Many musicians have followed a fairly robust structure throughout their careers. They remain the same, release the same type of music, and people love it. After all, why would one fix something that isn’t broken? Sometimes it is broken, and fixes need to be made. Sometimes musicians are just bored out of their minds, so they undergo a complete transformation. Regardless of the motivation, these three musical transformations of legends left fans totally puzzled.
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Bob Dylan Goes Christian
Bob Dylan, both as an artist and as a lyricist, always subverted the status quo and societal norms of the day in age. That being said, when Bob Dylan converted to Christianity in 1978, his fans as well as the world were a bit surprised, given his history. However, he did it, and he did it all the way, as he released a string of Christian-themed albums following his conversion.
Bob Dylan’s first Christian album, Slow Train Coming, was released in 1979. Following that, he released Save in 1980 and Shot of Love in 1981. With these albums, Dylan yet again reiterated that public opinion does not concern him, because at the end of the day, he is going to do what he wants to do.
Taylor Swift Leaves Country Music
Taylor Swift‘s climb to the peak of musical fame started in country music. Prior to her entry into pop music, she was a Nashville performer, and her sprawling fan base seemingly viewed her as such. However, she went against the grain when she departed from the genre in 2014 with her album, 1989.
Swift’s genre transition surely led to a bunch of questions amongst fans and critics. Although, as we see daily, Swift has answered those questions time after time again, as the country singer turned pop star has been on a hot streak ever since she departed from the genre that gifted her a platform.
Elton John Dives Head First Into Glam Rock
Prior to 1973, Elton John had acquired quite a bit of success as a soulful singer/songwriter. His act was simple, yet simple enough, as well as honest, to win over the masses. Although in 1973, he ditched that simplicity for decadence, and he primarily did so with his iconic album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
Elton John’s transformation was certainly shocking, but that shock factor seemingly launched him into a new artistic status. Following the release of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, John’s new persona garnered him his second No. 1 album.
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