TrueBliss
Encyclopedia
TrueBliss were a New Zealand pop
girl group
formed in April 1999. The band were formed on the popular television show Popstars
, which aired on TV2 for nine weeks in the search for a new girl group. TrueBliss were the first ever group to be formed under the Popstars banner, before the concept was sold to Australia
(who formed the group Bardot in similar style), continental Europe
, the UK
(who later started Pop Idol
and The X Factor
) and the United States
(who later started American Idol
and The X Factor USA
).
, Keri Harper, Erika Takacs, Carly Binding
and Megan Alatini
, were taken from obscurity to instant stardom overnight while enjoying commercial success with their #1 single "Tonight". TrueBliss were managed by Jonathan Dowling, and briefly by Simon Grigg
, although on TV they were portrayed as being managed by Peter Urlich
, one of New Zealand's most notable music gurus, and enjoyed three single releases with label Columbia
, an imprint of Sony Music
.
The girls signed sponsorship deals with Pepsi
and Burger King
before embarking on the 'Number One Tour' across 17 towns nationwide. Demand for tickets to the shows was so strong that matinee performances were put on in most venues.
'Number One' was the follow-up to ‘Tonight’, achieving a #12 position on the New Zealand charts. Its video was, and remains to this day, the most expensive New Zealand music video. In September 1999 a cover of the George Michael
penned ‘Freedom’ was released but failed to chart due to changes in chart reporting. Columbia
discussed a follow-up album to the platinum 11-track debut Dream
in 1999, but it was never recorded. The planned first single 'We Kissed' was written by Carly Binding
who then left the band in early 2000 citing personal differences. She has since gone on to record a string of hits.
later married All Black Pita Alatini
. She also opened a hair braiding shop in Dunedin she ran herself. In July 2006 Megan Alatini
reappeared on screens in NZ Idol as the new female judge along with Iain Stables
and Frankie Stevens
. She also played Java in Cloud 9's The Tribe along with her two sisters Monique Cassie
and Meryl Cassie
and Atlantis High by the same production company where she played Dr. Legges. Megan and her sisters recorded music for the shows including the opening and closing songs to The Tribe . Megan also competed on the third season of New Zealand's 'Dancing with the Stars' finishing a controversial second place. Post Dancing With The Stars the sisters formed a band called Nubian Angelz (Dark Angels) performing at private functions and events with the hope of recording some new music. She has appeared as a celebrity guest on many shows and is passionate about her Charity work. Megan is currently in Japan with her family.
Carly Binding
has had the most successful career afterwards scoring six top 40 hits and a gold-selling album 'Passenger' as well as donating her hit song 'This Is It' to the New Zealand AIDS Foundation's 'Love Is...' campaign. Her new album 'So Radiate' was released on 3 July 2006.
Joe Cotton was the winner of Pop's Ultimate Star
in 2007. The show showcased winners of various Kiwi singing contests over recent years. Her other screen work included hosting TV2's Thursday-Saturday ‘M2’ show (a graveyard shift alternative music programme). Joe left M2 (when it was cancelled in February 2003) and after appearing on 'Celebrity Treasure Island' is now a fill-in host on the C4 music channel show 'Select Live'. She has recently appeared on the shows 'The Great New Zealand Spelling Bee', 'Pop Goes The Weasel' and 'Celebrity Joker Poker'. After hosting her own show on the New Zealand radio station "The Edge
" she is now co-host on More FM Auckland's breakfast show. She was also the vocal coach for Boyband and did backing vocals on their b-side Pour Some Sugar On Me
from their chart-topping single You Really Got Me
.
Erika Takacs hosted the weekly ‘Coke RTR Top 20’ show which was cancelled after two seasons. Her contract with the chain store Video Ezy
expired at the same time. However she continues to appear on celebrity shows and was signed to Sony for a single 'Do It' which remains unreleased.
Keri Harper kept the lowest profile post-TrueBliss although a song called 'Atmosphere' was produced by Che Fu
it has never been released. She has also had cameos in the finale song of the 2002 “Coca Cola Christmas in the Park” (Auckland performance) and, in 2005, in the series final of the charitable show So You Wanna Be A Popstar? with all other True Bliss members except Binding. Keri has continued with theatre work including a stint with Michael Barrymore
in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. In 2007 Keri competed in Pop's Ultimate Star
, but was the first contestant to be eliminated.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
formed in April 1999. The band were formed on the popular television show Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
, which aired on TV2 for nine weeks in the search for a new girl group. TrueBliss were the first ever group to be formed under the Popstars banner, before the concept was sold to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(who formed the group Bardot in similar style), continental Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(who later started Pop Idol
Pop Idol
Pop Idol is a British television series which debuted on ITV on 6 October 2001. The show was a talent contest to decide the best new young pop singer in the United Kingdom, based on viewer voting and participation. Two series were broadcast - one in 2001-02 and a second in 2003...
and The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
) and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(who later started American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
and The X Factor USA
The X Factor (U.S.)
The X Factor is an American television music competition to find new singing talent. The show is produced by creator Simon Cowell's company SYCOtv. It premiered on September 21, 2011 on Fox....
).
Formation
Five girls, Joe CottonJoe Cotton
Joanne Monique "Joe" Cotton, born September 25, 1978, is a Canadian-born New Zealand pop singer who gained recognition as one fifth of the girl group TrueBliss, formed in 1999 on Popstars. Cotton has since joined a cover band, The Mermaids Danceband...
, Keri Harper, Erika Takacs, Carly Binding
Carly Binding
Carly Binding is a New Zealand pop singer-songwriter, and former member of the girl group TrueBliss. In 2000 she left the group, citing personal differences, and decided to pursue a solo career. Her debut solo album Passenger peaked at #6 on the New Zealand album charts and went gold. It was also...
and Megan Alatini
Megan Alatini
Megan Bronwinne Alatini is a South African born New Zealand pop singer, actress and television personality. She rose to fame in New Zealand on the reality television series Popstars. She went on to become a member in the girl group TrueBliss. She is also known for portraying the part of Java in...
, were taken from obscurity to instant stardom overnight while enjoying commercial success with their #1 single "Tonight". TrueBliss were managed by Jonathan Dowling, and briefly by Simon Grigg
Simon Grigg
Simon Grigg is a New Zealand music businessman, writer, radio host, publisher, producer, DJ and archivist. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he attended Palmerston North Boys High, Auckland Grammar and the University of Auckland.-Punk rock:...
, although on TV they were portrayed as being managed by Peter Urlich
Peter Urlich
Peter Urlich is a New Zealand musician. He is one of the few NZ musicians who has managed to successfully cross the rock/house genre divide, performing successfully in both.-Early years:...
, one of New Zealand's most notable music gurus, and enjoyed three single releases with label Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, an imprint of Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
.
The girls signed sponsorship deals with Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
and Burger King
Burger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
before embarking on the 'Number One Tour' across 17 towns nationwide. Demand for tickets to the shows was so strong that matinee performances were put on in most venues.
'Number One' was the follow-up to ‘Tonight’, achieving a #12 position on the New Zealand charts. Its video was, and remains to this day, the most expensive New Zealand music video. In September 1999 a cover of the George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
penned ‘Freedom’ was released but failed to chart due to changes in chart reporting. Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
discussed a follow-up album to the platinum 11-track debut Dream
Dream (TrueBliss album)
Dream is New Zealand pop band TrueBliss's first and only album, released in 1999 in New Zealand on the Columbia Records label.-Album information:The lead single, "Tonight", was a number one hit in New Zealand and the biggest-selling single of 1999 there...
in 1999, but it was never recorded. The planned first single 'We Kissed' was written by Carly Binding
Carly Binding
Carly Binding is a New Zealand pop singer-songwriter, and former member of the girl group TrueBliss. In 2000 she left the group, citing personal differences, and decided to pursue a solo career. Her debut solo album Passenger peaked at #6 on the New Zealand album charts and went gold. It was also...
who then left the band in early 2000 citing personal differences. She has since gone on to record a string of hits.
Post TrueBliss
South African-born Megan CassieMegan Alatini
Megan Bronwinne Alatini is a South African born New Zealand pop singer, actress and television personality. She rose to fame in New Zealand on the reality television series Popstars. She went on to become a member in the girl group TrueBliss. She is also known for portraying the part of Java in...
later married All Black Pita Alatini
Pita Alatini
Pita Faiva-ki-moana Alatini is a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union footballer. Alatini is a midfield back who played in 17 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2001, scoring 6 test tries....
. She also opened a hair braiding shop in Dunedin she ran herself. In July 2006 Megan Alatini
Megan Alatini
Megan Bronwinne Alatini is a South African born New Zealand pop singer, actress and television personality. She rose to fame in New Zealand on the reality television series Popstars. She went on to become a member in the girl group TrueBliss. She is also known for portraying the part of Java in...
reappeared on screens in NZ Idol as the new female judge along with Iain Stables
Iain Stables
Iain Philip Stables is a New Zealand radio disc jockey. In the past Stables worked on various radio stations across New Zealand beginning his radio career on Radio Windy in Wellington at the age of 14...
and Frankie Stevens
Frankie Stevens
Frankie Stevens is a New Zealand entertainer and singer. He is best known as a judge for all three seasons on the reality series New Zealand Idol.-Early career:...
. She also played Java in Cloud 9's The Tribe along with her two sisters Monique Cassie
Monique Cassie
Monique Cassie is a South African-born singer, actress and dancer. She is currently living in Auckland, New Zealand.-Biography:...
and Meryl Cassie
Meryl Cassie
Meryl Danielle Cassie is a New Zealand actress and singer. She is most famous for her role as Ebony in the sci-fi series The Tribe, but has also appeared in other series, such as Revelations - The Initial Journey, Shortland Street and Hercules.She is also a talented singer, and sung the theme song...
and Atlantis High by the same production company where she played Dr. Legges. Megan and her sisters recorded music for the shows including the opening and closing songs to The Tribe . Megan also competed on the third season of New Zealand's 'Dancing with the Stars' finishing a controversial second place. Post Dancing With The Stars the sisters formed a band called Nubian Angelz (Dark Angels) performing at private functions and events with the hope of recording some new music. She has appeared as a celebrity guest on many shows and is passionate about her Charity work. Megan is currently in Japan with her family.
Carly Binding
Carly Binding
Carly Binding is a New Zealand pop singer-songwriter, and former member of the girl group TrueBliss. In 2000 she left the group, citing personal differences, and decided to pursue a solo career. Her debut solo album Passenger peaked at #6 on the New Zealand album charts and went gold. It was also...
has had the most successful career afterwards scoring six top 40 hits and a gold-selling album 'Passenger' as well as donating her hit song 'This Is It' to the New Zealand AIDS Foundation's 'Love Is...' campaign. Her new album 'So Radiate' was released on 3 July 2006.
Joe Cotton was the winner of Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star was TV2's reality television show which pits former reality contestants againest each other, most of whom are former NZ Idol contestants. The show was produced by Eyeworks Touchdown, with first prize $50,000 and a Kia 'Rio' car. It is hosted by Dominic Bowden and was originally...
in 2007. The show showcased winners of various Kiwi singing contests over recent years. Her other screen work included hosting TV2's Thursday-Saturday ‘M2’ show (a graveyard shift alternative music programme). Joe left M2 (when it was cancelled in February 2003) and after appearing on 'Celebrity Treasure Island' is now a fill-in host on the C4 music channel show 'Select Live'. She has recently appeared on the shows 'The Great New Zealand Spelling Bee', 'Pop Goes The Weasel' and 'Celebrity Joker Poker'. After hosting her own show on the New Zealand radio station "The Edge
The Edge (radio station)
The Edge FM is a MediaWorks New Zealand New Zealand youth radio network, playing predominantly pop, rock and R&B. The network's flagship is The Morning Madhouse with Jay Jay Feeney, Mike Puru and Dom Harvey....
" she is now co-host on More FM Auckland's breakfast show. She was also the vocal coach for Boyband and did backing vocals on their b-side Pour Some Sugar On Me
Pour Some Sugar on Me
"Pour Some Sugar on Me" is a song by British hard rock band Def Leppard from their 1987 album Hysteria. It reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100...
from their chart-topping single You Really Got Me
You Really Got Me
"You Really Got Me" is a rock song written by Ray Davies and performed by his band, The Kinks. It was released on 4th August 1964 as the group's third single, and reached Number 1 on the UK singles chart the next month, remaining for two weeks...
.
Erika Takacs hosted the weekly ‘Coke RTR Top 20’ show which was cancelled after two seasons. Her contract with the chain store Video Ezy
Video Ezy
Video Ezy is Australia's largest video and DVD rental chain with over 550 stores within Australia as well as over 140 stores in New Zealand and 200 throughout South-East Asia. It was founded in 1983.- Competition :...
expired at the same time. However she continues to appear on celebrity shows and was signed to Sony for a single 'Do It' which remains unreleased.
Keri Harper kept the lowest profile post-TrueBliss although a song called 'Atmosphere' was produced by Che Fu
Che Fu
Che Fu MNZM is a New Zealand Hip hop/R&B and Reggae recording artist and producer. Originally one part of the band Supergroove, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand and internationally, including in Australia and the UK.-History:Fu is one of New Zealand's...
it has never been released. She has also had cameos in the finale song of the 2002 “Coca Cola Christmas in the Park” (Auckland performance) and, in 2005, in the series final of the charitable show So You Wanna Be A Popstar? with all other True Bliss members except Binding. Keri has continued with theatre work including a stint with Michael Barrymore
Michael Barrymore
Michael Kieron Parker , better known by his stage name Michael Barrymore, is a British comedian who appeared as a presenter of game shows and light entertainment programmes on British television in the 1980s and 1990s. These included Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People, My Kind of Music and Kids Say...
in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. In 2007 Keri competed in Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star
Pop's Ultimate Star was TV2's reality television show which pits former reality contestants againest each other, most of whom are former NZ Idol contestants. The show was produced by Eyeworks Touchdown, with first prize $50,000 and a Kia 'Rio' car. It is hosted by Dominic Bowden and was originally...
, but was the first contestant to be eliminated.
Discography
| Date of Release | Title | Label | Charted | Certification | Catalog Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albums | ||||||
| 1999 1999 in music -Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia.... |
Dream Dream (TrueBliss album) Dream is New Zealand pop band TrueBliss's first and only album, released in 1999 in New Zealand on the Columbia Records label.-Album information:The lead single, "Tonight", was a number one hit in New Zealand and the biggest-selling single of 1999 there... |
Columbia Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
#1 (NZ) | 2 x platinum | ||
Singles
| Year | Single | Album | NZ Singles Chart | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "Tonight" | Dream | #1 | 3 x platinum |
| 1999 | "Number One" | Dream | #12 | - |
| 2000 | "Freedom" | Dream | Did Not Chart | - |