The Wanted: British-Irish Boy Band Pop

The Wanted was a British-Irish boy band that achieved significant commercial success in the early 2010s. Hailing from the United Kingdom and Ireland, the group is best known for their international hit single "Glad You Came," which charted in multiple countries.

Early career

The band was formed in 2009 through auditions held by the management company. The final lineup consisted of Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, Tom Parker, and Nathan Sykes, blending voices from across the UK and Ireland.

Breakthrough

The Wanted's breakthrough came swiftly with their self-titled debut album in 2010. The lead single, "All Time Low," reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, establishing them as a major new force in pop music.

Key tracks

All Time Low - This debut single catapulted The Wanted to immediate fame by topping the UK charts.

Glad You Came - The group's biggest international hit, this song reached the Top 10 in the United States.

Chasing the Sun - A later single that became a staple of their energetic pop repertoire.

I Found You - This track marked their debut on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Walks Like Rihanna - A popular uptempo single that showcased their playful side and continued their chart success.

The band released two studio albums, The Wanted (2010) and Battleground (2011), before announcing a hiatus in 2014 to pursue solo projects. They briefly reunited for new music in 2021. The Wanted's style merged upbeat pop production with dance and electronic influences, contributing to the sound of early 2010s boy band pop.

Fans of The Wanted's brand of pop may also enjoy the harmonies of One Direction, another group that dominated the pop landscape in the same era. The earlier work of Take That shares a similar foundation in British pop songcraft. For a more recent take on the genre, listeners might explore the music of Why Don't We, an American group following in the pop band tradition.