Fifth Element
Ben Darling, Cody Case, Smith McKenna and Cyke Owe are Fifth Element. They describe themselves as "the evolution of the boyband" having started out as a boyband by numbers (matching clothes, choreographed routines) and eventually becoming singer/songwriters playing thier own instruments.
Origins[edit | edit source]
Fifth Element were formed in 2003 when Ben Darling and school friend Bailey Chase were messing around in a detention and realised they were both singers - the pair began writing songs together and soon recruited Ben's younger cousin Cody, who in turn bought his best-friend Smith McKenna to the group.
They would meet regularly to sing cover songs from nineties boybands such as NSYNC and Take That but eventually began working on thier own material. One day in the winter of 2003 twins Tom and Cyke Owe moved into the house next door to Ben and Tom (after hearing them practice and showing them he could sing) joined the band. Ben used his connections with sister Violet to land the band a recording contract and in November of 2003 the band signed to BreatheMusic.
Line-up changes[edit | edit source]
The band had troubles from the word go. Tom decided mid-way through promotion of thier debut single that he no longer wished to be in the band and the group quietly replaced him with his twin brother Cyke.
As time went on Smith became frustrated with the direction they were taking and left the band after the second single. They called in the help of Ben's ex-boyfriend Ryan but the band was soon dropped after poor album sales and they split.
In 2005 the band were invited to reform and appear on "Reborn in Urapopstar" they wanted to do the show with the original line-up but both Tom and Bailey were not interested. Smith returned to the group along with Ben, Cyke and Cody in April 2005.
Though Tom is still close to the band they refuse to speak to Bailey for various reasons. Smith stated "As soon as he got engaged to Sophie Ramone he was out for himself and himself only"
Music[edit | edit source]
Magnolia Thunder[edit | edit source]
Magnolia Thunder was released in February 2004 and despite much hyper, failed to set the charts alight. With just two singles lifted from the album, both entering outside the top 20 and peaking outside the top 10 - the album was a commercial failure and sold just 125,000 copies in the United Kingdom.
Poor sales and two line-up chances in just eight months, lead BreatheMusic to drop the band on the morning of June 28th 2004 - the same week thier third single was due for release.
I'll Do It Later & Reborn on Urapopstar[edit | edit source]
After several months apart the band were shocked to recieve an invitation to appear on ITV's "Reborn" a show which allows past popstars to get a second chance at fame - the boys were front runners throughout the entire shows run but came in second to Street:Lady:Girl.
Things weren't all bad though, the hype around the group had landed them a deal with Politik records and they began working on an album before the show had even ended - that album was "I'll Do It Later" released August 2005 and re-released February 2006, the album spawned 4 singles including 2 top 10's. It went on to sell over 400,000 copies and recieved a Mercury Music Award nomination.
The bands personal lives were also becoming hot property with lead-singer Ben Darling getting married to boyfriend Dan of pop megaband Emblaze.
Special[edit | edit source]
The group took a short break between albums and returned to the music scene in September of 2006 with the single "Special" though the buzz was stronger, nobody could have predicted the success that was to follow.
'Special'hit the charts at No.1 and stuck around for 8 weeks selling over 250,000 copies, the album of the same name sat at No.1 for two weeks and to date has sold over 925,000 copies. "Burnt Toast" was the albums second release, peaking at No.2 in the charts (held off by Emblaze & Jon Farley) the single again spent 8 weeks in the top 40 selling over 200,000 copies.
In February 2007 the boys released a single for Comic Relief with 'Fruit Loop Girl' the single entered at a lowly #13 but climbed to #7 - the lack of sales was blamed on the confused promotion and constant date changes.
The group will re-release the album in April with three new tracks including the fourth and final single which will be a duet.
Spotlight / Movie[edit | edit source]
Following the promotion of thier third release 'Special' the boys spent most of 2007 in America shooting a movie described as the 'bloke version of Jem and the Holograms' about four guys who were a boyband by day and superheroes by night. The movie is due for release in early 2009.
The boys returned to the studio in early 2008 to record thier fourth studio album choosing to take "proper time" with this one the guys say the album is still 'jump around your room pop' but with some more interesting and grown up themes. Tracks include the fanclub single "Centre of attention" aswell as the first single "Addicted to rehab" about celebrities that are constantly in rehab, "Satellites" about the effects of the drug ecstasy and "Dirty Rascal" about secret affairs.
The album is said to be a 'slow burn' release hitting shelves in mid-September the first single will not be released until late October with a re-release coming in November 2008. The album is entitled "Spotlight"
Relationships[edit | edit source]
The group have never played the "single" card to win over female fans, infact throughout most of thier run Smith has been the only singleton. Ben Darling married Dan in January 2006 they began dating the previous summer.
Cody Case entered the music scene engaged to five-year girlfriend Thalia Bennett (member of R&B group SHY) the engagement broke off early in 2005. He went on to have brief encounters with Delta Nu and Claire Kitten before moving in with Louise Harlow in January 2007 after dating her for four months. February 2007 saw Cody reveal that he has a two-year old daughter with Thalia.
Cyke Owe was married to Indian Princess Mashala Bazwhali from 2004 to 2006 although he found a loop hole and after a serious assault course in which he lost both eyebrows, he was granted freedom.
Smith McKenna recently admitted himself to sex rehab after bedding over 1,000 women in two years - however with the help of drinking buddies Dillon Burns and Jack Steven he was convinced to leave after just five hours.
Television[edit | edit source]
2006: At Home With The Darlings (Ben & Cody as themselves)
2005: Reborn: The Story (As themselves)
2005: Reborn On Urapopstar (As themselves)
2004: Captain Planet (Cody as Fire)
Concerts and tours[edit | edit source]
2006: I'll Do It Latebreakthrough single by pop rock band Fifth Elementr Tour (UK)
2007: I'll Do A Special Tour (UK)
Discography[edit | edit source]
Albums[edit | edit source]
- Debut.JPG
Magnolia Thunder
2004 - DoItLater.JPG
I'll Do It Later
2005 - DoItLater2.jpg
- Special2.jpg
Special
2006
Singles[edit | edit source]
2004: "Jumpin'"
2004: "Friday / Several Stories Later"
2004: "Kiss From A Rose" (cancelled)
2005: "Bully"
2006: "Go-Go Boots / Coffee"
2006: "Faceparty"
2006: "Thats How It Ends"
2006: "Special"
2006: "Burnt Toast"
2007: "Fruit Loop Girl"
2007: "Little Miss Muffet"
2008: "Centre Of Attention"[fanclub only]
2008: "Addicted To Rehab"
