- Jun132012
Way Back Wednesday: Pop Culture Phenomenons
Written by Trent | Filed under Lady GaGa,Madonna,Mariah Carey,Michael Jackson,Spice Girls,Way Back Wednesday,Whitney Houston
Mariah Carey, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga
The entertainment industry has created and destroyed thousands of stars throughout history yet very few have left a lasting mark on a global scale. Indeed, only a small group of incredible artists have dominated the media in such a way that their impact defines them as nothing less than pop culture phenomenons.
Literally reigning across the spectrum of television, radio and even the internet, some the most famous and influential artists in the world rose to the forefront of pop culture from the very dawn of their careers. In other words, they were almost instant successes!
This week, Way Back Wednesday highlights some of these instant megastars who rocked the entertainment industry with massive record sales, chart hits and media domination. Watch these megastars in action below:
Backstreet Boys – ‘Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
Boyz II Men – ‘End of the Road’
Britney Spears – ‘…Baby One More Time’
Elvis Presley – ‘Heartbreak Hotel’
Lady Gaga – ‘Poker Face’
Madonna – ‘Holiday’
Mariah Carey – ‘Vision of Love’
Michael Jackson – ‘Rockin’ Robin’
Spice Girls – ‘Wannabe’
The Beatles – ‘Love Me Do’
The Jackson 5 – ‘I Want You Back’
Whitney Houston – ‘Saving All My Love For You’
An artist is truly a pop culture phenomenon when everything he/she release becomes a multiplatinum success from the moment they launch their careers. From blockbuster album sales to monster hit singles and even fashion trends, these megastars just can’t fail. Additionally, their media impact seems limitless as their are almost inescapable on television, radio, print and the internet, and are instantly everywhere.
For example, The Jackson 5′s first four singles topped the Billboard Hot 100 and their first three albums were all certified multiplatinum – a rarity for African-American artists during the late 1960s/early 1970s. Also, the group had a major impact on music and fashion during that time and almost every Pop act that followed them imitated their style.
Now, you might be wondering why Janet Jackson was omitted from this list. Quite simply, despite her eventual record-breaking success throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, her career gradually grew to that point. In fact, her first two albums flopped.
Who else was missing from this list? Is there anybody who didn’t deserve a spot? Share your thoughts below!
Thoughts?
39 Comments
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ugh!!!! i was a huge Backstreet Boys fan!!! if i’m not mistaken they are the best selling boy band of all time. the millennium tour was my first concert. You also forgot New Kids On The Block and New Edition
So glad you left out Beyonce. She has never been on Britney’s level. She is OVERrated
This is why I say Madonna >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Janet
Janet was only big LOCALLY for a decade. Madonna is GLOBAL for over 3 DECADES
Trent think he cute for leaving out Beyonce. Im over his hating ass. Trent make all these videos promoting how he isn’t here for the stans and the haters when he is the biggest one out of everyone. Ms. Trent keep throwing shade from wherever it is your located, but just know that your so transparent.
Brandy was definitely a pop culture phenomenon in the 90′s.
@Jake clearly you’re mad that Beyonce can’t compete with REAL icons. I’m a Rihanna stan and I’m not even mad that Rih isn’t on the list. Respect.
@jake You cannot put beyonce on this list for the same ou cannot put Janet on there…because their careers GREW like beyonce was a DC which wasn’t really a pop phenomena as a group and I am a huge bey fan but read the requirements of the list before arguing that beyonce should be on there…i mean the sad thing is some of those on this list wish they had beyonce’s career and longevity… some of their careers ended just as fast as it started
Why is Lady Gaga listed? She’s only been in the game for 4 years?
BTW Brit was cute for the first 6 years. Now she’s just a local singles act. Check the sales.
but people will always remember brit and lady gaga just skyrocketed in those 4 years
The only thing I disagree with is the fact that Janet Jackson was left off this list! I get what you’re saying, but Janet was still a huge phenomenon!
NSYNC should have been on the list :/
I think that Beyonce was huge for R&B, not necessarily pop which is why I can see why she was omitted from this list. Janet, did have two albums out where she was at a standstill but on her third album is when she broke through the glass ceiling.
Trent , you made my day when put Boyz to men on the list.
Madonna , Mariah, Whitney and the Jacksons derversed
to be on the list but not Britney becuase she the same
cateorgy as Beyonce.
@jewerely girl – Were you around when Britney rose to fame? Beyonce couldn’t compete with that on her debut. Britney was channeling Madonna with sales and cultural impact. Let’s be realistic.
Beyonce has NEVER been a pop culture phenomenon. Neither has Rihanna. They’re just popular artists.
And granted I can’t stand Gaga anymore, she was/is definitely a pop culture phenomenon. She was everywhere when she came out.
I’d say Adele should be on this list but if you’re going by debut albums, then no, I guess not. But she’s certainly become one now.
How is Beyonce not a pop culture phenomenon when she had the best hit of the 00s with crazy in Crazy in Love which spawned its own dance, she has a word in the dictionary “bootylicious”, She has 4 consecutive albums, blockbuster films, more Grammies at 30 than most artist will see in a life time, she has a damn millennium award, has a tour that grossed 100+ million in sales…and oh yeah “Single Ladies” in it self was a pop culture phenomenon that started a youtube craze. Trent girlfriend you and this blog are forever pressed. You have Boys II men (who are way more R&B than Beyonce) on here but not Beyonce…shit you have Backstreet Boyz on her but no Nysnc* ….Bitch bye.
MA BITCH IS THE QUEEEN AND SHE GOT YOU PISSED OFF TRENT, SHE BETTER THAN ALL THEM POOTIE HOS ON YO FUCKIN SHITTY SITE I KNOW YOU MAD, YOU STUPID I HATE YOU, THATS WHY MOORIAH IS FAT NOW AND HER NEXT ALBUM GON FLOP!
LOFL @ that weak Madonna stan. This goes more to show why talentwise Janet>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Madonna. Because Janet and her sisters were proof that you couldnt get the fame just from having the same last name as Michael, and putting it on a album with no direction or good music. Janet had to work hard and earn that success with her music, her moves and her ideas. And she didnt have to sleep around like some artist (1 artist) gloats about. And Janet went to have more #1′s on more charts than Madonna (check the facts), better music and better dance moves (well really no contest there).
@Ms. Boss I disagree. B is WAY more talented then Britney; Britney just had/has the right songs to cater to the pop audience. She is a good performer and dancer, but B blows her out the water when it comes to those two talents and B is great vocalist; Britney…not so much.
Clearly Janet’s first two albums flopping does not mean she’s never been a “pop culture phenomenon” she actually ruled the damn field.
i think trent doesnt like bey i dont know why though
@Majah, but she was in the industry as a actor and performer for almost 10 years before she went to music, and when she went to music it didnt just take off like it does for pop phenomenons, she had to establish her image and sound and thats what kicked things off for her, she became 1, but I think this article is mostly about the artist who came out of nowhere and all the sudden have these massive monster hit’s.
You seem to have forgotten that The Fame was a flop at first selling 24k in its first week. Janet jackson DESERVES to be on that list.
I’m not so sure that I would have included Gaga. I’m not arguing as to whether or not Beyonce should be here but I will say that there was a time when she was a bench mark for others. People wanted to sing, dance and look like Beyonce. Don’t deny it because it is true. Even today there are “bigger” names like Gaga but people still mention Bey in every conversation. She has the whole industry’s respect and there is something to be said about that.
Mimi——————————————>
What about Rihanna, I have decided to argue for her, her first song went number 2 (1/2 toptens), 2/4 top tens of her second album, 6/7 top 10′s off the third, 3/5 top tens off the fourth, 4/7 for the 5th, and 2/4 for the 6th.
If you add that up counting collaborations thats 22 top tens and 11 number ones, all of her albums have debuted in the top 10 and she has sold over 25 million albums worldwide! Along with an estimated 100 million singles sold, Rih should definitely be up there!
The Phenomenoms i grown up with are Britney, Christina, N’sync, Backstreet Boys… then the music became a little silent then here came Gaga (she is a phenom) and Bieber (i doubt but he is extremely popular)…
Trent, I love this post!
Some people here need to realize what phenomenon entails…
No Beyonce should not be there. Why?? her and DC didn’t come out on fire, they had to work at it they were trying for years, and When Beyonce came out as a solo artist Britney and Christina was still at the top, Britney’s reign didn’t let up until her break down. I can understand Janet because her first two album were flops. But you say people that were destined for stardom and we knew that Beyonce was going to be a star, and we knew Janet was going to be a star.
i don’t think lady gaga was a Phenomenon if so her hype went down quickly !!! all that hype around her is not there anymore im glad too
Please..Rihanna isn’t on this list bc her debut is Gold, and her 2nd album, 3rd 2xplat. She wasn’t multiplatinum from the get-go. Check the requirements….Rihanna is just a singles artist.
Correction..2nd album platinum…not 2xplat
Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera! Duh!!!!!
@Kingphoenix Honestly, people don’t want to emulate Beyonce. Although, she did have major success when she came out as a solo artist, you don’t really hear people talking about the creativity of Beyonce made me want to be an artist or her dancing, singing, etc. You know what I mean? I agree with EVERY single fact in your statement EXCEPT for her winning Artist of the Millenium. Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey are the ONLY artists to have won the Artist of the Millenium. Beyonce won Artist of the Decade. But besides that, yeah like I said, people aren’t so much wanting to do what she does. Like Trent said: “…some the most famous and influential artists in the world rose to the forefront of pop culture from the very dawn of their careers. In other words, they were almost instant successes!”
Trent leaving Beyonce out was only because of the single which was released from the Goldmember Soundtrack “Work it Out” he tweeted that the other day. I think that’s quiet unfair reasoning because Beyonce doesn’t represent that as the start of her solo Career. Crazy In Love now to this day is considered the best Pop song of the 2000s over any artist who released something around that time. Beyonce also had 4 TOP 5 singles, 2 movies, Endorsements, 5 Grammys in one night, 12m albums WW. She took over that year having everyone do the Uh Oh dance, how many people dance to Just Dance, or Britney’s songs which I clearly don’t know.
I took my time to go and read GaGas wiki, it stated that it took her time to build up on the success for Just Dance and her single s following that Eh Eh nothing Else flopped . GaGa is a great artist but Trent leaving Beyonce out over one petty single that she don’t claim is unfair. Let’s talk about artist that have that same flair Mariah doesn’t have it.
Elvis is a thief why is he even on here?
Trent I know you claim you give your OPINION but this list complete bogus.
@Nora
Beyonce has a Billboard Millennium Award, I saw here accept it with my own eyes….Thats a fact.lol. And many people want to emulate Beyonce. Both Gaga and Adele, said she has been an influence on them. So has Rihanna. Even newer artist like Azealia Banks, have shown their standom for Beyonce. Damn, Michelle Obama said she would be Beyonce if she could. Sorry i had forgotten all about this post. And same is being a bitch, if he is letting a soundtrack single, be the reason for why he didn’t include her on this list. He was being shady as fuck.
*Trent is a bitch…i got his name mixed up with Sam, his ex-lover from his previous employment and part of the reason he hates Beyonce so much.