Bardot were an Australian girl group which formed in 1999 on the Australian reality television series Popstars.
Aired in 2000, Popstars attracted high ratings and significant media exposure, resulting in the instant success of Bardot's debut single "Poison" and debut album Bardot, both which entered the Australian and New Zealand charts at number 1. In 2001, the group released a second album Play It Like That, featuring the top 5 ARIA singles "ASAP" and "I Need Somebody", before parting ways in early 2002.
History
1999–2000: Formation via Popstars and Bardot
The members of Bardot were selected on the Seven Network's first series of Popstars, a talent show which set about producing a five-piece girl group. The Australian series was only second to the New Zealand version which produced the group True Bliss. The act would be sponsored by the Austereo radio network, New Idea magazine and signed to Warner Music Group.
In 1999, over 2,500 hopefuls turned up to auditions around the country which required both singing and dancing experience. The judges consisted of radio broadcaster Jackie O, Warner Music executive Chris Moss, and Grant Thomas Management manager Michael Napthali (who would manage the group's career).
After numerous elimination rounds, Chantelle Barry, Belinda Chapple, Sophie Monk, Sally Polihronas and Katie Underwood were given tickets to fly to Sydney to record their debut single, and the five women moved in together.
Controversy occurred when Barry suddenly departed the still-unnamed group with no public explanation on the program. Rumours in magazines and newspapers suggested she had been caught stealing items from other members. Six years later in 2006, Barry appeared on the program Where Are They Now? to speak for the first time about the incident; Barry would further elaborate about what happened in later interviews. Barry states that she had taken Monk's weekly $100 money allowance (which was left in Barry's room) with the intention of giving it back to her, but forgot to do so and was therefore removed from the group. Subsequently she was paid $1000 and offered a solo record deal to leave and keep quiet on the matter, and later blamed her actions on her youth and naivety. Polihronas would later state that Barry was "exploited" by the show and made out to be "the villain".
As a result of that departure, judges selected Newcastle singer, Tiffany Wood (now spelled Tiffani Wood) as the fifth member. The name "Bardot" was chosen by Monk after the French actress Brigitte Bardot. The program followed the group during its recording sessions, photo and music video shoots and other promotional commitments such as showcases and instores.
Airing three years prior to the first season of Australian Idol, the show was considered a unique and fresh format at the time, and attracted on average, more than 2.6 million viewers per episode, making it one of the most successful, highest-rating programs of 2000. The series was nominated for "Most Popular Reality Program" at the 2001 Logie Awards.
The success of Popstars led to national media coverage with reports on the women daily and the band's instore signings attracted thousands of fans. This overwhelming exposure translated into major record sales.
The debut single "Poison" entered the ARIA singles chart at number 1, selling over 60,000 copies in its first week. It gained double platinum status, remaining in the top spot for two consecutive weeks. The self-titled debut album also entered the charts at number 1. Bardot set a new sales record by becoming the "first Australian act to debut at the number 1 position with both its debut single and debut album". The album would go on to sell over double platinum copies and was the 20th highest selling album in Australia for 2000.
Bardot repeated the same results with its debut single and album in New Zealand, where "Poison" spent three consecutive weeks at number 1.
Second single, "I Should've Never Let You Go" made its television debut at the end of the final episode of Popstars and peaked at number 14 on the ARIA singles chart. During this time, Bardot made a promotional trip to Singapore and other parts of Asia, where the group had attracted a large fanbase. The album reached number 2 in Singapore while "I Should've Never Let You Go" reached number 1.
"These Days", was chosen as the album's third and final single, peaking at number 19 in Australia.