1. Michelle Branch
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Songs she’s known for: "Everywhere," "Are You Happy Now," and "Breathe"
Why she should come back: Michelle's unique country-pop voice paired with her songwriting talents could rival most pop songs on the radio today. Back then, she stood out for being a female guitarist in addition to being a versatile singer. If she made a comeback, she could give Taylor Swift a run for her money.
2. Mandy Moore
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Songs she’s known for: "Candy," "Crush," and "I Wanna Be With You"
Why she should come back: Aside from her voiceover work and singing in Disney's Tangled, musically, we haven't seen much of Mandy since the '00s. After taking control of her career from her record label, she experimented with more acoustic sounds. This new musical direction showcased her vocal and songwriting capability better than the straight pop songs she started her career with. If she made a return to music, she could go the Sara Bareilles or Ingrid Michaelson route and maintain a mature sound.
3. Mýa
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Songs she’s known for: "Case of The Ex (Whatcha GonnaDo)" and "My Love Is Like... Wo"
Why she should come back: Before she became a pop star, Mýa started out as a dancer, but her youthful voice and sexual persona gave her a Janet Jackson-like appeal. She wasn't afraid to express that through street-style choreography and soft vocals. There's hardly a reason why it can't work again with some bass-heavy, dance-pop beats.
4. Jessica Simpson
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Songs she’s known for: "I Wanna Love You Forever," "Irresistible," and "With You"
Why she should come back: In 2003, Jessica Simpson's pop career reached an all-time high after releasing her third studio album, In This Skin, amidst the success of her reality show Newlyweds. Since then, she has slowly moved away from music and turned her main focus to building her fashion empire. Jessica's girl-next-door looks made her music relatable even though few can sing like she can. We need another good pop record from her, considering how powerful her voice is.
5. Dido
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Songs she’s known for: "White Flag" and "Thank You"
Why she should come back: No one sounds like Dido because no one has the same airy, melodic vocals that she has. It was her voice on her break up song "White Flag" that got her to number one on multiple Billboard charts. The soothing quality of her voice would be a welcome change on the pop charts.
6. Lindsay Lohan
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Songs she’s known for: "Rumors" and "Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father)"
Why she should come back: Lindsay made for a great pop star because she could vent about the perils of fame in catchy pop songs. Her life so far would make for some great songwriting material. The critical acclaim she got from "Confessions of a Broken Heart" could easily be matched if she wrote about the things she's gone through over the past decade.
7. Des'ree
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Songs she's known for:r "You Gotta Be" and "I'm Kissing You"
Why she should come back: Des'ree's emotive voice and uplifting tone is what gave her prominence with her most popular songs. It'd be refreshing to hear her top the charts with a contemporary, neo soul sound.
8. Samantha Mumba
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Songs she's known for: "Gotta Tell You" and "Baby Come On Over"
Why she should come back: Today's music industry needs more contralto voices like Samantha's to sing over pop beats. She blended an island-influenced sound with bubblegum pop that the late '90s and early 2000s are known for – most notably in top 20 hit "Baby Come On Over." Her standout vocal range would give her a more layered sound than the sopranos that usually dominate pop radio.
9. B2K
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Songs they're known for: "Girlfriend," "Uh Huh," and "Bump, Bump, Bump"
Why they should come back: B2K made up for an attractive group of guys, but beyond that, they were also strong dancers, singers, and stood out from the usual boy band with the addition of a rapper to the group. They went beyond the usual boy band harmonizing with unapologetically hip hop influences. Hip hop boy bands deserve a comeback tour – if New Kids On The Block can do it, so can B2K.
10. Blu Cantrell
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Song she's known for: "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)"
Why she should come back: Blu may only have one major hit but it's enough to warrant a comeback. The singer's ability to soar over an upbeat pop song is what made her song a success. She needs to make a comeback so we can hear those modulations on a pop-R&B smash.
11. Ashlee Simpson
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Song she's known for: "Pieces Of Me," "Boyfriend," and "L.O.V.E."
Why she should come back: Ashlee's angsty teen vibe worked in a time when rock-influenced pop was dominant. The natural rasp in her singing voice lent itself well to pop music with a rock tinge. Still, any sound she pursues next would stand out from what's on the radio, especially since she can now write from the perspective of being a mother and wife.
12. 3LW
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Songs they're known for: "Playas Gon Play" and "No More (Baby I'ma Do Right)"
Why they should come back: It's rare for girl groups to be made up of all strong vocalists, which is what made 3LW so great. Back in the '00s, all three ladies had the chance to shine on most of their singles. They each have different vocal qualities that would bring a different tone to whatever new material they would sing. It’s doubtful these three will reunite together, but three separate comebacks is better than none at all.
13. Ashley Tisdale
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Song she's known for: "Be Good To Me," "He Said She Said," and "Crank It Up"
Why she should come back: If Disney alum Hilary Duff can return to the charts, so can Ashley. Her mature yet girl-next-door look allowed her to sing more risque songs than most of her peers, which is why "Be Good To Me" cracked the Billboard Pop Songs chart. It's a shame she hasn't put new music out because she's one of the Disney stars that has a dynamic voice and range that shines – even on a fun pop song.
14. JC Chasez
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Songs he's known for: "Some Girls Dance With Women" and "Blowin' Me Up (With Her Love)"
Why he should come back: JC isn't hurting for success in the music business – he's written and produced for Girl's Aloud, Matthew Morrison, and the Backstreet Boys. But his only solo album was released over 10 years ago. As one of the strongest singers in NSYNC, pop radio needs more male singers like him. A bold voice like his would nicely accompany an EDM-influenced track.
15. BBMak
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Songs they’re known for: "Out Of My Heart," "Back Here" and "Ghost Of You And Me"
Why they should come back: This English group had a laid back approach to their music. Although they disbanded in 2003, enough time has past to warrant a reunion — at least for nostalgia’s sake. The same acoustic influence they had in their music back then would distinguish them from the boy bands out now.