The Least Successful Best New Artist Grammy Winners

by Emily Exton 1/23/2014

Men at Work

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Esperanza Spalding

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Paula Cole

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Jody Watley

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Marc Cohn

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Christopher Cross

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Arrested Development

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A Taste of Honey

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Starland Vocal Band

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Milli Vanilli

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Winners of the Grammy Award for Best New Artist include Mariah Carey, You Oughta Know alum Adele, Lauryn Hill and The Beatles. What should be considered the highest order of tapping a kid on the shoulder and telling him or her they’ve “got potential” has maintained enough credibility over the years to remain relevant. But that doesn’t mean there haven’t been a few missteps. Grammy got it right with that English foursome who would later create Abbey Road and become the most recognized act around the world, but then there’s the German duo who weren’t actually singing on their debut album. Not to mention the flower child responsible for the Dawson’s Creek theme song and that old dude who can’t stop crooning about sailing.

As we prepare to watch eclectic acts like James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, Kacey Musgraves, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Ed Sheeran battle it out for a gold gramophone at the 2014 Grammy Awards, we can’t help but look back at the acts who achieved similar glory… only to soon become a distant memory. There’s no shame if you still jam out to “Walking in Memphis” on lonely car rides, or once dressed up as a member of Arrested Development (no, not the TV show) for Halloween. The Best New Artist award captures a moment, people. Alas, trophies are nice (ask Drake!) but they no way ensure a lifetime of commercial success.

Check out 10 Best New Artist busts who never had the same kind of luck after they won the big award.

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