- 10 months ago
From chart-topping hits to unforgettable performances, these former boy band members proved they could make it big all on their own. Watch as we highlight legendary solo careers that outshined even their group days — from iconic voices and dance moves to versatile musical styles that captivated fans worldwide. Which solo journey resonates most with you? Share your favorites in the comments!
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00:00Welcome to Mizmojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the ex-boy band members
00:09that became mega successful in their own right.
00:2120. Jesse McCartney, Dream Street
00:24There are some musicians so well-known on their own that it can be easy to forget that they got their start in a group.
00:36Jesse McCartney is a perfect example of this, with his later work easily eclipsing that released by his former act, Dream Street,
00:43a short-lived boy band from the early aughts.
00:46Beautiful Soul catapulted him to teen idol status, starting off his solo career with a bang.
00:59He continued to dominate, both with his own work and that he provided to other artists.
01:04He flexed his songwriting skills on tracks like Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love.
01:08Though his star has faded since his peak, he's still undoubtedly one of the defining pop artists of the 2000s.
01:16It became like the number one song in 32 countries and one of the biggest songs of the decade.
01:20It was like all these things, and I'm like, oh my gosh, how am I ever going to top that?
01:25You know, and it was really one of the most validating moments in my career musically as a songwriter.
01:32Number 19. Johnny Gill, New Edition
01:35Following the departure of Bobby Brown from New Edition in 1986, Gill came in and helped them achieve a more mature sound.
01:51Though Johnny Gill had released some solo work, he was able to use his newfound success from the group to help bolster his song's popularity.
01:58His 1990 self-titled album earned him a few hit singles and a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
02:13Despite a 15-year-long hiatus, his comeback in the 2010s proved he still had his musical chops.
02:20He even saw a surge in fame in 2023, thanks to one of his older tracks going viral on TikTok, showing that his art still appeals to those outside of his core fanbase.
02:30Number 18. Donny Osmond, The Osmonds
02:41He created the blueprint for former boy band members to go solo.
02:45At just 6 years old, Donny Osmond made his debut with his older brothers in The Osmonds.
02:51At 14, he reached even higher heights as an individual artist in Teen Sensation.
02:56His musical output throughout the 1970s was met with success, earning him millions of adoring fans.
03:09In the 1980s, he partnered with Peter Gabriel, and his career peaked a second time, proving he was more than a flash in the pan.
03:17Cause our love is too strong to step away
03:21Since then, Osmond has continued to steadily release work, with his 18th album coming out in 2021.
03:30Though not as lucrative as his initial output, it goes to show how passionate he is about music.
03:35Nobody can do what you do
03:40Nobody, nobody can
03:43Number 17. Niall Horan, One Direction
03:47You don't have to lead a musical group in order to find individual success.
03:59While Niall Horan had plenty of solos during his days in One Direction, their eventual hiatus in 2016 allowed his voice to shine on its own.
04:08He had a slew of popular singles throughout the remainder of the 2010s, varying from ballads to faster-paced rock-inspired tunes.
04:23Each one further cemented his place as a respected artist in his own right.
04:28His albums reached similar heights, with each one peaking in the top five of the Billboard 200.
04:34Though he's been quiet since the release of the show in 2023, his next project could send him right back up to the top of the charts.
04:42I'll follow you till there's no tomorrow
04:47I'll follow you
04:50Number 16. Omarion, B2K
04:53I'm just trying to know you, yeah
04:56I'm just trying to know you, yeah
05:00At a time when boy bands thrived at the forefront of a musical revolution throughout the 90s,
05:06B2K fit the bill perfectly as an R&B chart-topping act.
05:10At age 15, Omarion became the band's lead singer.
05:13Though they disbanded in 2004, Omarion took the R&B genre and truly made it his own, seeing his solo career skyrocket to impressive levels of success.
05:24I really want to work this out cause I'm tired of fighting, fighting
05:28And I really hope you still wanna meet the way I want you
05:30With hits like Icebox and Know You Better, Omarion has collaborated with some of the best in the business.
05:36Whether it's his on-point dancing, always eye-catching outfits, or memorable music, the former boy band member just keeps getting better and better.
05:53Number 15. Brian McFadden, Westlife
05:57Westlife remains to this day one of the most successful Irish bands of all time, selling over 11 million albums over their 14-year career.
06:14In 2004, and after 6 years in Westlife, Brian McFadden departed the band to launch a winner of a solo career.
06:21No one knows me, but they know my name
06:25It got off to the perfect start, with his first single, Real To Me, reaching number one in the UK, Denmark, and Ireland.
06:33Songs like Like Only A Woman Can and Just Say So catapulted him into the spotlight, and deservedly so.
06:39I didn't want it
06:41But now I can't live without it
06:46Number 14. Gary Barlow, Take That
06:49Though Take That may have been formed around him, he's proven that he can do just fine without their name to bolster him.
06:56In the twist of separation, you excelled at being free
07:01As the lead singer of the group, Gary Barlow helped propel them into national fame.
07:07After they disbanded in 1996, he immediately launched his solo career.
07:11Both his initial singles and his album were met with resounding success, priming him for even higher peaks in the 21st century.
07:19No baby, I can't help myself
07:26After taking some time off to produce for other artists and reunite with his former boy band, Barlow resumed releasing his own work in 2012.
07:34Since then, he's worked with huge names like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Michael Buble, all while still dominating the charts in the United Kingdom.
07:50Number 13. Ronan Keating, Boyzone
07:54Boyzone burst onto the scene in 1994, releasing several well-charting love ballads and commercial hits.
08:07Though disbanding in 1999, lead singer Ronan Keating initiated an impressive solo career.
08:14To date, he's sold over 20 million records and even holds a world record as the only artist to have 30 consecutive top 10 singles on the UK chart.
08:24With Boyzone reuniting in 2007, he continued to release memorable music solo and with the band.
08:36We could say it's the luck of the Irish, but in this case, it's his trademark powerful vocals and versatile musical catalog, which see him truly get better with age.
08:46Ain't that what it's all about, oh, livin' our old terrible way?
08:54Number 12. Zayn Malik, One Direction
08:57Thought you'd like to know that he won't touch you like I do
09:03When the news broke that he'd be leaving One Direction to pursue his own solo work, fans everywhere were devastated.
09:10Though it was a risky move, Zayn Malik knew forging his own path would be the best way to truly express himself musically.
09:17He saw immediate success with his reintroduction pillow talk and even became the first singer from the United Kingdom to hit the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with a debut release.
09:28I'm seeing the pain, seeing the pleasure Nobody but you, body but me, body but us, bodies together
09:35He soared to even higher levels thanks to collaborations with artists like Sia and Taylor Swift, maintaining his hitmaker status throughout the 2010s.
09:44His newest work, while not as instantly popular, has exhibited an impressive amount of artistic growth, leaving fans excited for what he'll do next.
09:53I know from all the years that my feelings never changed
09:59Number 11. Nick Jonas, Jonas Brothers
10:02We can get higher, this level to your love, and I keep on climbing up
10:10For five years, the Jonas Brothers were the musical family dominating the pop charts, with their string of catchy songs selling over 17 million albums worldwide.
10:20That is, until Kevin, Joe, and Nick officially disbanded in 2013.
10:25We feel like we're best suited to do our own individual things, all things we're passionate about, and choose to be brothers first.
10:32While Joe released solo album Fast Life and formed pop rock band DNCE, we have to award a spot on our list to Nick Jonas for consistently releasing popular songs all on his own, all while having a pretty impressive acting career.
10:46It just goes to show that being the youngest member in a boy band doesn't mean you can't have one killer solo career.
10:53It's my mind to be hellish, I still get jealous
10:59Number 10. Taemin, SHINee
11:02He may be one of the longest lasting members of the K-pop band SHINee, but he's still managed to create a name for himself in his own right.
11:18Since 2008, Taemin has impressed fans and critics alike with his sheer talent.
11:23After getting his start with the group, he began releasing his own work in 2014.
11:36His initial projects both hit the top of the charts, and that was only the beginning.
11:41His following work proved to be just as popular, achieving success around the globe.
11:46Both he and his career have been so influential that he's even referred to as the idol's idol.
11:52A sign of just how impactful he's been for the genre and the industry as a whole.
11:56He's the very definition of the term, icon.
12:16From his days in Wham! and beyond, George Michael was born to entertain.
12:20After all, it isn't every day that a former boy band member gets to collaborate with a legend on his debut solo single.
12:35His first project as a single artist remained in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 for nearly a year and netted five chart-topping singles.
12:43He would go on to prove he was no one-album wonder, with the rest of his work doing extremely well commercially.
12:49He continued to impress until his untimely death in 2016, devastating listeners worldwide.
12:55Though it was cut short, his legacy will ensure he'll never be forgotten.
13:00So I'm never gonna dance again, the way I danced with you.
13:088. G-Dragon, Big Bang
13:11He's no stranger to success.
13:21Known along with the rest of Big Bang as the kings of K-pop, G-Dragon is one of the most influential figures in the genre.
13:28The group helped him achieve mainstream fame in the late 2000s.
13:32But it was his work at the turn of the decade that shot him to the top.
13:43His debut was a smash hit, and at the time was the biggest selling solo album by a Korean artist.
13:48His subsequent projects have been even more ambitious, featuring an eclectic mix of genres and featured artists.
13:55Each one has sold well in his home country and beyond, with his most recent charting globally.
14:01It's no wonder why he's earned global respect and comparisons to icons like Michael Jackson.
14:067. Bobby Brown, New Edition
14:15His aspirations to become a professional singer from a young age earned Bobby Brown his start as a founding member of New Edition at just age 9.
14:33The band encountered well-deserved success, with classic tracks like Candy Girl earning them a loyal fan base.
14:39Brown exited the group in 1985, signaling the beginning of a solo career that would unfold with several top ten hits including the classic Every Little Step.
14:48Over time, his fusion of R&B and pop has enabled Brown to become a force in the music industry.
15:00He has also notably performed on and off with New Edition over the years, continuing to do so today.
15:066. Lionel Richie, The Commodores
15:15American soul band The Commodores has been responsible for several grooves over time, fusing genres of R&B, pop and funk to get you dancing.
15:30Though founding member Lionel Richie was a part of the band's most famous line-up, he departed in 1982 to create a brilliant catalogue of solo music.
15:39Between his solo work and The Commodores, he sold over 100 million albums, won four Grammys and even took home an Oscar.
15:55His music is memorable and appealing, with Richie's soulful sound leaving us with some of the most unforgettable songs in history.
16:02With a voice that's beyond groovy, Lionel Richie undoubtedly deserves a spot on this list.
16:145. Ricky Martin, Menudo
16:23This Puerto Rican vocalist boasts as one of the most recognized voices in music.
16:27He got his start as a 13-year-old boy in band Menudo, though unlike many other entries on this list, he never sang lead.
16:35After leaving at age 17 to pursue a solo career, he went on to sell millions of records worldwide and record some iconic tracks that you no doubt have shaken your bonbon to at least a few times.
16:47Whether Ricky Martin is singing in English or Spanish, his versatility and strength as a performer ticks all the boxes.
17:02Did we mention his incredible dance moves?
17:04They're on point each and every time.
17:064. Harry Styles, One Direction
17:25Since his days in One Direction, his career has been on an upward trajectory.
17:29Harry Styles first sang his way into our hearts as a member of the British boy band.
17:34Though he was beloved then, he gained even more respect following the release of his debut single in 2017.
17:40All three of his long-form projects have been globally successful and his mega-hit, as it was, became the best performing song of 2022.
17:57He's also beloved in the awards circuit, with over two dozen accolades across a variety of shows.
18:04With this in mind, fans and critics alike are waiting with bated breath for his next release, which has the potential to be his biggest one yet.
18:123. Robbie Williams, Take That
18:29When Robbie Williams asks to entertain you, there's no denying him.
18:34Starting out in Take That in 1990, he remained a part of their enormous success until leaving in 1995.
18:41From there, he kickstarted a solo career, with his first seven albums hitting number one in the UK.
18:46Well, these are strange days, we're living in today, said I'll be that same.
18:53His brief return to Take That saw their 2010 album, Progress, become the third-fasting-selling record of all time in the UK.
19:00Proving his versatility of success solo and in a band.
19:04Known for an energetic stage presence, dance-inducing songs, and overall fun demeanor, he's among the most successful British artists of all time.
19:132. Justin Timberlake, NSYNC
19:22When you're coming from a boy band that's sold over 50 million, yes that's 50 million records over a seven year career, there might be a bit of pressure to succeed if you're going to go solo.
19:38Justin Timberlake did exactly that, carving out an unforgettable solo career consisting of several massive hits.
19:45He's talented and versatile, racking up hits while also succeeding as a well-rounded and charming actor.
19:59By bringing sexy back, Justin Timberlake went from being that lead singer with the curly yellow locks to one of the greatest solo success stories of the modern era.
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20:311. Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5
20:36The King of Pop truly deserves his throne as our number one pick here.
20:40Michael Jackson started his career alongside his brothers in The Jackson 5, which became pioneers in the pop genre with hits like ABC and I Want You Back.
20:56Vocally, Michael was always the strongest member, and in 1971, he pursued a solo career.
21:10His eventual popularity spawned years of success, seeing him exert a musical energy like no other could, on stage and in the studio.
21:19Jackson was more than a singer.
21:21His incredible ability to pull off memorable dance routines and ignite the pop genre to unexplainable levels is legendary.
21:33Which former band member do you think has the most impressive career? Let us know in the comments below.
21:38Let us know in the comments below.
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