Popular R&B: Western Music Artist Rankings [2026]

Dancing QueenABBA22rank/position

ABBA – Dancing Queen (Official Music Video)

ABBA, the pop group that Sweden is proud of.

Released in 1976, this song is a masterpiece that brilliantly fuses elements of disco and Europop.

Its catchy melody and exhilarating rhythm continue to captivate many people to this day.

The lyrics, which celebrate youth, freedom, and the joy of dancing, speak directly to the listener’s heart.

Featured in the Mamma Mia! film series, its popularity shows no sign of fading.

It’s perfect for weekend parties or whenever you want to lift your spirits—be sure to give it a listen.

A single packed with the essence of ABBA.

UntitledD’Angelo23rank/position

D’Angelo – Untitled (How Does It Feel) (Official Music Video)

Many people probably want to listen to cool, refreshing tracks in the summer, but isn’t it true that some of you actually prefer to lean into the heat and play something steamy? For those listeners, I recommend this piece: “Untitled.” It’s sung by D’Angelo, a pioneer of the neo-soul genre, and this track is known as one of his signature works.

With its sultry, syrupy guitar intro, groovy drums, and delicate vocals, everything is perfectly balanced from start to finish!

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1999Prince24rank/position

Prince – 1999 (Official Music Video)

An explosive electro-funk anthem emblematic of the ’80s, this shocking track by Prince blends powerful, anti–nuclear proliferation lyrics with the innovative sounds of the Linn LM-1 drum machine to captivating effect.

Released in 1982, it marked a turning point in Prince’s career and earned attention as he became one of the first Black artists to be aired on MTV.

Its dancefloor-igniting groove and melody that evokes hope for the future continue to move listeners to this day.

Bring It On Home to MeSam Cooke25rank/position

Sam Cooke – Bring It On Home to Me (Official Audio)

In the history of soul music, sadly, legendary singers who passed away young are not few, and Sam Cooke, the subject of this article, is one of them.

Having met a tragic end at the age of just 33, Cooke possessed striking good looks, a natural singing voice, and a distinctive vocal style, with which he produced many hit songs from the late 1950s to the early 1960s.

More than just a musician, he was highly conscious of racial issues: he founded a music publishing company and a record label to manage the rights to his own works and to protect the rights of Black musicians, and he was actively involved in the civil rights movement.

The influence Cooke exerted on later artists thus extended far beyond musical style.

One notable example is his 1962 release and hit “Bring It On Home to Me,” which was covered just three years later by the British rock band The Animals and, in the same year, by fellow Britons The Zombies—evidence that the song was embraced by white groups from the start.

Since then, countless artists and bands have covered it, and it has become a famous standard number that continues to be loved across generations.

Cooke himself wrote both the lyrics and the music, and the song’s beautifully wistful melody has never lost its luster—once again highlighting Cooke’s outstanding talents as a songwriter.

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Stayin’ AliveBee Gees26rank/position

Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive (Official Music Video)

This track is characterized by its funky groove and striking rhythm.

It’s one of the Bee Gees’ signature works, released in 1977, and is also famous as part of the soundtrack for the film Saturday Night Fever.

With a theme of surviving on the streets of New York, it sings of the determination to keep moving forward even in the face of adversity.

The falsetto-driven vocals and heartbeat-like beat are captivating.

It’s a perfect pick for anyone wanting to explore classic disco music or looking for an energizing boost.

Let’s DanceDavid Bowie27rank/position

David Bowie – Let’s Dance (Official Video) [HD]

David Bowie, the world-renowned British artist who constantly kept an eye on the times and changed his musical style like a chameleon.

The work that made his name echo around the globe was released in March 1983 at the height of the disco boom, with funk maestro Nile Rodgers brought on as producer, resulting in an irresistibly groovy dance tune.

Yet beneath the surface lies depth as well—through the image of “wearing red shoes and dancing the blues,” it hints at people who conceal sorrow and feign joy.

The fact that he enlisted the then-unknown Stevie Ray Vaughan also speaks volumes about Bowie’s extraordinary eye for talent.

It’s a perfect track for a night when you want to dance till dawn at a party.

Move on up a Little HigherMahalia Jackson28rank/position

Move On Up A Little Higher | Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson, known as a legend among gospel singers.

As an artist, she was once invited by Louis Armstrong to become a jazz singer, but she remained devoted to gospel to the very end—a true, pure gospel singer.

She was also actively involved in the civil rights movement and, together with Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr., made major contributions to ending racial discrimination.

Her masterpiece “Move On Up a Little Higher” is known as her signature song and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

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