Sugababes Formed:
1998 - London, UK.
Quote From Sugababes' Keisha Buchanan:
"It sounds bad, but they don't care about your age if you're famous."
Members:
- Amelle Berrabah - Vocals
- Jade Ewen - Vocals
- Heidi Range - Vocals
Early Years:
The Sugababes' Keisha Buchanan and Mutya Buena were childhood friends growing up in London. Buchanan's family are Jamaican, and Buena's family comes from the Philippines. The pair met Siobhan Donaghy at a party in 1998 when they were 13. Shortly after meeting they decided to form a group. London Records decided to sign them to a contract when they turned 14 and brought in Cameron McVey, producer for All Saints, to work on their first album.
'One Touch':
The release of the first album One Touch was preceded by the single "Overload." The single landed in the U.K. pop singles top 10 and One Touch, released in October 2000, reached the top 30 on the album chart. 3 more top 40 singles from the album followed, but, unfortunately, London Records was disappointed with the album sales and dropped the group. In another blow, Siobhan Donaghy left the group in the middle of a concert tour in 2001.
Trivia Fact About Sugababes:
Heidi Range speaks with a Liverpudlian (from Liverpool) accent.
Sugababes Reconstituted:
With rumors swirling about whether Siobhan Donaghy left the group voluntarily or was forced out, Buchanan and Buena added former Atomic Kitten member Heidi Range to become a trio again. They signed to Island Records and released their next single "Freak Like Me" in May 2002. Featuring lyrics from Adina Howard's version on top of a Gary Numan sample, the record became their first U.K. #1.
'Angels With Dirty Faces':
With "Freak Like Me" still ringing in their fans' ears, the next single "Round Round" and the album Angels With Dirty Faces appeared in August 2002. "Round Round" became their 2nd U.K. #1 and the album reached #2. Critics lauded the album as one of the best pop releases of the year. 2 more hit singles followed from the album and the trio took home a Brit Award for Best British Dance Act.
'Three':
Sugababes' third album, appropriately titled Three appeared in October 2003 along with the first single "Hole In the Head." The single became their third U.K. #1 pop single, and it had the distinction of being the group's first single to reach the U.S. pop chart, stopping at #96. However, "Hole In the Head" was a #1 dance hit in the U.S. 3 more top 10 U.K. singles followed and in September 2004 the trio decided to take a break from the music business.
'Catfights and Spotlights' and the Future:
It was only a year before the Sugababes' next album Catfights and Spotlights appeared in October 2008. However, it was a commercial disappointment peaking only at #8. That was the most lackluster chart performance for the group since their debut studio album One Touch. Less than a year later the song "Get Sexy," the first single from an upcoming seventh studio album by the Sugababes, was released and went to #2 on the pop singles.
The British pop music world was shocked on September 21, 2009 when it was revealed that Keisha Buchanan, the only remaining original of the group, had been asked to leave. She will be replaced by former British Eurovision contestant Jade Ewen.
