2000-2002. THE FANPAGE
Australian's highest selling female pop group. Gone but not forgotten.
Bardot evolved from the original Australian series of Popstars, a TV talent search show which promised to create "Australia's very own Spice Girls" by turning the dreams of five lucky girls into a reality. In 1999, advertisements for the auditions attracted thousands of girls from across the country, hoping to fulfill their dream of one day breaking into the music industry. After numerous rounds of singing and dancing workshops, Sophie Monk, Sally Polihronas, Belinda Chapple, Katie Underwood and Chantelle Barry were chosen to fly to Sydney to record their debut single. The girls moved in together, however due to mysterious circumstances, Barry was asked to leave the group and as a result of her sudden departure, the judges selected Newcastle singer, Tiffani Wood as the fifth member of the group we now know as Bardot.
The Popstars program rated in its millions and quickly became one of the most successful television programs of 2000. This exposure triggered off the Bardot phenomenon - the media reported on the girls daily and the band's instore signings attracted thousands of fans who hoped to personally meet their new "idols". This overwhelming attention translated into major record sales when the debut single "Poison", entered at 1 with platinum sales, remaining top spot for two consecutive weeks on the ARIA singles chart. Their self titled debut album also entered the charts at 1, Bardot going down in the Australian music history books for becoming the "first Australian act to debut at the number 1 position for both its debut single and debut album". The album would go on to sell double platinum copies and was the 20th highest selling album in Australia for 2000. Bardot was also an instant success in New Zealand, where both the single and album peaked at number 1 and the album also charted at number 2 in Singapore. Second single, "I Should've Never Let You Go" peaked at number 14 on the ARIA singles chart, while the group made a promotional trip to Singapore where it reached 1. The album's third and final release "These Days" was performed at the 2000 ARIA Awards and gained them much praise, proving the girls were more than just "pretty faces". The group was nominated in three separate categories: "Highest Selling Single", "Highest Selling Album" and "Best Video". In August, Bardot embarked on its first national tour of Australia.
In March 2001, Bardot moved to the UK to release "Poison" and appeared on a number of shows including SMTV Live, Top of the Pops and Pepsi Chart. The single proved to be of only limited success, peaking at number 45 on the UK Singles Chart. In July, Bardot released "ASAP", the first single from their forthcoming second album. The new single was marked as a "comeback" for the group and was their first as a four-piece, Katie Underwood deciding to quit in pursuit of a solo career. The new single presented the general music public with a more mature, sophisticated and confident Bardot and provided the group with its second Top 5 ARIA hit and fourth gold single. In August, Bardot performed a cover of the Village People classic "Go West" at the opening ceremony of the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane. Following single, the dancefloor smash "I Need Somebody" confirmed the groups staying power, peaking Top 5 and becoming Bardot's biggest hit since "Poison". The bands second album, Play It Like That received critical acclaim upon release, debuting at 16 having already shipped gold status. This time around, several of the album's tracks were co-written by the members themselves. Bardot performed their hits to its biggest crowd of 90,000 music lovers at the Sydney and Melbourne Rumba music festivals. On Christmas Eve, Bardot performed in front of 30,000 people at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl for the annual Carols by Candlelight.
In February 2002, the group released its final single, the mid-tempo ballad "Love Will Find A Way" which completed Bardot's string of consecutive Top 20 hits and in March, the girls embarked on their second national tour with Australian boy band Human Nature, playing to packed crowds across the country. In early April, the group travelled to Malaysia where they performed at the International Indian Film Academy Awards, followed by a tour of India. In April, after much media speculation, the group announced its decision to split. Their official statement wrote that the girls "have cited a well earned break following what has been a phenomenal two and a half year explosion onto the Australian music scene". Fans were devastated by the band's decision to break up and this was evident at their final, highly emotional concert performed live at Channel V where hundreds of screaming fans turned up to farewell their favourite girl group.
THE ALBUMS
THE SINGLES
Add A Comment
