20 Musicians Who Saved Their Career by Changing Their Look

#20: Harry Styles

The clean-cut, fun-loving, teen-pop of One Direction was always going to come with an expiration date. When that day finally came, it was Harry Styles who truly made the most dramatic stylistic U-turn. Going from sugary-sweet popstar to something closer to glam-rock is quite the pivot if you ask us. His early releases hinted that something a little more serious was on its way, but it was in his live shows that we saw Styles truly spread his wings. The fashion became more daring, the stage-shows more elaborate, and as a result, his popularity as a solo performer hit a totally new level.

#19: Tori Amos

There was always something about Tori Amos that was destined for international success. Even in her earliest years as part of the band Y Kant Tori Read, her charisma and natural talent was clear. Prior to that, though, she underwent a symbolic and spiritual transformation after a breakup that would end up resulting in her signature look. For her, dying her hair red was a way of solidifying her newfound freedom and attitude towards those around her. Little did she know that it would become an integral part of the visual element of her art form. The rest, as they say, is history.

#18: Madonna

In pop music, you either follow the trend or become the trend. For Madonna, she had her finger firmly on the pulse of what was happening in the early 1980s, but as the decade wore on, she knew something needed to change. So, in the era of her album “Like a Prayer”, she reinvented herself - and it wouldn’t be for the last time. This version of Madonna was more provocative and bolder in the way she presented herself in terms of her fashion and her music videos. To say that her gamble paid off would be an understatement. There’s a reason she’s called the “Queen of Pop”, folks.

#17: Black Eyed Peas

One group who have undergone several dramatic switch-ups is the Black Eyed Peas. Once an alt-hip-hop group who were walking the same path as the likes of De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, the 2000s hit them like a train. With the addition of singer Fergie came a real push into the mainstream and a slicker, more marketable image to go with it. Then, after a dominant run through the middle of the decade, they dove even further into the pool of pop-music with 2009’s “The E.N.D”. By this point, they were utterly unrecognisable from their original form, but their record sales were well and truly through the roof.

#16: Björk

It’s hard to imagine a world where Björk wasn’t one of music’s most visually striking musicians. Upon making a splash as a member of The Sugarcubes, Björk’s first album, entitled “Debut”, saw her present herself as a relatively straightforward experimental pop character. Or at least straightforward compared to what would eventually follow. At this point, there were no extravagant costumes, just Björk and her music. Of course, this legendary Icelandic artist had zero interest in playing it safe and as soon as she could, she made a series of left-turns into the deepest recesses of her craft. In other words, she became the Björk we all know and love today.

#15: Lady Gaga

After spending years plying her trade, when Lady Gaga finally announced herself to the world with 2008’s album “The Fame”, she was already extremely accomplished. However, her theatrical style and costumes weren’t always there. Gaga was out working on songs, growing in confidence as a stage performer and making connections long before her debut single dropped. Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, yes, that lead single was “Just Dance” - a chart-topper in several different countries. It just goes to show that patience can be a real virtue in the world of show business.

#14: Marvin Gaye

During the height of the Motown era, Marvin Gaye was a hit machine, and although he had not truly flexed his artistic muscles, the results were consistently good. However, by the end of the 60s, Gaye had grown disillusioned with his clean-cut image and role as a cog in a larger machine. So in the following decade, he branched out - taking the role of primary songwriter and decision-maker in his own career. He ditched his usual wardrobe, grew out his beard, and began to sing about the things he saw on the street every day. The resulting album was “What’s Going On”, a monumental artistic achievement in music. As it turned out, Marvin was correct to assume that he had much, much more to give.

#13: P!NK

Although it was by no means a bad first impression, P!NK would not truly single herself out from the crowd until she moved past her debut album, “Can’t Take Me Home”. She was frustrated by the musical direction the record took and her own lack of creative control. So when her sophomore effort, “Missundaztood”, reintroduced her as a far edgier figure, it resonated a lot more. From there, P!NK has not stayed in one place for too long, changing up her look and style repeatedly, which makes her enduring success no surprise whatsoever.

#12: Chappell Roan

Considering how much of a sensation she was when she finally found her path, it’s crazy to think that Chappell Roan didn’t initially make a big impact. Her 2017 EP “School Nights” was not a bad first effort, but one of the biggest reasons for its lack of commercial success was probably that it didn’t really single Roan out from the crowd. Any fears she had about going unnoticed were pretty confidently addressed with the 2020 single “Pink Pony Club”. Armed with a totally new aesthetic and musical direction, Chappell Roan was clearly bringing something fresh to the table. The fact that her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess”, was so huge proved her correct ten times over.

#11: Katy Perry

There are not many artists in the world of music who can make a U-turn quite like the one pulled off by Katy Perry. Once known as Katy Hudson, believe it or not, she actually got her start in the world of Christian pop in 2001 - releasing a self-titled debut that sold about two hundred copies. Jump forward to 2008, and her album “One of the Boys” left little doubt as to her pop appeal. All of a sudden, Perry was singing about kissing girls and boasting a very different image to the one she began with. The album was a humongous success, turning Perry into a household name and one of the biggest pop sensations of the 2010s.

#10: Alanis Morrisette

Alanis Morrisette was not quite the instant success that you might think. Her first two albums weren’t indicative of the alt-rock angst that would eventually follow. When she finally dropped her more clean-cut image after album number two failed to break through internationally, the Alanis we all know and love was born. “Jagged Little Pill” was one of the biggest sensations of the 1990s - a bona fide classic of the era. Gone was the dance-pop that had filled her first two albums - and in its place, a truly dark and attitude-heavy sound that proved to be an instant hit. The change in sound was accompanied by a change in look, which was darker, grungier and less frothy.

#9: KISS

KISS made their start in the early 1970s, originally coming from the ashes of Wicked Lester - a band which included frontmen Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. They recorded a single album under that name, but it was shelved by their record label, never to see the light of day. Simmons and Stanley realized they needed to change their direction and do something to make them stand out. And so, the addition of Peter Criss and Ace Frehley came with some experimental makeup and costumes. The rest, as they say, is history. KISS briefly took off their makeup in the 80s, but in general, it is a huge part of their image and appeal.

#8: Miley Cyrus

Shedding the reputation you’ve spent your whole adolescent life building is a tough task, but for Miley Cyrus, watching her distance herself from her Hannah Montana moniker has been quite the experience. As Miley grew up, her style changed just as much as her priorities as an artist. However, after hinting at a change in tone in her 2010 album “Can’t Be Tamed,” Cyrus well and truly ripped up the playbook with her 2013 release “Bangerz.” Bolstered by singles “Wrecking Ball” and “We Can’t Stop” and sporting a provocative new look, Cyrus found a totally new level of success, and she followed that momentum all the way through the decade and into the 2020s.

#7: Lou Reed

Lou Reed finally hit a wall with his band The Velvet Underground as the 60s came to a close. After four albums, it just didn’t seem as though commercial success was in their future. So Reed decided to carve out his own path, enlisting David Bowie and Mick Ronson as his producers for his first major solo success, “Transformer.” The album and its tour saw Reed jump on board with the ongoing glam-rock movement - introducing bleached blond hair and makeup to his look. The songs themselves, of course, stood out. However, Reed’s willingness to ditch his sunglasses and dark attire in favour of something a little more colourful kickstarted his acclaimed solo career.

#6: Elvis Presley

During the ‘60s, Elvis Presley seemed to prefer movie roles to music and even though he made a successful return to the stage in 1968 for his comeback special, he still needed to find a new spark. While it wasn’t instantaneous, eventually the next period of Presley’s career would present some results. “Suspicious Minds” was Elvis’ first number-one hit in years and a series of highly lucrative concerts and extravagant stage productions signalled the beginning of a new chapter in his story, one with a much flashier look. Ultimately, this run of Vegas residency shows would burn him out to the point that it contributed to his untimely death. Even still, when that day came, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind who “The King” was.

#5: Elton John

Elton John came onto the scene with a pretty regular, everyman kind of appearance. However, after proving his compositional chops on his early records, John became one of the most sought-after performers on the entire planet when he glammed up his image considerably. From the mid-70s onwards, Elton really let himself get loose with his fashion. All of a sudden, a ticket to see Elton John in concert bought you a lot more than just a musical experience. The stage shows became more flamboyant, his costumes were increasingly eye-catching, and, of course, John’s revenues well and truly soared!

#4: The Bee Gees

On the long list of inspired musical left turns, who can forget just how shocked the Bee Gees left the world when they pivoted from soft rock and folk to disco in 1975. In the two years before that, the band had been struggling to replicate their earlier chart success, making the need for a change as clear as day. What we didn’t see coming was a move from their original style to all-out disco, complete with an appropriate new sense of fashion. And the biggest shock of all? The Bee Gees became a dominant force in the late 70s, contributing some of the most essential songs in the entire genre. Is there a more well-known disco song than “Stayin’ Alive?” We’re not sure that there is!

#3: Tina Turner

There might not be a single greater return to form than the one pulled off by the legendary Tina Turner. She carved out success initially as part of a duo with her husband, Ike Turner. Years of abuse at his hands led her to leave him in 1976, and her first two solo albums failed commercially. Turner was dropped by her label and took five years to make a third try at solo success. Thankfully, that album was 1984’s “Private Dancer,” a multi-platinum release that saw her climb right back up to the top of the charts. The album had a maturity to it which was reflected in Turner’s new appearance as well. After years of uncertainty, Turner had pulled off the unthinkable!

#2: The Beatles

The Beatles managed to earn a level of fame that was totally unheard of in the early 60s, but the effect of being that very same group for even a second longer would’ve ruined them. For John, Paul, George, and Ringo, the music was everything. So when their adoring fans screamed so loud at their concerts that they couldn’t even hear themselves play, they made the sensible decision to retire from touring. But that wasn’t the only thing they did. The Beatles truly matured in the mid-60s, growing out their hair, changing their clothing styles, and becoming four individuals, instead of one corporate package. We’re glad they did too, because for many people, their best music was released after they made this move.

#1: David Bowie

David Bowie was no stranger to changing his image. While we could talk about his time as the Thin White Duke or his later move to new wave-infused disco on the album “Let’s Dance,” Bowie’s most significant switch-up came a lot earlier. After failing to make a mark for most of the late 60s, he finally found chart success with “Space Oddity,” but it wasn’t a formula that would last. Despite releasing the excellent “The Man Who Sold The World,” Bowie wouldn’t find his true sticking power as a rockstar until he became Ziggy Stardust. The glam roots were first planted on the album “Hunky Dory,” but everything after that saw Bowie expressing himself through his image in the most perfect way imaginable.

But what musical style-switchup springs to mind first for you? Let us know in the comments below.