Beyoncé rules 2010 Grammy nominations

I was watching I Am…Yours, Beyoncé’s contribution to this year’s Christmas shopping rush when I got the news that she topped the 2010 Grammy Awards nomination. She got a huge 10 nods and judging from what the CD/DVD release has to offer, it could not happen to somebody more deserving.

I Am…Yours is a three-disc live recording of what was dubbed an intimate performance at Wynn’s in Las Vegas and the reasons why Beyoncé is consistently winning accolades are all there. She is a fantastic vocalist. Disc One is an acoustic set that shows this off very well. She is also great with uptempo tunes. The hits of Disc Two tells us so.

And can you think of anybody who can equal the perfection of her live performance, while also looking beautiful to boot. That is all in Disc Three, a DVD which features other treats. So I do not think there is anybody who will object to her carting off all those Grammys home come Jan. 31.

Taylor Swift also did well with eight nominations. She held the Country Western banner aloft amidst the R&B onslaught that also included The Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell and Kanye West with six nominations each, plus dance sensation Lady Gaga with five.

The Brits who led last year’s batch were surprisingly quiet this time around. In fact most of their nominations were for established rock acts like U2, Eric Clapton and Coldplay.

Here is Part One of the list of nominees. I make it a point to check out the contenders in the top categories after the announcement and I can honestly say that this is one great batch:

Record of the Year: Halo, Beyoncé; I Gotta Feeling, The Black Eyed Peas; Use Somebody, Kings Of Leon; Poker Face, Lady Gaga; You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift.

Album of the Year: I Am ……Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé; The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas; The Fame, Lady Gaga; Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band; Fearless, Taylor Swift.

Song of the Year: Poker Face, Lady Gaga; Pretty Wings, Maxwell; Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It, Beyoncé; Use Somebody, Kings Of Leon; You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift.

Best New Artist: Zac Brown Band; Keri Hilson; MGMT; Silversun Pickups, The Ting Tings.

Female Pop Vocal: Hometown Glory, Adele; Halo, Beyoncé; Hot N Cold, Katy Perry; Sober, Pink; You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift.

Male Pop Vocal: This Time, John Legend; Love You, Maxwell; Make It Mine, Jason Mraz; If You Don’t Know Me By Now, Seal; All About The Love Again, Stevie Wonder.

Duo or Group Pop Vocal:I Gotta Feeling, The Black Eyed Peas; We Weren’t Born To Follow, Bon Jovi; Never Say Never, The Fray; Sarah Smile, Daryl Hall & John Oates; Kids, MGMT.

Pop Collaboration with Vocals; Sea Of Heartbreak, Rosanne Cash & Bruce Springsteen; Love Sex Magic, Ciara and Justin Timberlake; Lucky, Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat; Baby It’s Cold Outside, Willie Nelson and Norah Jones; Breathe, Taylor Swift and Colbie Caillat.

Pop Instrumental Performance: Besame Mucho, Herb Alpert; Throw Down Your Heart, Bela Fleck; The Fire, Imogen Heap; Phoenix Rise, Maxwell; Funk Joint, Marcus Miller.

Pop Instrumental Album: In Boston, Chris Botti; Legacy, Hiroshima; Potato Hole, Booker T. Jones; Modern Art, The Rippingtons featuring Russ Freeman; Down The Wire, Spyro Gyra.

Pop Vocal Album: The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas; Breakthrough, Colbie Caillat; All I Ever Wanted, Kelly Clarkson; The Fray, The Fray; Funhouse, Pink.

Dance Recording: Boom Boom Pow, the Black Eyed Peas; When Love Takes Over, Kelly Rowland; Poker Face, Lady Gaga; Celebration, Madonna; Womanizer, Britney Spears.

Electronic/Dance Album: Divided By Night, The Crystal Method; One Love, David Guetta; The Fame, Lady Gaga; Party Rock, LMPAO; Yes, Pet Shop Boys.

Traditional Pop Vocal Album: A Swingin’ Christmas, Tony Bennett; Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden, Michael Bublé; Your Songs, Harry Connick Jr.; Liza’s At The Palace, Liza Minnelli; American Classic, Willie Nelson.

Rock Solo Vocal: Beyond Here Lies Nothing, Bob Dylan; Change In The Weather, John Fogerty; Dreamer, Prince; Working On A Dream, Bruce Springsteen; Fork In The Road, Neil Young.

Rock Duo or Group Vocal: Can’t Find My Way Home, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood; Life In Technicolor II, Coldplay; 21 Guns, Green Day; Use Somebody, Kings of Leon; I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight, U2.

Hard Rock Vocal: War Machine, AC/DC; Check My Brain, Alice In Chains; What I’ve Done, Linkin Park; The Unforgiven, Metallica; Burn It To The Ground, Nickelback.

Metal Vocal: Dissident Aggressor, Judas Priest; Set To Fail, Lamb Of God; Head Crusher, Megadeth; Senor Peligro, Ministry; Hate Worldwide, Slayer.

Rock Instrumental: A Day In The Life, Jeff Beck; Warped Sister, Booker T. Jones; Playing With Fire, Brad Paisley; Mr. Surfer Goes Jazzin’, Brian Setzer Orchestra; Now We Run, Steve Val.

Rock Song: The Fixer, Pearl Jam; I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight, U2; 21 Guns, Green Day; Use Somebody, Kings of Leon; Working On A Dream, Bruce Springsteen.

Rock Album: Black Ice, AC/DC; Live From Madison Square Gargen, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood; 21^st Century Breakdown, Green Day; Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band; No Line On The Horizon, U2.

Alternative Music Album: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, David Byrne & Brian Eno; The Open Door, Death Cab for Cutie; Sounds Of The Universe, Depeche Mode; Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, Phoenix; Its Blitz!, Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Featured on Wednesday will be the R&B and rap nominees.