702.
SWV.
Blaque.
TLC.
Xscape.
Destiny’s Child.
En Vogue.
The ’90s girl groups we all loved at one time have seemingly all disappeared. That era was overrun with women doing their thing, dominating the radio with break-up playlists, love making tunes and pre-game records. You can’t talk about ’90s R&B without giving a nod and some love to the ladies and gents who banded together to provide perfect harmonies for our ears to bump to.
In this new age where technology dominates and artists become stars courtesy of Vine, Instagram and YouTube, it’s hard to miss that there are no reigning girl groups around. The industry has become saturated with solo artists all producing the same sound and looking the exact same, and the industry is also littered with failed reunion attempt after failed reunion attempt from folks who still can’t seem to get along. What’s changed?
In this new scope of music, it seems like the outlook is pretty grim. Can there be another TLC? Can there be another girl group with an impact thanks to songs that detail a little bit of everything, including the struggle of battling depression, calls for unity and even safe sex? With plenty of social injustices in the world, there is certainly a void for women to fill.
How about the records that made you feel s*xy and empowered at the same time? Xscape’s “Tonight” vocalized women’s desires without being crass, and the group maintained a sense of elegance – baggy clothing and all.
Even with Diddy’s Making The Band, a group of talented young women who managed to top the charts couldn’t foster a lucrative career as one unit. Danity Kane’s early success appeared promising with their self-titled album, knocking pop veteran Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics album out of the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. But after touring and starring on a reality show, they couldn’t get it and keep it together. Everyone wanted to do something different and animosity between members was crazy. Breaking up. Making Up. And now Danity Kane have broken up for good after a physical scuffle between Aubrey O’Day and Dawn Richard. At this point, their track record is almost synonymous to Chris Brown and Karrueche Tran’s relationship–just unstable.
There is unfortunately no rule book or recipe to concoct the new millennium guide to success, but there is a market being ignored due to the lack of staying power from girl groups. The inability for women to remain and dominate as a band begs the question of whether or not the power in numbers has dissipated? Judging by Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle – all of whom have gone on and led prosperous lives post Destiny’s Child – it appears the proof is in the pudding.
I miss having a group like 702 or En Vogue dazzle audiences with their powerful range and dance moves, and I hope that the historic revolving door in music allows for girl groups to shine and reign atop the charts once again. At this very moment, however, I’ll continue to play oldies but goodies and live out the music I miss with the help of YouTube.
