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Staff Picks

	Album of the Year Nominees	Record of the Year	Best New Artist	Best Female Pop Vocal Performance	Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Ty Young arts editor	Millennium, Backstreet Boys Latch me to the caboose of the Backstreet train ÷ theyâve got my vote, along with little girls worldwide.	ãNo Scrubs,ä TLC Despite my over-drawn bank account, a hooptee for a car, and a refrigerator that protects nothing but cheap beer, TLCâs ãNo Scrubsä outshines the rest.	Susan Tedeschi While Christina and Britney certainly have mounds of talent, the two cannot hold firm when compared to blues artist Susan Tedeschiâs brilliant guitar work.	ãGenie in a Bottle,ä Christina Aguilera Imagine Mariah Carey with a brain ÷ Aguilera certainly has, among other things, the voice and spirit to pose stiff competition for future artists.	ãBrand New Day,ä Sting Santana wasnât the only artist to make a come back this year. Sting came back in strong fashion ÷ without any help from current pop stars.
Jen Levario asst. arts ed.	Supernatural, Santana The 1999 comeback kid ÷ Santana ÷ produced the best album of the year with relatively new all-stars like the Dave Matthewâs Band and Wyclef Jean.	ãSmooth,ä Santana It was the song that everybody loved to hate, but ãSmoothä was just too good to keep off the radio.	Macy Gray With a style that echoes Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, Gray emerged this year with a distinct new brand of hip-hop soul ÷ without the charm of artificial endowments or midget sidekicks.	ãI Will Remember You,ä Sarah McLachlan Sarah McLachlan hit the airwaves harder this year than ever, and this song led the way.	ãMambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)ä Lou Bega Andrea Bocelliâs heart-wrenching ãSognoä is by far and away the best song of the year, but I wouldnât go so far as to call it ãpop.ä Lou Bega takes the cake on that one.
Rebecca Missel arts reporter	Supernatural, Santana Carlos makes a comeback with a little help from his friends. Unlike other tribute albums, the man himself contributes, and the other musicians are eclectic enough to have wide appeal.	ãI Want It That Way,ä Backstreet Boys This song is annoying catchy, but it is so irresistibly singable that the most hardened cynic canât resist crooning a few bars.	Macy Gray Sheâs got a Joplin-esque voice. She lusts for men and not boys. She does not allow herself to become a doormat, and most importantly she writes her own songs.	ãI Will Remember You,ä Sarah McLachlan The vocals are haunting, and the words are vastly deeper than the teeny-bopper competition has to offer. Not McLachlanâs best, but still above par.	ãMambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)ä Lou Bega Itâs a tribute to Latin music and flirtatious swingers everywhere. Itâs danceable, too. Despite its womanizing lyrics, Bega manages to come off as endearing.
Shaun Clayton arts reporter	Millennium, Backstreet Boys Carlos Santana is an amazing guitarist, long overdue for recognition, which is why the Recording Academy will snub him. Begrudgingly, the Backstreet Boys will win.	ãLivinâ La Vida Loca,ä Ricky Martin. Ricky Martin will win another Grammy, thus moving the Grammy award one step closer to becoming the prize found inside a box of Cracker Jacks.	Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera will win this one because her petite beauty appeals to that coveted 13- to 17-year-old male market known as ãwank dollars.ä	ãGenie in a Bottle,ä Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera will win (ka-ching!) and, in a touching display of civility, Madonna and Cher will wheel themselves on-stage to congratulate her.	ãMambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)ä Lou Bega Lou Bega wins ÷ then bursts into flames when John Flansburgh and John Linnell of They Might Be Giants arrive to smite this evil.
Graig Uhlin arts reporter	Supernatural, Santana. A monumental collaborative effort between old-time guitarist Santana and todayâs greatest artists. An enjoyable blend of Latin and hip hop that towers above the other nominees.	ãLivinâ La Vida Loca,ä Ricky Martin. ãSmoothä was truly inspired. ãI Want It That Wayä is pop at its best. But neither can match the force behind this catchy, Latin-rockabilly-pop juggernaut of a song.	Macy Gray. Brittany and Christina can take their navel-gazing wardrobe and teeny-bopper pop elsewhere. Gray has the goods. Her debut album and distinctive singing style defies classification.	ã...Baby One More Time,ä Brittany Spears. The lesser evil. Staying power and actual talent be damned, Brittanyâs pouty, clipped singing finds its perfect match in this feel-good pop single.	Martin. No one could have done it better. Martin deserves it just for proving that looks, charisma and frenetic hips can make a hit.