I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by Los Angeles-based comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Album # 421
Album Title: The Best of the Girl Groups - Volumes 1 & 2Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Pop, Rhythm & Blues (R&B)
Recorded: 1960s
Released: 1990
My age at release: 34
How familiar was I with it before this week: Quite Familiar (These are Classics)
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: The Shoop Song - Betty Everett
The Best of the Girl Groups - Volumes 1 & 2 was a two-CD compilation released by Rhino Records in 1990. These discs contains 36 well known tracks by the "girl groups" of the 1960s, including seven songs that hit number one and another 14 tracks that made it to the Top Ten. A decision was made to include 15 additional tracks to provide context for the genre and, according to the AllMusic website, "keep the collection interesting for serious fans of girl group pop."
A "girl group" is defined as a musical group composed of several female singers who harmonize together. It is also a term that denotes a wave of American female pop singers who were influenced by doo-wop music. Their heyday occurred in the time between early Rock and Roll and The British Invasion (approximately 1955-1965).
Recently, after publishing my post about The Supremes: Anthology, a friend cautioned me about using the term "girl group". He wondered if, in the cultural climate of 2020, referencing adult female artists as "girls" might be unwise. This gave me pause and I have been considering it for several days.
I'm an open-minded and socially conscious person. However, I recognize that I probably have hidden, learned biases that I should take into account. Ultimately, I viewed this as an opportunity to check for stereotyping, prejudices and any discrimination on my part.
Is it okay to use the term "girl group"?
INTENTION AND CONTEXT
Words in isolation are powerless. It is context and intention that give them power. Consider the word "honey". Honey is a sweet, sticky, yellowish-brown fluid made by bees from the nectar of flowers. It is often used in a different context as a term of endearment or affection. My friend's mom, whom I have known for over 40 years, calls me "honey" and I take no offence. In fact, it always makes me smile when she does. However, I would never use the word "honey" when addressing someone I have just met.
The term "girl group" was never intended to have a negative or pejorative context. In fact, the term "girl" is frequently embraced in positive context by many, including women, over the past 30+ years.
- In the 90s, The Spice Girls rocked female tenacity with their call for Girl Power which was, to some extent, co-opted from the Riot Grrrl feminist punk movement of the late 80s.
- "The Girls" was a moniker that fans used to identify the main cast of the popular HBO series Sex and The City. Granted, that program had some problematic moments, as detailed here. But, the intention was to celebrate the comically complicated lives of modern, self-sufficient thirty-something "girls" living in New York City in the 2000s.
- 2013 brought us another HBO program, Girls, created by feminist and activist Lena Dunham. This series following the lives of twenty-something millennials living in New York City.
- Finally, the refrain "Hey girl" is regularly used in casual conversation by female friends -- not to mention the popularity of the Hey Girl meme featuring Ryan Gosling which has been circulating since 2008. Its history can be found here.
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| An example of the "Hey Girl" meme |
COMPARATIVE CONTEXT
There is a male equivalent to "girl group" and it is, of course, the "boy band". The term boy band began with The Beatles but many would argue that The Beatles were a rock group and not a boy band. When examining the current definition of a "boy band", it is clear that The Beatles do not fit that mold.
The term "Boy Band" refers to a musical group of several male singers (but sometimes musicians) who are typically teenagers or in their early twenties. Unlike girl groups, who appeal to a wider audience, boy bands perform songs that are marketed toward young women. Often, choreographed dance sequences are part of their performance. The most popular examples include The Jackson Five, New Kids on the Block, Boys II Men, Backstreet Boys, N'SYNC, One Direction and, most recently, the Korean pop (KPop) group BTS.
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| Popular Boy Bands from Five Decades |
Twenty four years as a Grade 4-8 educator has helped me become a bit of an expert on "boy bands". I have graded essays, poems, art work, stories, poster boards, websites, blogs and presentations dedicated to nearly every popular boy band since 1996.
IN CONCLUSION
- The word "girl group" was never intended to be used negatively to describe the women who performed in these bands.
- No member of any "girl group" has ever raised a concern about that description.
- As detailed above, the word "girl" has plenty of positive connotations when used to describe a female over the age of 18.
- Although the word "girl" can be used disparagingly, that is not the case here.
- Boy Band is the male equivalent and it is used nearly identically with similar, positive connotations.
So, what does it mean to me?
That's easy. When I use, or hear, the words "girl group" I think of a group of talented, harmonizing females making awesome music. My mind goes to The Supremes, The Ronettes, The Chiffons, Bananarama, The Spice Girls, Destiny's Child and TLC. In every case, my reaction is complimentary. All of that music is terrific and so are the 36 songs you will find on these two companion records: Best of the Girl Groups Volumes 1 & 2.
A FINAL NOTE
I dismiss any argument that male singing groups are advantaged because they are called "bands" - the suggestion being that they are taken more seriously as musicians.
Clearly, "boy band" and "girl group" have their roots in alliteration. Additionally, the voice is an instrument -- all of these artists are musicians.
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