Justice for the following musicians. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the pop artists that don’t get credit for their contributions to the genre.
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00:00Welcome to Ms Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the pop artists that don't
00:10get credit for their contributions to the genre.
00:2010. Zara Larsson A high number of streams doesn't equate
00:30to automatic mainstream success. When Sweden's Zara Larsson first came on the international
00:35scene in the 2010s, she wowed listeners with her electro-pop production and impressive
00:41vocals. Her initial releases blew up, with Lush Live
00:49racking up over a billion streams on Spotify alone. Although several tracks have been certified
00:55platinum in the U.S., they haven't made a huge splash on American charts, with Never
01:00Forget You being the exception. She's found a loyal following in her home country, but
01:11elsewhere she's often overlooked. While it may not have achieved commercial success
01:16her 2024 album Venus displays her original sound, so hopefully she'll someday find the
01:23level of success she deserves.
01:259. Janelle Monáe She isn't just an artist or entertainer,
01:38she's a tastemaker. With the ability to blend genres flawlessly, Janelle Monáe is
01:43a unique artist. They've been compared to several icons, from Judy Garland to James
01:49Brown. Yet the only time that's really been reflected on the mainstream charts has been
01:58their collaboration with Fun on We Are Young. Monáe was also ahead of the curve when it
02:04came to genderbending, making a tuxedo their signature outfit far before it was considered
02:10cool. Despite their groundbreaking moves, they've found most of their success among
02:14critics rather than the general public. She isn't even close to slowing down, so hopefully
02:25she'll soon get the credit she's deserved for over a decade.
02:358. Adam Lambert He came close to winning American Idol, but
02:48he's still criminally underrated within the scene. Adam Lambert made a huge impact in
02:53the late 2000s, with his voice wowing viewers across the nation. His debut album was also
03:04met with widespread acclaim. He did all of this while being openly gay, something that
03:10was inspiring yet risky, as he was removed from several high-profile gigs as a result.
03:21While his voice is revered, he's never been given credit for creating a perfect intersection
03:26between a modern sound and a classic theatrical style. Not all hope is lost, though. While
03:32his presence in pop has faded, he's found plenty of success supplying vocals for Queen
03:37for the past decade.
03:407. Bebe Rexha She's had some major songs since her recording
03:53debut in 2014, and yet she's not the commercial powerhouse of many of her contemporaries.
03:59Bebe Rexha has found most of her success through her high-profile collaborations. Working with
04:04performers from Florida Georgia Line to David Guetta, she's proven that she can take on
04:10multiple genres with ease. However, she hasn't been able to break through and become a household
04:19name. The talent is clearly there, as evidenced by her live performances and expertise on
04:25multiple instruments. But for whatever reason, she hasn't been
04:34able to capture the hearts of the public yet. As she keeps releasing music, we can
04:40only hope she'll get the credit for her effortless genre-bending.
04:436. Victoria Monet She's one of the best artists you may have
05:00never heard of. Monet's been in the industry since 2010 and has helped write several acclaimed
05:06hits, but they weren't for her. Her work with Ariana Grande, in particular, has been pivotal.
05:19With tracks like 7 Rings and Thank U, Next becoming cultural phenomenons, her music released
05:25under her own name has barely seen a fraction of that success. There was a shift in 2023
05:32when On My Mama suddenly blew up, revealing her greatness to a wider audience and helping
05:38her snag several Grammys. Her newfound success has been amazing to see. Let's hope it won't
05:51just be a passing trend.
05:575. Madison Beer At one point, she was set to be the next
06:09It Girl. She had a similar start to Justin Bieber and was even discovered by the star
06:14himself. Despite her amazing connections early on, Madison Beer hasn't had the most luck
06:20in launching her pop star career. She isn't acknowledged for her songwriting, which often
06:31focuses on deeper themes like mental health and lost love. Between releasing a series
06:36of singles over a period of years and focusing on other business ventures, her two full-length
06:42releases took a large hit commercially.
06:50Despite that, she hasn't allowed the quality of her output to be affected. So, hopefully,
06:55the pendulum will eventually swing back in her favor and grant her more success.
07:044. Carly Rae Jepsen If there's any artist society judged far
07:17too early, it's Carly Rae. Her debut single, Call Me Maybe, dominated upon release, becoming
07:24a guilty pleasure bop for many. Her subsequent singles failed to reach the same level, but
07:37they kept increasing in sheer quality. She has her finger on the pulse of pop, masterfully
07:43blending catchy lyrics with upbeat production. Yet, she's hardly even acknowledged outside
07:54of her most successful work. She had a brief viral moment with The Loneliest Time in 2022,
08:01but even that wasn't enough to fully revitalize her mainstream career. While she seems
08:12content having the freedom to make whatever music she wants, her fans are still waiting
08:18for the day she claims her spot on the throne.
08:243. Marina Diamandis Several alternative pop artists blew up in
08:37the early 2010s, particularly women like Lorde and Lana Del Rey. While they've gone
08:42on to see critical acclaim, not all of their peers have been quite so lucky. Marina Diamandis,
08:54sometimes known as Marina and the Diamonds, had the first part of the decade in a chokehold.
09:04Her synth-laden sound was ahead of its time, and the depth found in her lyrics has been
09:09emulated by younger artists like Billie Eilish. She struggled to amass the same recognition
09:14as her peers, though, and a sudden split from her recognizable aesthetic didn't help things.
09:20However, her work remains amazing, and fans hope that a long-deserved recognition is on
09:26the horizon.
09:292. Tori Kelly YouTube has helped give several artists a platform.
09:49While some have gone on to become global superstars, others have struggled to get the same recognition.
09:55Tori Kelly's unique voice and interesting sound helped her stand out. Her first album
10:00made it all the way to number two on the Billboard 200, and she even snagged a recurring role
10:10in the Sing! movie series. She was on her way to becoming the next big sensation, until
10:16she suddenly shifted to a new genre mid-career. While her gospel music was rewarded, it was
10:28vastly overlooked by pop fans, causing her to fade among her peers. She did return to
10:34her roots with 2024's Tori, so hopefully some of that initial praise will return.
10:43Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
10:47Rina Sawayama. Her experimental sound is more beloved online than in the mainstream.
10:57Kimbra. Everyone swooned over her duet with Gautier, but her solo work is underrated.
11:10Charli XCX. The world had a brat summer in 2024, but largely overlooked her other work.
11:24Ali X. A shout-out from Katy Perry hasn't translated into success in the US.
11:38FKA Twigs. Her unique voice and sound have yet to be appreciated by a wider audience.
12:08Robin. Robin's been a trendsetter since her debut in the 1990s, and has been influencing
12:20the soundscape for decades. Though two early singles made the US Top 10, Dancing On My
12:25Own didn't even crack the Hot 100, despite receiving widespread critical acclaim. Her
12:37influence is vast, yet hardly acknowledged. She was pivotal in pop being taken seriously,
12:44yet her sales don't reflect that. She was also unafraid to incorporate political themes
12:56in her work at a time when it was unpopular, paving the way for a new generation. While
13:02she hasn't released an album since 2018, her contributions are significant, and only
13:08now is she starting to be recognized for it.
13:17Which pop artist do you think deserves more credits? Let us know in the comments below.
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