Atomic Kitten: what America is missing
Commentary: Music
Josh Ridgway, Contributing Writer
Issue date: 10/1/04 Section: Lifestyles
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When it comes to American music, we are a very selective society. If an unfamiliar song or name comes on the radio or MTV, we quickly make up our mind about the artist or group.
Because of our quick-to-judge nature, Americans often miss out on great music. Most recently, America missed out on Atomic Kitten.
Since 1999, Atomic Kitten has been churning out the hits internationally. Since their recording debut, they have amassed 15 top 10 singles in the United Kingdom.
The original line up of Kerry Katona, Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton were pinned as the biggest group to come out of England since the Spice Girls, but where is their American success?
After their first two singles did exceptionally well, Atomic Kitten released their biggest hit to date, "Whole Again." The single was pushed back because of Katona's pregnancy, so she was replaced with Jenny Frost. Frost brought together the group unity that had been missing with Katona. Without Katona fighting with McClarnon and Hamilton for lead vocals, the group progressed much more quickly.
"Whole Again" was released as Atomic Kitten's first single in the United States. It was added to some radio playlists, but did not experience the success here as it did in the rest of the world. How is it that America has hardly heard the sixth biggest hit in the world of 2000?
I think America is only allowed a British invasion every thirty years. We had the Beatles in the '60s and then had to wait until the '90s before the next notable cross-Atlantic invasion by the Spice Girls. Perhaps Atomic Kitten was just too late to experience success.
Despite a failed American invasion, the Kittens pushed on. With two more hits from their debut album, @@@~~~Right Now, including a No. 1 remake of the Bangles' "Eternal Flame," Atomic Kitten solidified themselves as one of Europe's biggest acts.
Before the release of Atomic Kitten's second album, @@@~~~Feels So Good, Hamilton married and had a baby. The British tabloids ate the story up and predicted the end of the Kittens. In true Atomic Kitten fashion, the women came back with a sexier look and an even sexier sound.
Because of our quick-to-judge nature, Americans often miss out on great music. Most recently, America missed out on Atomic Kitten.
Since 1999, Atomic Kitten has been churning out the hits internationally. Since their recording debut, they have amassed 15 top 10 singles in the United Kingdom.
The original line up of Kerry Katona, Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton were pinned as the biggest group to come out of England since the Spice Girls, but where is their American success?
After their first two singles did exceptionally well, Atomic Kitten released their biggest hit to date, "Whole Again." The single was pushed back because of Katona's pregnancy, so she was replaced with Jenny Frost. Frost brought together the group unity that had been missing with Katona. Without Katona fighting with McClarnon and Hamilton for lead vocals, the group progressed much more quickly.
"Whole Again" was released as Atomic Kitten's first single in the United States. It was added to some radio playlists, but did not experience the success here as it did in the rest of the world. How is it that America has hardly heard the sixth biggest hit in the world of 2000?
I think America is only allowed a British invasion every thirty years. We had the Beatles in the '60s and then had to wait until the '90s before the next notable cross-Atlantic invasion by the Spice Girls. Perhaps Atomic Kitten was just too late to experience success.
Despite a failed American invasion, the Kittens pushed on. With two more hits from their debut album, @@@~~~Right Now, including a No. 1 remake of the Bangles' "Eternal Flame," Atomic Kitten solidified themselves as one of Europe's biggest acts.
Before the release of Atomic Kitten's second album, @@@~~~Feels So Good, Hamilton married and had a baby. The British tabloids ate the story up and predicted the end of the Kittens. In true Atomic Kitten fashion, the women came back with a sexier look and an even sexier sound.
