[StratusSphere]

I'm talking something like Adele's Rolling in the Deep, Madonna's Hung Up or Cher's Believe - a song that didnt necessarily revive a failing artist's career, but propelled an artist up a level in the fame/success league unexpectedly.

Off the back of 19 I (along with many others, I'm sure) thought Adele was a talented girl, but I didnt expect her to have the level of worldwide success with further releases.

Rihanna is another one who surprised me, entering the scene at the same kind of level as someone like Ciara or Cassie, and now on a whole level of her own rivalling Beyonce in terms of chart and singles success worldwide.

Any more? Older ones maybe? Go!

Sorry for the unwieldy title for the thread, haha

[Jonesy88]

Agree 100% on Adele.
I was surprised with Rihanna and Umbrella giver her two previous releases.

[Mick_Swagger]

Green Day with the American Idiot album.

[Domestiques]

Maybe one for the older ones, U2, a relatively small band but then they appeared at live aid, Joshua trio went mental and the rest is history.

[O.Michel]

Katy Perry : She had some success with 'One Of The Boys' and the singles were very successful, but she wasn't really a household name or a major star. And then 'California Girls' was released and she got 6 US #1 hits in 2 years...I didn't expect it tbh.

Adele : To be quite honest, I knew that she would do really well in the UK with her sophomore album, but I never expected her to do so well in the US

Nicki Minaj : She started off as the new "it" girl of rap, she was doing all these features with r 'n' b and hip hop artists, then she had some minor pop hits ('Your Love' and 'Check It Out'), so I thought she was just going to be a hip hop artists that can have crossover hits once in a while. And then 'Super Bass' and 'Starships' came out...

Chris Brown : I never thought he was going to bounce back after the incident, but he got 2 consecutive US #1 albums and his first UK chart toppers recently. I didn't see it coming.

[Richard1960]

Black Sabbath when they went from having Ozzy Osbourne as lead singer to Ronnie James Dio sheer class act.

[xfactorfan27]

Lady GaGa: When Just Dance was released I genuinely saw her as a one-hit wonder. Then came Poker Face...

[LandslideBrad]

2NE1: I wasn't a fan of the Fire/I Don't Care era but then a year or so later they brought out I Am The Best and I've been hooked on their music ever since

Joe Jonas: I thought he was just a bubblegum pop poster child but then he released his debut single and album and I was so impressed, it gave me everything.

Justin Bieber: His Believe album turned me into a fan, so much more mature, I think he'll carry on getting better and better.

Rihanna: I thought she was just a popstar and then she brought her Rated R album out and started to show depth. I wish she'd do another personal album.

[tracystapes]

Definitely Adele with 'Rolling In The Deep' but I was a fan of her music anyway (but the direction just changed, and for the better too!). I also agree with Madonna's 'Hung Up', definitely converted me into a fan.

You could say Lady Gaga's 'The Fame Monster' album which is very different from 'The Fame' (better quality lyrically).

Nelly Furtado with 'Maneater' (and 'Loose') but even Nelly said that by the end of it all that whole era was out of control and in a direction she wasn't entirely comfortable with (yet very successful for her).

[rbautz]

Originally Posted by Richard1960

Black Sabbath when they went from having Ozzy Osbourne as lead singer to Ronnie James Dio sheer class act.

This is a bold statement.

It's like you would say: Iron Maiden when they went from having Paul Di'Anno as lead singer to Bruce Dickinson sheer class act

[SweetHeartHolly]

I sill can't believe that country singer Chris Young is as big as he has become.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

[Glengavel]

Originally Posted by rbautz

This is a bold statement.

It's like you would say: Iron Maiden when they went from having Paul Di'Anno as lead singer to Bruce Dickinson sheer class act

Not really; Ozzy-era Sabbath were still a great band; Di'Annio -era Maiden weren't a patch on the Dickinson years.

[Mr Perks]

I always considered George Michael to be another transient, rather crappy teen heartthrob until he released Praying For Time and I realised he was, in fact, an artist of some substance who would stay the course.

[rbautz]

Originally Posted by Glengavel

Not really; Ozzy-era Sabbath were still a great band; Di'Annio -era Maiden weren't a patch on the Dickinson years.

Just a joke, but maybe not, Dio and Dickinson were brilliant technical singer, but they are so lifeless(Ok, I know Dio is dead) in opposite to Ozzy and Di'Anno, just my opinion.

[Robertfitz]

Not for me personally, but I think 'Domino' really propelled Jessie J out there.

[Glengavel]

Originally Posted by Mr Perks

I always considered George Michael to be another transient, rather crappy teen heartthrob until he released Praying For Time and I realised he was, in fact, an artist of some substance who would stay the course.

Quite a lot of substances, to be honest.

[Hav_mor91]

Definitely Rihanna without question Umbrella changed her fortunes massively.

Adele sort of saw her as having some US success but what she has done nobody saw that coming unheard of.

Christina Aguilera- had a few hit singles in the uk but nothing major to write home about Stripped turned her into a WW superstar.

Kate Bush- Hounds of Love loved and revered but with The Dreaming and its luke warm reception some thought she was finished famously on the NME's where are they now list 3 days later premiered Running Up That Hill followed by Hounds Of Love a Legend was born and the rest is history.

Britney Spears- A massive star a phenomoenon but Toxic gave her some much need critical acclaim and one her her first grammy.

Kylie Minogue- Fever turned into a WW superstar.

[bizzle]

Christina Aguilera - Genius with Genie in a Bottle (released when I was 5 lol), hit a new level with Beautiful, then Fighter, then Candyman and Slow Down Baby. Then You Lost Me. She just keeps getting better lol.

[radioxiumei]

I never was a fan of manufactured pop-bands but this track really lifted him out of the rut and deservedly so.
But his co-writer must also take a lot of credit.

[radioxiumei]

From afar NDubz appeared to me to be another manufactured outfit but after reading their back story they ALL seem to have grafted for their rewards.

This track is an absolute smash and I hope it also gets covered by a US heavyweight hitter, Pink maybe?

[Julie68]

Jedward. Their new album is one of the best I have ever heard. People should give it a listen, they might be suprised.. I love it....

[Hav_mor91]

A recent example Ellie Goulding never expected her to break out of the UK lights and now Halcyon have seeing her denting the charts stateside and maing a bigger international impact

[sjp07]

Originally Posted by radioxiumei

From afar NDubz appeared to me to be another manufactured outfit but after reading their back story they ALL seem to have grafted for their rewards.

This track is an absolute smash and I hope it also gets covered by a US heavyweight hitter, Pink maybe?

I wouldn't call P!nk a heavyweight hitter out here. She has always been underrated here. She didn't even get her first headline tour across the states until she was five albums in. She has much more love in Australia.

[boddism]

Originally Posted by StratusSphere

I'm talking something like Adele's Rolling in the Deep, Madonna's Hung Up or Cher's Believe - a song that didnt necessarily revive a failing artist's career, but propelled an artist up a level in the fame/success league unexpectedly.

Off the back of 19 I (along with many others, I'm sure) thought Adele was a talented girl, but I didnt expect her to have the level of worldwide success with further releases.

Rihanna is another one who surprised me, entering the scene at the same kind of level as someone like Ciara or Cassie, and now on a whole level of her own rivalling Beyonce in terms of chart and singles success worldwide.

Any more? Older ones maybe? Go!

Sorry for the unwieldy title for the thread, haha

Katy Perry. Was convinced she was a oine hit wonder.

Then after her last studio album I thought she'd fade away. She hasnt. I got her wrong!!

Also: one of the biggest had to be the take That reunion. I dont think when they reunited people really had any idea how big they would become.

[boddism]

Never thought Taylor Swift would catch on in Britain. She seems very "American" to me.

NDubs- Thought they'd disappear into the ether after splitting up, but various members are going from strength to strength.

Cheryl Cole-Fight for this Love- I was amazed at how big that was, esp as Im not too impressed with it as a song, its always struck me as a bit weak.

And heres an old one:
Back in '84 when madonna and Cindi Lauper were in rivalry it wasnt really clear who was gonna become the bigger star. Madonna had 2 hits from her 1st album butLike a Virgin (off her 2nd album) propelled Madonna to megastardom and shes never looked back