Winning Best New Artist Awards Means the "Kiss of Death"

[TMC]

I'm not trying to pull anybody's chains by presenting goofy and wacked out conspiracy theories but this is still (at least I hope) a fairly legitiment question and food for thought. The whole "kiss of death" didn't really become a serious issue for mean until I saw if I remember correctly, Kid Rock being interviewed leading up to the 1999 MTV VMAs. Of course, what came out of the interview was Rock saying something to the extent of "You don't want to win the Best New Artist award because...it's the *kiss of death* [chuckle]!!!" If there's anybody who should tell you about the supposed "kiss of death" after winning an award for the Best New Artist it's the poster boys of lip synching Milli Vanilli. Now of the top of my head, I'm going to name past winners of the Best New Artist award at the Video Music Awards and try to tell me that a vast majority of the winners were bound to meet impending doom and misfortune (or lack of proper longivity to put it in another way) at one point or another before you want to laugh:
1984: The Eurythmics

1985: 'Til Tuesday

1986: Ah-Ha

1987: Crowed House

1988: Guns 'N Roses

1989: Living Colour

1990: Michael Penn

1991: Jesus Jones

1992: Nirvana

1993: Stone Temple Pilots

1994: Counting Crows

1995: Hootie & the Blowfish

1996: Alanis Morrisette

1997: Fiona Apple

1998: Natalie Imbruglia

1999: Eminem

2000: Macy Gray

2001: Alicia Keys

2002: Avril Lavigne

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27202

[Jersey Girl]

hmmm..
most of those artists are still around today and have a significant following...Counting Crows just realeased a new single..Eminem is still prominent...Guns and Roses just performed on the VMAs...
and c'mon..NIRVANA and STP!!! (enough said)

[Bootsy Whoosh]

If a band sticks around long enough to make at least 4 or 5 albums, I wouldn't say they were wildly successful, but I wouldn't say they were under the curse of the kiss of death either. It's something to think about, an interesting theory, and I can see how in some ways it is true. But I still believe there are many important and influrential artists on that list that made at least 4 albums each and still have a significant fan base even today (standouts being of course Nirvana, Guns N Roses, STP, Alanis and Eminem (I'm sure he'll make 4 albums) ).

Additionally, I think it's a little too soon to count out Alicia Keys.

[Kitt]

What the heck? You could throw any batch of bands and performers into a hat and come out with a list of varied flops, mild successes and - as some of the ones on the list are - major successes. I don't get where your "kiss of death" theory is upheld by that list at all.

[TJL]

Yeah, quite a few of those guys were ever heard from again.
Whatever happened to Fiona Apple? Some of these guys never copied the sucess of their debut albums..

After watching Axel's performance at the VMA's with his "new" Gun's And Roses, I would think he's been kissed big time...

Get over yourself Axel. Bring back Slash and the boys!

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by TJL
Yeah, quite a few of those guys were ever heard from again.
Whatever happened to Fiona Apple? Some of these guys never copied the sucess of their debut albums..

After watching Axel's performance at the VMA's with his "new" Gun's And Roses, I would think he's been kissed big time...

Get over yourself Axel. Bring back Slash and the boys!

The last I heard of Fiona was when she released that last cd that had one really long title. lol

Um....let me look at this list again. 1984: The Eurythmics

1985: 'Til Tuesday- Band broke up, but I think Aimee made more of break by going solo

1986: Ah-Ha- Ah well, you can't win em all

1987: Crowed House- Correct me if I'm wrong didn't they sing 'Our House' Our house in the middle of our street- went something like that

1988: Guns 'N Roses-

1989: Living Colour- I'm not a big musical person for the year 1989 so I don't even know this group.

1990: Michael Penn- guess he didn't win em all either

1991: Jesus Jones- ? don't know them

1992: Nirvana- Could've been even bigger if Kurt hadn't died

1993: Stone Temple Pilots- I think they are still making music now

1994: Counting Crows- heard a new song from them the other day

1995: Hootie & the Blowfish- I never really liked Hootie's music to start with, but I think they are still making music. Not sure though.

1996: Alanis Morrisette- I have Jagged Little Pill, and to be honest with you I don't think she will ever top JLP.

1997: Fiona Apple- She's disappeared for awhile. She may be writing songs for a new cd though. Don't count her out yet.

1998: Natalie Imbruglia- She has a new cd out too- White Lilies Field

1999: Eminem- This guy is going to be around for quite awhile. I don't agree with everything he says in his song, but the guy has got talent for song writing. Cleaning out my Closet is a really soulful piece. To transfer the feelings he has into a song, it just takes talent imo.

2000: Macy Gray- I don't think she will be able to top her first hit.

2001: Alicia Keys- Too soon to tell with Alicia, but I think she's going to be around for awhile too.

2002: Avril Lavigne- I'm not sure about Avril either. Before anybody jumps on me, this is just my opinion whether it be right or wrong. I think Avril is just a flavor. When the next big thing comes into the room she'll fade into the background. Could be wrong, but I don't see her lasting that long. She may last until the next musician comes into the biz, but she isn't going to outlast the next one.

[TJL]

Great Jenny! More old bands to talk about!

Crowded House had a few songs, most notebly "Don't Dream It's Over."
Madness, the British ska band, did "Our House." They were great.

Living Colour were cool. They had a big hit with "Cult Of Personality." They were a great band, but they never matched the sucess of their debut album...

Winning a "Best New" catagory puts a lot of pressure on a group. Let's face it, there are a lot of "one hit wonders" out there who only have one good album in them.

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by TJL
Great Jenny! More old bands to talk about!

Crowded House had a few songs, most notebly "Don't Dream It's Over."
Madness, the British ska band, did "Our House." They were great.

Living Colour were cool. They had a big hit with "Cult Of Personality." They were a great band, but they never matched the sucess of their debut album...

Winning a "Best New" catagory puts a lot of pressure on a group. Let's face it, there are a lot of "one hit wonders" out there who only have one good album in them.

Ah, I got Crowded House and Madness mixed up. Animotion was a one hit wonder too. You remember that 'Obsession' song? You are my obsession, my possesion. Can't remember the rest of the lyric. lol

[TJL]

Originally posted by Jenny

Animotion was a one hit wonder too. You remember that 'Obsession' song? You are my obsession, my possesion. Can't remember the rest of the lyric. lol

Please, some things are best left unremembered....

;)

[DarleneIllyria]

Originally posted by TJL


Please, some things are best left unremembered....

;)

LOL

I just remembered some more, and I know that if nobody knows what song I'm talking about then I'm a total dork for even knowing about it. lol

Mexican Radio- Wall of Voodoo
Genius of Love- The Tom Tom Club
Shattered Dreams- Johnny Hates Jazz

[TJL]

Wall Of Voodoo?

They rock!

Stan Freberg, the man behind of Wall Of Voodoo was a genius!
He helped out with the soundtrack to "Rumblefish," a great movie, plus a great song to that movie, "Don't Box Me In," co-written by Stuart Copeland, of The Police.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally posted by TMC

1984: The Eurythmics
1988: Guns 'N Roses
1992: Nirvana
1993: Stone Temple Pilots
1994: Counting Crows
1996: Alanis Morrisette
1999: Eminem

enough time has passed that I think all of those artists can be said actually had a "real career"