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B*Witched

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Not to be confused with Bewitched.
B*Witched
B*Witched in Manchester
Background information
OriginDublin, Ireland
GenresPop
Years active1997–2002, 2012–present (present)
MembersLindsay Armaou
Edele Lynch
Keavy Lynch
Sinéad O'Carroll

B*Witched are an Irish girl group who were originally active between 1997 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 line-up consisted of twin sisters Edele and Keavy Lynch, Nathan Brown and Nima Baniamer. Their first four singles, "C'est la Vie", "Rollercoaster", "To You I Belong" and "Blame It on the Weatherman", all reached number one in the UK Singles Chart. 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, frequently performing B*Witched material at live shows.

On 18 October 2012, it was announced that B*Witched would reunite for the ITV2 reality-documentary series The Big Reunion along with other pop groups of their time, including Liberty X, Five and Atomic Kitten. The show follows the six bands as they reunited for the first time in a decade and rehearsed ahead of a comeback performance at the Hammersmith Apollo on 26 February 2013. Due to the success of the show and the high demand for tickets at the Hammersmith Apollo gig, B*Witched and the other bands are currently embarking on an arena tour around the UK and Ireland.

On 3 May 2013, Armaou teased the possibility of B*Witched releasing new material, saying that they were "in a really good place" and considering getting back in the recording studio. The next day, the group unveiled a new song entitled "Love and Money".

Career

1997–99: Formation and B*Witched

B*Witched is composed of identical twin sisters Edele and Keavy Lynch, Lindsay Armaou and Sinéad O'Carroll. They were originally called 'Butterfly Farm', 'D'Zire', and then 'Sister', before becoming '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.[1] Edele and Keavy's brother Shane Lynch (of the boy band 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 and Number 9 in the US. Subsequent singles "Rollercoaster", "To You I Belong" and "Blame It on the Weatherman" also topped the UK charts. 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.[2] 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.[3] Along with Britney Spears, they performed the opening act at the 'N Sync Tour.

1999–02: Awake and Breathe and split

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).

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".[4] Across America 2000 was supposed to make a comeback for the band in America and sold reasonably well. The EP's bonus track, "Jump Down", includes a 2000 USA extended version remix featuring Backstreet Boys, S Club 7, and Spice Girls.

On 4 July 2001, B*Witched made a guest appearance on the United States daytime television medical drama, General Hospital. By 2002, a third album was in the works, and the band had chosen the first song from that album which they were to release as a single . The video treatment was done and the girls were due to fly to Africa when they received a phone call from their manager. They were told that their management was not going ahead with the third album, and that their record label Sony had dropped them. A discussion took place amongst the members of the group in relation to finding another record label. However, in September 2002, the group officially split when O'Carroll decided to leave the band.[5]

2012–present: The Big Reunion, comeback and touring

On 18 October 2012, it was announced that B*Witched would reunite for an ITV2 series entitled The Big Reunion along with five other pop groups of their time—911, Liberty X, Blue, Five and Atomic Kitten. The show would feature each group telling their stories of their times in their respective bands, before rehearsing together ahead of one major comeback performance at the Hammersmith Apollo.[6][7]

B*Witched performing in Glasgow as part of The Big Reunion arena tour.

B*Witched had to hold "emotional clear the air" talks before reforming.[8] Edele admitted that she and Sinéad had fallen out in 2006 and had not spoken to each other since: "My biggest anxiety about doing this - there's only one, and it's Sinéad, I think. It's just how I'm going to feel about being in her person again."[9] Lindsay also said: "Some of the issues we didn't even know were necessarily there until we were faced with this opportunity that we have to work together again, then we were like, 'Oh, OK, in order for us to do this then we have to sort a few things out.' It all just came up. It's been difficult to get to this point. There's been a lot of talking, a lot of talking. But we're here now. It's very surreal being called B*Witched again because it's been 12 years."[8]

Due to the success of The Big Reunion, the bands will now be embarking on an arena around the UK and Ireland in May 2013.[10] The tour did not initially include Ireland and Northern Ireland, but two extra dates were later added in Dublin and Belfast, marking B*Witched's first performance in their home country for the first time in over 10 years. B*Witched will also join Five, 911, Atomic Kitten, Honeyz and Liberty X for a "Christmas party tour" in December.[11]

On 3 May 2013, Armaou teased the possibility of B*Witched releasing new material, saying that they were "in a really good place" and considering getting back in the recording studio.[12] The next day, the group released a new song online, entitled "Love and Money".[13]

Discography

Main article: B*Witched discography
Album

References

  1. ^ Showbiz Ireland – Sinead O'Carroll B*Witched by Michael Ramon
  2. ^ "RIAA – Gold and Platinum – B*Witched Search". RIAA. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  3. ^ "Yaboom Launches New Line of Entertainment Products With MCD Technology". BusinessWire via AllBusiness.com. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  4. ^ "B*Witched Across America 2000 USA 5" CD SINGLE (176317)". eil.com. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  5. ^ "B*Witched & Honeyz". The Big Reunion. Episode 3. 14 February 2013. ITV2. Retrieved 25 April 2013. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |seriesno= ignored (|series-number= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Goodacre, Kate (26 April 2013). "Atomic Kitten, 5ive, B*Witched, 911, more to reunite for ITV2 show". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  7. ^ Lazarus, Susanna (18 October 2012). "Atomic Kitten, 5ive and B*Witched to reform for ITV2's The Big Reunion". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  8. ^ a b "B*Witched held emotional talks before their Big Reunion". virginmedia.com. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  9. ^ "911 & B*Witched". The Big Reunion. Episode 5. 28 February 2013. ITV2. Retrieved 26 April 2013. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |seriesno= ignored (|series-number= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Nissam, Mayer (11 February 2013). "5ive, Atomic Kitten, B*Witched, Liberty X, 911 for Big Reunion arena tour". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  11. ^ "5ive, B*Witched, Atomic Kitten for 'Big Reunion' Christmas Party tour". Digital Spy. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  12. ^ Copsey, Robert (3 May 2013). "B*Witched tease music comeback: 'It's possible'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  13. ^ Rigby, Sam (4 May 2013). "B*Witched unveil new song 'Love and Money' - listen". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 May 2013.

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