April 18, 2024

21 Musicians Who Changed Genre Mid-Career

Taylor Swift isn’t the only musician who’s made a genre jump by declaring she’s going pop with her new album 1989. And while country fans still have a hard time letting that go (they still invite her to the CMA Awards), it’s working for her. But Tay isn’t alone.

Remember Hootie and the Blowfish? Well, lead singer Darius Rucker found his calling with country. And it turns out, a lot of your favorite female singers were in girl groups. Like the sultry R&B of Tinashe? She’s got edgy pop band roots with The Stunners. Fergie was in Wild Orchid, a sexy ’90s pop group, before taking on hip-hop with the Black Eyed Peas.

And you can date this trend as back as Bob Dylan, who shocked his folk fans when he went electric at the Newport Folk Festival in the 1960s. The scandal!

Check out the 21 artists who’ve gone their own way.

1. Taylor Swift
Country -> Pop

2. Kate Nash
Pop -> Punk

3. Snoop Dogg
Rap -> Reggae -> Rap

4. Bob Dylan
Folk -> Rock

5. Miley Cyrus
Country -> Pop

6. Katy Perry
Christian -> Pop

7. The Go Go’s
Punk -> Pop

8. Lady Gaga
Broadway -> Pop -> Jazz

9. Tinashe
Pop girl group The Stunners -> R&B

10. Fergie
Pop girl group Wild Orchid -> hip-hop

11. Sleigh Bells’ Alexis Krauss
Pop girl group Ruby Blue -> Noisy Pop

12. Gwen Stefani
SKA No Doubt -> Pop

13. Pink
R&B girl group Choice -> Pop

14. Waka Flocka Flame
Hip-hop -> EDM

15. Lil Wayne
Rap -> Rock -> Rap

16. Beastie Boys
Punk -> Rap

17. Darius Rucker
Rock band Hootie and the Blowfish -> Country

18. Kid Rock
Rock -> Country

19. Nellie Furtado
Pop -> Hip-hop

20. Daft Punk
Punk band Darlin’ -> Dance

21. Skrillex
Screamo band From First to Last -> EDM

Member of MTV News’ Cat Braintrust, has an unhealthy obsession with pork dumplings and tweeting Austin Mahone’s mom. Follow @emileelindner

About the author  ⁄ Emilee Lindner

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