Five Reunion

[Rita]

Abs is giving me Dhalsim.

5ive have a pretty airtight trail of 15 or so singles. The likes of Atomic Kitten and Lib X really don't have that, not to mention AK were very mor ballad heavy and Lib X needed more where Just A Little came from (and never had a consistent fan base that hyped them up). Five's output was mostly really emphatic pop songs, an approach that arguably even informed their ballad style too. I don't think it's odd at all that they're aiming for this where others wouldn't even try.

That’s not strictly true. Atomic Kitten had 13 top 10 songs and 4 top 5 albums ( 2 number 1) so arguably they were more successful chart wise. They also have around a million more monthly Spotify listeners than Five but could never do an arena tour or I assume they would have by now.

 

[Rita]

It also goes back to the whole Sugababes/Girls Aloud thing. Girls Aloud could always sell out an arena tour but Sugababes always toured much smaller venues even though they had similar chart success.

 

[Shoat]

Abs is giving me Dhalsim.

I wonder how much of an impact the band turnarounds have. One of the advantages Girls Aloud had over Sugababes was a consistent lineup. It's difficult to become a fan of a group made up of temporary employees rather than getting a bona fida band with a fixed identity.

Not an issue for record sales where you're appealing to casuals who likely have no idea a Mutya was replaced by an Amelle. But for legacy, and for touring...

Atomic Kitten might also have suffered there. Steps and presumably Five wouldn't.

 

[Rita]

I wonder how much of an impact the band turnarounds have. One of the advantages Girls Aloud had over Sugababes was a consistent lineup. It's difficult to become a fan of a group made up of temporary employees rather than getting a bona fida band with a fixed identity.

Not an issue for record sales where you're appealing to casuals who likely have no idea a Mutya was replaced by an Amelle. But for legacy, and for touring...

Atomic Kitten might also have suffered there. Steps and presumably Five wouldn't.

I don’t know if it’s just me but thinking back to that time groups like Five, Girls Aloud, and Steps seemed to make much more of an impact than Atomic Kitten and Sugababes. The former seemed to be everywhere and even though the latter would still be on the same tv shows and magazines promoting it all seemed faceless and I can never put my finger on why.

 

[Rita]

If I think of Sugababes now I do still remember them fondly as Keisha, Mutya and Heidi but even with multi platinum albums they were still touring small venues before Mutya departed.

 

[Rita]

Atomic Kitten are probably only really remembered by the majority of the great unwashed because of Whole Again.

 

[Rita]

Even B*Witched had 4 consecutive number 1 singles and a huge debut album. Did they never tour that? WHY?

 

[supermassive]

Even B*Witched had 4 consecutive number 1 singles and a huge debut album. Did they never tour that? WHY?

They wasted time opening for Nsync and I think other similar gigs in America, wasting their window of opportunity here to capitalise.

 

[straightorbroken]

That’s not strictly true. Atomic Kitten had 13 top 10 songs and 4 top 5 albums ( 2 number 1) so arguably they were more successful chart wise. They also have around a million more monthly Spotify listeners than Five but could never do an arena tour or I assume they would have by now.

Unquestionably successful. Singles-wise it's more MOR though and it doesn't have much excitement to make you want to go see them. Just for me personally of course.

 

[Kratz]

B*Witched did do an arena tour.

 

[lolly]

Regardless of who had more hits or better singles, I think the younger middle aged women who these shows are aimed at are more likely to see a reformed boy band than a girl band to try to recapture their youth.

 

[Rita]

Unquestionably successful. Singles-wise it's more MOR though and it doesn't have much excitement to make you want to go see them. Just for me personally of course.

That would probably be my personal opinion too, but I just wonder if that is why.

 

[Rita]

Regardless of who had more hits or better singles, I think the younger middle aged women who these shows are aimed at are more likely to see a reformed boy band than a girl band to try to recapture their youth.

A lot of these young middle aged women also pay to go and see Spice Girls and Girls Aloud though. The likes of The Corrs can still do arenas and they are MoR and I am sure not many fans are there to see Jim (sorry Jim). I am not disagreeing here, I just don’t think I can get a definitive answer on it which is frustrating.

 

[Rita]

Sugababes arena tour is selling low, and even at their peak they struggled to sell arenas and mostly played in smaller venues even when they were arguably selling more singles and albums than Girls Aloud who could easily get a few dates at each arena venue.

 

[lolly]

You're going to struggle to get a definitive answer regarding something so subjective.

I don't think Atomic Kitten ever captured a moment like Girls Aloud, never mind the Spice Girls did, though.

 

[Ellie]

Spice Girls and Girls Aloud have singles littered with stone cold bangers though. Atomic Kitten had hits but nowhere on the same scale.

 

[Rita]

Whole Again would be up there, no?

 

[Rita]

Spice Girls and Girls Aloud have singles littered with stone cold bangers though. Atomic Kitten had hits but nowhere on the same scale.

Spice Girls, yes as they were stratospheric.

My comparison was more between Sugababes and Girls Aloud though.

 

[Ellie]

Spice Girls, yes as they were stratospheric.

My comparison was more between Sugababes and Girls Aloud though.

Sure, but just from personal anecdote, I know a person who is mostly a Rock/Metal fan and always has been, so has no nostalgia for that period ever as a Pop fan (and is about 10 years older than the demographic of their fans), and even she went to see Girls Aloud in concert last year because she thought it would be fun. Sugababes had that immense turnout at Glastonbury, and also have a large handful of songs that have stayed in the public consciousness for a long time.

 

[Rita]

Sure, but just from personal anecdote, I know a person who is mostly a Rock/Metal fan and always has been, so has no nostalgia for that period ever as a Pop fan (and is about 10 years older than the demographic of their fans), and even she went to see Girls Aloud in concert last year because she thought it would be fun. Sugababes had that immense turnout at Glastonbury, and also have a large handful of songs that have stayed in the public consciousness for a long time.

Your friend is surely not the norm though Ellie. Most metal fans with no interest in pop music wouldn’t go near any pop concerts. Sugababes are doing a 2025 tour and ticket sales are low. How can they be massive at Glastonbury yet can’t sell and have always struggled to sell arena dates. It’s just a minefield to me.

 

[Rita]

The point of my post is I think Five will sell out and could possibly be more successful than a lot of their counterparts from the same era, and I struggle to get my head around how the public buy tickets for some. Other bands with similar success could never dream of getting the chance to tour these venues now as they just wouldn’t sell.

 

[Ellie]

The point of my post is I think Five will sell out and could possibly be more successful than a lot of their counterparts from the same era, and I struggle to get my head around how the public buy tickets for some. Other bands with similar success could never dream of getting the chance to tour these venues now as they just wouldn’t sell.

Well, like I said earlier, Marti Pellow is even going for an arena tour this year, when he’d have been confined to maybe large theatres a few years ago. One appearance on The Masked Singer (and booked before they knew he even made the final) can’t have just been responsible for that. It’s strange.

 

[straightorbroken]

Their BTS beef is quite interesting - I would love a mini docu-series to air in the lead up.

 

[Rita]

Well, like I said earlier, Marti Pellow is even going for an arena tour this year, when he’d have been confined to maybe large theatres a few years ago. One appearance on The Masked Singer (and booked before they knew he even made the final) can’t have just been responsible for that. It’s strange.

Yes. It’s crazy!! That to me again is just mind boggling.

 

[FetchFugly]

They've added another O2 show on 12th November, so London demand must be there.

 

[straightorbroken]

I like to think it was J squeezing his ass in the elevator reel that did it.

 

[Devil]

The point of my post is I think Five will sell out and could possibly be more successful than a lot of their counterparts from the same era, and I struggle to get my head around how the public buy tickets for some. Other bands with similar success could never dream of getting the chance to tour these venues now as they just wouldn’t sell.

I think there was a difference in the fan bases of some acts - some had the general public buying, often got more airplay, and had perhaps bigger chart hits - but only whilst they were ‘in’ and didn’t have a massive core fanbase. Think Atomic Kitten - the public loved Whole Again and so they traded off that well, but there wasn’t too many hardcore fans relative to say a Girls Aloud who may not have had a Whole Again type hit but could sell ice to eskimos when it came to their hardcore fanbase.

Time has probably also revealed who actually were good at their jobs (I.e. Steps can still put on a blinding arena show and release well received albums) and who were lucky teenagers and not actually really worth following now (let’s say Kerry Katona or Michelle Heaton etc).

Album sales probably also reflect those that will be more successful now as they managed to capture an actual audience rather than just a few chart hits. 911 sold bugger all albums yet had some ridiculous amount of top ten hits at the time.

 

[Rita]

I think there was a difference in the fan bases of some acts - some had the general public buying, often got more airplay, and had perhaps bigger chart hits - but only whilst they were ‘in’ and didn’t have a massive core fanbase. Think Atomic Kitten - the public loved Whole Again and so they traded off that well, but there wasn’t too many hardcore fans relative to say a Girls Aloud who may not have had a Whole Again type hit but could sell ice to eskimos when it came to their hardcore fanbase.

Time has probably also revealed who actually were good at their jobs (I.e. Steps can still put on a blinding arena show and release well received albums) and who were lucky teenagers and not actually really worth following now (let’s say Kerry Katona or Michelle Heaton etc).

Album sales probably also reflect those that will be more successful now as they managed to capture an actual audience rather than just a few chart hits. 911 sold bugger all albums yet had some ridiculous amount of top ten hits at the time.

I’m not sure on album sales as going back to Sugababes, they had a lot bigger albums than the likes of Girls Aloud, and just as many hits but could never transfer that in to ticket sales for arenas.

 

[Rita]

I would also argue that S Club 7 were very lucky teenagers yet still seem to come back every few years and fill arenas.

 

[Devil]

I’m not sure on album sales as going back to Sugababes, they had a lot bigger albums than the likes of Girls Aloud, and just as many hits but could never transfer that in to ticket sales for arenas.

Sugababes do tend to be the exception, agreed. I another consideration is whether they were as ‘popular’ as their prior single. The likes of B*Witched, or even Sugababes (Follow Me Home I think only charted at about #32?) perhaps indicated a much more casual fanbase that could appeal to the masses but also have rather large flops if the material didn’t connect. Your Girls Aloud or Steps etc could still rack up a top five hit with very average 4th singles that also had no general public appeal due to that more loyal fanbase.

Even myself as a huge fan of these type of acts, I love a Liberty X banger as much as the next pop fan, but couldn’t give two hoots about seeing them stumble through a performance. But I’ll show up to a rural racecourse to see a member of Steps without blinking an eyelid. There’s a weird difference in some but like you’ve said it’s hard to define why.

 

[Rita]

Sugababes do tend to be the exception, agreed. I another consideration is whether they were as ‘popular’ as their prior single. The likes of B*Witched, or even Sugababes (Follow Me Home I think only charted at about #32?) perhaps indicated a much more casual fanbase that could appeal to the masses but also have rather large flops if the material didn’t connect. Your Girls Aloud or Steps etc could still rack up a top five hit with very average 4th singles that also had no general public appeal due to that more loyal fanbase.

Even myself as a huge fan of these type of acts, I love a Liberty X banger as much as the next pop fan, but couldn’t give two hoots about seeing them stumble through a performance. But I’ll show up to a rural racecourse to see a member of Steps without blinking an eyelid. There’s a weird difference in some but like you’ve said it’s hard to define why.

Yes! I find it so interesting, and it brings out the old chart geek in me somewhat. I must admit I would love to have access to more information to go full on geek on the whole thing.

 

[Rita]

Low and limited availability on ALL DATES.

 

[dUb]

The O2 arena slot seems a bit ambitious.

...aaaand they've sold out 3 dates

The tour is almost entirely sold out, apart from a random Tuesday in Glasgow

Oh Five, not arenas.

 

[VoR]

I'm surprised but good for them!

I noticed Anastacia's Not That Kinda Tour has also almost completely sold out. She's not doing arenas or anything, but it's a lot of dates in decently mid-sized venues. 00s nostalgia clearly in full swing at the moment!

 

[Sheena]

I'm surprised but good for them!

I noticed Anastacia's Not That Kinda Tour has also almost completely sold out. She's not doing arenas or anything, but it's a lot of dates in decently mid-sized venues. 00s nostalgia clearly in full swing at the moment!

Yeah but Anastacia was a) weirdly huge for a while, with a few decent back catalogue hits and b) has the voice to be a live draw. She's doing our local venue, Portsmouth Guildhall, and she's probably one of the bigger music acts in the next few months to be there, which has to help, as we don't get the level of choice London does, for example. I was chatting to the manager (I have my offices in the building) and her and Jason Donovan have both sold extremely well of the current "What's On".

 

[lolly]

I'm salivating at the thought of which 00s no-hopers are watching with interest

 

[lolly]

Yeah but Anastacia was a) weirdly huge for a while, with a few decent back catalogue hits and b) has the voice to be a live draw. She's doing our local venue, Portsmouth Guildhall, and she's probably one of the bigger music acts in the next few months to be there, which has to help, as we don't get the level of choice London does, for example. I was chatting to the manager (I have my offices in the building) and her and Jason Donovan have both sold extremely well of the current "What's On".

Did Matt Goss play there, out of interest? He was here at the weekend and although I don't know how full it was, I was being offered £20 a few weeks ago, and £10 last week, so I'm assuming if it was a decent crowd, it was on the back of heavy discounting.

 

[VoR]

It's interesting to me. Sophie Ellis Bextor is coming off a huge 2024, but her tour, while selling reasonably well, still has plenty of seats left at a lot of venues, and the Sugababes, who were a huge draw at Glastonbury, appear to have overshot a bit by going straight into a full arena tour.

Meanwhile Anastacia and Five sell out their tours effortlessly. I guess they're bigger with the all important straight woman demographic. Anastacia seems to be on Loose Women a fair bit which is probably good promo for her target audience. I mean if Jane McDonald can still pack a venue...

 

[Sheena]

Did Matt Goss play there, out of interest? He was here at the weekend and although I don't know how full it was, I was being offered £20 a few weeks ago, and £10 last week, so I'm assuming if it was a decent crowd, it was on the back of heavy discounting.

I think so, but I don't remember. He never appeared on the ticketing/ discount sites here though...

 

[Devil]

It's interesting to me. Sophie Ellis Bextor is coming off a huge 2024, but her tour, while selling reasonably well, still has plenty of seats left at a lot of venues, and the Sugababes, who were a huge draw at Glastonbury, appear to have overshot a bit by going straight into a full arena tour.

Meanwhile Anastacia and Five sell out their tours effortlessly. I guess they're bigger with the all important straight woman demographic. Anastacia seems to be on Loose Women a fair bit which is probably good promo for her target audience. I mean if Jane McDonald can still pack a venue...

I’d see Jane over Ana any day