U2 tipped for Grammy success

U2 and piano songstress Alicia Keys are among the favourites to claim US Grammy nominations in a competition shaping up as far less inflammatory than last year’s event.

U2’s Beautiful Day won record and song of the year honours as a single at last year’s Grammy awards. This year the song is part of the album All That You Can’t Leave Behind, making the latter a contender for album of the year.

All That You Can’t Leave Behind was released too late to qualify last year, but the single did debut before the September 30 cut-off date.

Two following singles from the album, Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of and Walk On, are also potential contenders for best song and record honours this time around.

Keys’ R&B debut disc Songs In A Minor has been among the year’s top releases, fuelled by the success of her No 1 song, Fallin’.

She led the American Music Award nominees with five honours last month and is a favourite at the Grammys.

Other potential best-album nominees include Bob Dylan’s Love And Theft, Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory, Nelly Furtado’s Whoa, Nelly! and the bluegrass soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Last year, the usually mainstream-minded National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences rankled family values proponents and gay activists by handing Eminem four nominations.

Adding to the controversy was the rapper’s performance at the awards show with gay superstar Elton John.

He lost to Steely Dan for album of the year, but took home three other awards. Steely Dan had never won a Grammy prior to last year’s event, but ended up with three by the end of the night.

Presenters for the 44th annual Grammy Awards nominations at the Beverly Hilton include Destiny’s Child, singer Stevie Nicks, Furtado and OutKast.

The award ceremony is on February 27 at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.