The place ‘The Idol’ ranks in fictional pop stars

The Idol‘s launch has rehashed my love for fictional pop stars. Positive, Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) didn’t actually give us a lot, however the considered what may have been has left me craving and reflecting on the pop stars of fiction’s previous and current.

From classics like Hannah Montana to newcomers like Jocelyn, the fictional pop star is a staple character trope, consistently blessing us with bangers and backstories that elicit a degree of fangirling that’s nearly equivalent to the actual deal. Naturally, as one does after they enter a rabbit gap of hyperfixation, I’ve determined to rank and record all of the fictional pop stars I grew up watching, all of whom I nonetheless want had been actual. 

Now, an necessary disclaimer must be stated. There’s a skinny line between fictional pop stars and fictional bands, and I’ve determined to restrict this record to solo acts — pop stars akin to Rihanna, Britney Spears, or Beyoncé. If I had been to incorporate bands, then this record would finally have to incorporate the forged of Glee, which hopefully is sufficient of a caveat for my case. 

That being stated, honorable mentions to fictional bands should be greatestowed. 4*City, Josie and the Pussycats, The Wonders, Daisy Jones and the Six, the Dreamettes — we thanks on your music. Now, with out additional ado, let’s get into it. 

10. Jocelyn from The Idol 

Execs: “World Class Sinner”(opens in a brand new tab) is an absolute bop. Whereas I’m not an enormous fan of her at-home apparel, I have to admit that her pink outfit for the “World Class Sinner” music video shoot was completely divine and completely leaned into this summer season’s hottest pattern, Barbiecore. She’s supposedly the Britney Spears of her era, and whereas we don’t actually get to see a lot of that, I have to acknowledge. 

Cons: I’ve no concept why Jocelyn’s well-known. She likes Tedros (Abel Tesfaye). If we obtained to see extra of Jocelyn really being a pop star, maybe she would have earned a better rating on this record. 

9. Chip Skylark from The Pretty OddParents 

Credit score: Screenshot Netflix

Execs: In case you didn’t develop up watching The Pretty OddParents, not to mention the Chip Skylark (voiced by Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC) episodes, I hate to let you know that you just missed out on an icon. “My Shiny Tooth and Me”(opens in a brand new tab) has unquestionably been caught in my head for the final 15 years of my life. I owe all my dental hygiene to Chip. 

Cons: The goatee must go. His discography is criminally restricted. He’s additionally method too obsessive about singing about hygiene — should I remind you of “Icky Vicky,”(opens in a brand new tab) admittedly one other banger? — however his followers deserved extra of a variety of subjects. 

8. Gazelle from Zootopia 

Credit score: Screenshot Disney+

Execs: “Strive Every part”(opens in a brand new tab) is a superb tune. Her two-piece pink set is attractive. She’s actually Shakira if she had been a gazelle. 

Cons: I’m undecided how nicely a singing gazelle that sounds precisely like Shakira would fare in our world. It will undoubtedly make for a fantastic tour, however I fear concerning the fur. I really feel like Gazelle’s styling choices are additionally restricted, and she or he appears to solely have one bop underneath her belt (give us Zootopia 2!). 

7. Riley Bina from Don’t Look Up 

Credit score: Niko Tavernise/Netflix

Execs: Riley Bina (performed by precise pop star Ariana Grande) solely obtained a few minutes of display time in Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up, and but she ate these minutes proper up. Her outfits had been worthy of the Met Gala. Her tune “Simply Look Up”(opens in a brand new tab) was a catchy bop that rightly advocated for local weather change consciousness in our world. In Riley’s personal phrases, “Get your head out of your ass, take heed to the goddamn certified scientists. We actually fucked it up, fucked it up this time. It’s so shut, I can really feel the warmth huge time.” And I’m unashamedly a part of her Vroom Vroom Military. 

Cons: Her fanbase is named the Vroom Vroom Military. Additionally effective with being proposed to on stay tv. 

6. Envy Adams from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World 

Credit score: Screenshot Prime Video

Execs: Envy Adams (performed by Brie Larson) is the definition of a queer awakening. She’s the queen of serving edgy vampire realness. Her cowl of Metric’s “Black Sheep”(opens in a brand new tab) stays an absolute banger. I want she was actual. 

Cons: Clearly, she’s type of a poisonous associate. Additionally, does she have any unique songs? 

5. Isabella Parigi from The Lizzie McGuire Film 

Credit score: Screenshot Disney+

Execs: The duet carried out by Lizzie and Isabella (each performed by Hilary Duff) of “What Goals Are Made Of”(opens in a brand new tab) formed a complete era. No phrases I say may ever describe simply how iconic Isabella’s “Sing to me, Paolo!” is. I’m additionally an enormous fan of her dedication to inexperienced fake leather-based. She is the early 2000s personified. 

Cons: Does Isabella ever carry out exterior of Italy? The place’s the world tour? 

4. Ni’jah from Swarm 

Credit score: Chris Reel/Prime Video

Execs: She’s actually Beyoncé in one other universe. Do your self a favor and maintain monitor of all of the Renaissance visuals in Ni’jah’s (Nirine S. Brown) music video for “Competition”(opens in a brand new tab), and shortly you’ll perceive why Dre (Dominique Fishback) did what she needed to do. 

Cons: How would I ever dare converse badly of Ni’jah? Everyone knows what would occur after that. 

3. Ally from A Star Is Born 

Credit score: Neal Preston / Warner Bros.

Execs: It’s Gaga. I worry that’s all that must be stated. 

Cons: Listening to “Shallow”(opens in a brand new tab) now feels extra like a burden than a pleasure. Please don’t play it at your weddings. 

2. Ashley O from Black Mirror 

Credit score: Graham Bartholome/Netflix

Execs: The purple wig. The tragic backstory. The peerlessly pink, futuristic visuals. Ashley O (performed by none apart from Miley Cyrus) has all of it. Now, is the Black Mirror episode Ashley’s featured in one other nice instance of the present filling us with existential dread? Sure, it’s. However does it additionally supply a creeping, refined commentary on Cyrus’s personal life and her alter ego, Hannah Montana, all whereas additionally giving us one other iconic fictional pop star with bops you may by no means skip? Sure, it does. Ashley O 4ever. 

Cons: I wanted extra songs moreover “On A Roll.”(opens in a brand new tab) Give us the tunes! Give us her complete album! 

1. Hannah Montana from Hannah Montana 

Credit score: Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

Execs: Are you even stunned? Miley Cyrus has contributed not one however two fictional pop stars to our record, together with — particularly — the nice ol’ lady from Tennessee. Hannah Montana raised a complete era. She has meant one thing so profoundly to each child who grew up watching Disney Channel. However emotional fluff apart, out of all of the pop stars on this record, Hannah’s the one with a complete world of albums and a discography that really led to her personal tour in actual life. 

“He Might Be the One” continues to be the best love tune of all time. “The Best of Each Worlds” continues to be the best karaoke tune of all time. “I Bought Nerve,” “No person’s Excellent,” “Odd Woman” — the record is countless. Hannah Montana is the fictional pop star. She’s the blueprint. And similar to she promised us in 2010, we’ll all the time keep in mind her. 

Cons: None. Not even the Season 3 wig.