Over the weekend, rumors began to surface of heavy tension between UK group the Sugababes. The two principal members, Heidi Range and Keisha Buchanan were reportedly not speaking to each other during a party, straight up refusing to. Just a few days ago, I reported of Girls Aloud member Nadine Coyle denying exit plans. With all of the girl group catfight drama, it leads one to ask, can a girl group last?
Honestly, no.
This is not the first time a girl group has been plagued with infighting. Since the girl group peak in the 60s, there has always been some tension between group members, and it tends to last. There was the infamous Diana vs. Mary war with The Supremes. Mary Wilson always fought with the lead singer Ms. Ross over what she thought was unfair treatment. She constantly accused her and Motown head Berry Gordy of treating Diana better than the others. The animosity hasn't let up since then. In the 80's, during the Motown Anniversary Special, Diana infamously pushed Mary out of the way (the footage was cut from the broadcast). When The Supremes planned a tour in the late 90s, Diana was reported receiving 4 times as much as Mary, leading Mary and fellow member Cindy Birdsong to quitting the tour. There have been no signs or reports of a reconciliation.
90's icons The Spice Girls promoted girl power, but the movement only lasted two years; Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell left the group surprisingly in 1998. The departure sent the group into a tailspin, and they disbanded three years later. They reunited in 2007, and held a 40-plus date World Tour. They appeared in UK commercials and even released a single (which flopped on both sides of the Atlantic), and it seemed like the group would actually remain together. Those hopes were dashed when the Spice Girls surprised everyone and cut their tour shut, angering fans in canceled cities like Sydney, Bueno Aires, and Cape Town. The cause this time? Reported fighting, although Victoria Beckham revealed she was the real cause (she wanted to be a fashion designer). Melanie C insists that the Spice Girls are still "together", but any chances of finishing their tour are slim to none.
Now, the two premier UK girl groups are rumored to be calling it quits; 10 years for the Sugababes and 6 for Girls Aloud. Their reigns are truly something to beheld; their bevy of top 10 singles and albums put them both in the record books. If what they insist is true and the groups aren't disbanding, it only leads to the questions of when. Unfortunately, it's not realistic to believe they will last like the Rolling Stones. Whether it's jealousy or creative differences, something tends to destroy the unity first formed in a girl group. History has dictated it, so as we enjoy when they push our buttons or call the shots, the writing is on the wall for them and all future girl groups.
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