Girlbands Forever documentary series

[xsquared]

Did anyone watch this earlier?

Watching this took me back to my GCSE years when Eternal was just emerging as one of the main British girl groups of the 90s.

I thought Mel Blatt appeared very down to earth, and her account of her experience as a young woman in the music industry particularly pop culture, was very interesting. She and Shaznay had already formed All Saints many years before "I know where it's at" became a hit.

There are a couple more episodes, which will end with 2010s onwards, but I will save that for another time.

I watched it and really enjoyed it in that it was a real trip down memory lane. Mel came across really well I thought. I had no idea who was behind Atomic Kitten so that was interesting. Shocking lack of duty of care in respect of Atomic Kitten. Very strange how Misteeq (?) were suddenly finished. And lucky for them but the interest in them was so much less than the other girl bands.

I found it fascinating. Was born early 90s so whilst I loved the spice girls. Anything before 1997 wasn’t really on my radar it’s as I’ve got older I know the songs. And even though I liked Atomic Kitten saw them live circa 2002. I didn’t know that much about Kerry leaving or the politics about the behind the scenes of any of the bands. I just like the music to dance around to in my bedroom

I’ll deffo give this a watch, there’s also a boyband one which aired a while ago now. It was really sad in some parts, the only band who seem to come away with a nicer experience were Blue.

I nodded off during the second episode, but I’m looking forward to catching up.
Apparently, these were made by Louis Theroux’s production company and the Spice Girls declined to be interviewed, which is a shame. I enjoyed the Boyband series.

Let’s hope lessons have been learned for future talent. Talk of enforced weight loss and abortions being encouraged shows the shocking lack of duty of care to these brilliant young women.

I found it fascinating although was shocked by the forced abortion and forced weight loss stories. There was absolutely no duty of care.

I saw the first episode last night & really enjoyed it, although it’s odd that there was no mention of Bananarama, a girl band whips were one of the most successful British acts of the 80s.

Mel Blatt was great, so honest & relatable. And Never Ever is still a total classic. It’s right up there with Common People as the best pop songs of the 90s.

Is this the same as tlc forever on Netflix? (In Ireland so can’t watch!)

Just watched them all, enjoyed it and it was interesting. However, huge omission of Girls Aloud! Assume they didn't want to be interviewed, however to have no mention of them at all was strange.

@pinkteddy Yes, I agree. The forced abortion was especially shocking, but even more sad that Nic felt she had to go ahead with hers. It is true what Mel said that before she became visibly pregnant, we never used to see popstars pregnant and performing.

@SpottyAardvark I think they should have included Bananarama too, but for some reason they started with the 90s.

@Popfan I haven't seen the rest, but it does seem odd not to mention Girls Aloud.

This was good but agree that there were a few very high profile bands that didn’t even get a mention. I actually thought that the working conditions would be worse than how they came across in the interviews. I’m a bit older than those in the 90s girl bands, I worked in an office and the sexual comments, racism, unequal treatment of women was off the scale.

I enjoyed this, as I did the Boyband one.

i really liked Sugababes at the time, that had so many good tunes and should have been much bigger then they were, but weren’t for so many reasons.

You’re right @FightingFish I was working then too.

Watching episode one

Loving seeing Spice Girls footage

Great memories

Went to see them in concert with my sister and my dad

Bit emotional now

All Saints

CD: UK

❤️❤️

@Popfan I was very surprised by the lack of Girls Aloud too.

Fascinating! But yes where were Girls Aloud and Bananarama.

BBC iPlayer

It’s also on You Tube

Correct me if I’m wrong but as with boy bands forever the show focuses on 90’s bands hence no bananarama or girls aloud.

How bloody beautiful, strong and together was Melanie Blatt? She knows who she is, and seemingly always has.

I found the pic of her and Nic Appleton as 11 year olds really touching and sad. I hope they rekindled that friendship after the band finished.

I was impressed by Natasha Hamilton too, though I wouldn’t have recognised her in a million years.

Episode 3 on iPlayer features Little Mix who surely came along after Girls Aloud so where were they?
I agree, we could have at least had a ‘Bananarama walked so the Spice Girls could run’ type of reference. They were the biggest British girl group till then I think?
Actually if you watch the Band Aid video, Bananarama are there, and other than Jodi Watley, I can’t think of any other women in it.

Except Neneh Cherry!!

I don't think anyone was 'forced' to have an abortion. I imagine they told them if you take a year off to have a baby when you come back no one will care. Pop isn't a 'normal' workplace, you get a moment and you have to seize it, or not.

All I could think watching that was did nobody tell these girls about contraception, or was it all the different time zones they were in that messed up their pill?

I don’t think one of the pregnancies were planned!