#caesar is raka's religion

[violeteclipseboaty]

SPOILERS FOR KINGDOM

Did anyone find it hilarious that raka basically 'adopted' or 'kept' Mae because of Caesar?

He was like "Caesar cared for humans, welp I guess I will care for this one" 💀💀🤣🤣

Also, when Noa kept looking at him weird for really taking into heart Caesars morals? Hilarious duo, poor Noa didn't know the IMPACT Caesar had 🤣

[schlong2]

latest fix rant time

none of my friends want to talk to me about monkey movies and then i remembered i have a whole blog dedicated to my latest fixations so. i've watched Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes two (TWICE ✌️) times in theaters. this was after watching the newer trilogy (Rise, Dawn & War) and the first 1968 original in prep.

things (SPOILERS!!!):

Kingdom's run time is 2 hours and 25 minutes. this is incredibly long for a movie. compared to 1968's 1 hour and 52 minutes, that's a half hour difference. Infinity War was 2 hours and 36 minutes for reference. that's a whole marvel cinematic convergence, but ape. the run time isn't exactly the issue i've seen talked about. it's the pacing. sitting twice through this movie was not a problem for me. i sat there engaged all the way through. on the second watch, i tried to be mindful of times in which it might have been dragging for the average person, and i like, literally couldn't find any. pretty much every scene had meaning and didn't drag imo. which is something these newer movies do extremely well. Kingdom is pretty equally split between verbal communication and sign language compared to the first three before it. the apes use both verbal and visual cues to talk. but because they don't talk every single time, it makes every moment that they do feel special. it reminds me of the Quiet Place concept, where most of the movie you only hear a human voice a few select times when it's safe to do so. Rise, Dawn, & War were kind of like this, as Caesar only really spoke when he was trying to make a point or communicating to humans, who are mostly speaking in those movies. he speaks more as he gets more fluent, and by War, he can speak very well. we see other apes like Koba, Maurice, Blue Eyes, and Bad Ape also speak English. these moments are rationed pretty well throughout Kingdom, making the dialog more select and meaningful. this makes every time these beasts talk feel like it means something and isn't just fluff to fill your ears. every other scene feels like it's building or showing a side of a character we hadn't seen before, and the scenes between those advance the plot or are like, really action-packed. i just don't see why some people say it has pacing problems. it's just long. i understand the average person's attention span is super short, but when you're sitting down to watch two and a half hours of movie, you gotta know there's gonna be downtime. moments where they're not fighting or advancing the plot. and i think that's GOOD man. but im also not one for action/adventures very much so maybe that's it? i think a lot of people maybe watch these apes for the violence and conflict rather than their introspection, genuinely thoughtful world building, and complex characters. and hey, that's completely fine to enjoy, but POTA is originally about morals and asking the audience questions and posing dilemmas to popular beliefs at the time. ok

Raka. he's great. Peter Macon has this butter smooth voice that's just perfect for the kind of character he plays. you can't help but like him. but he dies like 1/3 into the movie and is really only there to religion dump about Caesar (ape jesus) and then he's swept away. people are complaining that that's all he was really there for. to explain the real values of Caesar and provide a foil to Proximus. and i agree to some degree. i really hope he's not actually dead. his presence and death are felt throughout the movie, as both Mae and Noa (mostly Noa vocalizes it, Mae just silently shares in his loss and i think cries at one point?) seem to mourn him, saying shit like "if Raka were here..." and especially at the end when Noa gives the Caesar pendant to her. it's the shared memory of Raka and what he devoted his life to. but they never really like, actually linger on his death. there's a moment after he's swept away, and the shot stays on the rushing waters, Raka no longer visible and plays some sad tunes, but like. C'MON. he's not really dead. he isn't please tell me he isn't PLEASE

Noa isn't Caesar. i honestly do not get why you would want otherwise. of course, he isn't Caesar. we don't need another Caesar. he had a whole three movies to be the center of. i would be extremely disappointed if they just made a carbon copy of him or made Noa like a direct descendant of him or whatever. i hate that Chosen One bullshit. Caesar was just a guy that wanted peace for his people and that got him killed in the end. Noa is also a guy who wants peace for his clan. they're both leaders and have good hearts, but like. they're different characters. i LIKE that Noa has no relation to Caesar, i LIKE that he's his own character with his own ideals and purpose. Owen Teague does a wonderful job making the character his own. i mean Andy Serkis is Andy fucking Serkis. pretty big shoes to fill and i think Teague has the right foot size you know. i heard one guy say like "we've had our time to mourn Caesar" and yeah. we have. let's accept that and move on

WHERE MY APE DIVERSITY AT. we get a fuck ton of chimps, ONE orangutan, ONE gorilla, and ONE bonobo. what the hell. i mean. what is with the bonobo villian. Koba i fucks with because bonobos are some of the most playful, nonviolent apes out there. that humanity and its cruelty could twist a naturally peaceful creature into what Koba became.. i mean, that's great. but again with Proximus? maybe trying to evoke some of the same energy and nuance Koba had? ALSO. GORILLA PSA they are like so sweet. all that muscle is there to protect their families, and they're strictly vegetarians. i feel like Rise, Dawn, & War portrayed this better with most of the gorillas getting bodyguard jobs because of all their bulk. especially when Luca tucks that flower in Nova's ear. man. and Red going out like he did. gentle giants. in Kindgom we just have Sylva. gorilla henchman for Proximus. that's it. then we have Raka, the one orangutan character that i saw. wise and knowledgeable, guides and accompanies Noa and Mae then dies. at least we get one female chimp character that's more than just wife or mother. wikipedia lists Soona as Noa's love interest, which i can totally dig, like it's there. he takes her to the telescope at the end of Kingdom, which is more than what we saw romance-wise between Caesar and Cornelia. and the only other important chimp female is Dar, Noa's mom. in Rise, Dawn & War there was usually only one of each species of ape assigned a main role, but we saw much more diversity it felt like. maybe that's because there were smaller in numbers and have since spread out in the last 300 years? also like, bonobos are known for having female-female & male-male sex. dont know about the other apes. my friend mentioned that Raka said something about having a male companion and promptly searched reddit. all they had to say was: gaype?

the visuals. dear god the visuals. this movie is just visually stunning. absolutely breathtaking. they did a great job. i mean Rise, Dawn, & War are all triumphs of cgi and are excellent examples of the animation style done right. i did hear some guy say there is a loss of texture, as mostly everything in Kingdom is cgi, from the characters to the landscapes. but there's an explosion of texture in this film. there's one point where Noa is covered in the ash of his village and you can see it on his fur. there's quite a couple water scenes where the moisture clings to the apes' fur. It's all very impressive. great work

the references!! Rise especially has a ton of them (IT'S A MADHOUSE!!! & GET YOUR STINKIN PAWS OFF ME YOU DAMN DIRTY APE), and names like Nova and Cornelius, but Kingdom... i picked up on at least three main instances, but im sure there are more. there's the scene where the apes are rounding up the feral humans, and its very reminiscent of the scene from 1968 where they're doing the same thing for sport. there's the scene where Mae is running in the field, and she jumps on that log structure to get to Noa, which is nearly identical to a similar scene in 1968. the scene when Noa, Soona, and Anaya are exploring the human bunker and they come across an old classroom. one of them picks up a doll that says a distorted "Mama" which was huge in the original because that was evidence that once man did speak, why else would he make a doll that talked? superb call backs to the og. respect what was there before

SCHLONG THEORY

here me out guys. the starring ape-human relationship in Rise was between Caesar and Will. this type of love is called storge and describes the love a child has for a parent as well as the love a parent has for their child.

the starring ape-human relationship in Dawn was ultimately between Caesar and Malcolm. which i believe is truly philia towards the end, the love between friends and allies. just two dudes trying to keep peace in the world.

in War, i mean Caesar well and truly hates the Colonel. like more than he's hated any human in his life before. close to mania, obsession. anyways it's a study on this type of relationship between an ape and a human. true, all consuming hate.

SO in the newer movies we've explored familial love, platonic love, and hate, between an ape and a human.

in Kingdom the main ape-human relationship is between Noa and Mae. and their relationship is complex. not really that friendly and certainly not familial. no trust. some kind of begrudging respect maybe? i just think it would be neat if in further installments they explored a romantic love between a human and an ape. ok.

i KNOW Noa and Soona are probably going to get ape married and they're never going to touch on the subject but i just find it hard to believe that in the last 300 years or so that's NEVER been heard of. apes have the same level of intimacy between each other as humans do in this universe and can willingly consent. what are you so afraid of wes ball

after all, the whole franchise is about how apes, when given intelligence, compare to humans and begs the question: how different are we really?

is it possible for an ape and a human to fall in love?

[blogthebooklover]

I'll Never See Him Again (Mae)

Author's Note: Here's the one from Mae's perspective, once again inspired by Disney's Pocahontas. This is also available on Wattpad. I've included three human OCs for this one shot! I also snuck two familiar names from Supernatural, however, it is not the beloved characters exactly lol. This is also my first time writing a character who is nonbinary/genderfluid/androgynous; and the character uses they/them pronouns. I did my absolute best to be as respectful as I could. I also apologize in advance if there is any indication of negative stereotypes, because that was not the intention.

They took him.  Her human companions took Noa.  All because he wanted to see her again.  Mae dropped to her knees and buried her face in her hands.  She was only trying to help rebuild the human race, under the direction of her leader.  On her mission, the only ones to show any sort of empathy and compassion to her, were the evolved orangutan and chimpanzee.  So soon after the deaths of her team.  

Her affiliation and alliance with them during that time, created the beginning of a conflict within herself.  The girl raised a hand to her neck, and pulled out the medallion of Caesar.  The last connection to Raka as well.

It was Noa’s gift to her to reflect on their time and her grief.

And it was the first one that wasn’t given to her by her parents or friends.

She felt tears stream down her cheeks as she clasped the medallion in her hands.  Mae did not consider herself to be spiritual or religious, she remembered her history lessons about the past 200-300 years and before.  How humans always had conflicts regarding religion and science.  However, whomever this Caesar was to the apes, she prayed silently to him.  She went down on her knees, still clasping the necklace in her hand.  The young woman prayed for Noa’s safety.

Her silent prayer was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps coming down the hall.  It was a former classmate of hers, from her history lessons as a child.  That’s right, they went by Gem now and presented as androgynous.  “Mae,” they said, crouching down to the girl’s level, “are you all right?”  

“No, I’m not,” the girl replied, “they took my…my friend.”   

“That monkey?”

“He’s an ape, not a monkey.”

“Sorry,” Gem muttered, “is he…the one you mentioned on your journey above?”

Mae nodded, sucking in her lips to keep from crying again, “All this happened because he helped me, and I…I almost killed him…Twice.  And now…I don’t know what our commanding officers will do to him.  Either keep him for experiments or kill him.”  “He was already outside the bunker, Mae,” Gem explained calmly, placing their hand on Mae’s shoulder, “he had a weapon on him.”

“Merely for protection,” Mae argued, “I’ve seen it for myself.”  Gem bit the inside of their cheek, thinking about the next thing to say.  

“Forgive me, but were you praying just now?” they raised an eyebrow toward her.  Mae decided she couldn’t lie anymore and nodded her head in response.  “I don’t recall you being the religious type.”  Mae felt a small smile tug at the corners of her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes, “Perhaps I did so for my friend’s sake.”

Gem’s head shot up quickly, they had an idea.  “C’mon, I know what to do.”

X.X.X.X.X.X.

An hour later, Gem and Mae walked down the hallway deep inside the bunker.  The two came upon a laboratory the scientists and doctors used for research, as well as an infirmary.  Two guards, who were also former classmates from Mae’s history lessons, stood watch over the entrance of the lab.  Gem greeted the two, giving each a nod, “Dean, Sam.”  The two returned the greeting. 

“Mae wishes to speak to the prisoner,” Gem explained sternly, maintaining strong eye contact with their former classmates.  “On what grounds?” Dean asked, placing his hands on his hips.  Mae bit her lip, thinking up any lie she could to get into the lab to see Noa.  Then it hit her, “I have some questions for him.”

“The general already interrogated the prisoner,” explained Sam, reciting it like he had memorized the words from a textbook.  Gem and Mae exchanged a quick glance with each other.  “He sent me to conduct further questions,” Mae lied, sensing the subtle change in the atmosphere.  She secretly hoped the two guards bought the lie.  

It was Dean who caved in, “Be quick, they might return at any moment.”  He turned around and punched in the key code for the door.

He stepped to the side to let Mae through.  The young woman glanced over her shoulder to Gem, offering them a small smile in thanks.  Gem returned it in kind.  Mae inhaled a deep breath, and stepped through the door.  

X.X.X.X.X.X.

Mae walked into the lab and glanced around for any sign of Noa.  It was dimly lit and there was the low hum of the computers.  Her blue eyes widened slightly when she eventually found him.  

They placed Noa in a cage.

His back was turned to her, he was hunched over and she could see he was hugging himself tightly.  Mae walked slowly over to the young ape, when she was in front of the cage, she crouched down to his level.  She reached out her hand slowly to him, debating on whether to touch his shoulder.  Regardless of his cognitive abilities being so close to humans, he was still an animal.  

And just like humans, animals did not belong in cages.

She lowered her hand and called out softly to him, “Noa?”  The young ape perked up at the sound of her voice, and glanced over his shoulder.  When he saw it was her, he turned around fully to face her.  Noa locked his golden jade eyes with her own sky blue ones.  It was the same expression he had given her, when her human companions took him away.  It was also the same one he had that day, when she aimed her pistol at Proximus Caesar.  A silent plea.

“Mae,” he whispered, reaching his hand through the bars.  She took hold of it with both of hers.  The young woman noticed how huge just his one hand was between her own.  She felt tears well up again in her eyes.  The ape took notice of her tears, reaching up his free hand and softly brushing his knuckles against her cheek to wipe them away.  He cupped her face with that same hand and she leaned into it.

There was only one thing that was on her mind.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?”

“For getting you placed here.  For lying to you.  For…for almost killing you and your clan.”

Noa’s eyes widened slightly at this, this time she was sure he could read the sincere truth in her eyes.  “Mae…” he couldn’t find the words to respond to her.  However, there was one way.  The hand cradling her cheek gently pulled her closer, as best as he could from the bars, he placed his forehead against hers.  She breathed a shuddering exhale against his lips.  She felt the emblem of Caesar brush against his chest.    

 The young chimp inhaled through his nostrils, she briefly wondered if he had picked up her scent.  “I am sorry, too,” Noa whispered, “I should not…have come here.  But I am glad…I did.”  Mae pulled back slightly to look at him, biting her lower lip, debating on what to say next to him.  “Maybe…it would’ve been better if we never met,” she said , choosing her words as carefully as she could.  However, she doubted the chimpanzee in front of her believed her words.  He was too intelligent for that, briefly recalling their conversation in Trevethan’s room, and what was supposed to be their farewell outside of his village.

“I do not regret it,” Noa breathed against her lips, “I see you…as my friend.”

Mae felt more tears well in her eyes, she felt Noa’s thumb gently stroking her cheek, brushing away the ones that fell.  In the distance, she heard the door to the lab open and Gem calling out, “Mae, we have to go.”

The young woman sighed sadly, nodding her head so slowly it was hard to tell.  Noa noticed it, though.  “You must go,” he whispered, letting go of her face, “your clan is coming.”  Mae locked eyes with the male chimp once more, “Noa…”  “You will always be my friend,” he whispered, she noticed there were tears welling in his golden jade eyes.  He took a gentle hold of the medallion between them, “Important.”  She let her tears fall like the last time he said that word. 

She stood up, the move forcing Noa to release the necklace, she still had a hold on to his large hand.  She briefly glanced down at their entwined hands, noticing how small hers was compared to the chimpanzee’s.  The young woman reluctantly let go of the ape’s hand, which was still in the air reaching out to her.  Mae turned away slowly, walking toward the door to the hall.

When the door shut behind her, she could hear Noa release a feral screech of pain and sadness.  She could also hear the banging of the bars, she darkly imagined he was throwing his whole body at them.  Mae rolled her fingers into fists, clenching so tight her knuckles turned white, to keep from releasing more tears again.

[claygoestothemovies]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Who would have thought that the PLANET OF THE APES franchise would become one of the strongest in today’s media landscape? The consistent level of quality and storytelling on display throughout these films is a delight, and this fourth entry is no exception. KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES is one of the best moviegoing experiences I’ve had all year.

The story opens with the conclusion of the storyline we’ve been following for the past three films, and then we’re transported forward approximately three hundred years to find a very different world indeed. Nature has reclaimed the earth. Skyscrapers are now practically unrecognizable, covered in green, with trees growing through and out of them. An early sequence involving a daring climb to the top of one such building will take your breath away. It’s a dystopia, but a beautiful one.

We meet Noa (Owen Teague), a member of a clan of apes who raise eagles. Just when you’ve fallen in love with this group, they’re attacked in the night by another group of raiders and the village is burnt to the ground, and everyone in it, save Noa, are either killed or taken. Yes, dear reader, we’ve got a Hero’s Journey, one of my favorite types of story. Noa bravely goes off to rescue his friends and family, and on the way will pick up a wise friend and mentor in Raka (Peter Macon), an orangutan who is one of the few who keep and pass down the teachings of Caesar, and a human girl, Nova (Freya Allen), who is more than she appears to be.

The ensuing story is always riveting. It isn’t just surface level entertainment either, there’s some rich thematic stuff going on here. It has a lot to say about religion, empathy, faith, and perseverance. The surface level stuff is pretty great, too. The action sequences are breathtaking, the CGI and motion capture performances are the best this side of AVATAR (and for my money have a more tangible feel), and the acting on display is top notch! In a role not everyone could pull off, Freya Allen knocks it out of the park. The villains are appropriately scary, as well. In short, a lot of people worked very hard on both sides of the camera to make it very easy for the audience to be immersed in this world and more importantly - to care about it.

Please give us four more. Highly recommend.

4/5

[bongaboi]

59th Annual Grammy Awards Winners Part 2

Country

Best Country Solo Performance

"My Church" – Maren Morris

"Love Can Go to Hell" – Brandy Clark

"Vice" – Miranda Lambert

"Church Bells" – Carrie Underwood

"Blue Ain't Your Color" – Keith Urban

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

"Jolene" – Pentatonix featuring Dolly Parton

"Different for Girls" – Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King

"21 Summer" – Brothers Osborne

"Setting the World on Fire" – Kenny Chesney & P!nk

"Think of You" – Chris Young with Cassadee Pope

Best Country Song

"Humble and Kind"

"Blue Ain't Your Color"

"Die a Happy Man"

"My Church"

"Vice"

Lori McKenna, songwriter (Tim McGraw)

Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey & Steven Lee Olsen, songwriters (Keith Urban)

Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett & Joe Spargur, songwriters (Thomas Rhett)

busbee & Maren Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris)

Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)

Best Country Album

A Sailor's Guide to Earth – Sturgill Simpson

Big Day in a Small Town – Brandy Clark

Full Circle – Loretta Lynn

Hero – Maren Morris

Ripcord – Keith Urban

New Age

Best New Age Album

White Sun II – White Sun

Orogen – John Burke

Dark Sky Island – Enya

Inner Passion – Peter Kater & Tina Guo

Rosetta – Vangelis

Jazz

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" – John Scofield, soloist

"Countdown" – Joey Alexander, soloist

"In Movement" – Ravi Coltrane, soloist

"We See" – Fred Hersch, soloist

"I Concentrate on You" – Brad Mehldau, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album

Take Me to the Alley – Gregory Porter

Sound of Red – René Marie

Upward Spiral – Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest Kurt Elling

Harlem on My Mind – Catherine Russell

The Sting Variations – The Tierney Sutton Band

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Country for Old Men – John Scofield

Book of Intuition – Kenny Barron Trio

Dr. Um – Peter Erskine

Sunday Night at the Vanguard – The Fred Hersch Trio

Nearness – Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom – Ted Nash Big Band

Real Enemies – Darcy James Argue's Secret Society

MONK'estra, Vol. 1 – John Beasley

Kaleidoscope Eyes: Music of the Beatles – John Daversa

All L.A. Band – Bob Mintzer

Best Latin Jazz Album

Tribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac – Chucho Valdés

Entre Colegas – Andy González

Madera Latino: A Latin Jazz Perspective on the Music of Woody Shaw – Brian Lynch & various artists

Canto América – Michael Spiro/Wayne Wallace La Orquesta Sinfonietta

30 – Trio Da Paz

Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music

Best Gospel Performance/Song

"God Provides" – Tamela Mann

"It's Alright, It's OK" – Shirley Caesar featuring Anthony Hamilton

"You're Bigger [Live]" – Jekalyn Carr

"Made a Way [Live]" – Travis Greene

"Better" – Hezekiah Walker

Kirk Franklin, songwriter

Stanley Brown & Courtney Rumble, songwriters

Allundria Carr, songwriter

Travis Greene, songwriter

Jason Clayborn, Gabriel Hatcher & Hezekiah Walker, songwriters

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

"Thy Will" – Hillary Scott & The Scott Family

"Trust in You" – Lauren Daigle

"Priceless" – For King & Country

"King of the World" – Natalie Grant

"Chain Breaker" – Zach Williams

Bernie Herms, Hillary Scott & Emily Weisband, songwriters

Lauren Daigle, Michael Farren & Paul Mabury, songwriters

Benjamin Backus, Seth Mosley, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone & Tedd Tjornhom, songwriters

Natalie Grant, Becca Mizell & Samuel Mizell, songwriters

Mia Fieldes, Jonathan Smith & Zach Williams, songwriters

Best Gospel Album

Losing My Religion – Kirk Franklin

Listen – Tim Bowman, Jr.

Fill This House – Shirley Caesar

A Worshipper's Heart [Live] – Todd Dulaney

Demonstrate [Live] – William Murphy

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

Love Remains – Hillary Scott & The Scott Family

Poets & Saints – All Sons & Daughters

American Prodigal – Crowder

Be One – Natalie Grant

Youth Revival [Live] – Hillsong Young & Free

Best Roots Gospel Album

Hymns That Are Important to Us – Joey + Rory

Better Together – Gaither Vocal Band

Nature's Symphony in 432 – The Isaacs

Hymns and Songs of Inspiration – Gordon Mote

God Don't Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson – (Various Artists); Jeffrey Gaskill, producer

Latin

Best Latin Pop Album

Un Besito Más – Jesse & Joy

Ilusión – Gaby Moreno

Similares – Laura Pausini

Seguir Latiendo – Sanalejo

Buena Vida – Diego Torres

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

iLevitable – ile

L.H.O.N. (La Humanidad o Nosotros) – Illya Kuryaki & The Valderamas

Buenaventura – La Santa Cecilia

Los Rakas – Los Rakas

Amor Supremo – Carla Morrison

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

Un Azteca en el Azteca, Vol. 1 (En Vivo) – Vicente Fernández

Raíces – Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga

Hecho a Mano – Joss Favela

Generación Maquinaria Est. 2006 – La Maquinaria Norteña

Tributo a Joan Sebastian y Rigoberto Alfaro – Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea

Best Tropical Latin Album

Donde Están? – Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo

Conexión – Fonseca

La Fantasia Homenaje a Juan Formell – Formell y Los Van Van

35 Aniversario – Grupo Niche

La Sonora Santanera en Su 60 Aniversario – Sonora Santanera

American Roots

Best American Roots Performance

"House of Mercy" – Sarah Jarosz

"Ain't No Man" – The Avett Brothers

"Mother's Children Have a Hard Time" – The Blind Boys of Alabama

"Factory Girl" – Rhiannon Giddens

"Wreck You" – Lori McKenna

Best American Roots Song

"Kid Sister"

"Alabama at Night"

"City Lights"

"Gulfstream"

"Wreck You"

Vince Gill, songwriter (The Time Jumpers)

Robbie Fulks, songwriter (Robbie Fulks)

Jack White, songwriter (Jack White/The White Stripes)

Eric Adcock & Roddie Romero, songwriters (Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars)

Lori McKenna & Felix McTeigue, songwriters (Lori McKenna)

Best Americana Album

This Is Where I Live – William Bell

True Sadness – The Avett Brothers

The Cedar Creek Sessions – Kris Kristofferson

The Bird and the Rifle – Lori McKenna

Kid Sister – The Time Jumpers

Best Bluegrass Album

Coming Home – O'Connor Band with Mark O'Connor

Original Traditional – Blue Highway

Burden Bearer – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver

The Hazel and Alice Sessions – Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands

North by South – Claire Lynch

Best Traditional Blues Album

Porcupine Meat – Bobby Rush

Can't Shake the Feeling – Lurrie Bell

Live at the Greek Theatre – Joe Bonamassa

Blues & Ballads (A Folksinger's Songbook: Volumes I & II) – Luther Dickinson

The Soul of Jimmie Rodgers – Vasti Jackson

Best Contemporary Blues Album

The Last Days of Oakland – Fantastic Negrito

Love Wins Again – Janiva Magness

Bloodline – Kenny Neal

Give It Back to You – The Record Company

Everybody Wants a Piece – Joe Louis Walker

Best Folk Album

Undercurrent – Sarah Jarosz

Silver Skies Blue – Judy Collins & Ari Hest

Upland Stories – Robbie Fulks

Factory Girl – Rhiannon Giddens

Weighted Mind – Sierra Hull

Best Regional Music Album

E Walea – Kalani Pe'a

Broken Promised Land – Barry Jean Ancelet & Sam Broussard

It's a Cree Thing – Northern Cree

Gulfstream – Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars

I Wanna Sing Right: Rediscovering Lomax in the Evangeline Country – (Various Artists); Joshua Caffery & Joel Savoy, producers

Reggae

Best Reggae Album

Ziggy Marley – Ziggy Marley

Sly & Robbie Presents... Reggae For Her – Devin Di Dakta & J.L

Rose Petals – J Boog

Everlasting – Raging Fyah

Falling Into Place – Rebelution

SOJA: Live in Virginia – SOJA

World Music

Best World Music Album

Sing Me Home – Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble

Destiny – Celtic Woman

Walking in the Footsteps of Our Fathers – Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Land of Gold – Anoushka Shankar

Dois Amigos, Um Século de Música: Multishow Live – Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil

Children

Best Children's Album

Infinity Plus One – Secret Agent 23 Skidoo

Explorer of the World – Frances England

Novelties – Recess Monkey

Press Play – Brady Rymer And The Little Band That Could

Saddle Up – The Okee Dokee Brothers

Spoken Word

Best Spoken Word Album

(includes Poetry, Audio Books and Storytelling)

In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox – Carol Burnett

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo – Amy Schumer

M Train – Patti Smith

Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A.Punk (John Doe with Tom DeSavia) – (Various Artists)

Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink – Elvis Costello

Comedy

Best Comedy Album

Talking for Clapping – Patton Oswalt

...America...Great... – David Cross

American Myth – Margaret Cho

Boyish Girl Interrupted – Tig Notaro

Live at the Apollo – Amy Schumer

Musical Theatre

Best Musical Theater Album

The Color Purple – Danielle Brooks, Cynthia Erivo & Jennifer Hudson, principal soloists; Stephen Bray, Van Dean, Frank Filipetti, Roy Furman, Joan Raffe, Scott Sanders & Jhett Tolentino, producers; (Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell & Allee Willis, composers/lyricists) (New Broadway Cast)

Bright Star – Carmen Cusack, principal soloist; Jay Alix, Peter Asher & Una Jackman, producers; Steve Martin, composer; Edie Brickell, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

Fiddler on the Roof – Danny Burstein, principal soloist; Louise Gund, David Lai & Ted Sperling, producers; (Jerry Bock, composer; Sheldon Harnick, lyricist) (2016 Broadway Cast)

Kinky Boots – Killian Donnelly & Matt Henry, principal soloists; Sammy James, Jr., Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Oremus & William Wittman, producers; (Cyndi Lauper, composer & lyricist) (Original West End Cast)

Waitress – Jessie Mueller, principal soloist; Neal Avron, Sara Bareilles & Nadia DiGiallonardo, producers; Sara Bareilles, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

Music for Visual Media

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

Miles Ahead – (Miles Davis & Various Artists)

Amy – (Various Artists)

Straight Outta Compton – (Various Artists)

Suicide Squad (Collector's Edition) – (Various Artists)

Vinyl: The Essentials Season 1 – (Various Artists)

Steve Berkowitz, Don Cheadle & Robert Glasper, compilation producers

Salaam Remi & Mark Ronson, compilation producers

O'Shea Jackson & Andre Young, compilation producers

Mike Caren, Darren Higman & Kevin Weaver, compilation producers

Stewart Lerman, Randall Poster & Kevin Weaver, compilation producers

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media

Star Wars: The Force Awakens – John Williams, composer

Bridge of Spies – Thomas Newman, composer

Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone, composer

The Revenant – Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto, composers

Stranger Things Volume 1 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers

Stranger Things Volume 2 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers

Best Song Written for Visual Media

"Can't Stop the Feeling!" – Max Martin, Shellback & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (performed by Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Gwen Stefani, James Corden, Zooey Deschanel, Walt Dohrn, Ron Funches, Caroline Hjelt, Aino Jawo, Christopher Mintz-Plasse & Kunal Nayyar)

"Heathens" – Tyler Joseph, songwriter (performed by Twenty One Pilots)

"Just Like Fire" – Oscar Holter, Max Martin, P!nk & Shellback, songwriters (performed by P!nk)

"Purple Lamborghini" – Shamann Cooke, Sonny Moore & William Roberts, songwriters (performed by Skrillex & Rick Ross)

"Try Everything" – Mikkel S. Eriksen, Sia Furler & Tor Erik Hermansen, songwriters (performed by Shakira)

"The Veil" – Peter Gabriel, songwriter (performed by Peter Gabriel)

Composing

Best Instrumental Composition

"Spoken at Midnight"

"Bridge of Spies (End Title)"

"The Expensive Train Set (An Epic Sarahnade for Big Band)"

"Flow"

"L'Ultima Diligenza Di Red Rock – Verisione Integrale"

Ted Nash, composer (Ted Nash Big Band)

Thomas Newman, composer (Thomas Newman)

Tim Davies, composer (Tim Davies Big Band)

Alan Ferber, composer (Alan Ferber Nonet)

Ennio Morricone, composer (Ennio Morricone)

Arranging

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

You and I

Ask Me Now

Good 'Swing' Wenceslas

Linus & Lucy

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

We Three Kings

Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)

John Beasley, arranger (John Beasley)

Sammy Nestico, arranger (The Count Basie Orchestra)

Christian Jacob, arranger (The Phil Norman Tentet)

John Daversa, arranger (John Daversa)

Ted Nash, arranger (Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals

Flintstones

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Do You Want to Know a Secret

The Music

Somewhere (Dirty Blvd) (Extended Version)

Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)

Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band Featuring Take 6)

John Daversa, arranger (John Daversa Featuring Renee Olstead)

Alan Broadbent, arranger (Kristin Chenoweth)

Billy Childs & Larry Klein, arrangers (Lang Lang Featuring Lisa Fischer & Jeffrey Wright)

Packaging

Best Recording Package

Blackstar

Anti (Deluxe Edition)

Human Performance

Sunset Motel

22, A Million

Jonathan Barnbrook, art director (David Bowie)

Ciarra Pardo & Robyn Fenty, art directors (Rihanna)

Andrew Savage, art director (Parquet Courts)

Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Reckless Kelly)

Eric Timothy Carlson, art director (Bon Iver)

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package

Edith Piaf 1915–2015

401 Days

I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It

Paper Wheels (Deluxe Limited Edition)

Tug of War (Deluxe Edition)

Gérard Lo Monaco, art director (Edith Piaf)

Jonathan Dagan & Mathias Høst Normark, art directors (J.Views)

Samuel Burgess-Johnson & Matthew Healy, art directors (The 1975)

Matt Taylor, art director (Trey Anastasio)

Simon Earith & James Musgrave, art directors (Paul McCartney)

[fromhnt]

http://ift.tt/2lazPsR

Best Gospel Performance/Song

Shirley Caesar, It's Alright, It's OK (feat. Anthony Hamilton)

Jekalyn Carr, You're Bigger (Live)

Travis Greene, Made a Way (Live)

Tamela Mann, God Provides

Hezekiah Walker, Better

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

Lauren Daigle, Trust in You

For King & Country, Priceless

Natalie Grant, King of the World

Hillary Scott & The Scott Family, Thy Will

Zach Williams, Chain Breaker

Best Gospel Album

Tim Bowman Jr., Listen

Shirley Caesar, Fill This House

Todd Dulaney, A Worshipper's Heart [Live]

Kirk Franklin, Losing My Religion

William Murphy, Demonstrate [Live]

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

All Sons & Daughters, Poets & Saints

Crowder, American Prodigal

Natalie Grant, Be One

Hillsong Young & Free, Youth Revival [Live]

Hillary Scott & The Scott Family, Love Remains

Best Roots Gospel Album

Gaither Vocal Band, Better Together

The Isaacs, Nature's Symphony in 432

Joey+Rory, Hymns

Gordon Mote, Hymns and Songs of Inspiration

Various Artists, God Don't Never Change: The Songs of Blind Willie Johnson

Best Latin Pop Album

Jesse & Joy, Un Besito Mas

Gaby Moreno, Ilusión

Laura Pausini, Similares

Sanalejo, Seguir Latiendo

Diego Torres, Buena Vida

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

ile, ilevitable

Illya Kuryaki & The Valderamas, L.H.O.N. (La Humanidad O Nosotros)

La Santa Cecilia, Buenaventura

Los Rakas, Los Rakas

Carla Morrison, Amor Supremo

Best Country Solo Performance

Brandy Clark, Love Can Go to Hell

Miranda Lambert, Vice

Maren Morris, My Church

Carrie Underwood, Church Bells

Keith Urban, Blue Ain't Your Color

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

Dierks Bentley, Different for Girls (feat. Elle King)

Brothers Osborne, 21 Summer

Kenny Chesney, Setting the World on Fire (feat. Pink)

Pentatonix, Jolene (feat. Dolly Parton)

Chris Young, Think of You (feat. Cassadee Pope)

Best Country Song

Keith Urban, Blue Ain't Your Color

Thomas Rhett, Die a Happy Man

Tim McGraw, Humble and Kind

Maren Morris, My Church

Miranda Lambert, Vice 

Best Country Album

Brandy Clark, Big Day in a Small Town

Loretta Lynn, Full Circle

Maren Morris, Hero

Sturgill Simpson, A Hero's Guide to Earth

Keith Urban, Ripcord

Best New Age Album

John Burke, Orogen

Enya, Dark Sky Island

Peter Kater & Tina Guo, Inner Passion

Vangelis, Rosetta

White Sun, White Sun II

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

Joey Alexander, Countdown

Ravi Coltrane, In Movement

Fred Hersch, We See

Brad Mehldau, I Concentrate on You

John Scofield, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

Best Jazz Vocal Album

René Marie, Sound of Red

Branford Marsalis Quartet and Kurt Elling, Upward Spiral

Gregory Porter, Take Me to the Alley

Catherine Russell, Harlem on My Mind

The Tierney Sutton Band, The Sting Variations

Best Jazz Instrumental Album

Kenny Barron Trio, Book of Intution

Peter Erskine, Dr. Um

The Fred Hersch Trio, Sunday Night at the Vanguard

Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau, Nearness

John Scofield, Country for Old Men

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society, Real Enemies

John Beasley, Presents Monk'estra, Vol. 1

John Daversa, Kaleidoscope Eyes: Music of The Beatles

Bob Mintzer, All L.A. Band

Ted Nash Big Band, Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom

Best Latin Jazz Album

Andy González, Entre Colegas

Brian Lynch, Madera Latino: A Latin Jazz Perspective on the Music of Woody Shaw

Michael Spiro/Wayne Wallace La Orquesta Sinfonietta, Canto América

Trio Da Paz, 30

Chucho Valdés, Tribute to Irakere: Live in Marciac 

Best Rap/Sung Performance

Beyoncé, Freedom (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Drake, Hotline Bling

D.R.A.M., Broccoli (feat. Lil Yachty)

Kanye West, Ultralight Beam (feat. Chance the Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin and The-Dream)

Kanye West, Famous (feat. Rihanna)

Best Rap Song

Fat Joe and Remy Ma, All the Way Up (feat. Fat French Montana and Infared)

Kanye West, Famous (feat. Rihanna)

Drake, Hotline Bling

Chance the Rapper, No Problem (feat. Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz)

Kanye West, Ultralight Beam (feat. Chance the Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin and The-Dream)

Best Rap Album

Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book

De La Soul, And the Anonymous Nobody

DJ Khaled, Major Key

Drake, Views

ScHoolboy Q, Blank Face LP

Kanye West, The Life of Pablo

[violeteclipseboaty]

Aight but like, I get it Raka

[violeteclipseboaty]

I'm sorry but this was hilarious to me:

*Raka and Noa at an airport*

Raka: "Yeah so this was a sanctuary created by apes meant for humans where they would care for them"

Raka was so precious lol