Top 10 Pop Music Comebacks 2011

If part of the decision making process for Jennifer Lopez joining the judging panel of American Idol in 2011 was a calculation that it would help her own music career, then that equation paid off magnificently. The single "On the Floor" brought Jennifer Lopez back to the top 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time as lead artist in eight years. When the album Love? was finally released in late April 2011, it became her first top 5 hit album in six years and landed in the top 10 around the world. The follow up single "I'm Into You" was a #1 dance smash and reached the top 20 at pop radio. Jennifer Lopez is back not only as a top actress, but also a reigning pop diva.

Watch "On the Floor"

When it was first announced that Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera would serve as judges for the fledgling NBC music talent show The Voice, more than a few snickers could be heard in the pop music community. Maroon 5's most recent album Hands All Over had tanked commercially selling less than a third as many copies in its first week as their previous release. Christina Aguilera's year had been even worse with her album Bionic limping to only 110,000 copies sold in its first week and a #3 chart placing followed by a quick fade.

Then along came massive success for The Voice with both critics and the audience. It was followed by a collaborative single "Moves Like Jagger" which became one of the biggest pop hits of the year having sold over three million copies to date. Suddenly, Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera find themselves perched back in the upper echelon of pop stardom.

Watch "Moves Like Jagger"

We might have predicted this comeback after the success the band's lead vocalist Travie McCoy had with his solo debut "Billionaire" in 2010, but it still seemed a tall order for Gym Class Heroes to return to prominence. The band stormed the pop top 5 in 2006 with "Cupid's Chokehold," but had a very difficult time finding any follow up. Their 2008 album The Quilt failed to push any singles into the top 50. Fast forward to summer of 2011 and the charming, wistful "Stereo Hearts" with an assist from Maroon 5's Adam Levine. The result was a top 5 smash and the band's album Papercut Chronicles II becoming one of the most eagerly awaited new releases of fall 2011.

Watch "Stereo Hearts"

When Disney teen pop princess Demi Lovato headed to rehab in the fall of 2010, it looked like her music career was in real danger. However, after exiting the rehab program, she resumed work on what became the album Unbroken. Its first single "Skyscraper" was a powerful response to her experiences. Amid a high level of publicity the song debuted at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold for digital sales. The album Unbroken became Devi Lovato's third top 5 studio release.

Watch "Skyscraper"

Sometimes it seems the band Evanescence generates more personnel conflict than music. The group's current lineup came together to record the third studio album by Evanescence and the first in five years. The lead single "What You Want" appeared in August and a self-titled album appeared in October and became the second consecutive album by Evanescence to top the album chart.

Watch "What You Want"

Heading into 2011 legendary pop singer-songwriter Paul Simon had released critically acclaimed studio albums in the past decade, but he had not reached the top 10 on the album chart since 1990, over 20 years ago. His latest collection So Beautiful Or So What received strong critical acclaim even before release. Ultimately, the album debuted in the top 5 of the album chart selling nearly 70,000 copies in its first week. Paul Simon has returned, at the age of 70, to assert his claim that he is still one of the top pop singer-songwriters in the business.

Watch "The Afterlife"

The return of pop punk pioneers blink-182 has been a long process. They appeared together at the 2009 Grammy Awards and announced the group was back and would record together. Completion of an album was delayed multiple times, but in July 2011 the ferocious single "Up All Night" appeared. It became blink-182's 11th top 10 alternative songs hit and their first to reach the Billboard Hot 100 since 2004. The album Neighborhoods appeared in September and landed at #2 on the chart, the band's highest placing since 2001's Take Off Your Pants and Jacket topped the chart.

Watch "Up All Night"

The true comeback of rap legend Dr. Dre is still awaiting release of the planned album Detox, now expected sometime in 2012. However, the powerful single "I Need a Doctor," featuring Eminem and Skylar Grey, brought Dr. Dre back to the pop top 10 as lead artist for the first time in 16 years. The song itself details the evolution of his relationship with Eminem through the years and sets the foundation for a grand return by the Dr.

Watch "I Need a Doctor"

Even though Barry Manilow had a constant presence on the album chart over the past decade with cover versions of classic pop songs, this year can be counted as a comeback due to the release of his first new songs in 10 years. 15 Minutes is centered on a story line about a musician who encounters fame and then slips from that pedestal into despair before putting his personal pieces back together again. The album, released on Barry Manilow's own label, was a top 10 hit. It was his first album of all new songs to hit the top 10 since 1979.

Listen to "15 Minutes"

Country pop superstar Shania Twain made what can be seen as a partial pop comeback in 2011. We are all still waiting for the first new album in nearly 10 years, but she did release a single "Today Is Your Day" in support of the TV series Why Not? With Shania Twain. The song took her back to the country and pop charts for the first time since 2005, but it left most fans even more eager for a full return as an active recording artist.

Watch "Today Is Your Day"