Top 5 Success Stories of 2009

December 31st, 2009

success stories

Top 5 success stories of 2009? Hmmm, you might say. What would you consider a success story? Let’s take a trip back to January 2009, shall we? Back then, you probably would have thought Drake was the hotel in downtown Toronto, and when asked about Justin Bieber, you would have said “Justin Bieber? Who’s that?” Now back to December 2009. Most music fans would now know Drake as the Lil’ Wayne prodigy, and would start screaming after they heard Justin Bi-(no time to say his whole name). So basically, a 2009 success story is an artist or band who was not popular before 2009, and truly shot to stardom throughout the year. I’m talking multiple hits, sold out concerts, awards, and maybe even a scandal or two. Rags to riches. Zero to hero. I think you get the point. Anyway, on to the Top 5 Success Stories of 2009 (not in order. They are ALL winners in my books).

1) Justin Bieber
Move over, Jonas Brothers. A couple of years ago, this Stratford, Ontario native was singing in his bathroom, trying to make fame on YouTube. He did just that, catching the eye of Usher, and soon getting signed to his label, Island Records. I don’t think I was the only one who thought this little guy would be a one hit wonder. Boy, was I wrong! Justin released his first single “One Time” this summer, which got teen girls all around the world screaming. He then released his album My World, which spun off singles like “One Less Lonely Girl”, “Favorite Girl” and “Love Me”. He’s now playing gigs for President Obama, and even sold out Madison Square Garden. All this, wothout even turning 16.

2) Taylor Swift
Back in 2008, Taylor was barely known outside the tight-knit country community. Right after she released her second album Fearless in late 2008, she captured the hearts of North America with her autobiography-like tunes, sparkly dresses, and her down-to-earth personality. She then topped the Billboard Charts for 11-non consecutive weeks, which is the most time an album has spent at #1 since the year 2000. She’s broken so many records and won so many awards, it’s insane. She even beat out MJ recently at the AMA’s for Artist of the Year, and won the coveted Entertainer of the Year award at the CMAs. And who could forget the VMA scandal? Redefining the way North America thinks about country music, Taylor has definitely become a household name.

3) Drake
Before this year, most of us knew Drake as Aubrey Graham, the goofy, wheelchair kid on Degrassi. Sure, Drake had a mix tape out in 2008, but it wasn’t until his music was given to Lil’ Wayne that he went from Toronto actor to International rap star. He has since then worked with rap legends such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, and more. He’s even written for Dr. Dre! Not to mention his hot singles “Best I Ever Had”, “Successful”, “Every Girl” and “Forever”. He recently finished his tour with Lil’ Wayne, and is gearing up for the release of his first full-legnth album Thank Me Later, which is set for a March 2010 release. He was even Rihanna’s rumored fling. With friends in high places, Drake has really got it going for himself.

4) Stereos
This time last year, the Canadian natives Stereos were just another band trying to make it in the business. After getting the thumbs up from the judges on MuchMusic’s DisBand, Stereos went on to sign with Universal Music Canada. Their success came quickly, after they gained popularity with the ladies with their own unique hip-hip/pop infused music style. Their first single “Summer Girl” was downloaded 40,000 times in the first week, making it platinum in Canada. The single also debuted at #2 on the Canadian Hot 100. The band is currently on their first cross-country tour. What’s next for the Stereos, you may ask? The band is opening for Hedley on their cross-country tour starting next March. The Stereos rise to fame was truly a classic Cinderella Story.

5) Lady Gaga
Rah ra ooh la la! This leading Lady got her start in the music industry by writing for other artists. Gaga then decided to give the whole “performer” thing a try for herself. She started off performing in bars in the Lower East Side of New York. She then signed with Def Jam records, and got to work with Akon and RedOne. This spawned her two first hit singles “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”. As much as North America loved her catchy tunes, what really caught most people’s eye was Gaga’s crazy stage presence (costumes, staging, etc). She was definitely already known for being “out there”, but it wasn’t until her next singles “Love Game” and “Paparazzi” when she started to go truly Gaga! I mean, did you see her performances at the MMVAs and the VMAs? Gaga is currently on her Monster Ball Tour, which will soon go international later this year. 2009 was truly the year of the Gaga!

Tags: correspondents, drake, justin bieber, lady gaga, stereos, success stories, taylor swift