Arooj Aftab bags Grammy nod for Best Global Music Performance second year in a row

Arooj Aftab, who made history last year by becoming the first Pakistani to win a Grammy, has once again managed to secure a Grammy nomination in the Best Global Music Performance category for her track Udhero Na featuring Anoushka Shankar.

On Wednesday, the artist took to Instagram to make the announcement by sharing a New York Times’ listicle highlighting all Grammy nominations for the year of 2023. Overjoyed, the Mohabbat crooner wrote in the caption, “Oh my, oh my, oh my!”

Aftab followed up with video message to share her feelings about the nomination and Udhero Na. “Oh my God! Udhero Na has been nominated for a Grammy. Congratulations to me and to Anoushka Shankar, Maeve Gilchrist and Nadje Noordhuis.” She recalled how four “badass women” came together to play a song that she wrote when she was merely 15 and it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves.

“So, I’m very emotional and very glad and I’m really, really, just, I don’t even know. I’m in this hall of a ship, we’re about to perform in about 20 minutes or so. I don’t know how I’m going to do that but this is great. So, thank you,” she concluded. Aftab captioned this post, “Congratulations to me! [laughs] Yes, congratulations to you and Anoushka Shankar.”

Actor Sarwat Gilani congratulated the star in the comments section, writing, “you go girl” Singer Jessica Betts, Devonté Hynes, also known as Blood Orange, singer-songwriter Rachel Eckroth, Indian actor Priyanka Bose, singer Priya Darshini, Never Have I Ever actor Poorna Jagannathan, among others, also lauded her.

Actor Ushna Shah commented under her video asking if the nominated song Udhero Na is from back in the day and if this means Bolo Na will re-release for third consecutive Grammy in the future. “Bring ’em all home, superstar!” she cheered. Trans rights activist Dr Mehrub Moiz Awan, pianist Meritxell Neddermann, Spanish singer Marta Sánchez, also gave Aftab their blessings.

Aftab’s Udhero Na will compete for the Best Global Music Performance Award alongside Matt B and Eddy Kenzo’s Gimme Love, Burna Boy’s Last last, Rocky Dawuni, Blvk H3ro’s Neva Bow Down and Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini, Nomcebo Zikode’s Bayethe. 

Here is a list of nominations for the most prominent categories at the Grammys announced on Tuesday by the Recording Academy.

Record of the Year

Don’t Shut Me Down, Abba
Easy on Me, Adele
Break My Soul, Beyoncé
Good Morning Gorgeous, Mary J Blige
You and Me on the Rock, Brandi Carlile featuring Lucius
Woman, Doja Cat
Bad Habit, Steve Lacy
The Heart Part 5, Kendrick Lamar
About Damn Time, Lizzo
As It Was, Harry Styles

Album of the Year

Voyage, Abba
30, Adele
Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny
Renaissance, Beyoncé
Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe), Mary J Blige
In These Silent Days, Brandi Carlile
Music of the Spheres, Coldplay
Mr Morale & the Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar
Special, Lizzo
Harry’s House, Harry Styles

Song of the Year

Abcdefu
About Damn Time
All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
As It Was
Bad Habit
Break My Soul
Easy on Me
God Did
The Heart Part 5
Just Like That

Best New Artist

Anitta
Omar Apollo
Domi & JD Beck
Muni Long
Samara Joy
Latto
Maneskin
Tobe Nwigwe
Molly Tuttle
Wet Leg

Best Pop Solo Performance

Easy on Me, Adele
Moscow Mule, Bad Bunny
Woman, Doja Cat
Bad Habit, Steve Lacy
About Damn Time, Lizzo
As It Was, Harry Styles

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Don’t Shut Me Down, Abba
Bam Bam, Camila Cabello featuring Ed Sheeran
My Universe, Coldplay and BTS
I Like You (A Happier Song), Post Malone and Doja Cat
Unholy, Sam Smith and Kim Petras

Best Pop Vocal Album

Voyage, Abba
30, Adele
Music of the Spheres, Coldplay
Special, Lizzo
Harry’s House, Harry Styles

The Grammys will be handed out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on February 5. Winners will be chosen by the nearly 13,000 musicians, producers and songwriters who belong to the Recording Academy.

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