The Grammy Awards, although
arguably the most esteemed of all pop musical accolades, aren’t for everyone.
Music is such a subjective thing; it holds a deeply personal meaning for
everyone who listens to it, and nobody likes
every single genre out there. In past years, the Grammys have honored many of
the biggest names in pop music, a fact that in and of itself alienates anyone
who prefers more alternative bands.
The “Best New Artist”
category at the Grammys is particularly polarizing; the awards have a somewhat
unusual history of selecting winners for this category that are one-hit
wonders, to say the least. Essentially, being the best new artist out there
doesn’t ensure a long and fruitful career, which Grammy winners of yesteryear
can surely attest to. “But that’s why
‘Best New Artist’ is everybody’s favorite Grammy category,” explains
Rolling Stone Magazine, “it’s the one
with the most bizarre picks.”
For instance, in 1976,
Starland Vocal Band took home the Grammy for “Best New Artist,” presumably for
their extremely popular hit single, “Afternoon Delight.” The band ended up
being a one-hit wonder though, and vocalist Taffy Danoff famously called
winning the “Best New Artist” category the “kiss
of death.” Previously unknown Tracy
Chapman was dubbed “Best New Artist” in 1988 after hitting it big with “Fast
Car,” but didn’t create another popular album or single until 1996’s “Give Me
One Reason.” Other unusual “Best New Artist” winners include Hootie and the
Blowfish, Milli Vanilli, and Arrested Development, the latter which completely
fell off the radar shortly after their win.
This year, the nominations
for the “Best New Artist” category include James Blake, Kendrick Lamar,
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kacey Musgraves, and Ed Sheeran. These artists
span multiple genres and so far, there isn’t a clear winner. Here’s to hoping
that these talented new musicians all have long and successful careers, not
fifteen minutes of fame like “Best New Artist” winner of Grammys past.
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