Grammy Award for Best Rock Song

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Grammy Award for Best Rock Song
BoygeniusKingstonEarly240823 (20 of 45).jpg
"Not Strong Enough" by boygenius is the most recent recipient
Awarded forHigh-quality rock music songs
CountryUnited States
Presented by National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
First awarded1992
Currently held by boygenius — "Not Strong Enough" (2024)
Website grammy.com

The Grammy Award for Best Rock Song is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, [1] to recording artists for quality songs in the rock music genre. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position". [2]

Contents

The award, reserved for songwriters, was first presented to English musician Sting in 1992. According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards, the award honors new songs (containing both melody and lyrics) or songs "first achieving prominence" during the period of eligibility. Songs containing prominent samples or interpolations are not eligible. [3]

The award goes to the songwriter. If the song contains samples or interpolations of earlier songs, the publisher and the original songwriter(s) can apply for a Winners Certificate. [4]

Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl and Pat Smear hold the record for the most wins, having won four awards each. Springsteen also holds the record for most nominations with nine. Other winners of multiple awards include the other members of Foo Fighters (Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett) with three wins, and Alanis Morissette and the bands Red Hot Chili Peppers and U2, each with two. Award-winning songs have been performed by American artists more than any other nationality, though they have also been performed by musicians or groups originating from Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. There have been four instances in which one artist or group was nominated for two works in the same year: the group Aerosmith was nominated for both "Cryin'" and "Livin' on the Edge" in 1994, Melissa Etheridge received nominations for "Come to My Window" and "I'm the Only One" in 1995, Jakob Dylan of the Wallflowers won for "One Headlight" and was also nominated for "The Difference" in 1998, and U2 was nominated for the songs "Elevation" and "Walk On" in 2002. Chad Smith also received two nominations in 2023, receiving songwriting credits for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ozzy Osbourne songs nominated. Coldplay holds the record for the most nominations without a win, with four.

Recipients

Sting became the first award recipient in 1992 for the song "The Soul Cages". Sting ThePolice 2007.jpg
Sting became the first award recipient in 1992 for the song "The Soul Cages".
Eric Clapton, 1993 award recipient for the song "Layla", performing in 2017 Eric Clapton - Royal Albert Hall - Wednesday 24th May 2017 EricClaptonRAH240517-30 (34987232355) (cropped).jpg
Eric Clapton, 1993 award recipient for the song "Layla", performing in 2017
Members of the 1994 award-winning band Soul Asylum in 2010 Soul Asylum 3.jpg
Members of the 1994 award-winning band Soul Asylum in 2010
Four-time award winner Bruce Springsteen, performing in 1988 Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0719-38, Bruce Springsteen, Konzert in der DDR.jpg
Four-time award winner Bruce Springsteen, performing in 1988
Two-time award recipient Alanis Morissette, performing in 2014 Alanis Morissette 5-19-2014.jpg
Two-time award recipient Alanis Morissette, performing in 2014
1997 award recipient Tracy Chapman at the 2009 Cactus Festival in Bruges, Belgium Tracy Chapman 3.jpg
1997 award recipient Tracy Chapman at the 2009 Cactus Festival in Bruges, Belgium
Jakob Dylan, 1998 award winner for the song "One Headlight" and member of The Wallflowers, performing in 2007 Jakob Dylan.jpg
Jakob Dylan, 1998 award winner for the song "One Headlight" and member of The Wallflowers, performing in 2007
Jack White and Meg White of the 2004 award-winning band The White Stripes Jack & Meg, The White Stripes.jpg
Jack White and Meg White of the 2004 award-winning band The White Stripes
Members of the two-time award-winning band U2, performing on the Joshua Tree Tour 2017. From left to right: Larry Mullen, Jr. (drumming), the Edge, Bono, and Adam Clayton U2 on Joshua Tree Tour 2017 Brussels 8-1-17.jpg
Members of the two-time award-winning band U2, performing on the Joshua Tree Tour 2017. From left to right: Larry Mullen, Jr. (drumming), the Edge, Bono, and Adam Clayton
From left to right, Matthew, Caleb, and Nathan Followill of the 2010 award-winning band Kings of Leon, performing in 2007 Kings of leon.JPG
From left to right, Matthew, Caleb, and Nathan Followill of the 2010 award-winning band Kings of Leon, performing in 2007
2019 recipient St. Vincent performing at Glastonbury (2022) Glastonbury2022 Annie Erin Clark aka St. Vincent (cropped).jpg
2019 recipient St. Vincent performing at Glastonbury (2022)
2020 recipient Gary Clark Jr. performing in 2013 Gary Clark, Jr. 2013.jpg
2020 recipient Gary Clark Jr. performing in 2013
YearRecipient(s)WorkPerforming artist(s)Nominees
(Performer(s) in parentheses)
Ref.
1992 Sting "The Soul Cages" Sting [5]
1993 Eric Clapton
Jim Gordon
"Layla" ( Unplugged version) Eric Clapton [6]
1994 Dave Pirner "Runaway Train" Soul Asylum [7]
1995 Bruce Springsteen "Streets of Philadelphia" Bruce Springsteen
[8]
1996 Alanis Morissette
Glen Ballard
"You Oughta Know" Alanis Morissette [9]
1997 Tracy Chapman "Give Me One Reason" Tracy Chapman [10]
1998 Jakob Dylan "One Headlight" The Wallflowers
[11]
1999 Alanis Morissette "Uninvited" Alanis Morissette [12]
2000 Flea
John Frusciante
Anthony Kiedis
Chad Smith
"Scar Tissue" Red Hot Chili Peppers [13]
2001 Scott Stapp
Mark Tremonti
"With Arms Wide Open" Creed
[14]
2002 Charlie Colin
Rob Hotchkiss
Pat Monahan
Jimmy Stafford
Scott Underwood
"Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" Train [15]
2003 Bruce Springsteen "The Rising" Bruce Springsteen
[16]
2004 Jack White "Seven Nation Army" The White Stripes
[17]
2005 Bono
Adam Clayton
The Edge
Larry Mullen, Jr.
"Vertigo" U2 [18]
2006 Bono
Adam Clayton
The Edge
Larry Mullen, Jr.
"City of Blinding Lights" U2 [19]
2007 Flea
John Frusciante
Anthony Kiedis
Chad Smith
"Dani California" Red Hot Chili Peppers [20]
2008 Bruce Springsteen "Radio Nowhere" Bruce Springsteen [21]
2009 Bruce Springsteen "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" Bruce Springsteen [22]
2010 Caleb Followill
Jared Followill
Matthew Followill
Nathan Followill
"Use Somebody" Kings of Leon [23]
2011 Neil Young "Angry World" Neil Young [24]
2012 Dave Grohl
Taylor Hawkins
Nate Mendel
Chris Shiflett
Pat Smear
"Walk" Foo Fighters [25]
2013 Dan Auerbach
Brian Burton
Patrick Carney
"Lonely Boy" The Black Keys
2014 Dave Grohl
Paul McCartney
Krist Novoselic
Pat Smear
"Cut Me Some Slack" Paul McCartney and Nirvana [26]
2015 Hayley Williams
Taylor York
"Ain't It Fun" Paramore
[27]
2016 Zac Cockrell
Heath Fogg
Brittany Howard
Steve Johnson
"Don't Wanna Fight" Alabama Shakes
[24]
2017 David Bowie "Blackstar" David Bowie [24]
2018 Dave Grohl
Taylor Hawkins
Rami Jaffee
Nate Mendel
Chris Shiflett
Pat Smear
"Run" Foo Fighters
[28]
2019 Jack Antonoff
Annie Clark
"Masseduction" St. Vincent
[29]
2020 Gary Clark Jr. "This Land"Gary Clark Jr.
2021 Brittany Howard "Stay High"Brittany Howard
[30]
2022 Dave Grohl
Taylor Hawkins
Rami Jaffee
Nate Mendel
Chris Shiflett
Pat Smear
"Waiting on a War" Foo Fighters [31]
2023 Brandi Carlile
Phil Hanseroth
Tim Hanseroth
"Broken Horses" Brandi Carlile
[32]
2024 Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus "Not Strong Enough" Boygenius [33]

Multiple wins

Multiple nominations

See also

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