SHAZAM

Formed in 2005 by a pair of 13-year-old friends who happened to share the same birthday (November 27) and interest (blogging), Blog 27 took the Polish pop charts by storm with a cover of Italian Euro-dance star Alexia's "Uh La La La." Following quickly on the success of its first single, the duo popped out a second single ("Hey Boy [Get Your Ass Up]") and a full-length album (LOL) that was a major hit with the tween female demographic, peaking at number one on the Polish charts and quickly going double platinum. The group toured its own style of crude lyric-infused Disney-style tween-pop, using sugary beats and light riffs in combination with more suggestive and/or angst-laden lyrics ("Hey Boy [Get Your Ass Up]," "Fuck You"). After their initial success, however, co-founder Alicja Boratyn announced her departure in late 2006, leaving her friend Tola Szlagowska as the sole frontwoman of the group at the tender age of 14, with a light backing band and a pair of dancers behind her. Nonetheless, Szlagowska bounced back with the sophomore album Before I'll Die in early 2008, hitting the Polish Top Ten once again with a slightly rougher sound, and possibly taking a cue from Avril Lavigne in the use of further musical development as a route toward respect. ~ Adam Greenberg, Rovi