9 of the Most Memorable Pop Album Covers

Pop album covers are seen by millions of people. Unlike other, less accessible genres, pop is made for the masses. Naturally, you’d want the cover for your album to be memorable and enticing. Find nine success stories of that goal, below.

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9 of the Most Memorable Pop Album Covers

1. Lana Del Rey – Norman F–king Rockwell!

The cover for Lana Del Rey’s Norman F–king Rockwell! sees her and Duke Nicholson–grandson of Jack Nicholson–on a sail boat, the picture of classic Americana. Del Rey is reaching out to the camera, inviting the viewer into the scene. Despite the sunny disposition on the cover, it feels in line with the album’s classic, if solemn tales from the west coast.

‘Cause you’re just a man
It’s just what you do
Your head in your hands
As you color me blue
Yeah, you’re just a man
All through and through
Your head in your hands
As you color me blue

2. Ariana Grande – Sweetener

Ariana Grande has been a music mainstay since 2013. Needless to say, all of her covers have been submitted to the annals of pop history. If we had to pick a favorite though, it would Sweetener. This neutral, up-side down image of Grande is striking. For an artist who had her world flipped on its axis–between a terrorist attack and losing a partner to an overdose–this cover is aptly off-kilter.

When life deals us cards
Make everything taste like it is salt
Then you come through like the sweetener you are
To bring the bitter taste to a halt

3. Lady Gaga – The Fame Monster

Lady Gaga is no stranger to an enticing album cover. From the onset of her career, Gaga has been defying expectations with provocative visuals. This reissue of The Fame–Gaga’s debut album–features a black and white image of Gaga donning a leather outfit with an equally as structural wig to match. It’s simple, but it immediately keys the listener into the fact that they are listening to an artist who isn’t afraid to step out of the box.

I want your drama, the touch of your hand (hey)
I want your leather-studded kiss in the sand
I want your love
Love, love, love, I want your love (love, love, love)

4. Beyoncé – Beyoncé

Beyonce’s self-titled album is a diverse mix of various pop styles, making nailing down a cover image somewhat difficult. In the end, she landed on her name in bright pink against a black background. It’s feminine, punchy, and ties every song in this smörgåsbord of sound together under one banner.

Pretty hurts
We shine the light on whatever’s worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
Pretty hurts
We shine the light on whatever’s worst
We try to fix something
But you can’t fix what you can’t see
It’s the soul that needs a surgery

5. Britney Spears – Circus

You can’t make a list of stellar pop albums and not include at least one work from Britney Spears. The pop princess dominated the genre for years. In that time she amassed no shortage of memorable album covers. We’ve chosen to highlight Circus on this list. It’s reminiscent of vintage side-show imagery, albeit with a modern twist.

When I put on a show
I feel the adrenaline moving through my veins
Spotlight on me and I’m ready to break
I’m like a performer, the dance floor is my stage
Better be ready, hope that you feel the same

6. Harry Styles – Fine Line

The cover for Harry Styles’ Fine Line has prompted endless discussion among fans. What does that black glove represent? Why did he choose that particular color palette? Why the fish-eye lens? Given that his first album cover was far less funky, it makes his choice to opt for the surreal on his sophomore effort an interesting move.

Put a price on emotion
I’m looking for something to buy
You’ve got my devotion
But man, I can hate you sometimes

I don’t want to fight you
And I don’t wanna sleep in the dirt
We’ll get the drinks in
So I’ll get to thinking of her

7. Charli XCX – BRAT

You couldn’t have escaped summer 2024 without seeing Charli XCX’s BRAT album cover. The titular green and simple font were ubiquitous during “BRAT summer.” It was so influential that it made it into the foundation of a presidential campaign. Though only time will tell, watching the world turn BRAT green felt like watching a classic in the making.

I went my own way and I made it
I’m your favorite reference, baby
Call me Gabbriette, you’re so inspired
Ah, ah
I’m tectonic, moves, I make ’em
Shock you like defibrillators
No style? I can’t relate
I’ll always be the one, ah

8. Madonna – True Blue

Madonna’s True Blue album cover is striking. It slaps the viewer in the face with its electric blue and close up of the singer’s face. There is a movement in the image that is hard to look away from. A powerful pose from a powerful pop icon.

Papa, don’t preach, I’m in trouble deep
Papa, don’t preach, I’ve been losing sleep
But I made up my mind, I’m keeping my baby, hm
I’m gonna keep my baby

[RELATED: 3 Female Acts Who Have Written So Many Hit Songs They Can Count Them on Both Hands]

9. Michael Jackson – Thriller

Of course, we have to include an entry from The King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Though the cover for Thriller is somewhat subdued, it has become a classic image in the zeitgeist. You could cover up the title and ask any music enthusiast what album the image below belonged to and, we’d bet, they could come up with the answer in a snap.

The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
I know she’s mine
Because the doggone girl is mine

(Photo by Brian Rasic/Getty Images) / (Photo by Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images) / (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage) /(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for American Express)