For a very long time, the music industry was considered a man's world. From Elvis Presley to the Beatles, male musicians dominated the charts and soared to new heights of success. Then something fantastic happened -- Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard broke through the glass ceiling with the release of their smash hit "Where Did Our Love Go?" as the Supremes. This marked the birth of the modern girl group and, since then, women all over the world have been banding together in hopes of replicating (or surpassing) the success of the Supremes.
This list counts down five of the all-time greatest girl groups. Those selected for this list have had tremendous success and have made a positive impact on the music industry. These five girl groups are innovative, glamorous, and, most importantly, divinely talented.
05. TLC
Members: Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Years Active: 1990-2005, 2009-present
Number of #1 Singles: 4
Number of Platinum Albums: 4
Signature Songs: "Creep," "Waterfalls," "No Scrubs," "Unpretty"
Much like the Supremes before them, TLC became visionaries in a genre dominated by men. This trio blended R&B and Hip-Hop together to create a unique sound that many groups have since attempted to replicate. The combination of T-Boz's smokey vocals, Chilli's sticky sweet voice, and Left Eye's rapid fire rapping was a winning combination that led to an estimated 65 million records sold.
Unfortunately, in-fighting nearly tore the group apart and Left Eye's tragic death in 2002 hindered TLC's future success. While they've attempted the occasional comeback, Chilli and T-Boz have largely been unable to recapture the magic of their heyday.
04. Destiny's Child
Members: Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams
Years Active: 1997-2006
Number of #1 Singles: 4
Number of Platinum Albums: 5
Signature Songs: "No, No, No," "Say My Name," "Independent Women," "Survivor"
From SWV to En Vogue, there's been no shortage of R&B girl groups. However, none has ever quite been as influential as Destiny's Child. Originally a quartet, Destiny's Child weathered numerous line-up changes before settling into their magic formula of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. This incarnation broke records when their hit single "Independent Women" spent a staggering 11 weeks at number one and its proceeding album Survivor sold nearly 700,000 copies in its first week. Their instantly recognizable vocals have made them a force to be reckoned with and are still much-loved by their fans.
After the release of their fourth album, Destiny's Child announced their split. Since then, they've gone on to pursue solo careers. Unlike most other girl groups, each member of this trio have achieved solo success by carving out niches within the music industry. While reunions are regularly squashed by Bey, Kelly, and Michelle, fans were treated to a brief moment of DC3 goodness when they reunited for Beyoncé's 2013 SuperBowl Half-Time Show performance.
03. The Supremes
Members: Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard (original line-up)
Years Active: 1959-1977
Number of #1 Singles: 12
Signature Songs: "Where Did Our Love Go?," "Baby Love," Stop! In The Name of Love," "Love Child"
In the 1960s, Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard reigned supreme. As Motown's most successful group, this trio maintained an image of elegance and autonomy during a period of civil upheaval. While Ross was portrayed as the group's lead singer, the Supremes had incredible harmonies and should be celebrated for achieving such tremendous success during a period of time when women were not considered viable commodities in the music industry.
Following the dismissal of original member Florence Ballard, the group was re-branded as Diana Ross & The Supremes and Ballard was replaced by Cindy Birdsong. This incarnation continued to rack up the hits right up until Ross' departure in 1970. While the group continued to produce music without Ross, they failed to replicate the success they once had. In the years that followed, Diana Ross embarked on a successful solo career as a singer and actress. Even still, her time as a Supreme remains an ever-present iconic moment in popular culture.
02. Girls Aloud
Members: Nadine Coyle, Cheryl Cole, Kimberley Walsh, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts
Years Active: 2002-2013
Number of #1 Singles: 4
Number of Platinum Albums: 6
Signature Songs: "The Sound of the Underground," "Love Machine," "Biology," "The Promise"
When it comes to girl groups, the UK knows how to get it right. Unlike their American counterparts, these groups eschew the lead singer format in favour of spotlighting each individual member. This is the formula that Girls Aloud was born out of. Initially put together for the 2002 reality TV program Pop Stars: The Rivals, these fierce songstresses skyrocketed to the top of the charts with their debut single "The Sound of the Underground." With the production team of Xenomania behind them, Girls Aloud released a staggering 21 top ten hits in the UK and each of their five studio albums have been certified platinum. The group is also credited for altering the landscape of pop music in the UK and many of their songs are considered examples of innovation in the genre.
Unlike the other groups on this list, Girls Aloud have never had any line-up changes. This is a feat practically unheard of in the realm of girl groups. Despite this, the group called it quits in 2013 following their Ten: The Hits concert tour. While the girls have each pursued solo careers, it is Cheryl Cole that has taken off as a major force in the music industry. As a lead artist, she has four #1 singles and is set to release her fourth album later this year.
01. Spice Girls
Members: Melanie "Sporty Spice" Chisolm, Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham, Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown, Emma "Baby Spice" Bunton, Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell
Years Active: 1994-2000, 2007-2008
Number of #1 Singles: 9
Number of Platinum Albums: 4 (their first album is certified 10x platinum!)
Signature Songs: "Wannabe," "Say You'll Be There," "Spice Up Your Life," "Goodbye"
During the testosterone-laden wave of boy bands in the 1990s, a girl group rose to prominence that forever altered the music industry. The Spice Girls were a five piece girl group that rose to fame with their debut single "Wannabe." Their messages of female empowerment and the importance of individuality resonated with audiences. This beloved group became a phenomenon and invaded just about every aspect of day-to-day life. Their success extended beyond their radio hits, leading to the release of branded merchandise from dolls to bubblegum. It's hard to imagine the '90s without their distinctive brand of feel-good pop music and their encouragement for their fans to stay true to who they are.
Unfortunately, the meteoric success the Spice Girls experienced was not enough to keep the group together. During the middle of their Spiceworld tour, Geri left the group. Even though the four remaining members carried on without her, they would release just one more album before disbanding in 2000. Since then, each member has explored solo careers as singers, songwriters, fashion designers, and television personalities. Even 18 years after their debut single, fans are still clamouring for a reunion.
Note: Certifications listed here are based on those of the groups' native countries. For example, Spice Girls' and Girls Aloud's certifications are based off of those received in the United Kingdom while Destiny's Child's are based off those received in the United States.
It's worth mentioning that girl groups like SPEED, Girls' Generation, Morning Musume, and Wonder Girls have experienced tremendous success in Asia and are easily worthy of being included in best of lists.
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