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Pop groups have been around for decades. Dating way back to the phenomenon that was The Beatles in the ‘60s and onto groups like The Jackson 5, and Culture Club, there have been many boy bands, girl groups, groups of boys and girls, and everything in between.
The ‘90s was a particularly amazing era for pop groups, including both boy and girl bands. Some of those bands have already taken steps to make a comeback, like New Kids on the Block, who were popular from 1985 through to 1994 and reunited in 2007, and The Backstreet Boys, who broke onto the scene in 1996 and came back together in recent years. They went on to release a new album and go on tour more than two decades after they released their first.
Many other pop groups from that decade, however, are a distant memory – at least in their original forms. Which ones are totally due for a comeback? We take a look.
Oasis
Call this totally wishful thinking, but this amazing English rock band formed in 1991 cranked out some serious hits like “Supersonic,” “Wonderwall,” and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” that defined the sounds of the generation.
However, a serious, long-lasting rift between the two brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, caused tension and the band split up. There seems to be no resolution in sight but can’t these two let bygones be bygones and start making beautiful music for fans once again? Crowds would be all over it if they began touring seriously once again and released new music.
3LW
Remember this girl group? They hit the scene at the end of the decade in 1999 and were growing strong all the way to 2007. It included founding members Adrienne Bailon (who some suspect might be one of the masked singers on the competition series The Masked Singer) along with Kiely Williams and Naturi Naughton.
They had some decent R&B and pop hits like “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)” and “Playas Gon’ Play,” and even toured with popular artists like Destiny’s Child, Nelly, Eve, and Jessica Simpson. After Naughton left the group, Jessica Benson joined. But then Williams and Bailon left to join Disney’s The Cheetah Girls and 3LW disbanded shortly after.
Ace of Base
This Swedish pop group became the third most successful Swedish band of all time behind only ABBA and Roxette. Their hit song “All That She Wants” topped the charts and was followed up with two more, “The Sign” and “Don’t Turn Around.”
The band continued touring through Europe and Asia all the way to the mid ‘00s but lead singer Jenny Berggren left to pursue a solo career in 2009. The group recruited two new female vocalists and kept going, but they soon left, too. The last we heard of the group was in 2015 when they released a compilation album with unreleased songs and B-sides. So it’s due time that the original foursome, Jonas Berggren, Ulf Ekberg, Linn Berggren, and Jenny Berggren, got back together and made some more catchy pop tunes!
S Club 7
Like an older version of the Mini Pops or Kidz Bop, this London-based pop group included, as the name implies, seven members: Bradley, Hannah, Jo, Jon, Paul, Rachel, and Tina. Formed in 1998, they were popular for a few years with hit songs like “Never Had a Dream Come True.” They even starred in their own BBC series Miami 7.
They officially disbanded in 2003 but reunited in 2014 for BBC Children in Need and announced a U.K. reunion tour in 2015. Now, almost five years later, and with the members in their 30s and 40s, it’s time to see what this seven can do with a more adult sound.
B*Witched
While you might not instantly recognize this Irish girl group’s band name, you likely remember their catchy songs like “C’est la Vie” and “Rollercoaster” that got tons of radio play and were perfect for singing along. Comprised of twin sisters Edele and Keavy Lynch along with Lindsay Armaou and Sinead O’Carroll, they were big from 1998 through to 2000.
But the group split in 2006 after O’Carroll decided to leave. They did reunite in 2012 for a reality-documentary series and embarked on a tour following the great reception they got from that. They released an EP in 2014 but nothing since.
Crazy Town
“Come my lady, come, come my lady, you’re my butterfly, sugar, baby.” You probably can’t read these lyrics without singing them. Formed in Los Angeles back in 1995, this rap-rock band included Bret Mazur and Seth Binzer. They didn’t get a hit song until 2000 with the single “Butterfly” and they ended up breaking up in 2003. They got back together in 2007 to release a third album.
With Binzer now working on his own in a renamed band called Crazy Town X, and former bandmate Rick “R1ckOne” Dixon, who handles turntables, sampling, programming, keyboards, and backing vocals back on board, it would be nice to see Mazur rejoin the band to give it another go and try and reach bigger commercial success with their unique sound.
Savage Garden
Serving as the romantic soundtrack to teenage lovebirds through the ‘90s, the soothing sounds from this Australian pop rock and soft rock duo were perfect for both relaxing to and singing along with. The banded consisted of Darren Hayes, who was on vocals, and Daniel Jones on instruments.
They had massive success in the late ‘90s with songs like “Truly Madly Deeply” and
I Knew I Loved You.” Sadly, they split in 2001 and Hayes continued with a solo music career. He has explicitly stated that he has no desire for a reunion, but never say never! We’d love to see one.
Matchbox Twenty
The haunting vocals of lead singer Rob Thomas helped catapult this rock band to the top of the charts after debuting in 1995. And while they are technically still together, their last album was released back in 2012 and they last toured in 2013 with Goo Goo Dolls.
We’d love to see them make an amazing comeback with new hits to rival their top ones from the ‘90s like “Push” and “Smooth.” In their heyday, their debut album was certified 12-times platinum in the U.S.! And no voice better defines the '90s than Thomas'.
Destiny’s Child
Another product of wishful thinking, Destiny’s Child was hot in the ‘90s, but not nearly as hot as Beyonce became once she stepped out from the band to embark on a solo career. But now that she’s a bonafide superstar people refer to as Queen Bey, why not make a comeback with the girl group that made you famous?
The group consisted of Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams and they sang and danced to catchy pop and R&B hits like “Bills, Bills, Bills” and “Say My Name.” They did a farewell performance in 2006 and everyone went on to pursue solo careers. They reunited once for Beyonce’s 2018 Coachella performance. After fans got that little taste, they want more!
NSYNC
Yes, Justin Timberlake is a massively successful R&B artist in his own right. But with bands like New Kids On The Block and The Backstreet Boys reuniting and seeing tons of success, it’s due time for J.T. to go on tour with his boys for a fun comeback performance.
With tremendous success from 1996 through to 2002, the group sold millions of records and had everyone singing their tunes like “I Want You Back,” “Bye Bye Bye,” and “It’s Gonna Be Me.” They did a short performance on the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards during Timberlake’s 15-minute set, and some members have worked gone on stage together in one-off performances. But we need all five men – Justin, JC, Chris, Joey, and Lance – on stage for one epic, throwback performance to show these new boy bands how it’s really done!