Girl Thing
{{Short description|British style girl group}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Girl Thing
| image =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| landscape =
| caption =
| years_active = {{flatlist|
- 1998–2001
- 2013–2014
- 2025–present
}}
| origin = London, England
| genre = {{hlist|Pop|bubblegum|Europop|dance-pop}}
| label = RCA
| spinoffs = Wonderland
| current_members = * Jodi Albert
- Michelle Barber
- Anika Bostelaar
- Linzi Martin
- Nikki Stuart
}}
Girl Thing were a British–Dutch girl group originally formed in London in 1998, consisting of members Jodi Albert, Michelle Barber, Anika Bostelaar, Linzi Martin, and Nikki Stuart. They were formed in 1998 by Simon Cowell and were originally intended to rival the Spice Girls, but their success was minor and short-lived before disbanding in 2001.
The group reformed in 2013 for the second series of The Big Reunion to perform a one-off gig at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2014.
Career
In 1998, Simon Cowell, having previously turned down the Spice Girls, decided to form his own girl group. Girl Thing's debut single "Last One Standing", written and produced by the Steelworks production team of Tim Lever, Mike Percy and Eliot Kennedy. "Last One Standing" received major promotion and media attention and was expected to top the UK Singles Chart with ease.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/girl-thing-interview-it-was-horrible-not-to-get-to-number-1-__4724/|title= Girl Thing interview: "It was horrible not to get to Number 1" |last=Myers|first=Justin|date=27 February 2014|publisher=officialcharts.com|accessdate=21 May 2018}} Record company executives funneled huge amounts of money into the promotional campaign, including an appearance at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Girl Thing even pre-recorded their congratulatory interview with BBC Radio 1.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-big-reunion/news/a549254/the-big-reunion-19-things-we-learned-tonight-and-two-we-didnt/|title= The Big Reunion: 19 things we learned tonight (and two we didn't)|last=Wightman|first=Catriona|date=6 February 2014|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|accessdate=17 February 2014}} However, the song ended up only charting at number eight.{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|work=Guinness World Records|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=228}} It also made the Australian top 20, where it achieved gold certification.{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}
Linzi Martin co-wrote the song "Bounce" for Aaron Carter (with Hawes and Kirtley) that featured on his second album, which went on to sell 3 million copies in 2000.
After the failure of their second single "Girls on Top", which reached number 25, the album release was cancelled in Britain. It was, however, still released in Australia, New Zealand, India and Japan. The band also recorded the songs "Young, Free & Happy", "Extraordinary Love", "Summer Daze", "If That's What It Takes", "Last Goodbye" and "You Can Run but You Can't Hide". The band also recorded "Pure and Simple", before it was given to Hear'Say, the winners of ITV's Popstars.
In December 2013, the band reformed to take part in the second series of ITV2's The Big Reunion,{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s234/the-big-reunion/news/a540617/eternal-a1-and-a-supergroup-big-reunion-series-two-lineup-unveiled.html|title=Eternal, A1 and a supergroup: Big Reunion series two lineup unveiled|last=Wightman|first=Catriona|date=27 December 2013|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|accessdate=17 February 2014}} and performed a one-off concert in March 2014
Post-split
- Jodi Albert appeared on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Debbie Dean{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/news/a14070/jodi-albert-quits-hollyoaks/|title=Jodi Albert quits 'Hollyoaks'|author=Neil Wilkes|date=31 March 2004|work=Digital Spy|accessdate=2 February 2016}} before joining short-lived girl group Wonderland.{{cite web|url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/jodi-albert-new-girlband-wonderland-3379626|title=Jodi Albert on her new girlband Wonderland, and why she gets no favours from husband and manager Kian Egan|author=Dawn Collinson|date=9 March 2011|work=liverpoolecho|accessdate=2 February 2016}} She married Westlife singer Kian Egan in 2009 with whom she has three sons.{{cite web | title= Baby News! Kian Egan and Jodi Albert expecting second child | work = independent.ie | date = November 14, 2014 | url=http://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/baby-news-kian-egan-and-jodi-albert-expecting-second-child-30744884.html | accessdate= 18 January 2015}}
- Michelle Barber worked as a presenter on Nickelodeon.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/dec/10/girl-thing-the-bravery-andrew-wk|title=Yesterday's promising music stars: where are they now?|author=Dave Simpson|work=the Guardian|date=10 December 2009 }}
- In July 2007, Anika Bostelaar released a single called "King of the Dancefloor" under the name 'Kiana'.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-YuMd8oQao |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/q-YuMd8oQao |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Kiana-King Of The Dancefloor|work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} She also passed the audition in the Dutch-Flemish TV programme K2 zoekt K3, but she did not qualify for the live shows. In 2016, Anika Bostelaar created a Dutch girl group named Hello August. Hello August released their debut single "Wrong Chick" in January 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.8ballmusic.nl/debuut-single-hello-august-wrong-chick-op-19-januari/ |title=Debuut single Hello August 'Wrong Chick' op 19 januari - Debuut single Hello August 'Wrong Chick' op 19 januari |access-date=22 January 2018 |archive-date=23 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072400/https://www.8ballmusic.nl/debuut-single-hello-august-wrong-chick-op-19-januari/ |url-status=dead }}
- Nicola Harrington makes occasional appearances on the ITV programme Lorraine.{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/diets/480383/Brazilian-bikini-body-tips|title=Lorraine Kelly fitness and diet expert tips for Brazilian Bikini Body - Diets - Life & Style - Daily Express|work=Express.co.uk|date=7 June 2014 }}
- In 2014, Linzi Martin auditioned for The X Factor, but failed to get through to bootcamp.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-previews/awkward-x-factor-reunion-girl-4141054|title=Awkward X Factor reunion for Girl Thing's Linzi Martin months after Simon Cowell calls her 'bitter'|website=Mirror.co.uk|date=31 August 2014 }}
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Girl Thing
|
| 92 |
=Singles=
References
{{reflist|change}}
{{Girl Thing}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:English pop music groups
Category:British pop girl groups
Category:Musical groups established in 1998
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2001
Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2013
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2014