Posted September 9, 200915 yr Sugababes Second Song Syndrome! Ever noticed when you pressed play on your brand new Sugababes album that track 2 always rocked? Its not unusual for pop bands to have some of the best tracks front loaded on their albums, but for the Sugababes this is even more true. However, while we are blessed with these wonderful songs, they are cursed to never be released in their own right as singles – An affliction known as as Sugababes Second Song Syndrome! Work has been ongoing for 10 years but so far there is no cure. Let us take a look at the evidence: One Touch – One Foot In Ironically, originally planned as the first ever Sugababes single, this song was eventually passed over four times! It was felt to represent the cool urban edge the babes were aiming for, and really sets up the flavour for the whole album, even younger and hipper than label mates All Saints. It was of course passed over for Overload, a sublime slice of pop history that stood out from the rest of the album and had critics going wild Angels With Dirty Faces – Blue As uber cool as the name suggests, the babes shook off their understated edge, and showed a slicker, more commercial urban side. Showing that you don't have to be American to produce cutting edge R'n'B, Blue still retained all the feel of a babes song, and tells of the disquiet of a false relationship, through the metaphor of colour. Despite its cutting edge sound at the time, it was passed over as a lead by the (perhaps more unique) mega double team that was Freak Like Me, and Round Round. Three – Whatever Makes You Happy Keisha's first stab at solo writing has “lead” written all over it. From its anthemic chorus, to its future proof synths, it pushes all the right buttons and really from the first moment you hear it you realise it could be no-one but the babes. Having forged a successful alliance with Xenomania for their last album however, their output was beginning to hit full production, and following on from their Round Round collaboration, the rather excellent Hole In The Head was chosen. Xenomania was also used for the album's other uptempo, In The Middle, this in the days before Girls Aloud became Xeno's muses, and the Sugababes shifted their sound on yet again. Taller In More Ways – Gotta Be You With a killer syncopated baseline, and hitting the ground running with the electro-synth, this song has long divided opinions of Sugafans into 2 poles. Some love the edge and the attitude, others find it a bit all over the place. Considered for a single from early on (following obvious lead Push the Button), the song was still in the running when Mutya departed, and was therefore selected as one of the songs Amelle Berrabah would re-record. Sticking with the Xeno formula Red Dress was released next however, and by the time of the 4th single the pace was changed, in favour of a ballad (the criminally underperforming and beautiful Follow Me Home). Of course the question always remains: Whose is better, Mutya or Amelle's? Change – Never Gonna Dance Again Described by my nearest and dearest as “the best no1 they never had” this song was an early fan favourite, being hotly contested with My Love is Pink. Passed over for Change thanks to the “its Christmas must release a ballad” logic, the song never made it to the airwaves despite the girls themselves stating they would like it to be one. However, with Denial and Change failing to hit the top10, no fourth single was released. At this point, the relationship with Xenomania also reached an end – little did he know he was Never Gonna Dance Again! Catfights and Spotlights – You on a Good Day Ah, Catfights, Catfights. A beautiful album, but not the most commercial sounding songs, or those which make clear singles. That is, except for the first 3 tracks. After the babes mixed it up with their sassy rendition of “Girls”, they needed something funky, and despite the range of sounds on the album, it seemed they wanted to continue with the 60s themed music. Never a personal favourite of mine, it was an early favourite of many, with its catchy lyrics and kitsch sound. Unusually for a babes song, instead of them being the strong, in-control women, or the “love as battle” analogy, it tells the story of a rather useless boyfriend who for reasons unbenownst they put up with anyway! The equally retro No Can Do superceded it however, and involved err, transportation made of naked prettyboys! Had the campaign went further, the 60s sound was to be shaken off, and the album's premier track Every Heart Broken would have likely been the next release. Sweet 7 - ? So, can sweet 7's spoonful of Suga help the medicine go down, and cure this terrible affliction? If the early tracklists buzzing around the net are to be believed, probably not! As usual, our lead will be track 1, and it looks like our next single About A Girl isn't track 2, so be prepared to totally love the slice of pop perfection sandwiched between Get Sexy and About A Girl while gently accepting the world will never experience its brilliance! :wacko: Just a bit of fun guys, but let me know if you like, and chat on the tracks you like/don't would be great! :)
September 9, 200915 yr Lead tends to be track one, with the follow up track 3. And i'm with you that track 2 is always amazingly stunning and criminally never released. As for Gotta Be You, it's amazing and i find both to be equally epic, except Mutya's has that amazing line 'Today look at Mutya' Amelle's version of Follow Me Home should never have been recorded let alone released. -_-
September 9, 200915 yr Author Lead tends to be track one, with the follow up track 3. And i'm with you that track 2 is always amazingly stunning and criminally never released. As for Gotta Be You, it's amazing and i find both to be equally epic, except Mutya's has that amazing line 'Today look at Mutya' Amelle's version of Follow Me Home should never have been recorded let alone released. -_- Gotta Be You Amelle>>Mutya FMH Mutya>>>>Amelle never spotted that line before! personally love Gotta Be You :)
September 9, 200915 yr GBY = Mel>Mut FMH = Mut>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>*inserts universe in here*>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Mel
September 9, 200915 yr you know me, not one for the understatement :lol: NYG however is beyond stunning
September 9, 200915 yr The only really amazing track 2s are Gotta be you and Never Gonna Dance Again I still have no idea why anyone would be stupid enough to pass NGDA up as single. The real gem of C&S is obviously Murder One yet another really stupid choice, it feels like those songs have really gone to waste :( Edited September 9, 200915 yr by shakilover
September 9, 200915 yr TBH I don't think EHB would've helped the C&S era whatsoever. Although a great track it wasn't really single material for me, YOAGD was lead material IMO with a Beware follow-up.
September 9, 200915 yr I really don't understand the fuss over 'Never Gonna Dance Again' (OR 'My Love is Pink' for that matter) Easily 2 of my least favourites from 'Change' :( Also :o at 'Beware' having fans! One of the worst things they've ever recorded (with Amelle at least). 'You On A Good Day' was a good track, not single material, but it will always be a really good album track. 'Gotta Be You' :wub: Really like 'Whatever Makes You Happy' too!
September 9, 200915 yr Never Gonna Dance Again :wub: One of if not the best album track from the babes <3
September 9, 200915 yr Author you know me, not one for the understatement :lol: NYG however is beyond stunning *It so is! Runs to listen to* :D
September 10, 200915 yr Love Gotta Be You and Never Gonna Dance Again, they could have easily gotten top 10's with both of those =\, Im pretty sure the babes wanted GBY as a single too.
September 10, 200915 yr *It so is! Runs to listen to* :D atta boy ^_^ I knew i'd have you hooked on it after a wee while. :wub:
September 20, 200915 yr Gotta Be You and Never Gonna Dance Again should have been released....sometimes I wonder if record labels ever poll their listeners to help figure out which songs on the albums are the hottest....they should. Look at Lady Gaga, Madonna, Janet Jackson to name a few...they released the best songs on their albums and that is why they did well. (I know Lady Gaga only has had one album, but they did pick the best songs from there) By the way, Real Thing, Ace Reject, Hanging On A Star should have been released too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
