Asking you to name the bona-fide superacts of the 21st century this week certainly lead to some interesting perceptions.
Your most common cited examples of superacts of the 21st Century revolved around acts that originated in the 90s. Muse, White Stripes, Justin Timberlake (NSync), Beyonce (Destiny's Child), Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) and Nickelback were all 90s acts that flowed into the 21st Century but released their first albums in the 90s.That alone raised an interesting question. Name one other decade where the biggest acts of the time were not generated from that decade? There was Elvis in the 50s, The Beatles and Stones in the 60s, The Eagles or Van Halen in the 70s, U2 and Madonna in the 80s, Pearl Jam or Nirvana in the 90s.
Coldplay had released three E.P's before they signed with Parlophone in 1999.
For the first time ever, a decade has had to borrow from the previous one to fill-up its quota of stars.
Every decade has challenged the previous decade, until now. Every other decade had a sound come along that rendered the previous decade's sound obsolete for a moment in time.
The Beatles made Elvis sound old, The Stones challenged The Beatles, Led Zeppelin turned a new decade onto metal and by the end of the decade, along came the Sex Pistols and pissed all over everyone.
The 80s got back to business with U2 and Madonna claiming their stake to fame) and equally fortune). Then along came Seattle in the 90s and tore down all the indulgence, just as the Pistols did early.
No-one has achieved anything like that this decade. Not a thing.
So is there an Elvis, Beatles, Eagles, U2 or Pearl Jam from this decade? Not according to your nominations. Not one of the acts in this list has challenged the past. They have all surfed the wave.
The results were:
1. Linkin Park
2. Kanye West
3. Jack Johnson
4. The Killers
5. John Mayer
6. Alicia Keys
7. Michael Buble
8. Norah Jones
9. James Blunt
10. My Chemical Romance
The bottom end of this list is extremely debatable. Personally, I wouldn't class Blunt as a superact. Sure he had a huge album in 'Back To Bedlam' but 'All The Lost Souls' failed to keep pace.
For that matter, Norah Jones hit a home run with 'Come Away With Me', but the appeal slipped on the subsequent two albums.
My Chemical Romance certainly delivered a classic with 'The Black Parade'. If their next release is as strong, they will certainly deserve their place in the Top 10.
So what do you think of the Top 10? Who should stay, who should go, who should have been included?
Let's refine the list and capture the first blueprint of the bona-fide stars of the 21st Century.
Email your comments to paul@undercover.com.au and have your say in Undercover
