The sheer volume of all-singing, all-dancing, all-female acts that emerged in the wake of Spice Mania would suggest that the late 1990s was the golden age of the girlband. Yet you could argue that the previous decade was where the concept truly flourished. From sassy MCs and slick vocal harmony outfits to post-disco party starters and punk-pop hellraisers, there was always more to the girlband scene of the 1980s than just Smash Hits pin-ups (although even these were ultimately much cooler). Here’s a look at 20 singles - with only one entry per act allowed - that proved girl power was around long before the days of zig-a-zig-ah.
20 TOTO COELO I EAT CANNIBALS