Gosh, the longer I work on this project the more astonished I am that I keep overlooking obvious picks. I started this circa February 2024. As I write this one ahead of time, it’s February 2025. And it’ll be posted about a year from now.
Michael Bolton, for me, is more the Mike Bolton character from OfficeSpace. It’s not that I didn’t know Michael Bolton before. I just love OfficeSpace.
Don’t normally include parodies, but kind of felt I needed to, this time. Also worth noting that “Diamond” Dallas Page used an homage that was so close to “Teen Spirit” as his entrance music in WCW eventually he wasn’t allowed to use it anymore. WWE still used a version, though.
Beyoncé’s CowboyCarter album received a ton of attention, especially when a country awards show opted not to spotlight it. But it’s slightly more a conversation about race than it is a country album. “Blackbird” was the Beatles’ song about the Civil Rights movement, so it was only appropriate she include it in the album.
I’m such a nerd for the Animals. I think they deserve greater recognition for their contributions to music, between this and their masterful “House of the Rising Sun.” They may not have introduced songs, but their ability to interpret is genius-level.