The Problem With The Grammys by Mark LeVine

And that is why this year’s nominees represent a troubling trend in the Anglo-American music industry; a palpable lessening in the standards by academy members for what constitutes the height of songwriting craft and performance and – whatever description the category might still retain – a consideration of popularity and monetary impact above that of artistic achievement…

…The problem is that these songs represent the most simplistic songwriting techniques imaginable. Azalea’s “Fancy” can hardly be called a song in a meaningful sense. It’s a synth bass line with a vocal over it that is barely sung and no arrangement, harmony, or movement whatsoever as it progresses from start to finish.