The 2021 GRAMMY Awards were initially postponed, but with the show now set to air March 14, we’re diving deep into this year’s Album of the Year nominees and why each artist deserves the win.
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Black Pumas have seen their profile continue to rise ever since the release of their self-titled debut record in June 2019. When their name was included on the list of Album of the Year nominees at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards, it further cemented the critical acclaim the band has received in their short career thus far. Here's why their standout album Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition) should win Album of the Year.
2021 Album Of The Year Nominees
Jhené Aiko - Chilombo
Black Pumas - Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)
Coldplay - Everyday Life
Jacob Collier - Djesse Vol. 3
HAIM - Women in Music Pt. III
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
Post Malone - Hollywood’s Bleeding
Taylor Swift - folklore
The origin story of Black Pumas might as well be something out of a movie. Singer Eric Burton grew up in California in the San Fernando Valley and got his musical experience singing in church and through involvement in musical theater. He busked on the Santa Monica Pier before moving out to Texas and settling down in Austin.
Guitarist Adrian Quesada is a GRAMMY winner having taken home a GRAMMY for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album in 2010 when he was with the band Grupo Fantasma. Quesada also received a nomination as part of Grupo Fantasma for the same award back in 2008.
Their paths collided when a mutual friend recommended Burton to Quesada. Burton called up Quesada and began singing to him over the phone. “I loved his energy, his vibe, and I knew it would be incredible on record,” Quesada said. “From the moment I heard him on the phone, I was all about it.”
The group’s self-titled debut album was immediately a hit. For a band that utilizes genres that’ll appease any music fan, from soul, R&B, funk, rock, blues, folk, psychedelia, and more, they managed to craft a distinct sound that’s uniquely their own.
Their breakout came with their single “Colors,” which has a live version that’s been viewed over 66 million times on YouTube. A nearly seven minute affair, the song showcases what made fans fall in love with the band in the first place. Immaculate songwriting, Burton’s soulful vocals, Quesada’s masterful guitar work, and a funky groove that’ll make you bop your head.
While “Colors” may be the entry point of many to Black Pumas music, their debut album offers plenty of material that will make listeners fall in love with the band.
The deluxe edition of their debut album expands on the songs from their first record by offering live takes that speak to the strength of the group’s songwriting. Reimagining what these songs sound like in the first place and offering up almost limitless potential for what direction they can go are big reasons why the Black Pumas earned this GRAMMY nomination.
Plus, they threw in several cover songs including the funkiest version of The Beatles “Eleanor Rigby” you’ll hear in your life.
Aside from the “Eleanor Rigby” cover, Black Pumas also delivered fantastic versions of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” Death’s “Politicians in My Eyes,” and Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City.” The eclectic mix of covers not only showcase the diverse influences that shaped the band, but also shows their ability to take a song and make it their own.
Their debut album clocks in at just under forty minutes, but when you add in the deluxe edition to it, it comes in at just over an hour and a half long. While listening to the album time seemed to fly by as tracks seamlessly transitioned into one another. Want to know how you’ve made a great album? Create an experience that will give listeners a feeling of surprise that 90 minutes have passed without them being aware. That’s exactly what Black Pumas did with their GRAMMY nominated LP.
Will Black Pumas take home Album of the Year at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards? Find out for yourself and watch the GRAMMYs on CBS, Sunday March 14, starting at 8PM ET.
WATCH MORE: And the 2021 GRAMMY nominees are...
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