Girl and Boy Bands

“If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends” Spice Girls, ‘Wannabe’, 1996

After the success of American group New Kids On The Block, the term ‘boy band’ was coined for a new generation of British groups. The breakthrough British boy band was Take That, formed by Nigel Martin-Smith. Featuring Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow, Take That sold millions of records and, when they split up in 1996, left thousands of girls bereft. In their wake came Boyzone and Westlife, Irish groups formed by Louis Walsh.

The female equivalent were the Spice Girls, who broke through with ‘Wannabe’ in 1996. Marketed as having five distinct personalities, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Mel B, Melanie C and Victoria Beckham epitomised ‘Girl Power’ and empowered teen girls with a new sense of independence and attitude. With sales of 53 million records worldwide, they are the best-selling girl group of all time.

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