We were busy with something important yesterday and were unable to mention the news that Liberty X are to split up, six years after forming on the first ever UK reality pop series.
There was always something likeable about Liberty X. Their songs hovered inofÂfensÂively in the area between 'alright' and 'quite good' and nobody really had a bad word to say about them. Michelle's bits in Totally Scott-Lee were brilliant, too.
Although pulling off the impressÂive trick of somehow appearing to be more mediocre than they actually were, Liberty X did still end up being typical of that brand of pop group forced to survive not on the spoils of actually being in a pop group but on all the periÂpheral bits and bobs that come with it: the reality TV shows (Celebrity Wrestling, The Games, Come Ice Skating), the dodgy tribute albums and TV shows (like Madonnamania), the corporate gigs. That sort of pop group whose indiÂvidual members tend to become more famous for jumping off a diving board or standing near Lisa Scott-Lee in a phoÂtoÂgraph than for singing songs.
In that sense Liberty X were part of a dying breed of pop act, something of a hangover from a bygone pop era when these days it's almost unthinkÂable that any new pop group would become famous in the first place, let alone be given the luxury of having an opporÂtunÂity to prolong that fame through other means.
For now, let's just remember the good times.
» Tony perÂformÂing the band's entire first showcase with his flies undone.
» The amazing 'walking sticks' dance routine for 'Just A Little' .
» The peerless moment of pop ridicuÂlousÂness that was 'Song 4 Lovers' featuring Reverend Run.
» The song 'X' which was actually quite good but ended up being rendered uninÂtenÂtionÂally hilarious by the stupid 'Orwellian nightmare'-style video .
» Erm…
Anyway: Liberty X, we salute you.