Best New Artist fun facts

OLD NEWS ABOUT BEST NEW ARTISTS: "Fix the Best New Artist Category: Dump It" is the title of a provocative essay on the NPR pop-culture blog Monkey See today; author Marc Hirsh likens the category to the "kids table" at a holiday gathering. While we don't necessarily share Hirsh's assessment, it's a thought-provoking screed—and it sent us running to the Wikipedia page charting Best New Artist history. The list of winners and nominees is pretty fascinating; here are a few fun facts. The Beatles won in 1965 (defeating two icons of Brazilian pop, A.C. Jobim and Astrud Gilberto), by which time they'd already released Meet the Beatles, The Beatles' Second Album, A Hard Day's Night, Something New and Beatles '65 (among other LPs) in the U.S. Led Zeppelin, Elton John, The Eagles, The Byrds, Bill Withers, Barry White, Chicago, Foreigner and Boston, among others, were also-rans; the latter lost to Starland Vocal Band (pictured) in '77. A Taste of Honey (who brought you "Boogie Oogie Oogie") were able to vanquish The Cars and Elvis Costello in 1979. Alanis Morissette was no match for Hootie and the Blowfish in '96. Fiona Apple and Erykah Badu lost to Paula Cole in 1998. Mumford & Sons were bested by jazzbo Esperanza Spalding in 2011. And perhaps most shockingly, 1990's winner, Milli Vanilli, had their victory vacated. Why? Read our lips. (1/24p)