One of the original sensations of ATRL, this Canadian pop-punk princess built her image on catchy, relatable songs and a notoriously bratty attitude. She displayed remarkable maturity and emotion on second effort Under My Skin, but never fully committed to that new direction as her career progressed. Though she's been relatively quiet for the last few years, her stans have never wavered in their devotion or their anxious anticipation for her forthcoming 2011 album.
Essential track: "My Happy Ending," one of the most widely beloved songs on ATRL
Has anyone ever inspired such immediate passion and revulsion among ATRL members? Signed by Usher when he was just 14 years old, Justin Bieber has driven teenage girls wild with his famous bangs. Meanwhile, the explanation for all the hate is less apparent. Are his songs really that bad? (Just months after its release, debut single "One Time" almost won ATRL's Worst Single of 2009 game.) Or are people just reacting against his crazy fans? Regardless, his impact in just two short years is undeniable.
Essential track: Ludacris collaboration "Baby," the most viewed video of all time on YouTube
Though she doesn't cause quite the same ire as Justin Bieber, none of ATRL's top artists generates as much hate as Taylor Swift. Visit any music survivor in the Games section and witness an endless back-and-forth tussle over whichever of Taylor's songs happen to be in contention at the time. The main criticisms railed against her seem to involve her weak vocals in live performances (which never stopped Britney) and the repetitive content and sound of her music (a fairly common problem in the industry). But none of that fazes her many fans. "She's here to write songs about her experiences and just wants to share them with everybody," says -mUsIcLoVeR-. "That is the reason I love her."
Essential track: "You Belong With Me," a crossover smash that surprised everyone by reaching the summit of the airplay charts
and that's a nice position for Avril.
