Girl groups have been a vital part ofpopmusicfor nearly 100 years. The category hit a peak in the late ’50s through the ’60s, particularly after early rock and roll and the revival of guitar rock. Much of what we think of as girl group music, epitomized by the Ronettes' “Be My Baby,” comes from that period, but, more broadly defined, girl group music has been a significant part of the pop landscape in various ways and changing styles.
Girl group music, whatever genre it’s found in, covers acts that feature multiple female vocalists, usually with interesting harmonies and a strong melodic sensibility. Girl groups come from pop, swing, R&B, K-Pop, and more, meaning fans can endlessly take on a global and historical hunt. The best of these acts not only created memorable music, but also influenced both their successors and the surrounding culture.
10The Spice Girls
Primary Years: 1994-2000
In the late 1990s, the Spice Girls were a particular kind of divisive, not because they were political or confrontational (they were as pop as it gets), but because they were redefining the culture. While targeting younger women and promoting “girl power,” the Spice Girls outsold “serious” artists like Radiohead and Oasis, eventually becoming the bestselling female act of all time. A sort of mania developed and while the rock and roll world wasn’t ready for it, much of the planet was.
All the packaging and sloganeering helped, as did the memorable nicknames likeGinger Spiceand Posh Spice. None of that would have mattered if the group didn’t have songs that stick. The inescapable debut single “Wannabe” brought “zigazig ah” into the world, and it hasn’t left since. By the time “Spice Up Your Life” became the group’s fifth straight number one,it was clear the Spice Girls had secured their place in pop history.
9The Andrews Sisters
Primary Years: 1925-1953
The Andrews Sisters predate most of what we think of as girl group music, but they fit the bill, and they had a lasting impact on popular music. The group, a trio of biological sisters, formed in childhood, but their career didn’t properly get going until the late 1930s. Their version of “Beer Barrel Polka” became a smash, helping to make that song a standard.
For an updated take on The Andrews Sisters' music and style, be sure to listen to Christina Aguilera’s “Candyman.”
Their peak came just a few years later, with 1941’s “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” The song, a jump blues story of a trumpet player in the military, becameone of the most popular songs of the 20th century. The Andrews Sisters' harmonies and personality drove the song, which sounds as fresh now as it did during World War II. The act would continue for more than a decade, performing hits like “Pennsylvania Polka” and the winking “Rum and Coca-Cola.”
82NE1
Primary Years: 2009-2016
2NE1 recently reunited, and the move makes sense, as they’re still receiving acclaim for their original run, even though it included only two studio albums.To AnyoneandCrushbrought them global success, and they’ve sold well over 60 million records. A pioneering act, they continue to be incredibly influential, not just in girl groups, but also in K-Pop and beyond.
The group, not surprisingly, builds their sound on strong vocals, butit’s their overall creativity and style that causes them to stand out. 2NE1 mixes an array of genres, from electro to hip-hop and R&B and reggae and more, while always sounding like themselves. Bom, CL, Minzy, and Dara bring an intensity to each performance, making cuts like “I Am The Best” anthemic statements without sacrificing the melodic joy of pop. At the same time, they can strip back their sound for something like “Lonely,” focusing on their skills as vocalists.
7The Pointer Sisters
Primary Years: 1969-Present
The Pointer Sisters practically defined the first half of the 1980s. Their string of top-10 hits includes the Grammy-winners “Jump (For My Love)” and “Automatic.” “I’m So Excited” used high energy and touches of disco (along with those classic harmonies) to create a permanent space for itself in pop culture.
The latest incarnation of the Pointer Sisters features Ruth Pointer, her daughter Issa Pointer, and Issa’s daughter Sadako Pointer, making this act a true rarity: the one-family, three-generation girl group.
The Pointer Sisters are much more than their hits, though;both the length and breadth of their career are noteworthy. Their vocal strength and skilled songwriting earned them a Grammy for “Fairytale,” unsurprising given their talent, except that it was a win for a country song, and it came in 1974, well before they’d reached their peak. They continued performing even after becoming grandparents, making a run in musical theater, revisiting their country sound, and generally pushing forward. Along with Ruth, a new generation of Pointers continues the act now, part of an indefatigable approach to pop.
6Destiny’s Child
Primary Years: 1997-2006
Destiny’s Child launched the careers of its three most prominent members, Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams, but the group was always more than simply a starting point. The act has sold over 60 million records, racking up a string of awards and nominations, and spending plenty of time atop the charts.
Given songs like “Survivor,” “Bootylicious,” and “Independent Women,“Destiny’s Child has long had its place secured in history, but its legacy continues to inform pop 20 years later. The trio sang with strength and charisma, mixing playful songs with statement tracks in artistic arrangements. They helped define the girl group sound of the era, and if listeners weren’t prepared for them to hit, they certainly haven’t forgotten them.
5The Shirelles
Primary Years: 1957-1982
While Destiny’s Child helped shape the sound of the turn of the 20th century, The Shirelles helped form it at the start of the golden age of girl groups. They pushed the burgeoning genre into new places with the success of 1960’s “Tonight’s The Night” and its follow-up “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” two songs that continue to pop up in mainstream culture. The Shirelles' success largely kicked off an entire era.
The group’s musical influence is obvious, but their ability to appeal to both Black and white audiences before that was commonplace should be remembered as an important part of a changing culture.
The vocal strengths of the group are obvious, butthe songwriting and arranging push the act to the next level. The strings and clean production coupled with the Brill Building style and contemporary sensibility helped The Shirelles bridge the gap between preceding pop vocal and doo-wop music and the new era of performance. The style also opened the door for many of their peers, helping to create the greatest period of girl group music we’ve yet seen.
4TLC
Primary Years: 1990-2002
TLC - the trio of Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas - dominated the 1990s, becoming one of the top-selling female groups in history.CrazySexyCoolalone has sold over 20 million copies. It deserves all the accolades it’s received, with “Creep” and “Waterfalls” leading the way.
After that success, the act pushed forward with more platinum albums and the massive hit “No Scrubs.” TLC’s impact is immeasurable. It’s hard to imagine the pop landscape without them. Theydemonstrated increasing artistic ambition and creativity as their career progressed, paving the way for acts like Destiny’s Child. Tragically, Left Eye died in a car accident in 2002, but her legacy, and that of TLC, goes on.
3Martha And The Vandellas
Primary Years: 1957-1973
It took Martha and the Vandellas a few years to properly get going, as they were singing backup for various Detroit acts. Once they did, they were unstoppable. Backed by Motown’s Funk Brothers, the act had a more forceful sound than many of the acts of their era, and they put that power to good use on hits like “Heat Wave,” “Dancing In The Street,” and “Nowhere To Run,” just three of their 13 top 20 hits.
The Motown groove elevates the songs, butMartha Reeves' voice stands out even among the best of the era. She sounds grittier than the first line of girl groups, and she brings an intensity to each track that’s irresistible. History sometimes skips over their later numbers, but cuts like “Honey Chile” and “Bless You” show a vocal act still in fine form, even if popular tastes were changing.
2En Vogue
Primary Years: 1989-Present
En Vogue might not have quite matched the sales of some of their contemporaries (though 20 million records is nothing to sneeze at), but they surpassed them in artistry and essentially ran the R&B charts through the 1990s. The quartet put their vocal abilities forward, sharing and even trading lead duties even as they developed tight harmonies.Cuts like “Hold On” show that these women could have sung in any settingand been successful.
But they picked the right setting. They drew on traditional R&B like Aretha Franklin, early girl groups like the Supremes, and the new jack swing coming out of the 1980s tocreate something distinctly their own. With lead talent from each singer and songs as memorable as “Free Your Mind” and “My Lovin' (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” En Voge established a style that had many predecessors but no equals.
1The Supremes
Primary Years: 1959-1977
The Supremes essentially define this genre, and as great as the other acts are, no one has yet to match them. Led by Diana Ross, the Supremes had an incredible run kicked off by “Where Did Our Love Go” in 1964. From that point on, it felt like every song they released was either a #1 hit or should have been. By the time Ross left in 1970,the act had accomplished everything it could (and still had the momentum for further success).
“Stop! In The Name Of Love” remains one of the group’s most unforgettable numbers (although that label could apply to about 20 songs), and it highlights the artists' strengths. The melody’s catchy and the harmonies are tight. The performance is so classic that it served its youth audience while being classy and restrained enough for any generation. The Supremes performed brilliant pop song after brilliant pop song, making them the greatest girl group of all time.
