Song of the Year
'Abracadabra' (2025) by Lady Gaga, Cirkut & Andrew Watt, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
Lady Gaga has no qualms about leaning into spectacle. From her faux-bloody performance during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards to her 2010 red carpet meat dress, Gaga is a master of image, even when it is controversial. With her single “Abracadabra” (2025), Gaga returns to the same kind of spectacle that served as a hallmark of her early career, using her synth-pop arsenal to craft a track reminiscent of the rip-roaring songs of her debut album, “The Fame” (2008).
“Abracadabra” begins with a muted chorus, luring the listener in while foreshadowing the propulsive, powerful verses to come. Immediately, Gaga steps into brooding lyrical territory, painting an evocative picture of a woman seeking to seduce someone into dancing. With threatening lyrics that evoke the darkness of other Gaga tracks, such as “Judas” (2011), “Abracadabra” tells an enrapturing and head-bobbing tale of midnight lust: “Hold me in your heart tonight / In the magic of the dark moonlight,” she sings. The beat is punchy, and Gaga’s voice is more masterful than ever. She begs for love, hoping her spellbinding incantations will lead to it: “Like a poem said by a lady in red / You hear the last few words of your life,” she sings. During the infectious and intense chorus, Gaga repeats the word “abracadabra” with such conviction that to call it an indelible earworm would be a grave understatement. The song is instantly danceable, serving as a revival of the dark dance-pop that defined Gaga’s early career. And the track stands apart from contenders in its meticulous and vigorous production, highlighting Gaga’s mastery of the genre while serving up a deliciously dynamic track that the Grammys will certainly name song of the year.
Record of the Year
‘luther (with sza)’ by Kendrick Lamar (2025)
From rap feuds to the Super Bowl performances, Kendrick Lamar had a sincerely successful two years. His popularity culminated in multiple Grammy wins, including record of the year for his scathing track “Not Like Us” (2024). In 2026, he is likely to snatch the title yet again: not for a vengeful diss track, but for a light, romantic hip-hop ballad made beautiful with star collaborator, SZA. The two have been frequent collaborators for over a decade — starting with “Babylon (feat. Kendrick Lamar)” (2014). Lamar even brought SZA on stage at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show to perform “All the Stars (with SZA)” (2018).
Unlike song of the year, record of the year recognizes more than songwriting: The category recognizes the performance, production and engineering of a track. Produced by a collection of contributors, including the multiple Grammy-winning artist Jack Antonoff, “luther” is a feat of creative collaboration.
The track begins with an acoustic guitar riff, brushed by reverb, and glides into a compressed sample of “If This World Were Mine (with Luther Vandross)” (1982) by Cheryl Lynn. Following the quick sample, explosive drums and Lamar’s rhythmic rapping flood the track. “Hey, Roman numeral seven, bae, drop it like it's hot / If this world was mine, I'd take your dreams and make 'em multiply,” he muses, declaring his devotion to his love. Lamar repeats his refrain as the production amplifies — orchestral instruments float in the background while the drums beat on. Entering in the chorus, SZA’s crisp soprano counters Lamar’s subtle tone. The two continue side-by-side for the remainder of the track, often completing each other’s lines. The artists approach one another with reverence and excitement, a stellar combination that makes for a stunning, Grammy-deserving track.
Best New Artist
Olivia Dean
In years past, the winner of the Grammy’s best new artist category appeared clear-cut. Olivia Rodrigo broke the internet with her ballad “drivers license” (2021) and Chappell Roan captivated crowds with her stage presence and singles. And once again, the choice to win the prestigious award could not be more clear.
From opening for Sabrina Carpenter, to performing on SNL, to releasing her hit album “The Art of Loving,” 2025 was Olivia Dean’s year, emerging as a breakout artist through her stellar performances and touching lyrics.
On “I’ve Seen It” (2025), Dean depicts love blossoming, recognizing the juxtaposition of life's temporal nature with the never-ending essence of love. “The more you look, the more you find / It's all around you all the time,” Dean sings. Dean shapes a timid form of peace, one reminiscent of the infamous line in “Love Actually” (2003), “If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.” With “Man I Need” (2025), Dean showcases her hit-making powers with her catchy post-chorus that repeats “Mm, talk to me, talk to me / Be the man that I need, baby.”
While KATSEYE has a large fanbase, their music lacks lyrical depth; Lola Young’s music remains largely unknown beyond her breakout hit “Messy” (2024) and Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” (2025) is more annoying than interesting. But Olivia Dean is fascinating — fascinating in her lyrics, in her range and in her performance. This combination of superlatives makes her not only a clear choice, but the only choice to win best new artist.
Amelia Bush (28C) is double-majoring in English and PPL (philosophy, politics and law). She is from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and enjoys walking around its many lakes. Outside of the Wheel, you can find her reading, scrapbooking, or attempting a New York Times crossword.
Catherine Goodman (26C) is the Managing Editor of Arts & Life and Editorial Board. She is a double major in English and Art History. She plans to pursue arts and culture journalism, with a special interest in criticism and feature writing. When she isn't listening to music or writing her column, you can find her baking specialty cakes or playing with her dog, Apollo.
Hunter Buchheit (he/him) (28B) is majoring in U.S. History and Business. He loves writing about music, Emory events and politics, and in his free time enjoys playing piano, running and spending hours crafting the perfect Spotify playlist.
