I am probably betraying some kind of bogan code by writing this entry, but I haven’t always been a bogan… and I still actually really love what I’m about to share right now. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been watching The Big Reunion which is a show about seven British pop groups who were popular in the late 90s/early 2000s getting back together for a big concert (which turned into a tour around the UK and Ireland). In doing this, I have pretty much reignited my love for the music I used to listen to around that time.
I thought I might share the bands & artists that I considered my favourite at some point during that time period… in somewhat chronological order.
Spice Girls
It all started with the Spice Girls. Their music was the first I independently decided I liked (before that, it was all about Michael Jackson). This video is of their single ‘Stop’, but my favourite Spice Girls song is most definitely ‘Never Give Up On The Good Times‘. My favourite member? Geri/Ginger Spice.
Hanson
Then there was Hanson. The only band on this list who I now think are objectively awful and I’m actually ashamed of liking. It’s pretty cool that they were an actual band, but ugh, that music. The video is of that song (you know the one I’m talking about), but my favourite Hanson song was ‘Madeline‘. My favourite member was Zac.
5ive
5ive are one of the bands featured in The Big Reunion, and although they have only reunited as a four-piece, they’re still awesome. They were probably my longest running favourite. I got to see these guys live the day after my 13th birthday! The song in the video is ‘Everybody Get Up’, but my favourite track by them was a US-only track called ‘Don’t Fight It Baby‘. My favourite member was Scott, then it was Ritchie, but now it’s Sean.
O-Town
One of the only American pop group I was ever a big fan of. I watched ‘Making the Band’ religiously and liked the fact that O-Town weren’t ~typical~ like the Backstreet Boys or N’Sync. The song in the video is ‘These Are The Days’, which is also my favourite O-Town track. As for my favourite members, it’s always been shared between Jacob and Ashley.
Girl Thing
This group is probably the most obscure on this list. For whatever reason, they just didn’t take off in the UK and only released their album in Japan, Australia and here in NZ. The track in the video is ‘Girls on Top’, but my favourite Girl Thing song was their version of ‘Pure & Simple‘, which they did before Hear’Say flogged it. My favourite member was Anika.
Billie Piper
I was pretty much alone in my love of Billie in my friend group, so she was actually a bit of a secret shame favourite. I don’t know why, because she’s brilliant. The song in the video is ‘Something Deep Inside’, which is also my favourite Billie track. Obviously she was my favourite ‘member’. Haha.
a1
I still actively listen to a1 and although they’re not the four-piece they were when they first started, they’re still making pretty decent music! Their last album as a four-piece was amazing for a ‘boy band’. The song in the video is ‘Same Old Brand New You’, but my favourite track of theirs (and one of my favourite songs of all time!) is ‘Make It Through The Night‘. My favourite member is Ben.
Blue
Blue is another band involved in The Big Reunion, even though they’ve technically been back together since 2009. They were the last boy band I was really into until I started to move on to pop punk. The song in the video is “my song”, ‘Too Close’. My friends associated the song with me, and I have vivid memories of dancing my ass off to it at school socials. My favourite member is Duncan.
Did you have any favourite late 90s/early 2000s pop bands?