Top 10 Songs by Boy Band Members Who Went Solo

There's a season why these boy band members went solo. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most outstanding songs released by boy band members who stepped away from their respective groups to carve their own successful pop solo careers. Our countdown includes "Pillowtalk," "Jealous," "Angels," and more! Which of these boy band exiles do YOU wish would reunite with their former group members? Let us know in the comments below.
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MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.
#BoyBands #Music #Solo #PopMusic #Song

[@ashleighlee98]

Okay, if we're mentioning 1D, how can we not talk about all the amazing songs Niall's put out?!

[@myjumpsuittakesmeshigh2022]

Exactly niall should Be on this list

[@lytaquiroz1524]

It's 2024 and Niall is still underrated... Injustice

[@SokMunkie]

I love Slow Hands

[@MarteParaddict]

He has the best songs out of all the boys if you ask me!

[@Taylorstyles101]

Ikr! Niall is so underrated! I love Put a Little Love with me

[@trinaq]

I knew that Billy Jean and MJ would nab the top spot. It's so iconic, that it would be impossible to be anything else.

[@jdd32384]

Except they weren’t a boy band. They played instruments

[@jeanetteking434]

Seeing Diddy dancing with the kids creeps me out.

[@vanessastegall]

Some of the solo artists had reunions with their bands. Nick Jonas, Nick Carter and Justin Timberlake

[@bUrRiEdaLiVe6]

As far as I know, Nick never left BSB, in fact all of them have side projects as solo artists. The only one that left and came back is Kevin

[@kamsismith]

Every Little Step by Bobby Brown and Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

[@trinaq]

Yes, those would be my picks, especially Michael Jackson, whom we lost far too early.

[@kamsismith]

@@trinaqI know. I still can't believe that Billie Jean was almost never released simply because Quincy Jones didn't like the demo and bass line. Michael himself said he knew Billie Jean would be a huge hit. I know Michael had other solo songs after leaving the Jackson 5 which didn't make much noise, but Billie Jean skyrocketed him to international stardom.

[@TributesAndUnique]

So many boyband lists lately. Not that I'm complaining ofc. My personal faves are BTS, The Wanted, and JLS

[@sofiasg25]

TWFanmily ftw!! 😅

[@TributesAndUnique]

@@sofiasg25 TWfanmily forever!

[@2012lexie]

Sisqo should be higher. He is one of the few artist from that time in R&B that actually owned all the rights to his songs. Great list though. Now do one for women 😆

[@rosajessica7405]

Nick Carter had just released solo albums, but he never left the band, and neither did the other members except Kevin Richardson for his sabbatical for six years to do Broadway, acting projects, and start a family with his wife. The other three did solo albums and projects, so they didn’t break up. They had a two-year hiatus break from 2002-2004

[@MarcoSuperNova2784]

How about a top 10 best songs from girl band members who went solo ? 1. Diana Ross - I'm still waiting 2. Beyonce - Crazy in love 3. Nicole Sherzinger - Right there 4. Camila Cabello - Havana 5. Cheryl Cole - Fight for this love 6. Kelly Rowland - Commander 7. Fergie - Big girls don't cry 8. Alesha Dixon - Breathe slow 9. Emma Bunton - A girl like me 10. Tinashe - 2 On

[@mishkagordon2917]

What band was Tinashe in

[@MarcoSuperNova2784]

@@mishkagordon2917 The Stunners.

[@user-qz3hl9ks2d]

The Stunners

[@bookworm7076]

I'm not surprised Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" is in the top spot! But I'm surprised Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative" didn't make this list. New Edition also helped shape the modern boy band even if they didn't sell as many records as previous and future boy bands. All six NE members found success outside of the group but Bobby Brown's solo career was definitely the most successful. Bobby Brown's "Don't Be Cruel" album helped popularize new jack swing and it remains one of the most influential R&B albums in music history.

[@MarcoSuperNova2784]

My top 5 best songs from boy band members who went solo: 1. Sexy back - Justin Timberlake 2. Jealous - Nick Jonas 3. Watermelon sugar - Harry Styles 4. Dusk till dawn - Zayn & SIA 5. Cake by the ocean - DNCE

[@elliewilliams4945]

One Direction ❤️💙💚💛🇮🇪

[@thereallg4587]

*Theres always that one band member that goes big after their band ends. Zayn definitely did his best, but we all knew Harry would be bigger later on.*

[@brittanymarie7172]

Swap Harry’s spot with Justin’s. He’s a lot more established as an artist and definitely had big hits before “Sexy back”. Michael is right where he belongs.

[@stingrey1571]

Bobby brown-every little step

[@samuelcollantes1175]

To me it's Billie Jean. Happy saturday morning, Sophia. Take care and God bless you. Greetings from Colombia to you as well.

[@2012lexie]

I didnt even know Ricky Martin was in a band.

[@grayshigami6797]

He was part of a Latin boy band, their songs were mostly in Spanish

[@janetsanford6923]

Ricky Martin started out in Menudo back in the mid to late '80s

[@maggie_galle7651]

neither did I! I was like "Wait...What??" LOL

[@PHSDM104]

If Michael didn't clinch the stop spot, someone was going to the guillotine.

[@rikgesamo2638]

Great video. Though you forget people like Kiske, Lennon, Mccartney and many others

[@Mr.Jacksoneros]

James Brown, Eminem (D12), Phil Collins

[@rikgesamo2638]

@@Mr.Jacksoneros indeed

[@ReynaReactsandReviews]

I love One Direction 🧡💚❤️💙💛

[@sockygaldamez9492]

I love Sexyback, Billie Jean, Jealous and Living La Vida Loca ❤️❤️

[@Ms_me914]

love Nick Carter and the backstreetboys who are still together to this day! the Jonas brothers are still together too...( their family) as for one direction Zayn really did a great job... and so did harry.

[@amandacanfield7235]

@msmojo have you done a video of girl groups that went solo?

[@arielfangirlmendez]

My favorite voice coach from the voice is niall horan and I want to join his team so bad and the only way is to sing is his song is heaven

[@shayes88able]

What about JC Chasez blowin me up with her love

[@crystalsnow1138]

I was just thinking it would be neat to see a top 10 solo songs by the members of BTS, but then I realized some members would get multiple entries so maybe it wouldn't be a good idea. Plus Jin hasn't released a solo album yet

[@user-xo2li4dl1i]

I'm crying so bad a river inside 😢 😭 🤧 😪 😫 😢 😭 🤧 There was one question on Steve's live and that was " would you rather loose your best friend and keep all your friends or loose all your friends to loose your best friend And I pick the second answer I miss all my tiktok friends that I made they cheered me up when I was low and iv never felt as low as I do today 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😮

[@zeokingsilver]

The boys are back

[@andreamaria85]

Nick Carter is still doing solo work! They all did solo work except Kevin! AJ went a bit country!

[@user-xo2li4dl1i]

One hundred and two song by the Judds is such a nice song reminds me of me saying I will always have your back 101 % 😢😢😢😢 😭

[@meghlachakraborty5748]

One Direction ❤

[@jackrodakthemovieguy1726]

I know this might sound odd. But once a member of a boy band breaks up, they seem to be so much better. Michael Jackson of course became a pop legend after leaving Jackson 5 behind. And each member of 1-D seems to be much more successful when they have their own hits

[@user-xo2li4dl1i]

" I can do it with a broken 💔 heart " Taylor swift " There's loads of amazing songs by niall my 😢😢😢 but my my favourite 😢😢 is "this town " always was and forever always will be 😢😢 THE TONE.S was the sweetest best ever thing I ever seen in my life no lie !!!! Even better than the sun on the boat behind your head And that same sun iv shut away behind my curtains today 😢 😭 😢 😭 I'm sorry the egles ate all your chips 🍟😮 because seaside chips are the best 👌

[@katerinasimpson1100]

I completely agree with ‘Billie Jean’ and Michael Jackson at #1. However, I personally would have made JT’s ‘SexyBack’ #2.

[@akshatakadam1108]

2/5 one direction 🤌❤️

[@Tatumchiagoofficial]

May you do the same topic but for duo artists who went solo please? My favorite solo artist is Tyler Hubbard from Florida Georgia Line. Thank you!

[@RihannaBritney]

Robbie’s first single wasn’t Old Before I Die. That might’ve been the first off his album but he did a cover of George Michael’s Freedom 90 before that

[@ginnyweatherbee7941]

Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre have some pretty good solo stuff

[@therealangelosettler]

Great list but I def would've included Bobby Brown

[@Pablorcct]

also Niall from one direction his solo music is amazing, open road by Gary Barlow was a hit in the uk after the split of take that. Robbie Williams, Ricky, Justin & Harry should be top 5 with Michael they are the best example of an ex boy band member that reach bigger success as a solo artists, also Nick is still the leader of the jonas brothers, Nick Carter celebrating 30 years of the BSB & Justin make an nsync reunion for trolls 3

[@phantomrequim]

I was a huge Omarion fan and Ice Box made me an even bigger fan. I Love that song.

[@calicokaels]

Of everything on this list... Nick Jonas would probably be my personal favorite. Or Justin Timberlake, tbh. Which is funny considering how into BSB and Nick Carter I was back in the day. 😅 Overall, most of my favorite solo music by a (current or former) boy band member is kpop. Agust D, Jungkook, RM, Ten, Taemin... just to name a few.

[@delphinedelmar3853]

Robbie Williams should have been a little bit higher in my opinion, I didn't know Ricky Martin was in a boy band either. Their songs were everywhere when I was a kid.

[@whyamIbeingarrested]

Rob isn't known here in the states. That's probably why.

[@donnahaynes138]

Honorable mention: Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney (of the boy group Dream Street)

[@LutraPine]

#NickCarter is still touring with and recording with #BackstreetBoys - #NeverGone

[@KBAFourthtime]

I'm torn between two songs by Jesse McCartney, formerly of Dream Street: "Beautiful Soul" and "Because You Live." Why is there nothing by Jesse McCartney here, even as an honorable mention?

[@Wrestlingfan95]

This needs to be remade at a top 30 or even a top 50

[@ddjr6673]

Wow! George Micheal - Careless Whisper NOT on here! The blueprint for changing your sound when leaving Wham! Going solo following with the Faith album!! HUGE!

[@teenieweeniemimie]

Wait that incomplete was by Sisqo? Wow all these years and i didnt know, i thought it was by Joe

[@jadepixie2719]

Bobby Brown song called “2 can play that game.” should’ve been mentioned as well.

[@sassie7284]

ronan keating from boyzone

[@thebeatlesloveisallyouneed]

The Beatles: all if them!

[@melissagramling8348]

what about Jordan Knight or Niall???

[@TheresaLovesMJAndHS]

Michael and Harry forever :D

[@the3lads714]

What about imagine by John Lennon

[@jimbo9208]

how are the beetles a BOY band

[@whyamIbeingarrested]

​@@jimbo9208Beatlemania took over the mid-60s with groupies screaming so loud the boys couldn't hear themselves play on the stage. They were one of the first boy bands.

[@jimbo9208]

@@whyamIbeingarrested how are they a boy band when they were adults. if they are a boy band that would make groups like ac/dc a boy band

[@whyamIbeingarrested]

@@jimbo9208 At the very beginning of their career, they were MASSIVELY popular with teenage girls and were not taken seriously. As they started becoming serious artists, their bubblegum image disappeared. The difference? They just didn't dance around the stage like the boy bands after them.

[@jimbo9208]

@@whyamIbeingarrested okay so if that true then ac/dc is a boy band

[@waittillfamewtf2385]

Top 5 songs by girl band members who went solo: 1. "Hollaback Girl" - Gwen Stefani 2. "Simmer" - Hayley Williams 3. "Big Girls Don't Cry" - Fergie 4. "Wedding Day" - Courtney Love 5. "King" - Florence Welch

[@the3lads714]

And Havana by Camilla cabello

[@laurenfletcher7032]

Crazy in love by Beyoncé

[@MarcoSuperNova2784]

Right there - Nicole Scherzinger Fight For This Love - Cheryl Cole

[@marlonclark-pp9wg]

that girl by Marques Houston

[@KBAFourthtime]

The term for that is "girl group." Too bad in this case, neither sister of Everlife was one of those cases.

[@sherikanelson9132]

I would put JT as number 2… He has many solo hits

[@cinssan3596]

Harry had me fooled....when Sign of The Times first came out I thought his music was going to be good

[@michaelkerr9942]

Bobby brown?

[@theseinstrumentals]

Also I love calling the Jackson 5 a boy band but not the Beatles lol (boy bands are pop and the Beatles are pop)

[@TheSpiciestGinger]

Not just urban, she liked hip hop coz she was living la vida loca ... I like now Ricky Martin and Sisqo both made the list and Sisqo with the song than references Ricky's

[@bellacat818]

What is a Porsche-Rican?

[@MarcoSuperNova2784]

Top 10 best Bebe Rexha Camila Cabello and Nicki Minaj songs video next time.

[@introvertsrock9843]

Next Bands who broke or parted ways 1. Fans want the band reunite 2 members have yet to find the same fame A. Fun. B. Savage garden C.

[@ct8537]

I thought Ricky and Robbie would easily make the top3

[@whyamIbeingarrested]

I was hoping Rob would be listed. He doesn't have the fans here in the states to be higher on the list.

[@2012lexie]

Dont know who Robbie Williams is....I'm sure the feeling is mutual though😅😂

[@whyamIbeingarrested]

Rob is known all over the world, except the United States. He lives in California with his family.

[@calicokaels]

"I'm sure the feeling is mutual though" 💀

[@janetsanford6923]

​@@whyamIbeingarrestedI knew of Robbie Williams from his song "Angel" before I even knew he was in Take That

[@whyamIbeingarrested]

@@janetsanford6923 My first Robbie song encounter was Let Me Entertain You. It was in a new talk show promo in Germany (I lived there in the late 90s). Good times!!

[@jeramyjaymes]

This narrator is pretty dull. And I hate how loud the songs are, but the voice over is quiet.

[@lansesteiner3563]

Nick Carter? Really? Didn’t even know he went solo. He shouldn’t be on this list. I would had put Bobby Brown instead

[@thebeatlesloveisallyouneed]

The Beatles are #1!

[@jamiemcdowell1109]

Ehhh… Sign of the times should’ve been on this list, not Watermelon Sugar 🤦🏻‍♂️🙄

[@CarlPalermoII]

The way MsMojo just ignores the New Edition legacy is a crime. Yall should be ashamed of yourselves. Do better.

[@theseinstrumentals]

Thong song iconic. Would be a hit right now if rereleased. Don’t care about any of these artists but I also like the Zayn song.