Girl Thing

Girl Thing were an English-Dutch girl group, consisting of members Jodi Albert, Anika Bostelaar, Linzi Martin, Michelle Barber and Nikki Stuart. They were formed in 1998 by Simon Cowell and were originally intended to rival the Spice Girls, but their success was minor and short-lived. They sold two million records worldwide before disbanding in 2001.

Girl Thing
OriginLondon, England, United Kingdom
GenresPop, bubblegum pop, Europop
Years active1998–2001, 2013–2014
LabelsRCA
Associated actsWonderland
Past membersJodi Albert
Michelle Barber
Anika Bostelaar
Linzi Martin
Nikki Stuart

The group reformed in 2013 for the second series of The Big Reunion to perform a one-off gig at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2014.

Career

In 1998, Simon Cowell, having previously turned down the Spice Girls, decided to form his own girl group. Girl Thing's debut single "Last One Standing", written and produced by the Steelworks production team of Tim Lever, Mike Percy and Eliot Kennedy. "Last One Standing" received major promotion and media attention and was expected to top the UK Singles Chart with ease.[1] Record company executives funneled huge amounts of money into the promotional campaign, including an appearance at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Girl Thing even pre-recorded their congratulatory interview with BBC Radio 1.[2] However, the song ended up only charting at number eight.[3] It also made the Australian top 20,[4] where it achieved gold certification.[5] Linzi Martin co-wrote the song "Bounce" for Aaron Carter (with Hawes and Kirtley) that featured on his second album, which went on to sell 3 million copies in 2000. After the failure of their second single "Girls on Top", which reached number 25,[3] the album release was cancelled in Britain. It was, however, still released in Australia, New Zealand, India and Japan. The band also recorded the songs "Young, Free & Happy", "Extraordinary Love", "Summer Daze", "If That's What It Takes", "Last Goodbye" and "You Can Run but You Can't Hide". The band also recorded "Pure and Simple", before it was given to Hear'Say, the winners of ITV's Popstars.

In December 2013, the band reformed to take part in the second series of ITV2's The Big Reunion,[6] and performed a one-off concert in March 2014

Post-split
  • Jodi Albert appeared on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Debbie Dean[7] before joining short-lived girl group Wonderland.[8] She married Westlife singer Kian Egan in 2009 with whom she has three sons.[9]
  • Michelle Barber worked as a presenter on Nickelodeon.[10]
  • In July 2007, Anika Bostelaar released a single called "King of the Dancefloor" under the name 'Kiana'.[11] She also passed the audition in the Dutch-Flemish TV programme K2 zoekt K3, but she did not qualify for the live shows. In 2016, Anika Bostelaar created a Dutch girl group named Hello August. Hello August released their debut single Wrong Chick in January 2018. [12]
  • Nicola Harrington makes occasional appearances on the ITV programme Lorraine.[13]
  • In 2014, Linzi Martin auditioned for The X Factor, but failed to get through to bootcamp.[14]

Discography

Albums

Singles
  • "Last One Standing" (cardsleeve, 2 tracks) – UK #8,[15] AUS #17,[4] GER #82,[16] IRE #16,[17] NED #11,[18] SWE #24[19]
  • "Last One Standing" (2-track maxi single with interview & enhanced CD featuring video)
  • "Last One Standing" (4-track maxi single with interview & enhanced CD featuring video)
  • "Last One Standing" (2-track cassette single)
  • "Girls on Top" (limited edition 2-track maxi single with poster and videoclip) – UK #25,[15] AUS #42,[4] NED #42,[18] NOR #13[20]
  • Girls on Top (Japan Edition 3-track EP)
  • "Young, Free and Happy" (4-track maxi single with videoclip) (Australia only) – AUS #92[4]
  • It's a Girl Thing EP (New Zealand and Japan only)

References
  1. Myers, Justin (27 February 2014). "Girl Thing interview: "It was horrible not to get to Number 1"". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  2. Wightman, Catriona (6 February 2014). "The Big Reunion: 19 things we learned tonight (and two we didn't)". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums. Guinness World Records (19th ed.). London. p. 228. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
  5. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  6. Wightman, Catriona (27 December 2013). "Eternal, A1 and a supergroup: Big Reunion series two lineup unveiled". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  7. Neil Wilkes (31 March 2004). "Jodi Albert quits 'Hollyoaks'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  8. Dawn Collinson (9 March 2011). "Jodi Albert on her new girlband Wonderland, and why she gets no favours from husband and manager Kian Egan". liverpoolecho. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  9. "Baby News! Kian Egan and Jodi Albert expecting second child". independent.ie. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  10. Dave Simpson. "Yesterday's promising music stars: where are they now?". the Guardian.
  11. "Kiana-King Of The Dancefloor". YouTube.
  13. "Lorraine Kelly fitness and diet expert tips for Brazilian Bikini Body - Diets - Life & Style - Daily Express". Express.co.uk.
  14. "Awkward X Factor reunion for Girl Thing's Linzi Martin months after Simon Cowell calls her 'bitter'". Mirror.co.uk.
  15. "Official Charts > Girl Thing". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  16. "Girl Thing – Last One Standing" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
  17. "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'Last One Standing' (from irishcharts.ie)". Imgur.com (original source published by Fireball Media). Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  18. "dutchcharts.nl > Girl Thing in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  19. "swedishcharts.com > Girl Thing in Swedish Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  20. "norwegiancharts.com > Girl Thing in Norwegian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
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