Girls Aloud: A Top Selling Girl Band That's Here To Stay

Girls Aloud were formed in November 2002, when they entered the reality television programme Popstars: The Rivals. The programme was designed to create two pop acts - a boy band and a girl band - who would then compete for the Christmas number one single slot.

After extensive auditions and a grueling TV schedule, Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Sarah Harding won the competition for the females under the moniker, Girls Aloud. The boy band winners were called One True Voice.

Both bands released a single aimed at the Christmas number one slot, which Girls Aloud won by a landslide with their single Sound of the Underground. The single was such a success it remained at number one in the U.K. for another four weeks, and provided the foundation for the band to become one of Britain’s most successful girl bands of all time.

Sound of the Underground gave Girls Aloud the record for the shortest time between a band forming, and them attaining a U.K. number one hit single. The Guinness World Record Book also listed them as the Most Successful Reality TV Group in 2007, and for Most Consecutive Top Ten Entries in the UK by a Female Group in the 2008 edition.

After their success with Sound of the Underground, it was several months before they recorded their debut album, also entitled Sound of the Underground. It was eventually released in May 2003, and entered the charts at number 2, its highest position. A further three singles followed, and all of them made it into the top 3.

When they re-released Sound of the Underground later that same year, complete with a brand new sleeve design, it failed to improve on the number 2 chart placing, but pushed the overall sales through the platinum barrier.

The girls took time out before going back into the studio, and in June 2004 released The Show, the first single from their second album. It marked a change in style for the group, both musically and in look, and combined with a heavy marketing campaign, the single peaked at number 2.

Love Machine quickly followed and made the number 2 slot, and became one of their most recognisable hits to date. Their second album, What Will the Neighbours Say?, was finally released at the tail end of 2004, and went to number 6.

Their third studio album, Chemistry, was released 13 months later, but despite overwhelming critical acclaim it only peaked in the album charts at number 11, their lowest position to date. The album was supported with their first UK-wide arena tour, and the album went platinum shortly after.

In October 2006 Girls Aloud released The Sound of Girls Aloud, a compilation of singles and previously unreleased material. It went straight to number 1 in the U.K. album chart.

The following May, Girls Aloud embarked on their second UK arena tour, during which they sold out 15 arenas across the UK and Ireland. Their fourth studio album, Tangled Up, soon followed, and debuted at number 4.

In May this year, Girls Aloud will embark on another extensive U.K. arena tour. The Tangled Up Tour will see them play 22 arenas around the country, and they are also expected to play Edinburgh Castle in the summer.

Despite constant media speculation, there has yet to be any confirmation of a follow-up album to Tangled Up, but with a record-breaking 17 consecutive Top 10 singles (including three number ones), four platinum albums (including a number one), and record sales in excess of 4.2 million in the U.K. alone, Girls Aloud look as though they are here to stay.

Discography
(Albums)

2003 – Sound of the Underground #2 (UK) Platinum
2004 – What Will The Neighbours Say? #6 (UK) Platinum
2005 – Chemistry #11 (UK) Platinum
2006 – The Sound of Girls Aloud #1 (UK) 2 x Platinum
2007 – Tangled Up #4 (UK) Platinum

Forthcoming Dates

4/5 May 2008 - Odyssey Arena, Belfast
7/8 May 2008 - SECC, Glasgow
10/11 May 2008 - Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth
13/14 May 2008 - The Brighton Centre, Brighton
18 May 2008 - CIA, Cardiff
20 May 2008 - Nottingham Arena, Nottingham
21 May 2008 - Sheffield Arena Sheffield
23 May 2008 - NIA Birmingham, Birmingham
25 May 2008 - Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
27/28 May 2008 - Aberdeen Exhibition Centre, Aberdeen
30 May 2008 - Liverpool Echo Arena, Liverpool
31 May 2008 - MEN, Manchester
3 Aug 2008 - Pop In The Park, Dorfold Park, Nantwich
23 Aug 2008 - Battle Abbey, Hastings
29 Aug 2008 - Harewood House, Leeds