11 Times Famous Musicians Radically Evolved (For The Better) Since The Beginning Of Their Careers

    Miley Cyrus has grown so much as a lyricist.

    Kayla Yandoli
    by Kayla Yandoli

    BuzzFeed Staff

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    One of my favorite things in the world is getting hooked on an artist and doing a deep dive into their musical careers. It's truly fascinating to see how much they've evolved from their debut, from album covers to lyrics to music videos — so, here are just a few examples of iconic musicians who've grown over the years.

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    Warning: This post includes topics of drug addiction and sexual abuse.

    Note: We've excluded collaborative albums, live albums, and movie soundtracks from the "latest album cover" category, as to highlight the artist's solo work.

    1. Here's what Taylor Swift looked like on her first album cover, Taylor Swift (2006):

    Big Machine

    Here's what Taylor Swift looks like on her latest album cover, Evermore (2020):

    Republic

    Here's what Taylor Swift's writing style was like for her single "Tim McGraw" (2006):

    "Tim McGraw" lyrics: "He said the way my blue eyes shined/Put those Georgia stars to shame that night/I said, 'That's a lie'"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com
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    Here's what Taylor Swift's writing style is like from her single "Willow" (2020):

    "willow" lyrics: "I'm like the water when your ship rolled in that night/Rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Taylor Swift looked and sounded like in her music video for "Teardrops on My Guitar" (2007):

    View this video on YouTube
    Big Machine / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Taylor Swift looks and sounds like in her music video for "Willow" (2020):

    View this video on YouTube
    Republic / Via youtube.com

    2. Here's what Mariah Carey looked like on her first album cover, Mariah Carey (1990):

    Columbia

    Here's what Mariah Carey looks like on her latest album cover, Caution (2018):

    Epic

    Here's what Mariah Carey's writing style was like for her single "Vision of Love" (1990):

    "Vision of Love" lyrics: "Prayed through the nights/Felt so alone/Suffered from alienation/Carried the weight on my own/Had to be strong/So I believed/And now I know I've succeeded in finding the place I conceived"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Mariah Carey's writing style is like from her single "A No No" (2019):

    "A No No" lyrics: "You shoulda known that it's bigger than you/You'll never know what I already knew/After everything I already been through/I can't waste no time, pay no 'tention to you"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Mariah Carey looked and sounded like in her music video for "Love Takes Time" (1990):

    View this video on YouTube
    Columbia / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Mariah Carey looks and sounds like in her music video for "A No No" (2019):

    View this video on YouTube
    Epic / Via youtube.com

    3. Here's what Harry Styles looked like on One Direction's first album cover, Up All Night (2011):

    Columbia / Syco

    Here's what Harry Styles looks like on his latest solo album cover, Fine Line (2019):

    Columbia / Erskine

    Here's what Harry Styles' writing style was like with One Direction for their song "Taken" (2011):

    "Taken" lyrics: "Who do you think you are?/Who do you think I am?/You only loved to see me breaking/You only want me 'cause I'm taken"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Harry Styles' writing style is like from his single "Treat People with Kindness" (2021):

    "Treat People with Kindness" lyrics: "Maybe we can find a place to feel good/And we can treat people with kindness/Find a place to feel good"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Harry Styles looked and sounded like in One Direction's music video for "What Makes You Beautiful" (2011):

    View this video on YouTube
    Columbia / Syco / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Harry Styles looks and sounds like in his music video for "Watermelon Sugar" (2020):

    View this video on YouTube
    Columbia / Erskine / Via youtube.com

    4. Here's what Miley Cyrus looked like on her first album cover, Meet Miley Cyrus (2007):

    Walt Disney / Hollywood

    Here's what Miley Cyrus looks like on her latest album cover, Plastic Hearts (2020):

    RCA

    Here's what Miley Cyrus's writing style was like for her single "See You Again" (2007):

    "See You Again" lyrics: "I got a way of knowing when something is right/I feel like I must have known you in another life/'Cause I felt this deep connection when you looked in my eyes/Now I can't wait to see you again"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Miley Cyrus's writing style is like from her single "Angels Like You" (2021):

    "Angels like You" lyrics: "I know that you're wrong for me/Gonna wish we never met on the day I leave/I brought you down to your knees/'Cause they say that misery loves company"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Miley Cyrus looked and sounded like in her music video for "Start All Over" (2007):

    View this video on YouTube
    Walt Disney / Hollywood / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Miley Cyrus looks and sounds like in her music video for "Midnight Sky" (2020):

    View this video on YouTube
    RCA / Via youtube.com

    5. Here's what Drake looked like on his first album/mixtape cover, Room for Improvement (2006):

    All Things Fresh

    Here's what Drake looks like on his latest album/mixtape cover, Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020):

    OVO / Republic

    Here's what Drake's writing style was like for his song "Special" (2006):

    "Special" lyrics: "I'm bold from the get go, go by the title of Drake/And treating me like the rest is a vital mistake"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Drake's writing style is like from his single "Toosie Slide" (2020):

    "Toosie Slide" lyrics: "Black leather glove, no sequins/Buckles on the jacket, it's Alyx shit/Nike crossbody, got a piece in it/Got a dance, but it's really on some street shit"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Drake looked and sounded like in his music video for "Replacement Girl" (2007):

    View this video on YouTube
    OVO / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Drake looks and sounds like in his music video for "Laugh Now Cry Later" (2020):

    View this video on YouTube
    OVO / Republic / Via youtube.com

    6. Here's what Beyoncé looked like on Destiny's Child's first album cover, Destiny's Child (1998):

    Columbia / Music World

    Here's what Beyoncé looks like on her latest solo album cover, Lemonade (2016):

    Columbia / Parkwood

    Here's what Beyoncé's writing style was like with Destiny's Child for their song "Birthday" (1998):

    "Birthday" lyrics: "The time has come and it's finally here/Have a candlelit dinner or just settle down, my dear/Whatever you like, boy/It's all up to you"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Beyoncé's writing style is like from her single "Hold Up" (2016):

    "Hold Up" lyrics: "Hold up, they don't love you like I love you/Slow down, they don't love you like I love you/Back up, they don't love you like I love you/Step down, they don't love you like I love you"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Beyoncé looked and sounded like in Destiny's Child's music video for "No, No, No Part 2" (1997):

    View this video on YouTube
    Columbia / Music World / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Beyoncé looks and sounds like in her music video for "Formation" (2016):

    View this video on YouTube
    Columbia / Parkwood / Via youtube.com

    7. Here's what the Jonas Brothers looked like on their first album cover, It's About Time (2006):

    Columbia / INO / Daylight

    Here's what the Jonas Brothers look like on their latest album cover, Happiness Begins (2019):

    Republic

    Here's what the Jonas Brothers' writing style was like for their single, "Mandy" (2005):

    "Mandy" lyrics: "Mandy always laughs when I act stupid/I am unaware that I'm a nuisance/With her it's never wasted time/Mandy always knows exactly what I'm thinking"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what the Jonas Brothers' writing style is like from their single "Remember This" (2021):

    "Remember This" lyrics: "Used to pray for a moment just like this/There's a fire in your eyes I can't resist/Baby, we're gonna wanna remember this/Baby, we're gonna wanna remember this"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what the Jonas Brothers looked and sounded like in their music video for "Year 3000" (2007):

    View this video on YouTube
    Hollywood / Via youtube.com

    Here's what the Jonas Brothers look and sound like in their music video for "Leave Before You Love Me" (2021):

    View this video on YouTube
    Republic / Joytime Collective / Via youtube.com

    8. Here's what Demi Lovato looked like on their first album cover, Don't Forget (2008):

    Hollywood

    Here's what Demi Lovato looks like on their latest album cover, Dancing with the Devil... the Art of Starting Over (2021):

    Island

    Here's what Demi Lovato's writing style was like for their single "Get Back" (2008):

    "Get Back" lyrics: "I wanna get back to the old days/When the phone would ring/And I knew it was you/I wanna talk back and get yelled at/Fight for nothing/Like we used to"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Demi Lovato's writing style is like from their single "Anyone" (2020):

    "Anyone" lyrics: "A hundred million stories and a hundred million songs/I feel stupid when I sing/Nobody's listening to me/Nobody's listening/I talk to shooting stars/But they always get it wrong"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Demi Lovato looked and sounded like in their music video for "La La Land" (2008):

    View this video on YouTube
    Hollywood / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Demi Lovato looks and sounds like in their music video for "Dancing with the Devil" (2021):

    View this video on YouTube
    Island / Via youtube.com

    9. Here's what Bruno Mars looked like on his first solo album cover, Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010):

    Atlantic / Elektra

    Here's what Bruno Mars looks like on Silk Sonic's latest album cover, An Evening with Silk Sonic (2021):

    Aftermath / Atlantic

    Here's what Bruno Mars' writing style was like for his single "Just the Way You Are" (2010):

    "Just the Way You Are" lyrics: "When I see your face/There's not a thing that I would change/'Cause you're amazing just the way you are"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Bruno Mars' writing style is like with Silk Sonic for their single "Skate" (2021):

    "Skate" lyrics: "In a room full of dimes you would be a hundred dollars/If bein' fine was a crime/Girl, they'd lock your lil' fine ass up in a tower"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Bruno Mars looked and sounded like in his music video for "Grenade" (2010):

    View this video on YouTube
    Atlantic / Elektra / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Bruno Mars looks and sounds like in Silk Sonic's music video for "Leave the Door Open" (2021):

    View this video on YouTube
    Aftermath / Atlantic / Via youtube.com

    10. Here's what Alicia Keys looked like on her first album cover, Songs in A Minor (2001):

    J

    Here's what Alicia Keys looks like on her latest album cover, Alicia (2020):

    RCA

    Here's what Alicia Keys' writing style was like for her single "A Woman's Worth" (2001):

    "A Woman's Worth" lyrics: "'Cause a real man knows a real woman when he sees her/And a real woman knows a real man ain't afraid to please her"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Alicia Keys' writing style is like from her single "Time Machine" (2019):

    "Time Machine" lyrics: "Fear of what's in the mirror/So much to be afraid of/Scared of what we're made of/And what we might be"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Alicia Keys looked and sounded like in her music video for "Fallin'" (2001):

    View this video on YouTube
    J / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Alicia Keys looks and sounds like in her music video for "Love Looks Better" (2020):

    View this video on YouTube
    RCA / Via youtube.com

    11. And here's what Ariana Grande looked like on her first album cover, Yours Truly (2013):

    Republic

    Here's what Ariana Grande looks like on her latest album cover, Positions (2020):

    Republic

    Here's what Ariana Grande's writing style was like for her single "Almost Is Never Enough" (2013):

    "Almost Is Never Enough" lyrics: "I'd like to say we gave it a try/I'd like to blame it all on life/Maybe we just weren't right, but that's a lie, that's a lie"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Ariana Grande's writing style is like from her single "34+35" (2020):

    "34+35" lyrics: "You might think I'm crazy/The way I been craving/If I put it quite plainly/Just gimme them babies/So what you doing tonight? Better say 'Doing you right'"
    AZ Lyrics / Via azlyrics.com

    Here's what Ariana Grande looked and sounded like in her music video for "Put Your Hearts Up" (2011):

    View this video on YouTube
    Universal Republic / Via youtube.com

    Here's what Ariana Grande looks and sounds like in her music video for "Positions" (2020):

    View this video on YouTube
    Republic / Via youtube.com
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