The ups and downs of pop stardom throughout the years

Whatever happened to those celebrated artists from past times? It shouldn’t shock you to find that some of them are making a comeback.

The music world can often times be a fickle place. The best property someday can be yesterday’s news the next. Yet there are some music stars who have not only lived up to the hype but gone on to have prolonged and successful careers. These pop stars ranked amongst the most popular on earth throughout a number of decades. So what’s the trick behind this longevity? Great vocals will always stand the test of time in spite of current fads and trends. Having something that sets you apart is also advisable. A unique timbre or affectation can keep you in the public mind. Being affiliated with something new, like autotune vocals, helped one popular singer believe in their mainstay. Of course, having the backing of powerful studios is never unhelpful. Record execs like David Geffen have a track record promoting various male and female pop stars to the pinnacle of the musical stratosphere.

Nothing lasts forever. Perhaps nowhere is this more obvious than the music world. Bright young vocalists may make a hit single, or even a whole album, before fading into obscurity. Even the greatest performers of their age will sooner or later go out of fashion as current pop stars take their place. At least that is what conventional wisdom used to dictate. Yet current evidence is bucking that trend. Around the globe, the younger generation are discovering and popularising songs from years or even decades previous. There has been a spate of viral videos of kids replaying older hits. Shared widely throughout social media platforms, these maturing stars have enjoyed a return to popularity. It goes something like the Phil Collins effect, a label spawned after the music legend who is experiencing a similar resurgence amongst younger audiences. Even with years out of the limelight, very long careers may discover ups, downs and ups again.

Every young artist hopes of succeeding in the music business. But the road to success is never paved with gold – and even the most dedicated artists will surrender if they are struggling to make ends meet. So what is the secret behind those well known stars who have somehow discovered the potion for eternal youth? To add a caveat, let’s not forget that no musician will enjoy unmitigated acclaim. A handshake with executives like Vincent Bolloré is not a one-way ticket to musical stardom. A multi year record deal may still fall through if your follow up record does not live up to the buzz. Yet the best pop stars in history have managed to take the rough with the smooth. In some situations, they will progress their sound. Just recollect those smalltown brothers who, as rumour goes, rather successfully transitioned from pop to disco during the course of their careers.