Why did Jagged Little Pill win Album of the Year? Because in 1996, anyone who had ever been dumped over the phone needed 12 songs… Read More »1996 Legacy: The Alanis Takeover

Why did Alanis win for “You Oughta Know”? Because nobody wanted to risk her writing a song about them if she lost. Part of the… Read More »1996 Archive: Best Female Rock Vocal

Why Jon Secada? Because the ’90s couldn’t exist without a man in a perfectly pressed shirt singing about heartbreak. Part of the 36 Grammy Jokes:… Read More »1996 Vintage: Best Latin Pop Performance

Why did Mariah leave with zero awards despite 6 nominations? Because the Academy decided “One Sweet Day” was too much sugar, and in 1996, everyone… Read More »1996 Vintage: The Mariah Carey Shock

Why did Tom Petty win for “You Don’t Know How It Feels”? Because in 1996, rolling a joint in a song was the highest level… Read More »1996 Archive: Best Male Rock Vocal

Why McCoy Tyner? Because the piano isn’t a toy, and he’s the professor. Part of the 36 Grammy Jokes: The 1996 “Jagged Little Alanis &… Read More »1996 Archive: Best Jazz Instrumental

Why did Coolio win Best Rap Solo? Because he made a chorus borrowed from Stevie Wonder sound like the most dangerous thing the elderly voting… Read More »1996 Legacy: Gangsta’s Paradise

Why did “You Oughta Know” win? Because it contained more emotional trauma than an entire season of Oprah. Part of the 36 Grammy Jokes: The… Read More »1996 Legacy: Best Rock Song

Why Babyface? Because in 1996, if Babyface didn’t produce your record, was it even actually recorded? Part of the 36 Grammy Jokes: The 1996 “Jagged… Read More »1996 Classic: Best Producer of the Year

Why did “Kiss from a Rose” win Record and Song of the Year? To prove that all you need is one Batman soundtrack to become… Read More »1996 Legacy: Seal’s Triumph