Sound of the Underground (album) written with the aim of launching their own girl group. The song was originally recorded in 2001 by London girl group Orchid, who disbanded before gaining a firm record deal. It was chosen by Girls Aloud's manager Louis Walsh as their debut single. "Sound of the Underground" was 2002's Christmas number one single and spent a further three weeks at number one. "Sound of the Underground" and another Xenomania production, Sugababes' "Round Round", have been called "two huge groundbreaking hits", credited with reshaping British pop music for the 2000s. Following the single's success, Girls Aloud proceeded to begin recording their
Popstars: The Rivals that McDonald's has teamed up with us for what promises to be the most exciting hit this autumn". Popstars: The Rivals Popstars The Rivals (often stylised as Popstars: The Rivals) was a British television talent show series that was broadcast on ITV in late 2002. It was the second UK series of the international "Popstars" franchise. Unlike "Popstars", which resulted in the formation of one winning group, Hear'Say, "Popstars: The Rivals" created two rival groups, Girls Aloud and One True Voice, who competed against each other for the Christmas Number One spot on the UK Singles Chart. Girls Aloud would