Teen Queens

For the 1950s group of the same name, see The Teen Queens.
Teen Queens
Origin Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres Pop
Years active 1992 (1992)–1993 (1993)
Labels Westside/Phonogram
Past members Roxanne Clarke, Kellie Crawford, Liza Witt

Teen Queens were an Australian pop music girl group, formed in 1992 by three model-singer-actresses: Roxanne Clarke, Kelly Hoggart (later known as Kellie Crawford) and Liza Witt. In 1992 they scored three hit singles on the ARIA Charts with cover versions of "Be My Baby" (No. 6, May), "I Can't Help Myself" (No. 28, July) and "Love How You Love Me" (No. 14, September). The group's debut album, Get Happy!, appeared in November, which peaked at No. 36. The group disbanded in 1993. From 1998 to 2008 Crawford was a member of Hi-5, a children's music group aligned with a TV series of the same name.

Background

Teen Queens were formed in Sydney in 1992 by three model, singer, actresses: Roxanne Clarke, Kellie Hoggart (later known as Kellie Crawford) and Liza Witt.[1] A pilot episode was developed by the creators of E Street, a teen TV soap opera, for a self-titled half-hour TV program about a girl group set in 1960s.[1][2] According to The Canberra Times correspondent the show "follows three girls from the country who head to the city to make it big in the music world. Naturally all doesn't go according to plan."[2]

By the time that the pilot was turned down, the trio had made the group a reality as a dance-pop act.[1][2] In May 1992 their cover version of the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" became a No. 6 hit on the ARIA Singles Chart.[1][3] Their debut album, Get Happy!, was released on Westside Records/Phonogram in November 1992 and reached No. 36 on the related ARIA Albums Chart.[1][3] It included "some classic songs from the 60's."[2] Bevan Hannan of The Canberrra Times rated the album at 3 out of 10, he felt that it was "Manufactured pop... for aspiring musicians (?) like the Teen Queens, who supposedly have the world at their feet, why would you choose to play the type of material that clapped out rockers use on the RSL club circuit? Get Happy is a bit like that... it would probably be better to tune in to 2CA, or better still purchase one of the '60s rock box collections. The originals blow away this regurgitated stuff."[4]

The group also provided the vocals for a Coca-Cola TV ad.[2] In July 1992 the Teen Queens appeared on E Street as contestants on a fictitious, in-show dating game, Dream Date.[5] They had further top 40 singles including "I Can't Help Myself" (No. 28) in July 1992 and "Love How You Love Me" (No. 14) in September.[1][3] The latter track featured on an episode of E Street for the wedding theme for the characters of Toni and CJ.[2] A final single, "Baby It's You" was released in 1993, which peaked at No. 91. In June that year they performed the track on TV's Midday show, with backing by the station's Geoff Harvey band.[6] A second album, Get Happy II, appeared in July before the group disbanded.[1]

After Teen Queens

After the Teen Queens split in 1993, each member pursued solo projects. Crawford became a founding member of the children's music group, Hi-5, from August 1998 to December 2008: she appeared on the TV series of the same name.[7][8] Witt appeared on TV shows, Good Morning Australia and Mornings with Kerrie-Anne and, as from 2006, she hosted a TV online shopping site.[9]

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Teen Queens'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 28 August 2004.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Visit the Valley: Hyperdrome Holiday Happenings". The Canberra Times. 67 (20,983). 24 September 1992. p. 3 (Advertising Supplement). Retrieved 25 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hung, Steffen. "Discography The Teen Queens". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung). Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "G. W. McLennan lights up a burning love". The Canberra Times. 67 (21,080). 31 December 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 25 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Thursday July 23". The Canberra Times. 66 (20,917). 20 July 1992. p. 33. Retrieved 25 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ Jesse, Graham (1993). "'Baby it's you'". Retrieved 25 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ Scully, Anthony; Lazarevic, Jade, eds. (8 September 1999). "Hi-5 – New Kids' TV Craze". The Newcastle Post – TE Liftout [Archive]. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  8. ↑ "Kellie Crawford quits Hi-5". News.com.au. Australian Associated Press (AAP). 31 October 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  9. ↑ "Presenters: Liza Witt". TVSN. 2006. Archived from the original on 23 August 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  10. ↑ Teen Queens (1992), Get Happy!, Westside Records/Phonogram Records, retrieved 25 July 2016
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