Change (Sugababes album)
| Change | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1 October 2007 | |||
| Recorded | June 2006 – July 2007 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 43:25 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Producer |
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| Sugababes chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Change | ||||
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Change is the fifth studio album by British girl group Sugababes, released through Island Records on 1 October 2007. It was their first album to feature complete vocals by Amelle Berrabah, who joined the group following founding member Mutya Buena's departure in 2005.
Musically, Change is predominantly a pop rock and dance-pop album produced by previous collaborators Xenomania, Dallas Austin and Jony Rockstar, along with newer producers Dr. Luke, Danish production team Deekay, and Novel. The album was preceded by its lead single "About You Now" which was a major commercial success, becoming Sugababes' sixth number one single on the UK Singles Chart and their highest selling single in the country. Two other songs off the album were later released as singles the title track, and "Denial", both of which reached the top twenty in the UK; the latter was also commercially successful in mainland Europe. Another track, "My Love is Pink", was the only promotional single off the album. Commercially, Change debuted atop of the UK Albums Chart, where it became the band's second number one album, and was eventually certified platinum by the BPI for selling 300,000 units in the country. [2] Elsewhere, it reached the top ten in Estonia and Ireland. In France, the album was adapted as the group's first greatest hits compilation.[3]
Change would receive mixed to positive reviews, with several critics applauding tracks off the album for their catchiness and complimenting its production, while others called it a "mixed bag". To promote the album, Sugababes' would perform tracks off the album at talk shows and embarked on the Change Tour in 2008.
Background and release
[edit]In June 2006, the Sugababes began working on then-untitled fifth studio album which was confirmed for release in 2007. However, group member Heidi Range also revealed that a greatest hits album would be released in time for Christmas 2006, which would include all of the group's hits.[4] Following the release of Overloaded: The Singles Collection, the Sugababes continued working with a number of American producers on their fifth studio album, the band's first full studio album with then-new member Amelle Berrabah. Although, it was Amelle's first production, some of the songs from the album were allegedly leftover tracks that were originally intended to appear on Taller in More Ways (2005).
The album was produced by Higgins and production team Xenomania, known for their work on other Sugababes singles including "Round Round", "Angels with Dirty Faces", "Hole in the Head", "In the Middle", and "Red Dress".[5] The mixing process was undertaken by Jeremy Wheatley for 365 Artists at Twenty One Studios, located in London, England. This was assisted by Richard Edgeler.[5] Keyboards and programming were provided by Powell, Higgins, Cowling and Matt Gray, while Coler was responsible for the guitar.[5]
AXM Magazine reported the Sugababes' assumed attempt to move into the American market with the album.[6] On 30 August 2007, the group appeared on The Album Chart Show to perform the first single, "About You Now", and premiere another two album cuts. They also confirmed that the album's title would be Change.
When inserted into the computer, the UK edition disc allows access to bonus features such as remix versions of "About You Now" and a special interview with the group, plus wallpapers and photos. The French edition of Change is a greatest hits compilation because Overloaded: The Singles Collection was not released there, and it contains all their hits since "Overload" to "Denial".
"Never Gonna Dance Again" was written by Sugababes members Keisha Buchanan and Heidi Range in collaboration with Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Lisa Cowling and Nick Coler. The song was originally written and recorded with former group member Mutya Buena for the group's previous album Taller in More Ways, but was cut from the final track listing due to the girls not being fond of the song. During production of the fifth album, they came back to the song and grew to like it, prompting the group to add it to the track listing of Change.[5]
The song "About You Now" was used in the movie Wild Child and features as track three on the soundtrack.[7] In December 2007, "3 Spoons of Suga" was included on the soundtrack for the 2007 film St Trinian's.[8]
Songs
[edit]"About You Now" is an uptempo pop rock song that received generally favourable reviews from both music critics and fans alike. PopJustice reviewer Peter Robinson, who noted a similarity to Kelly Clarkson's 2004 single "Since U Been Gone" (also produced by Dr. Luke), described the song as a "pop-electro-rock masterpiece" and dubbed it "the best Sugababes single" since 2002's Round Round.[9] He praised the song's unselfconsciousness and its "very pleased-to-be-exactly-what-it-is" attitude and noted that "it doesn't sound anything like what the Sugababes have done before but it is instantly recognisable as a Sugababes song".[9]
"Never Gonna Dance Again" is a midtempo pop song that displays musical elements of dance-pop.[10] Nick Levine of Digital Spy wrote that the song's "desperately sad disco lament" is composed "almost entirely at mid-tempo."[10] Fraser McAlpine of the BBC characterized the track as a "dancefloor tearjerker", similar to "Closer" by Ne-Yo and "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack, whereas The Trades writer Paul Schultz called it a "break-up ode".[11][12]
Lyrically, "Never Gonna Dance Again" is about the break-up of a relationship which is set on a dancefloor. During the chorus, Sugababes sing the lines "I lost the rhythm when you said it's over / As the final record starts to fade, I feel the dancefloor turning colder".[10][13] The Guardian's Alexis Petridis and Schultz have both noted that the song's lyrical content is reminiscent to that of George Michael's song, "Careless Whisper".[12][14]
"Never Gonna Dance Again" garnered a mixed reception from music critics. McAlpine wrote that the song "immediately feels like the girls have struck gold again".[11] Levine suggested that "Never Gonna Dance Again", along with the album's singles "Denial" and "Change", demonstrates the group has "managed to grow up without losing their way with a melody". He elaborated that the song "seems to showcase a more reflective Sugababes".[10] Petridis called it a "classy" example of the group's "trademark clever, referential pop",[14] while The Independent's Andy Gill praised Xenomania's production of the song, saying that it "makes the most of its winningly logical melody".[15]
Ally Carnwath of The Observer wrote that the track is a "surprisingly energetic mope around the disco", although admitted that the "elegiac tone" of the song's lyrics is a "real comedown".[16] A writer for The Scotsman criticized it as a "dreary, formulaic break-up song", additionally noting that the track is not catchy like "About You Now".[13] An editor for Stornoway Gazette admitted that although disco-friendly, "Never Gonna Dance Again" is the album's starting point of "disappointment", while saying that it "has the feeling of being tired and slightly jaded in comparison to the strength of the previous offering", referring to the album's lead single "About You Now".[17] NME wrote that it seems "less than a threat and more of a promise."[18]
"3 Spoons of Suga" is an uptempo pop song, with elements of dance-pop. Nick Levine of Digital Spy described it as a "Nancy Sinatra-style pop strut".[19] He also suggested that the song "doesn't sound like anything the Sugababes have recorded before", and went on to name it a "kissing cousin" to the group's 2008 single, "Girls".[20] Levine noted that "Boys and Girls" by Pixie Lott has a "passing resemblance" to "3 Spoons of Suga".[21] Matt O'Leary of Virgin Media noted the incorporation of a guitar in the "beat-led dancefloor" track.[22] An editor from The Scotsman suggested the line "He don't get stressed cos he's blessed by the cut of his jeans" was reminiscent of songs released by British girl group Girls Aloud.[13]
"3 Spoons of Suga" garnered favorable reviews from music critics. Lauren Murphy of Entertainment Ireland described it as "villainous pop" and wrote that it epitomises the "sexy 'give-a-damn' attitude that Sugababes have pretty much built their career upon."[23] Tom Young of BBC admitted that "3 Spoons of Suga" was "ridiculously titled", yet "ridiculously catchy". According to him, the song contains "simple rocky edge" that gives the "rich textured voices" of Berrabah and Buchanan "plenty of room in which to excel."[24] Victoria Segal of The Times wrote that the "sticky disco of 3 Spoons of Suga should stop Mutya Buena's victory lap in its tracks".[25] The Scotsman's editor felt that the song has a "playful attitude" which is missing from the rest of the album.[13] Emily Mackay of Yahoo! Music suggested that it was one of the stronger tracks on the album, writing "the check-me-the-f*ck-out glammy strut of '3 Spoons of Suga' finds them [Sugababes] on stronger footing."[26] Paul Schultz The Trades regarded it as a "ridiculously danceable Bananarama mimicry" and "stirring anthem".[27]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [28] |
| Digital Spy | [29] |
| The Guardian | [30] |
| The Independent | [31] |
| Metro | [32] |
| NME | 4/10[33] |
| The Times | [34] |
| Virgin | [1] |
| Yahoo! Music | 4/10[35] |
The album received mixed reviews, with The Guardian calling it a "mixed bag" but applauding tracks such as "Never Gonna Dance Again" and "Back Down".[36] The Times claimed that the album was "only slightly better than All Saints outtakes, all dated production and pop tastefulness" but complimented tracks such as "My Love Is Pink" and "3 Spoons of Suga".[37]
Commercial performance
[edit]The album's first single, "About You Now", was digitally released on 24 September 2007 in the United Kingdom, with the physical single release a week later. The song became Sugababes' sixth number-one single in the UK and their most successful to date. The second release from the album, "Change", was digitally released on 10 December and physically released on 17 December, charting at number thirteen. "My Love Is Pink" was also released as a digital promo single on 10 December.[38] The third and final single from the album, "Denial", was digitally released on 10 March 2008 and physically released on 17 March, peaking at number fifteen.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "About You Now" |
| 3:32 | |
| 2. | "Never Gonna Dance Again" |
|
| 3:43 |
| 3. | "Denial" |
|
| 3:31 |
| 4. | "My Love Is Pink" |
|
| 3:44 |
| 5. | "Change" |
| 3:37 | |
| 6. | "Back When" |
| 3:56 | |
| 7. | "Surprise" |
| 3:05 | |
| 8. | "Back Down" |
| Novel | 3:50 |
| 9. | "Mended by You" |
| Jony Rockstar | 3:34 |
| 10. | "3 Spoons of Suga" (UK, Ireland and Australia bonus track) |
| Rockstar | 3:50 |
| 11. | "Open the Door" |
| 3:16 | |
| 12. | "Undignified" |
|
| 3:45 |
- Notes
Change (compilation album)
[edit]| Change | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 17 March 2008[3] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 66:15 | |||
| Label | AZ, Universal | |||
| Producer |
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| Sugababes chronology | ||||
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The Sugababes' greatest hits album, Overloaded: The Singles Collection, was not released in France, and the French edition of Change was adapted to become a greatest hits compilation. The album features the original Overloaded track listing, with the addition of "About You Now", "Denial" and "Change", the three singles released from Change.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "About You Now2" |
| Dr. Luke | 3:32 |
| 2. | "Change2" |
| Deekay | 3:37 |
| 3. | "Denial2" |
|
| 3:31 |
| 4. | "Freak Like Me" (from Angels with Dirty Faces1) |
| Richard X | 3:15 |
| 5. | "Round Round" (from Angels with Dirty Faces1) |
| 3:57 | |
| 6. | "Red Dress" (from Taller in More Ways2) |
| Xenomania | 3:38 |
| 7. | "In the Middle" (from Three1) |
|
| 3:55 |
| 8. | "Stronger" (from Angels with Dirty Faces1) |
| Jony Rockstar | 4:04 |
| 9. | "Shape" (from Angels with Dirty Faces1) |
| Craigie | 4:12 |
| 10. | "Overload" (from One Touch3) |
|
| 4:38 |
| 11. | "Good to Be Gone2" |
|
| 3:27 |
| 12. | "Caught in a Moment" (from Three1) |
| Jony Rockstar | 4:26 |
| 13. | "Ugly" (from Taller in More Ways1) | Austin | Austin | 3:51 |
| 14. | "Easy2" |
|
| 3:39 |
| 15. | "Too Lost in You" (from Three1) | Diane Warren |
| 4:00 |
| 16. | "Hole in the Head" (from Three1) |
|
| 3:39 |
| 17. | "Push the Button" (from Taller in More Ways1) |
| Austin | 3:38 |
- Notes
- ^ includes vocals of Mutya Buena
- ^ includes vocals of Amelle Berrabah
- ^ includes vocals of Siobhan Donaghy
Personnel
[edit]- Dallas Austin – drums, keyboards, producer
- JC Chasez – vocal producer
- Nick Coler – guitar
- Miranda Cooper – keyboards, programming
- Pete Craigie – engineer, mixing
- Richard Edgeler – assistant
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Aniela Gottwald – assistant
- Lukasz "Doctor Luke" Gottwald – bass, guitar, drums, programming
- Matt Gray – keyboards, programming
- Brian Higgins – keyboards, programming, producer, mixing
- Tim McEwan – percussion
- Tom Nichols – percussion, programming, producer
- Andrew Nitsch – assistant engineer
- Rohan Onraet – engineer
- Chris Parmenidis – mastering
- Tim Powell – keyboards, programming, mixing
- Kurt Read – engineer
- Tony Reyes – guitar
- Tim Roberts – assistant
- Johnny Rockstar – bass, programming, producer, beats
- Rick Sheppard – engineer
- Alonzo "Novel" Stevenson – keyboards, vocals (background), producer, drum programming
- Tim VanDerKuil – bass
- Jeremy Wheatley – keyboards, drum programming, mixing
- Steven Wolf – producer
- Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young – engineer
Charts and certifications
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
Certifications[edit]
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Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 1 October 2007 | Island Records |
| Ireland | 5 October 2007 | |
| United Kingdom | 8 October 2007 | |
| Austria | 19 October 2007 | |
| Germany | ||
| Switzerland | ||
| Australia | 20 October 2007 | |
| Spain | 25 March 2008 | |
| United States | ||
| Italy | 16 November 2007 | |
| France[3] | 17 March 2008 |
Tour
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Virgin TV Edit | TV, Sport, Movies & More". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- ^ a b "British album certifications – Sugababes – Change". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ a b c "Change". Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
- ^ "Sugababes plan two new albums". NME. 2 June 2006. Archived from the original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d Change (liner notes). Sugababes. Island Records. 2007.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ SUGABABES – NEW SONGS! Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine AXM
- ^ "Wild Child The Movie Soundtrack Party Album on Amazon". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ "St Trinians Soundtrack Ready". MTV UK. Viacom. 5 December 2007. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ a b Robinson, Peter (6 August 2007). "Notes on the New Sugababes Single". PopJustice. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d Levine, Nick (9 October 2007). "Sugababes: 'Change'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ a b McAlpine, Fraser (21 June 2008). "Ne-Yo - 'Closer'". British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ a b Schultz, Paul (25 October 2007). "Music Review: Sugababes, "Change"". The Trades. Raul Burriel. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Change isn't for the better". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (5 October 2007). "CD: Sugababes, Change". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ Gill, Andy (5 October 2007). "Album: Sugababes". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ Carnwath, Ally (7 October 2007). "Girls wanna stick to having fun..." The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ "Sugababes - Change". Stornoway Gazette. Johnston Publishing. 15 November 2007. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ^ "Sugababes: 'Change'". NME. IPC Media. 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ Levine, Nick (10 December 2007). "'St. Trinian's' Soundtrack: Yay or Nay?". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Levine, Nick (14 August 2008). "So, this new Sugababes single then". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Levine, Nick (16 June 2009). "What's next for Pixie Lott?". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ "Sugababes: Change review". Virgin Media. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Murphy, Lauren (12 November 2007). "Sugababes – Change". Entertainment Ireland. Archived from the original on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Young, Tom (8 October 2007). "Music – Review of Sugababes – Change". British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Segal, Victoria (6 October 2007). "Sugababes: Change review". The Times. News International. London. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Mackay, Emily (10 October 2007). "Sugababes – Change". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Schultz, Paul (25 October 2007). "Music Review: Sugababes, "Change"". The Trades. Raul Burriel. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Mawer, Sharon. Change at AllMusic
- ^ "Sugababes: 'Change'". Digital Spy. 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (5 October 2007). "CD: Sugababes, Change". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 17 February 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
- ^ Gill, Andy (5 October 2007). "Album: Sugababes". The Independent. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Haider, Arwa Haider (8 October 2007). "Sugababes: Change". Metro. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
- ^ "Sugababes: 'Change' | NME". NME. 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
- ^ Edwards, Mark (7 October 2007). "Sugababes Change". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2007.
- ^ "Sugababes Change Album Review, New album reviews and latest album releases on Yahoo! Music". Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Petridis, Alexis (5 October 2007). "Pop and rock (Music genre),Music,Culture". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 17 February 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2007.
- ^ Segal, Victoria (6 October 2007). "Sugababes Change". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ^ Sugababes - My Love Is Pink Downloads - 7digital Archived 12 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The ARIA Report - Week Commencing 29th October 2007 - Issue #921" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2007. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Sugababes - Change - austriancharts.at". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI Czech Republic. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "dutchcharts.nl - Sugababes - Change". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "European Albums – Week of October 27, 2007". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ "Sugababes - Change". Lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline". Musicline.de. Media Control. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ "GFK Chart-Track". Irish Albums Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Sugababes - Change - hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "Archive Chart – Official Charts". Official Charts Company. 20 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - 2007 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
| Studio albums | |
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| Compilation albums | |
| Singles |
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| Featured singles | |
| Promotional singles |
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| Tours | |
| Lists | |
