Ever since the estrogen juggernaut known as the Supremes have record execs and managers tried to create that most elusive of musical brands: The successful women's group.
Sure, we've seen megawatt-acts -- TLC, Destiny's Child, Spice Girls -- but we've also seen some trainwrecks -- Envogue, Blaque, anyone? -- and even more prevalently, some trains that have never left the station -- Cheetah Girls, Brownstone, Total, Jade, SWV, etc.
Don't get me wrong: There have been many men's groups -- Dru Hill, B2K anyone? -- that have fallen hard in olden days and recent times, fueled by their unquenchable thirst for drugs, sex, and nowadays, even more drugs.
But it's the girl groups that have showed the most promise.
TLC was the No. 1 selling female group when Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was killed. Spice Girls were rewriting the musical history books in the UK when they disbanded; Destiny's Child was also the No. 1 selling female group when they disbanded.
Lighting in a bottle?
These women had cases of it.
but what's so hard about creating a group of superhuman female songstresses, you say?
Well, evidently, egos rarely stay in check. The Supremes were derailed by the percieved lioness persona of Mary Wilson (or was it Diana Ross?). Squabbles in groups since then have led record execs to "craft" groups now, rather than have them come to record offices already assembled and humming in unison.
The results, have been disastrous. Danity Kane, formed before our eyes on reality TV, was force-fit together by Diddy and his cronies in an unnatural act that even major love from the fans couldn't stop (The same happened to Diddy's Day 26).
Is it time to stop trying to grow supergroups and let them happen?
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