MANILA, Philippines - Gone are the days when boy bands dominated the airlanes for pop, ballad or even rock-sounding tunes. There is a growing list of girl groups — local and foreign — making their presence felt in the music arena today, displaying not only their vocal calisthenics and dance routines but the charm that elicits oohs and aahs from music aficionados. The Pussycat Dolls, of course, is one popular example among the music-loving Pinoys.
But did you know there’s another quintet from UK called The Saturdays that keeps competition on their toes? Una Healy, Mollie King, Rochelle Wiseman, Vanessa White and Frankie Sandford compose the group that now occupies the top spot in UK music charts with singles like If This Is Love, Up, Issues and a cover of Depeche Mode’s Just Can’t Get Enough. It has also supported the Jonas Brothers in one of its gigs, and guest starred on TV shows Hollyoaks Later and Myths.
The members’ sex appeal landed them on the pages of FHM. Even the US version of Ugly Betty has the group’s single Up as the trailer’s track.
The girls got together through an audition held in Britain in 1997. Una, who is into writing songs, was in a rock band before joining the group. Frankie and Rochelle were members of S Club Juniors while Mollie performed on X-Factor two years ago as part of Fallen Angelz. Mollie also tried acting on two episodes of on-line show Sam King.
Vanessa, on the other hand, had been in several theater shows including West End’s The Lion King. She has Pinoy roots, her mom being half-Spanish and half-Filipino.
The release of The Saturdays’ debut album Chasing Lights under Fascination Records in October last year was an instant success, with its tracks landing on the Top 10 spots. If you’ve been reading the music news, Billboard says the album “has infectious quality which proves the recent Top 10 success of their singles.”
“We got together almost two years ago but it’s only last year we’ve released music,” Una says when I hooked up with her on the phone recently.
Locally, MCA Music, Inc. distributes the 13-track album. Giving a listen to its every cut puts one in the mood for dancing for its upbeat tempo.
“There is something for everybody on the album as it got a bit of everything — pop, hints of R&B, electro and strong ballads. All our singles are there,” Una shares.
The lively beat is also ideal for those who want to exercise.
“It’s very catchy. A lot of people are drawn to exercise; it’s a great one on the dancefloor,” she adds.
And though Una is into songwriting, she hasn’t written any track in the album. Each member wanted to find out the style that would fit in the group first “before putting some really good songs.”
The tracks were recorded in London and Norway with producers who were also behind the hits of Rihanna and The Pussycat Dolls.
Cuts in the CD include the body-swaying, feet-thumping Up, the electro-tinged Keep Her, the ballad-sounding Fall and the upbeat Work which is akin to Rihanna’s hits. If This is Love, Issues, Lies, Set Me Off, Vulnerable, Chasing Lights, Why Me, Why Now, Just Can’t Get Enough and Up, the Wildboys’ remix edit complete the song line-up.
Now that the album is racking up hits and reaching gold status, Una reveals they have started writing songs for its sophomore album.
“It is slightly more mature sounding. We really know what our sound is now. Everybody loves pop,” she offers.
In June, Una and fellow members will be on a tour dubbed as the Work Tour which will kick off in Oxford.
A visit to Asian countries to promote the album is also on the drawing board.
“We’ll be coming I think in August. I’ve never been at all to Asia in my life that’s why I’m looking forward to be coming over,” Una enthuses.
And what it has been like with The Saturdays?
“Every day is different. We have lots of fun. We do what we love doing and it’s the best time of our lives,” Una replies.