on the 41st annual Dove Awards…
So, the day of the Dove Awards is upon us and i have yet to make my annual predictions… since time is always short these days, i’m going to go ahead and make some quick predictions on the major categories as they are listed on the Official Dove Awards website… i may post a reactionary piece after the fact as well, but we’ll see… for now, let’s just dive right in…
now playing: Megaphone – Braille
Artist of the Year
The nominees are: Francesca Battistelli, Casting Crowns, Jason Crabb, Jars of Clay, TobyMac, Mary Mary, and Skillet.
Traditionally this is the capstone award and, in turn, the most frustrating to the widest amount of fans when the results don’t align with, i don’t know, artistry perhaps? Anyway, this typically ends up being the most popular (read: biggest cash cow) artist at the time and recently, the GMA trends towards the “hip” factor. Be that as it may, the need for wide-spread popularity immediately eliminates Francesca, Jason Crabb, Mary Mary, and (yes) Skillet. It’s surprising that Casting Crowns has never one this award, nor has Jars of Clay. Toby, as a past winner, is the clear favorite, but i’m going to go out on a limb and say that Jars of Clay takes this award for their performances on and off stage, despite up and leaving the CCM industry and striking out as an indie band.
Artist of the Year
The nominees are: Francesca Battistelli, Michael Boggs, Mike Donehey, Jason Ingram, Jennie Lee Riddle, and Neil Thrasher
Interesting group of nominees here… and i have to go with Jennie Lee Riddle actually. She wrote Revelation Song all by herself. It could easily go to Francesca, however, as a way to give her something to take home. Not that she doesn’t deserve a Dove, i just think she’ll be pretty much shut out this year.
New Artist of the Year
The nominees are: Jonny Diaz, Kari Jobe, Revive, Sidewalk Prophets, Bluetree, Crystal Akin, and Brian Courtney Wilson
So this is always an interesting award… besides stretching the definition of “artist” they also stretch the meaning of “new”… okay, no ranting, but i’d bet that no more than 15% of CCM listeners have heard of Crystal, Brian, or Kari… well, maybe Kari, but only because she’s been recording for several years now. (Same goes for Jonny Diaz). Jonny certainly had a breakout year, but i don’t think he has the pull to win, neither does Sidewalk Prophets for that matter. Which leaves Revive and Bluetree and i’m gonna say that Bluetree takes home the hardware.
Group of the Year
The nominees are: Casting Crowns, Gaither Vocal Band, Jars of Clay, NEEDTOBREATHE, Tenth Avenue North, Hezekiah Walker & LFC, and Skillet
immediate eliminations include GVB – though, i reckon their new album is fantastic – Hezekiah, and Skillet… why? their fanbase is marginalized. Leaving Casting Crowns, Jars of Clay, NEEDTOBREATHE and Tenth Avenue North. I’d love to see either of the latter two take it home, but chances are this one goes home with Casting Crowns (for the SIXTH year in a row).
now playing: The Motions – Matthew West
Female Vocalist of the Year
The nominees are: Francesca Battistelli, Natalie Grant, Mandisa, Dawn Michele, Karen Peck Gooch, Heather Headley, and Laura Story
here’s the rub… you might think that because Francesca is the only female solo artist up for artist of the year, she’s a lock to win here. She’s not, and neither is anyone not named Natalie Grant.
Male Vocalist of the Year
The nominees are: Jeremy Camp, Jason Crabb, Michael English, Brandon Heath, Bebo Norman, Mark Schultz, Donnie McClurkin, and Smokie Norful
i doubt anyone would argue that Michael English has the best vocal of any of these nominees… but that’s not really the question here, despite the name of the category. Besides, we’ve been down that road before – i’m just saying. This one’s gonna be another repeat with the nod going to Brandon Heath.
Song of the Year
The nominees are: Born to Climb (Jeff & Sherri Easter), By Your Side (Tenth Avenue North), Free to Be Me (Francesca Battistelli), God is There (Diamond Rio), I Will Rise (Chris Tomlin), Let the Waters Rise (MIKESCHAIR), Revelation Song (Phillips, Craig & Dean), Somebody Like Me (Jason Crabb), Two Hands (Jars of Clay), and Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along (Karen Peck & New River)
Typically, this is a song that encapsulates the anthem of CCM for the year. Usually, it’s a ballad, it’s a worship song, and it’s been played to death on the radio. It’s gotta be a song that everyone instantly recognizes and at least half are pleased to hear. The standbys (Casting Crowns, MercyMe) aren’t in it this year, which makes it a little trickier, but the finalists are instantly Tenth Avenue North, Chris Tomlin, and Jars of Clay. (I would’ve expected Matthew West’s The Motions – WHERE IS THAT?) But i’m going with By Your Side because i don’t think I Will Rise was a typical Tomlin smash hit and Two Hands is too awesome not mainstream enough.
Producer of the Year
The nominees are: Ed Cash, Ian Eskelin, Wayne Haun, Bernie Herms, Jason Ingram, and Rusty Varenkamp
not too many people who aren’t producers or industry folk care about this category, and the GMA pretty much copy-and-pastes the nominees in each year. Without looking up all the albums that they worked on this year, i’ll just go with Bernie Herms again.
now playing: The Unavoidable Battle of Feeling on the Outside – FM Static
okay, now a couple quick hits…
Rap/Hip Hop:
- SONG: End of My Rope (KJ-52)
- ALBUM: Reiterate (Grits)
Rock:
- SONG: Hero (Skillet) – really, 2 RED songs? they couldn’t think of another rock group?
- ALBUM: Innocence and Instinct (RED)
Rock Contemporary:
- SONG: Lay Em Down (NEEDTOBREATHE)
- ALBUM: Church Music (David Crowder*Band)
Pop Contemporary:
- SONG: Until the Whole World Hears (Casting Crowns)
- ALBUM: The Long Fall Back to Earth (Jars of Clay)
And that’s it for me folks… we’ll see how i did tonight… it’s always weird not walking around Opry Mills Mall for a couple hours before heading over to the Opry House, getting backstage and grabbing a tall sweet tea and some other treats from the back table… perhaps another year… for now… we build and grow…
peace… love… bdg…