It’s a scorching summer season day, the automotive AC is on turbo and the radio is blasting Miguel’s “Positive Factor.” My 8-year-old nephew is singing alongside fortunately — till I inform him the tune is older than he’s.
He’s extraordinarily puzzled. But it surely’s true.
“Positive Factor” was launched in 2010 and was named Billboard’s No. 1 R&B/hip-hop tune of 2011. However TikTok resurrected the melodic observe this 12 months, and the platform thrust it to larger heights on the pop charts, as streaming platforms added it to present playlists and radio stations started replaying the tune 13 years after its launch.
Taylor Swift’s “Merciless Summer season” was launched in 2019, however the addictive bop turned a favourite on her ultra-popular Eras Tour, and now it’s within the high 10 of the Billboard Sizzling 100. Sia, due to TikTok, relaunched a platinum hit with “Unstoppable” late final 12 months, although it was launched in 2016. And Tems set a report when her 2020 observe “Free Thoughts” spent 22 weeks at No. 1 on R&B/hip-hop radio this 12 months.
When trying again at 2023, these songs might be a part of the music that outlined this 12 months. However what does that imply on the Grammy Awards, which honor the most effective in new recordings, particularly because the development of older songs discovering new life continues to blow up? Right here’s how artists can get an previous tune nominated at music’s greatest awards present.
SING IT LIVE
The most typical strategy to get an older observe nominated on the Grammys is submitting a reside model. An artist can submit a reside model of a observe at any time; the one rule is the reside rendition should have been recorded throughout the previous 5 years.
John Legend’s “All of Me” and Pharrell’s “Pleased” had been launched in 2013 however turned No. 1 hits in 2014, and reside variations of each tracks competed for greatest pop solo efficiency on the 2015 Grammys (“Pleased” received). Adele dominated the 2012 Grammys with 21 and its singles “Rolling within the Deep” and “Somebody Like You.” A 12 months later, she received greatest pop solo efficiency for a reside model of third 21 single “Set Fireplace to the Rain.” Beyoncé received greatest pop feminine vocal efficiency for “Halo” in 2010 and was nominated in the identical class for a reside model of the ballad in 2011. Sheryl Crow’s “There Goes the Neighborhood” misplaced greatest feminine rock vocal efficiency to Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited” on the 1999 Grammys, however two years later a reside model of “There Goes the Neighborhood” received in the identical class.
Those that have received Grammys for reside variations are Prepare’s “Hey, Soul Sister,” Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Keep in mind You” and Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Fairly Lady,” which was successful in 1964 however gained new consideration after the discharge of the 1990 traditional Fairly Lady; it received a Grammy for its reside model in 1991.
Songs that earned nominations for reside renditions are Elton John’s “Candle within the Wind,” Beyoncé’s “Me, Myself and I,” Latto’s “Large Power,” Camila Cabello’s “Havana,” McLachlan’s “Possession” and Sting’s “Fragile,” initially launched within the ’80s however nominated on the 2003 Grammys.
Dwell renditions of songs can solely compete in efficiency classes — like greatest R&B efficiency and greatest pop duo/group efficiency, however not in classes like tune of the 12 months or greatest rock tune.
MAKE IT A DUET
Collaboration is essential if an artist desires to get their older tune nominated for a Grammy.
Making a observe a duet is the way in which to go — simply ask Dolly Parton. Her traditional “Jolene” was nominated within the Seventies, however the singer rerecorded the tune with the a cappella group Pentatonix in 2016, and it received them the most effective nation duo/group efficiency Grammy in 2017.
For the duet or collaboration to qualify, each components must be newly recorded.
Although he has boycotted the Grammys, The Weeknd is in good form for this. TikTok helped his 2016 observe “Die for You” grow to be a high 10 smash final 12 months, and his duet model with Ariana Grande, launched in February, instantly hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Sizzling 100. If submitted, it will probably compete for greatest pop duo/group efficiency.
The graceful addition of Usher on Miguel’s “Positive Factor” may give the tune and Miguel an opportunity to compete on the Grammys; what’s higher is a younger Miguel performed “Positive Factor” for report executives for doable inclusion on Usher’s album years in the past, and the tune helped the singer-songwriter land a report deal.
Doesn’t Kelly Clarkson or Pink — or each — buying and selling large vocals with Sia on a brand new model of “Unstoppable” sound like magic? Mariah Carey’s 2009 observe “It’s a Wrap” turned an R&B hit this 12 months, and although she remixed the tune with Mary J. Blige some time again, a brand new rendition with Jazmine Sullivan and her “Choose Up Your Emotions” power can be heaven despatched.
IT’S THE REMIX!
Remixes have all the time prolonged the life span of a tune, whether or not it’s including a rapper to the observe or having a DJ rework it right into a pulsating nightclub favourite.
For older songs in hopes of getting Grammy love, remixing the observe and including new components may assist it get nominated in the most effective remixed recording class. And earlier than you ask, these “sped-up” variations of songs on TikTok don’t depend.
To qualify, a remixer “creatively provides to, alters or transforms [a previous recording] in such a approach as to create a brand new and distinctive efficiency,” in line with the Recording Academy’s guidelines and tips. The Academy provides that “the addition of a vocal efficiency by a featured artist with out substantive change to the unique music recording shouldn’t be eligible as a remix.”
Consider Lana Del Rey’s pop groove “Summertime Unhappiness” and its upbeat dance remix by Cedric Gervais. The French producer’s transforming received him a Grammy in 2014.
Getting a producer or remixer to remodel Swift’s “Merciless Summer season,” Miguel’s “Positive Factor,” Tems’ “Free Thoughts” or Beyoncé’s “My Energy” — which noticed a rise in streams following Blue Ivy Carter’s dance to the tune on her mother’s Renaissance Tour — is likely to be the best path to take to earn a nomination.
However word — for the artist to get a nomination in the most effective remixed recording class, the artist should be listed as a remixer. As an illustration, Lizzo received report of the 12 months at this 12 months’s Grammys for “About Rattling Time,” however when Purple Disco Machine’s remix of her ubiquitous hit received greatest remixed recording, the award solely went to the German producer, not Lizzo.
SHOOT A MUSIC VIDEO
A tune could possibly be years previous, however making a brand new music video may assist it land a Grammy nomination.
The very best music video class is awarded to the artist, director and video producer. And the excellent news is that among the older songs that discovered new success this 12 months by no means launched an accompanying video, together with Swift’s “Merciless Summer season,” Tems’ “Free Thoughts” and Carey’s “It’s a Wrap.”
“If a single is launched one 12 months and the music video is launched in a special eligibility 12 months, each are eligible of their respective years,” Academy guidelines learn.
Sadly for Miguel, this disqualifies “Positive Factor” as a result of the tune already has an official video.
THE LIZZO EFFECT
Lizzo dominated 2019 with the hit “Reality Hurts,” although it was initially launched in 2017 as a stand-alone single. Usually, an artist must submit a reside model of an older observe to compete on the Grammys, however not Lizzo.
The Academy deemed “Reality Hurts” eligible as a result of it was by no means submitted for competition within the Grammys course of and it appeared on an album launched through the eligibility interval for the 2020 present.
“Reality Hurts” gained main consideration after it was featured within the Netflix movie Somebody Nice, launched on the identical day as Lizzo’s Cuz I Love You. “Reality Hurts” wasn’t initially featured on the album, however two weeks after its launch, Lizzo’s report label dropped a deluxe model of the album and added “Reality Hurts” to it.
In the event you’re not sure about in case your tune qualifies on the Grammys or not, The Lizzo Impact is a reminder to shoot your shot as a result of there’s an opportunity you could possibly rating large — similar to she did.
A model of this story first appeared within the July 26 challenge of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.
