Kesha
Step aside, Kim Kardashian. Adele broke the Internet like never before when she released her new single, “Hello,” on Oct. 22 — her first music release in three years. The singer’s latest signature piano ballad debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold a record 1.1 million-plus downloads in its first week, according to Billboard. The music video has been watched more than 200 million times on YouTube.
But as welcome as Adele’s comeback is, there are several other artists who’ve faded into relative obscurity but are equally deserving of a return to the spotlight. Here are a few pop divas (and dudes) who need to make a meteoric rebound of their own:
JoJo
In 2004, JoJo was unquestionably the most talented teen star. Her hit single “Leave (Get Out)” showcased her vocal and emotional range and made her the youngest solo artist with a No. 1 song on the Billboard charts at only 13. Unfortunately, JoJo’s career came to an abrupt halt when her label, Blackground Records, refused to release any of her music after her second album in 2006 or free her from her seven-album contract. After years of legal battles, the now-24-year-old recently negotiated a settlement with Blackground, signed with Atlantic Records and is expected to finally drop her third album in 2016. If the three singles JoJo released in August are any indication that she’s still got it, she’s sure to shine in the coming year.
Kesha
Kesha catapulted to fame in 2010 with her debut album Animal and churned out one party anthem after another — “from “TiK ToK”to “Timber” — for about four years. In the time since, the singer’s taken a relative break from music in favor of focusing on her personal life. She’s removed the dollar sign from her name, overcome an eating disorder and come out against her producer and industry big-shot Dr. Luke, accusing him of sexual and emotional abuse. Kesha has proven herself to be more than just a party girl, and now is the perfect time to release new music to match.
David Archuleta
David Archuleta was our fresh-faced, straight-edged precursor to Justin Bieber. Despite losing to David Cook in the finale of season seven of American Idol (when the show was still vaguely relevant), the then-17-year-old released a self-titled debut album later that year, hitting No. 2 on the charts. The cookie-cutter pop single “Crush” was a hit, and Forbes listed Archuleta second among its breakout stars of 2008, behind the Jonas Brothers. The singer’s success petered out as he entered an awkward transition into adulthood, and he eventually abandoned his career in 2012 to serve as a Mormon missionary in Chile for two years. Now that he’s older and back stateside, it’s time for the unquestionably talented Archuleta to make his way back into mainstream pop.
Fergie
After fronting The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie’s 2006 solo debut, The Dutchess, highlighted her unique sound and impressive dimension. The singer released five consecutive top-five songs, from the suggestive “Fergalicious” to the emotional “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” She briefly reunited with her Black Eyed Peas bandmates and released a few late-2000s hit but has flown mostly under the radar since “I Gotta Feeling” dominated the airwaves. While Fergie sure seems happy settled into domestic life with husband Josh Duhamel and son Axl, one can’t help but miss her particular brand of hip-hop. At 40, Fergie is in a position to record with some new perspective, and this past summer she even hinted at a coming sophomore solo album. Fingers crossed.
Frank Ocean
Oh, Frank Ocean. The R&B artist made waves with the 2012 release of his debut studio album, channel ORANGE. The almost psychedelic single “Thinkin Bout You” was a radio mainstay for weeks, and Ocean received six Grammy Award nominations in 2013, taking home the award for Best Urban Contemporary Album. He even achieved fame outside of his music as one of the first African-American artists to come out as bisexual. Since his explosive entry onto the music scene, Ocean’s teased a second album, titled Boys Don’t Cry. He announced he’d drop it in July, but he’s released neither a record nor a real explanation for the letdown. Music fans and critics alike have voiced their hopes for an Ocean comeback — one for which they hopefully won’t have to wait another two years.
