Bandana (pop band)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Bandana


Img_capt = Bandana
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Buenos Aires, Argentina
Genre = Dance-pop
Pop
Years_active = 2001–2004
Label = Sony BMG
Current_members = Ivonne Guzmán
Lourdes Cecilia Fernández
Valeria Gastaldi
Virginia Da Cunha
María Elizabeth Vera
URL = [http://bandana.terra.com.ar/ctematicos/bandana2003/bandana2003.html Official website]

Bandana were a Latin Grammy-nominated female pop group from Buenos Aires, Argentina. They saw both local and international success from 2001 until 2004 when they disbanded. In total, they released 3 studio albums, 1 live album and DVD, and a film starring themselves.

Members

The group consisted of 5 girls:

* Ivonne Guzmán
* Lourdes Cecilia Fernández
* Valeria Gastaldi
* Virginia Da Cunha
* María Elizabeth Vera

All the girls hailed from Buenos Aires, apart from Guzmán, who is a native of Colombia

Casting

Formed in 2001 on the reality TV show Popstars, 5 girls were selected from 1,000's of contestants who had attended the casting. Their emergence coincided with a period of nationwide economic depression. As such, their success contrasted greatly with the general mood of the country, & one of the judges commented that "this was an opportunity to shine at a very downbeat moment for Argentina". [ [http://www.pagina12.com.ar/2001/01-11/01-11-14/pag29.htm "El sueño del estrellato veloz convertido en realidad"] Página 12 Article Julián Gorodischer 01-11-2001] The final line-up was unusual in the sense that the girls didn't conform to traditional ideas of beauty: Ivonne wore braces & Lourdes was known as "la peti" ("shorty") due to her height. Judge Afo Verde noted that "appearance didn't matter to us, what each girl conveyed was most important". [ [http://www.pagina12.com.ar/2001/01-11/01-11-14/pag29.htm "El sueño del estrellato veloz convertido en realidad"] Página 12 Article Julián Gorodischer 01-11-2001]

Musical History

Their first self-titled album, "Bandana", was the best-selling album of the year in Argentina, turning platinum soon after release. [ [http://www.music.com/group/bandana/2/biography/ Biography] Music.com, Drago Bonacich 18-06-2004] It spawned a number of hits including "Cómo Puede Ser", "Guapas" & "Maldita Noche". They also completed a successful tour, selling-out Buenos Aires' biggest theatre, Teatro Gran Rex, more than 40 times during winter vacations (July). Later in 2002, they recorded a Spanish version of Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley "(Muero De Amor Por Tí)," for the Disney film Lilo & Stitch . In 2002, they released their second album, Noche (Night), which wasn't as successful as the first but it was still the best-selling album of the year. They also won Best New Artist—Southeast at the MTV Video Music Awards Latin America. [ [http://www.mtvla.com/canal/especiales/vmala/02/nominados/artistanuevosureste.jhtml?i=4 Best New Artist Southeast - Winners,] MTVLA.com - MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamérica] In December 2002, they performed a joint concert with Mambrú in the Vélez Sarsfield stadium.

In order to promote themselves internationally, they travelled to the USA, appearing in New York & Miami [ [http://www.music.com/group/bandana/2/biography/ Biography,] Music.com, Drago Bonacich 18-06-2004] & also featuring on the cover of Billboard Magazine. This was notable for being the first time that an Argentine group had achieved this feat [ [http://www.terra.com.ar/canales/musica/75/75217.html '¡Las chicas en la tapa de Billboard!',] Article, Terra.com.ar 15-08-2003] .

They disbanded in 2004.

Cultural Impact

Following on from a trend established by the Spice Girls in the UK & internationally in the late 1990s, Bandana became a carefully marketed product which was especially popular among young girls. Many licensed products with their brand were available to purchase, and contributed to the heightened interest in the group, occasionally referred to as 'Bandanamania'. [ [http://www.mtvla.com/bands/az/bandana/bio.jhtml Biography] MTVLA.com] Their signature bandanas of varying colours were quickly imitated by the teen population, as were their lyrics & dance routines. [ [http://www.mtvla.com/bands/az/bandana/bio.jhtml Biography] MTVLA.com]

Vivir Intentando (Go For It)

In 2003 they released their first movie, Vivir Intentando, filmed on location in Buenos Aires. It premiered in Argentina on the 14th June 2003, [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346571/releaseinfo IMDB] Release Dates] & met with mixed reviews. One critic claimed it a success "thanks to the competent technical aspects, precise use of emotion that plays with the audience, but above all, the atmosphere which it creates in the cinema". [ [http://www.zonafreak.com.ar/pantallag/vivir_intentando.htm 'El espectáculo del año',] Review - Zonafreak.com.ar, Ygnacio Cervio] Others were less complimentary, commenting "their acting talents are just passable.....the songs shine due to the absence thereof.....& the script comes straight from the 'teenager dreams of being a singer' handbook". [ [http://www.clarin.com/diario/2003/06/26/c-00701.htm 'Una oportunidad fallida'] Clarin.com, Review - Diego Lerer 26-06-2003] In spite of this, the movie grossed over ARS 10,500,000. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0346571/business IMDB] Box Office/Business]

Discography

Albums

* "Bandana" (2001)
**Label: Sony BMG
**Copies sold: 2,500,000
* "Noche" (2002)
**Label: Sony BMG
**Copies sold: 1,800,000
* "Vivir Intentando (Go for It)" (2003)
**Label: Sony BMG
**Copies sold: 1,500,000
* "Hasta Siempre" (2004) - "Live Hits album"
**Label: Sony BMG
**Copies sold: 700,000

DVDs

* "Vivir Intentando" (2003)
* "Hasta Siempre" (2004) - Live hits

Tours

* "Gira Argentina" (2002-2003)
* "Gira España y Latin America"' (2003-2004)
* "Gira Argentina: Hasta Siempre" (2004)

ingles

* 2001: "Guapas"
* 2002: "Cómo Puede Ser"
* 2002: "Muero de Amor Por Ti" (for the film "Lilo & Stitch")
* 2002: "Llega La Noche"
* 2002: "Un Demonio"
* 2003: "Sigo Dando Vueltas"
* 2003: "Hasta El Día de Hoy"
* 2003: "Canto Con Vos"

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Awards and nominations

* MTV Video Music Awards Latin America
** 2002: Best New Artist - WON [ [http://www.mtvla.com/canal/especiales/vmala/02/nominados/artistanuevosureste.jhtml?i=4 Best New Artist Southeast - Winners,] MTVLA.com - MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamérica]

* Premios CAPIF:
**2002: Best Pop Band - Nominated [ [http://www.capif.org.ar/PremiosGardel.asp?CodOp=GAQV&CO=8 CAPIF Oficial] ]
**2002: Best New Artist - Nominated [ [http://www.capif.org.ar/PremiosGardel.asp?CodOp=GAQV&CO=8 CAPIF Oficial] ]
**2002: Best Music Publishing - Nominated [ [http://www.capif.org.ar/PremiosGardel.asp?CodOp=GAQV&CO=8 CAPIF Oficial] ]
**2003: Best Pop Album - Nominated [ [http://www.capif.org.ar/PremiosGardel.asp?CodOp=GAQV&CO=8 CAPIF Oficial] ]
**2004: Best Pop Album - Nominated [ [http://www.capif.org.ar/PremiosGardel.asp?CodOp=GAQV&CO=8 CAPIF Oficial] ]

See also

* List of all-female bands

References

External links

* [http://guapasxsiempre.ar.nu Official Website "En Español"]

*
* [http://www.emimusica.com.ar/comunicacion/lourdes_televisivamente/index-flash.html Lourdes Fernández's webpage at EMI Argentina]
* [http://www.lourdesweb.com.ar/index-flash.html Lourdes Fernández's Oficial Site]
* [http://www.viriweb.com/ Virginia Da Cunha's Personal Site]
* [http://www.valeriagastaldi.net/ Valeria Gastaldi's Oficial Site]
* [http://www.generacionvg.com.ar/ Valeria Gastaldi's Fans Club Site]