At last year’s Grammy Awards, the prime number for Mary J. Blige was “One,” as she turned in a knockout performance of that song with its authors, U2.
At this year’s ceremony, Blige’s key number is eight: That’s the number of awards for which she’s nominated, the most of any artist at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards. Included is Blige’s album version of “One,” featuring U2, which is up for best pop collaboration with vocals.
“It’s really meaningful,” said Blige of awards already received and the multiple opportunities Sunday night. “I never get tired of people recognizing my work. … And I never take it for granted.”
That’s always a good approach: In 2002, India.Arie had seven nominations but ended up being shut out.
And in 1996, Mariah Carey was nominated in six categories but won no awards; in 2006 she went 3-for-8.
Blige is slated to perform at the live ceremony in L.A., and if recent awards shows are any indication, she probably should be given a seat close to the stage.
At the American Music Awards in November, she won favorite female artist and favorite album for “The Breakthrough.”
In December, Blige dominated the Billboard Music Awards, winning nine–including R&B/hip-hop honors for album of the year for “The Breakthrough” and song of the year for “Be Without You.”
Expect a performance of “Be Without You,” which spent 15 weeks atop the R&B chart. According to Nielsen and Arbitron, “Be Without You” also was the most-heard song on the radio in 2006.
Aptly titled, “The Breakthrough” somehow missed a Grammy nomination for album of the year, though it is up for best R&B album. “Be Without You” is up for two of the Big Four honors, record of the year and song of the year (where Blige shares the writing credit with Johnta Austin, Bryan-Michael Cox and Jason Perry).
Other artists with multiple nominations this year include the Red Hot Chili Peppers (six); James Blunt, the Dixie Chicks, John Mayer, Danger Mouse, Prince, Rick Rubin, will.i.am and John Williams (five each); and Beyonce, Bryan-Michael Cox, Gnarls Barkley, Israel Houghton, T.I. and Justin Timberlake (four each).
That the Grammy Awards are selected by the 12,000 voting members of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences “definitely gives it special meaning,” Blige said, because it is recognition by her peers.
Blige’s rags-to-riches-to-respect saga has been an inspirational one, not least for its protagonist.
She first made her mark as the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul with her 1992 debut, “What’s the 411?”–but sales of tens of millions of albums and singles, and the attendant stardom, didn’t cover up Blige’s personal strife. Those struggles included overcoming past drug and alcohol abuse, childhood abandonment by her father and low self-esteem.
“The Breakthrough” is as much a personal triumph as a professional one–it debuted at No. 1 and sold an astonishing 727,000 copies its first week, the best opening week for a solo R&B female artist since SoundScan started tracking such data in 1991.
“I remember when I was a woman that was solely about pain–everything was pain, pain, pain,” said the 36-year old singer.
“Now we’re selling triumph over tragedy, and that’s what (the album) was all about–being a victor instead of a victim. I put a lot of work into trying to get myself together, to get to the point where I could have the strength to show people my weaknesses like that.”
49th AnnualGrammy Awards 7 P.M. CBS
Performers: James Blunt, T.I., Earth, Wind & Fire, Mary J. Blige, Ludacris, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Chris Brown, the Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, Wyclef Jean, John Legend, John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, Rascal Flatts, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Shakira, Justin Timberlake (solo performance and with the winner of the “My Grammy Moment” competition), the Police and Carrie Underwood.
