Where my girls at? Why I want a girl band renaissance.

Here at Smidge HQ (which is literally just me), I don't know about you but I live for a good girl group. Starting from the OG's the Spice girls, the spicy but sweet Sugababes, my personal favourite Girls Aloud, to the youthful and albiet controversial Little Mix - only to name a few!

I have noticed a distinct lack of modern girl groups compared to what we have had in the past, but also a lack of support for the girl groups who are currently on the market.

My first memory which really kicked off my love of girl groups was in fact, with the Sugababes. Despite the song being WILDLY inapropriate for my 5 year old ears, I was OBSESSED with "Push the Button" and made my parents play it at every given opportunity. I think my dad used this as an excuse to just watch the music video though...

Following this, at the ripe old age of 8 is where my infatuation with Girls Aloud began. I idolized Cheryl (closely followed by expert flour worker Nadine), living and breathing all their music, learning lyrics and even the choreo. I even go as far as saying my first real heartbreak was when they broke up, I don't think my little heart has recovered since. Ask me a line from any song and i 100% can tell you - no exaggeration.

Since then I've had a Saturdays phase, but they didn't quite scratch the itch that Girls Aloud did. Still iconic though. If you have never listened to "The Saturdays MegaMix" I highly urge you stop reading this and take 12 minutes of your day to listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqnmmUVS9Jo

Comparable to Mozart one would argue.

Of course I got to know the Spice Girls as I got older, and felt sad that I missed their era of World Domination, I would have truly thrived. More modern girl bands such as Little Mix and The Pussycat Dolls (again, I'd like to mention these are only a FEW girl bands that I have loved over the years, there are too many to mention!) all had a period of being flavour of the month during my tween AND teen years, so the love of girl bands has been something that has followed me during basically my whole life.

So other than rattling on about how "Sound of the Underground" changed history forever, in my opinion, what exactly is the point of this article Ellen?

Well, in this world and our society, I still feel like we are heavily male dominated. Wow! I wonder why I think that...

Without getting into too many heavy topics as I like to keep it light hearted here at Smidge, I just mean in the sense that seeing Girl Bands more often brought a sense of female empowerment and solidarity. So many young girls got together and decided who would be Baby, who would be Sporty and who would be Posh. Girl Bands allowed for other girls alike to identify with certain members and see someone like themselves- giving us amazing role models to look up to and be able to feel proud of our own tropes and personalities - what makes us different can bring us together. Which is why I probably love Nadine Coyle so much as an Irish gyerl amongst a lot of Brits at times!

In later years, Little Mix sang a chorus of uplifting and empowering songs about why being a female is so great which felt good to scream along to with your besties in the car (or at the club). Instead of listening to music by men describing how big shawtys ass is, music about how women have the power dominated the charts.

While we have no shortage of independent female musicians who create a sense of feminism and empowerment through their own music, I guess I just wish I was in the era where Girl Bands were booming. However, due to a close friend being a fan of KPOP (Korean Pop for those unaware), they have a big rise in more female girl groups who are dominating the charts and overtaking their male counterparts. As well as the Sugababes getting back together, discussions around female singing groups are popping up in the news, charts and wider society. I would much rather live in a society where instead of every girl aiming to be an influencer #girlboss, girls aim to be the next big thing in music, and band together to help fulfil this dream.

I would form my own in a heartbeat but alas, my singing voice is nothing far from sounding like a pained caterwhal.

Perhaps the girl band will make a revival?

I am aware this article isn't ~award winning journalism~ but I can't help but feel like I needed to share my feelings on this topic. I would love to hear what my audience think! Do you long for the girl band or not?

Tell me in the comments below! I would love to know my readers favourite girl bands of the past or even are there any now you listen to you think I should discover?