As was a common sight on British television in the early 21st century, the studio audience hushed as Davina McCall prepared to announce the winner of ITV’s Popstars: The Rivals. When Girls Aloud’s single “Sound of the Underground” was named the victor – winning 2002’s coveted Christmas No 1 position in the UK singles charts – it signified a changing of the guard in British pop.
The song, an audacious fusion of Nineties jungle and twanging Fifties surf guitar, jump-started an unimpeachable run of top 10 singles that continued through the decade, up to the group’s eventual split in 2013. Girls Aloud are releasing a special 7-inch vinyl edition of the track for its 20th anniversary to raise money for the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal. Harding, one of the group’s five singers, died last year aged 39.
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