great (yet terrifying) topic! here's a repost of a blog i wrote back in january (pix not included). props to dolly parton above! "jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene..." LOL
these are the groups/musicians i'd almost be ashamed of liking, if it wasn't that they put out so many great songs. i never said i was cool...
neil diamond
"the jewish elvis." come on, you know you can sing at least 3 of his songs. bryan does a killer karaoke version of "sweet caroline." his VH1 "behind the music" episode was so uneventful: he never had a drug or alcohol problem...
john denver
he looks like a pencil-necked geek, but had such a soothing voice. he sang folk-country songs that warm the heart. he did a wonderful acting job in OH GOD! with george burns. he died tragically in a private plane awhile back
genesis/phil collins
genesis did some cheesy, prog-rock in the 70s and then went pop in the 80s. phil collins' solo work was some good stuff also. and they always make entertaining videos.
Saxon
i think saxon had the worst fashion sense of any metal band: tight spandex, bad moustaches, poodle-hair, frilly shirts... but they made album after album of classic 80s metal, as part of the new wave of british heavy metal.
Weird Al Yankovic
who doesn't like a weird al song (or video)? my first concert was to see him at the greek theatre in '86. awesome show. no one sings about food like al.
poison
back in the early 80s, metal wasn't for girls. it was for testosterone-driven guys, who liked getting "fucked up" and banging their heads. then bon jovi came along in '84, with his hairy chest and smiles, and ruined it (until GN'R rescued it in '87). poison were prettier than some of the girls in the metal world. but they had some infectious songs, and singer brett michaels knew how to write a power ballad.
europe
swedish metal band with a very pop touch. their album with "the final countdown" was surprisingly filled with great songs. so who's prettier, singer joey tempest or brett michaels?
p.s. did anyone catch europe's "cherokee" in the trailer for
Hot Rod?
4 Non Blondes
for some reason, singer/songwriter/guitarist linda perry annoyed a lot of people. maybe it was the top hat, or her dreadlocks, or her unabashed lesbian look, or her hoarse yowl, or the fact that in early '93, you heard "what's up" about 10 times a day no matter where you were. but their one and only cd was filled with great songs and socially aware lyrics. linda's now pink's manager and has written hit songs for her (get the party started), christina aguilera (i am beautiful), and gwen stefani (what you waiting for). linda's got her revenge.
Jewel
now, i know there's been a backlash against jewel for her overplayed video of "you were meant for me," her two poetry books (which i enjoyed), her snaggle-tooth (which i love), and her hootchie-videos from her last dance album (which were satires, people!). but i discovered jewel a full year before she hit it big, so she's always had a special place in my heart.
Natalie Imbruglia
yes, we all know that she, like kylie minogue, was in that aussie soap opera, "neighbours." but who cares? she's got a killer voice, killer looks (those lips!), and has put out 2 great cds. seriously, she's way more than a one-hit wonder. you'd be surprised at how good her songs are.
spice girls
remember when the spice girls ruled the world in the late 90s? it seemed like a more innocent, happier time back then. they put out some of the most infectious dance singles ever. scary spice had the look, but sporty spice had the voice. i hear there's a reunion in the works...
