As Oasis prepare to bring their swaggering Britpop back to Manchester this weekend with their blockbuster homecoming gigs at Heaton Park, a new survey has revealed that not everyone is ready to roll with it.
Despite the hype around their long-awaited reunion, nearly a third of Brits surveyed (32%) say the Gallagher brothers are, well, a bit overhyped – putting them fifth on a new list of the most overrated musicians in the world.
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The poll, conducted by SuomiCasino, asked 2,000 UK adults to classify popular artists as underrated, fairly rated, or overrated – and the results are sure to spark a few debates.
Topping the list? Kanye West. More than half (52%) of respondents said the controversial rapper-producer is the most overrated artist of all – a view that cuts across generations, with particularly strong sentiment among over-55s.
But perhaps the biggest generational split came with Taylor Swift. While her Eras Tour smashed records globally, Gen Z aren’t entirely sold. A whopping 57% of 18-24-year-olds said Swift is overrated, crowning her the queen of overhype in their eyes. Even Sabrina Carpenter, her tourmate, isn’t safe – she’s tied as the fourth-most overrated among Gen Z at 45%.
Meanwhile, Oasis’s place in the rankings may sting for the band’s loyal fanbase, especially in Manchester. Over-55s and retirees are most likely to dismiss the band, with 44% of those aged 55–64 and 40% of over-65s calling them overrated.
So whether you’re belting out Don’t Look Back in Anger at Heaton Park this weekend or quietly agreeing with your dad that “they were never that good anyway,” one thing’s clear – musical taste is as divisive as ever.
The Most Overrated Musicians
Artist | Total | Men | Women | 18 – 24 | 25 – 34 | 35 – 44 | 45 – 54 | 55 – 64 | 65 or over |
Kanye West | 52% | 49% | 55% | 45% | 41% | 49% | 59% | 64% | 50% |
Beyoncé | 43% | 42% | 44% | 46% | 35% | 40% | 47% | 49% | 43% |
Taylor Swift | 42% | 40% | 44% | 57% | 35% | 41% | 41% | 49% | 38% |
Harry Styles | 37% | 40% | 35% | 43% | 29% | 33% | 34% | 48% | 39% |
Oasis | 32% | 31% | 33% | 23% | 21% | 23% | 36% | 44% | 40% |
Drake | 31% | 32% | 30% | 47% | 34% | 33% | 35% | 30% | 18% |
Lily Allen | 28% | 29% | 27% | 16% | 21% | 31% | 33% | 31% | 30% |
Ed Sheeran | 27% | 32% | 21% | 28% | 21% | 23% | 30% | 30% | 28% |
Billie Eilish | 26% | 27% | 25% | 29% | 26% | 27% | 33% | 27% | 20% |
Dua Lipa | 25% | 26% | 24% | 31% | 25% | 26% | 24% | 28% | 20% |
Bruno Mars | 24% | 29% | 19% | 23% | 25% | 23% | 23% | 25% | 23% |
Adele | 22% | 23% | 21% | 16% | 20% | 19% | 26% | 28% | 21% |
Sabrina Carpenter | 22% | 21% | 22% | 45% | 24% | 25% | 20% | 21% | 11% |
Coldplay | 21% | 23% | 19% | 15% | 18% | 25% | 21% | 28% | 19% |
Kendrick Lamar | 20% | 24% | 17% | 22% | 25% | 23% | 23% | 19% | 13% |
Elton John | 20% | 21% | 20% | 19% | 22% | 19% | 17% | 20% | 22% |
Charli xcx | 20% | 20% | 20% | 36% | 25% | 20% | 20% | 19% | 11% |
The Beatles | 19% | 20% | 19% | 21% | 22% | 19% | 21% | 21% | 14% |
The Weeknd | 18% | 21% | 15% | 26% | 24% | 20% | 20% | 16% | 9% |