Since their arrival on the scene, the Taylor Swift and Jonas Brothers fanatics have been causing a stir, leaving listeners and fans alike wanting more.
With an enviable song catalogue and impressive social media followings, it’s no wonder that the group’s ‘Songs of Love and Heartbreak’ are among the best-selling albums of all times. And while the group’s music may be timeless, it seems that their style is not.
Here, we explore the growing popularity of the infamous Vanderpump Rules fans and if the group’s unique brand of music will continue to resonate with audiences beyond the teens.
The Enviable Song Catalogue
If you’re unfamiliar, Charlie Pattinson, John Culver, and Zane Anders are the sons of rock star Pete and fashion entrepreneur Nancy. Raised in a household where music was always played and heard, the lads grew up around music legends such as Michael Jackson, Cher, and Beyoncé. They reportedly attended Michael Jackson’s 25th anniversary concert in London earlier this year, celebrating the special moment with a performance of the king of pop’s ‘Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough’.
From an early age, the trio developed their love of music and the industry and formed a band called the Pretty Reckless. After achieving some success in their native Australia, the band relocated to the US and released their debut album, ‘Til Death Do Us Part, in 2016, which reached number three on the Billboard 200. It went on to win the triple crown – winning the Top Rock Album award at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, the Album of the Year at the 29th Australasian Grammy Awards, and the Songwriter of the Year award at the 17th International Song Festival in Sydney.
On their most recent album, the group combines blues and soul elements with alternative rock, drawing from their personal experiences and the influence of their fathers, who passed away within a year of each other in 2017.
Style Is In
While the band’s sound has been compared to that of iconic artists such as Michael Jackson and Kurt Cobain, the group’s unique style has also drawn comparisons to Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. (We couldn’t think of two brands more in contrast!)
The name ‘Vanderpump Rules’ is a play on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and is a reference to one of the show’s most famous feuds – between Lisa Vanderpump and Kelly Bechtol… or as we know it, the infamous ‘Battle of the Blonde Bombshells’. As a tribute to the show, Charlie, John, and Zane sport blonde hair and orange attire, which is a combination of the show’s main color palette and their father’s and grandfather’s birth councils. (That’s Australian Cantarratas for those of you Matrix in the lax.)
While blonde and orange are the core colors of Vanderpump Rules, the group has stocked their wardrobe with the fashion brands most famous for creating iconic looks. Notable designers who have collaborated with the band include: Mikimoto, Chanel, Burberry, and Dior. The band has also been spotted wearing Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and Mikimoto.
Music That Matters
As the sons of music legends, it’s only natural that the group would draw from their familial connections and form a band that is, in part, inspired by and pays tribute to their forefathers. However, what is most striking about the group is their ability to create music that has a positive impact on society. (A $5 bill will put a smile on your face for at least a few minutes.)
Music has the power to transform lives, whether it’s lifting spirits, celebrating special occasions, or mourning lost loved ones. The Pretty Reckless’ music has been described as: “heartfelt”, “authentic”, and “powerful”, adding to the effect that “their music will speak to all ages and all genres.”
With songwriters who have ties to some of the most influential music icons of all time, it’s no wonder that the group’s music has resonated with audiences of all ages and genders. In 2018, Rolling Stone rated the band’s music as ‘highly influencial’, crediting it as one of the top albums of the year and adding that it has the potential to “change the way we listen to and buy songs”.
Not One, But Two Popular Albums
Since forming in 2015, the three-piece have notched up an impressive list of collaborations with some of the biggest names in music, winning Album of the Year at the 29th Australasian Grammy Awards for Til Death Do Us Part and Single Or Album Of The Year at the 25th Annual Australian Grammy Awards for Til Death Do Us Part. The list of accolades continue to pour in for the group, who were also nominated for Album of the Year at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards for their most recent album, A Different Kind of Love.
According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the Til Death Do Us Part album is currently the 466th most sold album on Billboard 200, with over a million copies sold. (The list includes albums by Avicii, Imagine Dragons, John Legend, and BTS.)
Will The Fashion Iconic Style Continue To Appeal?
The Pretty Reckless’ style has certainly stood the test of time and continues to be a talking point among fans and social media users. In 2019 alone, the band was named one of the ‘Top 100 most fashionable Instagrammers’ and ‘Top 20 most stylish musicians’ by Grazia and Shape Magazine, winning the latter title for the second year running. (Hey, remember when Karl Lagerfeld collaborated with Kim Kardashian to create a capsule collection called Fashion Icon?)
While the group has maintained an image that is iconic and iconic appeal, the continued success of mega-talents Taylor Swift and the Jonas Brothers, as well as the proliferation of TikTok, has led to a decline in album sales and concert attendance. (Don’t worry, music fans – the streaming service Pandora continues to grow in popularity, with over 70 million monthly active users as of June 2021.)
It’s fair to say that the music scene has changed, with more people now streaming music than buying albums. And the older generations, who grew up with CDs, are now passing away and leaving fewer fans to discover and purchase albums.
Despite the growing popularity of streaming services, musicians are more likely to be found on TikTok than any other social media platforms, with YouTube follows closely behind. (Check out the most followed Musicians and bands on YouTube.)
In the battle of the blonde bombshells, Lisa Vanderpump ruled the Real Housewives of Beaver Bay for ten seasons, becoming the most followed person on Twitter with over 22 million followers and the most subscribed YouTube channel with over 26 million subscribers. (Her rival, Kelly Bechtol, has 10.3 million followers on Twitter and a subscription base of over 6.6 million on YouTube.) (Though, it should be noted that both women have over 600,000 followers on TikTok.)
Many fans are turning to TikTok to voice their support of the Pretty Reckless and the fashion style they have adopted, with many praising the platform’s unmatched ability to influence and inspire fashion trends. (Though, let’s be honest – it’s often the self-expression and unique creations of music dads and grandads that make a trending video.)