|
B*Witched were an Irish girl group that was active between 1998 and 2002. They enjoyed success in both Europe and North America between 1998 and 2000, releasing two albums and eight singles, all of which made the UK Top 20. The original lineup comprised twin sisters Edele and Keavy Lynch, Sinéad O'Carroll and Lindsay Armaou. B*Witched performed in the 2007 gig 'Battle of the Pop Bands' which brought old bands from the late 1990s and early 2000s.
B*Witched's first four singles all topped the UK charts. The group split up in 2002 after being dropped by their record company. The group sold 3 million albums worldwide. In 2006 the Lynch sisters formed a group, Ms. Lynch, which frequently performs B*Witched material at live shows. In late 2010, the name of the band was changed to 'Barbarellas', with their debut single, 'Body Rock' being released in January 2011.
The original lineup of B*Witched comprised twin sisters Edele Lynch and Keavy Lynch (born 15 December 1978), Lindsay Armaou (Greek: Λίντσεϋ Γαίηλ Κριστίαν Αρμάου, born 18 December 1980) and Sinéad O'Carroll (born 14 May 1973). They were originally called 'D'Zire', then 'Sister', before becoming known as 'B*Witched'. The band deliberately cultivated a tomboy image. To appeal to a younger audience, the band members also understated their ages in their early years.
Edele and Keavy's brother Shane Lynch (of the group Boyzone) helped the group find a manager. Former New Kids on the Block manager Kim Glover was appointed to the role, and she signed the group to Glowworm Records, the Epic label she ran, in 1997. The label was co-run by Ray "Madman" Hedges who produced all of the group's releases.
B*Witched released their debut single "C'est la Vie" on 25 May 1998. Despite mixed reviews, it reached Number 1 on the UK charts, making them the youngest female group ever to do so, and also made Number 9 in the US. Subsequent singles "Rollercoaster", "To You I Belong" and "Blame It on the Weatherman" also topped the UK charts, making B*Witched the first group to have its first four singles all enter the charts at Number 1. They also sang the theme song for Sabrina: The Animated Series.
The group's debut album, B*Witched, was released in October 1998, reaching Number 3 in the UK charts and was certified Double Platinum in the UK and Platinum in the US.
The group appeared on the ABBA tribute single Thank ABBA for the Music which reached Number 4 in the UK and recorded a cover of "Does Your Mother Know" for the subsequent ABBAmania album and TV special. Singing dolls of the group were made by Yaboom Toys in 1999. Along with Britney Spears, they performed the opening act at the *NSYNC Tour.
Awake and Breathe
B*Witched's second album, Awake and Breathe, released almost exactly a year after their debut, peaked at Number 5 on the charts and was certified Platinum. Singles from the album were less successful than earlier releases ("Jesse Hold On" reached Number 4, "I Shall Be There" Number 13 and "Jump Down" Number 16 in the UK).
Across America 2000
After touring Europe and America, where they co-headlined the All That Music and More Festival with LFO and Blaque, the band began work on a third album. Three new songs were recorded, including "Hold On" (featured in The Princess Diaries), "Mickey" (featured in Bring It On), and "Play That Funky Music". The latter two appeared on their new American EP, Across America 2000, along with live tracks and the earlier cover of "Does Your Mother Know". Across America 2000 was supposed to make a comeback for the band in America and sold reasonably well. The group appeared on the American soap opera General Hospital on 4 July 2001.
Split
Planned singles, "Where Will You Go?", was scheduled for release in mid-2002 to give the band a comeback in the UK, but the group were dropped by their label before a promotional video (due to be filmed in Africa) as well as a Christmas single "(To Be) Held In Your Arms" strategically released alongside their third album could be produced. Plans for a new deal with Telstar Records fell through later that year, and the group officially split in September 2002 after Sinéad O'Carroll left the band. To date, the third album has remained shelved. In October 2009, the song "Where Will You Go?" leaked to the Internet.
|
