Before Destiny’s Child, fierce ladies were setting the stage for female artists and girl groups way before, redefining the formally sexist ideas of musical groups and what popular culture understood “bands” to be. With their jaw-dropping harmonies and stellar matching outfits, here are some of the best, trail-blazing girl, girl groups of all time.
The Supremes
The Supremes At Hollywood Palace “Stop In The Name Of Love” (1965)
One of the most famous Motown acts and commercially successful female vocal groups ever, The Supremes set the scene for future girl groups to come and lead the way for the commercial success of female soul black artists worldwide. With 12 number one pop singles on Billboard Hot 100 and immense popularity and praise, The Supremes (Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson) are considered the top trio of a decade.
The Go-Go’s
The Go-Go’s- We Got The Beat (1981)
The Go-Go’s broke barriers for female rock bands, making history as the first girl group that wrote and played all of their own music ranking on the Billboard charts. The Go-Go’s helped to define the sound of the 80’s pop rock, with catchy and powerful songs, the five members, Belinda Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock and Kathy Valentine, had an electric connection, fun sound, and chic role model vibes for a generation.
TLC
TLC – Waterfalls (1994)
R&B trio, TLC is one of the most well-known girl bands of all time. TLC- standing for the members names, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins “ Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, had a distinctly unique edge and style. Known for many contagious 1990’s hits including four number one singles such (“Creep,” “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs” and “UnPretty”), their two-time Grammy award winning album CrazySexyCool is the second best-selling record by a girl group internationally, with over 23 million copies sold.
En Vogue
En Vogue – Don’t Let Go (Love) (Set It Off Movie Soundtrack 1996)
Sophisticated R&B girl group, En Vogue (Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones) has sold over 20 million records worldwide, received seven Grammy nominations, and has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in history. Billboard ranked the cool and collected En Vogue as one of the greatest bands of all time—and we are definitely in agreement!
Spice Girls
Spice Girls – Wannabe (1996)
And lastly of course, the world’s #1 best-selling girl with over 85 millions records sold, the Spice Girls are a global phenomenon. The British group consisted of five members, Melanie Brown (“Scary Spice”), Melanie Chisholm (“Sporty Spice”), Emma Bunton (“Baby Spice”), Geri Halliwell (“Ginger Spice”), and Victoria Beckham, née Adams (“Posh Spice”), all of whom offered a distinctive and lovable flare. Their single “Wannabe” is the top-selling single by a female group internationally and is an anthem of female empowerment universally.
Cover image courtesy of Life and Style Mag.
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