Pop music is one of the most popular genres in the world. New York has always been the goldmine of the pop industry producing the greatest artists for decades.
New York is the best place to be on earth if you are a music-lover. The city is the center for music of all kinds. It has produced countless legendary musicians from every genre enriching the global music industry. It is a thriving home for different genres like pop, hip hop, jazz, soul, rock, and many more. Many iconic pop singers of this decade have come from New York. It continues to produce exceptional talents contributing to the industry. The city has become the mecca for the genre of pop. In the coming years, more artists from the city will be joining the global pop platform making the New Yorkers proud.
If you go through your favorite playlists, it is guaranteed that you will find artists from the Empire state. They could be born and bred in the city or grew up there. The thing matter is that they have that New York vibe going through their veins. The city is leaving LA, Nashville, Detroit, and San Francisco behind in terms of talent and opportunity. The top 5 pop singers from the city are discussed below:
- Cyndi Lauper
Born Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper in 1953, Cyndi Lauper is a singer-songwriter, actress, and activist born and bred in New York. The brilliant pop artist rose to fame with her series of hit songs in the 1980s. her debut album ‘She’s So Unusual’ in 1983 became a huge hit. He released several chart-topping singles such as ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’, ‘Time After Time’, and more. She won the Grammy Awards in 1984 for Best New Artist. She has sold more than 50 million albums all over the globe throughout her career.
She has been a pop icon for the audience with her eccentric style, unique hairstyles, and addictive singing. In 2013 she once again touched the pop community with her dynamic musicianship by releasing another hit musical ‘Kinky Boots’. It won six Tony Awards, especially for Best Musical. With this win, she became the first female artist to win this category all by herself.
- Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond is one of the most popular and respected pop artists in the United States and all over the world. The supremely talented singer-songwriter is known for his biggest hits ‘Sweet Caroline’, ‘Girl, You’ll Be a Woman’, ‘America’, ‘Love On The Rocks’, and more. His iconic song ‘Red, Red Wine’ became a huge hit for the pop band UB40 in 1983. He also wrote the songs ‘I’m A Believer’ and ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You’ for the Monkees.
Born as Neil Leslie Diamond in 1941 in Brooklyn New York, the multi-talented musician became a prominent pop figure in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. He started writing songs while attending the New York University. His debut solo song ‘Cracklin’ Rosie’ became the number 1 pop single at that time in 1967. He won the Grammy Award for the soundtrack of the 1973 movie ‘Jonathan Livingston Seagull’. As of now, he has sold over 130 million albums globally.
- Lana Del Rey
Next on the list is Lana Del Rey. Born in 1985 in New York, she created a powerful ripple in the pop industry with the 2011 release ‘Video Games’. Her articulate and melancholic pop tunes have separated her from her contemporaries. The homemade music video of the track made a great impact on the contemporary pop scene. It became a huge hit and she became an overnight sensation in the global pop community. She faced a bit of controversy when she was criticized for featuring female submission and self-destruction in the song. Her 2014’s ‘Ultraviolence’ and 2017’s ‘Lust for life’ became number 1 on the Billboard 200.
She started performing under her real name Lizzy Grant in the beginning. In 2011, she chose to go with the name Lana Del Rey. Her retro and glamourized look is a huge part of her whole musical presence. Her sixth studio album ‘Norman F*****g Rockwell’ released in 2019 reached the number 3 spot on the Billboard 200.
- Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj is predominantly a hip-hop artist, but her music has a lot of pop elements and styles. She is one of the most influential female musicians of the decade. She is vastly known for her songs such as ‘Starships’, ‘Superbass’, ‘Bang Bang’, ‘Anaconda’, and many more. She is the first female artist who had been placed simultaneously on the Billboard 100 chart with her 7-hit single. She has been nominated 10 times for the Grammy Awards.
Born in the Caribbean in 1982, Nicki Minaj relocated to New York, when she was only 5 years old. Struggling through difficulties in life, the brilliant musician found solace in music. With her talent and hard work, she has become one of the biggest musicians ever. Her debut album ‘Pink Friday’ in 2010 went triple platinum and became highly popular among music lovers worldwide. She worked with the biggest names in the industry, such as Drake, Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Ariana Grande, and many more. She received the Best Female Hip Hop Artist award at the BET Awards for the seventh year straight.
- Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is the ultimate pop icon of the century. She is well-known for her flamboyant fashion and unique singing. She made her first appearance on the pop scene with her debut album ‘Fame’. The single ‘Poker Face’ from the album became a mega-hit and topped the charts worldwide. She has won a total of 11 Grammy Awards and 29 nominations so far. Her greatest hits are ‘Bad Romance’, ‘Paparazzi’, ‘Shallow’, Judas, and many more.
Born as Stefani Joanne Angelia Germanotta in 1986 in New York, she chose the name Lady Gaga inspired by the Queen’s song ‘Radio Ga-Ga’. Being involved in music since her childhood, she first performed at 14 in a New York nightclub. She began her musical career as a songwriter for the elites in the industry. She received an Oscar nomination for her role in the movie ‘A Star Is Born’.