A ScopiPology - the Sugababes thing might actually be amazing

Do not play well with others.

Sometimes even we here at ScopiSat Manor make mistakes.  And when that happens we are the first (read: the absolute last) to publicly admit it.

A few weeks ago, when that weird Nokia advert with a clip of the new Sugababes single splattered all over it debuted, we mired ourselves in the firm opinion that the band was "over" and that everything anywhere having anything to do with them would be utter, utter crap.

And then we got schooled, ladies and gentlemen.  A new clip of the forthcoming (in September, which may as well be 2014 in pop-land, but whatever) single has showed up on the interwebs and we're a bit taken aback at just how good it is.  It's certainly not groundbreaking - it's kind of a post-Gaga, midtempo dancefloor thing just like dozens of other acts are churning out by the handful - but the execution seems to be pretty flawless.

At this point in the Sugababes career - and we're speaking of the band, not the individuals, since the group has been through more lineup changes than Xtina has been through KFC family-sized buckets (Ed: WTH. Delete.), maybe this is just what they need.  It's something that's not going to rock the boat, but will remind everyone that this is the band that once gave us the by-the-numbers-but-still-mindblowingly-good tracks 'Hole In The Head,' 'Push The Button,' and 'About You Now.'  Because the band, in whatever incarnation, did give us those.  And for that they deserve some gaddamned respect.


Sugababes - Freedom by sugababesdaily

Sugababes would like you to 'Wear My Kiss' in new video - watch now

So the video for 'Wear My Kiss,' from Sugababes version 56 or something, is out and is a CGI MASTERPIECE IN THE VEIN OF AVATAR or so their label would have you believe.  It is, in fact, not, and is instead a rather boring visual accompaniment to a passable Sugababes song with predictably insipid lyrics.  Still, it's pretty fun and at least it's not another 'babes ballad. 



The album, Sweet 7, is out March 8

Sugababes' 'About A Girl' video - Same great taste, now with Jade (video)

An incomprehensible but AMAZING video for the best song Sugababes have chucked out in about 3 albums.  In it, the girls drive a car, wear very little, and then do some dodgy stage fighting with men in leather jackets.  In other words it is incredible. 


Out Nov 9

Chart Chat UK, September 27, 2009

The top two stays the same this week, as both Taio Cruz and David Guetta hold steady at 1 and 2 respectively. At 3, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys leap up 12 places with 'Empire State of Mind', and kick Madonna all the way down to 8 with her latest, 'Celebration.' Shakira edges up a spot with 'She Wolf,' flip-flopping with Jay-Z's last hit, 'Run This Town,' which hangs on at 5 and gives Mr. -Z his second top five hit this week. The Black Eyed Peas refuse to let go of their chart death-grip (which is thankfully less severe than in the U.S. where they have spent a full 6 months at the top with their last two tracks), and back up the chart to 6. Mini Viva hangs on to a top ten placing for one more week, as 'Left My Heart In Tokyo' slides to 10. I think everyone was a bit surprised at its success, and more so at its staying power. Our first new entry is at 11, as Dizzee Rascal continues his chart onslaught with 'Dirtee Cash.' The song isn't even an official single yet, but its impending release has set downloaders' hearts aflutter. My guess is this song's future is looking rather good. At 12 we find Temper Trap, with their lovely 'Sweet Disposition' pushing up another few places. The Australian band may just crack the top ten if this unconventional chart trajectory continues. Released all the back in 2008, 'Disposition' this week manages its highest chart placing yet. Not a lot else is going on, save for the number 35 entry for new Sugababes member Jade Ewen. With all the 'babes drama, this single was more or less dumped - its release more a contractual obligation than an effort to have a hit - so a top 40 placing isn't the end of the world. Jade just recorded vocals on the Sugababes next single, which in our opinion is one of their best yet, so Ms. Ewen has nothing to worry about.


The UK Top 10:

1 - Taio Cruz: Break Your Heart
2 - David Guetta ft Akon: Sexy Chick
3 - Jay-Z ft Alicia Keys: Empire State of Mind
4 - Shakira: She Wolf
5 - Jay-Z ft Rihanna & Kanye West: Run This Town
6 - Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling
7 - Pixie Lott: Boys & Girls
8 - Madonna: Celebration
9 - Dizzee Rascal: Holiday
10-Mini Viva: Left My Heart in Tokyo

The Sugababes lineup changes but as long as About a Girl comes out we'll be fine

Really girls, this is getting a bit ridiculous. Now that Keisha's out (leaving Amelle, Heidi and new member Jade Ewen), there isn't a single original member left. We, for one, can't imagine not feeling cheated in the future by anything released by the 'Sugababes.' It's a bit like if Armani sold the brand name to Wal-Mart or Asda or something and expected us to think nothing really changed, when in reality the new clothes are all poly-blend and the sizes run very, very big.

Just put this out and be done with it.

Chart Chat UK: September 20, 2009

This week there's lots of action on the chart, as we have a new number 1, a missed opportunity, and an up-and-comer. First up is Taio Cruz with his new single 'Break Your Heart.' Taio is a busy man - he's reportedly working with Kylie and Leona and everyone else under the sun - but even with all that going on he has managed to bag his first chart topper. Not so lucky is our number 3 entry. Madonna's had a lot more luck over in the UK than she has in her home country, where she releases singles more as concert promotions rather than to become hits in their own right. In the UK, however, she has been enjoying some the biggest hits of her career. In the past eleven years every one of her album's lead singles have hit the top, save 'American Life' (which hit number 2 in 2003). All that means that 'Celebration' becomes her lowest-charting lead single since 'Evita's' 'You Must Love Me.' Number 3 is nothing to sniff at, especially for an artist that has been going at it for as long as she, but one can't help but feel this track just isn't resonating with listeners as well as hoped. Number 5 finds quite the opposite situation, as Shakira racks up her sixth top ten. Leaping twenty places this week, 'She Wolf' is a solid bet to become her second chart topper after its full physical release this coming week. Pixie Lott tumbles all the way down to 6 from 1, but she shouldn't be too upset with this result. What's really going on is everyone stopped buying the single and started buying the album, which bows at 6 on the album chart this week. ScopiSat faves Mini Viva hang in there at 9, and Sugababes manage another week in the top ten despite my predictions of a swift demise. With all the rumors of a lineup change, perhaps the single got a sales bump from the idea this may be the last chance to buy a 'Babes track in this incarnation. The rest of the chart is pretty quiet, save an honorable mention for Little Boots, whose 'Remedy' maintains a slow descent at 13, and the appearance of what will surely be a huge hit for Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. 'Empire State of Mind' debuts at 15 this week solely off the back of the duo's US MTV Video Music Awards performance, giving Jay-Z two hits in the top 20 this week. With a full single campaign in the works, it would be very very foolish to expect anything less than chart greatness from this track.

The UK Top Ten:
1 - Taio Cruz: Break Your Heart
2 - David Guetta ft Akon: Sexy Chick
3 - Madonna: Celebration
4 - Jay-Z ft Rihanna & Kanye West: Run This Town
5 - Shakira: She Wolf
6 - Pixie Lott: Boys & Girls
7 - Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling
8 - Dizzee Rascal: Holiday
9 - Mini Viva: Left My Heart in Tokyo
10- Sugababes: Get Sexy

Chart Chat UK: September 13, 2009

A bunch of tracks storm the top ten this week, including a brand new number one. Pixie Lott flies right into the pole position with her new song 'Boys and Girls.' Much like her previous chart topper, 'Mama Do,' this track leaves ScopiSat cold but has been wildly embraced by the British record buying public. The songs just seem a bit 'lowest common denominator' to us, but what can you do. Jay-Z and Rihanna and Kanye are relegated to number 3, allowing David Guetta to slip back into the runner-up position. At 4 is our next new entry, with the comeback single from the polarizing Mika. 'We Are Golden' marks a return to form for the singer, after the rereleased 'Relax Take It Easy/Lollipop' single barely scratched the top 20. In fact, 'Golden' becomes his biggest hit since his breakthrough, 'Grace Kelly,' hit the top spot in 2007. The next new entry clocks in at number 7. Mini Viva have been touted and promoted for quite a while, and it looks like the whole thing paid off. 'I Left My Heart In Tokyo' starts the duo off with a solid top ten, but as ScopiSat reader John pointed out their challenge will be to overcome the 'novelty song' label. It's also interesting to contrast the girls' success with last week's new girl group, Dolly Rockers, who landed in the charts with a thud at 47. Why Mini Viva and not the Rockers? One word: Xenomania. After failing to put them in the top spot last week, listeners seem to be rejecting the Sugababes' new sound pretty conclusively. Down to 8 this week, 'Get Sexy' will be gone before we know it. Down one at 9 is the new Muse track, 'Uprising,' and marks the band's return to the top ten for the first time since 2006 but nobody really cares because their singles are really just ads for the album. The rest of the chart is pretty boring. Short version: Lots of Lady Gaga tracks and some old MOR crap lingering about. Now...it's nice outside and ScopiSat needs some sun.

The UK Top Ten:

1 - Pixie Lott: Boys and Girls
2 - David Guetta ft Akon: Sexy Chick
3 - Jay Z ft Rihanna & Kanye West: Run This Town
4 - Mika: We Are Golden
5 - Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling
6 - Dizzee Rascal: Holiday
7 - Mini Viva: Left My Heart In Tokyo
8 - Sugababes: Get Sexy
9 - Muse: Uprising
10- Little Boots: Remedy

Sugababes know About A Girl...listen to their new single

There's nothing like coming off a crap single to light a fire under a girlgroup's ass, is there? With 'About A Girl' the 'Babes have gone all RedOne and dancy and AMAZING. With 'Get Sexy' body-checked into the number 2 spot this past weekend the girls have all the more reason to abandon the American R&B schlock and get back to what they do best. Welcome back girls. We missed you.




Out in November on Island

Chart Chat UK: September 6, 2009

The 'epic chart battle' of the week is over, and it's 1776 all over again. The American Jay-z (and Rihanna and Kanye West) track reigns supreme over Brit girls Sugababes who are relegated to number 2 with the first single off their upcoming album. To be fair, the 'babes never really had a chance against such a pedigree, as 'Run This Town' matches three of hip-hop's biggest luminaries. Also new in the top 10 are Kings of Leon, whose 'Sex On Fire' screams into the number 6 position after the song was performed on the X-Factor. The track is already the most-downloaded song in UK history, and this rather staggering re-entry proves there are somehow still a few people who don't already own it. Woman of the moment - or should we say Lady - Ms. Gaga helps Wale to a number 12 spot with 'Chillin,' while Just Jack hangs around with his new track at 15. The 16 spot goes to Booty Luv's 'Say It,' which while not the outright bomb of the week (we'll get to that in a moment), is a far cry from the top 10 successes they enjoyed with the last couple songs. There's little else of note in the top 40...Temper Trap hangs out at 29 with 'Sweet Disposition,' and Prodigy make an appearance at 38 with 'Take Me To The Hospital.' Perhaps most interesting is what is NOT in the top 40 this week. Dolly Rockers, the ScopiSat favorite and much-buzzed-about girlband, are nowhere to be seen. The girls' first proper single, 'Gold Digger,' is a mix of talky northern sass and hooky chorus and it quite frankly is a bit of a shock to not see it at least in the make a bit of a splash. This certainly isn't how their big debut was meant to go, but hopefully there is more to come from the terrific trio. Next week brings another hotly-tipped debut, from Mini Viva with 'I Left My Heart In Tokyo.' As of this writing the track already in the top 15 on iTunes so it looks like they'll avoid the DOA label. To see just how far they manage to actually go, check back next week!

The UK Top Ten:

1 - Jay Z ft Rihanna and Kanye West: Run This Town
2 - Sugababes: Get Sexy
3 - David Guetta ft Akon: Sexy Chick
4 - Dizzee Rascal: Holiday
5 - Black Eyed Peas: I Gotta Feeling
6 - Kings of Leon: Sex On Fire
7 - Little Boots: Remedy
8 - Tinchy Stryder ft Amelle: Never Leave You
9 - Beyonce: Sweet Dreams
10- Esmee Denters: Outta Here

The Sugababes Got Sexy

It's no secret the new Sugababes single has its ups and downs. The whole thing is equal parts amazing and absolute trash, so the girls have gone and done a video for it that follows the same formula. Here's the video for 'Get Sexy', out August 30th on Island Records. In it you will see Amelle in a bird cage (AMAZING), Heidi in a metallic room full of light beams (AMAZING) and Keisha posing on a couch (...).