Girl groups have been a music staple since the 1960s. A great blend of talented voices plus some girl power can create a killer combination. Girl groups tend to go all in with their performances, too, with cute outfits and amazing choreography. In recent years, girl groups have made a comeback with more popping up on the charts every year.
Is there a girl group void in your music library? It might be because you don’t know where to start listening. If the last girl group you remember listening to is The Spice Girls, here’s my list of the best girl groups, with recommendations based on the artists you already love.
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If you like Ariana Grande, listen to Fifth Harmony
Fifth Harmony are one of the most popular girl groups on the scene right now, so you’ve probably heard at least one of their songs. Still, if you listen to more of their music, you might find yourself invested enough to become a fan.
Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony both produce powerful pop anthems. Ariana’s Break Free and Dangerous Woman are radio-heavy bops not unlike Fifth Harmony’s Worth It and Work from Home.
Now’s a great time to get into Fifth Harmony because the group’s sound is evolving on their most recent self-titled album, the first release since Camila Cabello left the group.
If you like Rita Ora, listen to Little Mix
Who doesn’t love a British group from The X Factor? Little Mix are known for their coordinating outfits and fun pop tracks. They’re about to release a new song, too, so there’s no better time to start listening.
Rita Ora and Little Mix both combine fashion and confidence in the way they present themselves. Songs like Rita Ora’s Poison and Little Mix’s Black Magic are a perfect additions to your summer playlist.
If you really want to get into Little Mix, watch videos of some of their energy-packed live performances. Their fun, lively personalities make them all the more enjoyable.
If you like Bon Iver, listen to The Staves
This pick is different from the previous girl groups in that it isn’t focused on a pop sound. However, if you’re in need of some acoustic vibes, The Staves have some great songs for you.
Bon Iver‘s folky tone and solid harmonies on tracks like Skinny Love and Holocene have a lot in common with The Staves, a group made up of sisters. Songs like Mexico and Make It Holy will give you the same vibes as your favorite coffee shop’s playlist.
The Staves are a great group to give a try if you’re looking for something different from your favorite pop anthems.
If you like BTS, listen to Red Velvet
The idea of listening to a Korean pop group can be a little intimidating if you’re not already into the style of music. However, BTS is currently enjoying a larger American following with the success of their song Mic Drop and their performances on award shows like the AMAs. K-pop girl groups deserve their turn in the spotlight, too!
Red Velvet songs like Peek-A-Boo are so catchy and danceable that you’ll find you don’t need to understand all the words to enjoy them. Being a fan of K-pop is cool because the groups have their own sense of style as well, and usually perform intricate choreography in their music videos and live performances.
If you like Lorde, listen to HAIM
Another sister group, HAIM blends some rock with their pop sound. They combine some of the traditional elements of girl groups (choreography, coordinating outfits) with the driving sound of rock ‘n’ roll.
Like Lorde, HAIM gives off a total girl power vibe that is largely based on confidence and owning who you are. Songs like Lorde’s Supercut and HAIM’s Want You Back are perfect for driving around with the windows down.
The sisters all have great personalities, too, which is part of what makes it so fun to be a HAIM fan.
What do you think?
Is there a girl group that you love? Any girl groups you’d recommend to other CF readers? Let me know in the comments!
Personally, I think people who like BTS are more likely to enjoy BlackPink than Red Velvet. Red Velvet is good (Bad Boy is my personal fav) but is a lot more “pop” sounding. BlackPink has that edge that BTS has, and a more rock and hip hop feel to the music. They are my favorite girl group and BTS my fav boys!!!
I would also suggest k-pop girl groups like Dreamcatcher (rebranded themselves from the saccharine sweet MINX to a darker, edgier “rock/metal” feel), and LOONA, a group of 12 members with an amazing, overarching mythology/backstory. They haven’t officially debuted but each member has released a solo and there have been three subunits (including one with a feature by Grimes – my personal favourite is the Odd Eye Circle). Also, Kim Lip’s song “Eclipse” was used on NASA’s official solar eclipse playlist!