Top 10 Thursday: Top 10 Solo Efforts From Former Group Members

Today on Top 10 Thursday, we look at artists that became successful with the collaboration and teamwork it takes to make a group... then blew them out of the water with their solo success. Today, we look at the Top 10 Solo Efforts from Former Group Members. There's got to be a less wordy way of saying that, but I haven't found it. Anyway:

10. Jack White

Jack White broke into international fame through The White Stripes, a band he shared with his ex-wife, Meg. Since their breakup in 2011, he went solo with his album Blunderbuss, a critical and commercial darling alike. As it very well should be; it's a damn good album. I have it; go buy it for yourself and tell me what you think.

9. George Michael

Anybody who breaks out of the endless void of silliness that was Wham! to have a respectable music career deserves some kind of mention. (Life hack for losing faith in humanity: Look up "Wham Rap"). George Michael took his career and turned it on its head. He went from being one of the biggest cheeseballs of the 80's (believe me, that is not an easy accomplishment) to becoming a provocatively sexy performer and one of the best-selling artists of all time. Now that's freedom.

8. John Lennon

"Imagine" remains one of the most enduring hit songs of all time, and you really can't expect less from possibly the most thoughtful of The Beatles. Sadly, Lennon's career was cut short by his murder in 1980, but he still leaves with us a legacy of peace and love.

7. Beyoncé

Look, I'm not going to deny that Beyoncé had one of the most successful solo breakouts of all time with "Crazy in Love". To do so would be foolish, no matter what my opinions are on the singer. Besides, "Crazy in Love" is still a damn good song, and no matter how much I dislike Beyoncé's solo music as a whole, it's still much, much better than Destiny's Child.

6. Gwen Stefani

There's No Doubt that... no, I'm going to stop that pun before I finish it. It's clear to see that Stefani can survive in pop music with or without No Doubt. Being the driving force of personality in the band, I don't see why it ever would have been a problem. Stefani's transition into a solo career wasn't exactly smooth sailing, but it did pay off in a big way, bringing Stefani some of her biggest hits.

5. Paul McCartney

(Yes, I went with the Paul/Michael collaboration that wasn't horribly embarrassing.)

Paul McCartney's higher on my list than John Lennon, and the simple yet sad reason for that is that he's had more opportunity in a solo career, and therefore got to do more. After The Beatles, McCartney helped form the band Wings, which was hugely successful with 14 Top Ten singles in the US. Then he went on to... release... a single... with Stevie Wonder... long story short, Wings and "Say Say Say". Great post-Beatles legacy to lead. Next!

4. Justin Timberlake

He be on his suit and tie, and he be on by far the best post-boy band music career the world has ever seen. Sorry, JC Chasez. To say Timberlake broke free of 'N Sync and became more successful than ever is an understatement. He went from teen star to superstar, all but dominating the early-to-mid 2000s with hits like "Cry Me a River" and "SexyBack". And now he's bringing sexy back yet again in this decade. The Energizer Bunny of music, only instead of going and going and going, he goes, stops for 7 years, and then comes back again.

3. Neil Young

Before Neil Young, there was Buffalo Springfield. Buffalo Springfield was essentially CSNY's beta version, featuring Young and Stills and paving the way for Neil Young to have a successful career with both CSNY and solo, throughout the 70's and 80's. Keep on rockin' in the free world.

2. Phil Collins

There must be some kind of "Invisible Touch" that Collins has in the music industry. Yep, I went full force with that pun, and no one could stop me! He brought Genesis to their wildest success in the 80's, and then went on to apparently be the go-to guy for Disney soundtracks. Okay, he had a lot of other hits too, otherwise he wouldn't be this high. Say what you will about Phil, but I think he's a great artist, and deserves the recognition he gets.

1. Michael Jackson

I don't know how many times Jackson's gonna top my lists, but it's more than one now. come on, though. How could I not give this one to Michael Jackson? Anybody who has a solo career like he did needs to be at the top of this list. The top artist of the 80's, and still popular throughout the 90's. And it all started out with The Jackson 5. Michael Jackson: perpetual list-topper of some Canadian blogger.