The
Sugababes are an
English pop girl group based in
London, consisting of members
Heidi Range,
Amelle Berrabah and
Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members
Siobhán Donaghy,
Mutya Buena and
Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, ''One Touch'' was released in 2000 under London Records. Donaghy soon departed from the group, which was dropped by London afterwards. With the introduction of Range, the Sugababes signed with Island Records and experienced a higher level of commercial success, releasing three more albums. The group survived a second line-up change when Buena left the band and was subsequently replaced by Berrabah. After eleven years in the band, Buchanan was replaced by Ewen. The fourth lineup later signed with RCA Records after parting with Island.
In 2006, British Hit Singles & Albums named the Sugababes as the most successful female act of the 21st century with six UK number one singles and eighteen UK top ten hits. Their number one singles include such songs as "Freak Like Me", "Round Round", "Hole in the Head", "Push the Button" and "About You Now". They have also accumulated three multi-platinum albums and a platinum album. The Sugababes have been nominated for six Brit Awards, winning one for Best British Dance Act in 2003. The group has also been a permanent fixture in the British tabloids because of their perceived frequent lineup changes and alleged group infighting. The most recent lineup change was met with disapproval from the media which focused on the fact that none of the founding members were still in the group.
History
1998–2001: Formation and ''One Touch''
The Sugababes were formed in 1998 by
All Saints manager Ron Tom.
Siobhán Donaghy and
Mutya Buena, both aged just 13, had been signed as solo artists, but decided to work together after performing at the same showcase. While working in the studio, Buena invited her best friend
Keisha Buchanan to come and watch them. Manager Tom decided the three girls were to be a trio, likening their different appearances to the
United Colors of Benetton campaign. Originally dubbed ''the Sugababies'', the group's name was tweaked to ''Sugababes'' when they were signed by
London Records in order to give the group a more mature image.
The group's debut single, "Overload", peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart in 2000 and was nominated for a BRIT Award for Best Single. The group co-wrote most of the tracks on debut album ''One Touch'' with the help of All Saints producer Cameron McVey. ''One Touch'' peaked at number 26 on the UK Albums Chart. The album produced three more top 40 hits—"New Year", "Run for Cover" and "Soul Sound". The sales of ''One Touch'' did not meet London Records' expectations, and they dropped the group in 2001. It was later certified gold by the BPI and had sold 220,000 copies in the UK by 2008 according to ''Music Week''.
During a Japanese promotional tour in August 2001, Donaghy left the group. She stated initially that she wanted to pursue a fashion career, but was eventually diagnosed with clinical depression amid reports of in-fighting amongst the group's members. Donaghy later stated that she was forced out of the group by Buchanan and called Buchanan the "first bully" in her life.
2001–03: Second line-up and ''Angels with Dirty Faces''
Former
Atomic Kitten member
Heidi Range was announced as Donaghy's replacement. Having already started work on a second album with new member Range, the trio looked for a new record label, eventually signing to
Island Records. Their first single on the new label, "
Freak like Me" scored the group their first UK number 1 single. Follow-up single "
Round Round" also debuted on top of the
UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 2 in Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Both singles were certified silver by the
BPI.
On the back of the success of the singles, the group's second album, ''Angels with Dirty Faces'', debuted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and was later certified triple platinum, selling almost a million copies in the UK alone. It is to date their highest-selling album. In the UK, the third single from the album, a ballad entitled "Stronger", gained the girls their third consecutive top ten hit in their native country. The track was released as a double-A side with "Angels with Dirty Faces" in the UK, the latter song chosen as the theme tune to ''The Powerpuff Girls Movie''. A fourth single, the Sting-sampling "Shape", made the top ten in the Netherlands and Ireland in early 2003.
2003–05: ''Three'' and ''Taller in More Ways''
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 double platinum, it has sold 855,000 copies. The album was preceded by lead single "
Hole in the Head", which became the groups's third UK number 1 single. It also reached number 2 in Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway, and became the Sugababes' first (and to date only) single to chart in the US, reaching number 96 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. Follow-up single "
Too Lost in You" appeared on the soundtrack to the film ''
Love Actually'' and went top ten in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. The album's third single, "
In the Middle", was released in 2004 and garnered the group another BRIT Award nomination for Best Single; like its successor, the ballad "
Caught in a Moment", it went to number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2004, the trio sang on a 2004 version of the 1984
Band Aid's original "Do They Know It's Christmas?", which went to number 1 in the UK in December.
After a hiatus, the Sugababes released their thirteenth single, "Push the Button" in October 2005. It reached the top three in fifteen countries, making it one of the band's most successful singles. "Push The Button" debuted at number 1 in the UK, giving the group their fourth UK chart topper and first Irish number 1. It also became the group's best chart-performing Australian single, peaking at number 3 on the ARIA charts. Certified silver in the UK, it was later nominated at the BRIT Awards for Best Single. Parent album ''Taller in More Ways'' became the group's first UK number 1 album. The group was number 1 on the singles, album, airplay and download charts simultaneously, making them the first girl group to achieve such a feat. ''Taller in More Ways'' was certified double platinum in the UK.
Around this time, the group's perceived "moodiness", alleged backstage catfights, and press junket tantrums were tabloid fodder in Britain. They were surrounded by continuous rumours of in-fighting within the group and constant split reports. Rumours suggested that Buchanan and Buena had bullied Range, although Range herself repeatedly denied such allegations; Buena later admitted that she "just didn't talk to her" when she first joined. Buchanan claimed there was only one serious fallout between herself and Range during a 2004 gig in Dublin, regarding Britney Spears' "Toxic". Following an apparent illness that prevented Buena from promoting follow-up single "Ugly", it was announced on 21 December 2005 that Buena had left the Sugababes. According to an announcement on their official website, Buena's decision was based purely on personal reasons following the birth of her daughter.
2006–08: Third line-up, ''Overloaded'' and ''Change''
Amelle Berrabah joined the Sugababes in late December 2005, having been chosen by the group's management to replace Buena. The third single from ''Taller in More Ways'' was a re-recorded version of "
Red Dress", which was released in early 2006, and gave the Sugababes their third consecutive top five hit from the album, entering the UK singles chart at number 4. Berrabah re-recorded three of the album's twelve tracks and co-wrote a brand new song with Buchanan and Range named "Now You're Gone". The tracks appeared on a re-release of ''Taller in More Ways'' that reached number 18 in the UK albums chart. The fourth and final single from ''Taller in More Ways'' was "
Follow Me Home", released only in the UK in June, where it charted at number 32.
In mid 2006, the group returned to the studio to record two new tracks for their first greatest hits collection, entitled ''Overloaded: The Singles Collection''. The lead single from the compilation, "Easy" peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart, whilst the compilation album, released in November 2006, peaked at number 3. The album, certified platinum by the BPI, has sold 598,000 copies. In 2007, the group recorded the official Comic Relief single with fellow UK girl group Girls Aloud. The single became the band's fifth UK number 1 single. Mattel teamed up with the Sugababes to create a new themed Barbie doll collection, which hit stores in May 2007.
Following their Greatest Hits Tour, the Sugababes returned to the recording studio in mid 2007 to work on ''Change'', their fifth studio album and first to feature Berrabah on all tracks. With the release of "About You Now", the Sugababes became the first female group to top the UK Singles Chart on digital downloads alone. The song also broke the record for the biggest jump to number one from inside the Top 40 (entering at no.35, though this has since been surpassed by Pink's 2008 hit "So What" which entered at no.38), and remained at number 1 for four weeks. "About You Now" was nominated for a 2008 BRIT Award for Best British Single and is to date their highest-selling single, with sales standing at almost 500,000 copies.
In October 2007, ''Change'' became the group's second UK number 1 album. For the second time, the group topped the singles, album and download charts simultaneously. The album's title track "Change", was released as the second single in December 2007 and peaked at number 13 in the UK. The album sold 494,000 copies in the UK, and was certified platinum. The third and final single from ''Change'' was "Denial", which reached number 15. From March to May 2008, the Sugababes travelled the UK on the thirty-date Change Tour, their biggest tour to date.
The Sugababes launched their own shoe collection in association with the German shoe retailer "Deichmann" available from February 2008 in 16 countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, and the UK. The singers chose the range of items in the Star collection themselves. The Sugababes had also told reporters that they hope to branch out into other areas such as a makeup line.
2008–09: ''Catfights and Spotlights''
Following the Change Tour, Sugababes returned to the studio to write and record tracks for their sixth studio album, ''
Catfights and Spotlights''. It was reported that producer
Timbaland had approached the Sugababes to work on their sixth album, but due to time restrictions, a collaboration did not occur. "
Girls", the lead single from ''Catfights and Spotlights'' was released in October 2008. The single peaked at number 3 in the UK, it was their first lead single since ''One Touch'' not to reach number 1. The album peaked at number 8 in the UK Albums Chart, the second and final single, was released in December and peaked at number 23 in the UK. In January 2009, the
Performing Right Society named Sugababes the fourth hardest-working band of 2008 due to the number of concerts they had performed during that year.
After the release of "No Can Do", the group announced that there would be no 2009 tour in support of ''Catfights and Spotlights'' so that they could focus on writing and recording material for their seventh studio album. On 22 February 2009, the Sugababes received media attention for performing at Jade Goody and Jack Tweed's wedding reception. Berrabah collaborated with Tinchy Stryder for the track "Never Leave You", the third single from his second album, ''Catch 22'' in August 2009. The single immediately shot to the top UK charts, making Berrabah the only member of the Sugababes, past and present, to achieve a number one single outside of the group. Buchanan collaborated with Jay Sean in 2009 on its UK version of his third studio album ''All or Nothing'' on the track "Far Away" which they both co-wrote.
2009–11: Fourth line-up and ''Sweet 7''
The Sugababes travelled to the US to work on their seventh studio album, ''
Sweet 7''. In April 2009, the Sugababes signed a contract with Jay-Z's label
Roc Nation, resulting in working with high profile producers. The album's lead single, "
Get Sexy", debuted at number 2 on the
UK Singles Chart in September 2009.
Throughout mid-September, various media websites including ''New! Magazine'' reported that Berrabah had left the Sugababes. She had missed two engagements promoting ''About A Girl'', the album's second single. However, on 21 September it was revealed that Buchanan, the sole original member of the group, had left the Sugababes. Buchanan's place was filled by Jade Ewen, the UK's 2009 Eurovision Song Contest entrant. Buchanan used her official ''Twitter'' account to clarify it was not her decision to leave the band, resulting in a storm of controversy in which the media described Buchanan as having been "sacked" from the group. Many fans reacted badly to the split, whilst many critics also reacted negatively to the news. Amid the controversy of line-up change, both Range and Berrabah stated that they received "put downs" from Buchanan for over a year. They continued to say that when they made the decision to leave the group, Island Records offered to follow them and replace Buchanan. The new member, Ewen, was flown to the US to film the music video for single "About a Girl" mere days after it was announced that Buchanan had left the group.
"About a Girl" reached number 8 in the UK, during a truncated promotion schedule due to Berrabah flying to Austria for treatment for nervous exhaustion resulting from the line-up change. In late 2009, "Wear My Kiss" was confirmed for release in February 2010 as the third single, with the album, originally set for a late November 2009 release, delayed until March 2010. "Wear My Kiss" peaked at number 7 in the UK, making ''Sweet 7'' the Sugababes' first album since ''Taller In More Ways'' to contain at least three top ten hits. The album debuted and peaked at number 14.
2011-present: RCA Records and 8th album
In April 2010, it was announced that the Sugababes had begun recording the group's eighth studio album. The Sugababes released their own fragrances named Tempt, Tease and Touch. On 5 June 2011 the ''
Daily Mirror'' reported that the Sugababes had left their record label of ten years,
Island Records, for a new three-album record deal with
Sony Music's
RCA Records. Their forthcoming single is called "
Freedom", and is due for release on 25 September 2011. The music video premiered on T4 on August 8. "Freedom" is being used by mobile phone manufacturer
Nokia, in their latest advertising campaign for the
N8 handset.
Members
colspan="2" | Member !!1998 !!1999 !!2000 !!2001 !!2002 !!2003 !!2004 !!2005 !!2006 !!2007 !!2008 !!2009 !!2010 !!2011 |
style="background:orange" | |
Siobhán Donaghy(1998–2001) |
colspan="4" style="text-align:center; background:orange;" ||colspan="10"| |
style="background:#B4FB84" | |
Mutya Buena(1998–2005) | | |
|
style="background:pink;" | |
Keisha Buchanan(1998–2009) | | |
|
style="background:#CCCCFF" | |
Heidi Range(2001–Present) | | |
|
style="background:#87D3F8" | |
Amelle Berrabah(2005–Present) | | |
|
style="background:#FDFD96;" | |
Jade Ewen(2009–Present) | | |
|
Note: those in bold are current members.
Discography
Studio albums
''One Touch'' (2000)
''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (2002)
''Three'' (2003)
''Taller in More Ways'' (2005)
''Change'' (2007)
''Catfights and Spotlights'' (2008)
''Sweet 7'' (2010)
Compilation albums
''Overloaded: The Singles Collection'' (2006)
''The Best of the Bs''/''The Complete Bs'' (2011)
Tours
Headlining
2001: Overload Tour
2003: Angels with Dirty Faces Tour
2004: Three Tour
2006: Taller in More Ways Tour
2007: Overloaded: The Singles Tour
2008: Change Tour
As supporting act
2002: No Angels - Four Seasons Tour
2006: Take That - The Ultimate Tour
Awards and nominations
References
External links
Official website
Category:Island Records artists
Category:BRIT Award winners
Category:Musical trios
Category:English pop music groups
Category:English dance music groups
Category:British vocal groups
Category:British girl groups
Category:Musical groups from London
Category:Musical groups established in 1998
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