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Girls Aloud: the modern Spice Girls?

by
browne

When Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl Tweedy, Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts won the girls’ section of the U.K. reality TV talent contest Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, and then formed a group called Girls Aloud, I don’t think anyone was really expecting much from them.

After all, the last U.K. band formed via a reality show, Hear’Say, had gone spectacularly to pieces, with public backlash and rapid disintegration within 18 months. The twist to Popstars: The Rivals was that it put together not one but two bands: Girls Aloud, and a boy band called One True Voice, who were then expected to battle it out for that year’s U.K. Christmas No. 1. Public money was on One True Voice: After all, teenage girls always have room on their walls for another boy band, whereas everyone in the U.K. knew that there hadn’t been a successful five-piece girl band since ... well, since the Spice Girls.

In the end, One True Voice came up with an awful piece of drivel called “Sacred Trust” for their first single, and Girls Aloud beat them to No. 1 with their first release, “Sound of the Underground.” Since then, the Aloud have been more successful than anyone would have predicted, achieving 17 consecutive top ten singles, three of which reached No. 1. Although not a global phenomenon like the Spice Girls, they’ve held on to success steadily for five years, without any major upsets like the loss of a band member.

In that time, although they’re not my favorite band, they’ve also come up with several songs that I like. There was their second single release, “No Good Advice,” in 2003:



There was “Wake Me Up” in 2005 — with a video excellent for anyone who likes dykes straight girls on bikes:



And, on a slower, classier note, there was the unexpectedly stylish “Whole Lotta History” in 2006. As well as liking the song, I have to admit I find it hard to resist a girl who sings to me from inside a book-lined study:



Image-wise, the girls project a slightly different, more aloof and grownup vibe than the Spice Girls do, and they also play to a different demographic: less to kids, more to men’s-magazine-reading guys (alas). However, to introduce you to each band member individually, and to amuse myself, I thought I’d try pairing each Aloud Girl with her equivalent Spice Girl:

1. Nicola Roberts and Geri Halliwell

Nicola and Geri go together in my mind for the simple, and perhaps not very reasonable, reason that they are both red-haired. Apart from this, though, they don’t have a great deal in common. Ginger Spice was joyously loud and mouthy. Nicola is quiet and unusual and enigmatic-looking — a bit more like the also red-haired Siobhan Donaghy of the original Sugababes.

2. Cheryl Cole (née Tweedy) and Victoria Beckham

A fairly simple one here: Cheryl and Victoria are both pretty, dark-haired (when they’re not busy dyeing it an unflattering blonde) and married to footballers. Cheryl is fairly daft, though, whereas (at least in my Posh Spice fantasies) Victoria possesses a subtle intelligence and surprisingly comprehensive knowledge of 19th-century French poetry.

3. Nadine Coyle and Emma Bunton

Nadine and Emma are both blonde, sweet, pretty, friendly and generally prone to making you feel that it’s a lovely day. I suspect Emma’s blonde to be a tad more natural than Nadine’s, however.

4. Sarah Harding and Melanie Brown

They’ve both got a hard edge that I find slightly off-putting — though Sarah is a huge hit with the men’s magazine market, and in fact I can scarcely walk past a newsstand without seeing her posing in her underwear.

5. Kimberley Walsh and Melanie Chisholm

Both seem like down-to-earth girls whom you might meet on the street. But I have yet to see Kimberley do a backflip.

Have I chosen the right match-ups? Which (if any) of the Aloud is your favorite?

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    • Submitted by
    browne
    on February 6, 2008 - 4:38pm.
    TAGS :: 
    piperbunny's picture

    Girls Aloud

    Submitted by
    piperbunny (8 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 5:16pm.

    I've never really been into Girls Aloud as much as I was the Spice Girls, I think it was the reality TV thing but I do like their music. I do think they are a modern version of the Spice Girls but they don't shout out Girl Power all the time. But their songs are so catchy and they were in the movie St. Trinians so they can't be doing much wrong.

    I don't think I could choose a favourite though, they're not as seperable as the Spice Girls are.

    Btw, I love having a British Blogger, I do keep a special eye out for your posts :D

    nikkif99uk's picture

    I love Girls Aloud

    Submitted by
    nikkif99uk (366 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 5:31pm.

    I often get laughed for loving girls aloud, often told some of my music tastes are quite camp. I seen then perform at G-A-Y 3 times now I think, even broke my rib getting crushed into the stage once there lol and Nadine my fave wasnt even there.

    Nadine is so sexy, love the Irish accent.

    Its so annoying am in Vancouver, on exchange for the year and no one has heard of them over here. Which is a shame, cause I can't chat to ppl about them.

    LDN's picture

    GIRLS ALOUD GREAT WITH THE MUTE ON OR OFF.

    Submitted by
    LDN (67 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 5:44pm.
    Oh my god GENIOUS, i love girls aloud....and i get ripped the piss out of for loving them. their songs are fucking awsome, they are the MOZARTS of our time.....fact not fiction. GREAT BLOG
    silent_alarm's picture

    Love me some Girls Aloud

    Submitted by
    silent_alarm (38 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 5:51pm.
    I've always had a thing for them. Sure they're a bit cheesy but I think they have some good pop songs behind them. Not to mention they're all stunning. I still hold out hope that Nadine with confess her undying love for me...*sighs* aah well....I can dream
    laura1888's picture

    i dont love them

    Submitted by
    laura1888 (9 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 5:54pm.
    but theres alot worse groups around the now than them and they are easy on the eye so that doesnt hurt.they have had some decent songs i have to admit i like their music way more than the spice girls.good blog nice to read about some UK entertainment.
    laura1888's picture

    i dont love them

    Submitted by
    laura1888 (9 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 5:55pm.
    but theres alot worse groups around the now than them and they are easy on the eye so that doesnt hurt.they have had some decent songs i have to admit i like their music way more than the spice girls.good blog nice to read about some UK entertainment.
    laura1888's picture

    twice

    Submitted by
    laura1888 (9 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 6:06pm.

    it went twice cant u delete comments from here?

    1charlie's picture

    girls aloud

    Submitted by
    Charlie (75 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 5:55pm.

    I was, and kinda still am, a Girls Aloud fan. i saw them in concert last summer, and they were Hot!
    i don't really see Posh having "surprisingly comprehensive knowledge of 19th-century French poetry." but then again anything can happen in a Posh Spice fantasy. I think the match ups are ok, but if you're going on personality, i'd swap Sarah and Nicola. Nicola is the baby of the group :)

    Gotta say it's all about 'Chim' in my eyes... Cheryl and Kim.
    They so hooked up the first few years of the band :P

    cheryl kim

    Ally_aka_Renee's picture

    Hmm interesting match ups

    Submitted by
    Ally (94 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 6:08pm.

    Hmm interesting match ups and I'd probably say the same. However Girls Aloud have nothing on the Spice Girls! Spice Girls were a ground-breaking act, they were new and unique and gave us the 'girl power' phenonemum. What have Girls Aloud done? Except for an episode of Most Haunted that half of them were too scared to do.

    Maybe its because Spice Girls were first out when I was eight, the influential years, and Mel C made me see there was nothing wrong with being a tom-boy and so became my hero. And the fact the GA came out when I was... I cant even remember the exact year because they were so insignificant to me. But I love the Spice Girls. I even recently bought their Greatest hits album...Ive never owned a Girls Aloud cd. Anyway like I said, for me Girls Aloud are not the modern Spice Girls, they'll never compare!

    tegaraq's picture

    Speaking of the Spice Girls

    Submitted by
    tegaraq (15 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 6:41pm.
    Anyone in the New Jersey/New York area want to go with me to see the Spice Girls at the Prudential Center on Sunday, Feb. 10? My roommate flaked on me, and then my friend flaked on me, so I have this extra ticket to sell last minute. It's $88 (a few cents less) and it's in the third level. Send me a message if you'd want to come (or if you know someone else who would).
    FilmGrrl's picture

    Great show!

    Submitted by
    FilmGrrl (89 posts)
    on February 16, 2008 - 3:13pm.

    I was at the show. Killer production! Tongue-in-cheek, campy fun. Good times. The Mel C acoustic show was fantastic as well.

     

    Patient: There's like this longing ... this pull. I mean, does that make me, you know, like, some kind of...?

    Maeby: Homosexual.

    Tobias: Maeby, please. She's right, though, you probably are a homosexual.
    Gallium's picture

    Muting Girls Aloud

    Submitted by
    Gallium (35 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 6:47pm.

    Girls aloud just remind me of random range of barbie dolls, they don't interest me at all, and having to buy an album for my younger sister annoyed me.

    Haven't the spice girls spilt up? Are they still touring?

    nikkif99uk's picture

    so weird

    Submitted by
    nikkif99uk (366 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 7:49pm.
    funny how I was just saying never heard Girls Aloud in Canada was just in London Drugs in Vancouver and Call the Shots by Girls Aloud was playing lol. Maybe they will become known here.
    asia's picture

    That Girls Aloud poster look

    Submitted by
    asia (25 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 9:44pm.
    That Girls Aloud poster look like it's advertising for a skanky porno movie.
    stROKe's picture

    About time!!

    Submitted by
    Nickiy (35 posts)
    on February 6, 2008 - 9:46pm.
    I was just listening to them this afternoon, as I thought of how great they were. I was hooked since the "sound of the underground" I didn't even know about how they formed. They've always had strong, solid songs that made them who they are, though I initially had a lot of trouble telling its members apart I think every fan has a legitimate reason to lllove them.
    litaxen's picture

    I love them!

    Submitted by
    Jenya (40 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 1:33am.
    I've known about them since after Popstars, i actually prefer them to the Spice Girls. I have a huge crush on Kimberley!
    k8d's picture

    so glad it's not just me....

    Submitted by
    its_just_a_thought (31 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 3:45pm.
    no one understands my crush on kimberley. I don't understand how they can't see it i mean come on its kimberley!!
    litaxen's picture

    I understand

    Submitted by
    Jenya (40 posts)
    on February 29, 2008 - 3:47pm.
    you are not alone when it comes to the hotness that is Kimberley Walsh.
    angel74's picture

    My guilty pleasure

    Submitted by
    angel74 (32 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 5:51am.
    Girls Aloud are my guilty pleasure, I've recently told people about how much i love they're music and got the piss ripped out of me for liking them too. But i dont care, two words Cheryl Cole <3
    miss chatelaine's picture

    Alltime WAG: Cheryl Tweedy

    Submitted by
    miss chatelaine (256 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 6:03am.

    All I can say is - Cheryl Tweedy! I've never really paid much attention to the rest of them - well, maybe Nicola - but Cheryl Tweedy's the best WAG that ever was.

    hinterguxli_CH's picture

    ouh yes... Call the Shots!

    Submitted by
    hinterguxli_CH (54 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 7:14am.

    ... she's hot!

    Really big now in the UK and a fantastic tune is Call the Shots. This hast the potential of Whola Lotta History only that it is more groovier. Love it!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHoF3a6Q9Wk

    And apart from a Whole Lotta History which I think really is a very good song that was extremely big I love Jump for it's trashyness. It's only a cover but still...

    here's a vid (from Love Actually, w/ white tank tops, cleavage and more):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltkQstPxrtY

     

    ... singin' 'rudolph, the red nosed reindeer'!

    alanarn's picture

    the tweedy . . .

    Submitted by
    alanarn (3 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 6:55am.

    it's all about the Tweedy, argh words just can't describe her, she's just mmmm.

    Anyways, loved these girls since the beginning, they just have this unique sound and some very very catchy songs and they've gotten better with age. No-one really knows them down here in Australia so I don't get the piss taken out of me for it.

    Oh and just to continue the Chim love, heres one of my favs -

    Cheryl and Kim = Chim

    hinterguxli_CH's picture

    ROFLMAO - In Trouble

    Submitted by
    hinterguxli_CH (54 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 7:08am.

    just came across this bite... thought i might share it with you guys.. :-))))


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1K3zYmJ8Jc

    ... singin' 'rudolph, the red nosed reindeer'!

    hinterguxli_CH's picture

    Girls Girls... going back to school :-)

    Submitted by
    hinterguxli_CH (54 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 7:11am.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DebmhCx8EA

    ... singin' 'rudolph, the red nosed reindeer'!

    tucksioni's picture

    Loving the Chim

    Submitted by
    tucksioni (80 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 7:31am.
    Girls Aloud have made some fantastically catchy pop songs-how can you not love a band that sings about somebody stepping on their tutu?! (Something Kinda Ooo)

    Call The Shots is one of their best yet and although their videos somethimes reek of a FHM/Maxim shoot they can also be fantastically camp in their over-the-top-ness, and seem to be done quick a quite tongue in cheek manner (or is that just my excuse?)

    Cheryl (currently Cole but hopefully not for much longer..) is stunning, ballsy, and should definitely ditch her cheating husband for Kimberly.
       
    leighcrissy's picture

    maybe it's just me.....

    Submitted by
    leighcrissy (4 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 8:25am.

    i've actually never heard of these ladies.

    i think i've been ignoring pop culture for too long.

    LDN's picture

    Guys you HAVE to check out

    Submitted by
    LDN (67 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 8:31am.

    Guys you HAVE to check out their cover of teenage dirtbag which they did for the radio 1 establsihed since 1967 cd, Its quality and better then the original http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WHWqLHZjInM&feature=related 

    oh and cheryl and kimberly BRING IT ON

    Kerry Anne's picture

    I like Girls Aloud

    Submitted by
    Kerry (90 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 12:33pm.
    They produce great music entertainment, I like their songs, very catchy.  The Spice Girls had one or two good songs but every song Girls Aloud release I like.  Vocally Girls Aloud win hands down.
    lucy1987's picture

    I Love Them

    Submitted by
    Lucy (29 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 1:46pm.

    I saw them last year at Wembly (my two mates persuaded me to see them) and it was soooo much fun.  My favourite is definately Sarah which is strange as i dont usually go for blondes. Cheryl comes a close 2nd tho (me and my mate spent the whole tube journey loudly arguing who was hotter...we got some weird looks lol).

     I loved them so much am going to see them again in May :D

    DykeInShiningArmor's picture

    Sexy! NO! No! no!

    Submitted by
    DykeinShiningArmor (86 posts)
    on February 7, 2008 - 2:13pm.

    I Just discovered them not too long ago. Where have they been all my life?! lol

    I have a thing for pop Divas!

    I still love me some Spice Girls though...

     

    "You motherf---in' liar! F--- you, you lyin', lowdown, nanny-f---in' motherf---er"- Kit porter

    "You can take it or leave it, but I'm not going to change, not for anyone."-Christina Aguilera

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