On Sunday, February 5, Beyoncé was nominated for a lot of awards on the 2023 Grammys, including Album of the Yr. The musical icon is now actually the most-awarded Grammy artist in history after taking home her wins from the sixty fifth annual ceremony. Nonetheless, Album of the Yr went to Harry Styles for his latest studio album Harry’s House.
Beyoncé’s loss was particularly noted, since it has been an ongoing pattern for her to be nominated for nearly every one in every of her album releases without ever taking home the prize. Her husband, Jay-Z, appeared to realize it would occur again this yr when he spoke about her past losses during a pre-Grammys interview with Tidal on February 1.
“The reality is, we grew up wanting to be on the Grammys, and it was our goal. We just want them to get it right. That’s what we would like,” the rapper said. “Obviously, it’s music and it’s all subjective, but you bought to be within the ballpark. That’s all we would like. We just want them to get it right because we find it irresistible a lot. We grew up watching Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder won three out of 4 years in a row.”
Stevie Wonder took home Album of the Yr in 1974, 1975, and 1977 for Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and Songs within the Key of Life, respectively.
“Come on, man. They got that sh-t right. … It was no politics” he continued. “It was similar to everybody knew when Stevie got here out, sit down. That’s what we would like. Just get it right, because we find it irresistible a lot. That’s why there’s a lot emotion around it. If we didn’t care, there wouldn’t be any emotion.”
In 2010, Beyoncé’s album I Am…Sasha Fierce lost to Taylor Swift’s Fearless. In 2015, her self-titled album Beyoncé lost to Beck’s Morning Phase. In 2017, Lemonade lost to Adele’s 25.
Jay-Z himself didn’t win anything this yr though he was nominated eight times for his album 4:44. Reflecting on that later, he said people generally see hip-hop “as a young man’s sport” and believed a win for him might need shaken things up and “take us into the following sphere.”
“I feel like they missed the moment,” he said. “I didn’t feel bad for myself, because I realize it’s the Grammys: I probably won some joints I shouldn’t have won and I probably lost some joints I should’ve won. That’s the best way it goes, so I actually had a celebration. I had an excellent time, staying out until 6 within the morning.”
He added, “Even with Bey, I felt like they missed the moment. Not only Lemonade; [also] when Beck won over her. I used to be like, ‘Oh, y’all missed it.’”
Aimée Lutkin is the weekend editor at ELLE.com. Her writing has appeared in Jezebel, Glamour, Marie Claire and more. Her first book, The Lonely Hunter, will probably be released by Dial Press in February 2022.
