Top 10 Musicians Named After Foods

When Jim Morrison sang about a “feast of friends,” this probably wasn’t what he had in mind. Nevertheless, there are an abundance of band names that leave fans wondering, are we really talking about music here or are we planning next week’s dinner?

The following is a list of the Top 10 Musicians Named After Foods, ranked from those with sparse hits to the most well-known and established artists of our time. Enjoy!

10. Hot Chocolate

This British Pop Band was on top of the charts in the 70s and 80’s. They are best known for their catchy, infectious single, "You Sexy Thing”, which went all the way to #3 on the U.S. charts. Since its initial success, “You Sexy Thing” has been kept alive by countless commercials and romantic movie montages.

9. The Cranberries

Thanks to heavy rotation on 90’s radio stations, everyone knows the lyrics to “Linger”, The Cranberries’ emotional hit that first became popular in 1993. A unique mix of indie, pop, and Celtic influences, The Cranberries left behind a distinctive sound that no one has been able to duplicate since.

8. Vanilla Ice

Vanilla Ice (Real name: Robert Van Winkle) was quite possibly the worst white rapper of all time. If not that, he certainly had the most horrendous haircut. Despite all the jokes and flack he received for that, Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby” remains a karaoke favorite. Controversies over the origins of the beat only fuel listeners more. Vanilla ice denied stealing/sampling from Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” but the songs are eerily similar if that’s the case.

7. Salt-N-Pepa

It’s hard not to get up and dance to Salt-N-Pepa’s 1987 smash hit “Push It”. The song peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and was certified Platinum. Music lovers rated it #9 on the VH1 special 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. In addition to various movie soundtracks, “Push It” has been enjoyed at a whole new level in the XBOX 360 Kinect game Dance Central.

6. Korn

2003 brought Korn a Best Metal Performance Grammy award for “Here to Stay”. The music video was played continuously on MTV, and had an impact on young viewers. The frightening images paired with the band’s dark look and lyrics gave a pessimistic outlook on the world around us.

5. Bread

Bread was a 70s rock band from Los Angeles, California. “Make It with You” established them as a soft-rock staple. The sensual, soothing crooning of this song led Bread to a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

4. Cream

Cream was a 1960’s pop group which consisted of rock royalty Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce. Their biggest hit was “Sunshine of Your Love”, which reached #5 on the US charts. It has since been revived by video games such as Guitar Hero, which introduced the classic to a whole new generation of listeners.

3. Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been going strong in the music business since their formation in 1983. Their eclectic mix of funk, rock and hip hop has earned them 6 Grammy Awards. The 2006 album Stadium Arcadium featured “Dani California”, which was the album’s fastest-selling single, and peaked at #6. The video has become a fan favorite as it showcases the band dressed to imitate various music groups and genres throughout the decades.

2. Eminem

Eminem is quite possibly the best white rapper of all time. Rolling Stone dubbed him the “King of Hip Hop”, and it’s easy to see why. From the 90’s through today, Eminem has achieved #1 status on the Billboard 200 for ten of his albums. He has sold more than 41 million albums in the United States alone. No one’s flow and cadence are as smooth and intriguing to listen to as Eminem’s. Take a listen to “Lose Yourself” and you’ll see what I mean.

1.Meatloaf

Meatloaf was a hard rock artist who found tremendous success with “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”, “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth”, and “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”, but it was the super smash “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” that placed him in the number one position on this countdown. The masterpiece, a duet with Ellen Foley, exceeds 8 minutes, leaving those who sing along breathless. It is structurally astounding as it tells the story of falling in and out of love and lust. There are moments of reminiscence, a baseball broadcast filled with innuendos, a demand for promises of love, and wishes that the relationship will end. Make an effort to learn every word. Being able to recite this song feels like quite the accomplishment!