Girlfriend (group)

Girlfriend was an Australian girl group formed in 1991. Their debut album Make It Come True was released in 1992 and contained four ARIA top 50 singles, including the number-one hit, "Take It from Me". The group also became recognised for its fashion sense, with their flower hats becoming a symbol of the band; at one point, they had their own clothing line.

After the departure of lead vocalist Robyn Loau, the group changed its name to GF4.

Career

Career beginnings and singing

Three of the members—Jacqueline Cowell, Siobhánn Heidenreich and Melanie Alexander — first met while taking dance lessons at age three. Years later, they decided to form a pop group, and through their dance teacher Janice Breen, met Noel MacDonald, a singer, songwriter and jingle producer who saw promise in them. Two more singers were added to the group – Robyn Loau, who MacDonald saw singing at Wonderland Sydney Theme Park, and Lorinda Noble, who auditioned for the group. MacDonald also put the girls in touch with Ross Wood. For two years, Wood, a former television cameraman and director, had struggled to see his own concept of an all-female pop group become a reality. During those two years he had continually presented his idea of an all-girl pop group aimed directly at the neglected younger teen market to virtually all the local record labels, but only Mushroom and BMG expressed any interest in signing them. Of course the "them" at the point Wood was pitching his idea was still a vague idea with unnamed girls; Girlfriend as an actual group gave him something more tangible to pitch. Singer and choreographer Kelley Abbey was also brought in to choreograph the group's dance moves. The quintet was signed to a deal with RCA Records Australia in 1991, after a year of self-promotion. The band were formed with the ambition of being both Australia and Asia's #1 girl band, with the band members, particularly Robyn Loau, undertaking extensive Japanese lessons.

1992–1993: Make It Come True and It's Up to You

In April 1992, the group released their debut single, "Take It from Me", which reached No. 1 on the ARIA chart.

In September 1993, Girlfriend released "Heartbeat", the lead single from their second studio album, before releasing It's Up to You in October 1993. The group's two studio albums, Make It Come True (1992) and It's Up to You (1993) were certified platinum and gold respectively in Australia. and released an album, Malaria.

The four remaining members renamed themselves as GF4. GF4 released two singles; the first, a cover version of the 1971 Grass Roots song "Sooner or Later", reached No. 11 on the ARIA singles charts.

Members

Robyn Loau (1991-94)
Melanie Alexander (1991-96)
Lorinda (Rindy) Noble (1991-96)
Siobhánn Heidenreich (1991-96)
Jacqueline (Jacqui) Cowell (1991-95)
Belinda Chapple (1995-96)

Discography

Studio albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! style="width:12em;" rowspan="2"| Title

! style="width:24em;" rowspan="2"| Album details

! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

! style="width:24em;" rowspan="2"| Certification

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS

! scope="row"| Make It Come True

Release date: 21 September 1992
Label: BMG (74321115982)
Formats: CD, cassette

| 6

ARIA: Platinum

! scope="row"| It's Up to You

Release date: 25 October 1993
Label: BMG (74321166644)
Formats: CD, cassette

| 29

ARIA: Gold
Label: BMG (BVCR-1003)
Formats: CD

Singles

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:30em;"| Single

! colspan="3"| Peak positions

! rowspan="2"| Certifications

! rowspan="2"| Album

! style="width:35px;"| AUS

! style="width:35px;"| UK

| rowspan="4"| 1992

! scope="row"| "Take It from Me"

| 1

| 44

| 47

ARIA: Gold

| rowspan="2"| 1993

| rowspan="1"| Make It Come True

| Best New Talent

| rowspan="1"| "Take It from Me"

| Highest Selling Single

| rowspan="1"| 1994

| rowspan="1"| It's Up to You

| Best Pop Release