THE GRAMMY WHAMMY
Winning a Grammy Award should be a celebratory occasion.
But when it comes to the Best New Artist honor, every now and then it turns out to be a blessing and a curse.
Call it the Grammy Whammy, both the undisputed high point of an act's career as well as the last major achievement.
The Whammy struck in three straight years during the 1970s, when the Starland Vocal Band, Debby Boone and A Taste of Honey each were crowned Best New Artist. Of those three acts, only A Taste of Honey avoided the double distinction of having a brief reign of commercial success and only one Top 40 pop hit.
Of course, there are many who remember those three acts and their signature pop hits, all of which hit No. 1 -- "Afternoon Delight," "You Light Up My Life" and "Boogie Oogie Oogie," respectively -- and are grateful they were jinxed.
The shamed Milli Vanilli also was a victim, and even though he still records and performs, Marc Cohn hasn't come close to the commercial success or critical acclaim of his 1991 self-titled debut.
The last true victim of the Best New Artist Grammy Whammy was Paula Cole, who on the strength of her 1996 album, This Fire (which was not her first, by the way), was named Best New Artist for the Grammy year 1997. She's released only one new album since then, the 1999 dud Amen. (A comeback may be in the works, though, as she is scheduled to perform in Boston on Feb. 16 -- her first show in seven years.)
Since the first Best New Artist award, presented to Bobby Darin for the Grammy year 1959, the only full decade without at least one new artist being hit with the Whammy has been the 1960s. (It is worth pointing out that no Best New Artist was named for 1966, and comedian Bob Newhart won the honor for 1960.) There really hasn't been one since the turn of the century -- although one could argue that Shelby Lynne hasn't caused much of a stir since her Best New Artist win, and until Maroon 5 releases another studio album, the band gets a pass.
So it's about time for the Grammy Whammy to strike. Nominees James Blunt, Chris Brown, Imogen Heap, Corinne Bailey Rae and Carrie Underwood should keep in mind during Sunday night's ceremony (airing on CBS) that a Best New Artist win doesn't guarantee continued success.
Winning a Grammy Award should be a celebratory occasion.
But when it comes to the Best New Artist honor, every now and then it turns out to be a blessing and a curse.
Call it the Grammy Whammy, both the undisputed high point of an act's career as well as the last major achievement.
The Whammy struck in three straight years during the 1970s, when the Starland Vocal Band, Debby Boone and A Taste of Honey each were crowned Best New Artist. Of those three acts, only A Taste of Honey avoided the double distinction of having a brief reign of commercial success and only one Top 40 pop hit.
Of course, there are many who remember those three acts and their signature pop hits, all of which hit No. 1 -- "Afternoon Delight," "You Light Up My Life" and "Boogie Oogie Oogie," respectively -- and are grateful they were jinxed.
The shamed Milli Vanilli also was a victim, and even though he still records and performs, Marc Cohn hasn't come close to the commercial success or critical acclaim of his 1991 self-titled debut.
The last true victim of the Best New Artist Grammy Whammy was Paula Cole, who on the strength of her 1996 album, This Fire (which was not her first, by the way), was named Best New Artist for the Grammy year 1997. She's released only one new album since then, the 1999 dud Amen. (A comeback may be in the works, though, as she is scheduled to perform in Boston on Feb. 16 -- her first show in seven years.)
Since the first Best New Artist award, presented to Bobby Darin for the Grammy year 1959, the only full decade without at least one new artist being hit with the Whammy has been the 1960s. (It is worth pointing out that no Best New Artist was named for 1966, and comedian Bob Newhart won the honor for 1960.) There really hasn't been one since the turn of the century -- although one could argue that Shelby Lynne hasn't caused much of a stir since her Best New Artist win, and until Maroon 5 releases another studio album, the band gets a pass.
So it's about time for the Grammy Whammy to strike. Nominees James Blunt, Chris Brown, Imogen Heap, Corinne Bailey Rae and Carrie Underwood should keep in mind during Sunday night's ceremony (airing on CBS) that a Best New Artist win doesn't guarantee continued success.
posted by Chris M. Junior at 1:17 PM
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