Photo by Tracy Fuentes
We all know the feeling of when your favorite band posts a square on Instagram with a bunch of text, or makes a video, thanking their fans for the support on the journey for however many years they’ve been together, before they announce a hiatus or breakup. Sometimes we can sense it coming, sometimes we can’t. Some bands breakup and never reunite (though, some of us still hold hope for our favorites!), but what about the bands that eventually find their way back to each other? I find that bands that break up or come close to breaking up, then subsequently get back together are stronger in their revival because of reignited bonds with each other and reminders of passion all rooted in the love of music. But what else makes these bands’ revival iconic? I believe its the response of loyal fans who are excited to see them release music again, and bands usually respond to their fans by coming back in a big way. The Jonas Brothers, No Doubt, and Dan + Shay are a few that come to mind for me as a Gen Z pop music lover.
The first instance of a strong revival can be seen in the Jonas Brothers’ first single off of the album Happiness Begins, “Sucker”. “Sucker” was the Jonas Brothers comeback single released in 2019, nearly six years after they disbanded in 2013. This song instantly made a mark on the pop scene and their discography up to that point, the catchy lyrics on rotation on the radio, and their first single to reach number one on the charts, both in the United States and the United Kingdom. This number one achievement marked the first of the century for any group.
Though they had been stars on Disney Channel for years before and had embarked on their own semi-successful solo careers during the disbandment, their music had only ever peaked at number two. This smash-hit single was a perfect lead up to their studio album Happiness Begins, as they performed it at the Billboard Music Awards, and released an accompanying video with star-studded appearances from their partners at the time, including award-winning actress Sophie Turner. To this date, the “Sucker” music video has garnered over 380 million views.
The momentum did not stop with “Sucker”, though. Their album, Happiness Begins, marked their fourth number one album in the United States, and produced the motive for their first arena tour in years. This tour sold over one million tickets and made over 100 million dollars. They went on to be nominated for GRAMMYs and were officially back on the pop music grind.
Since their comeback, they have released an album titled The Album, which brings a nostalgic 70’s sound with bubblegum poppy beats. In response to the popularity of their album, they again embarked on a world tour, called the “Five Albums: One Night Tour”, where they performed every song off of all five of their albums, leading to an over three hour long show, complete with bops and emotional moments. I was fortunate enough to see the show twice, and the artistry was unlike anything I’ve seen before on their prior tours. Their music has reflected this continuing momentum, and despite developments in their personal lives, including fatherhood and divorce, the music and fans have kept the Jonas Brothers continually united.
A revival can also be seen most recently with the pop punk band of the 90’s and 2000’s No Doubt. Despite their music being the ultimate soundtrack to pivotal moments of adolescence, the band hasn’t reunited or played a show since 2015. Before 2015, the band had gone through rocky times. However in 2024, No Doubt has the potential to dominate pop-punk once again, as fans beg for new music and a reunion tour. This was sparked by their headlining performance at Coachella, where No Doubt performed hits like “Spiderwebs”, “Don’t Speak”, and “Hey Baby”, as well as welcoming guests on stage, such as Olivia Rodrigo who sang “Bathwater.” This set was praised by many nostalgic fans who were thrilled to see the band on stage again, stronger than ever. Their performances have gone viral on TikTok, gaining thousands of views. Though they have not announced a reunion tour yet, I would love to see their revival momentum continue.
When bands almost break up and come back together, I also consider that an act of revival. This is the latest feat of pop-country duo Dan + Shay, known for hits like “Tequila” and “Speechless.” Having been a band for over ten years, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney hit a bit of a crossroads in 2022, post the COVID-19 pandemic, where both their relationships with each other and with music began to fall apart, leaving their socials eerily quiet, preparing fans for a breakup.
In late 2022, the band released a video on their Instagram and YouTube called “The Drive”. This video revealed that the two hadn’t spoken in months, and showed them meeting to discuss the future of their careers together. This video doesn’t shy away from the difficult experiences of being physically and mentally strained, but comes together really poignantly to show fans that they are meant to continue this together, after working on their personal and professional relationship with the help of their partners. Since their resurgence, Dan + Shay and their opportunities have been again, stronger than ever. They were the first duo to become coaches on The Voice, have released an album called Bigger Houses with a huge radio single, have won various accolades, including GRAMMYS and ACM’s, and have embarked on their largest ongoing arena tour, which brings to the forefront their gratitude for fan response.
It is important to note that fans play a huge role in bands’ revivals. Without fans, the Jonas Brothers wouldn’t have had their first number one, a Grammy nomination or huge arena tours, No Doubt wouldn’t have been able to headline Coachella, and Dan and Shay wouldn’t be making music. Fans hold the power for bands’ revivals, and seeing this revival impact artists and their motivations is the best thing a fan could ask for.
Kindergarten 