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

You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)Sylvester29rank/position

Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

This is a classic by the American singer Sylvester, whose soaring, gospel-rooted falsetto and shimmering synths make your whole heart want to dance.

Bursting with powerful, joyous energy that seems to declare with every fiber, “Being my true self is this wonderful!”, the song gently frees the listener’s spirit.

Released as a single from the album Step II in October 1978, it set a record by topping the U.S.

dance chart for six consecutive weeks.

It was also used in the TV show Friends.

When you want to let go and have pure fun, listening to this track gives you a mysterious kind of courage—as if it affirms every version of who you are.

Long As I LiveToni Braxton30rank/position

Toni Braxton – Long As I Live

Toni Braxton, who has had a remarkably long career in the R&B scene.

This is the song with which she returned to the Billboard charts, after having devoted herself to R&B since the ’80s.

With her compelling vocal power, she sounds not only unchanged from those days but even more captivating with the richness that comes with age.

And hats off to her for stepping onto the same stage as the younger generation, singing while dancing at the forefront.

Club TropicanaWham!31rank/position

Wham! – Club Tropicana (Official Video)

This is a track bursting with the breezy freedom of a tropical resort, woven from lively Latin jazz rhythms and post-disco sounds.

Released in July 1983 by the British pop duo Wham!, the song paints an ideal holiday scene unfolding poolside while satirically portraying escapism from society under the Thatcher government.

Included on their debut album Fantastic, it spent 11 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 4.

The music video, filmed on the Spanish island of Ibiza, vividly captured the youth culture of the time, enhanced by its liberating atmosphere.

It’s a perfect pick for summer drives and vacation soundtracks, as well as a refreshing mood booster at work or parties.

Take on Mea-ha32rank/position

Take on Me (Video Version) (2015 Remaster)

From an intro that wildly chops a tight 8-beat, this track flows into that melody you’ve probably heard before.

While the synth melody in the intro is famous, it’s also a solidly danceable disco song whose beautiful vocals are a major draw.

The sweet, beautiful singing voice matches intriguingly well with the driving, high-velocity beat, making it a very compelling listen.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Murakami Shinpei

Report a problem

Can’t Take My Eyes Off YouBoys Town Gang33rank/position

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

Released in 1982, this popular ’80s disco number was covered in Japan under the title “Kimi no Hitomi ni Koishiteru.” The original, a solo single by Frankie Valli, was rearranged as a disco track and became a massive hit.

Its disco-driven vocals capture the thrill of a romance about to begin and really lift the mood.

It’s a beloved song that has been covered by many artists in Japan.

Kung Fu FightingCarl Douglas34rank/position

Kung Fu Fighting

A cheerful disco number composed by the Indian-born producer Biddu.

At the time, Biddu had prepared a song called “I Want to Give You My Everything” for Carl Douglas to sing.

He then asked Douglas if he had any lyrics that could be used for the B-side of “I Want to Give You My Everything.” Douglas showed him several of his own lyrics, and this song was the one chosen from among them.

It was made half as a joke but ended up becoming a huge hit.

Sex MachineJames Brown35rank/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.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem