Record of the Year
Adele – “Rolling in the Deep”
Bon Iver – “Holocene”
Bruno Mars – “Grenade”
Mumford & Sons – “The Cave”
Katy Perry – “Firework”

Who Should Win: Adele
Why: This one goes to the producers, engineers, and performer for making the total pop package. Bon Iver and Mumford are a little to insular, Bruno and Katy a little too eager. Adele somehow lives right in between, both muted and bombastic, rockist-pleasing “authentic” and poptimist-pleasing immediate. It’s the “Heart Shaped Box” of a new generation. We had it all!