camila Cabello (feat. Ed Sheeran)'s "Bam Bam," Post Malone & Doja Cat's "I Like You (A Happier Song)," and Sam Smith & Kim Petras' "Unholy." Established in 2012, this category honors musicians who have achieved artistic excellence through duos, groups, or collaborations.
"My Universe" gained attention by topping the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and remaining on the chart for 17 weeks.
Additionally, BTS was nominated for Best Music Video with "Yet To Come." Other nominees in this category include Adele's "Easy On Me," Doja Cat's "Woman," Kendrick Lamar's "The Heart Part 5," Harry Styles' "As It Was," and Taylor Swift's "All Too Well: The Short Film."
"Yet To Come" is the title track of BTS's anthology album "Proof," released in June this year. It achieved great popularity by reaching number one on the Billboard 200 album chart and number 13 on the Hot 100 singles chart. The music video, which conveys the message "The best moment is yet to come" and reflects their nine-year journey since debuting in 2013, reached 100 million views on YouTube within ten days of its release.
For the 65th Grammy Awards, BTS submitted four songs for major categories such as 'Record of the Year' and 'Song of the Year': the title track "Yet To Come" from the anthology album "Proof," the collaboration "My Universe" with Coldplay, "Left and Right" featuring Charlie Puth and Jungkook, and "Bad Decisions," performed by Jin, V, Jimin, and Jungkook alongside Benny Blanco and Snoop Dogg. They succeeded in securing nominations in two categories.
Among the three major American music awards (Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and Grammy Awards), the Grammy Awards are known to be the most conservative. Unlike the American Music Awards, which are selected by fan votes, or the Billboard Music Awards, which are based on chart data, the Grammy winners are chosen by votes from members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), a group of music professionals.
BTS began winning major American music awards starting with the 'Top Social Artist' at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards and went on to sweep the 'Artist of the Year' at last year's American Music Awards. However, they have yet to win a Grammy. This is closely related to criticism that NARAS, which decides Grammy winners, is composed of about 1,300 producers, engineers, radio producers, and DJs, most of whom are middle-aged, white males, leading to a ceremony that favors their demographic. The Grammys have faced criticism for undervaluing genres like heavy metal and hip-hop, which once dominated the global music scene. Although the Grammys abolished secret committees last year in an effort to reform, they are still considered insufficient in reflecting contemporary trends.
The first Korean to win a Grammy was world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo, who won 'Best Opera Recording' at the 35th Grammy Awards in 1993. Sound engineer Byungjun Hwang won the 'Best Classical Engineered Recording' at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012 for the album of Robert Aldridge's opera "Elmer Gantry," and Charles Bruffy won the 'Best Choral Performance' at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016 for the album of Rachmaninoff's "All-Night Vigil," performed by the Kansas City Chorale and Phoenix Chorale.
The 65th Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 5, 2023 (local time).
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