Honeyz: Drama, Lineup Shakeups, and the Rise of a Girl Group | POP 101: A Guide to Honeyz (Part 1)

[00:00:00] Lineup Changes, Top 10 Charting Hits, and a Failed American Record Deal. Join us today as we talk about the Unsung Valley Queen's Honeys in this episode of POP 101.

[00:00:12] Make sure to follow us at CCTV Pops on all social media if you are not already. And if you want some extra content and the power to help us choose our next episode topics, come join us at patreon.com slash CCTV Pops.

[00:00:26] A big special shout out to our crew members, Emily, George, Lily, Louis, Jonathan, Shaquille, and our newest members, Jasmine and Janelle.

[00:00:35] And we have to give a very extra special shout out to George because he chose Honeys as our next POP 101 spotlight.

[00:00:44] That's right, our producers get to choose it, and so he has Honey. And it's been a fun, fun ride.

[00:00:50] Also, we are literally about 300 away from 3K. Join us, join the CCTV crew.

[00:00:55] All right, it's free. Let's press the button. This is not your first time here, Dawn. We've seen the stats. You've been here before. Join us officially. Let's make it real.

[00:01:03] All right, so let's hop into the POP 101 class where we go through the history and discography of this particular artist.

[00:01:10] And like we said, it's Honey's today. So you've seen Honey's, but I had no clue who they were.

[00:01:16] So shout out to George again because I was like, Honey, who are they? I know them now.

[00:01:19] Uh-huh. But like I didn't know before.

[00:01:22] We didn't know much about them. Like I had watched the big reunion when it happened, and I think I knew every artist really except for them actually.

[00:01:32] And then I did see them at one of the 90s baby concerts a few years ago when they were just performing as a duo, which was fun.

[00:01:39] But yeah, this is my first time diving into their discography.

[00:01:42] This is true for both of us. And also, we did try reaching out. We like to do a good reach out for our POP 101s and other interviews.

[00:01:49] We have reached out to Melissa of Dream. She did a POP 101 with us. We did Bardot, and Belinda joined us.

[00:01:56] We tried to get one of the Honey's girls, but Honey didn't quite work out.

[00:02:00] So fans, send them this episode. Let them know that people are clamoring for them and want to hear their story.

[00:02:06] Obviously, we are here to teach y'all, but what better to have the actual professor school us, right?

[00:02:11] So yeah. Anyway, if we have to make another episode, we will.

[00:02:16] But yes, here we are. POP 101, Honey's. Class is now in session.

[00:02:24] Honey's are a British R&B girl group that rose to fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

[00:02:30] And despite their polished image and success in the UK and Australia,

[00:02:34] the group experienced frequent lineup changes and internal tensions, which impacted their long-term potential.

[00:02:40] The story goes that Selena Cherry and Neymah Belkiati met in Paris and decided to form a duo before meeting Heavenly Abdi.

[00:02:49] Though Selena has since revealed that this story was made up by the label for them to tell,

[00:02:54] and the real story is that Heavenly was already the center of this girl group that had various iterations already.

[00:03:00] Selena auditioned to join, and eventually Neymah joined as well.

[00:03:04] They secured a record deal with Mercury Records and initially performed under the name Essence,

[00:03:09] intended to be a British R&B rival to Destiny's Child with aspirations to emulate in vogue.

[00:03:15] Mm. Good references, right?

[00:03:17] Yeah, totally.

[00:03:18] So the name Honey's was inspired by a passerby's comment toward the ladies while they were out clubbing.

[00:03:25] Much better name, I think, than Essence.

[00:03:27] Yeah, totally.

[00:03:28] But yes, despite only just beginning their journey, tensions were already bubbling.

[00:03:32] So Heavenly was the original lead singer, and Neymah's singing abilities were questioned.

[00:03:39] And though the original plan was to be a three-part harmony vocal group,

[00:03:42] Selena was eventually pushed as the lead singer,

[00:03:45] and Heavenly was given the role of spokesperson, while Neymah was the visual.

[00:03:50] Mm.

[00:03:50] Mm.

[00:03:51] Great way to start a group.

[00:03:52] Yeah.

[00:03:53] Can you imagine?

[00:03:54] So we've had this idea for a while, love.

[00:03:56] We want you to be the star.

[00:03:58] Oh my god, I want to be a star!

[00:03:59] Some girl auditions.

[00:04:00] We want her to be the star.

[00:04:01] Oh my god!

[00:04:02] Okay, so what am I going to do?

[00:04:04] You're just going to be the personality?

[00:04:06] I mean, I guess it's okay.

[00:04:07] If you want to be the personality higher, that's fine.

[00:04:11] But if you were actually thinking, I'm going to sing, and you don't get to, that stinks.

[00:04:15] And there's nothing wrong with having a visual in the group.

[00:04:17] I think that's like a tale as old as time.

[00:04:19] Yes.

[00:04:20] I think one of the few visuals, for lack of a better term, like visuals is a concept that was developed in K-pop, but it's always been in girl groups.

[00:04:27] Like the only time I can think of like a visual member being like able to kind of outshine is like a Diana Ross.

[00:04:32] She was chosen to be like the main girl because she was pretty, but also she's had like a long career.

[00:04:37] But like, apparently that wasn't the case.

[00:04:42] It was just prettiness.

[00:04:43] I just, it happens in groups now.

[00:04:45] We always have a member that's like really pretty and like adds to the overall visual of the group.

[00:04:51] And that is necessary because sometimes people go, oh, who's that person?

[00:04:54] So it makes sense.

[00:04:54] But it's tough because you have Heavenly and Selena.

[00:04:58] They both can sing.

[00:04:58] So I wonder why, you know, it was kind of like Heavenly got shoved out a little bit in terms of like vocals.

[00:05:05] Eh, eh, eh, eh.

[00:05:07] The dynamics are just rough from the beginning when people do that.

[00:05:09] I feel like there could have been a better way to like organize this.

[00:05:13] You know what I'm saying?

[00:05:14] Yeah, it's a much better way.

[00:05:15] And even in Vogue, they all sing.

[00:05:17] So where is your logic there?

[00:05:20] You know, you know.

[00:05:22] Yeah.

[00:05:22] I mean, yes.

[00:05:23] I think with Nema, so I was listening to an interview that Selena has done more recently.

[00:05:28] And she did also allude to the fact that because Nema is more racially ambiguous, that also helped their image.

[00:05:35] Because, you know, back then.

[00:05:37] Yeah.

[00:05:38] It was, yeah, it was a larger issue.

[00:05:41] So I think that also played a role.

[00:05:43] But surely you could find someone pretty that can also sing.

[00:05:46] But also, I'm going to defend Nema a little bit.

[00:05:48] And we'll get into this later as we obviously get into the songs.

[00:05:50] But she actually can sing.

[00:05:52] It's not amazing.

[00:05:54] Yeah.

[00:05:54] But she can do a harmony where it's needed.

[00:05:56] Yes.

[00:05:56] She can do the main melody.

[00:05:59] Yeah.

[00:05:59] Like while the others are adleting or whatever.

[00:06:01] Like she can hold it down.

[00:06:02] So I've heard much worse.

[00:06:04] Yes.

[00:06:04] You know, in girl groups and boy groups.

[00:06:06] So, yeah.

[00:06:07] I think, I feel like it's a little unnecessary how much they shaded her later on.

[00:06:12] That's silver valid.

[00:06:13] Yes.

[00:06:14] But yes, just needed to say that.

[00:06:16] But yeah, it's interesting because I do feel like a lot of pop groups back in the day.

[00:06:20] And I don't know, maybe not so much now, I don't think.

[00:06:22] But yeah, back in the day, there was always this main member or two that they then build

[00:06:27] a group around.

[00:06:28] Like there's this kind of like first kind of hire.

[00:06:31] And they're like, you're for sure.

[00:06:32] And everyone else is not.

[00:06:34] And we're going to like work around you.

[00:06:36] Like that's so interesting to me.

[00:06:38] Yeah.

[00:06:38] It happens in King Pot now.

[00:06:39] I think they just saw that Heavenly was a star.

[00:06:41] They must just have felt some star quality from her.

[00:06:44] And I get that.

[00:06:45] Her look is very, very striking.

[00:06:47] And her tone is quite recognizable as well.

[00:06:51] Yes.

[00:06:52] Like even later on in the discography when she doesn't really get to sing many lead vocals,

[00:06:57] she's very present in the choruses and the backing vocals.

[00:07:00] And her tone is just very recognizable.

[00:07:04] And I do think, and you were talking about Diana Ross, like kind of the whole, you know,

[00:07:09] Dreamgirls thing, Selena's voice is a bit more versatile.

[00:07:12] You know, it's thinner.

[00:07:14] Yeah.

[00:07:14] It's a bit more pure.

[00:07:16] Yeah.

[00:07:16] It just kind of, it's just more suitable to commercial pop music.

[00:07:23] Yes.

[00:07:23] Whereas Heavenly's voice is more kind of soul.

[00:07:29] And yeah, it's quite thick.

[00:07:30] I think her tone, which is just, yeah, doesn't really fit the style that they ended up going

[00:07:36] with as much.

[00:07:36] But that definitely sucks that you were in this group first and you were told you would

[00:07:40] be the leader.

[00:07:41] And then it didn't happen.

[00:07:44] I feel like this also happened.

[00:07:45] Didn't that happen to like Howie from the Backstreet Boys too?

[00:07:47] Wasn't he the original like lead singer?

[00:07:49] Yes.

[00:07:50] Oof.

[00:07:50] Tale as old as time.

[00:07:53] Song as old as rhyme.

[00:07:56] Beauty and honeys.

[00:07:57] All right.

[00:07:58] So the members of Honeys, finally all formed, underwent two years of development, including

[00:08:04] media training and studio time to refine their sound and image.

[00:08:08] They also had a hand in songwriting for their debut project.

[00:08:11] Finally, in August 1998, Honeys released their debut single, Finally Found.

[00:08:19] The song became their most successful single to date, hitting number four in the UK singles

[00:08:24] chart, number three in the Australian singles chart, and also hit the charts across Europe.

[00:08:29] The members were surprised that the label chose the track as their first single since they

[00:08:32] were all new to songwriting and they weren't sure that a ballad was a good choice.

[00:08:37] So what do you think I've finally found?

[00:08:39] You know, this one is sweet and romantic.

[00:08:42] I do wonder what would have happened if they had gone for like a club track or something

[00:08:45] more upbeat, you know, because like your names are honeys and like it's a slang term and it's

[00:08:51] like we're honeys.

[00:08:52] Yeah, we're hotties, like that kind of thing.

[00:08:54] So I do wonder if they would have played into the name what would have happened.

[00:08:57] And if you think about the groups that they were likened to, like in Vogue and DC, they

[00:09:03] may have started off with like kind of like a ballad-ish kind of thing, but then they

[00:09:08] followed up with a remix or they did Who's Loving You and then Don't Let Go.

[00:09:13] Like it was things that were a little bit more upbeat and funky and like, you know, so I'm

[00:09:17] just curious to know why I was like, let's just go ballad.

[00:09:19] It's not a bad idea.

[00:09:21] It's bold, I will say.

[00:09:23] The person who mixed the song made the chorus sound like it's so full, like legit.

[00:09:27] There's only three girls, but it sounds like such a big, bigger group.

[00:09:30] So like having Heavenly is nice, but I can't really tell what Naima is.

[00:09:35] Naima, excuse me, Naima is.

[00:09:36] I guess she's like the higher, but then again, I guess Selena could do that too.

[00:09:40] So I think we have to just listen one day and find like a track, isolated vocals or performance

[00:09:45] of them actually singing, but she probably is there.

[00:09:48] The backing track slash competition version that is now on streaming, you can definitely

[00:09:52] hear the other two girls outside of Selena.

[00:09:56] I just wonder, like, again, I feel like they could have released something a little bit more

[00:10:00] like the You Nam or You Nam remix.

[00:10:02] It could have been something a little bit more with some oomph, you know?

[00:10:07] Just something a little bit different.

[00:10:08] Because I feel like I wonder why they went for the Christian girl long skirt version of

[00:10:14] the song.

[00:10:14] Like, it just sounds like they're kind of copying All Saints a little bit, just a little

[00:10:18] bit with how it kind of came in, you know?

[00:10:20] Yeah.

[00:10:20] It's interesting that they were really going for this kind of like adult contemporary leaning

[00:10:25] pop.

[00:10:25] And yeah, I would love if one of our listeners that was around in the UK at this time when

[00:10:31] this came out, kind of like what the audience was, right?

[00:10:35] Because yeah, just looking at the big reunion, right?

[00:10:38] All the other groups that I guess were kind of in that group around the same time were definitely

[00:10:42] more geared towards kids.

[00:10:43] And I don't think Honeys ever were.

[00:10:45] It doesn't feel like that, at least going through their discography.

[00:10:48] So maybe it was like that they wanted to be kind of more leaning towards like the people

[00:10:54] who are fans of like Mariah and Celine and kind of going for that more like adult contemporary

[00:11:00] side of things.

[00:11:02] Yeah.

[00:11:02] Okay.

[00:11:03] Good observation.

[00:11:04] Yeah.

[00:11:04] Because you're right.

[00:11:05] It's a bit of an odd choice to launch a girl group off of this song.

[00:11:10] But I like it for what it is.

[00:11:12] It's very much of its time, right?

[00:11:14] Like the kind of cheesy ballad.

[00:11:16] But then part of me does miss the cheesy ballad sometimes.

[00:11:18] So it's kind of nice to hear it.

[00:11:21] And then, yeah, I think the production is nice.

[00:11:23] I love that Heavenly is leading the chorus and that she gets to sing the bridge as well.

[00:11:29] Because her and Selena's tones do balance each other well because they're so different.

[00:11:33] Yeah.

[00:11:34] And the video is so funny too.

[00:11:35] It's just so 90s.

[00:11:37] Like the blue tint and like the very random idea of them like just being around the world.

[00:11:45] Yeah.

[00:11:45] I was like, what does this have anything to do with anything?

[00:11:48] It doesn't even match the song, but sure.

[00:11:51] You know?

[00:11:51] You see them in the honey drops as well?

[00:11:53] Yeah.

[00:11:54] I love what's going on.

[00:11:58] But yeah, I agree with you.

[00:12:00] And we'll definitely talk about this more because every single pretty much had a bunch of remixes to it.

[00:12:04] Oh my god.

[00:12:04] Yeah.

[00:12:04] Yeah.

[00:12:05] There's definitely another world where if they had a different team around them that maybe would have had less...

[00:12:12] An inkling of an idea of what to do with girl group?

[00:12:13] Oh yeah.

[00:12:16] If they had a team around them that was more kind of just...

[00:12:20] I don't know because yes, like this whole thing of like, oh, like we wanted to be En Vogue and Destiny's Child, but was that them that wanted to be Destiny's Child and En Vogue or was it the label?

[00:12:28] Because if it was a label, then this makes no sense.

[00:12:31] Right?

[00:12:32] You're right.

[00:12:33] Like it doesn't have the same energy because there's a confidence and like a sassiness to En Vogue and Destiny's Child.

[00:12:41] Yeah.

[00:12:41] That this doesn't have at all because it's just quite sweet.

[00:12:45] Yes.

[00:12:46] Very sweet.

[00:12:46] Very innocent.

[00:12:47] Yeah.

[00:12:47] Like I found my first love, purity ring.

[00:12:49] Kind of like...

[00:12:50] You know?

[00:12:52] Yeah.

[00:12:52] Yeah.

[00:12:53] You know, I'm going to be honest.

[00:12:54] The first few times I heard it, I really didn't think much of it.

[00:12:56] But now that I know the chorus, it's like fun to sing along to.

[00:12:58] It's very anthemic.

[00:12:59] It's always been you.

[00:13:01] It's always been you.

[00:13:03] That's right.

[00:13:05] But yeah, so first singles out.

[00:13:08] It does really well.

[00:13:10] You know, we like that for them.

[00:13:11] We enjoy that for them.

[00:13:12] So in November 1998, Honeys released their debut album, Wonder No. 8, which peaked at No. 33 in the UK's album chart and was certified gold, gold, gold, gold.

[00:13:23] Yeah.

[00:13:24] Nice.

[00:13:25] It's interesting because I was looking this up because at first I was like, wait, they released their album like right after the first single.

[00:13:31] But actually, I guess this is actually quite common back then.

[00:13:34] Yeah.

[00:13:34] To do that.

[00:13:35] A little weird.

[00:13:36] You release the album and kind of give it time to rise, hopefully, as more singles came out.

[00:13:40] Not the case.

[00:13:41] Not the case at all.

[00:13:43] I guess, I don't know why.

[00:13:45] It is weird, like you said, because I feel like it's a very confident thing to do.

[00:13:48] And it's like, here it is.

[00:13:50] I think the album was interesting in trying to like, not find its sound, but like have an overall sound.

[00:13:55] Like there was Do Me Baby on it.

[00:13:56] And I was like, oh, that's interesting.

[00:13:58] That's a little like.

[00:13:59] And again, it still wasn't even like super dirty.

[00:14:02] I feel like with this group, there was a level of not actually going really forward into like trying to be innocent, but then also trying to be sexy because the women are obviously like in their 20s.

[00:14:13] Like they're older women.

[00:14:15] So there's things like Do Me Baby on there.

[00:14:17] And I'm like, okay.

[00:14:17] All right.

[00:14:18] Yeah.

[00:14:19] There's good love.

[00:14:20] I'm like, okay.

[00:14:20] All right.

[00:14:21] Yeah.

[00:14:21] And there's what does she look like?

[00:14:22] You're getting cheated on.

[00:14:23] I'm like, okay.

[00:14:23] Yeah.

[00:14:24] All right.

[00:14:25] But then there wasn't like another like, I would say there was like a really strong.

[00:14:32] We're grown in sexy song on this album.

[00:14:34] The slower ones, like the singles, they were fine.

[00:14:38] They were absolutely fine.

[00:14:38] But I just feel like they were, the album tracks were really just kind of fillery in a sense.

[00:14:45] But I will say overall, there is a voice in terms of who's writing the songs.

[00:14:50] Like the lyrics aren't super complicated.

[00:14:52] They're very like, I don't say, they're very, here's how I feel.

[00:14:58] This is the situation.

[00:15:00] Here's a chorus.

[00:15:02] Following up about the situation and then a bridge, which is fine.

[00:15:05] So it's good that they were able to contribute to the album a lot more.

[00:15:10] But I do wonder what would have happened if they just had a little bit more of like a feistier vixen appeal on this album.

[00:15:17] Instead of like this nice girl trying to get her heartbroken thing.

[00:15:21] Yeah.

[00:15:21] You know?

[00:15:22] Yeah.

[00:15:22] I mean, for sure, the songs that stood out to me the most on this album were the kind of funkier, kind of cooler, more upbeat stuff.

[00:15:29] Like Good Love.

[00:15:30] Like Seems Like.

[00:15:31] Like, you know, I think the ballads are fine on it.

[00:15:36] But I agree.

[00:15:37] It does feel like it's kind of two groups.

[00:15:40] It's almost.

[00:15:42] It is like the one that's a very adult contemporary cheesy one.

[00:15:47] And then the kind of cooler one that's more Destiny's Child leaning.

[00:15:54] Like the best example of that is the kind of like part one, part two situation of In the Street and Summertime where they kind of share the same chorus.

[00:16:00] Like I thought that's that's cool.

[00:16:02] Yeah.

[00:16:02] You know?

[00:16:03] Yeah.

[00:16:03] So yeah, it definitely feels like they're like balancing the cheesy kind of pop radio.

[00:16:10] Yes.

[00:16:10] Adult AC stuff.

[00:16:12] Yeah.

[00:16:13] With them wanting to do stuff that the more like American kind of R&B pop groups were doing.

[00:16:19] Yeah.

[00:16:20] But then I don't think there's anything bad on the album.

[00:16:22] I agree with you.

[00:16:23] Like some of it is fillery in the sense that maybe I wouldn't think that they're strong enough to be singles.

[00:16:28] Right.

[00:16:28] But there's nothing super bad on the album.

[00:16:31] No.

[00:16:31] I actually sat here listening to like, yeah.

[00:16:33] Yeah.

[00:16:33] That's good.

[00:16:34] In terms of debut pop albums, this one's not bad at all.

[00:16:38] I've heard much worse, you know?

[00:16:40] Very true.

[00:16:41] Yeah.

[00:16:41] So the potential is there.

[00:16:42] But yeah, it definitely does feel like they're fighting kind of two identities and they're not fully aligning.

[00:16:48] Yeah.

[00:16:48] Yeah.

[00:16:49] Because like, I don't know, like I don't think the same person who would buy the album just off of Finally Found would enjoy the In the Street Ignorance remix.

[00:16:57] You know what I mean?

[00:16:59] That's a thing.

[00:17:00] Like it just doesn't totally feel aligned to the right same audience.

[00:17:04] Yes.

[00:17:04] The cohesion is lacking because of the way they look and what they sound like.

[00:17:08] It's just a little slight, like sonic dissonance.

[00:17:10] It's like, I want to believe what I'm looking at, but it sounds like something else.

[00:17:14] Right.

[00:17:15] Because visually they are very like sexy.

[00:17:17] Yeah.

[00:17:18] Smexy is definitely the word.

[00:17:19] Yeah.

[00:17:20] Oh, I mean, women can be all these kinds of things, but I feel like it's just a little bit more cohesion.

[00:17:24] That and the, wow, the songs were long, dude.

[00:17:27] Like they were clocking in.

[00:17:28] Oh my God.

[00:17:29] Some five minutes.

[00:17:30] Yeah.

[00:17:30] Some of them were clocking in at like, you know, drinks over.

[00:17:34] Four minutes, five minutes.

[00:17:34] Stories with drinks with friends, you know?

[00:17:36] Like you're telling your friend about this hookup that you had.

[00:17:37] That's how long these stories, like five minute stories.

[00:17:40] You know, that's what it felt like.

[00:17:41] Like, um, it doesn't make it bad, but it also makes the running time of this album so much longer than it probably should be with 15 songs.

[00:17:47] You know, like it's just, it's a lot.

[00:17:49] Well, this is the re-release that you're listening to though.

[00:17:51] So I think the original one was slightly shorter.

[00:17:53] Okay.

[00:17:53] Okay.

[00:17:53] Okay.

[00:17:54] But yeah, I'm just like, oh, right.

[00:17:55] I mean, an hour, an hour for an album is not terrible, but like the songs are quite long and a lot of the songs do say some of the same things.

[00:18:01] So I feel like certain things could have been taken off, you know, but we should do, we should do an album review.

[00:18:06] If you guys want an album review, please let us know.

[00:18:07] We'll do like a cut and keep option for the songs.

[00:18:10] We like to take out track by track situation.

[00:18:13] Full deep dive.

[00:18:14] Okay.

[00:18:14] So the second single from the album, End of the Line, was released in December, 1998.

[00:18:20] And the song hit number five in the UK singles chart and again found success in Australia and across Europe.

[00:18:26] If you want me to go, then see you.

[00:18:30] Want me to stay.

[00:18:32] This one I feel like has a little bit more iconography-ish.

[00:18:37] There's something iconic about like you think of the blue coats, right?

[00:18:40] Yes.

[00:18:40] I think of the blue coats too.

[00:18:41] So that's good.

[00:18:42] Totally.

[00:18:42] We love that for a group.

[00:18:45] We love it for any artist, solo, group, band, doesn't matter.

[00:18:49] You need to have something that people, when they think of you, they think of something visually.

[00:18:53] And the blue coats were great.

[00:18:55] I love the video for this song.

[00:18:57] Because it's like the warm skin tones and the blue colors and like everyone else who don't matter and black.

[00:19:03] And it was great.

[00:19:05] And also it reminded me of the En Vogue video giving him something he could feel with the red dresses and being on stage.

[00:19:10] Except they get snatched off the stage with the fighting guards.

[00:19:15] Heavenly, that whole video was hysterical because she was smiling the whole time.

[00:19:19] And everyone's kind of like, you know, singing about End of the Line.

[00:19:22] And she's like, I need some damn respect.

[00:19:24] And Heavenly's like, in the corner, like, this is so hot.

[00:19:27] Cheesing.

[00:19:28] Yeah, she's a cheesy smiler.

[00:19:30] She does have that.

[00:19:31] But yeah, it's like this song, I feel like was like, oomph.

[00:19:35] Yeah.

[00:19:36] This is the brand of potential breakup ballad that I live for.

[00:19:40] Like the song just needed a little bit more vocal attitude or maybe not vocal attitude because it definitely was there.

[00:19:45] But just a tonal shift in terms of vocal.

[00:19:49] Because Selena sounds good, but she has such a sweet voice.

[00:19:51] And when she's trying to give you attitude, it's just, you know, it's almost like a really cute attitude where Heavenly, who has the thicker tone, probably could have brought it home a little bit in the bridge.

[00:20:00] Like the bridge was great.

[00:20:01] And I love the way the directions and the oohs and the ahs.

[00:20:06] But some harmonies beyond that could have been brought in.

[00:20:09] I mean, like the song gets big.

[00:20:11] And yes, Selena sounds good.

[00:20:13] But I just feel like all their voices together would be like, ooh, something or like a little, just something else was just missing.

[00:20:21] It's not a bad song.

[00:20:23] But I feel like someone who could really go open their mouth and go, maaaah, and like really blare would have been great at the end of the song.

[00:20:30] Yeah, I have similar notes.

[00:20:32] I do think the song is very pretty.

[00:20:34] I actually like it more than Finally Found, I would say.

[00:20:36] Pretty much my note is the same in that I just wish they went off a bit more on the vocals.

[00:20:41] Like, you know if Mariah or Whitney or someone got their hands on this, like they would just sing their face off on it.

[00:20:49] And this song has the potential for it because there's a natural drama and a natural, yeah, like attitude in it in the way that it's written.

[00:20:56] And I agree.

[00:20:57] I actually assume, just based on listening to all this, that they wanted it to be less that.

[00:21:04] Like, I think they like, I'm going to guess, and someone, again, fans, correct me if I'm wrong with any of this.

[00:21:10] But I'm going to guess that their team liked how sweet Selena's voice is, and they liked that it never kind of went too big and soulful.

[00:21:23] I think it just keeps it more clean for commercial radio, maybe.

[00:21:29] That's valid.

[00:21:30] I mean, if you are, like you mentioned, the Mariah Carey comparison, her voice is, even though she would put little churchy runs on it,

[00:21:36] Mariah has always just sounded like a little princess when she sang.

[00:21:39] A very powerful princess, but she's always had a very clear tone.

[00:21:43] Early Whitney as well.

[00:21:45] Even the ballad she covered wasn't very like, and growling.

[00:21:50] Okay, so yeah, that's, ooh, quite well made.

[00:21:52] So maybe that was, but I think the song as a bass is good.

[00:21:56] Yes, I like it.

[00:21:57] If you want me to go, I'm singing it way low right now, guys, but.

[00:22:04] We love it.

[00:22:05] We do.

[00:22:06] So the group's success led to a record deal in the U.S. with Def Jam Records.

[00:22:12] However, the deal fell through very quickly because while preparing for the release of the next single, Love of a Lifetime,

[00:22:19] Heavenly decided to leave right after filming the music video.

[00:22:23] Heavenly was overwhelmed with how fast everything was moving, and her relationships with the other members were strained.

[00:22:30] In addition, she was head over heels in love with Matthew Marsden and wanted to spend more time with him.

[00:22:36] And since the group had immediate obligations in Australia, the group attempted to replace Heavenly with some random woman who was seen during their Australian promotions.

[00:22:45] Yes, fake Hev.

[00:22:48] And after auditioning a few ladies, because they did not want fake Hev to join permanently,

[00:22:54] Mariyama Goodman, originally from girl group Solid Harmony, officially joined the group and the new lineup continued the promotion of Love of a Lifetime,

[00:23:02] which was released in April 1999 and peaked at number nine in the UK singles chart.

[00:23:13] Yes, okay.

[00:23:15] A lot just happened there.

[00:23:16] Yeah, totally.

[00:23:17] I remember when we were doing the research here, I was like, hang on, hang on.

[00:23:21] I see someone.

[00:23:22] That's not...

[00:23:23] I said, who's that?

[00:23:24] Who is that person?

[00:23:26] Because we've always seen lineup changes.

[00:23:28] I mean, from Back from the Supremes to even Destiny's Child to the Sugar Babes even.

[00:23:36] Even in Vogue, we've all seen lineup changes.

[00:23:39] Yes.

[00:23:39] But we've never seen the in-between awkward stages of like...

[00:23:45] And to have it on DVD is amazing.

[00:23:48] So thank you to the person who uploaded it because it's freaking hysterical.

[00:23:51] I'm like, who is that woman?

[00:23:54] But I'm glad they were able to workshop who fits them because let's be real here.

[00:23:58] Because Selena is the lead vocal, you can have anyone phone in, but do they look good?

[00:24:03] Do they fit?

[00:24:04] Do they, you know, you're trying to find another Heavenly because the girl kind of had the same skin tone,

[00:24:09] which is a little bit taller.

[00:24:10] Like, that is the typical, like, match the silhouette vibe I was getting.

[00:24:14] But hey, Mariyama's a good fit.

[00:24:16] I will say that.

[00:24:17] And her coming from that old group, Solid Harmony, apparently she had left because she had a family matter to take care of.

[00:24:26] So I guess everything just worked out.

[00:24:27] She left and came back and then left the group again.

[00:24:31] And then when she left in that interim, they were like, hey, listen, we have another group.

[00:24:34] You want to join this one?

[00:24:35] And here she is now in Honey's with a Z.

[00:24:39] So yeah, I think it's good that she's there.

[00:24:41] It is interesting kind of replacing her visually when record has already been cut.

[00:24:46] But go off.

[00:24:48] The song itself, I would say, is sweet.

[00:24:50] I feel like them getting out of that ballad bag was good.

[00:24:55] Even though it wasn't, like, a long-lasting escape.

[00:24:58] But it's still, getting out was good.

[00:25:00] The cowbell in the song, Honey, it goes off.

[00:25:02] I was listening to the song.

[00:25:04] I'm like, okay.

[00:25:05] I think it needs more cowbell, actually.

[00:25:07] But yeah, Selena's singing all the leads.

[00:25:09] And at this point, it makes me wonder, like, during the recording process, were there any demos of everyone else singing?

[00:25:16] And they were like, listen, she's just a better option?

[00:25:18] Or was it just, hey, you're going to sing them.

[00:25:20] You pick up the backgrounds, girls.

[00:25:22] Just sit there and look pretty.

[00:25:23] I'm just trying to figure out where it came at.

[00:25:25] Because she is taking the brunt of most of the vocal work, you know?

[00:25:28] Yeah.

[00:25:29] What do you think about this whole, like, I mean, obviously, you've seen enough girl group changes to the last lifetime Atomic.

[00:25:37] And you've seen them more than I have.

[00:25:39] But, like, what do you think about the thing?

[00:25:41] First off, someone needs to find Fake Hev.

[00:25:43] I don't think anyone even knows her name.

[00:25:45] But I would love to hear about her experience.

[00:25:47] All we know from what Selena has said is that she was horrible to work with, which is crazy.

[00:25:53] It's like, why would you come into this group and already immediately just be horrible to work with?

[00:25:58] Like, she must have, like, what did she do?

[00:26:00] She must have vacation.

[00:26:01] We need the deets.

[00:26:02] We need the deets.

[00:26:03] Hey, Kevin, what have you done?

[00:26:06] Yeah.

[00:26:07] And yeah, good for Maruyama.

[00:26:08] She definitely has star quality, for sure.

[00:26:11] And she handled it well, like, being thrown into a situation like this.

[00:26:15] She looks great in those initial performances of the song.

[00:26:20] It does sound like from the interviews and stuff that she and Neymah kind of immediately did not get along, like, from the start.

[00:26:28] But, you know, she has a pretty decent voice.

[00:26:31] Yes.

[00:26:32] Obviously, again, she doesn't really have many leads in the discography, but she blends with Selena really well.

[00:26:37] It's more similar to Selena.

[00:26:38] It's like another kind of thinner tone.

[00:26:41] Selena had the ability to go a little bit lower where Maruyama was the one I was, like, holding down, like, the top.

[00:26:45] Like, I wouldn't see Maruyama being like, no disrespect.

[00:26:50] No, no.

[00:26:50] So, Selena could ground her voice a little bit more, I think, where it needed a little more, like, I don't say soul, because they have soul, but, like, a little bit more soul, a little more, like, earthiness.

[00:27:03] Selena could tap into it a little bit more than Maruyama, who sounded like a pure pop vocal, like pop girl group.

[00:27:09] You know?

[00:27:09] Yes.

[00:27:09] So, yeah.

[00:27:10] Okay.

[00:27:10] I see what you mean, totally.

[00:27:11] And a great pop vocal.

[00:27:12] A great pop vocal.

[00:27:13] Yeah, yeah.

[00:27:13] She's a great addition to have.

[00:27:14] So, for the song itself, Love of a Lifetime, I would say this is one of my favorites of their kind of slightly mid-tempo-y ones, because, yes, it's at least higher tempo than the last two singles, but still not upbeat, right?

[00:27:29] Like, it's still like a, you know, you sway and snap still to this.

[00:27:32] Slightly faster.

[00:27:33] Sway and snap.

[00:27:33] But I think the production feels a little bit cooler.

[00:27:37] The harmony in the chorus is nice.

[00:27:38] It was funny watching the performances that they did without Heavenly, because obviously she's so prominent on the chorus, but they did take her out.

[00:27:45] Yeah, wild.

[00:27:46] Of the backing track there.

[00:27:47] Freaking wild.

[00:27:49] Big shout out to the remixes on this one, too.

[00:27:51] There's a yearning for your love remix.

[00:27:54] That, again, just adds a bit more funk to it.

[00:27:57] Like, it totally elevates it.

[00:27:59] Like, it's so annoying that they, yeah, that they kind of went so safe with their production choices.

[00:28:05] Yeah.

[00:28:06] And the video, it kind of reminds me of Bashi Boys, As Long As You Love Me.

[00:28:10] Like, that entrance looks the same, and then it's kind of like this, like, dancer audition type of situation.

[00:28:15] Oh, my God, yes.

[00:28:16] Yes, it is.

[00:28:17] It's very funny how they cut out Heavenly's solo shots.

[00:28:21] Oops, hello.

[00:28:21] Hello.

[00:28:22] And also the choreography is just so extra.

[00:28:26] Oh, my gosh.

[00:28:26] Like, with all the hips and the hands and stuff.

[00:28:29] It, like, just doesn't really match the song, but it's like, they were just like, you need to let us dance.

[00:28:34] And they were like, okay.

[00:28:35] And, like, they just gave them, like, the most extra.

[00:28:38] Like, it just doesn't match the song, like, at all.

[00:28:40] You know, it's obvious for the way it was edited, because, like, there's some silly edits in there.

[00:28:44] Like, oh, yep, go ahead, Bob.

[00:28:47] Listen, if you guys are listening to us, thank you so much for listening.

[00:28:50] But watching Chris sometimes, it's also.

[00:28:53] We are top 10 on Spotify video podcasts.

[00:28:56] So definitely start watching us.

[00:28:58] Yes, y'all.

[00:28:58] Because Chris is hysterical when he's, like, dancing, because that's legit what they were doing.

[00:29:02] So many hip hits.

[00:29:04] So many.

[00:29:04] And then the finger with the L for the love of a lifetime.

[00:29:07] But the thing that irritates me was the goofy edit of them making the actual physical transition to put Naima in the middle.

[00:29:14] Oh, yeah.

[00:29:15] Yeah, so if you haven't seen the video or you can't remember, I do believe after that first chorus, there is a transitional dance step.

[00:29:23] But the girls are two-stepping to switch.

[00:29:25] And some dingbat edited that inside of the video.

[00:29:28] I'm like, you don't show that part.

[00:29:29] Give us a sexy B-roll of the face or, like, a background dancer doing a backflip or a freaking flare in slow motion.

[00:29:35] I don't care.

[00:29:36] But don't sit there and be like, okay, you go to your spot.

[00:29:39] But dancing, as what you said, it was so funny because I was looking at it and it just reminded me of, like, those long line dances, like, just keep going throughout the video.

[00:29:46] Like, I just felt like every time I looked, they were doing the same choreography.

[00:29:50] It just felt like the Cupid Shuffle or the Electric Slider.

[00:29:52] It just kept going.

[00:29:54] Like, they just kept hip, hip, chick, chick, chick, L, L.

[00:29:57] But, yeah, like I said, aside from that, I do appreciate the effort of them trying to look a little bit more hip and not so, like, he just came from church.

[00:30:03] And now we're singing at this town, so that we're not supposed to be at.

[00:30:06] You know what I'm saying?

[00:30:06] Right.

[00:30:07] So, I appreciate a little bit more.

[00:30:09] I think my issue with that, though, is that the song is still pretty cheesy.

[00:30:14] Like, yes, the production is a little bit cooler.

[00:30:17] Yes.

[00:30:18] But it's still, like, it's not a go out to the clubs song.

[00:30:22] Yeah.

[00:30:23] But they're just trying to look so sexy, like, in this video, you know.

[00:30:27] And it just doesn't match the song.

[00:30:28] No.

[00:30:28] Like, they look great.

[00:30:30] Like, those hot pink outfits at one point.

[00:30:32] I love that.

[00:30:33] But it just doesn't match the songs.

[00:30:35] I'm just, again, that disconnect of, it just doesn't work for me.

[00:30:39] The dissonance is pretty old, y'all.

[00:30:40] It is very confusing.

[00:30:42] But you know what?

[00:30:44] They had to do what they had to do.

[00:30:45] And in October 1999, a brand new track, Never Let You Down, was released as their fourth single.

[00:30:51] And it was the first track to feature Mariama's vocals.

[00:30:53] The song hit number seven on the UK singles chart, which is good news, especially with a lineup change.

[00:31:05] So, with this one, I feel like I liked it a little bit more because, like, it sounded like a rom-com soundtrack.

[00:31:11] Never Let You Down.

[00:31:12] You know, they get the girl and it's like a montage of them dating.

[00:31:15] It's kind of like, at the end of the movie where she's kind of just looking at him and he's doing something kind of important with his life.

[00:31:20] You know, and she's like, and they reconnect, whatever, and it's like, happily ever after.

[00:31:23] And then it's like, this is the first song of theirs that's had a tagline.

[00:31:27] So, I feel like this one's a little bit more, even though it is pulling from the same, like, book of ballad, I love you, purity ring, girl stuff.

[00:31:36] It's fine.

[00:31:37] I'm not mad at it.

[00:31:39] I like that it has the...

[00:31:42] In the beginning, it's something that hooks you in, you know?

[00:31:44] But, again, the song just feels really safe.

[00:31:48] The video, again, there's a sonic dissonance because it does not match.

[00:31:52] Right.

[00:31:54] That's not...

[00:31:54] Right.

[00:31:55] And it's so annoying because, I mean, yes, it's kind of cool watching these really three smoking hot chicks tell you, I'm never going to cheat on you or hurt you, baby.

[00:32:03] In the club, though?

[00:32:04] You know what?

[00:32:05] With this song?

[00:32:06] I get it.

[00:32:07] I totally get it.

[00:32:08] The way they were dressed, people.

[00:32:09] If you have not watched the video in a long time or if you're just learning about honeys now through us,

[00:32:14] literally the video was giving, like, Jumpin' Jumpin' meets, like...

[00:32:18] Yes!

[00:32:19] A bunch of other 90s club girl videos.

[00:32:21] Like, they had, like, the tight pants and the crop shirts and all that.

[00:32:24] They look so good, but literally they look like they should have been singing the Can 7 Low Tide Mix remix for their song.

[00:32:33] Like, it just...

[00:32:34] I feel like...

[00:32:35] I'm sorry.

[00:32:36] I think there's something up.

[00:32:37] I feel like they probably were, like...

[00:32:39] They sent the treatment...

[00:32:40] They sent the song, like, the actual bumpin' remix to a director.

[00:32:44] The director's like, yo, I got you.

[00:32:46] And when they get to the set...

[00:32:48] Man, it was like...

[00:32:49] Did they play this one?

[00:32:49] Yeah.

[00:32:50] Man, it was like, so playback's gonna be this one.

[00:32:52] It's like...

[00:32:53] I feel like they were about to bait and switching something.

[00:32:55] I don't know.

[00:32:56] So I just wonder why the label didn't go for a more hip and, like, R&B version, like, the honk...

[00:33:01] Honk...

[00:33:01] E...

[00:33:02] Honk Honk Mix.

[00:33:04] It's cooler and it still maintains, like, their sweet approach to the love song because the top line does not change.

[00:33:09] It's just the production is cooler.

[00:33:11] It sounds more U.S.-based.

[00:33:13] Whereas you have, again, you have all these groups in the U.K. who are giving you distinct sounds.

[00:33:18] This would have been just cool for them.

[00:33:20] I think...

[00:33:20] Was Mystica at the time, too?

[00:33:22] Or not yet?

[00:33:23] Not yet, I don't think.

[00:33:24] It could have been a precursor with the way some of these remixes could have sounded, you know?

[00:33:28] But, yeah, shout-out to Mari for being able to contribute to the higher harmony because I heard her and I was like,

[00:33:33] Oh!

[00:33:33] I hear some, like, something up there.

[00:33:36] Oh, yeah, girl.

[00:33:37] Yeah.

[00:33:38] Maruyama, good job for you.

[00:33:40] Yeah, I actually like the song for sure.

[00:33:43] It's interesting because this is also pre-Atomic Kitten mostly.

[00:33:47] But this is more kind of what Atomic Kitten started doing as well.

[00:33:50] Like, kind of these, like, very cheesy, kind of mid-tempo, like, happy ballads.

[00:33:54] But it fit their brand a bit more, you know?

[00:33:58] Um, because, yeah, I agree with you.

[00:34:01] I think...

[00:34:02] I'm just confused by, like, the image of it all, I think.

[00:34:05] And it maybe takes away a little bit from it.

[00:34:07] Because I do think the actual song itself is actually pretty good.

[00:34:10] Yeah.

[00:34:10] I will say, though, if you listen to all their singles in succession...

[00:34:15] Yes.

[00:34:16] It feels like it's just kind of more of the same at this time.

[00:34:19] And I'm kind of, like, ready for something different.

[00:34:22] So, you know, I'm kind of...

[00:34:23] I don't think it's a bad song.

[00:34:24] It's just they're not growing as artists as quickly as I, like, want them to or something like that.

[00:34:30] That's valid.

[00:34:31] I have to give a huge shout-out to one of the B-sides, The Way You Make Me Feel.

[00:34:36] Oh, yeah.

[00:34:37] Yeah.

[00:34:37] It's very cool.

[00:34:38] It's kind of minimalistic.

[00:34:40] And Mariam, I guess, to sing on the verses.

[00:34:42] It sounds awesome.

[00:34:43] Yes, I have a thought.

[00:34:44] And this is very reminiscent of, like, where I think their sound should have been.

[00:34:48] Oh.

[00:34:49] That's a tough thing.

[00:34:50] When you're assigned to a label, especially back then when you were assigned to a label, like, they were not listening to y'all.

[00:34:54] Which is, again, so interesting because you let them write the songs.

[00:34:57] Or some of these songs.

[00:34:58] Some of them, yeah.

[00:34:59] But then it was like, listen, we know what we're doing.

[00:35:03] Go.

[00:35:03] You know, it's funky.

[00:35:05] It's weird.

[00:35:06] If you're watching this video and you used to work at Mercury Records or still do if it's still around, I don't know, let us know.

[00:35:13] It probably is not.

[00:35:14] I'm being so shady.

[00:35:14] But if you used to work for this company, please let us know what you were all thinking.

[00:35:17] Oh, it is?

[00:35:18] Mm-hmm.

[00:35:19] Yikes.

[00:35:20] Maybe they've gotten better in their business practices.

[00:35:23] But, uh.

[00:35:25] I was going to move right along.

[00:35:26] But, yeah, if you could explain that, what the logic was, I don't get it.

[00:35:31] But then again, we're looking at hindsight, right?

[00:35:33] Right.

[00:35:34] It's kind of hard to tell what was working at the time.

[00:35:37] So, moving right along, Honeys then re-released Wonder No. 8 with a few brand new tracks in November 1999.

[00:35:45] And they also released the fifth single, Won't Take It Lying Down, which peaked at No. 7 in the UK singles chart and was their last single to hit the top ten.

[00:35:53] You better believe I stand my ground, boy.

[00:35:56] But I won't take it lying down.

[00:35:58] In that month, the group was also nominated at the Brits for Best British Breakthrough Act.

[00:36:03] Yes.

[00:36:03] Amazing.

[00:36:04] Yes.

[00:36:05] Big accomplishment.

[00:36:06] Mm-hmm.

[00:36:06] Big accomplishment.

[00:36:07] Okay.

[00:36:07] So, they have finally gotten to step out of the cheesy cheesy and release something a bit more upbeat, a bit more sassy.

[00:36:15] Yeah.

[00:36:15] Definitely feels like what their image was reflecting kind of this whole time.

[00:36:20] Yeah.

[00:36:21] Yeah.

[00:36:21] Yeah.

[00:36:22] But just, it's so refreshing watching them, like, perform this and the music video and everything because they can finally just be more, like, fun with it, I guess.

[00:36:31] Yes.

[00:36:32] Yeah.

[00:36:32] Because I feel like before it's like you kind of are held back by the song a little bit.

[00:36:36] Because you can be sexy, but you can't, like, be sassy and, like, you can't, like, you can't exude that confidence that pop stars should.

[00:36:46] Yes.

[00:36:46] You know?

[00:36:46] That you want a pop star to.

[00:36:48] So, they finally get to do that.

[00:36:50] I think they look great in the video.

[00:36:52] And, yeah, Selena sounds good for sure in those verses.

[00:36:55] She kind of gives just enough attitude while still kind of maintaining the very kind of clean tone.

[00:37:01] Yes.

[00:37:01] Good harmonies in there as well.

[00:37:04] So, yeah, I think, honestly, it's too bad that, you know, Def Jam had given up on them at this point.

[00:37:10] Because I feel like this as kind of their kind of relaunch, maybe, kind of era number two, kind of.

[00:37:17] Yes.

[00:37:18] Something to kind of.

[00:37:19] It could have worked.

[00:37:20] Yeah.

[00:37:20] But you know what?

[00:37:21] I don't blame Def Jam for dropping that because at this point it's like y'all.

[00:37:24] Y'all.

[00:37:25] Y'all.

[00:37:25] Unstable.

[00:37:26] Yeah.

[00:37:27] No, we can't do this at all.

[00:37:29] I cannot.

[00:37:30] I would have looked at them and were like, y'all lost another member.

[00:37:33] Like, I'm joking.

[00:37:34] But you guys lost a member.

[00:37:35] Like, okay.

[00:37:36] Okay.

[00:37:37] It would have been interesting to see what happened because both Neymah and Mariyama kind

[00:37:41] of fit what was really hot at the time, which was like, what is she?

[00:37:46] She's a biracial girl.

[00:37:48] You guys don't know that song.

[00:37:50] Some guy made a song called Biracial Girls Hysterical.

[00:37:52] But in her biracial world.

[00:37:55] Or something like that.

[00:37:55] He said something like that.

[00:37:56] But the point is, that was the thing.

[00:37:58] It's like, ooh, what is she?

[00:38:00] So what could have been, I guess.

[00:38:01] The song, in my opinion, sounded like something that could have held up against Invoke in terms

[00:38:06] of ferocity and the meaning of the song.

[00:38:08] Vocally, I'm not like, oh, wow.

[00:38:09] I was getting blown away.

[00:38:10] But in terms of what the girls would sing about, the women, the funky divas themselves

[00:38:14] would sing about, this would definitely be up there.

[00:38:17] It's cold.

[00:38:18] Not cold.

[00:38:18] It's cool and confident.

[00:38:20] And I think the group, the honeys, the honeys needed that for sure.

[00:38:23] I feel like maybe, though, this good girl gone bad came a little bit too late in the game

[00:38:31] for them.

[00:38:32] It's great, but like, hmm, I don't know.

[00:38:36] The video is hysterical to me.

[00:38:39] Turning it on and watching the asphyxiation in the beginning.

[00:38:46] What the heck?

[00:38:47] I mean, that is so wild.

[00:38:50] Like, we never see him again suddenly.

[00:38:52] And I'm like, wow, they 86ed that guy.

[00:38:54] They 86ed him.

[00:38:55] He's gone.

[00:38:56] But then he shows up in the B-roll.

[00:38:58] And I'm like, what is this?

[00:38:59] And then Naima, shout out to her for wearing that headpiece.

[00:39:03] It was giving you.

[00:39:07] It really was like, it was giving Mistress Naima.

[00:39:10] Good for her.

[00:39:10] Like, she rocked it during this live performance that they had on top of the paws with the latex.

[00:39:14] I loved that one.

[00:39:15] But it was just so funny watching her with this ponytail.

[00:39:17] But yeah, the video is just so, oh my God.

[00:39:20] It's a lot, but it's also good.

[00:39:23] Like, black and silver and just really cool looking with the men dancing and fighting the camera.

[00:39:30] It was good.

[00:39:30] And I think the hitting on my best friend line in the song is wild.

[00:39:33] Especially with what we find out later with Naima and Mariyama.

[00:39:36] We'll get to that in a second, y'all.

[00:39:38] Spoiler.

[00:39:38] A little one, you know?

[00:39:40] Yeah.

[00:39:40] So, yeah.

[00:39:40] I also have to shout out the dance routine for Won't Take It Lighting Down is very fun.

[00:39:44] Right?

[00:39:45] Very fun.

[00:39:45] That one was good.

[00:39:45] Yeah.

[00:39:48] That's hilarious.

[00:39:49] All right.

[00:39:50] So, guys.

[00:39:50] A few more exclusive and other tracks were released and teased around this time, including the song Why, released exclusively on a Burger King promo CD, and what was supposed to be the next single.

[00:40:02] A cover of Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby, which even was performed and had remixes commissioned.

[00:40:20] In the summer of 2000, Mariyama decided to leave the group.

[00:40:25] She has since explained that the vibes were not good, alluding to a strained relationship with Naima.

[00:40:32] And one incident that Mariyama has since revealed is that Naima flirted very openly with Mariyama's boyfriend on the set of the Won't Take It Lighting Down video.

[00:40:43] So, Heavenly was quickly called by management and was asked to attend a meeting without any other context.

[00:40:48] And after showing up to the office, Selena and Naima also showed up, also with no knowledge of what was going on, and they were given an ultimatum.

[00:40:58] Heavenly needs to be back in the group or this is over.

[00:41:00] Uh-uh.

[00:41:01] So, we're back to the original lineup.

[00:41:03] Here we are.

[00:41:04] Uh-uh.

[00:41:05] Uh-uh.

[00:41:06] No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[00:41:08] No, no, no.

[00:41:08] What you're not going to do is ambush me.

[00:41:10] I hate when people do them.

[00:41:11] I can't believe they did that.

[00:41:12] Like, I've been ambushed by my mom.

[00:41:14] Like, when I was younger and I was beefy with my sister, she had, like, she called, like, an emergency meeting that I was not privy to.

[00:41:19] I feel like it was a freaking intervention.

[00:41:20] I was like, and everyone's sitting there like, we gotta talk.

[00:41:23] And I'm like, we ain't gotta talk about nothing.

[00:41:24] I didn't say that, but in my brain, I was like, wow, I feel so betrayed.

[00:41:27] I can only imagine what it's like.

[00:41:29] Your team member or your friend for how many years, pre-development through debut, is like, I fell in love and then leave.

[00:41:36] Excuse me.

[00:41:37] And ruined your chances of becoming a global pop sensation.

[00:41:43] What a sentence, yes.

[00:41:46] No, literally ruined your chances of becoming a global pop sensation.

[00:41:51] I would be so mad at her.

[00:41:53] Can you imagine?

[00:41:54] It's like, oh, you got a U.S. record deal.

[00:41:57] Like, we're ready to, you know, put all these resources behind you to turn you into the next big thing.

[00:42:01] And then it's like, oh, one of your members left that's not even the lead singer.

[00:42:04] Yeah, no, never mind.

[00:42:06] Yeah.

[00:42:06] Come on.

[00:42:07] And now she's back.

[00:42:09] Right.

[00:42:10] She regrets it.

[00:42:11] She's back.

[00:42:12] Yeah.

[00:42:12] It was so funny.

[00:42:13] I remember before we were talking about this, I said, why in the world would she even show up to a meeting?

[00:42:16] She didn't know what it was about.

[00:42:18] And you were like, well, maybe it was because like a royalty thing or blah, blah, blah.

[00:42:21] Because like, literally, why would you come through not knowing?

[00:42:24] But I mean, people have meetings.

[00:42:28] Unfortunately, this meeting was one of those like, listen, we can put y'all back together.

[00:42:34] But it's going to be her.

[00:42:36] You know, it's tough.

[00:42:37] It's really tough.

[00:42:39] I would be so mad.

[00:42:40] Shout out to Selena.

[00:42:41] I mean, she wasn't having it.

[00:42:43] She was not having it.

[00:42:45] In like an interview, she said she remember her coming through and being like, I'm not talking to this girl.

[00:42:49] Yeah, Heavenly was like, they wouldn't even look at me.

[00:42:51] I don't know.

[00:42:52] I don't know if I could look at her either.

[00:42:54] No.

[00:42:55] Just where you're coming from.

[00:42:57] Where are you coming from, young lady?

[00:42:58] And shout out to Mariyama for being brave for leaving.

[00:43:00] Because honestly, it's better to be broke than broken.

[00:43:03] All right.

[00:43:03] What we're not going to do is stress me out.

[00:43:06] Okay.

[00:43:06] Come on out.

[00:43:07] Bars.

[00:43:10] And just moving right along, too, about the music that they released.

[00:43:13] It is so weird.

[00:43:15] So, so weird with the music.

[00:43:16] Because it's like, those songs that were commissioned by fast food and beverage commercials were next.

[00:43:23] Pepsi was killing it.

[00:43:25] Burger King surprise.

[00:43:26] Why is so good?

[00:43:28] Like, come on.

[00:43:29] It's so good.

[00:43:31] Sorry.

[00:43:31] I look so upset.

[00:43:32] Because it's interesting.

[00:43:33] Because it's like, apparently the radio edit of, was it?

[00:43:37] Not why, but like Love to Love You, which was an interpolation.

[00:43:40] Because the verses were so different.

[00:43:41] And featured Mariyama.

[00:43:42] And that sing, talky kind of sub-vocal stuff.

[00:43:45] It was recorded with a U.S. producer named Candyman.

[00:43:48] It was recorded during a trip to L.A.

[00:43:51] So, the girls were in America at one point.

[00:43:53] Damn.

[00:43:53] Mm-hmm.

[00:43:54] Hello.

[00:43:54] So, they're in L.A.

[00:43:55] They record the songs.

[00:43:56] They recorded, not even gone on a trip.

[00:43:58] And then their upcoming Harmony album cut, Best Man, with Candyman at the time.

[00:44:03] So, like, it would have been such a good release.

[00:44:05] Those two songs would have been a great official release.

[00:44:07] Like, it would have been perfect for them.

[00:44:09] And they're both really strong tracks.

[00:44:12] Yeah.

[00:44:12] The Love to Love You Baby cover is so good.

[00:44:14] Yes.

[00:44:15] It is so good.

[00:44:17] Like, it's such a great interpretation of that song because it's so perfectly 2000s, like,

[00:44:22] disco R&B of that time.

[00:44:24] And yeah, the whole breathy, sultry thing, that works so well for their voices as well.

[00:44:29] Dude, so frustrating.

[00:44:30] You know?

[00:44:31] So frustrating.

[00:44:33] And yeah, just thinking back to this whole situation, I just don't understand record

[00:44:40] labels and management at the time.

[00:44:43] Me either now.

[00:44:43] Because it just makes no sense.

[00:44:44] Like, this happens to so many groups.

[00:44:46] Like, this is the same story that you hear.

[00:44:48] It's like, management did not do a good job, like, mediating our little quibbles with each

[00:44:54] other.

[00:44:55] And so then the tension would grow.

[00:44:56] And then everyone's unhappy.

[00:44:58] And there's always stories of the management and stuff actually even egging it on and making

[00:45:02] it worse and tearing these people apart.

[00:45:05] Yeah.

[00:45:05] And then you just ruin everything.

[00:45:07] Like, you ruin it for the label, too.

[00:45:10] Like, I just don't understand why, like, mental health and, like, relationship building wasn't

[00:45:15] on anyone's minds as a way to kind of keep a group going.

[00:45:20] Like, this is crazy.

[00:45:21] Hello.

[00:45:22] Say it louder.

[00:45:22] And then, having Heavenly come back and not even warning them.

[00:45:28] So stressful.

[00:45:29] Weird.

[00:45:29] That's crazy.

[00:45:31] Yeah.

[00:45:31] Like, what do you expect?

[00:45:32] Of course it's not gonna go well.

[00:45:34] Well, that's some weirdo stuff, bro.

[00:45:37] That's so weird.

[00:45:37] Because it is disrespectful as well.

[00:45:40] Because it just seems like interchangeable parts.

[00:45:42] And it's like, well, listen, if you don't want to make the part fit, we're throwing the

[00:45:44] car out.

[00:45:44] You know?

[00:45:45] It's like, not okay.

[00:45:46] It's crazy.

[00:45:47] Like, of course, there's a level of, you know, everyone who goes to work, there's always

[00:45:51] co-workers that you don't get along with, you know, as well as others.

[00:45:56] But it's a different dynamic in a pop group.

[00:46:00] You know?

[00:46:00] They're around each other, like, 24-7.

[00:46:02] And there's so much more to the dynamic.

[00:46:05] And maybe people just didn't realize that.

[00:46:07] I mean, we're kind of seeing that now with some of the K-pop stuff that's been going on,

[00:46:10] right?

[00:46:10] Yeah.

[00:46:11] So, I don't know.

[00:46:12] This is just insane to me.

[00:46:13] Mm-hmm.

[00:46:14] That this is...

[00:46:14] It's just the same story for all these groups.

[00:46:16] And you just ruin it for everybody.

[00:46:18] It's weird.

[00:46:19] Maybe they felt like they were doing a lot in terms of, like, the back end where it's

[00:46:22] like, we're getting you the songs.

[00:46:23] We're getting you the Burger King deal.

[00:46:25] We're getting you, you know, your...

[00:46:28] We're giving you attention.

[00:46:29] We're putting you on top.

[00:46:29] We're giving you the video.

[00:46:31] Just do your job.

[00:46:32] You know?

[00:46:32] For them, maybe they're just like, we don't give a F, which sucks.

[00:46:35] That's crazy.

[00:46:38] Time for a recess break.

[00:46:40] Come back for part two where we discuss the singles released after Heavenly's return,

[00:46:44] the split, and the various reunions and lineups that have occurred in the last 20 years.

[00:46:49] See you there.

[00:46:49] See you there.