Apparently Best New Artist isn't the Kiss of Death I thought

[anarky]

I was under the impression that "Best New Artist" meant "hand in your microphone; your career is over.

But it still hasn't got the best track record.

Here are those who overcame the stigma, and went on to continued success, if even for just a couple of years:

1965: The Beatles
1966: Tom Jones
1970: Crosby, Stills & Nash
1971: The Carpenters
1972: Carly Simon
1973: America
1974: Bette Midler
1976: Natalie Cole
1991: Mariah Carey
1994: Toni Braxton
1995: Sheryl Crow
2000: Christina Aguilera
2002: Alicia Keys
2003: Norah Jones

(Keep in mind that some of these blow goats, but, unfortunately, there have been idiots to buy their carp.)

And the losers. Some of these was humongous one-hit wonders prior to winning, but their success faded pretty freaking quickly afterwards. (I'm including John Legend here, though it's a bit too early to tell for sure.)

1960: Bobby Darin
1961: Bob Newhart
1962: Peter Nero
1963: Robert Goulet
1964: Ward Swingle (The Swingle Singers)
1968: Bobbie Gentry
1969: José Feliciano
1975: Marvin Hamlisch
1977: Starland Vocal Band
1978: Debby Boone
1979: A Taste of Honey
1980: Rickie Lee Jones
1981: Christopher Cross
1982: Sheena Easton
1983: Men at Work
1984: Culture Club
1985: Cyndi Lauper
1987: Bruce Hornsby & the Range
1986: Sade
1988: Jody Watley
1989: Tracy Chapman
1990: Milli Vanilli (revoked after lip sync scandal)
1992: Marc Cohn
1993: Arrested Development
1996: Hootie & the Blowfish
1997: LeAnn Rimes
1998: Paula Cole
1999: Lauryn Hill
2001: Shelby Lynne
2004: Evanescence
2005: Maroon 5
2006: John Legend

Peter Nero? Ward Swingle? Marvin Hamlisch? I've never heard of these.

A Taste of Honey? Debby Boone? Starland Vocal Band? I've heard of 'em, but I'm embarassed to admit it. Dude, who the hell would think that the best new artist of 1977 could possibly be the fucking losers behind "Afternoon Delight"? WTF?

Culture Club? Cyndi Lauper? Yeah, I can hear some of you arguing already. But admit it: all their best work, the stuff people actually listen to, was done prior to winning.

And in 1967, apparently no one was good enough.

So 14 decent (if not the best) choices out of 46 years? A success rate of about 30%. Pretty lousy track record, I'd say.

So the lucky loser this year is from this bunch:
James Blunt: I'd be happy to never hear from this douchebag again. I'd be happier to see him run over by a truck.
Chris Brown: Who?
Imogen Heap: Hasn't she been recording for like ten years or more?
Corinne Bailey Rae: Who? (But it sounds like a redneck.)
Carrie Underwood: The very definition of the word "suck."

Yeah, I'd be happy to sweep any of these under the carpet for the rest of eternity.

[Eternal Padawan]

James Blunt = pedophile.

He looks like one anyway. Creepy.

[jjreason]

Man, I'm really surprised (and a little disappointed) that we haven't heard more from Lauryn Hill. What an AWESOME album that was, and the Fugees were the bomb-diggity, yo.

Oh, and she's HOT to boot.

[Negative Boy]

I was under the impression that "Best New Artist" meant "hand in your microphone; your career is over.
Some of these was humongous one-hit wonders prior to winning, but their success faded pretty freaking quickly afterwards. (I'm including John Legend here, though it's a bit too early to tell for sure.)

1960: Bobby Darin
1961: Bob Newhart
1962: Peter Nero
1963: Robert Goulet
1964: Ward Swingle (The Swingle Singers)
1968: Bobbie Gentry
1969: José Feliciano
1975: Marvin Hamlisch
1977: Starland Vocal Band
1978: Debby Boone
1979: A Taste of Honey
1980: Rickie Lee Jones
1981: Christopher Cross
1982: Sheena Easton
1983: Men at Work
1984: Culture Club
1985: Cyndi Lauper
1987: Bruce Hornsby & the Range
1986: Sade
1988: Jody Watley
1989: Tracy Chapman
1990: Milli Vanilli (revoked after lip sync scandal)
1992: Marc Cohn
1993: Arrested Development
1996: Hootie & the Blowfish
1997: LeAnn Rimes
1998: Paula Cole
1999: Lauryn Hill
2001: Shelby Lynne
2004: Evanescence
2005: Maroon 5
2006: John Legend

Peter Nero? Ward Swingle? Marvin Hamlisch? I've never heard of these.

A Taste of Honey? Debby Boone? Starland Vocal Band? I've heard of 'em, but I'm embarassed to admit it. Dude, who the hell would think that the best new artist of 1977 could possibly be the fucking losers behind "Afternoon Delight"? WTF?

Culture Club? Cyndi Lauper? Yeah, I can hear some of you arguing already. But admit it: all their best work, the stuff people actually listen to, was done prior to winning.

And in 1967, apparently no one was good enough.

So 14 decent (if not the best) choices out of 46 years? A success rate of about 30%. Pretty lousy track record, I'd say.

So the lucky loser this year is from this bunch:
James Blunt: I'd be happy to never hear from this douchebag again. I'd be happier to see him run over by a truck.
Chris Brown: Who?
Imogen Heap: Hasn't she been recording for like ten years or more?
Corinne Bailey Rae: Who? (But it sounds like a redneck.)
Carrie Underwood: The very definition of the word "suck."

Yeah, I'd be happy to sweep any of these under the carpet for the rest of eternity.

Clearly you have no understanding of music.
Bobby Darin had a wonderful music career and had his life not been struck short by cancer, then he would be doing musical work to this day. Bob Newhart is a master craftsman and comedian who has given us decades of humourous insight on his various television shows.
Peter Nero has done lots of human rights work and is a lovely baritone. i highly suugest you pick up some his earlier work. If you don't there is clearly something wrong with your tastes.
Robert Goulet! Oh my goodness. Musical genuis and frequent sitcom guest star. His music makes my heart leap and his impeccable comic timing makes me laugh everytime. I pity you for not regulating his persuasiviness and corruptibility.
Who could forget Ward Swingle and the Swingle Singers? Whenever I get that winsome feeling for a good solid song singing, I just pop my Swingler Singers CD in the CD player and I know I'm in for a musical time.
Bobbie Gentry, Jose Feliciano, Marvin Hamlisch. I could go on and on, but clearly you are some kind of ignoramus who doesn't appreciate fine culture. Ha ha. You must be some kind of daffy dude.

[Antropov]

And the losers.

1960: Bobby Darin

I'd like to argue that. "Splish Splash"? "Mack the Knife"? "Beyond the Sea"? "Don't Rain on My Parade"? Being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?