Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child (Photo by Everett Collection on shutterstock)
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Best Girl Groups: Top 5 Female Bands, According To Fans

October 23, 2023
by Jilly Hite

What’s better than one fabulous female singer? A whole group of them! They gather together to harmonize on soaring vocals, maybe some synchronized dancing, and present a stellar show from beginning to end. Since as early as the art of music itself, groups of women have gathered to sing together, forming quartets, trios, and choirs, all leaving masterpieces to the human ear in their midst. Popular genres of music have also come and gone with the tide, but one thing will always remain: the mark that some of the best girl groups have made in the history of music. From the endless list of vaudevillian trios that marked the beginnings of girl groups as we know them to groups like the Spice Girls, who cemented the title in pop culture, these women have shattered glass ceilings and inspired countless young girls to pursue their dreams. 

Music as a whole can be a very empowering tool for people looking for that push they need. Even popping in your earbuds and blaring your favorite playlist during a workout may do more than just rev you up — it may actually push you to work out longer. A new study finds that listening to high-energy, upbeat music helps people last longer during a standard cardiac stress test. Researchers from Texas Tech University found that people listening to music during the test were able to continue exercising for nearly a minute longer than those not listening to music. Prior research had indicated that music might influence certain markers of heart health, but this study was the first to analyze music’s impact on exercise tolerance.

But that’s not all! Another recent study finds music improves mood, adding to evidence that our favorite tunes are a great antidote for anxiety. So, if you ever feel overwhelmed, it’s not a bad idea to turn on your favorite girl group for a much-needed therapeutic jam session.

Ready to dive into the most stellar leading ladies to take the stage? We have compiled a very insightful list of the top five best girl groups of all time! As always, we have researched across multiple expert sources to bring you today’s ranking, but if you disagree with our list, no worries! We would love to hear from you in the comments down below. 

The Spice Girls
The Spice Girls (Photo by Featureflash Photo Agency on Shutterstock)

The List: Best Girl Groups, According to Music Experts

1. The Supremes

To begin on a high note, we have The Supremes. The Diana Ross-fronted spectacle was definitely the most popular when it came to our ranking, and for good reason. “The Supremes top the list as our all-time favorite girl group. These Detroit ladies made history not only with their pop and soul tunes but also with their elegant hair and glitzy fashion choices,” says Essence.

“Starting off strong, we have The Supremes. When you think of girl groups of the ’60s, this Diana Ross-helmed band is definitely on the shortlist. They were one of the most commercially successful Motown acts–and for good reason. Ross’ sugary sweet vocals feel as timeless today as they did in the ’60s,” writes American Songwriter.

“Originally called The Primettes, this Motown girl group was the most successful vocal group to ever come out of the US. They had 12 singles to hit number one on the Billboard Top 100 throughout the ’60s. The Supremes’ success helped pave the way for future African-American musicians. The group still stands as the 16th greatest artist to top the charts,” states MusicGrotto.

2. Spice Girls

Of course, we couldn’t have a girl group list without the girls who invented the term “girl power” now, could we? May we introduce, Posh, Scary, Sporty, Baby, and Ginger. “There was no bigger musical group throughout half of the ’90s than the Spice Girls. Little girls to adult women were all entranced by the calls for girl power and the fun pop music the group put out. After selling over 100 million records, the Spice Girls are the best-selling girl group of all time. They are also the most successful pop group to come out of Great Britain since The Beatles,” explains MusicGrotto.

“Exploding onto the global music scene in the mid-’90s, the Spice Girls redefined pop music and women empowerment with their infectious hits and bold personalities. Each member brought a unique flavor to the group, creating a blend of music that still resonates today. Driving home messages of friendship and unity, their impact on pop culture was unprecedented and solidified them as a force to be reckoned with,” notes Ranker.

“The level of fame and sales the Spice Girls were managing at the height of their popularity has been routinely compared to that of The Beatles. We could stop talking about them right there, and we absolutely would have made a strong argument for their girl power to have taken the top slot on our list, but that position is reserved for another girl group. Regardless, the Spice Girls’ three studio albums have all been certified platinum multiple times, and they even have a film that made back more than three times its budget. Incredible,” describes WatchMojo.

3. Destiny’s Child

“Can you handle this? I don’t think they can handle this.” Well, we certainly hope you can “handle” our next pick, no other than Destiny’s Child. “Every Destiny’s Child fan could recite ‘No, No, No’ and ‘Bills, Bills, Bills’ by heart. The original foursome released two albums before Michelle Williams joined BeyoncĂ© Knowles and Kelly Rowland in 2000 to become a trio. Destiny’s Child set trends with their harmonious music and cutting-edge style,” comments Essence.

“Destiny’s Child recorded some gigantic hits in their day and are still massively popular 20 years later. The group had several members come and go, but its most popular iteration was BeyoncĂ©, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. BeyoncĂ© and Rowland both went on to create chart-topping solo hits, and Williams shifted into a successful gospel music career,” adds. 247WallSt.

“If ‘all’ DC did was give us BeyoncĂ©, they would deserve a place on this list. No doubt, the group’s legacy has been strengthened by the solo superstardom of its lead singer. But whether they were a quartet or a trio, Destiny’s Child fiercely empowered independent women everywhere with hits such as ‘Survivor’ and, best of all, ‘Say My Name’ — which has the distinction of winning Bey the first of her record 28 Grammys,” reports New York Post.

4. The Andrews Sisters

We are gonna need a teched-out Delorean for our next group as we travel all the way back to the 1920s for The Andrews Sisters. I can hear the trumpet now. “This American trio was active from the 1920s to the 1950s and is considered one of the most successful girl groups of all time. They were known for their harmonies and hits like ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ and ‘Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,'” says Onedio.

“The group consisted of three sisters — LaVerne Sophia, Maxene Anglyn, and Patricia Marie ‘Patty’ — and they have released 12 studio albums that sold an estimated 90 million copies worldwide, making The Andrew Sisters the oldest and the bestselling girl group on this list,” states MarkMeets.

“With careers dating back to the era of vaudeville, the three Andrews Sisters laid the groundwork for all of the girl groups that followed. After a series of hit songs, they toured extensively to entertain allied military forces during World War II. The trio continued to be popular throughout the rest of the 1940s. In the 1950s, Patty decided to pursue a solo career, and the Andrews Sisters officially broke up in 1953,” explains LiveAbout.

5. TLC

Last but nowhere near least is TLC. The only word that can really be used to describe these ladies is pioneers of the ‘90s R&B and hip-hop scene. “Responsible for mega-hits like ‘Waterfalls’ and ‘No Scrubs,’ TLC was formed as a trio in Atlanta in 1990. The group created a unique style that combined Hip-Hop, R&B, and Pop,” describes 247WallSt.

“TLC fused hip-hop, R&B, and pop to build unprecedented success in the ’90s. T-Boz, Left Eye, and Chili are recognized as one of the best-selling female groups of all time,” writes Essence.

“If there were any decade that could rival the ’60s for girl groups, it was the ’90s — especially when it came to R&B. But for every SWV, Xscape, and Total, nobody but nobody was as crazy, sexy, and cool as TLC. Going from the Temptations-twisting new jack swing of ‘Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg’ to the socially conscious soul of ‘Waterfalls’ to the busta-hating hip-pop of ‘No Scrubs,’ T-Boz, Chilli, and the late Left Eye were as versatile as they were visionary,” concludes New York Post.

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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.

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About the Author

Jilly Hite

New York raised and Florida-based Jilly Hite studied screenwriting and theatre at The Lee Strasberg Institute before becoming a full time content creator and podcaster. She loves old movies, musical theatre, and her pup Ted.

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