BY THEODORA MILLER
Welcome to the Sandys, Carmel High’s music award show compiled not on the caliber of the final product, but as a response to the announced Grammy nominations.
Most Undeserved Awards
Congratulations to this year’s winners of the most undeserved nominations: “K-Pop Demon Hunters” and Justin Bieber. Given to the people who have managed the most, all while keeping the talent at a minimum.
Justin Bieber’s new album is a clear example of somebody who could not quit while they were ahead. courtesy of IMAGO COVER IMAGES
Nobody would have confused 2025 for a year of musical powerhouses, but the year a movie whose targeted audience is 8-and-under gets certified as art and nominated for best song…well, it’s not a good sign. “Golden” is the bane of many parents’ and older siblings’ existence. Please don’t give the “K-Pop Demon Hunters” phase an excuse to last longer than it has to.
Bieber’s newest album is a sad attempt to recapture his heyday as a pop superstar, but “Swag” only further distances himself from the icon he once was. Maybe ask AI to revise your album, JB, and try again next year…or better yet, don’t, and enjoy your yacht and the four Grammy nominations you got this year on your name alone.
Year’s Biggest Snub
Emilia’s “perfectas” was a clear example of radio-edit perfection. Reminiscent of Madonna, it was tongue-in-cheek, campy, impossible not to bop your head to and deserving of “Best Performance.” Emilia is one of the only Spanish language pop stars with legitimate cross-over appeal, and her music being played on the radio beats her American colleagues any day. Earning a Grammy would be the ideal way to achieve that larger audience and “perfectas” might be the pop princess’ crown jewel.
Most Likely to Sweep
“Man’s Best Friend” by Sabrina Carpenter wasn’t great, but in a year filled with artists trying to reinvent themselves as poets, the album is refreshingly familiar and pretty good. It wasn’t original but, hey, neither were half the supposed “experimental” EPs she was competing with. Add in the album cover controversy, her super successful year and glorified comfort music, Sabrina’s most likely to take home the grand prizes.
Most Deserved
Alas, all hope is not lost with Olivia Dean as a visionary who seems to be just getting started. Courtesy of OLIVIA DEAN
To end on a positive note, there is serious potential in the Best New Artist category. Olivia Dean’s “The Art of Loving” is unclassifiable except as epic. I expect we’ll see her go on to transform the pop landscape in the following years, so she’s got my vote.
Well, congrats to this year’s nominees, and I hope you enjoyed this year’s Sandys!
