Hot Topic: Should Fifth Harmony Replace Camila Cabello?

Published: Thursday 22nd Dec 2016 by David
fifth-harmony-tgj-10

On Monday, fans of the Urban Pop force Fifth Harmony learned that Camila Cabello had jumped ship to pursue what she hopes will be a gainful solo career.

Now, after sales of their first two albums failed to match the success of their supporting girls, the group now finds itself at a crossroads faced with the question below…

“Will we sink or soar without a new member?”

In 2000, after LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett were fired from Columbia’s Destiny’s Child, the group struck gold when they replaced them with Michelle Williams.

A backing vocalist for Monica at the time, Williams’ union with the group saw them soar to new heights with the release of 2001’s ‘Survivor‘ which sold over 10 million units worldwide with help from the gifted vocalist’s signature bridges.

Alas, not every group goes on to enjoy success following the loss of a member (see 3LW (Naturi), B2K (Omarion) and Eternal (Kelle).


With this mind, we ask you…

What should 5H do next?

Weigh in below…

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  1. Hur December 22, 2016

    They should just go by ” The Harmony “

    • she bey she bey December 22, 2016

      I think no. Groups today should evolve and be more flexible, they should be considered as firms where former artists would have the choice to go or stay as well as letting other artists come and renew their images..

  2. 2bad2bme December 22, 2016

    No, now take this stupid post down!

  3. truthteller December 22, 2016

    Carry on as a 4 piece. The remaining girls can sing and Camilia’s departure was no big loss. Doubtful that adding a new member will elevate them to DC 3.0’s level anyway.

    • she bey she bey December 22, 2016

      if their are smart enough they will come with a new leader not just another that can make them 5.

  4. The Wig Snatcher December 22, 2016

    Just be H4mony. I don’t see their success getting better or worse because they have yet to become a premium act.

  5. Scoop December 22, 2016

    No. they may as well cut the Hispanic girl and be a trio. But that’s me and my opinion is based on maybe two performances and the work from home video.

    • The Wig Snatcher December 22, 2016

      I was thinking cutting the Cuban bi girl because she’ll be a great solo indie pop act.

      • H4rmony December 22, 2016

        It would be a horrible idea to cut Lauren. Because then you’ll be left with Ally as part of the trio. And while I like her, she is the worst dancer of them all and her boxed shape really turns me off, her vocals too. Cut Ally and you’ll have the trinity that is Lauren, Dinah and Normani. Now THAT is a group.

    • MusicLife December 22, 2016

      There is a Cuban me mexican girl (Lauren and ally) which do you mean?

    • jammy December 23, 2016

      everyone says what H4rmony said. I keep hearing how a group of Dinah, Normani and Lauren would slay. Interesting..

  6. The Wig Snatcher December 22, 2016

    Michelle wasn’t the reason DC soared to higher heights. They recorded hits, and Beyoncé was a great lead singer.

    • Bey Bey Sting December 22, 2016

      Beyonce only has the career she has because Kelly and Michelle are talented. Please don’t rewrite history. Anyone who lives through the Survivor era knows how many times Beyonce thanked Michelle for joining in interviews because of how good her voice is.

    • Beyoncé Jackson December 22, 2016

      You gotta admit that the breakup gave them a big push. They weren’t flopping pre-DC3, but the breakup drama was everywhere and helped them to crossover into the mainstream.

      • BEY>RIH December 22, 2016

        Survivor was their most popular/iconic era but TWOTW was their most successful album. It sold 15m+ copies WW, had two #1s and three top tens, was nominated for 6 grammys and was when DC crossed over to the mainstream market. The whole breakup drama was huge and made Beyoncé an A-list celeb. However it didn’t necessarily “help them” because they had already blew up before the drama and simply became bigger after the drama.

      • Amerikkka’s Most Wanted ~ Tyler December 22, 2016

        DC was slaying the charts BEFORE their big break up tho. We can’t say the same for 5th Harmony. I honestly think that they’ll sink either way.

    • Danny Bey December 22, 2016

      Michelle wasn’t THE reason but she was A reason. DC & Beyonce took off for various reasons, including having hits, Michelle’s addition, and Beyonce’s leadership. It was a collective matter, which is why they’re still relevant today solo and as a group.

  7. meme December 22, 2016

    I think no, maybe a name change to Harmony or something. Its very odd to just put a stranger into a group of girls who already have relationships and a foundation. Think Destinys Child, Farrah and Michelle were complete strangers who IMO didn’t fit with Beyoncé and Kelly at all. The only reason Michelle last was because she is extremely tolerant (a push over) and wanted success. But it never works when new members join a group. 3lw, 702 none of them last with new members.

    • Dev December 22, 2016

      Michelle lasted because they would’ve never had survived with changing two members twice in such a short period of time and the only reason they got away with Farrah is they made it seems as she wasn’t competent. Also DC knew that they had to let Michelle sing because people were already tire of Beyonce & Kelly doing all of the vocals whilst the others danced in the background. `they let Michelle have her 4 lines and get dragged whilst they got the coins

      • meme December 22, 2016

        lmfao don’t make me holler.

  8. .:: Centurion ::. December 22, 2016

    No. Five people who are all expected to sing lead is/was too much.

  9. IKNOWTHETRUTH December 22, 2016

    REPLACE HER OR CHANGE THE NAME. THEY ARE STILL VERY YOUNG AND CAN CARRY ON TO NEW HEIGHTS. SUGABABES, DESTINY’S CHILD, THE SUPREMES, LABELLE. THIS IS NOT NEW PRACTICE. THIS SHOULD TEACH GROUPS TO STOP USING NUMBERS IN NAMES. WITHOUT 5 IT WILL BE AWKWARD THAT THE LINEUP DOES NOT MATCH THE NAME.

  10. Bey Bey Sting December 22, 2016

    The fact that people try to act as though DC didn’t get bigger with Michelle proves how young Beys fans are.

    • Mark111 December 22, 2016

      They became bigger because of the press the breakup got and they pushed that 2nd album for two years. Plus after Walls, a R&B driven album, they went pop with Independent Women and Survivor. That was also when they really put Beyonce in front as well.

      • Danny Bey December 22, 2016

        The breakup did make them bigger but they still weren’t as iconic as they were when they became DC3. Bc nobody knew what a Farrah Franklin was when she joined the group and ppl still dont.

    • BEY>RIH December 22, 2016

      They got big WITH Michelle, not because of her.

      • Beyoncé Jackson December 22, 2016

        Boom!

  11. Weezy Tha Goat/Zayn Is ? December 22, 2016

    No, just keep it a foursome.

  12. Abel Minaj December 22, 2016

    I don’t think the world will care either way tbh. i also saw that p0rnhubb offered A̶L̶V̶I̶N̶ Camila millions to do p***

    • Mark111 December 22, 2016

      Hahaha! Fernando with the jokes.

  13. Mark111 December 22, 2016

    Why? Keep it a 4 member group and enjoy the check increase. Keep the name as well, it’s 5th, not 5,so it’s not a big deal to keep it 5th Harmony, plus they never sung in harmony the the name always been the biggest form of irony.
    .
    DC had to get a new member because their was only two left in the group. Even they realized that they didn’t need a 4th member.

    • MusicLife December 22, 2016

      Spot on!!!
      ??
      I don’t know why people think their name which has become a brand is their biggest hurdle.
      ??
      It isn’t. They need to find great new music and continue off where “work from home” and “worth it” left off. Oh and “I lied” has hit written all over it.

    • BEY>RIH December 22, 2016

      Although their name isn’t the biggest thing they need to worry about, they will be riducled for the rest of their group career if they are a quartet with the name “Fifth harmony”. It literally doesn’t go together. Their name should be “H4rmony”

      • MusicFan103 December 22, 2016

        Because there are 21 pilots in twenty one pilots right?

      • SoFresh December 22, 2016

        Bey>Rih they can’t go with H4RMONY because there was an actual group the season of X factor they were on with same name. Discovered that other day. Unless they buy name from them.

  14. HailLegendBeysus December 22, 2016

    Is their label really deciding on whether to halt work for 5H3 because Camilla left? I’ve been seeing this on Twitter.

    • MusicLife December 22, 2016

      I think this would be terrible for business on behalf of Camila because it wouldn’t be similarly to what was expected and or happened with Nicole Scherzinger. She wanted them girls in pcd to wait while she recorded a solo album and then eventually it flopped and so has her solo music career since and eventually broke group up.
      ?
      I’m certain some fans blame her still for their breakup.

  15. Molly #STARGIRL December 22, 2016

    Kick ally out so the group can really shine.

  16. LB December 22, 2016

    It’s so cute you guys are assuming Epic will give them a third album. We will find out about that decision by the end of this month.

    On the other hand, Epic was ready to push Camila, they even got her in the studio with Diplo and many other big name producers and writers.

    That’s my girl was a major flop that Epic stopped supporting, they have to make a decision, whether give Fifth Harmony another expensive album, or push Camila, or do both (which is unlikely).

    These girls were not signed as “Fifth Harmony” but are rather on different contracts, they have no obligation to stay together, nor does Epic have any obligation to give them another album.

    If they were on Simco/SyCo, they would have been dropped by now since Simon doesn’t play when it comes to his money.

    So before you start making any suggestions, wait until mid January after Epic decides whether they’ll go ahead with a third album or not.

    • Mark111 December 22, 2016

      It’s easier to support an already established group than to take a chance on a solo act. I think they’ll push both, Zayn going solo didn’t stop 1D with their last album. But then again, they actually sold albums and tickets. Like you said, we’ll see.

    • MusicLife December 22, 2016

      The press would look terrible though. That’s why I think they will give 5H one last album with perhaps even a smaller budget.

  17. Dev December 22, 2016

    Eternal lost two members. Louise Nurding (now Rednapp) and Kelli so fan’s couldn’t get used to the group being two piece even though Esther and Verni were basically the KC & JoJo of the group and main (best) singers. As for 3LW, as well as continuing as a two piece people youldn’t get with their over sexualised new impge (see naughty or nice Christmas album). I personally think Destiny’s child made some of their worse music after becoming a 3 piece and only redeemed themselves with destiny’s fulfilled although Michelle’s vocals still seemed out of place.
    Lets not forget the Sugababes, after replacing all of their members they were a new group.
    Back to 5thHarmony. I think the girl that left will struggle in the long run as she doesn’t have a pleasant enough voice to carry a whole record or album, and if they break up apart from I’mage none of the other girls are interesting enough to hold a solo career unless it generic songs and beats of the moment… unless the tap into another genre.

    • Bey Bey Sting December 22, 2016

      Eternal was bigger without Mrs. Redknapp.

    • Bey Bey Sting December 22, 2016

      Good point about Survivor though. It was a horrible album but had good singles. Michelle did a lot for them because she was already working with Monica so knew how the industry worked making her more agreeable than Farrah who had no time for Mathew’s nonsense. It’s annoying that people who only became stans around 06 think that Michelle was a third wheel when she, in many cases, added more texture to the group than Kelly.

  18. Jasmine December 22, 2016

    Yes they should replace her. However that should only be done if their label wants to invest in a 3rd album..

  19. Selenator December 22, 2016

    What difference will it make? They tanked with Camilla. They’ll tank without her. They’ll continue to tank if they replace her, just as she will tank in her solo attempt. They don’t have the “it” factor, its simple.

    • MusicLife December 22, 2016

      But they do have a large fan base. Somehow.

      I think they’re still developing sadly it’s taken quite some time and she left at the worst time for them as a Group. They were finally getting into their one album a year 1D release schedule too.

  20. MusicLife December 22, 2016

    Why though?
    ?
    If they were originally a trio and lost one member I would say maybe.
    ?
    But they are now still a quartet and the vocalist most of their fans enjoy are all still members so I think they will or should be able to continue on easily.
    ?
    On top of that nobody really ever likes a replaced member as much as the original anyway. Look at Jessica benson of 3LW and or Michelle and farrah franklin of Destinys child. I say continue on as FOUR and become bigger and better.

    • Jomega December 22, 2016

      I think they should ditch Ally and get a new soprano. 4 is way more ideal than 5 IMO.

      • MusicFan103 December 23, 2016

        Yeah 5 can be more than whats required. I mean 4 is a good number TBH. 3 can be risky because then if someone is ill or sick. But I like the 4 number.

        Then again remember when PCD debuted they had 6 women on stage.

        But why get rid of Ally for someone new. She is a great stage hype person for them too.

  21. Jackx December 22, 2016

    They need to, how can they be Fifth Harmony with only 4 girls?

    • Danny Bey December 22, 2016

      The same way 3LW stayed 3LW with only 2 girls.

      • Dylan Birks December 22, 2016

        3LW was ridiculed relentlessly when Naturi left because now there were only 2 girls instead of 3 which is why they added Jessica Benson eventually. They need a Fifth member. This is why June’s Diary was a great name for Kelly’s group. Don’t choose a name that consist of how many members are in a group unless your related and even then not even then.

    • MusicFan103 December 22, 2016

      How do people not understand its a BRAND more than a number these days? It’s not like its Diana Ross and The Supremes, and Diana Ross left but they are STILL going by Diana Ross and The Supremes.

  22. BEY>RIH December 22, 2016

    They have to do something and they don’t have a long time until the gp gives up the little interest they have for them

    • MusicFan103 December 22, 2016

      They do…

      They need to get to recording their 3rd studio album for release ASAP, and at minimum a single by April at the latest. On to the next era.

      Bigger and better!

  23. Dylan Birks December 22, 2016

    They need a Fifth Member. I feel like they need an artist whose known a bit moderately who has their own fan base that will come with them to fill the void that Camila left, but whose not too big to overshadow the group. I’m thinking someone like Zendaya, Jasmine V, or Jessica Sanchez.

    • Jomega December 22, 2016

      I feel like Zendaya would leave quickly (if she wouldn’t outright turn down the offer), but another reality show alum would be a good idea.

      I would say Jessica Sanchez, but despite her big range I feel like the group already has three members with great deep tones to their voices. Emmalyn Estrada (formerly of GRL) might be a good pick.

  24. Jomega December 22, 2016

    Perhaps.

    I think Camilla has somewhat of a grating voice (as does Ally), but I’m not sure anyone else can color a song with her musicality and interesting ad-libs like she was able to.

    But without such an integral member, this does give them (some) room to shift genres and allow the other girls to step it up more or perhaps move in a more minimalistic and modern kind of R&B/pop where ad-libs aren’t as important.

    I *do* hope Dinah can pull through and unleash her inner-beast, but her vocals have been waning since being shunted off into the background.

    • MusicFan103 December 23, 2016

      I personally don’t see how Camila was THAT big of a part of the group. I think they forced her on the GP. I think she was cute while it lasted, but I don’t think she is a solo star. She may be a feature type star but hell if Ariana Grande can not find solo this with her big voice/range how is Camila going to?

      I think that the four remaining girls could easily cover Camilas vocals and fill her void for future music. I mean how many girl groups have a mousey vocals girl doing they ad-libs? I mean usually its the big voice or the strongest fullest tone handling it. In that case any four can out do Camila for that role.

      I do think with her departure this could be for a great genre switch to Urban R&B/Pop rather than Pop leaning R&B music that they’ve been doing.

  25. jammy December 23, 2016

    Ridiculous how people treat Camila as the main lead. Despite her receiving a lot of solo parts, this group is more like a danity kane where there is no official lead. I really think Dinah was under used as she has a powerful, beautiful voice. I think Ally and Dinah can easily cover most of Camila’s parts, depending on what parts they covering. Sometimes Normani and Lauren makes sense too.

  26. We Nowqd Redv dimnobut it ash trjoan ivy blobukz Need UK timely Ukuno eremxil December 27, 2016

    Good luck to them all girls of their career

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