TLC Celebrates 20 Years Of FanMail

TLC is still the biggest selling American female group of all time (and second worldwide, only behind Spice Girls). Their third studio album, FanMail, was released 20 years ago this week. Ironically, FanMail also marked the beginning of public dissension being revealed within the group. Some fans thought they wouldn’t stay together long enough to even promote it. However, the group has always weathered their woes. They have survived arson, sickle cell, breakups/divorce, bankruptcy and even death.

Let’s take a look back at why FanMail is such an important album in Pop music history. Ok, so there’s the obvious juggernaut in the room: “No Scrubs”. The song set radio airplay records at the time and made guys self conscious to ride in the passenger seat of their friend’s car for years to come. “No Scrubs” not only cemented their status as labeled feminists, but it also inspired covers and samples (up until today) from everyone from Weezer to Ed Sheeran.

TLC were equal opportunity jabbers though. “Silly Ho”, with its futuristic machine gun boogie, turned their attention to a certain, low-life type of female. The song introduced their virtual, occasional fourth member, Vic-E, who sounds eerily similar to Siri today. Talk about ahead of your time.

The beauty of TLC is they can switch topics and music genres at the drop of hat. Take the inner beauty anthem, “Unpretty,” or the country twang of “Come On Down” (which should have been a single), for instance. They even saved room for some sexy seductive coos on the slick innuendo featured on “Don’t Pull Out On Me Yet”.

Although Left Eye’s presence was reduced on this album, all of the songs she was featured on were some of FanMail‘s best (including “My Life” and “If They Knew”). Who could forget the raunchy, street-wise anthem, “I’m Good At Being Bad”? Her creativity was second to none, as she came up with the concept of the album. T-Boz’s signature low growl was as cool as ever. Plus, Chilli’s silky pipes took center stage more often than before.

FanMail was truly ahead of its time in styling (revisit the “No Scrubs” video below), sound and concept. It’s yet just another example of why TLC is the best girl group to ever do it.