12 Household Names Who Had To Change Their Image to Hit It Big
![12 Household Names Who Had To Change Their Image to Hit It Big](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/1/8/896618_320x180.jpg)
The entertainment industry is a fickle beast. You can have all the talent in the world, but how are you going to package it? What genre are your talents best suited in? And if the image you originally chose isn’t getting the job done, are you willing to change your sound and/or revamp your entire look to make it big? These are the questions that were once posed to some well known artists — who would not be so well known if they weren’t willing to change. We wouldn’t call them “sellouts” or anything… We just wonder if they were (and are still) happy with the creative decision they made.
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Some of these now-famous artists had their images manufactured and thrust upon them by some sleazy record executives who thought they knew best. Some loved an entirely different genre, and put all their talented eggs in that basket before realizing that it wasn’t going to be the vehicle to worldwide success. Either way, pause buttons were hit, and complete overhauls were made to help these 12 wannabe musicians become household names.
What do Alanis Morissette and Vanilla Ice have in common?
![CRACKED ALANIS MORISSETTE Before being known for alternative pseudo-grunge rock with 1995's Jagged Little Pill, she was a dance-pop artist like Paula Abdul, and even opened for Vanilla Ice in 1991.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/1/896251.jpg)
Thank god those ladies didn’t love Rakeem.
![CRACKED WUTANG THE RZA Before forming the Wu-Tang Clan, he was a solo artist on Tommy Boy Records, and released Ooh / Love You Rakeem in 1991. The bright clothes, tux, braids, and overall ladies man vibe was manufactured for him, and it completely flopped.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/5/0/896250.jpg)
She left that kid’s show image behind.
![CRACKED ARIANA GRANDE As Cat on Nickelodeon's Victorious, her sweet disposition made her the classic Nick star. She evolved into her own signature R&B/pop star look, sang about more mature themes, and is almost unrecognizable now.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/8/896248.jpg)
What’s the problem? Oh just your name and your entire look.
![CRACKED LANA DEL REY Born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, she sang the same type of music, but wasn't becoming successful. A total repackaging of her name, hair, and clothes matched the sound, and she blew up as Lana Del Ray.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/2/896242.jpg)
Started from the Canadian TV industry, now we’re here!
![CRACKED DRAKE From 2001 to 2009, Aubrey Graham played Jimmy on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. Не quit to pursue rap, became Drake (his middle name), and his first album Thank Me Later debuted at #1 on Billboard in 2010.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/0/896240.jpg)
Just drop all that ska shit and, hey now, you’re a rock star!
![CRACKED SMASH MOUTH Formed in 1994, they were heavily in the ska punk scene. That was all toned down for a pop-focused commercial sound on their hits like Walkin' On The Sun and All Star. They gelled up the hair for that Californian rocker vibe, too.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/1/896241.jpg)
Guys… Let her do her thing. You’ll see.
![CRACKED SHANIA TWAIN She had no creative input on her 1993 self-titled country album. 1995's The Woman In Me crossed over into pop and her attitude and fashion in the videos became iconic. Her next 2 albums got more and more pop, and all 3 went diamond.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/9/896249.jpg)
From Christian rock to kissing girls.
![CRACKED KATY PERRY As Katy Hudson, she played lead guitar and sang Christian rock on her 2001 self-titled album, and the lack of sales bankrupted her label. She signed with Capitol Records in 2007, changed her name to Katy Perry, and rebranded as the I Kissed A Girl pop star.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/7/896247.jpg)
A goth phase for the ages.
![CRACKED THE CURE Originally Easy Cure in 1976, they struggled to find commercial success as skinny prep-school lookalikes. In the early '80s they adopted a gothic look of big black hair, pale complexions and striking red lipstick that became as famous as the music itself.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/3/896243.jpg)
Here’s what happens when you change a couple of key ingredients.
![CRACKED FLEETWOOD MAC They recorded 8 pretty run-of-the-mill blues rock albums before they brought in Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham, and recorded Rumours in 1977. The album was a complete shift in sound, and has sold 45 million copies to date.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/6/896246.jpg)
You gotta fight for your right to completely switch genres!
![CRACKED OSHKOSH Miller TE BEASTIE BOYS Originally a hardcore punk band called the Young Aborigines in the late '70s, they were still punk as The Beastie Boys until transitioning to hip hop in 1983. Their 1986 album Licensed to III became the first rap record to top the Billboard 200 chart.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/5/896245.jpg)
All the nu-metal that got in the way has gone out the window.
![CRACKED SUGAR RAY Their obscure 1995 album Lemonade And Brownies was funk-rap or nu-metal like Limp Bizkit. They completely switched to pop rock and released Floored in 1997, with hits Fly, Every Morning, and When It's Over.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/4/4/896244.jpg)