The Cheeky Girls are a Romanian singing duo consisting of identical twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia (both born 31 October 1982). After appearing as auditionees on Popstars: The Rivals, they achieved success in the UK charts with four top 10 hits between 2002 and 2004. They are best known for their debut single, "Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)", which has sold more than 1.2 million units internationally.[1] The Cheeky Girls released their debut studio album, PartyTime, in 2003 which reached number 14 in the UK Albums Chart.
Gabriela and Monica were born on 31 October 1982 to Doru and Margit Irimia. Gabriela is older by 10 minutes. Their early life in Romania consisted of studying gymnastics and ballet and touring with the Hungarian National Opera. Moving to the United Kingdom with their mother in 2002, the girls shot to fame as the Cheeky Girls after auditioning on two British TV shows, Channel 4's Model Behaviour and more importantly Popstars: The Rivals. Following two appearances on the show with their audition, which had judges Pete Waterman and Louis Walsh not knowing what to say – Waterman was later quoted as saying they were the worst act ever – various record companies approached the Granada Press Office. The Press Office contacted Paul Holland at Granada Ventures, who was able to secure them a deal with the Multiply label, part of Telstar Records. "Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)" was swiftly recorded and released in the first week in December. Entering the chart at number two, the single remained in the top five for five consecutive weeks, four of them at number two.[2]
On 4 August 2006, the Evening Standard reported that the Cheeky Girls were "at rock bottom" and facing bankruptcy action in court owing to not having been paid by their now-defunct record company, Telstar Records. The article said that the women owed £4,500 in unpaid taxes, along with other bills, and that Telstar owed them £2.2 million.[1] Later, it was reported that they owed £130,000 in total.[3]
In September 2009, the act released their Cheeky Girls make-up range,[4] aimed at the young teen market.
On 7 March 2013, the women appeared on the This Week BBC TV programme discussing the subject of Romanian immigration to the UK with host Andrew Neil. This followed a short video report by Monica talking about British fears of an invasion of benefit-seekers from their homeland.[5] They previously appeared on the show on 10 July 2008.[6]
Personal lives
In December 2006, it was revealed by the tabloids that former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Öpik had broken up with long-time fiancée, ITV weather presenter Siân Lloyd, and was now romantically involved with Gabriela.[7] Öpik "passed documentation on to the singers' constituency MP and spoke to a Home Office minister," when the Irimias were facing deportation to Romania.[8] The couple announced their engagement in April 2008 after Öpik proposed in Rome,[9] but the engagement was short lived and a breakup was announced three months later.[10] In 2016, Monica married her fiancé of four years, Shaun Taylor, who works as a building contractor. [11]
^"Showbiz – News – Report: Cheeky Girls in £130k debt". Digital Spy. 7 January 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
^. Cheekygirlsbeauty.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
^"This Week". bbc.co.uk. 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
^"The Cheeky Girls - This Week - July 10th, 2008 clip". youtube.com. 21 April 2011. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2013.
^ "Opik and presenter Lloyd separate". BBC News. 17 December 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
^"MP intervened in Cheeky Girl case". BBC News. 20 December 2006. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
^"Opik to wed Cheeky Girl Gabriela". BBC News. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
^"Lembit Opik 'dumped by his Cheeky Girl fiancée Gabriela Irimia'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 13 July 2008.
^"Cheeky Girls now - incredible comeback from health crisis, bankruptcy and botched surgery". The Daily Mirror. London. 28 December 2020.
^ abRoberts, David Keith (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 102. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
cheeky, girls, romanian, singing, consisting, identical, twin, sisters, gabriela, monica, irimia, both, born, october, 1982, after, appearing, auditionees, popstars, rivals, they, achieved, success, charts, with, four, hits, between, 2002, 2004, they, best, kn. The Cheeky Girls are a Romanian singing duo consisting of identical twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia both born 31 October 1982 After appearing as auditionees on Popstars The Rivals they achieved success in the UK charts with four top 10 hits between 2002 and 2004 They are best known for their debut single Cheeky Song Touch My Bum which has sold more than 1 2 million units internationally 1 The Cheeky Girls released their debut studio album PartyTime in 2003 which reached number 14 in the UK Albums Chart The Cheeky GirlsThe Cheeky Girls perform at Nottingham Pride 2010Background informationBorn 1982 10 31 31 October 1982 age 40 Cluj Napoca Transylvania RomaniaGenresPop dance Europop EurodanceYears active2002 presentLabelsMultiply 2002 2004 XBN 2004 2006 GMI Music 2006 present MembersGabriela IrimiaMonica Irimia Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal lives 3 Discography 3 1 Albums 3 2 Singles 4 References 5 External linksBiography Edit The Cheeky Girls perform at Nottingham Pride 2010 Gabriela and Monica were born on 31 October 1982 to Doru and Margit Irimia Gabriela is older by 10 minutes Their early life in Romania consisted of studying gymnastics and ballet and touring with the Hungarian National Opera Moving to the United Kingdom with their mother in 2002 the girls shot to fame as the Cheeky Girls after auditioning on two British TV shows Channel 4 s Model Behaviour and more importantly Popstars The Rivals Following two appearances on the show with their audition which had judges Pete Waterman and Louis Walsh not knowing what to say Waterman was later quoted as saying they were the worst act ever various record companies approached the Granada Press Office The Press Office contacted Paul Holland at Granada Ventures who was able to secure them a deal with the Multiply label part of Telstar Records Cheeky Song Touch My Bum was swiftly recorded and released in the first week in December Entering the chart at number two the single remained in the top five for five consecutive weeks four of them at number two 2 This was quickly followed up with two more top three hits Take Your Shoes Off and Hooray Hooray It s a Cheeky Holiday Their style of music is primarily disco pop aimed at the pre teen market citation needed Most of their songs are written by their mother who also acts as their manager citation needed On 4 August 2006 the Evening Standard reported that the Cheeky Girls were at rock bottom and facing bankruptcy action in court owing to not having been paid by their now defunct record company Telstar Records The article said that the women owed 4 500 in unpaid taxes along with other bills and that Telstar owed them 2 2 million 1 Later it was reported that they owed 130 000 in total 3 In September 2009 the act released their Cheeky Girls make up range 4 aimed at the young teen market On 7 March 2013 the women appeared on the This Week BBC TV programme discussing the subject of Romanian immigration to the UK with host Andrew Neil This followed a short video report by Monica talking about British fears of an invasion of benefit seekers from their homeland 5 They previously appeared on the show on 10 July 2008 6 Personal lives EditIn December 2006 it was revealed by the tabloids that former Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik had broken up with long time fiancee ITV weather presenter Sian Lloyd and was now romantically involved with Gabriela 7 Opik passed documentation on to the singers constituency MP and spoke to a Home Office minister when the Irimias were facing deportation to Romania 8 The couple announced their engagement in April 2008 after Opik proposed in Rome 9 but the engagement was short lived and a breakup was announced three months later 10 In 2016 Monica married her fiance of four years Shaun Taylor who works as a building contractor 11 Discography EditAlbums Edit Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications SalesUK 12 2003 PartyTime Debut studio album Released 11 August 2003 Label Multiply Records 14 UK Silver 13 UK 60 000 2007 In My Mind Is a Different World A Cheeky One Second studio album Released 2007 Label GMI Music Singles Edit Year Title Peak chart positions AlbumUK 12 IRE AUS 14 FRA GER JPN HUN TUR CHN2002 Cheeky Song Touch My Bum 2 12 59 19 52 6 12 15 6 PartyTime2003 Take Your Shoes Off 3 13 4 7 13 3 Hooray Hooray It s a Cheeky Holiday 3 5 11 7 31 10 Have a Cheeky Christmas 10 46 27 37 152004 Cheeky Flamenco 29 31 85 70 50 In My Mind Is a Different World A Cheeky One Boys and Girls Xmas Time Love 50 80 118 1072005 Farmyard Hokey 56 2022 Lets Have Fun References Edit a b Chris Millar and Richard Edwards 3 August 2006 Cheeky Girls at rock bottom Evening Standard Retrieved 2 February 2011 The Cheeky Song Chart details Official Charts Company Retrieved 2 February 2011 Showbiz News Report Cheeky Girls in 130k debt Digital Spy 7 January 2007 Retrieved 2 February 2011 The Cheeky Girls Cheekygirlsbeauty com Archived from the original on 2 February 2011 Retrieved 2 February 2011 This Week bbc co uk 2013 Retrieved 8 March 2013 The Cheeky Girls This Week July 10th 2008 clip youtube com 21 April 2011 Archived from the original on 12 December 2021 Retrieved 7 March 2013 Opik and presenter Lloyd separate BBC News 17 December 2006 Retrieved 25 May 2010 MP intervened in Cheeky Girl case BBC News 20 December 2006 Retrieved 25 May 2010 Opik to wed Cheeky Girl Gabriela BBC News 21 April 2008 Retrieved 2 February 2011 Lembit Opik dumped by his Cheeky Girl fiancee Gabriela Irimia The Daily Telegraph London 13 July 2008 Cheeky Girls now incredible comeback from health crisis bankruptcy and botched surgery The Daily Mirror London 28 December 2020 a b Roberts David Keith 2006 British Hit Singles amp Albums 19th ed London Guinness World Records Limited p 102 ISBN 1 904994 10 5 Certified Awards Search bpi co uk Ryan Gavin 2011 Australia s Music Charts 1988 2010 pdf ed Mt Martha VIC Australia Moonlight Publishing p 55 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Cheeky Girls The Cheeky Girls on Myspace Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Cheeky Girls amp oldid 1123823028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
