Scottish
Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including:
*Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland
*Scottish English
*Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...
girl group
A girl group is a music act featuring two or more women in music, female singers who generally vocal harmony, harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female p ...
formed in 2002. The band achieved success in their native Scotland, scoring five top twenty hits on the
Scottish Singles Chart
The Scottish Albums Chart is a chart compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC) which is based on how physical and digital sales towards the UK Albums Chart fare in Scotland. The official singles chart for Scotland, the Scottish Singles Chart, ...
(two of which reached the top five) and also scored three top forty singles on the UK Singles Chart between 2002 and 2005.
Despite some commercial success the group was subject to controversy in 2003, when one of their singles became ineligible to chart due to apparent bulk buying in an attempt to manipulate the charts. Their debut album also failed to chart in either the Scottish or UK Album charts and the group lineup changed several times before the band eventually disbanded in 2005.
The band members consisted of Lisa Rose (2002–2003), Nikki MacLachlan (2002–2004), Sarah Cassidy (2002–2004), Shonagh Strachan (2002–2004), Leona Skimming (2003–2004) and Emma Cassidy (2003–2004).
History
Lemonescent came together through auditions for singers held by former
Johnny Hates Jazz
Johnny Hates Jazz are a British pop band, currently consisting of Clark Datchler (songwriter, vocalist, keyboards) and Mike Nocito (guitarist, bassist, producer, engineer). In April 1987, they achieved international success with their single ...
songwriter/member Iain MacDonald; He had chosen eight girls and then cut down to four with singer and dance champion Lisa Rose Harrison, former waitress Nikki Maclachlan, singer and dancer Sarah Cassidy, and Shonagh Strachan. They were signed to Supertone Records, distributed by
Universal Music
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum ...
and came up with the name Lemonescent.
They released their first single "Beautiful" on 17 June 2002 (originally recorded and released by Iain's band Purely Physical in 1991, and originally featured TV presenter
Jenny Powell
Jenny Powell (born 8 April 1968) is an English radio and television presenter. After appearing on '' No Limits'', she went on to present series such as '' Wheel of Fortune'', '' UP2U'', '' Gimme 5'', '' Live Talk'', '' Wordplay'' and '' Daybre ...
on vocals). The video was filmed at
Culzean Castle
Culzean Castle ( , see yogh; ) is a castle overlooking the Firth of Clyde, near Maybole, Carrick, in South Ayrshire, on the west coast of Scotland. It is the former home of the Marquess of Ailsa, the chief of Clan Kennedy, but is now owned by ...
McGrath, Leanne (2002) "HOW TO MAKE A GIRL BAND; Behind the scenes with Lemonescent", '' Sunday Mail'', 14 April 2002, p. 36 by Brighter Pictures, Directed by Gavin Hay. It reached No.70 in the UK Singles Chart. They performed at the Irn Bru Live + Loud festival in 2002.Dingwall, John (2002) "192: Lemon fresh; Scottish quartet's debut is about to take the charts by storm", '' Daily Record'', 14 June 2002, p. 45
They released their second single "Swing My Hips (Sex Dance)" on 29 October 2002 accompanied by a raunchy video showing them in tight denim shorts washing a car (inspired by cult film ''
Cool Hand Luke
''Cool Hand Luke'' is a 1967 American Prison film, prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring Paul Newman and featuring George Kennedy in an Academy Awards, Oscar-winning performance. Newman stars in the title role as Luke, a pri ...
''). This performed slightly better peaking at No.48 in the UK charts, and topped ''DJ magazines Beat charts."Lemons hope the fruit of their labours will be a No 1", ''
Newcastle Evening Chronicle
The ''Evening Chronicle'', now referred to in print as ''The Chronicle'', is a daily newspaper produced in Newcastle upon Tyne covering North regional news, but primarily focused on Newcastle upon Tyne and surrounding area. The ''Evening Chronic ...
'', 3 September 2003, p. 2 In March 2003, they released 3rd single "Help Me Mama", which charted at No.36, landing them their first UK top 40 hit, but shortly after it hit the chart, Harrison left the group. Harrison left the band due to disagreements with their manager over their sound. Their manager made several negative remarks about Lisa after she had left the band. After Harrison's departure, the remaining members auditioned for a replacement, eventually taking on two new members, Emma Cassidy (Sarah's cousin) and Leona Skimming.
Their fourth single (and their first to include new members Emma and Leona), "Cinderella" was released in June 2003, and entered the UK charts at No.31, their highest charting hit of their career. In between releases the band would perform at roadshows up and down the UK, toured with boy band
Triple 8
Triple 8 (a.k.a. 888 or Triple Eight) was an English boy band signed to Polydor Records and Osmosis Records. The group was marketed as the British equivalent of NSYNC, and rivals to manufactured boy bands such as Five (group), Five, Westlife and ...
,"Pop girls greet fans", ''
Glasgow Evening Times
The ''Glasgow Times'' is an evening tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Called ''The Evening Times'' from 1876, it was rebranded as the ''Glasgow Times'' on 4 December 2019.Hampden Park
Hampden Park ( ; Scottish Gaelic: ''Pàirc Hampden'') is a association football, football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland, which is the national stadium of football in Scotland and home of the Scotland national football ...
in October 2003."Girl band will help to roar on Bertie's boys", ''
Unconditional Love
Unconditional love is known as love without judgment. There are many ways of describing unconditional love, but most will agree that it is that type of love which has no bounds and is unchanging.
In Christianity, unconditional love is thought ...
'' in October 2003. The album sold poorly and failed to chart. They supported
Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten were an English girl group formed in Liverpool in 1998, whose original lineup comprised Kerry Katona, Liz McClarnon, and Natasha Hamilton. The group was founded by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) members Andy McCluskey an ...
on their UK tour in 2004,"The Razz: Sweetener for Lemonescent", '' Daily Record'', 11 November 2003, p. 12 and in the same year performed at the D-Code 2004 event, aimed at warning teenagers of the dangers of drink, drugs and smoking."Girl band back anti-drug gig", ''
Glasgow Evening Times
The ''Glasgow Times'' is an evening tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Called ''The Evening Times'' from 1876, it was rebranded as the ''Glasgow Times'' on 4 December 2019.cover version
In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of
Free
Free may refer to:
Concept
* Freedom, the ability to act or change without constraint or restriction
* Emancipate, attaining civil and political rights or equality
* Free (''gratis''), free of charge
* Gratis versus libre, the difference betw ...
's "
All Right Now
"All Right Now" is a song by English rock band Free, released on their third studio album, '' Fire and Water'' (1970). It was released by Island Records, a record label founded by Chris Blackwell. Released as the album's second single, "All R ...
", with a promotional video filmed in
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
."M2: Girl group school gig", ''
Birmingham Mail
The ''Birmingham Mail'' (branded the ''Black Country Mail'' in the Black Country and ''Birmingham Live'' online) is a tabloid newspaper based in Birmingham, England, but distributed around Birmingham, the Black Country, and Solihull and parts ...
'', 23 April 2004, p. 48 It sparked interest from television networks, with appearances on
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
's ''Top of the Pops Saturday'', ''
Top of the Pops 2
''Top of the Pops 2'' (also known as ''TOTP2'') is a British television music show broadcast on BBC Two showing archive footage from the long-running ''Top of the Pops'' show, some dating back to the 1960s when the programme first aired on Briti ...
'', and ''The Saturday Show'',
ITV
ITV or iTV may refer to:
Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV
*Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including:
**ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...
's ''The Chart Show'', and others, but only peaked at number 37 in the UK Singles Chart. During promotion for this single, the band's manager got into several arguments with radio station executives, some of which refused to play the single in response, as well as arguments with band members and fans, which may have contributed to the single's low charting position.
Skimming left shortly after in 2004, citing 'musical differences', leaving the group back as a four-piece. The group continued to perform at roadshows, showcasing two new songs ("Model Life" and "Make My Fantasy Come True") but were never released, and the planned 2nd album was scrapped. Strachan left shortly after, leaving the group down to a trio.
Lemonescent split up in early 2005, with Sarah Cassidy explaining "it couldn't really go any further, so we decided to call it a day".Lyons, Beverley & Bennett, Cath (2005) "THE RAZZ: Bitter split? No we're still pals say Lemonescent girls after calling time on pop ambition", '' Daily Record'', 18 January 2005, p. 19
Band members
*Sarah Cassidy – From
Glasgow
Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
, she was a former tanning salon attendant, and represented Scotland at disco dancing. Pursued a career in theatre after the group split up, auditioning for the part of Dorothy in ''
The Wizard of Oz
''The Wizard of Oz'' is a 1939 American Musical film, musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Based on the 1900 novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum, it was primarily directed by Victor Fleming, who left pro ...
'' in 2008.Beacom, Brian (2008) "A WIZARD AUDITION SHOWBIZ SPECIAL Pavilion Theatre launches a Search for a Panto Star to find a Dorothy for Christmas show", ''
Glasgow Evening Times
The ''Glasgow Times'' is an evening tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Called ''The Evening Times'' from 1876, it was rebranded as the ''Glasgow Times'' on 4 December 2019.The Voice. Sarah made it to the Live Shows but was knocked out in the quarter finals.
*Lisa Harrison – From Balloch, she previously worked as a bank clerk for
Bank of Scotland
The Bank of Scotland plc (Scottish Gaelic: ''Banca na h-Alba'') is a commercial bank, commercial and clearing (finance), clearing bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is part of the Lloyds Banking Group. The bank was established by the Par ...
. She reached the final sixty contestants on the television talent show ''
Popstars
''Popstars'' is an international reality television franchise aimed to find new singing talent. Serving as a precursor to the ''Idol'' franchise, '' Popstars'' first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the girl gr ...
''. Left the band in March 2003 due to 'artistic differences', going on to pursue a solo career.Dingwall, John (2003) "A DROP OF LEMON AID; Leona and Emma are the fresh new faces to join Scots girl groupLemonescent – thanks to 192", '' Daily Record'', 9 May 2003, p. 22-3Dingwall, John (2003) "WANTED; Another slice of lemon to join top Scots girl band", '' Daily Record'', 15 April 2003, p. 18-19
*Nikki MacLachlan – From
Ardrossan
Ardrossan (; ) is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in southwestern Scotland. The town has a population of 10,670 and forms part of a conurbation with Saltcoats and Stevenston known as the 'Three Towns#Scotland, Three Towns'. Ardrossan is loca ...
, she was previously a waitress. She also reached the final sixty contestants on the television talent show ''Popstars'', and worked in her local fish and chip shop for seven years before joining the group, despite having an allergy to fish.Ventura, Steve (2002) "192: TOP OF THE SHOPS; We take Scots girl band Lemonescent out on a day's spending spree", '' Daily Record'', 20 September 2002, p. 62
*Shonagh Strachan – From
Prestwick
Prestwick () is a town in South Ayrshire on the west coast of Ayrshire in Scotland about southwest of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr to the south on the Firth of Clyde coast, the centre of which is about south, and the small vi ...
, she is the daughter of Scottish
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
international
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan ( born 9 February 1957) is a Scottish former football coach and player who is currently Technical Director of Dundee. He played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Sc ...
.Smith, Ken & Belcher, David (2003) "The Diary: Strip Show", ''
Glasgow Herald
''The Herald'' is a Scottish broadsheet newspaper founded in 1783. ''The Herald'' is the longest running national newspaper in the world and is the eighth oldest daily paper in the world. The title was simplified from ''The Glasgow Herald'' in ...
'', 29 August 2003, p. 20 Joined the group after leaving school.
*Emma Cassidy – From
Fife
Fife ( , ; ; ) is a council areas of Scotland, council area and lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area in Scotland. A peninsula, it is bordered by the Firth of Tay to the north, the North Sea to the east, the Firth of Forth to the s ...
, joined the group in 2003. She is the cousin of Sarah Cassidy, and was previously a sales assistant in a clothes shop.
*Leona Skimming – Born in
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld (; ) is a large town in the Shires of Scotland, historic county of Dunbartonshire and council area of North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the tenth List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, most-populous locality in Scotl ...
, and raised in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
, a former
Miss Scotland
Miss Scotland is a national beauty pageant in Scotland. Entrants must hold a British passport to enter. The contest, whose title is owned by the Miss World organisation, is organised each year by Janis Sue Smith Director of The Catwalk Acade ...
finalist in 2000.Ellis, Maureen (2004) "A POSTCARD FROM... LEONA SKIMMING", ''
Glasgow Evening Times
The ''Glasgow Times'' is an evening tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Called ''The Evening Times'' from 1876, it was rebranded as the ''Glasgow Times'' on 4 December 2019.Mamma Mia!
Mamma mia (; an Italian interjection, literally "mommy mine"), Mammamia, Mamamia or Mumma Mia may refer to:
Music Works associated with ABBA
* "Mamma Mia" (ABBA song), a 1975 ABBA song
* ''Mamma Mia!'' (musical), a stage play based on ABBA s ...
'' before joining the group in 2003, and returned to the show in 2004 after leaving the group due to 'musical differences'. Performed the lead role in the stage musical ''Dick Whittington and His Wonderful Cat'' in 2008.Holmes, Roger (2007) Dick Whittington and His Wonderful Cat , ''
The Stage
''The Stage'' is a British weekly newspaper and website covering the entertainment industry and particularly theatre. Founded in 1880, ''The Stage'' contains news, reviews, opinion, features, and recruitment advertising, mainly directed at thos ...
'', 10 December 2007, retrieved 4 December 2010 She was also half of the duo Scarlet Pearl, along with her cousin Nicky Moore,Two gigs for talented Cumbernauld girls , ''Cumbernauld News'', 31 May 2006, retrieved 7 December 2010 and has acted and performed under the name Leona Marie.7seas: Leona Marie , 7seaslive.com, retrieved 7 December 2010 Appeared as an extra in episodes of
River City
''River City'' is a Scottish television soap opera created by Stephen Greenhorn which has been broadcast on BBC One Scotland since September 2002. Since 2019, the show has aired episodes a day earlier on the new BBC Scotland channel. Set in ...
and briefly appeared in the
Still Game
''Still Game'' is a Scotland, Scottish sitcom produced by Effingee Productions, The Comedy Unit and BBC Scotland. It was created by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, who played the lead characters, Jack Jarvis (Still Game character), Jack Jarvis, ...
episode "A Fresh Lick". She also appeared on an episode of
Come Dine with Me
''Come Dine with Me'' is a British reality series that has aired on Channel 4 since 10 January 2005 and is narrated by Dave Lamb.
Format
The original format features five amateur chefs who live in the same town or area, who each host a three-c ...
, in 2016, and came in 2nd place. She served as a judge on BBC talent show All Together Now.
Discography
Albums
* ''
Unconditional Love
Unconditional love is known as love without judgment. There are many ways of describing unconditional love, but most will agree that it is that type of love which has no bounds and is unchanging.
In Christianity, unconditional love is thought ...
'' (2003)
Singles
* "Beautiful" (2002) – UK No. 70,Lemonescent , Chart Stats, retrieved 4 December 2010 Scottish Chart No.18
* "Swing My Hips (Sex Dance)" (2002) – UK No. 48, Scottish Chart No.12
* "Help Me Mama" (2003) – UK No. 36, Scottish Chart No.5
* "Cinderella" (2003) – UK No. 31, Scottish Chart No.3
* "Unconditional Love" (2003) (disqualified from charts)
* "All Right Now" (2004) – UK No. 37, Scottish Chart No.7