Music Artists & Bands that Should Be Given Honorific Nicknames
There are many artists & bands with honorific nicknames. But many more that have a chance. Some artists, producers & bands have reasons to be honored. This includes living & deceased artists as well as active & disbanded bands.
She should be nicknamed Godmother of Hyperpop, Goddess of Hyperpop, Princess of Hyperpop, Queen of Hyperpop, The New Dance Queen, Princess of Avant-Garde, New Queen of Avant-Garde, The Next Big Thing, Queen of Experiments, Queen of Experimental Pop, New Goddess of Pop, New Princess of Pop, New Queen of Pop, and The Trans Tycoon of Teen (due to her transgender orientation).
A.G. Cook (who founded the PC Music label) is often credited as the Godfather of Hyperpop, but Sophie produced music that truly defined it. She pushed pop music to the extreme and produced for many artists we already know. The world lost Michael Jackson (the King of Pop) in 2009 (due to cardiac arrest from drug overdose) and Phil Spector (the first Tycoon of Teen) in early January 2021 (due to COVID-19 complications). Yet, unlike many other genres, Hyperpop is growing rapidly and being introduced with many new artists and bands.
The world lost Sophie, the next big producer of music, near the end of January due to a fall. She was poised to surpass Björk as the Queen of Avant-Garde. She deserves posthumous nicknames in honor of her unparalleled achievements. There will never be another big producer like her in our lifetimes. She had it all and left this Earth too soon, never to be replaced.
To think the deaths of Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly in a plane crash led to "the day music died," think again. If she posthumously receives all those names, she would hold the Guinness World Record for the artist and producer with the most honorific nicknames in music. There's no chance of a producer on her level creating unique sounds in our lifetimes. She was more than halfway between 34 and 35.
R.I.P. SOPHIE (1986-2021).
Harvey Phillip Spector (born Harvey Philip Spector; December 26, 1939 – January 16, 2021) was an American record producer and songwriter, best known for his innovative recording practices and entrepreneurship in the 1960s, followed decades later by his two trials and conviction for murder in the 2000s... read more Although he earned a bad reputation for the murder of Lana Clarkson, he was nicknamed the First Tycoon of Teen and should be nicknamed The God of Pop and The Architect of Pop. He gave music a pattern that's recognized to this day and influenced every artist and band after him.
He popularized music and is simply irreplaceable.
R.I.P. (at 81 from COVID-19 complications in January 2021).
Tim Bergling (September 8, 1989 - April 20, 2018), better known by his stage name Avicii, was a Swedish electronic musician, DJ, remixer and record producer. He is best regarded for his work in Electronic Music during the 2010s in which his works have charted among the Top 40 Radio and for his influence... read more He should be nicknamed the Prince and King of Pop, as well as the Prince of Electropop. Many artists share these nicknames, so he deserves a chance. He was the peak of electronic music as a solo artist and producer, becoming incredibly popular among other EDM artists and bands. His EDM was superior to any other artist of our time and even today. He helped Coldplay explore house music (thanks to A Sky Full of Stars).
He also pioneered country house, thus should be nicknamed The Godfather of Country House. He should be nicknamed the Innovator of EDM, as he changed the landscape of EDM. Nobody will ever replace him as he was at the top of the EDM game.
R.I.P. (from suicide 3.5 months before turning 29 in April 2018).
Coldplay are a British pop rock band formed in 1996. The band consists of Chris Martin (lead vocalist and pianist), Jonny Buckland (lead guitarist), Guy Berryman (bassist) and Will Champion (drummer and backing vocalist). Manager Phil Harvey is often considered an unofficial fifth member. The band renamed... read more They should be nicknamed The Next Big Group of Non-Korean Pop. They're the dominating group outside of Korea, producing a wide diversity of music in alternative patterns: rock, synth-pop, house, etc. They should also be nicknamed The Saviors of Earth for their efforts to cut down carbon emissions by 50%, which would make Earth better in the future.
They have released 19 albums so far but unfortunately have announced one more (in 2025) before they retire from making new music as a band.
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress, and fashion designer. She was nicknamed the Queen of Tejano and Tex-Mex music during her life, so she should posthumously be nicknamed the Real Queen of Latin Pop.
She was going to become bigger than Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Thalía, Marília Mendonça (R.I.P.), Anitta, and all the other big Latin ladies out there. She was shot by her manager on March 31, 1995. She was only 21.
R.I.P. Selena (1974-1995), never forgotten.
He was the equivalent of Bob Marley and was the leader of Toots & the Maytals (equivalent to Bob Marley & the Wailers). He made a huge impact on reggae since his big hit Funky Kingston. He's the reason TJR produced Funky Vodka, which Pitbull sampled in Don't Stop the Party (crediting TJR by featuring him).
He should be nicknamed The King of Reggae. Sadly, he fell into a coma and passed away in 2020. He was roughly halfway between 77 and 78.
R.I.P. Toots (1942-2020).
Jarad Anthony Higgins (December 2, 1998 – December 8, 2019), known professionally as Juice Wrld (pronounced "juice world"; stylized as Juice WRLD), was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is considered to be a leading figure in the emo-rap and SoundCloud rap genres which garnered mainstream... read more He should be nicknamed The Lucid Dreamer, as well as Prince and King of Hyperactive Rap. The music he experimented with, such as hip-hop and hyperpop, showed his versatility. Lucid Dreams demonstrates his standard hip-hop side while Come & Go shows his hyperpop side.
He worked with artists like Travis Scott, a significant influence in hip-hop lately.
R.I.P. (1998-2019 at only 21).
Daft Punk was a French electronic music duo consisting of producers Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. From 1993 until 2021, the duo Daft Punk produced music that brought house to the French regions (thus French House was born). They had all sorts of styles that kept people dancing. No other band could do it like them.
They should be nicknamed The Beatles of EDM for their impact and endurance in all EDM genres worldwide. Almost every EDM and pop artist was influenced by Daft Punk in some way.
Long live the members of Daft Punk.
Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy (January 23, 1998 - June 18, 2018), known professionally as XXXTentacion, and often referred to as X, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and criminal. He should be nicknamed The Prince and King of Moody Rap, as well as The Prince and King of Gen-Z. His rap songs have a sad mood (like Changes, for example) and he contributed to Gen-Z music more than any other male artist.
R.I.P. XXXTentacion (1998-2018).
American country singer and multi-instrumentalist, who should be nicknamed "Mr. Fast Hand" by analogy with Eric Clapton's nickname "Mr. Slow Hand." Check out his performances of "12th Street Rag" (Jimmy Dean Show 1964) and "John Henry." He lived for 85 years from 1933 to 2018.
The Newcomers
Toby Keith Covel, known professionally as Toby Keith (1961-2024) was an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and actor. He should've been nicknamed the King of '90s Country. His song Should've Been a Cowboy was the top country song of the 1990s, hitting #1.
He lost a battle with stomach cancer on February 5, 2024. R.I.P. (1961-2024).
She deserves to be nicknamed the Falsetto and Staccato Queen of Rock 'n' Roll. She mastered falsetto female vocals as well as staccato vocals within the genre.
American blues and boogie-woogie pianist, who should be nicknamed "Grandfather of Rock & Roll Piano" because he inspired a generation of boogie-woogie pianists and taught Ike Turner, who in 1951 played piano on "Rocket 88," widely regarded as the first rock & roll song. He lived for 97 years from 1913 to 2011.
Italian conductor, who should be nicknamed "Mr. Sharp Ear and Memory." He lived for 89 years from 1867 to 1957.
Italian tenor, who should be nicknamed "Hero of Opera" because his vocals were so powerful that their vibrations could be felt in the top gallery of La Scala, as Franco Corelli mentioned in an interview. Check out his 1942 performance of the aria "Esultate." He lived for 86 years from 1892 to 1979.
Italian coloratura soprano, who should be nicknamed "Angel of Coloratura." Check out her rendition of the aria "Sempre libera." She lived for 81 years from 1882 to 1963.
Disturbed is an American alternative metal/nu-metal/hard rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The band comprises vocalist David Draiman, bassist John Moyer, guitarist Dan Donegan, and drummer Mike Wengren. They are known for songs like "Down With the Sickness" and "Stricken".
Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), Emily Armstrong (vocals), and Colin Brittain (drums). Linkin... read more They should've been nicknamed the Manly Punks of Teen.
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, known professionally as Vangelis, was a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, and orchestral music. He should be nicknamed The Greek King of Soundtracks, The King of Slow Motion Scores, and The King of Championships. He was known for the score of the film Blade Runner, but best known for the score of the film Chariots of Fire.
He should also be nicknamed The Greek King of Electronica, as he was one of the pioneers of electronic music. He lived from 1943 to 2022 until his 79th year.
R.I.P. to the king, Vangelis.
Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt is a Canadian musician, composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist who writes, records and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. She should be nicknamed the Gold Angel of New Age. Her appearance and voice give her a deserving potential nickname.
He should be nicknamed The Child of House. He had been DJing since he was a child and produced EDM throughout his life, including deep house. He influenced countless artists, including the biggest names. Music will never be the same without him. He was only 24.
R.I.P. (1997-2021).
Michael Lee Aday, better known by his stage name Meat Loaf, was an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He was noted for his powerful, wide-ranging operatic voice and theatrical live shows. His debut album, "Bat Out of Hell", is still one of the top-selling albums ever... read more He was already nicknamed The One Off, so he should also be nicknamed King of Shock Rock given his impact on the horror-style subgenre of rock (which Alice Cooper pioneered and became the Godfather of).
He should also be nicknamed The Opera and Playwright of Rock & Roll.
R.I.P. (1948-2022).
Ye (born Kanye Omari West; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and fashion designer. He is regarded as one of the most influential, as well as controversial, artists of the 21st century... read more He should be nicknamed the King of Narcissism. He acts like he's Jesus (or Yeezus in his case) and that the world is centered on him. He isn't the center in reality.
Andrea Bocelli is an Italian classical crossover tenor, recording artist, and singer-songwriter. Born with poor eyesight, he became permanently blind at the age of 12 following a football accident. He should be nicknamed the Operatic Voice of the Blind and the Blind King of Classical Crossover.
Mushroomhead is an American nu metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in the Cleveland Warehouse District, the band is known for their avant-garde sound which includes influence from heavy metal, art rock and electro-industrial and their imagery which features masks and costumes as well as... read more