Fifth Harmony

It’s easy to see the similarities between 2010s teen-pop powerhouses Fifth Harmony and One Direction. Both groups initially had five members, were formed on The X Factor and finished third in their respective seasons. However, while One Direction gleefully embraced the classic boy-band handbook, the members of Fifth Harmony—Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Normani Kordei, Dinah Jane and Lauren Jauregui—put a decidedly modern spin on traditional girl-group tropes. Their 2013 debut single, “Miss Movin’ On”, possesses echoes of 2000s emo-rock, although the group became known for wielding a sleek style indebted to neon-hued ’80s electro and ’90s hip-hop. On their first two albums, 2015’s Reflection and 2016’s 7/27, they embraced the mid-2010s pop empowerment boom, espousing the power of a healthy self-image (“Worth It”) and sexual assertiveness (“Work from Home”). And as their name implies, the group favoured flawless five-part harmonies, which had undeniable roots in both ’70s soul groups and ’90s R&B acts. Even after Cabello left in 2016, Fifth Harmony didn’t miss a step, releasing a self-titled album as a quartet the following year and using their shared history as a springboard for successful solo careers after the group went on hiatus in 2018.