Fifth Harmony, Framed
Does anyone remember “The X-Factor?” It was a rarity: a live singing competition broadcast on television. It lasted three seasons and existed primarily because Simon Cowell wanted to own an American show of his own.
Alas, the show was a big wash-out. It did have its moments, though, one of which I’m featuring in this very blog this week. It’s Fifth Harmony, the girl group formerly known as LYLAS.
The girls – Ally Brooke Hernandez, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane Hansen, Camila Cabello, and Lauren Jauregui, since I rarely mention artists by name here – auditioned as solo artists for “The X-Factor.” Simon, however, organized them as a group during the show’s beloved “boot camp” segment. It was sort of like One Direction when they still had Zayn.
Anyway, they came in third. But they stuck together, put out videos on Youtube and were voted “Next Pop Superstar of 2013” by Popdust, which evidently is a real magazine. And began playing shopping malls, much like Bruce Springsteen did back in nineteen seventy whatever.
The rest, of course, is history. They’ve recorded an album (Reflection), joined forces with Mattel and did a song for Barbie, who the girls almost look as real as, and teamed up with Clean & Clear, an acne treatment peddled by Johnson & Johnson. Good stuff all the way around!
Our video this week is “Worth It,” which also features Kid Ink, the tattooed rapper whose first three LPs have all been Top 20. I’d tell you more, but I’m getting tired of typing and have easily met my word count.
See you next week!
