Many think of Laura Branigan as a one-hit wonder for her mega-hit “Gloria,” but she had plenty of chart success with tunes such as “Self Control” and “Solitaire.” Dolly PartonĪ Nashville, Tennessee legend, Dolly Parton became one of the biggest pop stars of the 80s with appearances in films like 9 to 5 and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Peter Gabriel left Genesis in the 70s, and became one of the most successful musicians of the 80s with songs like “Sledgehammer” and “Shock the Monkey.” Laura Branigan This UK band found enormous popularity with its dark synths, proving that pop music doesn’t have to be bright and cheery to resonate. One of the most successful New Wave bands of the decade, 80s pop star Boy George and the rest of the crew made songs like “Karma Chameleon” into generation-defining anthems.

In the late 80s and early 90s, it felt like pop star singer-songwriter Richard Marx was the mainstream of pop music, most notably with songs like “Endless Summer Nights.” Culture Club Celine Dion has sold over 200 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists. She was one of the top singers of her decade and her songs have remained popular to this day. Paula Abdul’s late 1980s debut album set sales and chart records with songs like “Straight Up” and “Opposites Attract” leading the way. Celine Dion One of the best female singers of the 90s, Celine Dion has a breathtaking voice that is unparalleled.

They were a staple of every '90s and '00s kid's childhood, because, when we weren't arguing over the musical superiority of. Janet Jackson didn’t just transform the sound of R&B, she was a great dancer that introduced the world to Rhythm Nation 1814. 29, 2015 LEE CELANO/AFP/Getty Images Ah, female pop singers. Starting out in the hugely successful Go-Go’s, Belinda Carlisle went on to a successful solo career with songs like “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.” Janet Jackson Hall & OatesĪ many-times-platinum-certified collaboration, Hall & Oates owned the 1980s with songs like “Meaneater” and “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do).” Belinda Carlisle Eurythmicsįrequently ranked as one of the best singers ever, Annie Lennox helped take this synth pop group into the stratosphere. “Careless Whisper” and “Faith” are a big reason why. George Michael hit it big as part of Wham early on in the decade, but then somehow had an incredibly successful career as a solo artist too. Owner of one of the most iconic music videos of the decade, “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” which played incessantly on MTV, Cyndi Lauper was omnipresent in the 1980s. The key songs? “Purple Rain,” “Kiss,” “Raspberry Beret,” and “Sign O’ The Times” barely scratch the surface of Prince’s titanic 1980s. just slightly less best, because let's be real - they were all amazing.Truly a colossus during the 80s, Prince spent more weeks on North America’s Billboard Hot 100 than any other artist of the era – 378 in all. Hey, whatever works, right?īelow is a definitive ranking of '90s pop divas, from best to. Some accomplished this effortlessly, while others used alternate methods to connect with the audience, like busting out badass dance moves or just by simply acting like the divas they knew they were, giving us no other choice than to go along with it. They need to be able to translate joy, heartbreak, anger, and everything in between. But it also takes charisma, determination, and the ability to really delve into the emotions of the songs they sing. So what is it that makes an amazing singer? Sure, there's the voice - that is, by and large, the most important element. I know I did, so there's no use pretending otherwise. And while every one of the big voices from the '90s were special and magical in its own way, you have to admit that you likely played favorites when it came to divas of the decade. Those divas also set the tone and gave inspiration to many of the female artists killing it in 2015, and their influence and accomplishments can't be underestimated. They did ballads, they did uptempo jams, they had wider vocal ranges than humanly conceivable. Let's face it: when it comes to ultimate pop divas, the '90s spawned some amazing ones - perhaps more than any other decade in recent memory.

90s pop stars