Inside the Wild Ride of 2000s Girl Bands: Fame, Drama, and Fierce Sisterhood

Girl bands have played a major role in pop music for decades, often bringing fresh ideas and energy to the industry. Andy McCluskey, the lead singer of OMD and creator of Atomic Kitten, once said that girl bands are the best pop groups, while boy bands mostly succeed because of their looks. He pointed out that girl bands like The Spice Girls and Girls Aloud have made songs that are creative and memorable, such as 'Wannabe' and 'Biology. ' Despite their talent, girl bands were often seen as less important than boy bands and had to fight for recognition. It took over forty years for a girl band, Little Mix, to win the best group award at the Brit Awards. A new BBC documentary aims to highlight the achievements of girl bands and also reveal the tough realities behind the scenes.

Many girl bands started when their members were still teenagers. The Sugababes, for example, had to balance schoolwork with music promotions. Kelle Bryan from Eternal remembers a strict boot camp where their diets were controlled, and Melanie Blatt from All Saints faced pressure about her pregnancy. The documentary also discusses how the Sugababes changed members frequently, sometimes making the band seem more like a brand than a group of individuals. Darcus Beese, who worked with the Sugababes, said that at one point, the group did not even have any original members left. Across the industry, young singers were often pushed into demanding schedules and had little control over their careers. Kerry Katona from Atomic Kitten described how hard they worked, sometimes to the point of exhaustion, and felt powerless in the process.

Girls Aloud, another popular girl band, shared similar experiences. They were formed on a reality TV show and had no manager for over a year, leaving them to handle everything themselves. Nadine Coyle said it was chaotic, with different teams wanting them to do different things and no one looking out for their well-being. Over time, the members learned how the business worked and became more confident in making decisions. Other bands, like Mis-Teeq, managed themselves and wrote their own songs, which helped them stay independent. Su-Elise Nash from Mis-Teeq said their strong attitude protected them from some of the industry's problems, but they still faced challenges like racism and had to work harder to gain respect.

Being famous also brought unwanted attention. Kerry Katona described how paparazzi followed her everywhere and published unflattering photos, which affected her mental health and led her to leave the band. Su-Elise Nash left Mis-Teeq when their record label went bankrupt and her grandmother became ill, choosing to spend time with family instead of continuing with the band. Today, the music industry is more aware of mental health issues and tries to support young artists better. Little Mix, for example, made sure to provide support on their talent show. However, girl bands still face demanding schedules, like K-pop groups who practice for hours every day. Many former girl band members feel a strong bond with each other because they understand the challenges they faced. Su-Elise Nash said she is proud of the work they did and the barriers they broke. Girl bands have overcome many obstacles and continue to inspire fans with their music and resilience.