Some artists just know what their listeners want. While there are thousands (millions?) of bands, songwriters and performers in the world working to make a living with their craft, there are the select few who can write hit after hit. They’re at the center of the zeitgeist. They have their finger on the proverbial pulse of culture. And they can do it over many years.
Videos by American Songwriter
Here below, we wanted to explore four examples. Four men who just know what the people want when it comes to albums and singles. Indeed, these are four male solo artists who boast double-digit Top-10 hit songs over the course of four decades.
[RELATED: Remember When: Elton John Played “Tiny Dancer” for the First Time from Crumpled Paper]
Elton John
The British-born Elton John’s first Top-10 song was released in 1971. That tune, “Your Song,” paved the way for one of the more glamorous and celebrated careers in modern music. Since then, he’s enjoyed four decades of hits, with his most recent coming in 2022. That song, “Hold Me Closer,” was released with Britney Spears. And it gave him a total of 29 Top-10 tunes. Impressive stuff for the piano-playing wonder who is now retired from touring.
Michael Jackson
The Gary, Indiana-born “King of Pop,” as he was known, boasts hit songs over four decades beginning in the 1970s. And this isn’t even to mention his work with the family band The Jackson 5 as a youngster. Jackson’s first solo Top-10 hit came in 1971 with his track “Got To Be There.” Since then, he has released a total of 30 Top-10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, from “Dirty Diana” to “Bad” to the 2018 Drake track “Don’t Matter to Me.” Even posthumously, Jackson is getting it done on the charts.
Snoop Dogg
The Long Beach, California-born rapper Snoop Dogg burst onto the scene in the early 1990s with his prominent features on Dr. Dre’s debut solo album The Chronic. Ever since then, he has been one of the biggest names in rap music and today he is one of the most recognizable pitchmen in TV commercials. He was even a coach on the latest season of the NBC singing competition show The Voice. He’s transcendent. And his first Top-10 single came with the 1993 song “What’s My Name?” from his album Doggystyle. Snoop’s latest Top-10 came with the 2022 track by benny blanco & BTS “Bad Decisions.” And that track gave him 12 total Top-10s.
Jay-Z
The New York City-born rapper Jay-Z has released 22 Top-10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and they’ve spanned four decades beginning in the 1990s. His first Top-10 was his single “I’ll Be,” which was released in 1997 and features Foxy Brown. Over the years, he has released many more, including “Can I Get A…,” “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” and “Izzo (H.O.V.A.).” Jay’s most recent Top-10 came in 2021 with the song “Love All” by Drake, which featured the rapper.
Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.