The Girl in the Band
Bardot – a cautionary tale
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
This is the story Bardot’s Belinda Chapple has wanted to tell for twenty years – a cautionary tale of exploitation and heartbreak.
In 2000, millions of Australians tuned in to watch Popstars, one of the world’s first reality television competitions, in which five girls were selected from thousands to become members of a new band: Bardot. And Belinda Chapple signed a contract that would turn her life upside down.
Bardot shot straight to fame and Belinda spent the following three years relentlessly rehearsing, recording and touring. The band released two very successful albums, a slew of hit singles, and performed on world stages to thousands of adoring fans.
But Belinda discovered that the life of a popstar could be lonely, and it came with consequences she never saw coming. The impact on her body image was disastrous, and it was impossible to maintain romantic relationships, but at least she had her fellow band members to turn to for support … or so she thought.
The Girl in the Band is a behind-the-curtains look at the ruthlessness of the entertainment industry. Belinda Chapple’s story will resonate with anyone who’s given up everything for a dream, only to have it shatter around them.
Customer Reviews
Easy read but left wanting more …
I enjoyed the popstars tv show over 20 years ago so understood the story but the book seems very surface level. The writing style was easy to read but it was almost like watching a movie on fast forward and only stopping now and then for a glimpse at the story. Some of the more interesting parts of the book are flashes of insight into the authors experiences and feelings but these are barely delved into. The underlying theme was how these talented and hardworking women were exploited by a bunch of rich men, who got even richer, but the ultimate betrayal was from someone thought to be a friend. This book had a lot of potential as a “tell all” but, in my opinion, was more of a “tell some”.