[Brooke Alexander:] Hi, I'm Brooke Alexander in New York City with a whole new year of musical merriment stretching before us on WORLD BEAT. Coming up, out with the old, leveling a landmark in music history. In with the new, announcing this year's Grammy nominees. And can Creed continue their award winning streak? The last two Grammy ceremonies have been dominated by a single artist, first, Lauryn Hill, and then Carlos Santana. Will the trend continue this year or will the treasured trophies to musical merit be spread more evenly? Well, the first clue lies in the nominations, so let's go to Serena Yang in Los Angeles.
[Serena Yang, World Beat:] Thanks, Brooke. Well, the 43rd annual Grammy race is officially underway with this week's announcement of the nominees for the award show's biggest categories. [voice-over]: An all star lineup of artists was on hand to announce 12 of the Grammy's most notable categories, reflecting a diverse year in music, with a cross section of 25 artists winning three or more nominations.
[Michael Greene, Naras President/ceo:] We've got all walks of life, I mean, from Paul Simon and Steely Dan, to Marshal Mathers, Eminem, Beck in the middle.
[Greene:] You know, last year we had Santana, Lauryn Hill the year before. There's traditionally been like one artist that has been the odds on favorite to take home multiple Grammy awards. I just don't think that's true this year.
[Yang:] For Texas-based R&B; trio Destiny's Child, who collected a total of five nominations, the shower of Grammy attention caps a sparkling year.
[Beyonce, Destiny's Child:] Our year 2000 has definitely been a roller coaster and the great thing is it's just, the roller coaster is just going up and up and up and up and now we're nominated for four Grammies. Our album has sold eight million. We have the number one single. "Independent Woman" has been number one for eight weeks. We had four number one singles this year. We, I mean so many accomplishments and definitely to start off 2001, it started off perfectly with the Grammy nominations. We couldn't ask for anything.
[Yang:] Other leaders among the nominees were Dr. Dre with five and controversial rapper Eminem with four.
[David Foster, Producer/songwriter:] I was particularly glad to see Eminem get the recognition that I think that he deserves whether you agree or not with his lyrics, and I'm a parent, and I happen to not like what he says. But I think he's brilliant.
[Yang:] Shelby Lynne and Papa Roach led an especially eclectic field in the best new artist category, joining Brad Paisley, Jill Scott and Sisqo.
[Sisqo:] Artists really went for it this year. I think instead of just kind of, you know, putting out music for their fans and what have you, I think they were really, artists were really focusing on trying to create quality music that will be accepted by all people, you know, not just their fans. I can attest to that myself. I have a pretty strong fan base with Drew Hill but I definitely tried to step outside of my fan base to try to capture a Grammy.
[Yang:] Madonna's music became a candidate for record of the year, as did 'N Sync's chart topping hit "Bye Bye Bye."
[J.c. Chasez, 'n Sync:] I know that I grew up watching the Grammies and watching my heroes on the Grammies, you know. So it's pretty, it's a pretty big deal, you know? It's kind of like one of the top notch shows out there, you know? There are a handful of shows, you know, that you really hold, you know, special and, you know, this is a committee, you know? It's voted on by your peers, by people who understand music and your hope, you know, and these are the people that you're saying, you know, this is my contribution to music, you know, and these are music connoisseurs listening, you know, to your stuff going, OK, this guy, they're onto something. And so it's pretty important to have that. I guess, you're seeking that approval, in a way.
[Yang:] This year's nominations also reflect notable comebacks by long time absentees. Steely Dan's first studio album in 20 years grabbed three nominations, including album of the year for "Two Against Nature."
[Donald Fagen, Steely Dan:] I don't know, this last album, "Two Against Nature," really kind of, as far as I'm concerned, really buries all the other records and if you really want to get a sense of what it's, you know, we're about, it's really all contained in this CD.
[Walter Becker, Steely Dan:] Probably the best thing would be to get, take all of the old Steely Dan albums, throw 'em away...
[Fagen:] Yeah.
[Becker:] Get the new one, absorb that and then buy the old ones again and...
[Fagen:] That's what I would suggest as well.
[Becker:] ... and reexperience them in the context of the new one.
[Yang:] Don Henley's solo return swept up three nominations for his comeback album, "Inside Job." And Bon Jovi rounded off a successful comeback with two nominations, including best rock album for "Crush."
[Jon Bon Jovi:] Thematically, I think it's interesting because it's about guys that are very comfortable in their shoes. They're not trying to keep up with fads or fashions and being rather proud of what they've accomplished and where they hope to go and not making any bones about it.
[Yang:] And to round off a good year for veteran rockers, U2 scored two nominations for their single, "Beautiful Day."
[The Edge, U2:] We've always experimented, you know? We've always tried to do different things with the sound of the band. But with this record, we've tried to keep the essence of what it is to be a rock and roll band at the forefront and I suppose that is a radical sound now. There's not that much of that around, certainly in the charts.
[Yang:] Outside the mainstream nominations, Yousou N'Dour's critically acclaimed album "Joka " was nominated for best world music album. Canadian fiddler Natalie McMaster was among the nominees for best traditional folk album and Joanne Shenandoah led the nominees in the first ever Grammy category for Native American music. [on camera]: More than 10,000 members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences vote for the winners in 100 different categories. Of course, WORLD BEAT will continue to follow the awards process and we'll bring you a special show from the Grammy awards ceremony here in Los Angeles in February. I'm Serena Yang handing you back to Brooke in New York.
[Alexander:] The start of a new year is a quiet time for new releases, but let's see what is raising the tempo in the studio of our music critic, Luke Crampton. Here are the inaugural "Fresh Cuts" of 2001.
[Luke Crampton, Cnn Correspondent:] Former Escape vocalist Kandi Burris has been the most successful R&B; songwriter of the past few years, penning numerous hits for the likes of TLC and Destiny's Child. Still only 24, this prodigious songwriter, singer and producer's maiden album is a sugar coated mainstream delight showcasing her savvy pop, hip hop and R&B; instincts.
[Crampton:] Sting contributes five new compositions to the Disney soundtrack to "The Emperor's New Groove." Mixed results ensue. Two jolly cuts are interpreted by Tom Jones and Eartha Kitt, with Sting performing the remaining songs with an unusual lack of melody. Charm is restored with a guest appearance by Shawn Coven and a polished instrumental score by John Debney. Having reigned supreme in the U.S. over the past year, the best country music album of 2000 is now set for international exposure. "I Hope You Dance" affirms Lee Ann Womack's position as a new country queen blending traditional and contemporary strains with remarkable ease and superb song selection. I'm Luke Crampton. Those are the "Fresh Cuts."