Five pop singers who should have been rock stars
It’s worth saying that the term ‘rock star’ has changed a great deal over the years. Now, it is used in a much more general setting to describe someone good at doing something. Real estate agents and bankers can be rock stars in their chosen fields. In this instance, the definition will revert to its original when it was applied to the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Robert Plant, simply meaning someone who plays rock music and is bloody good at it.
In that sense, the rock star club is quite an elite one. While a lot of people play rock music, very few are widely regarded as being so good within the genre that the term definitively applies to them. So, what makes a good rock star?
Being a good rock musician lies at the heart of it; however, there is more to it than that. Rock stars need to embody a sense of rebellion, have an undeniable look, and be willing to take risks, both societal and creative, ready to take whatever criticism comes with them.
When considering these different criteria, there are actually a large number of pop stars who would have been better suited to the world of rock. Whether that’s because of their talent, look or not-giving-a-fuck nature, it feels a shame that they don’t operate within the world of rock music. Here are some of our top picks for pop singers who should have been rock stars.
Pop stars who would be better rock stars:
Fergie
When Slash announced he was making a solo album that would see him collaborate with a range of different artists, some names on the tracklist were expected: Dave Grohl, Iggy Pop, and Ozzy Osbourne. However, the one that stood out and got sceptics’ backs up was the Black Eyed Peas lead singer Fergie. All those reservations were put to bed the minute people heard the song, though, as Fergie showed she had a voice ideally suited for rock ‘n’ roll.
“I got hip to Fergie being probably as good or better a rock singer than she is a pop singer. I heard her do ‘Barracuda’, the old Heart song, and I was like, fucking wow!” recalled Slash, “I ended up doing a couple of shows with her where she sang ‘Barracuda’ and ‘Sweet Child O Mine’. She one of the most phenomenal rock ‘n’ roll singers, male or female, I’ve ever heard.”
Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars has already dabbled in rock music in the same way he has dabbled in near enough of every genre out there. He has repeatedly proved that he is an incredibly versatile singer, which is commendable, but it leaves you wondering what he might have been able to achieve had he wholly committed to the world of rock.
His voice is perfectly suited for it, as whether he is singing high or low, he can pack a lot of aggression and emotion into his notes. There is more to it than that, though; Mars is a showman, putting on a great gig everywhere he goes and dominating every inch of the stage. He has inescapable rock star quality.
Lady Gaga
In many ways, Lady Gaga can already be considered a rock star. Her willingness to embrace different styles and sounds in her albums is inspiring, and she is never afraid to go against the grain in a sense of rebellion with what she does. Many sometimes see her as a controversial performer, and isn’t that what rock ‘n’ roll is all about?
We can only imagine the Alice Cooper-esque shows she would likely put on if she completely threw herself into making heavy rock music. Her voice is capable of dominating most songs in the genre, her dance moves mean she could put on a fantastic show, and her complete fearlessness and originality mean she would be amazing at playing gigs, unlike anything you’ve seen before.
T-Pain
Many people think that T-Pain uses autotune because he has to, but this isn’t the case. He decided to use autotune to explore the creative freedom that this effect brought with it. There is a common misconception that he can’t sing as a result, but he has an excellent voice that would slide right into any rock band worth its salt.
Still not sure? If you need any more convincing, then be sure to listen to his cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’. They’re incredibly difficult vocals to nail, not just technically but also because grit and anger have to be laced throughout them. T-Pain absolutely nails them and proves himself worthy of rock star status in the process.
Robbie Williams
Let’s face it, Robbie Williams already thinks he’s a rock star, so he may as well just do it, right? It feels like an odd juxtaposition to see someone on stage yell, “For the next two hours, your ass is mine!” Before busting into a lukewarm version of ‘Rock DJ’. If you wanna be a rock star, Robbie, just do it.
He certainly has the attitude for it; his cheekiness combined with a stage persona that can take over the biggest of platforms is the same thing that draws people to rock concerts. He also has a fantastic voice that would no doubt work well on plenty of rock songs. Seems like a no-brainer at this point.
