Sugababes - Change

I began thinking of this song yesterday. It's a great song and it's mainly Keisha. She could probably do it solo comfortably. And it sums up the story - Change. There was always going to be change. The Sugababes have lasted much longer than any other comparable band - if there were comparable bands. Change isn't necessarily bad. It's just different. Things are "never gonna be the same again". A great solo performer is about to emerge from the ashes. And there will be reunion performances and they'll be great events.

Sweet7 - to buy or not to buy?

I'm struggling on this. I really don't want to spend the money on something that I'm not going to enjoy. But it's now a matter of conscience - having downloaded Sweet7, the new version, I ought to pay for it. Besides, a portion of the royalties will go to Keisha, who has some song-writing credits, I believe.

The album's getting uniformly bad reviews. That's no surprise. Catfights and Spotlights had mixed reviews - even though it was an authentic Sugababes album. There's a clutch of reviewers who've never liked the band and cannot be bothered to listen properly.

Who are the legal Sugababes? goes to court

Back in October, I asked Who are the legal Sugababes?

Keisha was made to sign all sorts of legal documents but what about Mutya and Siobhan? It was a good question, one that Mutya herself was pondering, it now emerges.

It's now been reported Mutya's filed a suit to recover the name. Here's the ITN version of the story. Keisha and Siobhan are said to be involved in the action as joint owners of the name.

Wait for You - new version. It's simple maths.

Some of the leaks of the new Sweet7 have been blocked on YouTube but this version of Wait for You is still up.

You can compare it with the original which we posted back in November.

The difference is stark and clearer than on any of the other tracks. This is a vocally challenging song.

In the original that's not obvious. Led by Keisha, the band effortlessly and beautifully achieve the pitch and harmonics. In the new version it is obvious they're struggling.

This is good news! It's good news because it's simple maths and it highlights what Keisha and the other individual members have contributed to the group over the years. Let's list what this lays to rest.

No More You - version 2

And here's the version of No More You from the new Sweet7 album by the Sugababes Tribute Band. It's still a good song - and sung well. But it's now very different. As this wasn't on the leaked sampler of the original, Keisha version of the album, we'll never know exactly how the recorded versions differ.

Sweet7 is shaping up to be an album of great songs - different from the earlier albums but it could have been another Sugababes classic. Jade has a good voice but compared with Keisha it's bland and her singing style much too influenced by X-Factor. I've listened to one or two other of the new tracks and the harmonies lack the depth, the Wow factor we've been used to.

No More You? Yes, no more Keisha, no more Sugababes. What we have instead is a decent girl band lucky to be gifted some good songs.

No More You!

This is great!

In September the Sugababes launched this track at a couple of gigs. I guess it will be on Sweet 7 but sadly it's not on the sampler, which has Keisha rather than Jade.

Amelle was absent during these gigs leaving Keisha and Heidi to perform. The track is mostly Keisha Buchanan and was a magnificent swansong. The recording is the official MSN one and is better quality than the other YouTube versions. Here's hoping it's a sign of what's to come on Keisha's solo album.
* I've now renewed the video clip as quite a few have been deleted from YouTube.

Wear My Kiss!

Here it is - the third single from the unreleased seventh (or eighth) album, Sweet7. It's not bad, now stripped of the last of Keisha's soul but a decent pop song and a decent video, especially for a third single.

This is what should have been done on earlier albums - when good tracks bombed because fans bought the albums - which were always exceptional. Think of other great third singles: In the Middle, Red Dress, Change.

Wear My Kiss

Sugababes | MySpace Music Videos

Happy Christmases from the Babes past and present

Here are the Sugababes on Christmas Day this year...



An interesting performance as you can see Jade taking over the "soul" role from Keisha. However the quality of the vocals is different.

And here they are three years ago doing White Christmas on the Charlotte Church show...

Sweet 7 - the original!

Here is one of the "leaked" tracks from the original Sweet 7. It turns out a demo had been circulated, maybe to some radio stations, before the album was pulled to record Jade Ewen's vocals.

What to make of it?

Already, even with Keisha singing - and doesn't she put some life into this song! - it's like a ghost, a shadow of the Sugababes. The album is heavily influenced by US urban hip-hop. That's quite a long way from the dance music that created Freak Like Me and Round Round, let along Overload. The good news is the songs are half-way decent - Keisha shines on this one so it will be interesting to see what Jade makes of it. There are five tracks in circulation, including About A Girl.

The tracks to look for are: About A Girl, Miss Everything (with Sean Kingston), Wear My Kiss, Wait for You, Thank You for the Heartbreak

Keisha and Mutya may duet

Keisha Buchanan has been talking about a collaboration with her original play-ground singing buddy, Mutya Buena, on her new album. Let's hope they get the bug and duet on a great song, which will make a great single for the "Original Sugababes"!

Here are the tweets which set out her hopes:

"@Jay_JayLondon I'll hopefully be working with mutya on my album! Lets see if i can get her attention 4 3 seconds first lol She's a busy beex
7:36 AM Nov 23rd from web in reply to Jay_JayLondon

I'm talking about the original line up by the way ;-) xxx
3:27 PM Nov 17th from TwitterBerry

:) I'm not re-forming the sugababes. We've spoken & I'm pleased they've lent me their support & vice versa. But we're 100% NOT reforming xxx"

Sweet7 delayed

From sugababes.com:

"'Sweet 7' OUT 08.03.10

We just wanted to confirm for you that the release date for the Sugababes' upcoming album ‘Sweet 7’ has changed. The album will now be coming to you on March 8th 2010."

Possible reasons:

• re-recording Keisha's parts and remixing with Jade Ewen's;
• Amelle Berrerah's indisposition;
• marketing sense.

Oh, to get a copy of the album with Keisha's original vocals.

Best Sugababe album tracks

Most pop bands are only remembered for their singles. The Sugababes are a band that has made great albums, from start to finish. You could find songs on their albums, beautifully written, sang and produced that never rated a video but in some cases became gig favourites.

These are the tracks, never released as singles, that stand out to me. :
from Angels with Dirty Faces:
Virgin Sexy
Breathin' Easy
from Taller in More Ways:
Ace Reject
Better
from Overloaded:
Good to be Gone
from Change:
Back When
3 Spoons of Suga

What do you think? What are your favourite album tracks?

Notice I've only drawn from four albums. On One Touch, Three and Catfights it's a little harder to pull out songs that really stand out.

My favourites from these would be:
One Touch
look at me
real thing
Three
We could have it all
Conversation's Over
Catfights
Every heart broken
Can we call a truce

These are personal choices. Judging by the songs the band performed live, their own choices would be:
One Touch
One Touch
promises
one foot in
Three
Whatever makes you happy
Situation's heavy
Buster
Catfights
Hanging on a Star
Every Heart Broken
She's like a star

Talking reunion!

Meanwhile there's talk of the original first ever Sugababes reforming!

Mutya Buena has apparently met Siobhan Donaghy. Here's the MTV report.

I wonder what they would perform as? Mutya, Keisha & Siobhan would be good enough. There were all sorts of gags going around about what the new Sugababes should really be called - I liked Nutrababes.

The reformed band would be a serious affair - how about Babes No More ?

About A Girl - new video

Here's the video of About a Girl. Actually it's the best video that's been made with the band for a long time. It pays tribute to the classic hip hop scenario. The song isn't too bad in spite of the American intonations, jettisoning what little that was left of the band's distinctive sound. It all could have been so good...

Who are the legal Sugababes?

As predicted, the lawyers have had to get busy to try to seal the Sugababes' line-up changes. Officially it's being stated that Jade Ewen hasn't yet signed her contract and as a result the new band has had to pull out of a gig.

Pop stars are notoriously reliant on their managers - and vulnerable to them - in protecting their rights. But sometimes managers miss a trick and sometimes stars do something clever. The past few decades have seen many legal battles in the courts over the rights to names of different bands.

So who does own the name? There's an added complication that Keisha Buchanan is listed as a co-writer on a great many songs - possibly including those on Sweet7. Asked about this on Twitter, Keisha has replied:
"maybe;-) lol but im all about staying positive. That would be so mean & bitter, im not like that:-) Good luck to em i say"

Keisha reputedly signed a deal in which she agreed to leave the band and in return was given a solo contract with Island Records and possibly an additional pay-off. So the odds are she has already signed away all her rights to the band's name. Did Mutya and Siobhan do the same?