Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back, welcome back.
What’s better than a good comeback track? No – we’re not talking about “Eye of the Tiger.” Although some tunes are made to motivate you to rise above, it’s the return of the artists themselves that we’re examining.
It’s common practice for musicians to take a hiatus between albums – whether it’s due to “exhaustion,” personal problems or retirement plans (*cough* Jay Z *cough*), even the Top 40’s biggest players’ lyrical banks run dry. Until they don’t.
Whether the gap between albums or singles is years or decades, a return to the music scene is often categorized by a (welcome) style revamp, fresh aesthetic and experimental vibes.
Take, for example, JoJo’s trio of singles released in August. It’s well known the former teen crooner (she was, in 2004, the youngest artist ever to have a No. 1 single on Billboard‘s Top 40 chart) was held “hostage” by her record label. Despite submitting multiple albums, Blackground did nothing with the material. It took a lawsuit to get her out of the contract, and thankfully so. Her new, mature sound is a departure from the bubblegum pop of her youth. “When Love Hurts” is her homecoming – and it’s no joke.
While other artists may not have had as dramatic of a journey back to the airwaves, these musical revivals spawned tunes destined to make playlists for decades to come.
Justin Bieber – “What Do You Mean”
Justin Bieber‘s first single from his upcoming comeback album (his first studio album since 2012’s Believe), “What Do You Mean,” hit the airwaves in late August. And it’s good. It’s, like, good enough that maybe (just maybe) we can forget about the extended time period when he was, for lack of a better word, an asshole.
Yes, fame, being a child star, growing up in the spotlight, blah, blah, blah – all excuses aside, the nipple-biting antics were enough to drive his one-time pop domination into oblivion. “What Do You Mean” definitely solidifies the star’s talent as an artist (and may find its place on a “Best Of” album someday), but his absolution tour hinges on the success of the album. That, or it’s off to Germany with your monkey, Biebs.
Miley Cyrus – “We Can’t Stop”
Miley Cyrus first debuted her more outlandish, post-Hannah Montana brand in 2013 with the infectious pop hit “We Can’t Stop” – the lead single off her album Bangerz. In retrospect, Miley’s gold chains and white spandex were child’s play compared to her antics as of late (Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz).
It’s hard to believe that there were only four short years between “Party in the USA” and “It’s our party, we can do what we want.” But for Cyrus, those four short years represented a chance to embrace the aesthetic she wanted (weed), and leave Achy Breaky Heart and her father in the dust.
Green Day – “American Idiot”
Green Day has released an impressive 11 studio albums since their inception in 1986, with nary more than a three-year gap between releases. 1994’s Dookie is, without a doubt, the album that catapulted the band to superstardom. American Idiot, their 2004 rock opera, however, was the album that cemented their place in the punk rock hall of fame (and, in 2015, the actual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame). While their epic rebirth (which even led to a Broadway musical) included such classics as “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” it’s the title track that deserves a badge of honor. We can hear the sounds of hysteria.
Britney Spears – “Womanizer”
Another case of the meltdowns – nay – the original meltdown. It’s been said before, and it will be said again (right now): If Britney Spears can make it through 2007, you can make it through today.
From shaved heads to barefoot gas station bathroom romps, it seemed the “Lucky” princess was dead to the world – I mean, how could we ever forget the secondhand embarrassment from Spears’ performance of “Gimme More” at the VMAs? Then came Circus. Spears cleaned up her act (thanks to that conservatorship) and began her re-domination with a slew of chart-topping singles, led by “Womanizer.” Even Kevin Federline couldn’t destroy this diva.
D’Angelo – “Really Love”
By the time D’Angelo released Black Messiah in 2014, many had assumed the reclusive soul singer was a music phenomenon destined to forever live in the late ’90s. The 41-year-old was really just lying in wait, however – the album was in formulation for more than a decade. D’Angelo first began work on tracks following 2000’s Voodoo, but it wasn’t until Ferguson that he found the motivation to finish it.
Black Messiah was set to release in early 2015, but after a series of marathon recording sessions, he decided to put out the album in response to the state of race relations in America. “The one way I do speak out is through music,” D’Angelo told his tour manager, according to the New York Times. “I want to speak out.”
Romantic, smooth and jazzy, “Really Love” recaptures the brilliance of D’Angelo’s early work.
Destiny’s Child – “Lose My Breath”
Destiny’s Child split after 2001’s Survivor so they could all focus on individual projects, also known as so Beyoncé could begin her world domination. While Michelle and Kelly saw moderate success, the girl group had basically become the Bey show by the time they reunited for 2004’s Destiny Fulfilled – their final album as a trio.
The album was meant to be a record of their solo journeys, and while “Girl” detailed the trials and tribulations of Hollywood romance, it was the high octane “Lose My Breath” that stole the show.
Eminem – “We Made You”
Eminem came back from four years out of the limelight with a vengeance. In “We Made You,” the first single off of 2009’s Relapse (his first album since 2005), the rapper spits insults at everyone from Sarah Palin and Kimmy K to Ellen DeGeneres over a sample of Walter Egan’s “Hot Summer Nights.”
Slim Shady’s hiatus was mostly due to a debilitating addiction to prescription sleeping medication, thus inspiring the title of his sixth studio album and his subsequent Grammy award-winning work (Recovery).
Nick Jonas – “Jealous”
Yes, another Disney channel survivor. Like Justin Timberlake before him, Nick Jonas was able to escape a career-sucking boy band past (with his siblings, nonetheless) and find his way onto the charts as a solo artist. Despite a disastrous music video, “Jealous” was a bona fide 2014 hit.
Jonas even has music’s gold stamp of approval; Hova is apparently circling Jonas for a collaboration. Oh, and speaking of Jay…
Jay Z – “Show Me What You Got”
Jay Z is the boy who cried retirement. After the rapper’s The Black Album in November 2003, he told fans he was done. Likely story.
Three years later, Kingdom Come arrived. And while there was Unfinished Business and that R. Kelly collab, the album was marked a “comeback” — with a Grammy nod to boot. The sexy sax on “Show Me What You Got” reinforced that Jay Z was going nowhere.
Daft Punk – “Get Lucky”
Electronic duo Daft Punk has been hiding out behind their helmets since 1993, and are responsible for house bangers like “One More Time” and the Yeezy-sampled “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger.” Despite their Grammy-winning 2007 live album, the group was left without a mainstream hit (although they’ve always dominated the dance scene) until 2013’s critically acclaimed Random Access Memories.
The album grabbed the French duo five Grammys, included Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Record of the Year for their Pharrell collab “Get Lucky.” The disco track’s success, however, still wasn’t enough for Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo to take off their headgear for the red carpet.
The Dixie Chicks – “Not Ready to Make Nice”
The Dixie Chicks were on top of the world with 1998’s “Wide Open Spaces” and hit a home run with their remake of “Landslide” in 2002… so what happened? Natalie Maines happened. With one, ill-timed comment in 2003, the country singer alienated most of their fanbase.
During a London concert, barely preceding America’s invasion of Iraq, Maines made the career-halting mistake. “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas,” she told the concert audience. Reaction was harsh. Radio stations pulled the award-winning group’s songs from the airwaves, and concerts were cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
Three years later, the Chicks’ ban seemed to be lifted. Taking the Long Way won the group five Grammys, including Record of the Year for “Not Ready to Make Nice.” In 2011, the tune was named the 77th best song of the decade by Rolling Stone.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Californication”
In the four years between Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ One Hot Minute and 1999’s Californication, the group’s lineup completely changed (as it often did). Anthony Kiedis and Flea brought on John Frusciante as a guitarist in the late ’80s, only to have him leave in ’92. Dave Navarro spent a few years with the group, only to also depart and leave the band on the verge of a complete breakup. Eventually, however, Frusciante found sobriety, and his way back home.
With Frusciante’s return came Californication and the Peppers’ return to the top. Singles like “Scar Tissue” were chart powerhouses, but the album’s title track has found its place among karaoke staples.
