Girls Aloud to release new music to celebrate 20th anniversary

Girls Aloud are set to release new music to mark the 20th anniversary of their debut album Sound of the Underground.

The group released the record back in 2003 after winning the reality competition Popstars: The Rivals the previous year. It reached Number Two on the UK albums chart, and featured the Number One lead single of the same name.

Last December, Girls Aloud reissued the song as a special seven-inch single in honour of late bandmate Sarah Harding. One Hundred 100 per cent of the profits went to The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.

During a recent interview, Kimberley Walsh revealed that the remaining four members will share some alternative cuts from their first studio album.

“We’ve got some fun alternative versions of songs lying around and little re-releases just to kind of mark that because, you know, it’s a big deal,” the singer told Mail Online.

“Twenty years is a long time and the love that we still feel for Sound of the Underground and some of the songs from the first album are still huge. So it still feels like something to celebrate, but in a kind of discreet way, I guess.”

Despite having plans to celebrate the two-decade milestone, Walsh explained that Girls Aloud would not be reuniting to record any new material nor will they perform live.

“We’re not really doing anything together as a group for obvious reasons,” she said. “I think there’s already been one re-release of ‘Sound Of The Underground’ with different girls singing different lyrics, which is quite fun.”

Shortly after Harding’s death in 2021, Cheryl shared an emotional tribute to the late singer on what would have been her 40th birthday. She had previously opened up about how Harding’s passing felt “so cruel”.

“Grief is such a harsh experience and an absolute rollercoaster of emotions,” Cheryl said. “Questions without answers and pain without resolve. So tumultuous and constant. I am drained.”