Here are the nominees for the dance/electronic categories:
Best Dance Recording
The Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow"
David Guetta & Kelly Rowland - "When Love Takes Over"
Lady Gaga - "Poker Face"
Madonna - "Celebration"
Britney Spears - "Womanizer"
Reaction: Last year I wrote about how the Grammy often goes to someone who was overlooked or their musical history, rather than their current nominated work. It's great to see that this didn't happen this year. While many dance enthusiasts will say that "Poker Face" is a pop record not a dance record, I would disagree. The original version is even 119 BPM which is certainly danceable. In just one year, Lady Gaga has gone from the chick who sings "Just Dance" to an international superstar who is part of the dance world as much as she is the pop world.
Best Electronic/Dance Album
The Crystal Method - Divided By Night
David Guetta - One Love
Lady Gaga - The Fame
LMFAO - Party Rock
Pet Shop Boys - Yes
Reaction: While I personally think that the Pet Shop Boys album should have won, I recognize that my tastes don't reflect that of the Grammy voters as the majority of them probably haven't heard a PSB song since "West End Girls" or "Go West." The Fame is a great album. Again detractors will say that it's pop and not electronic but I will always say to look at the bigger picture. It would have been cool to see LMFAO win, just to see what they would do on stage to accept the award. Oh wait, the Dance categories are never televised.
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Dido - "Don't Believe In Love" (Dennis Ferrer Objektivity Mix)
Royksopp - "The Girl And The Robot" (Jean Elan Remix)
Dean Coleman featuring DCLA - "I Want You" (Dave Aude Remix)
Franz Ferdinand - "No You Girls" (Trentemøller Remix)
David Guetta featuring Kelly Rowland - "When Love Takes Over" (Electro Extended Remix)
Reaction: It's great to see that David Guetta didn't get shut out this year. As 2009 was also the year of David Guetta with his massive singles ("When Love Takes Over" and "Sexy Bitch") as well as his Black Eyed Peas production ("Love is Gone" .. oops, I mean "I Gotta Feeling.") It also puts a spotlight on the importance of electro in the current club music scene. Quite interestingly, the best remixed recording was done by the original artist himself. The rest of the nominations in this category are interesting choices who are important in their respective subgenres (Dennis Ferrer and Trentemøller.) A nomination for Dave Aude was also quite well deserved for his consistent streak of solid, quality club remixes (more than 15 club chart toppers this year.)
