The Sugababes Discography Rate

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.

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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​

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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 7​

A 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 7​

The 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​

 

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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 Down​

99. 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​

 

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Y'all are going to do Catfights wrong aren't you?

 

Post reserved for me to be retroactively sassy x

 

I never got into them as a group so let me check this out. Also I owe it to @beyoncésweave for my general messery.

 

You better stan the first 4 albums like I do x

 

Like everything with me, get ready for some disappointment.

 

Self-shade but yes.

 

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.

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!