Musical Transformers
Most musical artists change somewhat throughout their careers. (Unless, of course, you’re AC/DC.) Names like Madonna and David Bowie usually come to mind when thinking of the music industry’s chameleons, but there are many others who’ve made significant changes, both in look and sound. Read on for a list of 10 current artists who’ve completely transformed themselves for both the better…and the worse.
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Gwen Stefani: Once upon a time, Stefani was a quirky ska skater grrl — though you’d never know it since her morph into a glamorous pop star, complete with her own clothing line and fragrance. Now you too can smell like a Hollaback Girl. | ||
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Green Day: With the release of 2004’s American Idiot, Green Day received much critical acclaim for their “punk rock opera” that would make them one of the biggest bands in the world. But I remember back when they used to sing 3-chord songs about poop. | ||
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Nelly Furtado: When she was first noticed in 2000, Furtado made pop songs with a significant world influence and told us how she was “like a bird.” Today, she makes pop songs with a significant hip-hop influence and tells us how she’s “promiscuous.” | ||
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Ministry: Singer Al Jourgensen would have you believe Ministry history begins with the industrial metal era and ends with the current really really metal era. However, I remember a little album called With Sympathy, which I adore in all its 80s synthpop glory — despite Jourgensen’s desire to forget it. | ||
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Liz Phair: In the mid-90s, every pissed off indie chick wanted to be Liz Phair. But apparently, she wanted to be in Stuff Magazine, and in 2003, glammed it up, toned down the cussing and set her sights on a more mainstream sound. | ||
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Nine Inch Nails: Throughout his nearly 20 year career, Trent Reznor has shifted genres many times, moving from early synth, to heavier industrial, to his newer, more ambient sound. Somewhere in the six years between The Fragile and With Teeth, he also got a Gold’s Gym membership. | ||
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Jewel: Back in 1995, Jewel was that folky acoustic rock girl who used to live in a van. But in 2004, she ditched the Birkenstocks for stilettos and attempted a pop career with 0304. Oh, and now she makes country music. | ||
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Damon Albarn: As the frontman for Blur, Albarn had huge UK success with classic Britpop albums and later developed a following in the US with the more alternative sounding “Song 2.” But the biggest change would come when he took up vocal duties for hip-hop/dub project Gorillaz…as a cartoon called 2-D. | ||
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The Killers: On their second effort, Brandon Flowers swapped the eyeliner and indie dance for Springsteen-esque rock and a perv-stache. And also traded impressive record sales for, well, not so much. | ||
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Black Eyed Peas: Went from fairly obscure socially conscious hip-hop group to multi-platinum stars singin about “my lovely lady lumps.” Oh what a difference a Fergie makes. | ||
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Of course, those 10 are far from the only musicians who have changed significantly. Leave a comment with some of your most memorable band transformations.
Tags: bands, black eyed peas, green day, gwen stefani, ministry, Music, the killers, trent reznor
October 13th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I forgot all about that old nelly furtado song! she used to be so different
October 13th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Darn it! I was hoping for a Transformers musical! I use to like The Killers, until they indeed turned Springsteen-esque.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Great article! So true about AC/DC never changing. You should add Michael Jackson, now thats a transformation!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
How about Pantera? Glam rock to hardcore Groove Metal?
December 4th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Judas Priests first album Rock’n'Rolla was pretty tame. Big difference from their 80’s metal. Then Tim Owens made them very heavy metal, but Halford’s return brings back 80’s Priest.
December 5th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Trent Reznor? Seriously? I’m not even a huge NIN fanboy but they have been about as consistent as a 5 month old’s shits for years now.
December 5th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
There is no recording artist with a more diverse career that kid rock. He went from rap all the way to country, its insane
December 5th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
Enjoyed this post! I did a post awhile back about Jewel and included downloads from her pre-Pieces of You demo, Save The Linoleum. Talk about a transformation (in a good way). Thanks for sharing!
December 6th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
HAHA Nick thinks Kid Rock is an “artist”
Also AC/DC’s sound has changed, just not in recent memory. The Bon Scott era was a alot more bluesy than the crap they’re putting out now. I mean c’mon, Rock ‘n’ Roll Train. It’s like they were all just sitting there brainstorming their next single:
“Rock ‘n’ Roll….lamp, uh Rock ‘n’ Roll carpet, Rock ‘n’ Roll jacuzzi…”
Then a train passes by and the light bulb goes off.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:01 am
Avenged Sevenfold…except we could blame that on the vocal chords I guess.
December 8th, 2008 at 2:03 am
Lets not forget Incubus…their sound changes with every album they make!
December 8th, 2008 at 4:18 am
I agree with Thomas. Incubus started as a experimental metal band(saying the least of what they sounded like) to more of a alternative rock group(once again saying very little). Their sound changes constantly but i still love them.
December 9th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Sometimes it’s for money, but other times musicians change and evolve because that’s what they want to do or that’s how their writing progresses. In most cases I don’t hold it against an artist that moves on as they grow and write.
December 9th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Eh. I hate the term “artist”… Seriously. :]
December 10th, 2008 at 10:30 am
I am so glad someone mentioned the ginormous Ministry 360. I remember seeing one of the music videos from “With Sympathy” on VH1classic and saying a disbelieved mantra of “This is not Ministry-this is not the land of rape and honey, pissed off band that I love” until I did a google search. That blew my mind for weeks.
I have to say though, almost all industrial bands have gone through massive changes. Like, for example, Skinny Puppy. “The Greater Wrong of the Right” is like electronic dance music compared to like, “Too Dark Park”.
Also, I think it’s pretty safe to say NIN changes every decade.
December 10th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Incubus didn’t start as a metal band. They were 15 year old kids playing crazy funk music. Go listen to fungus amongus, it’s figgin’ amazing
December 10th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Call me lame but there’s a significant difference between the two Panic At The Disco albums, their newest one “Pretty. Odd” is actually really tolerable, I’ll even say I love it. Oh my.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Damon more or less IS Gorillaz, at least music-wise, he didn’t just take up vocals for them, he created them!
December 12th, 2008 at 2:39 am
what about blink-182 right before the breakup. they went from i wanna fuck a dog in the ass and i dont wanna urinate on myself to i miss you and stockholm syndrome. dont get me wrong i loved those songs as much as any song by blink-182 but still that was a huge change
December 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Green Day has always been awesome… In fact new Green Day isn’t all that good.
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The killers sounding like Springsteen isn’t a bad thing, seeing as how Bruce Springsteen is great!
February 15th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
yeah nelly fortado seems to be really different, but i liked her now, and also JEWEL..
February 20th, 2009 at 6:11 am
@ nick
“Trent Reznor? Seriously? I’m not even a huge NIN fanboy but they have been about as consistent as a 5 month old’s shits for years now.”
Wow sorry but you don’t know anything about Trent then… lol.
NIN starting as a hardcore industrial band (Starf*ckers, The Perfect Drug, Head Like a Hole, Closer, etc) to going to more of a techno-ish sound with the album With Teeth and then more techno-ambient with Year Zero. And to put it all together add up his latest work Ghost I-IV which is pure instrumental. Yes I am a NIN fan boy xP,
As for other bands, I miss old Green Day. Once American Idiot came out I was done with them. I love The Killers, though many people complain about there different genre/sound choosing for each album I love all of them. They each bring something new to the table to listen to, not the same old boring techno beats. But a twist of the new and old.
The Offspring’s latest album is quite different from their previous ones. Smash, Americana, Conspiracy of One are almost all teen angst problems in an odd sounding yet catchy sound. The newest album sounds a bit mainstream to me, but hey, how else are you going to get new fans?
Powerman5000 has had quite a change over the years. Going from a hardcore punk band, to punk with heavy synth included, and now being what seems a punk band.
I’m surprised I didn’t see Red Hot Chili Peppers up there. I’m not the biggest fan but I heard nothing but complaints from the album Stadium Arcadium because it was so alternative and less funk and rock from their older work.
Weezer has also been quite a changer over the past decade. Going from pop-rock to worse sounding pop-rock. Yet coming back for the emo scene to realize it wasn’t for them, and coming out with a new album resembling their older stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I love Weezer, but only Blue, Green and Red album. Though Maladroit was okay.
Disturbed has, though stayed in the same hard rock to metal area, has changed since when they first formed. With Down With The Sickness Disturbed sounded as band that you would listen to first before getting into the hard rock. Though when Ten Thousand Fists came out they were thrown into the metal scene. And with the release of Indestructible, I like to think of it as The Sickness mixed with Indestructible. Poor Believe never getting attention though, has some great hits on it (Prayer, Liberate, Awaken, and Believe).
Sorry for the long post but just had to share my opinion on this. Also feel free to criticize me on anything I may have said that is incorrect, but please do not bash my opinion xP