Years & Years' rise to fame: From a trio to solo project (2024)

FAQs

How did Years and Years become famous? ›

Years & Years' most successful single, "King", released under Polydor, headed straight to number one in the UK Single Chart in March 2015, earning the band national recognition. Their debut studio album, Communion, was released on 10 July 2015 and entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1.

Mikey Goldsworthy will still play live with Years & Years, while Emre Turkmen will focus on his solo work as a writer and producer. Alexander, 31, told the PA news agency the split came after the group began to disagree creatively “more and more”.

Years & Years was a musical project and formerly an English pop band formed in London in 2010. The band rose to fame after their single "King" (2015) topped the UK Singles Chart and entered the top ten hit in thirteen other regions.

Last March, it was announced that the third Years & Years album – later named 'Night Call', and now out today – would be “an Olly solo endeavour” because his bandmates Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen had essentially stepped down. “The three of us are still good friends,” the trio said in a social media statement.

In April 2011, he co-performed with Atlanta rapper YC on his single "Racks", which would become his first hit song and Billboard Hot 100 entry—peaking at number 42.

(I've played tennis) for years and years: (I've played tennis) for ages, for many years, throughout the course of several years idiom. "Lucy : Uh huh, but Mommy yelled back and said that it was okay because Daddy's been kissing his secretary for years and years."

Golden Earring, 1961

The current line-up consists of lead singer Barry Hay, guitarist George Kooymans, bass player Rinus Gerritsen and drummer Cesar Zuiderwijk. This band has been together since 1970 and they are still going strong today!

In 2021, Years & Years became a solo project and released the single "Starstruck". In December 2023, Years & Years disbanded.

Alexander is best known as the lead singer of Years and Years although since 2021 the once pop trio has become a solo project. The 33-year-old from Harrogate in North Yorkshire is also an accomplished actor and began his career with roles in television dramas.

The current record holder is “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X at 19 weeks, and the longest record held is “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men with 8,554 days. Ref. Note: "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton tied the record for 6 weeks at number one on July 6, 1959.

What is the biggest hit song ever? ›

According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.

Released in July 2013, the meta “Best Song Ever” served as the lead single from Harry and the gang's third album Midnight Memories as well as a precursor to their documentary concert film One Direction: This Is Us.

At every stage, we're trying to figure out how to navigate friendship,” she says. Research tells us that, for both men and women, the age of 25 is when most of us start losing friends. “Suddenly, your friends disappear, or you all start taking new life directions as you graduate from college,” Jackson says.

The most common reason isn't tension; it's just that friendships fizzle out, both experts say. Friends move, get a new job, start a family and may just gradually stop talking to each other. One study found we lose about half our friends every seven years, Franco says.

Priorities change; growing careers and families demand attention while spare time diminishes. We begin to realize that some friends are toxic, too much work, or no longer worth any work at all.

Take That's breakthrough single was a cover of the 1975 Tavares hit "It Only Takes a Minute", which peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart in June 1992. This success was followed by "I Found Heaven", then by the first Barlow ballad "A Million Love Songs", which also reached number seven in October.

Olly's rise to fame through the Years (& Years)

2015 - Years & Years release their number 1 debut album 'Communion' and also their huge hits, 'King' and 'Shine'. 2021 - Years & Years becomes a solo project and Olly releases his first single called 'Starstruck' in April.

Alexander is best known as the face of Years & Years, whose music has seen massive success across Europe. The 33-year-old has also made his mark as a prominent LGBTQ+ artist and advocate.