Shortlist for Official Charts Pop Gem #58: Going Solo

This week, it’s all about the stars who left their bands behind…

Fridays can only mean one thing. Well, OK, Fridays mean lots of things, but at Official Charts HQ, Fridays are the day of our Pop Gem scavenger hunt, where we ask you to nominate your favourite overlooked tracks that deserve another chance to shine.

This week’s theme was GOING SOLO – tracks by band members who deciced they were so over the whole ‘being in a group’ thing and went it alone.

Even better, it was suggested by one of our lovely fans, Adam, who says: “ABBA once sang (beautifully) "Breaking up is never easy, I know, but I have to go", and for this selection of Pop Gems that's what these popstars have done. Every band has one or two (maybe even five) artists who decide to step out alone and try to create the bands success on their very own. Sometimes it goes very well and sadly, sometimes, it doesn't go well at all.”

Very true. Anyway, we asked our Facebook buddies and Twitter pals and you delivered. Then we deliberated. And we got it down to FOURTEEN potentials – our longest shortlist ever. We decided features on tracks counted, as did band members who buzzed off to form another band. So sue us.

Who are you backing? Check out the video playlist at the end of the page for a quick refresher on our arsenal of greats.

Video playlist

Check out all fourteen of our ultimate post-group solo outings. What’s your fave? .

We’ll be announcing the winner on Saturday. Tell us who you’re backing on Facebook or Twitter.