One of the biggest confusions about the Grammys has been the difference between Song and Record of the year. The Grammy website explains it best:
The Record Of The Year category recognizes the artist’s performance as well as the overall contributions of the producer(s), recording engineer(s) and/or mixer(s) if other than the artist. The Song Of The Year category recognizes the songwriter(s).
Translation: 97% of today’s singers can only be nominated in this category because they don’t write any of their music.
In recent years there has been a different winner in each category. For example, last year Record of the Year went to ‘Somebody That I Use To Know’ and Song of the Year went to ‘We Are Young’. Both great tracks, but neither was deserving of the other award.
I like when the Grammys spread the love and I think they will this year too.