Best of British: Musicians
After Heart's Best of British Weekend, we take a look at the best musicians to come from these fine shores...
1. The Beatles
The Fab Four were arguably the first world famous band when they led the 'British Invasion' back in the early 1960s, and they remain the best selling act of all time. Songs like 'Hey Jude', 'Yesterday' and 'All You Need Is Love' will always be remembered from the first great British band.
2. The Bee Gees
Robin Gibb sadly passed away on May 17th, but his music with the Bee Gees will live on forever. With brothers Maurice and Barry, Robin sold over 220 million records, releasing classic songs such as 'Staying Alive' and 'More Than A Woman'. Their journey started back in 1967, before they went on to take Disco by storm in the late 1970s.
3. Sir Elton John
Sir Elton John is one of the finest musicians ever to come from these shores, having sold a staggering 250 million records worldwide. In many ways the quintessential Brit, Elton's hits include 'Your Song', 'Tiny Dancer', and 'Candle In the Wind'.
4. Queen
Fronted by the impossibly charismatic Freddie Mercury, Queen are one of the most successful bands of all time. Some estimates suggest their worldwide sales are as high as 300 million records... And who could forget their performance at Live Aid? Their legacy truly began in 1975, with the release of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'.
5. Kate Bush
Kate Bush was just 19 when she became the first woman to have a UK number one with a self-written song, 'Wuthering Heights', in 1978. She continued to break records throughout her career, winning a BRIT Award in 1987 and becoming the only female artist to have Top 5 albums in the UK over five successive decades.
6. Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet were pop princes in the 1980s, when they had a string of hits including 'Gold', 'True', and 'To Cut a Long Story Short'.
7. Eurythmics
Eurythmics, an electro pop duo consisting of Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, released their first single in 1981. They ruled the airwaves with smash hits like 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' and 'Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves', with Motown legend Aretha Franklin.
8. Phil Collins
Phil Collins had been drummer in the band Genesis in the 1970s before releasing his first single in 1981. Collins won numerous music awards throughout his glittering career, including five BRIT Awards. His hits include 'Another Day In Paradise', 'In the Air Tonight', and 'Against All Odds'.
9. Duran Duran
Another band whose first single came out in 1981! We've lost count of the amount of times we've danced the night away to stompers like 'Rio' and 'A View to Kill'. Duran Duran were at the forefront of the 'Second British Invasion' of the United States.
10. Wham!
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley sold 25 million records in just four years from 1982 to 1986. Wham! will always have a place on our party playlist thanks to mega hits such as 'Club Tropicana' and 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go'.
11. Pet Shop Boys
Three time BRIT Award winners, Pet Shop Boys embody 1980s British pop with songs like 'West End Girls' and their classic take on Elvis Presley's 'Always on My Mind'. Their first single was released in 1984.
12. George Michael
George Michael is one of the UK's most successful solo artists, racking up sales of over 100 million worldwide since 1984. It's hard to name just a few of Michael's best songs because there are so many, but we love 'Faith', 'Freedom 90', and 'Careless Whisper'.
13. Take That
Since their debut single in 1991, Take That have cemented their place in the UK's musical history. Their hits include 'Greatest Day', 'Back For Good', and 'Patience'. Last year, Take That performed a record breaking stint of eight shows at Wembley Stadium, which just goes to show the hit makers are more popular than ever. They're not slowing down, either: Gary Barlow recently announced that a new album is on the way in 2013.
14. Spice Girls
It was all about Girl Power in the 1990s as the Spice mania swept the nation! They're still the most successful female group of all time, having sold 75 million records worldwide thanks to hits like 'Wannabe' and 'Who Do You Think You Are'.
15. Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams left Take That in 1996 to embark on a hugely successful solo career. Thanks to a string of unforgettable releases, from 'Angels' and 'Let Me Entertain You' to 'Rock DJ' and 'Millennium', Robbie is the best-selling British solo artist in the United Kingdom. A true icon.
16. Will Young
Will Young has had a string of platinum albums and won two BRIT Awards since his debut single in 2002. His hits include 'Anything Is Possible', 'Evergreen' and 'Jealousy'.
17. Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud started as they meant to go on in 2002 with the number 1 single 'Sound of the Underground'. The band hold the Guinness World Record for being the 'Most Consecutive Top Ten Entries in the UK by a Female Group'. Who doesn't love to dance to a bit of 'Love Machine' or 'Something Kinda Ooh'?
18. Lily Allen
Lily Allen was found on Myspace in 2006 before being catapulted to stardom. With great songs like 'Smile' and 'The Fear', she wasn't going to stay undiscovered for very long, was she?
19. Leona Lewis
Since her debut in 2006, Leona Lewis has become a global superstar. The 27-year-old's voice, heard on huge hits like 'Bleeding Love' and 'Better In Time' is one of the most breathtaking around, helping her to become the multi-platinum selling artist she is today.
20. Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke won the X Factor in 2008, after which her version of 'Hallelujah' became the top-selling single that year. Alexandra has gone from strength to strength with hits like 'Bad Boys' and 'Elephant'.
21. JLS
Since 2009, JLS have been dominating the British charts. Five seems to be the magic number for a band who have sold five million records and have had five UK number 1 singles, including 'She Makes Me Wanna', 'Beat Again', and 'Everybody In Love'.
22. Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole has become the nation's sweetheart since her first solo release away from Girls Aloud in 2009. Both her albums today have been #1s, and it looks like her third, the upcoming 'A Million Lights', will be too.
23. Olly Murs
Our Heart Skips A Beat every time the Essex-born hunk's songs kick in. Crowd pleasers like 'Dance With Me Tonight' and 'Oh My Goodness' never fail to get the dance floor going. Olly's first single was released in 2010.
24. The Wanted
The Wanted are the latest band to have a number 1 with their first single - 2010's 'All Time Low' is a modern classic. The band have been storming the US charts this year with their platinum hit 'Glad You Came', so it seems the only way is up for these chart-toppers.
25. Adele
Adele has broken so many records in the last year it's hard to keep up! Her sophomore album, 21, is the best selling album of the 21st century. The 24-year-old is blessed with a beautiful voice and hits like 'Someone Like You' and 'Rolling In the Deep' will alway stop us in our tracks. Her debut LP, 19, was released in 2008.
26. Jessie J
A relative newcomer to the list, Jessie J has had a meteoric rise to stardom since winning the Critics' Choice BRIT Award 2011. Jessie will be releasing new material in the next year, following hits such as 'Price Tag' and 'Who You Are'.
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