Two years ago, pop stars were twerking to a very different tune.
In the summer of 2013, Lady Gaga was begging for Applause, Taylor Swift was seeing Red, and we couldn't stop Miley Cyrus from dancing with teddy bears. Alas, the times they do a-change, and while much has been made of Swift's pop-princess reinvention, other artists have also undergone major image and music overhauls.
USA TODAY looks at how five popular acts have rebranded themselves this year:
MILEY CYRUS
Before: Cyrus came in like a wrecking ball with her hip-hop-inspired Bangerz album in 2013, spawning three top 40 hits, a world tour and one hotly debated Robin Thicke performance. But with the exception of her bonkers Instagram account, she stayed mostly under the radar during the latter half of 2014 — save for a memorable win at the MTV Video Music Awards in August, when she sent a self-described runaway teen onstage to raise awareness for homeless youth.
After: Her VMAs gesture helped signal the outspoken activist phase of the 22-year-old's career, as she officially launched her Happy Hippie Foundation this spring. Coming out as bisexual, enlightening people about gender fluidity and raising money for LGBT youth, she also has reminded doubters of her powerful pipes and eclectic musical tastes, performing well-received covers of Dido, Paul Simon and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.
Bottom line: At first demanding our attention with her tongue-wagging, hammer-licking antics, Cyrus successfully flipped the script and turned the spotlight on important issues.
LADY GAGA
Before: The eccentric pop star reached peak absurdity promoting her 2013 album Artpop, parading a flying dress, Jeff Koons sculpture and Wizard of Oz-themed performance in the lead-up to the release. But the bells and whistles didn't pay off: Despite debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart, Artpop sold only 258,000 copies its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
After: Going back to her pre-fame roots as a jazz singer, Gaga released duets album Cheek to Cheek with Tony Bennett last fall, which also made its debut at No. 1. The seemingly unlikely pairing has showcased her remarkable range, which she has continued to flaunt with a Sound of Music tribute at the Oscars in February and operatic cover of John Lennon's Imagine at the 2015 European Games last month.
Bottom line: Gaga has scaled back the kooky couture in favor of a more sophisticated persona, wisely reminding the masses that there's a big voice under that meat dress.
JUSTIN BIEBER
Before: Once the Canadian king of teen girls' hearts, Bieber swiftly fell from grace because of his bad-boy behavior, with arrests for driving under the influence and allegedly assaulting a photographer. Adding insult to injury, his Believe documentary flopped at the box office in December 2013, scrounging up a mere $6.2 million.
After: On the road to redemption, Bieber hasn't been afraid to poke fun at himself — applauding Kate McKinnon's Saturday Night Live parody of his Calvin Klein underwear ads in January and taking the heat from comedians (and Martha Stewart) on a Comedy Central roast in March. He also is climbing the charts once again on Diplo and Skrillex's hypnotic EDM hit Where Are U Now, now No. 12 on USA TODAY's top 40 airplay chart.
Bottom line: The true test of Bieber's comeback will be his next solo effort, but in the meantime, he's done a decent job of saving face (although he still can't keep those pants up).
SELENA GOMEZ
Before: The longtime Disney Channel star released her solo album Stars Dance in 2013, debuting at No. 1 despite mixed reviews. She hit the top 40 with singles Slow Down and Come & Get It, and picked up a best pop video Moonman at the MTV VMAs that year. Still, she stayed out of the limelight for most of 2014, completing a voluntary rehab stint (not for substance abuse, a statement confirmed) and fielding tabloid chatter about the status of her on-and-off relationship with Bieber.
After: Channeling heartbreak into new music, Gomez released somber ballad The Heart Wants What It Wants late last year, followed by an emotional performance at the American Music Awards that left pal Taylor Swift in tears. She continued along the downbeat path with the sultry Good for You featuring A$AP Rocky, which made its debut in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart last week. Discussing her new direction with radio host Elvis Duran, Gomez conceded that she's not the "greatest singer," but knows "(her) strengths now."
Bottom line: Realizing her vocal limits and veering away from bubblegum dance music, Gomez stands out with a darker, more mature sound that's unique among her pop peers.
CODY SIMPSON
Before: If you haven't heard of this 18-year-old Aussie, you're not alone: Simpson was long positioned as the heir to Bieber's teen-heartthrob throne, releasing singles with Flo Rida and T-Pain, and even signing with Bieber's manager Scooter Braun. But he failed to achieve mainstream success with albums Paradise and Surfers Paradise, which peaked at Nos. 27 and 10, respectively, and Simpson left Atlantic Records last summer.
After: Gearing up for the debut of his self-released album Free this week, Simpson has adopted a mellower singer/songwriter vibe, reminiscent of Jack Johnson or Jason Mraz (both of whom he's covered in concert). Describing his sound as "acoustic rock" to Billboard at South By Southwest festival in March, he also observed a shift in his fan base at a live show. "Obviously there was a portion of women ... but there were so many dudes, like, smoking j's and enjoying the music," he said.
Bottom line: Not every shaggy-haired teen is meant to be the next pop sensation, so it's smart for Simpson to break from the Bieber mold sooner rather than later.
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