Which artists of today do you think are reaching or have already reached superstar status? I'm talking about people like MJ, Prince, Madonna and George Michael that were all mega stars in the 80's. People would go absolutely nuts over them. Who has the midas touch today?

Here's who I came up with, though this is not neccesarily how I feel about these people myself....

Beyonce
Justin Timberlake
Xtina

Anyone else?

superstardom now isn't what it used to be. it seems more about the business of promotion and less about the production of spectacle.

i mean, i've NEVER been a huge madonna fan, but whenever she was slated to perform on an awards show, i always tuned in because i knew it would be something big, and it almost always was. it was something we'd all talk about the next day at work.

there's not that kind of excitement anymore. plus, pop stars are afraid to be over the top so they all come off as generic sex clones. that's why i love bjork and i hope amy winehouse gets her shit together enough to be a bigger name than she's already become, because i think she oozes personality and an edginess that's been missing for a long time.

right now, publicists are the real superstars. the actual performers are just the clay in their hands. bring a book.

RANT OVER

Anx said:

wow, that's an interesting perspective on this topic and i think you're right in a lot of ways. even though the people i mentioned above are considered today's biggest stars it's still not on the mj or prince level where people actually faint when they see them or anything. i also agree that people are too scared to take risks. music just aint what it used to be.

dancerella said:

yeah, i think the way pop stars are marketed today is a lot different than back when there were less outlets - pre-internet, pre-cellphone, pre-MTV, etc. now, we have all these different ways of seeing and hearing artists, they seem less like untouchable superheroes and more...i dunno...familiar? in some ways maybe that's a healthy thing (will the next generation bear less crazed fans and stalkerazzi?), but mostly i think it's kind of numbing.

It seems that you have to have music are be oing something to be a superstar nowadays.

Usher was considered a SuperDuperStar in 2004. But in 2005, 2006 and early 2007 he is no where to be seen or heard.

Yeah that is very true, you rarely will see someone that just is doing music at this point, there are no real MUSIC superstars that have the ouput like a Prince or Madonna or Stevie or Elton. Music has taken a backseat these days, i do think there are singers that will still be around in10-20, people like Beyonce or Xtina, like them or not they arent going anywhere. Xtina since she hasnt done movies or anything else stands out as a more serious person with music, Beyonce has her hand in everything from fashion to music to acting so there are many avenues to follow. To me i always appreciate the "under the radar" artists who just keeping doing their thing, MYA and AMERIE are easily my two favorites, they do their thing, take it or leave it, but both have been around since 1997 and 2000 , and had 3-4 albums which is an unheard of thing in this world today. Both of them are closing in on 30 also, which is OLD in the eyes of what gets marketed today.

lastdecember said:

you touched on some interesting points too. everyone now wants to be in movies and fashion as well music which really sucks and is so greedy and self absorbed imo. why would you assume that if you can sing, you can act or all of a sudden be a fashion guru? it's something that sickens me. so yeah, i guess it's comendable that certain artists haven't gone that route. i definitely think beyonce and xtina are here to stay and maybe justin too. i would have even said britney before her breakdown but we'll see about that. believe it or not i'm looking forward to her return to music. i think usher will be around too. maybe not chris brown who imo people are way too quick to be comparing him to mj. puleez! i hope rihanna drops off as well as some of these other fake ass singers.

Beyonce, Justin, Britney Spears & Usher are the only four I can think of, but I believe all four of them are at their peaks in terms of popularity. I don't think they'll get any bigger than they are now right now. We wont see any stars who can measure up to the big four (Madonna,Michael Jackson, Prince & Janet) for years and years to come. Those four came out during a time when award shows actually meant something and during a time when you would wait up all night just to see their latest music video.

Beyonce, Justin, Britney & Usher are the superstars of this generation, but that's not really saying much.

Britney? Isn't Christina outselling her? Britney is more a celebrity for her being a mess more so her being an entertainer.

she cooked her goose a long time ago.

sosgemini said:

Britney has sold a lot more records than Christina and is much more famous. Britney Spears is the biggest female pop star since Madonna and I think Brit can make a comeback, people are rooting for her.

Cinnamon234 said:

im talking now...didn't her last album of new material undersell while Christina has been consistent?

and hasn't beyonce sold more then britney? im not being snarky either...im just curious cause i could give a rats arse about any of these acts.

Anx said:

I agree completely.

I agree that superstardom isn't the same as it used to be. Pop stars don't piss holy water anymore. Music is more widespread and underground is no longer underground. Marilyn Manson, Snoop Dogg, Spears, Oasis, etc all inspired movements/looks/styles/fangasms in their respective genres.

So I guess it just depends on who you want to market to. e.g. If you want to sell make-up to whores, go with Good Charlotte.

sosgemini said:

Britney has sold 76 million records, while Beyonce has sold 50 million and Christina has sold 30 million, so those two have a bit of catching up to do before they pass Britney.

spacedolphin said:

Today's so-called "superstars" are boring.They wear bland outfits and none of them really stand out.Go back to 1984: Prince,Madonna and Michael Jackson all had a unique look and style.They all wore clothes that were distinctive.The superstars of the past were more original and more exciting.These days,every male R&B artist dresses and acts like a rapper All the young female pop singers all dress the same.You don't even need to watch their videos.Just watch a Beyonce video and you will have an idea what the other girls are doing too.

SoulAlive said:

True. No diversisty that's the problem. Britney became famous from "Hit me one more time" just because she dress up as a school girl in the video, which spark controversy with hints of Paediphilia. I personally feel alot of these people took from The school of Madonna; It's like you became a big star now by exhibiting shocking tactics, off and on stage and if you happen to have a few catchy tunes at your disposable then that's an added bonus, but overall talent has very little to do with it.

The artists that are out now I don't really consider superstars but I guess they are to some, especially to kids.

So far no one compares to the trinity of Prince, Michael and Madonna, IMO. Everyone else came under or after and I'm not really feeling the level of innovation or commitment from the MTV staples that are hot today.

Superstars? WTF? People like Britney, Justin and the likes are just a bunch of pop stars with little talent. To call them superstars is just plain wrong! To be honest, I can't think of any young artists (under 30) that I would classify as superstars.
[Edited 4/11/07 6:58am]

I think the last of the true larger than life icons was Kurt Cobain...everyone that followed just seems bland...from Eminem to Beyonce to Justin...and sadly there is no Rock God of late...John Mayer..um no...

Prince, MJ, Madonna, Bono, Morrissey, Bowie, Jagger, Elvis, Beatles, Marvyn Gaye, Aretha, Stevie, Hendrix, Jim Morrison....

Most of today's artists fall under the influence of those names I mentioned...and most have failed to take it further than that.

peace

SoulAlive said:

you are so right about that. though we may not neccesarily like the way MJ or Prince dresses, no one out there dresses the way they do which sets them apart. "stars" today are dressed just the way people on the street do just a more expensive version of it, with the exception of kelis and gwen stefani everyone else out there is pretty boring. also we don't have any eccentric pop stars. they're all to scared of losing fans, sales, etc. where are all the freaks?

Cinnamon234 said:

i'm rooting for her too. i want to see her make a big come back and shut everyone down.

dancerella said:

Never was a big fan of hers but a big comeback would be interesting...

not boring at least..

peace

dancerella said:

Britney Spears

Chris Brown?

Nicole Scherzinger (with or without PCD)?

Black Eyed Peas?

Ciara?


OK, this thread is doom to go straight to hell in a toilet!

dancerella said:

All jokes aside, none of the people we're mention are groundbreaking compare to the 80's triad of Michael/Prince/Madonna.