INTOXICATED

INTOXICATED are a British pop/rnb girlgroup, formed by Wired Records back in 2006, although some of the girls - Charlee and Candy knew each other before the initial auditions for the girlgroup took place. The girls have had huge success in the UK with three #01 singles and a #01 album, as well as success in the US, topping the Billboard Hot 100 with their most successful single to date, They Call Her Pandora. The girls haven't released any new material since 2008, however they have reformed and plan to release new single SkyHigh on September 26 2011, with a new lineup consisting of Charlee, Sara & Candy.

Early career
The girls were formed by Wired Records who wanted to launch an exciting new girlgroup in the UK. They held auditions in London, UK which saw thousands of girls apply for the part, and they formed in the summer of 2006 with Charlee, Tina, Candy, Sara, Gina & Amy all making the group. The girls were all known for their exciting and differing personalities; Charlee for her sarcastic and promiscuous attitude, Sara for her naivity and her stupidity, Candy for her ghetto-loving ways, Tina often being referred to as the bitch of the group, Amy being the sensible but boring one and Gina unfortunately known mostly for her bad looks and transexual rumours. This initial line-up however unfortunately only lasted for their debut album era, Flirting Games, when Gina Matthews shortly left afterwards due to rumours of bullying within the group.

Flirting Games era
INTOXICATED's debut single Diamonds was written and produced by popgroup Phoenix, and was released on 14th January 2007 with their promotion beginning in December 2006. The track was described as a club-banger and was hugely hyped up, with the girls promoting it endlessly and officially charted at #02 on the official singles chart, just behind Izzy with the biggest selling single of that year Any Man Mine On 04 February 2007, the girls released their debut album Flirting Games which was described as mostly RnB in sound, and very commercial sounding. The album was a relative success for the girls and charted officially at #05 on the official albums chart, which would end up being it's peak position on the charts. The album wasn't such a hit with the critics, many slating it for it's generic sound and tired lyrics, with some even stating that the girls wouldn't last over a year. The girls spawned a further two singles from the album, Pass Us By/LadyLike which was a collabration with RnB diva Loretta Lambert, which charted officially at #04 on the official singles chart, and a further top twn hit with Scared Of The Dark which is their lowest selling single to date as it charted and peaked at a disappointing #07 on the singles chart, closing the debut album era.

Under The Influence era
In July 2007 it was reported that the girls had begun work on their sophomore album Under The Influence, which would end up being a huge turn-around for the girls, scoring them not only a #01 album but three consecutive #01 singles. On 29 August 2009, the girls premiered their comeback single Sound The Horns on Radio 1 to rave reviews, many fans citing it as their best single to date. It was also the first single to be written by the girls themselves, the single got a huge promotional campaign including appearances at TRL, covering Attitude magazine, and Sara even striking a deal in hosting POPBOX. Sound The Horns quickly became their biggest selling as well as their highest charting as it got to #01 and managed to stay there for two weeks! Later that year, the girls confirmed their second single off of the album and the one to launch their sophomore album would be the Tiara Coles penned Ether which would be released on Christmas week. It received it's first play on 05 November 2007 on Capital FM, to great reviews, being their most critically acclaimed single to date due to it's haunting melody, unusual for a popgroup as well as it's well-written lyrics and impressive lead vocals from Candy. The girls managed to beat off competition from the likes of Izzy and Christine Tyler to become Christmas #01, and ended up at #01 for two consecutive weeks. The girls soon released their sophomore album Under The Influence after on 6th January 2008, with writing and production credits from the likes of Tiara Coles, Shell Ruin and Alesha. Unlike their debut album, critics praised the album for it's forward-thinking production on the tracks, catchy hooks and clever lyrics, it stormed to #01 when released and became a huge seller for the girls. The girls ended the era with their biggest selling and most well known hit to date, the Shell Ruin written hit They Call Her Pandora, which has became a fan favourite and Intoxicated's signature hit to most. The single was released on 6th April 2008, with another huge promotional campaign behind it, it became the girls fourth consecutive #01 hit, and also spent two weeks at #01 too! The single was most notable however, for the departure of Gina Matthews ... and although unknown at the time would be the last single that Tina and Amy would feature on.

Return to music and third studio album era
Despite many failed attempts during the girls' three year hiatus, they hadn't managed to officially release anything since 2008's They Call Her Pandora. That is until recently, when it was confirmed that members, Tina & Amy had left the group controversially - leaving the current line-up as Charlee, Candy & Sara, who were widely known as the most popular members back in the day. On 17th August 2011, the girls confirmed on the Scott Mills show on Radio 1 that they would be returning to music, and were ready to release again. They also premiered their comeback single SkyHigh on the show, which was written by the girls themselves and their most hiphop/rnb influenced single to date. The girls are currently promoting the single with a huge promotional campaign including their own TV show, Road To Recovery shown on E4 from the 5th September 2011, as well as covering magazines such as Wonderland, Vibe & Heat and 4Music showing a special on them, including all their past music videos as well as premiering their new single's video. The girls face stiff competition from the likes of Aurora Reed, Amy Marshall, Josie Matthews, Cassie Diamond and Helena Rossi, and have already expressed concerns at their potential success.

Controversy
The girls have constantly been under the spotlight for their very public feuds inside the group, which left to Gina Matthews, Tina and Amy leaving the group. The girls were also heavily accused of bullying within the group that allegedly forced Gina Matthews to leaving the group due to stress.

Discography
Main article: INTOXICATED discography

Albums

 * 2007 Flirting Games
 * 2008 Under The Influence

Singles

 * 2007 Diamonds
 * 2007 Pass Us By/LadyLike
 * 2007 Scared Of The Dark
 * 2007 Sound The Horns
 * 2007 Ether
 * 2008 They Call Her Pandora
 * 2011 SkyHigh

Awards

 * 2007: Urapopstar Awards 14 - Best R&B (Nominated)
 * 2007: Urapopstar Awards 14 - Best Newcomer (Nominated)
 * 2007: Urapopstar Awards 14 - Best Collabration (Nominated)
 * 2007: Urapopstar Awards 14 - Best Group (WINNER)
 * 2008: Urapopstar Awards 15 - Best Single: Sound The Horns (Nominated)
 * 2008: Urapopstar Awards 15 - Best Group (Nominated)
 * 2008: Urapopstar Awards 15 - Best Live (Nominated)
 * 2008: Urapopstar Awards 15 - Best R&B (WINNER)
 * 2008: Urapopstar Awards 16 - Best R&B (Nominated)
 * 2008: Urapopstar Awards 16 - Best Group (Nominated)

Records

 * 2007 Uraps Rate 11 - #33 (69.00%)
 * 2009 Uraps Rate 12 - #18 (76.4%)