Black Pumas is a duo based in Austin, Texas, that writes and records soul music that would have felt right at home in the 60s and 70s.
The band formed in 2018, when producer Adrian Quesada sought a vocalist for some new tracks and was introduced to singer-songwriter Eric Burton, whose throwback vibe proved a perfect fit. The pair released their debut, self-titled, album in 2019.
Black Pumas was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy last year based on the strength of that album (they lost to Billie Eilish).
A deluxe version of Black Pumas came out in August, and it is that version that was nominated for Album of the Year. Given that the initial release was eligible for the previous year’s Grammys, it feels like a bit of a cheat to slip this enhanced version into the 2021 competition.
What’s to keep Taylor Swift from releasing a deluxe version of Folklore in 6 months and competing for the top prize again next year?
Loopholes aside, this is a great-sounding album, so I can’t begrudge it a spot in this category.
I woke up to the morning sky first
Baby blue, just like we rehearsed
When I get up off this ground, I shake leaves back down
To the brown, brown, brown, brown ’til I’m clean
Then I walked where I’d be shaded by the trees
By a meadow of green
For about a mile
I’m headed to town, town, town in style
[Chorus: Eric Burton with The Soul Supporters]
With all my favorite colors, yes, sir
All my favorite colors, right on
My sisters and my brothers see ’em like no other
All my favorite colors
[Post-Chorus: Eric Burton with The Soul Supporters]
It’s a good day to be, a good day for me
A good day to see my favorite colors, colors
My sisters and my brothers, they see ’em like no other
All my favorite colors
[Verse 2: Eric Burton]
Now take me to the other side
Little bitty blues birds fly
In gray clouds, or white walls, or blue skies
We gon’ fly, feel alright
And we gon’, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, yeah
They sound like ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, yeah
And the least I can say, I anticipate
A homecome parade as we renegade in the morning, right on
[Chorus: Eric Burton with The Soul Supporters]
With all my favorite colors, yes, sir
All my favorite colors, yes, ma’am
My sisters and my brothers see ’em like no other
All my favorite colors
Ha, oh
[Instrumental Break]
Closer, ooh
Love machine
[Chorus: Eric Burton with The Soul Supporters]
All my favorite colors, right
All my favorite colors, yes, ma’am
My sisters and my brothers see ’em like no other
All my favorite colors
[Post-Chorus: Eric Burton with The Soul Supporters]
It’s a good day to be, a good day for me
A good day to see my favorite colors, colors
My sisters and my brothers, they see ’em like no other
All my favorite colors
Meet Me In Montauk 
Admittedly, I don’t know much of anything about Black Pumas or this album, but it seems to me this slot could have gone to Fiona Apple or the Chicks’ new record.
I’ll have to give this full album a listen. I’d only heard this song prior to the nominations and wasn’t blown away by it. I’d heard some of the small hype surrounding Black Pumas and based off that song didn’t really get it. However, now with a Grammy nomination and the Clifton endorsement I’ll give the full record a listen and see if it changes my mind.