In 2019, we saw yet another year of musical talent either blossoming for the first time or blooming for the tenth spring. From established artists like Lana Del Rey to newcomers like Lil Nas X, the year gave birth to iconic sounds from brilliant albums and hard-hitting singles. Here are five noteworthy female and LGBTQ artists that commanded attention with their releases this year.
- FKA Twigs
FKA Twigs recently reached the top spot on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums chart with her new album “Magdalene,” released in early November. The music video for “Cellophane” of her new album has been nominated for Best Music Video at the 2020 Grammy Awards.
if fka twigs sang in my face i would simply poop myself
— gay and home of sexual (@thai_brows) November 22, 2019
- Grimes
The electro-pop singer arguably stumbled into mainstream view after her relationship with Tesla CEO Elon Musk debuted at the Met Gala in May 2018. After releasing three singles earlier this year with relatively good reception, including “We Appreciate Power,” ”Violence” and “So Heavy I Fell Through The Earth,” her new album titled “Miss_Anthropocene” is slated to release in late February of next year.
Loved Halfaxa (2010), liked Visions (2012), did not like Art Angels (2015), decided to unstan, and now Miss Anthropocene is shaping up to be her best album and I am a Grimes stan again. This is such a full circle moment of the decade.
— michael (@michaelpaIermo) November 19, 2019
- LilNas X
The LGBTQ singer and rapper undoubtedly blew up this year with his hit song “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. The song eventually made history by becoming the longest running number one song in Billboard’s Hot 100 chart with a whopping 17-week streak, breaking the previous 16-week record set by “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men and “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, including Justin Bieber. Amidst the height of his song’s popularity, the singer surprised millions by coming out as gay on Twitter.
some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more. but before this month ends i want y’all to listen closely to c7osure. ??✨ pic.twitter.com/O9krBLllqQ
— nope (@LilNasX) June 30, 2019
Lil Nas X has recently been nominated for five Grammy awards this year.
- Lizzo
The pop singer and rapper was another artist that dominated the charts this year. Her song “Truth Hurts” sat at number one in the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, tying the record set in 2014 by Iggy Azalea and Charli XCX’s summertime hit “Fancy” for the longest running female rap song at number one.
Lizzo has also been nominated for seven Grammy awards this year.
- Lana Del Rey
Released late August, the sadcore superstar’s sixth studio album “Norman Fucking Rockwell” was described as “Lana at her deepest” by Pitchfork, “iconic before it was even released” by Rolling Stone and as if Del Rey “was definitely reading our minds,” according to Consequence of Sound. The album featured 14 tracks of silky vocals, vintage melodies and poetic lyrics, packaged as a treasure trove for the hopeless romantic.
Margaret Cataldi may be reached at prospector@utep.edu
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