Popular R&B: Western Music Artist Rankings [2025]

Can’t Stop the MusicVillage People36rank/position

Village People – Can’t Stop The Music – 20-7-1980 • TopPop

From the late 1970s to the 1980s, the Village People enjoyed worldwide popularity with their catchy disco music.

They released many classic songs everyone knows, such as Y.

M.

C.

A.

, covered by Hideki Saijo, and Go West, covered by the Pet Shop Boys.

The song introduced here is the theme for the 1980 musical film Can’t Stop the Music, which centers on the Village People.

Although the film received dismal reviews, many people may be reminded of those days when they hear this track.

The catchy melody that repeats the title is great, isn’t it?

I Love The NightlifeAlicia Bridges37rank/position

Alicia Bridges – I Love The Nightlife (1978)

The birth of a song that epitomizes the golden age of disco came in 1978.

Alicia Bridges, an American artist, delivered a dazzling dance number that vividly portrays a woman heading to the dance floor to mend a broken heart.

Infused with elements of Memphis soul, the track peaked at No.

5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and gained popularity around the world, including in Australia and the Netherlands.

It has been featured on numerous soundtracks and continues to be cherished across generations, appearing in films such as 1979’s Love at First Bite and 1994’s Priscilla.

It’s a song you can genuinely enjoy when you feel like cutting loose on the dance floor.

No More TearsBarbra Streisand & Donna Summer38rank/position

Barbra Streisand / Donna Summer – No More Tears (Enough is Enough) (Extended Version)

This is a song that moves you with its intro piano chord progression and a lyrical style that gently, patiently sings from the very first line.

If you’re a fan of Western music from the ’70s, you might know it: a track by the actress and singer Barbra Streisand.

Or so you think—midway through, it makes a dramatic shift, transforming into a super funky, danceable tune.

It’s a legendary track that had a profound influence on later generations.

Call MeBlondie39rank/position

Blondie – Call me

A classic by Blondie, a female band that epitomizes new wave, with their one-of-a-kind sound and super cool, edgy vocals.

They’re an electro band known for their groundbreaking sound that shattered the norms and conventions of the time.

It’s a new wave rock number with fans around the world, the kind you’ll occasionally feel like revisiting—never losing its luster no matter how much time passes.

Upside DownDiana Ross40rank/position

Upside Down

Diana Ross, who not only had the talent of a soul singer but also achieved great success in the pop field.

Released in 1980, this work is a dance classic she created in pursuit of a career breakthrough, teaming up with Chic, masters of the disco sound.

Over a groove woven from a funky bass and crisp guitar, it portrays a woman whose heart is thrown into chaos by a capricious lover.

From September 1980, the song spent four consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the U.

S.

charts, and the landmark album “diana” became the biggest hit of her career.

This timeless gem, which makes you want to start dancing, is perfect for those moments when you want to lift your spirits.

Crystal TearsElmiene41rank/position

Elmiene – Crystal Tears (Official Video)

Released in March 2024, Elmiene’s track—marked by his delicate, emotive vocals—centers on the theme of revisiting lost love.

Created through his first collaboration with Grammy-winning producer D’Mile, the song reflects on past mistakes and expresses a yearning to mend a broken relationship.

Evoking the torch songs of James Blake and the soul of D’Angelo, its musicality is vividly rendered through Elmiene’s voice, resulting in a striking work.

Beginning in April 2024, a tour of eight cities across Europe and the United States will feature this track among others.

It’s a must-listen for anyone seeking to heal the pain of heartbreak or discover a new talent in R&B.

Sex MachineJames Brown42rank/position

james brown – sex machine

Legendary soul singer James Brown.

He is known not only for soul and R&B but also as an artist who had a tremendous influence on funk.

He debuted in the 1950s, but initially found success only on charts in the American South and in R&B.

It was in the 1960s that he achieved nationwide popularity, and with him at the forefront, the musical genre of funk became known around the world.

His song “Sex Machine” is one of his signature tracks, released in 1970.

While it wasn’t an enormous hit at the time, it has remained a classic that continues to be played for many years up to the present.