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A sad day in the music world happened on September 21st. It’s even sadder than MJ’s death (Sorry MJ, with all due respect). There’s many reasons why I choose this album cover for this post. Firstly, it’s because I LURVE this line-up of the babes. Version 2.0. The cover art looks so vulnerable (taken from the single “Ugly“, no pun intended), and these 3 gals makes up the formidable trio, the Sugababes.

Frankly, I favour the 2nd incarnation the most and I’m sure most of you all would agree with me. Their voices harmonised perfectly with each other. Now, I gonna do an in-depth recap of their career.

Origins
The Sugababes was created when Keisha Buchanan and Mutya Buena, who had been friends since they were eight, met Siobhán Donaghy at a party in 1998 when they were both thirteen.

Mutya and Siobhán had been working separately with Tom, and while they were recording tracks for the album that would become the Sugababes‘ debut album, One Touch, it was suggested that the duo might work better as a trio. Keisha had been invited by Buena to come along to watch, and was asked to join if she could sing.

Their name originates from Keisha’s school nickname, Sugar baby, although the trio was officially known as The Sugababies during the recording of the album. When the group members were aged fourteen, London Records offered them a recording contract, and they tweaked their name to the more mature “Sugababes“.

“One Touch” Era
It’s the debut album by the Sugababes. The girls are only 16 when they release this album. Which makes it impressive, considering the sound of it as rather mature and ahead of it’s time. It’s basically sultry, down-tempo pop with a mysterious vibe. Very good and definitely underrated.

Their debut single, “Overload“, made the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart (Peaked at number 6) and was nominated for a BRIT Award for Best Single. 2nd single, “New Year” reached a decent number 12.

3rd single, “Run for Cover“, peaked at 13. Although it’s positioned outside of the top 10, airplay for this song is quite intensive. Last single, “Soul Sound“, reached number 30 on the chart. It’s not their worst, it’s their 2nd worst charting single though. Read on to find which is their worst charting single ever (It involves Amelle).

The album hit a peak position of Number 26 and sold 220,000 copies in the United Kingdom, certified Gold as of 2008. The sales of One Touch unfortunately did not meet London Records‘ expectations, and the group eventually got dropped in Autumn 2001, making it their only release with the label.

In addition, this is the only album that features the group’s original line-up as during a Japanese promotional tour, Siobhán left the group, stating initially that she wanted to pursue a fashion career, eventually being diagnosed with clinical depression amid reports of in-fighting between the Sugababes members.

“Angels with Dirty Faces” Era
Heidi Range, was announced as Siobhán’s replacement in 2001. Heidi started her musical career in Atomic Kitten with Liz McClarnon and Kerry Katona and was part of the original line up. She was featured on Atomic Kitten’s demo tapes, but she left the group in 1999 because she preferred to sing R&B.

After Siobhán left the Sugababes in 2001, Heidi took part in an audition for a replacement. Mutya and Keisha were very impressed by her singing and added her to the line up.

After being dropped by their former label, London Records, the band began to search for a new record label. Having already started writing material for the band’s second studio album, they eventually signed with Island Records.

To much anticipation, the album was eventually released in the UK on 26 August 2002. The album also features production from Xenomania, Richard X and Bloodshy & Avant. It peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and has since been certified 3x Platinum, and is the group’s highest selling album to date.

Their first single on the new label, “Freak like Me“, a mash-up of “Are Friends Electric?” by Gary Numan’s Tubeway Army and Adina Howard’s “Freak like Me”. This single is produced by Richard X and scored the group their first UK number 1!!!

Follow-up 2nd single “Round Round“, produced by Xenomania (Girls Aloud), also debuted on top of the UK Singles Chart!!! Consecutive number hit. Impressive.

The third single from the album, a ballad entitled “Stronger“, reached number 7 on the UK chart. This single is release as a double A-side with “Angels with Dirty Faces“. It is the the theme tune to The Powerpuff Girls Movie. The animated music video for “Angels with Dirty Faces” was created by the same studio behind the animated series The Powerpuff Girls. Mutya takes the role of Blossom, Keisha as Buttercup and Heidi as Bubbles. Interesting promotional concept. =)

Fourth and final single for the album, “Shape“, which samples Sting’s single “Shape of My Heart“, was the only one from the album not to achieve a position in the top ten of the UK Singles Chart; it entered at number 11. Just missed by a spot.

This era has nabbed themselves the award for Best British Dance Act at the 2003 BRIT Awatds.

“Three” Era
The group’s third album, Three, was released in late 2003 and reached number 3 on the UK Album Chart, earning the group a BRIT Award nomination for Best Album. Certified two times platinum, it has sold 855,000 copies.

Lead single “Hole in the Head“, produced by Xenomania, became the group’s third UK number 1 single. It also became the Sugababes‘ first single to chart on the US Billboard charts, reaching number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top of the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart!!! WOOTS!!!!

The second single, the Diane Warren-penned “Too Lost in You“, appeared on the soundtrack to the film Love Actually, reached number 10 on the UK chart. Just nice.

The album’s third single, “In the Middle“, reached number 8 on the UK chart and garnered the group another BRIT Award nomination for Best Single.

Fourth and final single, the ballad “Caught in a Moment“, also went number 8 on the UK Singles Chart.

In 2004, “Hole in the Head” was serviced to radio in the US and became a top forty hit on pop radio. Following the moderate success of the single, “Three” was due for release in the U.S. with an altered track listing featuring singles from the group’s previous album, “Angels with Dirty Faces“. The release was subsequently cancelled when a second single, “Too Lost in You“, failed to make any impact.

The three members of the Sugababes each recorded a “solo” song on the album “Whatever Makes You Happy” (Keisha), “Sometimes” (Heidi) and “Maya” (Mutya).

“Taller in More Ways” Era
After a break from the music industry, during the recording of their fourth album, band member Mutya Buena announced she and her boyfriend, Jay, were expecting a child. Their daughter, named Tahlia Maya, was born in March 2005.

Taller in More Ways is the fourth studio album by Sugababes, released by Island Records on October 10th 2005 in the UK. The album is primarily produced by Dallas Austin and Xenomania and became the group’s first UK number 1 album.

The title of the album, Taller In More Ways, was inspired by a line in the album’s 2nd single, “Ugly“, which says, “I didn’t know my body would change / I grew taller than them in more ways“.

Lead single, the Dallas Austin-produced “Push the Button“, debuted at number 1 in the UK, giving the group their fourth number 1 single. The group made chart histroy by similtaneously topped the UK’s Singles, Download and Album charts. This single was also nominated for a BRIT Award.
“Push the Button” became their most popular song in the US, becoming another hit on the Hot Dance Airplay and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.

2nd single, “Ugly“, was also written and produced by Dallas Austin and is the last single to feature founding member Mutya. The song peaked at number 3 on the UK chart.

Following an apparent illness that prevented Mutya from promoting the follow-up single “Ugly“, it was announced on 21 December 2005 that Mutya had left Sugababes.
Amelle Berrabah joined the Sugababes in late December and she was chosen by the Sugababes’ management group.

Being released as the first single for the new line-up, 3rd single from Taller in More Ways was a re-recorded version of “Red Dress“, which peaked at number 4 on the UK singles chart.

Amelle re-recorded three tracks and co-wrote a brand new track with Keisha and Heidi, “Now You’re Gone“, “Gotta Be You“, “Follow Me Home” and “Red Dress“. These tracks appeared on a re-release of Taller in More Ways that reached number 18 in the UK chart.

The fourth and final single was “Follow Me Home“, which only reached number 32 in the UK, their LOWEST chart position to date. And the Sugababes started to be inconsistent from here onwards.

“Overloaded: The Singles Collection” Era
Overloaded is the collection of the greatest singles, the remixes, the napster live sessions and the video clips compilation album from the Sugababes that released on 13 November 2006. It has five parts: The Singles Collection, The Remix Collection, The Napster Live Sessions, The Deluxe Edition/Live Collection and The Videos Collection.

Contrary to initial reports that vocals from departed Sugababes Mutya Buena and Siobhán Donaghy were going to be re-recorded by Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah, all songs are presented in their original album versions.

The Greatest Hits title is a spin on the group’s debut single, “Overload“.

The lead single for the greatest hits is “Easy” and was released on 6 November 2006. It peaked at number 8 on the UK singles chart.

Despite its title of “The Singles Collection“, the album did not in fact include all of the Sugababes’ 18 singles that had been released prior to Easy, instead featuring just 13 of the group’s previous singles (14 on the UK version). “Run for Cover” is the UK bonus track.

The flop single, “Follow Me Home“, was omitted (Thanks goodness, hated the one with Amelle’s vocals on).

Vocals from founding Member Mutya Buena appear on the majority of the album with Amelle only featuring on three tracks “Red Dress“, “Easy” and “Good to Be Gone“. And only the standard edition is available on physical CD; the deluxe and remix albums are download-only exclusives.

A small trivia: UK-only singles “New Year“, “Soul Sound“, “Angels with Dirty Faces” (Double A-side with “Stronger“) and “Follow Me Home” are not included on the collection due to low chart position entries. This however caused slight confusion for fans due the fact that “New Year” charted a little higher than “Run for Cover“, and was not included on the release.

Sugababes recorded the 2007 Comic Relief single, a duet with fellow UK girl group Girls Aloud, a cover of the hit “Walk This Way“. Credited as ‘Sugababes Vs Girls Aloud’, the single was released in March 2007 in the UK and became the band’s fifth UK number 1 single (and the first with Amelle). It is a non-album single.

“Change” Era
Change is the fifth studio album by the Sugababes, their first studio album with the Sugababes third line up, including Amelle Berrabah. The album features production by Dr. Luke, Dallas Austin, and Xenomania, among others.

While not as successful as it’s predecessor album Taller in More Ways (cause there’s Amelle in this album), the album debuted on top of the UK Albums Chart, where it became the band’s second consecutive number 1 album.

Lead single of the album, the Dr. Luke-produced single “About You Now“, the Sugababes were the first all female group to top the UK Singles Chart on downloads alone. The song also broke the record for the biggest jump to number one from inside the top forty, and remained at number one for four weeks. “About You Now” was nominated for a 2008 BRIT Award for Best British Single.

In October 2007, Change became the group’s second UK number-one album, debuting in that position and giving the group the top positions on the singles, album and download charts simultaneously again!!!!

2nd single, “Change“, was a moderate success in the UK, peaking at number 13.

3rd single, “Denial” enjoyed moderate success in the UK too, peaking at number 15.

There’s also a digital single released from this album. Produced by Xenomania, “My Love Is Pink” is remixed by StoneBridge as a digital download.

“Catfights and Spotlights” Era
Catfights and Spotlights is the sixth studio album by British pop band Sugababes, released by Island Records in the UK on 20th October 2008. It was primarily produced by Klas Åhlund, Steve Booker and Orson, with additional contribution from Max Martin, amongst others. It is the group’s final album to include final founding member Keisha.

The album became the group’s second lowest-charting and lowest-selling album, reaching number 8 on the UK Albums chart.

The lead single from Catfights and Spotlights was “Girls“, and was released in October 2008. Although the single peaked at number 3 in the UK, it was the first lead single since that from their debut album not to reach number 1. The “Amelle curse” is making it’s effect.

The second and final single “No Can Do“, peaked at number 23 in the UK singles chart.

After the release of “No Can Do“, the group announced that there would be no 2009 tour in support of “Catfights and Spotlights“.

“Catfights and Spotlights” is the Sugababes lowest selling album in the UK, receiving only Silver certification. And it all falls down….

“Sweet 7″ Era
Don’t get me started on this. It’s crap to begin with. “Get Sexy” is like selling their soul to the devil in the music industry. Instead, i’ll focus on the follow-up of the break-up news.

On 21 September 2009, Digital Spy and the official Sugababes website revealed that Keisha Buchanan had left the group, resulting in Sugababes retaining none of its original members. Keisha, who will remain as a solo artist with Island Records, is replaced by former-Eurovision participant, Jade Ewen.

Keisha used her official Twitter to clarify that it was not her decision to leave the band, resulting in some journalists described her as having been “sacked“.

Since then, it was alleged that Heidi was behind a secret ploy to force Keisha out of the group because she was unhappy with the constant fights between Amelle and Keisha. Former member Mutya Buena, declared that the group, without any of its original members, no longer has the right to bear its name as “Sugababes have ended”. She eulogised the group by stating “it all started so innocently … a love for music and a dream … look what it’s become”, and slammed Heidi for not supporting Keisha.

Mutya also argued that, in the new line-up, Jade would dominate so that “it will kind of seem like Jade’s on the frontline, with two backing singers”. Mutya also expressed interest in reforming the original line-up with Keisha and Siobhán.

The majority of critics have reacted negatively to the news. (INCLUDING YOURS TRULY HERE!!!)

The Guardian (UK) ran an article named “Why the Sugababes’ show can’t go on without Keisha”. It argued that the group had suffered “one lineup change too many, and moves the band from a clever shape-shifting pop force into a total laughing stock”. Whilst praising the Sugababes music history as being soulful and highly original, the article argued that its need to be a “brand” resulted in a “rather miserable, undignified end to a band who fell together at school… and achieved what they did with a rare class”.

Today, the Sugababes don’t exist as a band, and after “Get Sexy” they don’t really exist as a sound either. If this new girl group before us today is to have any future at all, and Ewen, Berrabah and Range do actually make a great three-piece, it must find a new name. Sugababes died when Buchanan left. – Peter Robinson, The Guardian, September 22, 2009

Johnny Dee, also of The Guardian, agreed that “entirely consisting of substitutes, one would imagine that the Sugababes could no longer seriously exist”. He also suggested the “ever-changing lineups… reveals them for what they are… a business, a brand”.

Pop Justice stated bluntly: “Sugababes as a band is now dead. Pick a new name or spend the rest of your time in this band as a total laughing stock”. In a separate article, the website alluded to the group’s current form as “Amelle, Heidi & Jade” before discussing “the Sugababes (Mutya, Siobhan and Keisha)” separately.

Pop Justice, in reviewing photographs of the new line-up wearing sexy outfits, commented on the possible reaction of Sugababes’ management team: “It’s hard to look at those photographs and not wonder what the people who were instrumental in Sugababes’ early days think of the pictures… All those people who did such a brilliant job of making sure the Sugababes had a little bit more class than the others. Is this what they had in mind?”.

Afterword
See, I’m not the only one who thinks that this latest line-up of the “Sugababes” is gonna be trashy. It’s just sad. One of my greatest music influence of my time would be gone just like that. Oh wells, the future is still unknown. I’ll be doing a “Sugababes: Essential listens” post soon and I might do a remix tribute that consist the remixes of the babes’ songs. Stay Tune!!!

A last standing ovation to the SUGABABES!!!