Bandana (pop band)
| Company type | Girl group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Created through Popstars television competition |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Argentina, United States, Spain, Latin America |
Key people | Ivonne Guzmán, Lourdes Cecilia Fernández, Valeria Gastaldi, Virginia Da Cunha, María Elizabeth Vera |
| Products | Music albums, singles, merchandise |
Number of employees | 5 (initial members) |
Bandana is an Argentine pop girl group established in 2001. Inspired by the global teen pop phenomenon initiated by the Spice Girls, the quintet — Ivonne Guzmán, Lourdes Cecilia Fernández, Valeria Gastaldi, Virginia Da Cunha, and María Elizabeth Vera — was assembled through the television competition Popstars and quickly became a prominent commercial success, particularly popular among young female audiences.
History
Their debut album, titled Bandana and released in 2001 under Sony BMG Records, included the successful track "Guapas" and earned quadruple platinum certification from the CAPIF. Although initially met with some critical doubt, Bandana rose to become Argentina's top-selling musical act starting from 2001.
By the time they disbanded in 2004, their three studio albums had collectively sold around 450,000 units. Their achievements were notable during Argentina’s economic downturn: they attracted 280,000 attendees over 86 performances at the Teatro Gran Rex, performed two concerts at the José Amalfitani Stadium drawing a combined crowd of 90,000, and starred in the film Vivir intentando, which was viewed by more than one million people.
In 2016, Bandana reunited—this time without Ivonne Guzmán—for a concert at Buenos Aires' Lola Membrives Theatre. Due to overwhelming demand, five extra shows were scheduled, all selling out within an hour and a half. They also released La Vuelta, an album featuring refreshed versions of their classic hits. On January 16, 2017, they debuted "Bombón," their first original composition since 2003. The following day, Da Cunha announced her departure from the group. In March 2017, Lourdes, Valeria, and Lisa traveled to Miami Beach to shoot the "Bombón" music video with Puerto Rican artist Wisin; it was produced by Lourival Rodriguez and co-directed by Ruslan Shakirov.
After Da Cunha left, Bandana kept releasing singles such as "No No No" and "Baila" in 2018, followed by "En la Punta de la Lengua" in early 2019.
Members
The initial ensemble consisted of five members:
- Ivonne Guzmán (2001–04)
- Lourdes Cecilia Fernández (2001–04, 2016–present)
- Valeria Gastaldi (2001–04, 2016–20)
- Virginia Da Cunha (2001–04, 2016–17)
- María Elizabeth Vera (2001–04, 2016–present)
All originated from Buenos Aires except for Guzmán, who is Colombian. Guzmán did not participate in the 2016 reunion tour and her position was not filled by another member. On January 17, 2017, Da Cunha declared her exit to pursue solo projects; the group continued as a trio without adding a replacement. Gastaldi departed in 2020, leaving Fernández and Vera as a duo that subsequently released the single "Fuego".
Casting
The group was formed in 2001 through the reality TV series Popstars, where five young women were chosen from thousands of hopefuls amid Argentina’s economic crisis. The judges prioritized talent over traditional beauty standards, marking a contrast with the country’s prevailing atmosphere.
Musical history
Their first record, Bandana, became Argentina’s best-selling album of 2001, earning four platinum certifications and spawning hits such as Cómo Puede Ser, Guapas, and Maldita Noche. During their winter tour that year, they sold out Buenos Aires' Teatro Gran Rex more than forty times.
In 2002, they recorded a Spanish rendition of Elvis Presley’s Can't Help Falling in Love for Disney's film Lilo & Stitch. Their sophomore album, Noche, was Argentina’s top seller in 2002 despite not matching their debut’s sales figures. The third album, Vivir Intentando (2003), served as both a studio release and soundtrack for their film of the same name; that year they received the Best New Artist—Southeast award at the MTV Video Music Awards Latin America. Additionally, they attracted over 40,000 attendees at a joint concert with Mambrú held at José Amalfitani Stadium.
Seeking international exposure, Bandana toured parts of the United States with appearances in New York and Miami and became the first Argentine group to grace the cover of Billboard Magazine.
The group's 2016 reunion included nationwide performances along with releasing La Vuelta, an album containing reimagined versions of their popular songs aligned with their live setlist. On January 16, 2017, they launched "Bombón" featuring Puerto Rican rapper Wisin, marking their first original single since 2003. Da Cunha did not participate due to her departure announced the next day. The track was used as the theme song for Telefé's reality program Despedida de Soltero.
Cultural influence
Following the path paved by the Spice Girls in the late 1990s, Bandana emerged as a carefully crafted brand that resonated strongly with young female audiences. The group's prominence was amplified by a wide array of licensed merchandise, sparking a phenomenon often referred to as 'Bandanamania'. Their trademark bandanas, along with their unique lyrics and choreography, became a trend widely adopted by teenagers.
Between 2001 and 2003, an official Bandana retail outlet was located on Avenida Corrientes, adjacent to Teatro Gran Rex, where fans could purchase exclusive branded items.
Vivir Intentando (Go For It - Cinco Amigas)
Bandana debuted their first feature film, Vivir Intentando, in 2003, with filming taking place in Buenos Aires. The movie premiered on 14 June 2003 and received mixed feedback from critics; while some applauded its production values and emotional depth, others criticized the acting and screenplay. Nonetheless, it achieved commercial success, earning over ARS 10.5 million and surpassing several international films in the local box office.
Albums
- Bandana (2001)
- Record Labels: Virgin Records, Jive Records US, [BMG] LA
- Noche (2002)
- Record Labels: BMG, Jive Records US, [BMG] LA
- Vivir Intentando (Go for It) (2003)
- Record Labels: BMG, Jive Records US, [BMG] LA
- Hasta Siempre (2004) – Live compilation album
- Record Labels: Jive Records US, Sony BMG Music Entertainment AR
- La Vuelta (2016) – Remix collection
- Record Label: Sony Music Entertainment AR
DVDs
- Vivir Intentando (2003)
- Hasta Siempre (2004) – Live performances
Tours
- Gira Argentina (2002–2003)
- Gira España y Latin America (2003–2004)
- Gira Argentina: Hasta Siempre (2004)
- Bandana: La Vuelta (2016)
Singles
- 2001: "Guapas"
- 2002: "Cómo Puede Ser"
- 2002: "Maldita Noche"
- 2002: "Doce Horas"
- 2002: "Muero de Amor Por Ti" (from film Lilo & Stitch)
- 2002: "Llega La Noche"
- 2002: "Un Demonio"
- 2003: "Necesito Tu Amor"
- 2003: "Hoy Empieza"
- 2003: "Sigo Dando Vueltas"
- 2003: "Hasta El Día de Hoy"
- 2004: "¿Qué Pasa Con Vos?"
- 2004: "A Bailar"
- 2004: "Canto Con Vos"
- 2016: "Llega La Noche" (2016 version)
- 2017: "Bombón" (feat. Wisin)
- 2018: "No No No"
- 2018: "Baila"
- 2019: "En la Punta de la Lengua"
Awards and nominations
- MTV Video Music Awards Latin America
- 2002: Best New Artist – Winner
- Premios CAPIF:
- 2002: Best Pop Band – Nominee
- 2002: Best New Artist – Nominee
- 2002: Best Music Publishing – Nominee
- 2003: Best Pop Album – Nominee
- 2004: Best Pop Album – Nominee
See also
External links
- Argentine pop music groups
- 21st-century Argentine women singers
- Latin pop music groups
- Latin American girl groups
- Latin music groups
- Teen pop groups
- Vocal quintets
- Musical groups established in 2001
- Musical groups disestablished in 2004
- Musical groups reestablished in 2016
- Popstars winners
- 2001 establishments in Argentina
- Musical groups from Buenos Aires