Lana Del Rey, also known as Lizzy Grant or her legal name Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, is an incredible artist who has captured the hearts of many, including myself, but has never won a Grammy.
Lana’s style can be described as vintage-inspired and cinematic, with her nostalgic and dreamy aesthetic often displayed in her music and visuals. She is the artist of the generation with her lyrics often touching on love, heartbreak, and americana.
The Grammys perhaps is the largest music awards show. Artists from around the world and from a variety of genres come together to be recognized for their amazing work. It’s like the Oscars but for music!
This year we were blessed to see lots of new faces as well as old ones, including Taylor Swift, Laufey, Olivia Rodrigo, Jon Batiste, Boy Genius, and Lana Del Rey.
The Recording Academy, in charge of the selection of the Grammy nominees and winners, has an extraordinarily long, tedious, and democratic voting process. Members of the Recording Academy, including professionals like producers, engineers, and artists get to vote for the winners.
First, they listen to the nominated songs and albums and go back and forth until finally deciding on their favorites in each category. Votes are then counted, and the winners are determined.
Because the voting is limited to only professionals, fans feel that voting can be unjust. In my view, it is more of the eye for the artist’s vision, and not everyone can see the vision. So, I find it quite unfair that the older members of the Recording Academy- members who may be out of touch with modern artistry and music- get to vote on what they think is award-worthy.
This past Grammys award show would make it the 11th time that Lana Del Rey has lost out on winning a trophy. On many social media platforms like X and TikTok a blind item has been going viral. Fueling the theory and suggesting that the artist has been blacklisted from ever winning such an award because of her highly controversial 2012 “Saturday Night Live” performance.
“I haven’t taken Lana Del Rey’s career seriously as an artist since her infamous SNL performance and never will,” An unnamed voter allegedly said.
Viewers felt that her performance did not translate well to the live setting and heavily criticized her vocals. Some, on the other hand, felt that she was captivating. This performance generated such buzz that it sparked debates about the artist’s talent, stage presence, drug use, and expectations.
However, Lana Del Rey is not the only successful musician who has never won a Grammy. Several iconic musicians like Snoop Dogg, Jimi Hendrix, Katy Perry, and even Diana Ross have never won a Grammy.
I have been listening to Lana Del Rey since I was 11. I know how it sounds crazy- there is no reason an 11-year-old child should be listening to music about drugs, sex, old rich white men, and manipulation. Nonetheless, I was, and I do not regret it one bit. I very strongly agree that Lana Del Rey shaped me into the woman I am today.
I grew up with her, she followed me through every stage in a teenage girl’s life. Backstabbing, she was there. My parents upset me, she was there. I fell in love, she was there. There is something special about being a young girl and having a woman to look up to. Lana to me is what a Barbie is to a seven-year-old. I am clinically obsessed with her.
She has such a strong connection with young women, especially those who can read between the lines of her lyrics. She does not try to be the “it” girl-it just happens!
Why do lesser-known artists deserve more Grammys than someone with Lana Del Rey’s iconic catalog? Lana undoubtedly deserves an award for her music; her album “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Bldv” should have been a shoo-in for Album of the Year.
Lana never failed girls like me, yet the Grammies failed her, and that is something I will never forgive the Recording Academy for.