Grammys promise plenty of intrigue — and music

February 10, 2012|Nekesa Mumbi Moody, AP Music Writer

This year’s Grammy Awards promises plenty of intrigue and drama — much of it having little to do with the competition for awards.

Adele — one of the key nominees with six nods — is performing for the first time since having surgery on her vocal cords. A group of musicians upset that the Recording Academy has cut the number of awards have vowed to protest outside the Staples Center, where the ceremony will be held. Chris Brown and Rihanna will perform on the same stage — although at different times — for the first time since Brown attacked her before the 2009 Grammys, forcing both to drop out the show.

And the remaining Beach Boys will reunite onstage for the first time in years.

But Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow says that music will still be paramount once the show, which airs live on CBS, kicks off on Sunday.

“This was a really terrific, exciting year for music, so it will give us a tremendous canvas to paint on,’’ said Portnow on Thursday.

Kanye West is the top nominee with seven, including a best song nomination for his “All of the Lights.’’ But his highly acclaimed “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’’ and “Watch The Throne,’’ his collaboration with Jay-Z, are not among the nominees for best album, nor is he up for record of the year.

Adele is nominated in all top categories. “21,’’ the year’s best-selling album, is up for album of the year, and her “Rolling in the Deep’’ is up for song and record of the year. Bruno Mars is also up for best album for “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,’’ and his “Grenade’’ is a contender for record and song of the year as well; he too has six nominations, along with the Foo Fighters, whose “Wasting Light’’ is up for album of the year.

Other album of the year candidates are Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way’’ and Rihanna’s “Loud’’; for record of the year, Bon Iver’s “Holocene’’ is in the mix with Mumford & Sons “The Cave’’ and Katy Perry’s “Firework.’’ For song of the year, all the same nominees appear except “All of the Lights’’ replaces “Firework.’’

Adele’s performance promises to be among the night’s highlights. She had to cancel her tour and undergo surgery after persistent throat problems, and has kept a low-profile for months. Other key performances are to include the Grammys first-ever dance-electronic music segment featuring the Foos, David Guetta and others, and Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney are to take the stage. Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and Coldplay also are set to perform.