Girl Groups: A Sampling Across the Decades

Let’s quickly define “girl group,” the estrogen-laced alternative to “boy bands.” It’s an all-female ensemble featuring close harmonies, coordinated costumes, soulful vocals, and a powerful spirit. They’ve been crowd-pleasers since the 1960s, but they go back further, to the Boswell Sisters in the 1920s and the Andrews Sisters in the 1940s.

Girl Groups have overlapping similarities but cover a wide range of styles, from gentle ballads to uptempo dance tunes to total bangers. They debunk the notion of rock being a man’s game, bringing equal servings of relatability, gentleness, and bad-assery. Here’s a starter pack of Girl Group classics.

Martha & the Vandellas’ “Nowhere to Run” (1965)

Written by Holland-Dozier-Holland, “Nowhere to Run” is a standard tale of a woman wronged by her man but unable to walk away. What distinguishes this track are Martha’s deliciously gritty vocals and clever Motown instrumentation (snow tire chains as percussion instruments!) that kick up the intensity. Filled with straight-up soul and substantive lyrics, “Nowhere to Hide” was a #8 Billboard hit and remains an enduring classic.

The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb” (1976)

Talk about a 1970s time capsule, straight from the Runaways’ debut album. We’ve got raunch and attitude for days. We’ve got a lead singer with moderate talent and maximal charisma. Decked out in flamboyant lingerie and exuding the naughtiest vibes, Cherie Currie belts:

Hello, daddy, hello, mom…

I’m your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!

Hello world, I’m your wild girl

I’m your ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!

Guitarist Joan Jett emerged as the breakout star after the Runaways parted and Currie moved on. “Cherry Bomb” remains an invigorating punch of vintage punk. The Runaways’ story was made into a 2010 movie – the poster featured a dripping, sparking (maraschino) cherry.

The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” (1986)

A novelty track from the Bangles’ 1986 album A Different Light, “Walk Like an Egyptian” topped the charts in 1986-87. It yielded a sexy video that delighted the world but caused dissension in the band for its focus on Susanna Hoffs. “Walk Like an Egyptian” was written by Liam Sternberg after noting the goofy way people balanced themselves on a ferry boat. He wrote a song about it and offered it to Toni Basil (who nixed it). Eventually, the Bangles added it as a last-minute piece for their album, unaware it would become an enormous hit. “Walk Like an Egyptian” rejiggered the band dynamics but holds up as an infectious tune.

TLC’s “Waterfalls” (1994)

The trio consisting of lead singer Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozanda “Chilli” Thomas could have a permanent place in the hip-hop firmament based on charisma alone. But in 1994, they gave the world a profound gift with the Grammy-nominated “Waterfalls,” from their CrazySexyCool album. The track is exquisite ear candy, but that’s the least of it. “Waterfalls” is a beautiful cautionary tale about the pitfalls of stepping too far out of our comfort zones and into trouble. The first stanza deals with a mother who can’t reach her son in time to keep him out of the drug/gang culture, and the second stanza deals with a casualty of unsafe sex (“Three letters [HIV] took him to his final resting place.”). The chorus instructs us to “…stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.” The focal point is “Left-Eye” Lopes’ powerful rap, a deeply personal prayer for herself and humanity. “Waterfalls” is one of the finest songs of the 1990s, with a cinematic video that won MTV’s Video of the Year award in 1995.

Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor” (2001)

Before Beyoncé was…Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child was a girl group that shape-shifted through many member changes before whittling down to Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. “Survivor” (from their 2001 LP) was inspired by the concept of the “Survivor” reality TV show, which voted members off an island; co-writer Beyoncé handled the press around the frequent member changes with endearing humor. The three “survivors” made history with this power anthem that celebrates overcoming adversity and eschewing negativity. The video shows Destiny’s Child members elegantly washing up on the beach in artfully torn, minimal beachwear designed by Knowles’ mom Tina. “Survivor” survived to outgrow the reality TV structure and has become an ode to power and positivity. It became a #2 Billboard hit in the States and topped the charts overseas.