It’s time. Four lineups. Six members. Seven albums. Thirty-one singles. Two UK #1 albums. Five UK Top 10 albums. Six UK #1 singles. Eighteen UK Top 10 singles. Five headlining tours. Six BRIT Award nominations and one win. 3,500,000 singles sales. 4,000,000 album sales. And… One bathroom window escape. One secret language. Three bankruptcies. One beauty salon. One butt implant. Three fragrances. One Britney Spears single. Two criminal convictions. One property empire. Five reality TV stints. Four European Union trademark applications. One failed comeback. Countless threads on Popjustice. Hundreds of delusional, unstable and borderline psychotic stans. One. Iconic. Band. The Sugababes lay claim to that title because of all of the above, and then some. The length of their tenure, the volume of music they produced, the commercial success they achieved, and the critical acclaim they garnered is, in combination, a claim on iconic status, being unusual for a pop act, and especially unusual for a girlband. On top of this, the Sugababes are iconic, of course, for the sheer messery they created. From their onset, a cloud of instability surrounded them which would only intensify over the years. Alleged infighting, rumours of bullying between members, palpably tense and terse public appearances, and nefarious management and record labels would be certified with a continuous series of line-up changes. The frighteningly relentless level of D R A M A made the threat of an imminent split permanent for their entire decade plus run (when will Fifth Harmony etc.). All of this made them a permanent fixture in tabloids, on the popular conscience, and of course, on Popjustice. At their peak, the band ruled British pop, defining the national soundscape, achieving dizzying success and critical acclaim whilst projecting a singular image of assured, edgy coolness. At their nadir, the band plumbed depressing depths, struggling to match earlier artistic and commercial successes, becoming unrecognisable from when they started and turning into a national punchline. Sixteen years since they burst onto the UK music scene then, and five(/three years) since they were active in any sense – and to fill in the time between refreshing Keisha’s snapchat, Siobhan’s instagram and the European Union Intellectual Property Office Register – now is finally the time to take stock of their discography. In many senses, this catalogue directly reflects and provides context to their highs and lows and charts the remarkable, exhilarating, terrible and tragic trajectory of a vital girlband. Explanations, no you don't need one THE REASONS In case you weren't dusting off your One Touch cassette already, the reasons to visit the Sugababes’ discography are numerous and compelling. Musically, it covers practically the entirety of the pop music gamut, from the glossiest of pop to the hardest hitting R&B. Each of its iterations changed the band’s sound and charted a course through a vast swathe of the pop landscape – from Pop/R&B-lite to urban power pop to polished pure pop to electropop – incorporating along the way UK garage, grime, crunk, trip-hop, new wave, soul, funk, dance, dubstep and even downtempo. These styles are spread across body-pulverising bangers, simmering midtempos and ballads of every kind. Such musical range has rarely, if ever, been observed with a girlband. If you are a fan of pop, there is a lot to consider, digest and enjoy here. Industry-wise, the decade during which the Sugababes were active marks an important period in British pop, where a number of consequential shifts occurred in the mainstream sound which are readily apparent today. Chronologically, the band was ahead of and forcefully driving these shifts; on par with and reflecting them exemplarily; and falling behind and struggling to keep up with them, making the discography a remarkably comprehensive case study of a music industry’s evolution. In particular, the Sugababes’ emergence signalled the rise of a number of producers who would become prolific and acclaimed during the decade, including Richard X and Xenomania. As a girlband, the Sugababes are a fascinating case study. In many ways, they refined the template for the modern Pop/R&B girlband, and pushed it forward in several important ways, only to tear it to shreds. Each lineup change had a distinct impact on the band’s sound, vocals and image to the point where four distinct girlbands can be said to exist under the banner of the “Sugababes”. Such existential variance marks them out as particularly anomalous, even within the girlband pantheon, and makes their discography – which telegraphs these changes – absorbing listening. Finally, the Sugababes have been integral to the Popjustice experience. Popjustice.com went online just as the Sugababes launched themselves, and the site has mapped the band’s career trajectory ever since. On the forum, the threads involving the Sugababes have attracted some of the largest audiences for any act. They feature emotional highs, incisive discussion, unbelievable kiis, utter messes, despicable misogyny, ridiculous drama and soul-crushing despair at levels rarely seen elsewhere on the forum. All of this is reflective of the large, terrible and continuing attraction the band holds for the Popjustice populace. Collectively and individually, the Sugababes – Mutya, Keisha, Siobhán, Heidi, Amelle and Jade – have been an essential part of Popjustice’s imagination. Looking at their discography then, is a way of understanding this community itself; if not its present, then at least its equally glorious and messy past. Let me lay out the law THE RULES Rate each song below from 0 to 10. Decimals are allowed, but don’t get too crazy. You may award one song, and one song only, the coveted 11. Choose wisely. For songs with multiple versions – i.e. where a new lineup rerecorded an older lineup’s song or when there are acoustic and non-acoustic versions of songs – rate the version you prefer. Troll votes will be discarded immediately. This is especially the case of you foolishly decide to take an irrational stand against any particular line-up. Trust me, it’ll be obvious. Commentary is highly encouraged. Were you there when “Overload” was first played on radio? Were you up at midnight to download free thank you to the fans "Freedom" from Amazon dot com? Tell me about it, and everything in between. Votes are due October 23 26, 8:00PM NZST | 8:00AM BST ––– Finally, and on a personal note, this rate is a labour of love that has been in the making for nearly two years. As I was killing sleep in the early hours the day (NZST) writing my thesis and stumbling through life in a state of delirious exhaustion throughout that whole time, planning this rate and allowing it to slowly take shape in my head was one of the few things giving me some respite. I am beyond excited to finally bring it into being and to share it with you all, and to initiate what I hope will an appreciation and celebration of a band beloved by so many of us here. Let’s have a party y’all…
‘Cos it’s about THE MUSIC not the face… Spoiler: Easy PM-able List Overload One Foot In Same Old Story Just Let It Go Look At Me Soul Sound One Touch Lush Life Real Thing New Year Promises Run For Cover Forever Little Lady Love Sugababes on the Run Don't Wanna Wait Freak Like Me Blue Round Round Stronger Supernatural Angels With Dirty Faces Virgin Sexy Shape Just Don't Need This No man, No Cry Switch More Than A Million Miles Breathe Easy Groove Is Going On Hole In The Head Whatever Makes You Happy Caught In A Moment Situation's Heavy Million Different Ways Twisted We Could Have It All Conversation's Over In The Middle Too Lost In You Buster Sometimes Nasty Ghetto Maya This Ain't a Party Thing Who Someone in My Bed Down Down Disturbed Colder in the Rain Push The Button Gotta Be You Follow Me Home Joy Division Red Dress Ugly It Ain't Easy Bruised Obsession Ace Reject Better 2 Hearts Favourite Song Like the Weather Future Shokk! Now You're Gone About You Now Never Gonna Dance Again Denial My Love Is Pink Change Back When Surprise (Goodbye) Back Down Mended By You 3 Spoons Of Suga Open The Door Undignified In Recline I Can't Take It No More Girls You On A Good Day No Can Do Hanging On A Star Side Chick Unbreakable Heart Sunday Rain Every Heart Broken Beware Nothing's As Good As You Sound Of Goodbye Can We Call A Truce Get Sexy Wear My Kiss About A Girl Wait For You Thank You For The Heartbreak Miss Everything She's A Mess Give It To Me Now Crash & Burn No More You Sweet & Amazing (Make It The Best) Little Miss Perfect Spiral Walk This Way Easy Good to Be Gone Shake It Freedom Flatline SPOTIFY (Songs unavailable on Spotify and multiple versions of songs linked below) One Touch (2000) Overload One Foot In Same Old Story Just Let It Go Look At Me Soul Sound One Touch Lush Life Real Thing New Year Promises Run For Cover Forever Little Lady Love Sugababes on the Run Don't Wanna Wait Angels With Dirty Faces (2002) Freak Like Me Blue Round Round Stronger Supernatural Angels With Dirty Faces Virgin Sexy Shape Just Don't Need This No Man, No Cry Switch More Than A Million Miles Breathe Easy (acoustic jam | non-acoustic) Groove Is Going On Three (2003) Hole In The Head Whatever Makes You Happy Caught In A Moment Situation's Heavy Million Different Ways Twisted We Could Have It All Conversation's Over In The Middle Too Lost In You Buster Sometimes Nasty Ghetto Maya This Ain't a Party Thing Who Someone in My Bed Down Down Disturbed Colder in the Rain Taller In More Ways (2005) Push The Button Gotta Be You (original | rerecord) Follow Me Home (album | single) Joy Division Red Dress (album | single) Ugly It Ain't Easy Bruised Obsession Ace Reject Better 2 Hearts Favourite Song Like the Weather Future Shokk! Now You're Gone Change (2007) About You Now Never Gonna Dance Again Denial My Love Is Pink Change Back When Surprise (Goodbye) Back Down Mended By You 3 Spoons Of Suga Open The Door Undignified In Recline I Can't Take It No More Catfights and Spotlights (2008) Girls You On A Good Day No Can Do Hanging On A Star Side Chick Unbreakable Heart Sunday Rain Every Heart Broken Beware Nothing's As Good As You Sound Of Goodbye Can We Call A Truce Sweet 7 (2010) Get Sexy (single | album) Wear My Kiss About A Girl Wait For You Thank You For The Heartbreak Miss Everything She's A Mess Give It To Me Now Crash & Burn No More You Sweet & Amazing (Make It The Best) Little Miss Perfect Extras Spiral Walk This Way Easy Good to Be Gone Shake It Freedom Flatline
THE PROMOTION 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 THE PRE-RATE A Disclaimer A Brief History of the Sugababes, Parts: I | II | III | IV Reflections on: One Touch Angels With Dirty Faces Three Taller In More Ways Change Catfights And Spotlights Sweet 7A bit of a kii Eighty five THE RATE ► RESULTS Roundups of Top: 90 | 80 | 70 | 60| 50 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 10 Album eliminations: One Touch Angels With Dirty Faces Three Taller In More Ways Change Catfights And Spotlights Sweet 7The Covers The Greatest Girlband 109 Eliminations THE POST-RATE Statistics: Elevens | Tens/Zeroes | Total Band Averages Artwork addendum Final Album Scorecard The Sugababes, according to Popjustice One Final Note
111. Miss Everything 110. She's A Mess 109. Give It To Me Now 108. Sweet and Amazing (Make It The Best) 107. Walk This Way 106. Favourite Song 105. Little Miss Perfect 104. Shake It 103. Future Shokk! 102. Wear My Kiss 101. I Can't Take It No More 100. Back Down99. Get Sexy 98. No Man, No Cry 97. Don't Wanna Wait 96. No More You 95. Groove Is Going On 94. This Ain't A Party Thing 93. Crash & Burn 92. Sugababes On The Run 91. Forever 90. Twisted 89. Hanging On A Star 88. Thank You For The Heartbreak 87. Little Lady Love 86. 3 Spoons Of Suga 85. Back When 84. Wait For You 83. It Ain't Easy 82. In Recline 81. Girls 80. Surprise (Goodbye) 79. More Than A Million Miles 78. Down Down 77. Look At Me 76. Sometimes 75. Freedom 74. Same Old Story 73. We Could Have It All 72. Nasty Ghetto 71. Better 70. Virgin Sexy 69. Mended By You 68. Good To Be Gone 67. Just Don't Need This 66. Just Let It Go 65. Switch 64. One Touch 63. Disturbed 62. Undignified 61. Supernatural 60. Joy Division 59. Who 58. Beware 57. Colder In The Rain 56. Someone In My Bed 55. Nothing's As Good As You 54. Open The Door 53. Spiral 52. Buster 51. Real Thing 50. Lush Life 49. Breathe Easy 48. Obsession 47. Now You're Gone 46. Angels With Dirty Faces 45. Bruised 44. My Love Is Pink 43. Like The Weather 42. Sunday Rain 41. Blue 40. Ugly 39. Gotta Be you 38. About A Girl 37. One Foot In 36. Soul Sound 35. Easy 34. 2 Hearts 33. No Can Do 32. In The Middle 31. Change 30. Sound Of Goodbye 29. Promises 28. You On A Good Day 27. Shape 26. Maya 25. Situation's Heavy 24. Every Heart Broken 23. Million Different Ways 22. Unbreakable Heart 21. Side Chick 20. New Year 19. Follow Me Home 18. Can We Call A Truce 17. Never Gonna Dance Again 16. Whatever Makes You Happy 15. About You Now 14. Caught In A Moment 13. Red Dress 12. Conversation's Over 11. Denial 10. Flatline 9. Overload 8. Push The Button 7. Too Lost In You 6. Round Round 5. Stronger 4. Hole In The Head 3. Run For Cover 2. Runner-Up 1. WINNER
I never got into them as a group so let me check this out. Also I owe it to @beyoncésweave for my general messery.
Virgin Sexy, Every Heart Broken, Never Gonna Dance Again or Wait For You for top rated album track, thanks.
*deep breath* HUZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Anybody doing Catfights and Spotlights wrong will be given the side-eye on my part... wait no I didn't mean it I love you really don't take me to your dungeon
Okay but I feel like everyone who didn't see MKS live is going to underscore Promises and I'm not ready.