Before the 'Single Ladies' hitmaker announces 'Renaissance Act II' which is said to be country-themed, a number of other musicians have shown how changing lanes can be benefiting their careers.
- Feb 18, 2024
AceShowbiz - After 32 Grammy Awards from her nearly three decades of career as a musician, Beyonce Knowles is up for a new challenge. The R&B diva, who has released seven solo albums, recently announced a new set titled "Renaissance Act II", which is said to be country-themed.
While the news shocked music lovers and Beyhives in particular, the "Formation" songstress is actually not the first musician who has switched genres after debuting as a singer. A number of artists have done similar maneuvers in the midst of their careers and found more success afterwards.
To see how Beyonce's decision may impact her career in the future, let's take a look at the stories of other artists who have previously implemented and benefited from such strategy.
1. The Bee Gees
The Bee Gees were known as The Disco Kings in the 1970s, but long before that they embraced a much different style. The British trio, consisting of brothers Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb, performed as a skiffle/rock-and-roll group called the Rattlesnakes early in their career. After moving to Australia and scoring a recording deal, they began to perform under the moniker the Bee Gees. They rose to fame in the 1960s with their ballad songs, including their first major hit "Spicks and Specks".
It wasn't until in the mid 1970s that they turned to disco following Eric Clapton's suggestion. They recorded more dance-oriented songs, including their No. 1 hit "Jive Talkin' ". Their career continued to rise since then, culminating in their participation in the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack that included three singles by the group, "How Deep Is Your Love", "Stayin' Alive" and "Night Fever".
2. Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker performed as part of the famed rock band Hootie & the Blowfish since its formation in 1986. While he gained recognition as the frontman of a successful band, he briefly dabbled in R&B, recording his solo debut album in 2001, "The Return of Mongo Slade" which was never released.
In 2008, when the band went on hiatus, Rucker pivoted from rock to country by signing a record deal with Capitol Nashville. It turned out to be the best decision in his career as within months, he made history with his first solo single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It". The song ranked first on the U.S. Country Songs chart and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, positioning him as the first black artist to take the top of Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in 25 years.
3. Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton melted people's hearts with his hit ballads such as "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You", which he originally co-wrote for Laura Branigan, but his music wasn't always that soft. During his earlier years, he chased success in the hard rock scene as the frontman of his short-lived band Blackjack.
Bolton gained his first major hit as a songwriter with "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You". While Branigan's version was only a minor hit, he recorded his own version of the song and it went to claim the first spot on the Hot 100. He went on to perform more pop songs, including covers of Otis Redding classic "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" and Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman".
4. Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture with his bold lyrics and experimental music that often pushed boundaries. It's evident in his continously evolving style. First making his name in the industry with his self-titled debut album of traditional folk songs, he went electric and incorporated rock into his music.
Amid controversy among folk purists, Dylan recorded rock albums like "Bringing It All Back Home", "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde", which made him a rock icon and helped influence a generation of musical artists. Dylan would continue to experiment throughout his long career, venturing into a wide range of genres such as reggae, gospel and Christian rock.
5. Beastie Boys
During the late 1980s and early 90s, the Beastie Boys dominated the airwaves with their brand of brash, humor-tinged hip-hop. But earlier in their career, the trio was part of experimental hardcore punk band The Young Aborigines that played in underground clubs and bars.
After achieving local success with the 1983 comedy hip-hop single "Cooky Puss", Beastie Boys began to incorporate rap into their sets. However, it wasn't until their friend and then-burgeoning record producer Rick Rubin encouraged them that they made a full transition to hip-hop. Their 1986 album "Licensed to Ill" became the first rap album to go number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
6. Kid Rock
Contrary to the Beastie Boys, Kid Rock first paved his music career as a rapper in the Detroit hip-hop scene. After releasing several rap albums, he blended elements of hip hop, country and rock in 2001's "Cocky". His successful single "Cowboy" (1999) is considered a pioneering song in the country rap genre.
Starting with his 2007 album "Rock N Roll Jesus", Kid Rock adopted more country style and ditched the hip-hop element. It was his first release to chart at #1 on the Billboard 200 and the album's third single "All Summer Long" became a global hit.
7. Katy Perry
Raised in a religious family by her parents who were evangelical pastors, Katy Perry started singing in church at age nine. While she was introduced to popular music by a friend because non-religious music was discouraged in the family's home, the Santa Barbara native still supressed her true interest and recorded a contemporary Christian record as her debut album in 2001.
The album was commercially unsuccessful and received mixed reviews from critics, prompting her decision to transition to secular music. After moving to Los Angeles at age 17, she began working on pop songs, resulting in "One of the Boys" which peaked at No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 and included her No. 1 hits "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold". Her subsequent albums "Teenage Dream", "Prism" and "Witness" landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200, solidifying her status as one of the hottest pop stars in the 2000s.
8. Jelly Roll
Before making his breakthrough as a country music artist, Jelly Roll launched his career in hip hop. The singer, born Jason Bradley DeFord, released many mixtapes and independent solo albums before he started incorporating country-rock vibes into his music.
In 2021, Jelly Roll achieved a significant milestone with his debut country single, "Son of a Sinner", which peaked at number one on the Country radio charts. From then on he gained more recognition in the country music scene, earning him a spot on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart that he held onto for record-breaking 25 weeks in 2023. In the same year, he was also named New Artist of the Year at the 57th Annual CMA Awards.
9. Miley Cyrus
Much like her public persona, Miley Cyrus has gone through different phases in her music career. The singer/actress often teased the line of censorship with her provocative performance and music, but in her earlier years, she was tamer.
Born to country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Cyrus, the former "Hannah Montana" star embraced country music on "The Climb" (2009) which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 200. She shed her squeaky-clean image and sound in 2010's "Can't Be Tamed" in which she fully embraced pop music, followed by "Bangerz" (2013) which featured her first No. 1 hit "Wrecking Ball".
10. Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift went from writing songs for other artists to debuting as a singer in 2005, but her biggest move was perhaps when she made a decision to transition from country to pop. Having reached mainstream fame with country pop songs such as "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me", she shook up the world when she released "1989" in 2014, departing from her country image.
The album spanned hit singles "Shake It Off", "Blank Space" and "Bad Blood", which resonated more with young people and gained the star bigger fanbase. The 14-time Grammy winner has since majorly stayed on this path though she would later explore indie folk style on her 2020 albums "Folkmore" and "Evermore".
