Many singers from the early 2000s have completely transformed as their fame increases over the years. Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber are only a few names that come to mind when I think of the singers that I have listened to since middle school. These three singers have gone through enormous changes, but are these changes for better or for worse?

Let’s first take a look at Ed Sheeran. Sheeran is from the United Kingdom, and he maintains the status of one of the world’s best-selling musical artists. Sheeran plays the guitar and uses his voice to create genres of pop, folk-pop, hip hop, and soft rock. His first single was released in 2011, and since then he has grown in popularity. Most recently, he released “Shivers” and “Bad Habits.” His older music was much more distinctive, as his new music seems to have conformed to popular trends. Many of his new songs do not highlight his voice, which is so special because of his accent. Sheeran’s music is definitely worth listening to, but his transformation is debatable, as some love his new music while others prefer his older songs.

Taylor Swift is another artist that seems to have grown with us. Her first songs were released when she was 14 years old, which was in 2004. Her first top 40 hit was titled “Tim McGraw.” Many of her old songs were country; however, as she recently turned into the “New Taylor,” she is focusing more on pop songs. As Swift grew up, she seems to have changed even more than Sheeran. Earlier this year, she created new recordings of her old songs, calling them “Taylor’s Version.” Personally, I am not a fan of the change in Swift over the past few years, but this is likely because of the emotions attached to her old music. 

Another popular artist from the early 2000s is Justin Bieber. At 16 years old, he released “Baby,” which was immediately a huge hit. Since then, he released similar music, although his voice has become much more mature. His most recent releases are “STAY,” “Peaches,” “Anyone,” and my personal favorite, “Ghost.” While I prefer Swift’s older songs, I definitely recommend Bieber’s new music. It has been interesting to grow with these singers and experience their transformations, so I encourage you to listen to and compare their old songs versus new music. Tell Pages by Page what you think in the comments section!

Photo Credits: The List