 by browneNavigation |
Are the Sugababes getting too sweet?They may not be well-known in the
States, but British girl group the Sugababes have been one of
my favorite musical acts for about seven years now. Indeed, they’re
a big hit in the U.K. generally, having notched up six No. 1 singles as
well as a Brit award (our equivalent of the Grammys). This despite persistent
rumors of infighting, and multiple lineup changes that perhaps make
them the U.K. equivalent of Destiny’s Child. They burst on the scene in their
first incarnation in 2000:
Baby-faced Keisha Buchanan
(left) and feisty Mutya Buena (right) were already friends
from school, while the enigmatic-looking redhead Siobhan Donaghy
(center) was added by Buena’s manager. Their first big hit single,
when they were still in their mid-teens, was "Overload." It made
use of the girls’ sweet, throaty, pop-soul harmonies (reminiscent
of the group En Vogue) and their barbed-wire attitude, as well as
their multiracial look (Buchanan’s background is Jamaican; Buena’s
is Filipina, Irish, Spanish and Chinese; and Donaghy’s is Irish): While their first album, One Touch,
was a minor hit, it wasn’t enough to stop them being dropped from
their record label. Meanwhile, Donaghy had walked out of the band, reportedly
because she felt that Keisha was bullying her. A new girl, blonde Liverpudlian
Heidi Range, was brought in to take her place:
This led to my favorite lineup of
the band, as well as my favorite of their albums, Angels With Dirty
Faces. It also led to a new level of success for them, as their
first single "Freak Like Me" — with a video showing Buena and
Buchanan “initiating” Range into the band — went to No. 1: The album Three followed,
with several hits. That didn’t stop continued rumors of i-fighting,
though, as well as criticism in the tabloids over the girls’ normal,
healthy figures, which led to one article dubbing them the Sugalumps.
The girls hit back with the single "Ugly" on their next album,
Taller in More Ways (although sadly it wasn’t one of their best
songs, being too much like a rip-off of Christina Aguilera’s
"Beautiful"). The girls were also growing up —
which meant an increased level of sexualization and sexual objectification
in their videos, which unfortunately most female artists still seem
to take as a matter of course. Though I still loved the ‘babes, I
couldn’t help sometimes wishing that they’d go for a few more clothes
and a bit less makeup.
To me, though, they still had a rough-around-the-edges
feel and an independent attitude that set them apart from the more obviously
manufactured girl groups — without even mentioning their excellent,
individual music. That all seemed to be at risk when Buena, the mouthiest
of the band, announced she was leaving (she has since launched a solo
career). Perhaps used to replacing band members
at this point, the ‘babes rallied quickly, appointing Amelle Berrabah
as Mutya’s replacement. The takeover was so smooth that their new
song, "Red Dress," which had been recorded with Mutya’s vocals
for the original album Taller in More Ways, was re-recorded with
Amelle’s for the single release, and Amelle featured in the video: Since then they have launched a greatest
hits album, as well as a new album, Change, from which their first
single, "About You Now," went to No. 1 in the U.K. But I have
to say something is missing for me. While I didn’t necessarily think
of Buena as my favorite band member while she was there, there was something
about her looks — piercings, tattoos, ever-changing hairstyles and questionable
outfits — as well as her tough outspoknenness in interviews, that seemed
to encapsulate the spirit of the band. With her gone, they just seem
a bit ... well ... bland. And their new singles haven’t done much to
reassure me.
With Buena gone, will the Sugababes turn into just another glossy, vacant girl group, posing sexily in videos to a background of disposable pop? I hope not ... but I’m worried. Submitted by on January 22, 2008 - 4:00pm. |
User login |
News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
They used to be fantastic.
I'm not feeling the new lineup so much either
Girls Aloud...
I agree,
Girls Aloud are by far a better girl group but they just don't have the same international recognition the Sugababes have, which is quite a shame.
Ok, Hands down...
Filipina, Irish, Spanish and Chinese is the HOTTEST combination.
God how I love multiculturalism.
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism
wow, I'm such an ass
I thought Mutya Buena just got some work done. Mind you, I know nothing about this group, I heard their song "Too lost in you" and I looked up some of their videos on youtube. I still feel like a moron.
Other than "Too Lost in You" they don't hit the spot for me. oh, well, best of luck to them anyway. Sounds like they made a good choice with Heidi. I like her voice.
hmm...
i havn't actually paid much attention to the sugababes since mutya left (i
have an unhealthy obsession withheart her & her solo album) but i do enjoy seeing the mention of my hometown (aldershot AKA aldershit) in the tabloids after all the chavvy (trailer) exploits of the newest member Amelle :P~i'ma pull ya closer, keep ya nikes on...u know how we do!~
2 lost in u
I like the Sugababes.
I like the Sugababes. And I don't care about the members as long as I like the music, and so far I still do. I have all their albums, pretty bad right?:p Just like the music, can't help myself!
http://www.youtube.com/user/BetweenThaLines
Wrong choice
I was a big fan of the Sugababes from the start right up until the release of their latest album and then it all went downhill for me. For a start (and most importantly) the music seems to have lost it's edge and now seems to be run-of-the-mill, boring ballads and slightly more upbeat love songs. What happened to being unusual and singing about being a freak?!
Also the new member Amelle has provided nothing but bad press since she joined the group. I don't think it reflects on the band yet because it's easy to separate the original members talent to the newcomer's but at the same time everytime I see that girl I think of all the "scobe" stories and I think it wont be long until I personally will start associating the two. Think they need to get rid of her and quick!
terribly played-out
They've been a cash machine since the very start. The new album is a mediocre effort to repeat the success of the previous ones which of course were nothing but commercial junk food for the ears.
The worst is, my chief editor made me write a review about it as 'album of the month' some weeks ago & I couldn't do anything but be as sarcastic as the good manners allowed.
Read in wikipedia how they regulary slap each other backstage, as the tendency is that older members slap newer ones and at the end Keisha just slaps them all.
Last, "About You Know" lyrics couldn't be more cheesy, no?
I like some of their
I like some of their earlier songs, like Overload, Round Round, Stronger, Too Lost In You, Freak Like Me and Hole In The Head, but I don't like their new stuff and I never liked them as artists. To me, they're just another pre-fabricated, fake, mainstream girlgroup. And with all the bitchfighting and bullying that's apparently going on backstage, they don't really strike me as professionals either. Why be in a band if you don't even like the other girls? Are they just doing it for the money? I like my artists a bit more real.
And I don't like the new girl. At least Mutya was hot.
Three
Was my favoriate album from them. Hole In The Head was genius. The video for In The Middle, was extremely hot! The girls looked amazing in that video.
Taller in More Ways was a pretty good album aswell but after that it went downhill. Mutya was obviously the brains behind the operation. I loved her first solo single Real Girl.
Oh, but don't get me wrong Heidi is SEXY!
Girls aloud Are way Better!
Girls aloud Are way Better!
Siobhan!!!!
I got into the Sugababes when I was stationed in Germany with the Army. I love Siobhan's solo stuff, she has an incredible voice. Overload and Stronger are my 2 faves from this group.
And I second Ace of Clubs comment, Heidi is NUCLEAR Hot!
-Insert witty comment here-
Guitly Pleasure...
I've been a Sugababes fan since before they started, a friend of mine went to school with them in the UK and he was telling me how these girls of our age were going to be superstars so when they finally came out, I followed religiously.. I've been a shameless fan. I know some of their songs have been beyond cheezy but I love this girls!! When Mutya left, I thought I was gonna die 'cause she was my fav. Babe but Amelle isn't too bad, she's actually pretty cool in their new album Change I'm totally hooked on that CD but Taller In More Ways is still my fav. hands down. I've listened to Ace Reject more than any other of their songs put together. I hated how they made Amelle sing Mutya's part!!
requiem aeternam dona eis domine