Back in the 1960s, a little thing called The British Invasion happened in The United States of America. Given our history with Great Britain, some may believe this event to be a 200-year-late retaliation to the Americans winning the American Revolution. But that's not the case. In fact, the event had nothing to do with politics at all. The British Invasion dealt with one of the greatest inventions to ever grace this good Earth: music.
Since then, it seems that Americans have been sleeping on British artists that are very successful in their home country. Now, of course we have let some British artists break through the borders and fall onto the all-powerful Billboard Hot 100 (ever heard of Ed Sheeran? Sam Smith? Ellie Goulding?), but that's not to say those are the only talented British acts out there. So here are some examples of British artists that Americans really need to start listening to more often.
1. Tinie Tempah
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Hit You Might Know: Written In The Stars (feat. Eric Turner)
Hits You Should Know: Girls Like (feat. Zara Larsson), Pass Out, Not Letting Go (feat. Jess Glynne)
I remember hearing "Written In The Stars" for the first time back in 2010. How could I have not? It was played all the time on all the pop music radio stations, in commercials, during sporting events, etc. I loved the song and decided to look into the artist, Tinie Tempah, a bit further. Turns out, he is a pretty big deal over in the UK. While he only http://www.billboard.com/artist/430002/tinie-tempah/chartpeaked at No.12 on The Hot 100, Tempah has been blowing up the http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/6110/tinie-tempah/UK charts with more top 10 hits than Michael Jackson! So why is a guy that is so popular across the pond not even slightly recognized by my peers when I mention his name? Why are his songs not known when I play them at parties? America - if you have not listened to this guy yet, hurry up. It'll be worth it.
2. Shift K3Y
Genre: Electronic/Dance
Hit You Might Know: Touch
Hits You Should Know: Gone Missing (feat. BB Diamond), Name & Number, Natural (feat. KStewart)
I found this artist while I was searching the Top 200 British iTunes (as all normal people do from time to time, I assure you). Once I played "Touch" I needed to hear more. This guy is a genius with a soundboard. Like, seriously. Every time I play his songs I cannot help but dance, and I have gotten a fair amount of people to join me. Shift K3Y has never charted in the United States (unless you count the U.K. Singles Chart section on Billboard in which he http://www.billboard.com/artist/6063887/shift-k3y/chartcharted at No.3), but has http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/31425/shift-k3y/charted multiple times for multiple weeks in the UK. His mixes are amazing. His bass drops deserve awards. Please, start playing Shift K3y at your parties (or in your spare time) if you have not already.
3. Olly Murs
Genre: Pop
Hit You Might Know: Troublemaker (feat. Flo Rida)
Hits You Should Know: Dance With Me Tonight, You Don't Know Love, Wrapped Up (feat. Travie McCoy)
After rising to fame in the UK post X-Factor series 6, Olly Murs has been pretty busy making music. Most notable in the US is his radio hit, "Troublemaker (feat. Flo Rida)," which only http://www.billboard.com/artist/312520/olly-murs/chartpeaked at No.25 on The Hot 100. The only other hit that that placed on the US charts is "Heart Skips A Beat" at No.96. In comparison, the UK is showing major Olly love by giving him http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/6434/olly-murs/four No.1 songs and a combined 272 weeks within the Official Chart's Top 75 songs. THAT'S A LOT OF WEEKS OF LOVE, PEOPLE! With his charm, wit, and catchy tunes, America needs to hop of the Olly Express very soon.
4. Jamie Lawson
Genre: Singer/Song-Writer
Hit You Might Know: Wasn't Expecting That
Hits You Should To Know: Cold In Ohio, Don't Let Me Let You Go, All Is Beauty
Now this one is a little difficult because Jamie is a fairly new artist having just signed to Ed Sheeran's record label about two years ago (He was announced on the label in early 2015, but he may have signed prior to the announcement). He only has one official single off his only album, but it still managed to make an impact on UK Charts - a http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/48428/jamie-lawson/19 week impact in fact. And although it never made it to the No.1 spot, it still cracked the top 10, which is an impressive feat for an artist's first single. But over here across the pond, Jamie's deserved success is not as positive. Although I do occasionally hear "Wasn't Expecting That" while shopping at Bed, Bath, & Beyond or Macy's, it is no where near the hit is was in the UK. In fact, it only http://www.billboard.com/artist/304147/jamie-lawson/chartreached No.87 on The Hot 100... before dropping off entirely the next week. Ouch. So, my fellow Americans, if you are looking for a substitute for Ed Sheeran while he takes a temporary hiatus from music, you should definitely check out Jamie Lawson to fill the void. You will not regret it.
5. Emeli Sandé
Genre: Pop
Hit You Might Know: Next To Me
Hits You Should Know: Hurts, Garden, My Kind Of Love
Emeli Sandé has the voice of a literal angel. With a range and style comparable to Alicia Keys, Sandé's soul-filled music that she turns both up and down in tempo, is perfect for any occasion. Perhaps that is why she was able to to sit in the UK OfficialChart's Top 75 for a combinedhttp://www.officialcharts.com/artist/7084/emeli-sande/ 235 weeks (this includes her features as well). But I'm not kidding, this girl can literally sing any genre for any track she is put on. Which makes me wonder why the only hit that the US has capitalized on is "Next To Me", and that song only http://www.billboard.com/artist/301698/emeli-sand/chartpeaked at No.25, as compared to No.2 in the UK...?
6. Foxes
Genre: Pop
Hit You Might Know: N/A
Hits You Should Know: Youth, Let Go For Tonight, Holding Onto Heaven
Hey, you! Yeah, you! Do you remember that girl that sang on that one Zedd song called "Clarity?" SHE MAKES MORE MUSIC! Crazy right?! Unless you look at the UK charts occasionally, you probably would have never know since Foxes has never charted once in the US. Zip. Zero. Zilch. I'm talking she wasn't even credited for her feature in "Clarity." But over in the UK, she's had some pretty decently placed hits, having only one song in the Top 10, but a http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/21520/foxes/total of 26 weeks on the chart overall. Not too shabby for someone who got famous off a feature.
7. Jess Glynne
Genre: Pop
Hit You Might Know: Hold My Hand
Hits You Should Know: Ain't Got Far To Go, Don't Be So Hard On Yourself, Take Me Home
When I say you might know Glynne's song "Hold My Hand," I mean you should know that song. There's very few people I know or parties I've went to that have not played that song. With this in mind, it surprises me that the song only reached a http://www.billboard.com/artist/6107975/jess-glynne/chartpeak position of No.87 on The Hot 100. On the other hand, the song http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/32631/jess-glynne/went to No.1 in the UK along with another one of her solo tracks and three of her features. And she deserves it! This girl can sing dance, ballads, pop... you name it! If you want to get a party going, if you're in a bad mood and need a pick me up, if you are looking for music to blast in your car, look no further than Jess Glynne.
