After taking a near seven year hiatus from the music industry to focus on his questionable acting career, Justin Timberlake surprised many with the unexpected announcement of his brand new album, The 20/20 Experience.
Not only did the former ‘N Sync star announce his comeback album, but also presented us with single Suit & Tie which became a modest chart success despite mixed fan response. The slightly dated sound of Suit & Tie may have been quite concerning, but fortunately Justin is well and truly back to form with his latest track, Mirrors – a smooth, mid-tempo ballad that is very easy on the ears.
With 2012 being the year of such disasters as Psy’s Gangnam Style and Flo Rida’s Whistle, I’m ecstatic Mr. Timberlake is back to restore the pop world to its former glory.
14. Lisa Stansfield
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One of the most prominent figures in nineties pop, the wonderful Lisa Stansfield will also be embarking on the comeback trail in 2013. Stansfield had a barrage of Top 20 single hits in the UK, USA and Europe, firmly establishing herself as a strong pioneer of British soul, dance and pop music.
Best known for her singles All Around The World, Change and People Hold On, Stansfield’s last studio album was released almost nine years ago. Given this hiatus, it is exciting to wonder what sort of sound the singer is going to come back with on her upcoming album, rumored to be titled, 7.
Footage of Stansfield’s recent live gigs show that she’s not lost any of her stage-presence and vocal talent. Bring on album seven.
13. New Kids on the Block & The Backstreet Boys
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Two more nineties pop relics are set to return with brand new studio albums this year, New Kids on the Block with their sixth and The Backstreet Boys with their ninth. I realise that I’m slightly cheating here by combining the two, but 16 Music Icons That Will Save Pop in 2013 just does not sound right.
Both pop groups have been reliving their former glory by merging into one super-group, aptly titled NKOTBSB, and entertaining masses of middle-aged ladies with their classic hits. Now with a new lease of life, both groups are experimenting with different sounds – New Kids on The Block have embarked on a retro Timberlake style sound, whilst The Backstreet Boys will present us with a less-produced, raw sounding album.
Let’s hope that both groups are ready to give the modern boy bands a run for their money.
12. Kylie Minogue
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When times get bad in the pop world, the ever-reliable Kylie always comes to back to fix things with her lovable upbeat sound.
After celebrating her 25th anniversary in the music industry, the Australian star shocked pop fans with the announcement of her management deal to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. Whilst this unlikely to mean R&B or hip-hop Kylie, it is exciting to speculate as to how the star will re-invent herself for her latest opus. I’m surely not the only one that is still holding out on a proper duet with Dannii.
Whilst details about new material are hard to come by, Billboard reports that Kylie has been working on the album since Spring 2012 and a new single release is iminent.
11. Geri Halliwell
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Everyone’s favourite Spice Girl has been teasing new material for several years now, and it finally seems the Scream If You Wanna Go Faster hitmaker is nearly ready to delight pop fans by fulfilling this promise.
Halliwell’s career shot off to a strong start with seven top ten singles between 1999 and 2001, however by the time of Passion, her third album, public interest was dwindling – resulting in a chart placing of #44. However, with the Spice Girls back in the spotlight once again, thanks to a showstopping performance at the 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony and a sell-out (yet critically panned) musical, Geri could once again find herself back at the top of the charts.
Time will tell whether we will end up with another Schizophonic or if album number four will sink without a trace. I’m hoping it’s the former.
10. Visage
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Briefly venturing back to the the world of eighties New Wave and synthpop music, 2013 sees the return of the Steve Strange lead Visage.
Visage peaked in the early eighties with their hit Fade To Grey, as well as several reasonably successful follow-up singles including Mind of a Toy and Night Train. However, by the group’s third album in 1984 the hits had dried up and each member of the band ventured onto various solo projects.
A staggering 29 years on, Strange alongside several of the group’s original members are back and ready to release a new album. New-Wave influenced groups like Hurts and Marina and the Diamonds prove that there is still a desire for good old fashioned synthpop, so hopefully Visage can recapture some of their former glory.
The group’s as-yet-untitled fourth album is scheduled for a Spring 2013 release.
9. Rod Stewart
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Perhaps I’ve been generous giving the term ‘Icon’ to a couple of singers on this list, but one star definitely befitting of this is the legendary Rod Stewart.
Stewart has been firing out cover albums for the past thirteen years, which is somewhat depressing as his own material is usually far superior. Surely the world would rather another original Rod classic like Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? or Maggie May, as opposed to the 800th cover version of Fly Me To The Moon? If you are in the former category then you are in luck as the Scottish singer releases a brand new original album this year. Stewart even showcased some of the new material such as Can’t Stop Me Now at Stirling Castle last December.
Forget the bland tones of the Matt Cardles and James Arthurs of the music industry, Rod will be back with a solid authentic pop-rock album in Spring.
8.Celine Dion
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The world’s [stroke]only[/stroke] favourite French-Canadian pop superstar, Celine Dion, has been finding time to perform hundreds of Las Vegas shows, give birth to twins and record two new albums. She’s also set some free time in her schedule to re-conquer the pop world in 2013 with new English-language album, Water and a Flame.
Dion has been working with a variety of exciting producers from Diane Warren to Ne-Yo – so you can expect a diverse and original sound. One of the Warren penned tracks, Unfinished Songs also features in the Terence Stamp-starring film, Song For Marion – it is an uptempo ballad with vocals in true Celine style, which fans should be very excited about.
Water and a Flame has no set release, other than a vague “2013″.
7. Beyoncé Knowles
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After a triumphant, showstopping performance at the 2013 Superbowl Half-Time Show, the world has truly been overcome with Beyoncé fever.
Last week saw 4, Beyoncé’s most recent studio release, return to the UK album charts – as well as DVD sales of Obsession reach an all time high of 6 copies. Billboard also report that tickets for the singer’s Mrs. Carter tour are selling out fast, with the demand being described as “massive”.
Surely the above are all indicators that Beyoncé is set to rocket to the top of the charts when her new material (which the star has described as “sensual” and “empowering”) does surface.
The singer’s biggest challenge is surely that of topping 4, so if any of these new tracks reach the glorious highs of Schoolin’ Life or Countdown, pop fans worldwide will be ecstatic.
6. Agnetha Fältskog
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Perhaps the most unexpected comeback to be featured in this list is that of former-ABBA Goddess, Agnetha Fältskog. Fältskog’s solo releases have been sporadic with the singer usually remaining tight-lipped about her upcoming work.
To the delight of ABBA fans, Fältskog’s manager confirmed that the singer is in the process of recording a new English album with Jörgen Elofsson (the man behind many solid Westlife and Britney Spears hits). Rumours also imply that the singer has recorded a duet with Gary Barlow, which could potentially bring some mainstream publicity and interest to the album.
Surely if Agnetha from ABBA cannot save the pop world, then no one can.
5. Mariah Carey
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Mariah Carey’s last single, Triumphant (Get ‘Em) may not have been the strongest start to her latest album campaign (it peaked at #144 in the UK), so let it forever be branded a ‘buzz single’ and forgotten about.
Now Mimi has the gargantuan platform of American Idol, it is a near certainty that things will improve on Triumphant – just look at what Idol did for Jennifer Lopez’s career. If the singer can present audiences with some strong (or even simply passable) material, then surely Mariah can regain her place at the top of the mainstream charts – a place that she’s not been since 2008′s Touch My Body.
As well as Idol, the diva is also recording the theme for Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great and Powerful, so we may potentially have another Somewhere Over The Rainbow style classic coming our way this year.
4. Britney Spears
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Following a disastrous judging spot on The X Factor USA, Britney looks set to return to her music with album number 8 on the way this year.
Britney left many cold with her X Factor USA spot, featuring uninspired comments and a general sense of awkwardness. However since leaving Simon Cowell’s American train wreck, Britney is back to the top of the charts with will.i.am’s worldwide smash, Scream & Shout. It may be an awful track, but it is still a pleasure to see the iconic singer once again on top.
With the new album supposedly featuring a similar sound to her stellar album, Blackout, all signs point to Britney to save pop in 2013.
3. Prince
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After famously rejecting the evils of the internet, it seems Prince is finally coming round to the idea of releasing his music online, as well as physical copies.
We are only two months into 2013 and the Purple Rain singer has released four new tracks under the guise of 3rd Eye Girl. Whether the funk star decides to release a full or album or to just keep firing songs out, I’ll be happy as long as it maintains the quality of the newly released, Screwdriver.
2013 looks set to be an unpredictable year for Prince fans, with the singer keeping tight-lipped about what he is actually up to. Either way, I’m sure he’ll take us on a fun ride.
2. George Michael
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After a variety of health troubles throughout 2011, it seems that George Michael is well on the road to recovery and has promised lots of new music in 2013.
Michael has not released an album since 2004′s much-acclaimed, Patience, but has proven since that even with mediocre material he can still achieve some level of chart success. The former-WHAM star performed his latest release, iffy dance track White Light, at the 2012 Olympic Ceremony recapturing the energy and charisma that many lovingly remember from his heyday.
Michael has stated that the new material will be incredibly radio friendly and will be a mix of dance music and ballads, which all sounds rather exciting.
1. Cher
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After seemingly never-ending farewell tours, Cher has revealed that she’s not quite ready to throw in the towel with a new album expected for March and another world tour to follow.
With fifty years in the music business, Cher proved she is more than capable of producing another chart topper when Burlesque track, You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me, shot to the top of the Billboard Dance Charts in 2011. If anything this proves that pop fans will always have a place in their hearts for Cher.
Cher will hopefully continue to gain the attention of a younger generation with new duets allegedly featuring Lady Gaga, Pink and (possibly) Christina Aguilera. The Believe star also has a keen social networking presence and flawlessly integrates with a younger generation through Twitter, boasting such iconic tweets as: “Wtf is mdna?”, “Why is it called Avitar?”, “Can anyone c me?” and “Whats going on with mycareer”.
Cher already holds the record for the oldest singer to reach the top of the singles chart in the US and UK, so I’m sure that the icon will not need much help reclaiming her throne and saving pop in 2013.