Girls Aloud

Girls Aloud are a British-Irish pop girl group that was created through the ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002. The line up consisted of members Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. In 2012, the group was named as Britain's biggest selling girl group of the 21st century so far, with over 4.3 million singles sales and 4 million albums sold in the UK.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The group achieved a string of twenty top-ten singles on the UK singles chart, including four number ones. They also achieved seven BPI certified albums, two of which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. They have been nominated for five Brit Awards and won one of them, Best Single in 2009 for "The Promise".

The group's main musical style is pop, and they have also experimented with other sounds including electropop, dance-pop and dance-rock throughout their career. The group's collaborations with Brian Higgins and the production team Xenomania earned the group critical acclaim,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> because of an "innovative" approach to mainstream pop music. The group became one of the few British reality television acts to achieve continued success, amassing a fortune of £30 million by May 2010. Guinness World Records listed them as the "Most Successful Reality TV Group" in the 2007 and 2011 edition. They also hold the record for "Most Consecutive Top Ten Entries in the UK by a Female Group" in the 2008 edition.<ref name=sales>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The group disbanded in March 2013 following the conclusion of the Ten: The Hits Tour. Harding died of breast cancer on 5 September 2021 at the age of 39. The remaining members reunited for a 2024 concert tour, The Girls Aloud Show, becoming the biggest UK arena tour of 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

2002: Popstars: The Rivals

Girls Aloud was formed on 30 November 2002 on ITV's Popstars: The Rivals. The concept of the programme, hosted by Big Brother presenter Davina McCall, was to produce a boy band and a girl group who would be "rivals" and compete for the 2002 Christmas number one single. Following the initial success of Hear'Say (winners of the original Popstars show), several thousand applicants attended auditions across the United Kingdom in hope of being selected. Ten girls and ten boys were chosen as finalists by judges Pete Waterman, Louis Walsh and Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell. However, two of these were disqualified before the live shows began: Hazel Kaneswaran was found to be too old to participate,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while Nicola Ward refused to sign the contract, claiming the pay the group would receive was too low.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts were chosen as their replacements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During October and November, the finalists took to the stage participating in weekly Saturday night live performances (alternating week-by-week between the girls and boys). Each week the contestant polling the fewest phone votes was eliminated until the final line-ups of the groups emerged. The five girls who made it into the group were Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh, and Sarah Harding; Javine Hylton missed out on a place in the group, despite previous expectations that she would be placed in the line-up.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The group was named Girls Aloud and were managed by Louis Walsh, until 2005 when Hilary Shaw replaced him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The new group competed with the boys' winning group, One True Voice to have 2002's Christmas number one single. Girls Aloud won the battle with their single "Sound of the Underground", produced by Brian Higgins and Xenomania. The song spent four consecutive weeks at number one and was certified platinum in March 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> The song received critical acclaim; Alexis Petridis of The Guardian stated that "it proved a first: it was a reality pop record that didn't make you want to do physical harm to everyone involved in its manufacture".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2002–2005: Sound of the Underground and What Will the Neighbours Say?

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Girls Aloud performing at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in August 2004

After the success of their first single "Sound of the Underground", Girls Aloud spent five months recording the follow-up single and their debut album. Sound of the Underground was completed in April 2003 and released the following month.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> The album entered the charts at number two and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The second single, "No Good Advice", was also released in May 2003 to similar success. Girls Aloud's third single, "Life Got Cold", charted at number three in August 2003. In November 2003, Girls Aloud released a cover version of the Pointer Sisters' 1980s dance hit "Jump". The single, which charted at number two, accompanied a new edition of Sound of the Underground.

After a brief hiatus, Girls Aloud released "The Show" in June 2004, the first single from What Will the Neighbours Say?, the group's second album. The single entered the charts at number two. The next single, "Love Machine", also peaked at number two in September 2004. Girls Aloud then recorded a cover of The Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You" which was released as the official Children in Need charity single. The song was not well received by critics.<ref name="guardianwwtns">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The cover became Girls Aloud's second number one single, holding the position for two weeks.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The album What Will the Neighbours Say? was entirely written and produced by Xenomania. Upon its release on 29 November 2004, the album charted just outside of the top five and was quickly certified platinum. The final single from the album, "Wake Me Up", was released in February 2005. It charted at number four, making it their first to miss the top three. In early 2005, the group was nominated for a BRIT Award for Best Pop Act. Following the album's success, Girls Aloud announced their first tour, the What Will the Neighbours Say...? Tour, which took place in May 2005. The group also released their first DVD, Girls on Film.

2005–2007: Chemistry and The Sound of Girls Aloud

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Girls Aloud performing at the Capital Radio Help a London Child fundraiser in December 2005

Following their first tour, Girls Aloud began work on their third studio album, Chemistry. The album peaked on the UK Albums Charts at number eleven and received platinum certification. The first single from the album, "Long Hot Summer" was released in August 2005. The single ended Girls Aloud's run of top five singles when it charted at number seven.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The follow-up single from the album, "Biology" was released in November 2005. The song was critically acclaimed; Peter Cashmore of The Guardian labeled it "the best pop single of the last decade".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The release was followed by a cover of Dee C. Lee's "See the Day", released in the Christmas week of 2005.,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> following this they presented one-off TV Special, Christmas Mania, on ITV, where they sang songs taken from their Christmas album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Girls Aloud won the Heart Award for the single at the O₂ Silver Clef Lunch. The group travelled to Australia and New Zealand in February 2006 to release "Biology" and Chemistry. Despite, a one-week promotional tour, "Biology" peaked at number twenty-six on the ARIA Singles Chart, failing to break the group in the Australian market.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Whole Lotta History", the fourth and final single to be taken from Chemistry, was released in March 2006 and charted at number six.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 2005, Girls Aloud filmed a one-off documentary entitled Girls Aloud: Home Truths for ITV2. The success of the show later made way for Girls Aloud: Off the Record, a six-part fly on the wall documentary series for E4. Girls Aloud then appeared in an episode of Ghosthunting with... (without Nadine) towards the end of 2006, in which Yvette Fielding guided them through haunted locations.<ref>Template:IMDb title</ref> In May 2006, Girls Aloud embarked on their first arena tour, named Chemistry: The Tour. In the same month, Girls Aloud were moved to Fascination Records, a sub-label of Polydor Records. Template:Citation needed

In October 2006, Girls Aloud released their first greatest hits collection, The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits. It debuted at number one on the UK album chart and went on to sell over one million copies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="million">Template:Cite web</ref> The album was accompanied by the single "Something Kinda Ooooh". Girls Aloud became the first British act to reach the top five purely on download sales;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the single peaked at number three following its physical release.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next single was a cover of "I Think We're Alone Now" which peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In March 2007, Girls Aloud collaborated with fellow British girl group Sugababes for the cover of the song "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith. Billed as "Sugababes vs. Girls Aloud", the song served as the official single for Comic Relief which became the group's third number one.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In May 2007, Girls Aloud embarked on their third tour, The Greatest Hits Tour.

2007–2009: Tangled Up and Out of Control

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Girls Aloud performing in London during the Tangled Up Tour in May 2008

Girls Aloud released their fourth studio album, Tangled Up, in November 2007. The first single from the album, "Sexy! No No No..." peaked at number-five on the UK Singles Chart. The second single, "Call the Shots" entered the top three. The third and final single from the album, "Can't Speak French", continued Girls Aloud's top ten streak.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The release of the single coincided with Girls Aloud's second television series, The Passions of Girls Aloud.<ref name="digitalspy.co.uk">Template:Cite web</ref> The show revolved around each member, with the exception of Coyle, achieving aspirations outside of the group.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The group received their second Brit Award nomination in 2008, nominated for the Best British Group award.<ref name="brits2008">Template:Cite news</ref> In May 2008, Girls Aloud embarked on the Tangled Up Tour which consisted of 34 concerts around the United Kingdom.

Girls Aloud then recorded two tracks for the soundtrack to the 2007 film, St Trinian's. They made a cameo appearance in the film, as the school band. The soundtrack was released on 10 December 2007,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the music video for "Theme to St. Trinian's" premiered in December 2007.Template:Fact

In November 2008, Girls Aloud released their fifth studio album, Out of Control. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> became their most successful studio album to date, being certified double platinum.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The album's lead single, "The Promise", became the group's fourth number one on the UK Singles Chart.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The single also returned the group to the top two on the Irish Singles Chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "The Promise" was awarded Best British Single at the 2009 Brit Awards; the group also performed the song during the ceremony.<ref name="bestsingle">Template:Cite web</ref> For the promotion of the album, Girls Aloud appeared in a variety show entitled The Girls Aloud Party which aired on 13 December 2008 on ITV.Template:Fact

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Girls Aloud performing in Manchester during the Out of Control Tour in April 2009

The second single from Out of Control, "The Loving Kind" was produced by Xenomania. Peaking at number ten, it became the group's twentieth consecutive top ten single.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The final single from the album, "Untouchable" was released in April 2009. It peaked at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the first single of the group to miss the top ten. The group embarked on the Out of Control Tour, from April to June 2009. A singles boxset collection was released to coincide with the tour.

In February 2009, Girls Aloud signed a new record deal with Fascination that would see the group release another three studio albums.<ref name="3more">Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2009, the group announced that they were taking a year-long hiatus to pursue solo projects, and would reunite for a new studio album in 2010 which did not materialise.<ref name="nme.com">Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2009, the group briefly interrupted the hiatus to do two shows supporting Coldplay along with Jay-Z at Wembley Stadium.<ref name="coldplay">Template:Cite news</ref>

2012–2013: Ten

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Girls Aloud performing during the Ten: The Hits Tour in March 2013

After three years of hiatus, Girls Aloud reunited for the group's tenth anniversary. On 16 November 2012, the group released their new single, "Something New" – the official charity single for Children in Need. The single peaked at number-two on the UK Singles Chart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The group released their second greatest hits compilation, Ten on 23 November 2012. The second single taken from Ten, "Beautiful 'Cause You Love Me," was released on 17 December 2012, and failed to chart in the top-forty.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A documentary special entitled Girls Aloud: Ten Years at the Top aired on ITV1 on 15 December 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2013, the group embarked on Ten: The Hits Tour.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 20 March 2013, the group performed their final concert at Echo Arena Liverpool. A few hours later, they announced their split on Twitter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2021: Death of Sarah Harding

On 26 August 2020, group member Sarah Harding stated that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer that had advanced to "other parts" of her body.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2021, she said that the disease was terminal and that she "won't see another Christmas".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> She died on 5 September 2021 at the age of 39.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 24 July 2022, Girls Aloud appeared in Hyde Park, London, to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research. Tweedy, Roberts and Coyle participated in the event, with Walsh taking part in a remote event.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2023–present: The Girls Aloud Show and Re-Releases

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Girls Aloud performing "The Show" at the 3Arena in Dublin on the second date of The Girls Aloud Show tour in May 2024.

In November 2023, the group announced a reunion tour, The Girls Aloud Show, as a dedication to the memory of Sarah Harding and a "celebration" of the group's music.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The tour consisted of thirty shows, opening in Dublin, Ireland in May 2024 and concluding in Liverpool, England in June.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It became the biggest UK arena tour of 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the main tour, the group held a concert at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 2 July and performed at Brighton Pride a month after.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 17 November 2024, the group released "I'll Stand By You (Sarah's Version)" as the 2024 BBC Children in Need single, which featured newly discovered lead vocals from Harding and was a centerpiece of the set list for the 2024 tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Official recordings of the tour were released in June 2025 on video and as a live album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

This tour was preceded by and ran parallel to a re-release campaign, celebrating each album's 20th anniversary. Each reissue includes a collection of alternative cuts, rarities, unreleased songs, never-before-heard demos, and remixes. The campaign began in December 2022 with a limited-edition 7" vinyl of "Sound of the Underground", which included a previously unreleased alternative vocal version with profits donated to The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2023, the full Sound of the Underground album was reissued. The release featured the album's vinyl debut as a picture disc and a three-CD deluxe edition containing two CDs of rarities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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20th-anniversary edition deluxe set of Chemistry, including picture disc vinyl, a pink vinyl LP, and a 3CD set.

What Will the Neighbours Say? was reissued in March 2024 on vinyl and as a three-CD set featuring three previously unreleased tracks: a cover of British-pop duo Mania's "Baby When You Go," the original song "Disco Bunny", and a cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" originally slated for a cancelled 2005 re-issue of the album.<ref name="GAStoreW">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2025, Nicola Roberts appeared on BBC Radio 2 to discuss her new role in the ongoing West End production of Hadestown and unveiled the promotional single "Singapore (Definitive Edition)."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Singapore (Definitive Edition)" was included on the 20th-anniversary edition of Chemistry released in September 2025.<ref name="GAStoreC">Template:Cite web</ref> The deluxe edition of the Chemistry re-issue also featured the unreleased tracks "Naked in the Shower" and "You Go Too Fast (Demo)".<ref name="GAStoreC"></ref> In October 2025, the group announced the standalone release of their 2005 collection of Christmas songs as a Christmas album called Christmas 'Round at Ours, issued on multiple formats with remastered audio, new sleeve notes, and a new "Christmas Party" remix of "Not Tonight Santa".<ref name="GAShopXmas"> Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="oc2025"> Template:Cite web</ref>

Other endeavours

Girls Aloud came together with Mattel in 2005 to produce Fashion Fever Barbies. Each member designed the outfit and look of a doll modelled after themselves. In addition to live DVDs of their tours and both of Girls Aloud's television series, the group has also released Girls on Film and Style. Official calendars were also issued annually from 2004 to 2009, the only exception being 2005. Girls Aloud co-wrote an autobiography titled Dreams That Glitter – Our Story.<ref name="official">Template:Cite web</ref> The book, named after a lyric in "Call the Shots", was published in October 2008 through the Transworld imprint Bantam Press.<ref name="amazon">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="bookseller">Template:Cite web</ref> Before the release, OK! magazine bought the rights to preview and serialise the book.<ref>OK! magazine Template:Webarchive. Ok.co.uk (24 September 2008). Retrieved on 5 August 2011.</ref>

In 2007, Girls Aloud signed a £1.25m one-year deal to endorse hair care brand Sunsilk.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The girls filmed a television advertisement and appeared in and magazine advertisements, with each of the five members being the face of a different shampoo. The same year, Girls Aloud also signed a deal with the UK division of Samsung. They endorsed mobile phones and MP3 players, made personal appearances and sang at Samsung events, and contributed to competition prizes, among other activities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Samsung F210 Purple came with a 1GB memory card featuring Girls Aloud content.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Girls Aloud appeared in television advertisements for Nintendo DS the following year.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The group signed a deal to front a promotional campaign for a new low-calorie KitKat bar called "Senses" in March 2008. Sales increased 6.8% in the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Beginning in 2009, Girls Aloud teamed with Eylure to release five sets of false eyelashes, each set designed by a different member of the band. A range of festival-themed lashes followed in 2010, while limited edition "10th Anniversary" lashes were released in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Similarly, to celebrate their tenth anniversary, each member designed a charm bracelet for Pandora, available as either a complete bracelet or a "starter" bracelet.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Philanthropy

All five members of the group have been involved in charity work. Girls Aloud's cover of The Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You" was released as the official 2004 Children in Need single, with proceeds going to the charity.<ref name="cincbbc">Template:Cite news</ref> Nicola Roberts said, "Hopefully if our single does well it's a lot of money going to the charity."<ref name=cincbbc/> Their cover of Aerosmith and Run DMC's "Walk This Way", a collaboration with the Sugababes, was the official charity single for Comic Relief in 2007, recorded at Comic Relief co-founder and trustee Richard Curtis' request.<ref name="crbbc">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Kimberley Walsh said, "It's a fantastic song and hopefully will raise tons of money for people living in really difficult situations here and in Africa."<ref name=crbbc/> In March 2009, Cheryl, Kimberley Walsh, and various other celebrities climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of Comic Relief.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Walsh is also a charity ambassador for Breast Cancer Haven. She helped open a £2.2 million breast cancer centre in 2008 and participated in a "heel-a-thon" in 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2011, Cheryl Cole launched her own charitable foundation named the "Cheryl Cole Foundation with The Prince's Trust following a meeting with The Trust's President, Charles, Prince of Wales". The foundation provides vital funds for The Trust in the North East, helping disadvantaged young people from her own region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Girls Aloud celebrated their 10 years as a group by releasing another Children in Need single, "Something New", which they performed on the Children in Need TV special on 16 November 2012.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Artistry

Musical style

Girls Aloud worked closely with Brian Higgins and his songwriting and production team Xenomania throughout their career. Xenomania produced all of Girls Aloud's albums and singles, excluding nine songs from their debut album, Sound of the Underground, the charity single "Walk This Way" and two songs from Ten. Of Higgins and Xenomania, Girls Aloud's former manager Louis Walsh says, "He just makes great songs for radio. They just jump out at you and stay in your brain."<ref name="bbcxeno">Template:Cite news</ref> In a review of the group's debut single "Sound of the Underground", The Guardian's Alexis Petridis exclaimed it "proved a first: it was a reality pop record that didn't make you want to do physical harm to everyone involved in its manufacture."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In response to Girls Aloud's debut album, Jacqueline Hodges of BBC Music said that "Higgins injects an element of instant-catchy-cool to the songs without going overboard in trying to shape uber-chic dance floor hits."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Petridis of The Guardian described What Will the Neighbours Say? as "a great album: funny, clever, immediate, richly inventive."<ref name="wwtnsguardian">Template:Cite news</ref> He later wrote that Chemistry is "a record that dispenses with the tiresome business of verses and instead opts for songs apparently constructed by stitching eight different choruses together."<ref name="chemguardian">Template:Cite news</ref> Talia Kraines of BBC Music exclaimed that Girls Aloud "have resuscitated [pop music's] corpse by wedding chart-friendly melodies to experimental avant-garde sounds".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Biology" was described as "about as far from tired formula as you can possibly get. It sounds like three separate melodies condensed into one."<ref name=musicomh/> Popjustice referred to the song as "pop music which redefines the supposed boundaries of pop music."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a review for 2007's "Sexy! No No No...", Nick Levine of Digital Spy complimented Xenomania's work on the song: sacrificing "conventional song structure in the name of keeping [...] hooks coming thick and fast – and quite right too."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Despite being most generally associated with the pop genre Girls Aloud have experimented with other genres.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In particular rock music with singles like "Sound of the Underground", "Graffiti My Soul", "Wake Me Up" and "Sexy! No No No...".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Influences

The band members themselves are known to be fans of artists such as Ne-Yo and Oasis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The group's debut album Sound of the Underground takes influence from a number of 1980s genres, such as synthpop, power pop, and new wave, and 1990s styles like big beat, drum and bass, and garage.<ref name=pitchforkrev>Template:Cite web</ref> The album received comparisons to girl groups such as Bananarama, The Bangles, and the Spice Girls.<ref name=auto/><ref name="blondiebangles">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="yahoo">Template:Cite web</ref> Similarities to Kylie Minogue and Madonna were also noted.<ref name=yahoo/><ref name="times">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> A majority of the songs make use of guitars and electronic beats. The rise of indie rock also inspired Brian Higgins to "blur the edges between commercial music and so-called 'indie' music."<ref name=ponystep/> He continued, "pop music was on its backside and indie music was about to rise, through The Strokes and everything else. We were an independent company and we were as indie as the other bands around us. The guitar riff on No Good Advice is very very similar to the riff on the track Michael by Franz Ferdinand."<ref name="ponystep">Template:Cite web</ref> What Will the Neighbours Say? further explores different subgenres of pop, especially electropop. Synthesizers are more prominent on the album, although the usage of guitar remains prominent in several songs. The backing track to "Love Machine", composed by Xenomania musicians Tim Powell and Nick Coler, was inspired by The Smiths,<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> while "Wake Me Up" includes a guitar riff inspired by garage rock.<ref name=wwtnsguardian/><ref name="musicomh">Template:Cite web</ref>

Chemistry takes influences from a wide variety of sources, including "everything from French chanson to piano-pounding blues to the clipped R&B of the Small Faces".<ref name=chemguardian/> Rapping in the same vein as artists like Betty Boo and Neneh Cherry is prominent.<ref name="chemyahoo">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Yahoo! Music says "there's nary a 'formula' in sight. There are as many sudden tonal and tempo switches as the tricksiest Chicago art rock band. And all but one song here gives guitars a starring role."<ref name=chemyahoo/> The songs are noticeably less rooted in electronic music, although "Swinging London Town" is "a dark, squiggly synth pop epic a la Pet Shop Boys" and "It's Magic" is composed of "little Röyksopp-like keyboard riffs".<ref name="musicomh2">Template:Cite web</ref> Alternatively, Tangled Up features a dancier, more electronic sound, inspired by the success of their 2006 single "Something Kinda Ooooh". "Call the Shots", "Close to Love", and "Girl Overboard" are all electropop numbers reminiscent of 1980s music. However, "Control of the Knife" is more inspired by reggae and ska,<ref name="bbc">Template:Cite web</ref> while "Black Jacks" recalls "sixties psychedelica".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Out of Control features a number of songs inspired by 1980s electropop, while also exploring retro styles.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "The Promise" is a 1960s Spector-influenced number, while "Rolling Back the Rivers in Time" was compared to the works of Burt Bacharach.<ref name="slant">Template:Cite web</ref>

Legacy

Girls Aloud's debut single "Sound of the Underground" and Sugababes' "Round Round", both of which were produced by Xenomania, have been called "two huge groundbreaking hits".<ref name="telegraph2">Template:Cite news</ref> Emily MacKay of NME deemed the two "a whole new kind of pop".<ref name="xenomanianews.blogspot.com">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source needed The Telegraph placed the song at number 15 on a list of 100 songs that defined the 2000s, while NME included it at number 39.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Spinner.com named "Sound of the Underground" the eighth best British song of the 2000s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2009, The Times included 2007's Tangled Up at number 62 on a list of the decade's best pop albums.<ref name="timesdecade">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> MSN listed 2005's Chemistry as one of the decade's best albums.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Girls Aloud were one of the pop acts to achieve continued success and longevity throughout the mid-2000s while R&B and rock music became more popular. In a review for the group's 2008 Tangled Up Tour, David Pollock of The Independent noted that "Girls Aloud remain confidently the only pop show in town."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Times stated, "Not since ABBA and Michael Jackson has pure pop been so unanimously praised."<ref name=timesdecade/>

Girls Aloud are notably one of the few British reality television acts to achieve continued success and longevity. According to The Times, Girls Aloud are the highest-earning UK reality television stars, having amassed a fortune of £25 million by May 2009.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The figure was increased to £30 million the following year, following Cheryl's appearance on The X Factor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> All five members were included in a 2010 list of Britain's richest stars under 30.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reviews of Girls Aloud's debut album noted the high quality of the album compared to output from other reality show contestants.<ref name=yahoo/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2004, David Hooper of BBC Music exclaimed that "Girls Aloud are currently British pop royalty [...] in the ultra-fickle world of TV-generated pop, Girls Aloud have real staying power."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Andrew Lynch of entertainment.ie said, "Girls Aloud really shouldn't have made it as far as a second album. [...] There's just one problem – the girls have a knack of coming up with utterly infectious pop songs".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bono has referred to himself as a fan of the group, saying: "I think Girls Aloud are at the cutting edge of pop music. They are a great band and they deserve to be centre stage."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chris Martin also said that he is a fan of the group, referring to them as "the ultimate form of life,"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> while Julie Burchill has stated that Girls Aloud are "simply the most perfect pop group since The Monkees."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In addition, Girls Aloud have had their music covered by artists as varied as Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party, and Coldplay, among others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Members

• Cheryl (2002–2009, 2012–2013, since 2023)
• Kimberley Walsh (2002–2009, 2012–2013, since 2023)
• Nadine Coyle (2002–2009, 2012–2013, since 2023)
• Nicola Roberts (2002–2009, 2012–2013, since 2023)
• Sarah Harding (2002–2009, 2012–2013, died 2021)

Discography

• Sound of the Underground (2003)
• What Will the Neighbours Say? (2004)
• Chemistry (2005)
• Tangled Up (2007)
• Out of Control (2008)

Tours

• What Will the Neighbours Say...? Tour (2005)
• Chemistry Tour (2006)
• Greatest Hits Tour (2007)
• Tangled Up Tour (2008)
• Out of Control Tour (2009)
• Ten: The Hits Tour (2013)
• The Girls Aloud Show (2024)

See also

• List of awards and nominations received by Girls Aloud
• List of best-selling girl groups
• List of Girls Aloud songs
• R v Walker

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:IMDb name