Weird, European and living in a pre-Lady Gaga world, there wasn't much hope for Kerli to make a successful crossover into the United States. But she still generated a surprising amount of support among ATRLers, who may have been the only people to actually buy her debut album. (Bizarrely, that buzz has survived via the controversial Illuminati thread, where the songstress was been accused of belonging to the mysterious organization.)
Essential track: lush and uplifting "Walking on Air," which made a minor splash on American music blogs
ATRL is not alway the friendliest place for rappers, but Lil Wayne broke through that general aversion with his massive 2007 album Tha Carter III and its #1 smash "Lollipop." Rock-influence record Rebirth was an ill-advised deviation from his winning formula, but after teasing audiences earlier this year with hit Drake collaboration "Right Above It," anticipation for his forthcoming Tha Carter IV is back at a fever pitch (as the recent release of new single "6 Foot 7 Foot" proved). "Lil Wayne is now everywhere" says Graduation, "and after being released from prison, he is most likely about to take back hip hop."
Essential track: "Lollipop," his biggest crossover success
ATRL has a thing for British songstresses, and since her 2005 debut single, "These Words," Natasha Bedingfield has been one of the most enduring on these forums. Even when the general public doesn't widely embrace her work (as with recent effort Strip Me), she is still sure to make a strong impact on music survivors and personal countdowns.
Essential track: "Unwritten," which you probably heard everywhere in 2006
I definitely thought she would be higher. On the Biggest Hit of the Decade musical chairs game that I recently completed, she had two songs ("Unwritten" and "Pocketful of Sunshine") make it to the final stage!
By creatively rearranging every song he sang and simultaneously playing his own instruments, he became the man who forever transformed "American Idol" into a battle between artists. But while David Cook may have won season 7, among the young bubblegum pop fans of ATRL, he could never gain as much traction as his runner-up: the button-cute boy wonder, David Archuleta.
Essential track: a cover of Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby," the performance that made his "American Idol" run
More people need to post in this thread, it's a really creative idea.
Thanks! Unfortunately, it's really late in the US right now, so it's probably not a good time for most members. But on future episodes, I'm going to try and post when more people are on (I just got a little behind schedule tonight).
Who knew a white girl could sing with that much soul? Duffy burst onto the scene in 2007 with her distinctive rasp and Grammy-nominated smash "Mercy." She never again reached the heights of her debut album, Rockferry, but many ATRL members still remember her fondly. Nevertheless, it's surprising to see her rank above fellow Brit Natasha Bedingfield, who has had a much more lasting presence on the site.
I'm glad people are appreciating these lower-ranked artists. Sometimes, it's easy to forget that ATRL members listen to more than just Britney, Beyonce and Gaga.
I'm glad people are appreciating these lower-ranked artists. Sometimes, it's easy to forget that ATRL members listen to more than just Britney, Beyonce and Gaga.
Yeah. Especially now that ATRL is full of stans of mainstream artists, most of other people who prefer listening to lower-ranked artists are somehow overshadowed.
At the height of bubblegum pop's reign over the American music scene, Swedish songbird Robyn actually had a couple of top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Acclaimed 2005 release Robyn -- on which she began venturing in a more dance-oriented direction -- brought her back into the consciousness, but these days, you're more likely to hear her music in rotation at a club, on a critics' iPod or at the ATRL forums than on pop radio.
Essential track: "Dancing On My Own," from her brilliant 2010 album Body Talk, one of ATRL's (and the music world's) favorite songs of the year