Charice, Susan Boyle didn't make it as Grammy nominees

As I expected the excellent Wake Up! by John Legend and the R&B group The Roots, got its share of Grammy nominations. The CD was named in four of the main categories: Shine, Best R&B Song; Shine, Best R&B Vocals by a Duo or Group; Hang On In There, for Best Traditional R&B Vocals; and Best R&B Album for Wake Up! The CD is made up of now rarely heard protest songs from the ’60s and it sounded great to hear a less indulgent Legend singing covers along with the wonderful vocals by The Roots.

However, I was also disappointed that Charice’s self-titled debut album produced by David Foster did not make it to the nominations. Her earlier recordings like the digital release Note To God and The Christmas Song for the Very Special Christmas collection last year probably canceled her out of the Best New Artist category. Still it seems like the Foster name and a hit song with Pyramid were not enough to get her into the race.

A Grammy nomination or two would have been the crowning touch of what has truly been a remarkable year for Charice. But as it has been said since time immemorial, one does not really get everything. There will be other Grammys. And then hopefully, I hope she gets asked to perform at the Awards night next year. Watching her on stage with all those big stars would be a really nice experience.

Time now to go on with the nominees’ list. Here are the R&B, hip-hop and rap lists plus a few other categories.

Female R&B Vocal: Gone Already, Faith Evans; Bittersweet, Fantasia; Everything To Me, Monica; Tired, Kelly Price; Holding You Down (Going In Circles) Jazmine Sullivan.

Male R&B Vocal: Second Chance, El DeBarge; Finding My Way Back, Jehelm; Why Would You Stay, Kem; We’re Still Friends, Musiq Soulchild; There Goes My Baby, Usher.

Duo or Group R&B Vocal: Love, Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller; Take My Time, Chris Brown & Tank; You’ve Got A Friend, Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin; Shine, John Legend & The Roots; Soldier Of Love, Sade.

Traditional R&B Vocal: When A Woman Loves, R. Kelly; Hang On In There, John Legend & The Roots; You’re So Amazing, Calvin Richardson; In Between, Ryan Shaw; Go, Betty Wright.

Urban Alternative Vocal: Little One, Bilal; F***You, Cee Lo Green; Orion, Carolyn Malachi; Tightrope, Janelle Monae & Big Boi; Still, Eric Robertson.

R&B Song: Bittersweet, Fantasia; Finding My Way Back, Jahelm; Second Chance, El DeBarge; Shine, John Legend & Roots; Why Would You Stay, Kem.

R&B Album: The Love & War Masterpiece, Raheem DeVaugh; Back To Me, Fantasia; Another Round, Jahelm; Wake Up!, John Legend & Roots; Still Standing, Monica.

Contemporary R&B Album: Graffiti, Chris Brown; Untitled, R. Kelly; Transition, Ryan Leslie; The ArchAndroid, Janelle Monae; Raymond V Raymond, Usher.

Rap Solo: Over, Drake; Not Afraid, Eminem; How Low, Ludacris; I’m Back, T. I. ; Power, Kanye West.

Rap by a Duo or Group: Shutterbug, Big Boi & Cutty; Fancy, Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz; On To The Next One, Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz; My Chick Bad, Ludacris & Nicki Minaj; Lose My Mind, Young Jeezy & Piles.

Rap/Song Collaboration: Nothin’ On You, B.o.B. & Bruno Mars; Deuces, Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall; Love The Way You Lie, Eminem & Rihanna; Empire State Of Mind, Jay-Z & Alicia Keys; Wake Up Everybody, John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common.

Rap Song: Empire State Of Mind, Jay-Z & Alicia Keys; Love the Way You Lie, Eminem & Rihanna; Not Afraid, Eminem; Nothin’ On You, B.o.B. & Bruno Mars; On To The Next One, Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz.

Rap Album: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray, B.o.B.; Thank Me Later, Drake; Recovery, Eminem; The Blueprint 3, Jay-Z; How I Got Over, The Roots.

Musical Show Album: American Idiot featuring Green Day; Fela; A Little Night Musical; Promises, Promises; Sondheim On Sondheim.

Compilation Soundtrack Album: Crazy Heart; Glee: The Music, Volume 1; Treme; True Blood, Volume 2; The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

Score Soundtrack Album: Alice In Wonderland; Avatar; Inception; Sherlock Holmes; Toy Story 3.

Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media: Down In New Orleans, The Princess And The Frog; I See You, Avatar; Kiss Like Your Kiss, True Blood; This City; Treme; The Weary Kind, Crazy Heart.

Short Form Music Video: Ain’t No Grave, Johnny Cash; Love The Way You Lie, Eminem & Rihanna; Stylo, Gorillaz, Mos Def & Bobby Womack; F*** You, Cee Lo Green; Bad Romance, Lady Gaga.

Long Form Music Video: No Distance Left To Run, Blur; When You’re Strange, The Doors; The Greatest Ears In Town: The Arif Mardin Story, Arif Mardin; Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage, Rush; Under Great White Northern Lights, The White Stripes.

The Grammy Awards will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 13, 2011. I am sure fans out here will be able to watch the event via satellite on Feb. 14.

Given past shows, I am sure this one will once again feature great production numbers. And maybe, we will also be able to see what Kanye West will do should he find himself on the same stage as fellow nominee Taylor Swift. And so the wait begins.