IT'S GRAMMY TIME AGAIN

Music industry’s most eagerly awaited annual event, the Grammy Awards will be held on February 25 at Radio City Music Hall. Frasier’s Kelsey Grammer will host the show. The National Academy Of Recording Arts and Sciences announced this year’s nominees at a press conference held in New York.

Seven time Grammy Award winner, producer and aritist Babyface bagged the maximum nominations, eight in all, including album of the year and producer of the year for his chart-topping album The Day. Pop debutant, Paula Cole swept seven Grammy nominations, one in every major category including single record of the year and song of the year for Where have all the cowboys gone as well as for album of the year for This Fire.

R Kelly comes third notching up five nominations including record and song of the year for I believe I can fly. The song is also nominated for best R&B vocal, best R&B song and best song written for a motion picture or television. Also nominated for both record and song of the year was Shawn Colvin’s Sunny came home. Sherly Crow and Hanson are the other nominees for the record of the year for Everyday Is A Winding Road and Mmmbop respectively.

Besides Babyface, album of the year nominations went out to veterans Bob Dylan (for Time Out Of Mind) and McCartney (for Flaming Pie), and Radiohead (for Ok Computer).

In the new aritste category, Cole was joined by Fiona Apple, Erykah Badu, Puff Daddy, and Hanson.

Elton John’s tribute to the late Princess Di, Candle In The Wind, recieved a nomination for best male pop vocal performance.

In the rock category, Bob Dylon was joined by David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, John Fogerty and John Mellencamp, while Fiona Apple, Meredith Brooks, Ani Difranco, Abra Moore and Patti Smith were the nominees in the female category.

Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Matchbox 20, Dave Mathews Band and The Wallflowers were the nominees for the best single of the year.

Hard Rock nominees were Bush, Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Surprisingly, the sensational Spice Girls did not figure anywhere in the nomination list.