Top 10 Singers From Different Decades with the Same Energy

#10: Adam Lambert / Freddie Mercury

Filling the Queen frontman’s shoes is no easy task. There’s a reason why the band picked former “American Idol” runner-up, Grammy nominee, and Broadway star Adam Lambert to join them on tour. Like Freddie Mercury, Lambert’s style is pure flamboyance and high energy. He has all that and a range and vocal agility that puts him squarely in Mercury’s territory as a performer. There’s also something to be said for Lambert’s boundary-breaking success. Lambert made history in 2012 by becoming the first out gay man to top the U.S. Billboard 200. Where much has been made of Mercury’s own sexuality, for many reasons, he was not explicitly out to the public.

#9: Carly Rae Jepsen / Kylie Minogue

In 2012, the bubble gum love anthem, “Call Me Maybe,” became an unqualified hit. Fans can tell you Carly Rae Jepsen’s been churning out pop masterpieces ever since, even if they’ve rarely gotten the chart success they deserve. “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” was just as ubiquitous, but with few exceptions, Kylie Minogue rarely got that kind of attention in America after that. Their joyous brand of retro dance-pop inspires borderline euphoria in their dedicated fan bases. And both also have one big thing in common. Everyone who’s already on board with their genius knows they should be much more popular than they are.

#8: The Weeknd / Prince

Musically, these two share an affinity for hitting high notes, erotic lyrics and innuendo, and experimenting with their sounds. But the similarities go deeper than that. Some artists consciously build an air of mystery about themselves. The Weeknd maintains a distinct separation between his public and private life, even as he switches personas and branches out into other business ventures. Prince was similarly protective over his private life. He was notorious for rarely giving interviews and letting the public in, and he even wrote several songs under pseudonyms. The music, performances, and creativity are meant to speak for themselves.

#7: Olivia Rodrigo / Alanis Morissette

There’s something exciting about a young artist who can express complex and complicated feelings through song. Alanis Morissette was only 21 when “Jagged Little Pill” came out. Olivia Rodrigo released “Sour” when she was 18. Rodrigo’s music is clearly inspired by all who came before her, but the feelings that inspire her also set her apart among her contemporaries on the charts. Both artists’ work is jam-packed with post-breakup angst, dwelling on all the ugly feelings that bubble up after a relationship ends badly. Both throw their whole bodies into their songs, fully living them in front of their audiences.

#6: Taylor Swift / Stevie Nicks

Few pop stars know what it feels like for the people they date to become an integral part of their own mythology. Taylor Swift’s catalog is full of songs about longing and heartbreaks. Many of those songs are about famous people themselves, leaving clues and crumbs for people to investigate. Stevie Nicks’ time with Fleetwood Mac was marked by a tempestuous romance with bandmate Lindsey Buckingham, illustrated in the songs they wrote about each other. But both have also been able to stand on their own, creating distinctive places in the music world to celebrate femininity and womanhood.

5: Chappell Roan / Kate Bush

The “Good Luck, Babe!” singer arrived on the scene ready to bring something fresh, edgy, and weird to pop music. It’s no wonder then that Chappell Roan cites Kate Bush as a major influence. The “Running Up That Hill” singer saw most of her mainstream success in the 70s and 80s before “Stranger Things” brought renewed attention. But her haunting sound and eccentricity has made her a beloved cult figure for years. However, it isn’t just Roan’s quirkiness that reminds us of Bush. They also share an affinity for ultra-feminine, high-pitched falsetto and stark, outlandish images in their lyrics and fashion.

#4: Michael Bublé / Frank Sinatra

This modern crooner’s entire voice, style, and music catalog is one big ode to the kind of artists who were popular during the 1950s. Often wearing a suit and tie on stage, there’s a knowing, classic elegance to Michael Bublé that feels completely out of place when compared to his contemporaries. He cites Dean Martin and Tony Bennett as his influences, but it’s the Frank Sinatra comparison that sticks. Bublé doesn’t just sing a lot of the same songs as Sinatra. His stage persona and smooth vocals are similar, too. While there’s no replacing the man they called Ol’ Blue Eyes, Bublé has amassed millions of fans of his own.

#3: Lady Gaga / Cher

While the Madonna comparisons even caught the Queen of Pop’s notice, in terms of style and career trajectory, Lady Gaga probably has more in common with Cher. Gaga is known for her extravagant tours, variety show specials, and successful, Oscar-nominated forays into serious acting. Well, that’s pretty much on par with Cher’s career. They have a shared eye for boundary-breaking fashions and grandiose theatricality. Not only that, both artists are outspoken advocates for social causes. The two are fans of each other, and they’ve crossed paths many times. We’re still waiting on that duet they promised us years ago, though.

#2: Amy Winehouse / Billie Holiday

Comparing anyone to one of the most famous and most skilled jazz and blues singers of all time is not something to do lightly. But many music critics and fans have already drawn parallels between Billie Holiday and Amy Winehouse. It’s not just their personal struggles and untimely ends that are similar. While Winehouse’s albums were very modern in their production, her way of holding a stage and hugging lyrics with her voice is reminiscent of Holiday’s. They weren’t trying to sound pretty or pure. There’s a raw emotion, a leaning into their human excess that goes beyond technique and becomes something that transcends performance.

#1: Beyoncé / Michael Jackson

There’s something to be said for an artist who can just completely stop, shift, and even completely upend the entire culture. Like the late Michael Jackson, the former Destiny’s Child member struck out on her own after rising to fame in a singing group. As solo artists, they both exploded into a whole new echelon of innovation, creativity, and sheer starpower. Their influence is felt in every genre. There is something untouchable, even ethereal about their talent and significance. Anytime Beyoncé steps on a stage, she reminds us that there is no one else doing it like this.

Do you agree with our picks? Let us know in the comments.