Hear'Say (pic: UK Official Charts)
A quarter of a century ago Hear'Say became the winners of the reality music programme on British TV called Popstars (10M viewers) and were catapulted into the charts with their debut single Pure and Simple. The single sold 550,000 copies during the first week of release and became the 17th best selling UK single of the 2000's decade and was the fastest selling debut single, at that time.
Video: Hear'Say - Pure and Simple (2001)
Danny Foster, Myleene Klass, Kym Marsh, Suzanne Shaw, and Noel Sullivan became household names as Hear'Say became the biggest pop sensation of 2001. Fans filled record stores as singles and albums were released in quick succession and the five faces were plastered over magazines and newspapers almost daily. Hear'Say looked like they were here to stay.......
Hear'Say debut album Popstars, March 2001
The debut album Popstars was released on 26th March 2026, which was impressive since the quintet had only won the TV show bearing the same name. The album went straight to number one in the Official UK album charts, selling a whopping 306,631 copies in the first week, also breaking records for fastest selling debut album (at that time).
The Way To Your Love became the second number one single in July 2001 as Hear'Say went on from strength to strength. This was followed by some Summer festival appearances and a nationwide tour in August and September 2001. The record label were determined to milk Hear'Say dry by cramming in another studio album in time for Christmas 2001. Even though reality TV shows we're in their infancy, it became apparent very quickly that the British media would soon turn on the idols they had built up only months before.
Video: Hear'Say - Everybody (2001)
The second album Everybody was released in time for the Christmas charts, yet only managed to peak at number 24. Although the second Hear'Say album managed to go gold, the press had already written them off. The first track to be released was the title song and it managed a respectable chart position of number 4. There were six new entries in the UK Top 10 in the first week of December 2001 - competition was extremely fierce. S Club 7 were enjoying their eighth consecutive single to reach top three. The days for Hear'Say became numbered as Popstars the album and reality show faded into the background.
Hear'Say in 2001 (pic: ITV)
Much has been made about the rifts and splits concerning Hear'Say, but we wanted to celebrate the music, energy and happiness the band brought to thousands of fans around the United Kingdom and beyond. In August 2002, the final single, Lovin' Is Easy would feature a new addition to the band Johnny Shentall (replacing Kym Marsh). The track was another top 10 hit, reaching number 6 in the UK. After 20 months in the spotlight, Hear'Say were no more.
We are left wondering what could have been if the circumstances around Hear'Say had been different and the media had been kinder.
