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The Voice
Group singing

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It was to re-emerge in the 90s with the rise of the boy band. Conceived as a British answer to New Kids on the Block, Take That initially worked the same territory as their American counterparts, singing watered-down new jack R&B, urban soul, and mainstream pop. The group worked toward Hi-NRG dance music but really hit their stride in the strong harmonies of power ballads. They combined a homosexual undercurrent with Gary Barlow’s melodic, sensitive ballads and even covered the Bee Gees’ hit 'How Deep Is Your Love'. For nearly five years, the group's popularity was unsurpassed in Britain, racking up seven number ones and selling more records than any band since The Beatles.  But in 1996 the baton was handed to Irish bands like Boyzone and West Life who don’t seem to be interested in relinquishing it.

The protest elements associated with harmony singing seem to have disappeared but the pure, pleasant nature of vocal harmony has come back into the popular consciousness.


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