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The music industry will be busy praising its own at this weekend Grammy Awards on Sunday January 31, 2010 (on CBS-TV at 7pm). I don't have a Grammy vote, but I got an opinion, so here's what I think about a few of the major awards and the dance-related categories.

Album Of The Year (Award to the Artist)
I Am... Sasha Fierce by Beyoncé
The E.N.D. by The Black Eyed Peas
The Fame by Lady Gaga
Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King by Dave Matthews Band
Fearless by Taylor Swift

Despite two HUGE hits, The E.N.D. is not a likely winner. Big-timers Dave Matthews and Beyoncé will draw big support, but in the end this race should come down to the two biggest acts of the year: country darling Taylor Swift and dance diva Lady Gaga. Spawning four hit singles should lead The Fame to the promised land.

Record Of The Year (Award to the Artist)
"Halo" by Beyoncé
"I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas
"Use Somebody" by Kings Of Leon
"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga
"You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift

I was never a big fan of "Halo" and think that "I Gotta Feeling" is just a bit too pop-ish to win this award. I frankly believe that Kings of Leon should win but can see Taylor Swift snatching the trophy away from Lady Gaga.

Song Of The Year (A Songwriter(s) Award)
"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga (written by Lady Gaga)
"Pretty Wings" by Maxwell (written by Hod David & Musze)
"Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" by Beyoncé (written by Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart)
"Use Somebody" by Kings Of Leon (written by Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill
"You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift (written by Liz Rose & Taylor Swift)

I'm quite surprised Whitney Houston's "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" didn't make the cut, but since it didn't, then without a doubt "Pretty Wings" deserves to win. I suspect, however, that a higher-profile artist and track will garner the Grammy: Miss Swift's "You Belong With Me" perhaps.

Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings.

Wow, compared to previous years' slates, this group of Best New Artist nominees is the weakest I've seen in years. My hope is the academy taps The Ting Tings.

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Dennis Ferrer's Objektivity Mix of "Don't Believe In Love" by Dido
Jean Elan's Remix of "The Girl And The Robot" by Röyksopp
Dave Audé's Remix of "I Want You" by Dean Coleman Featuring DCLA
Anders Trentemøller's Remix of "No You Girls" by Franz Ferdinand
David Guetta's Electro Extended Remix of "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta & Kelly Rowland

"When Loves Takes Over" might have been hugely popular, but I don't think it deserves this award and would argue it doesn't even merit a nomination in this category. While the cream of the crop here are the remixes by Ferrer and Elan, I have a suspicion that Dave Audé's name will be called.

Best Dance Recording
"Boom Boom Pow" by The Black Eyed Peas
"When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta & Kelly Rowland
"Poker Face" by Lady Gaga
"Celebration" by Madonna
"Womanizer" by Britney Spears

Ok, this is the category for "When Love Takes Over" and it should win; but the competition is brutally stiff as all the nominees are more than worthy.

Best Electronic/Dance Album
Divided By Night by The Crystal Method
One Love by David Guetta
The Fame by Lady Gaga
Party Rock by LMFAO
Yes by Pet Shop Boys

This is a really interesting group of nominees representing a wide range of musical acts; thus predicting a winner is difficult. If history is an indicator, The Crystal Method will win; however, I think One Love by David Guetto will ultimately garner a well-deserved Grammy.

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About DJ Plez

DJ Plez (aka Michael Pleasants) has been DJing since the late 1980's, sharing his passion for dance music with dance floors and listeners around the world. After many years of successful toil in the financial services industry, he’s now spending much more time in a DJ booth instead of an office cubicle.
DJ Plez has quite a diverse range of dance music “likes” to accompany his true love of house music.
The incredibly wide variety of records and CDs that DJ Plez possesses helps explain the unique style he has forged: one that melds various forms of dance music - Chicago house, progressive, tribal, underground, and club - into a cohesive presentation that is rhythmically exciting, sexy, and energetic.
DJ Plez uses fresh approaches for each of his live sets, skillfully producing intricate mixes on the fly, creating a sense of dance floor drama with his in-booth programming, and most importantly to him, making sure his sets have one abiding element: GROOVE!

As would be expected from his wide ranging style, the DJs that have most influenced DJ Plez represent the vast global dance music scene and include: Victor Calderone, Derrick Carter, John Digweed, Danny Howells, Frankie Knuckles, Susan Morabito, Ralphi Rosario, Danny Tenaglia, and Junior Vasquez just to name a few. However, the most significant influence on DJ Plez’s abilities in the DJ booth are the experiences he has when he’s out dancing at parties and in clubs, staying intimately connected to the dance floors and partygoers populating them.
It’s this connection that allows him to truly find out and understand what makes a dance floor tick, thus leading to his success in the DJ booth.

DJ Plez sees himself as an ambassador of house music on a mission to help perpetuate and grow this Chicago-born art form. During the past year he had gigs in Zurich (Nuts & Bolts Party; Labor-Bar), Montreal (Unity 2; Chrome), and Miami (Cactus) and will be adding Amsterdam, Detroit, and Los Angeles to his travel itinerary. Locally, DJ Plez has residencies at Cell Block and Ezuli in Chicago and has made several appearances at PUMP!Milwaukee. In addition to numerous private and corporate DJing gigs, DJ Plez is the Music Editor of ChicagoPride.com.

Mixes of DJ Plez have been played on internet radio at www.circuitmix.com since June 2003. Additional opportunities to listen to more mixes by DJ Plez will come about in the near future on his web site www.djplez.com.