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Is anybody surprised at how generic the Sugababes now sound?
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Boxfresh
26-09-2009
....without Keisha.

In all honesty, I never rated Keisha that much as a vocalist. Her replacement, Jade is probably a stronger technical singer, . But listening to the re-recorded version of the new Babes single, About A Girl...and it sounds like it could have been sung by any random girl band. It didn't sound like a Sugababes track. I used to be able to recognise any Sugababe song instantly, particularly when Mutya and Keisha were still in the group. I don't think Heidi or Amelle's voices ever really defined what the group sounded like, and that may be a problem.

It's only now that she's gone, that I can see how important Keisha was to giving the group it's distinct sound. I'm not even sure the other members of the band or the management realised how much Keisha imprinted her vocal style onto the group. I used to to laugh when I read some of Keisha's more hardcore fans say "Keisha IS the Sugababes", but I'm not so certain they were wrong anymore. I really didn't realise that her voice and it's tone dominated their sound so heavily.
Gold_Fish
26-09-2009
I was listening to the original girls singing acoustic versions of "Soul Sound" and "Overload" yesterday.

Man, they were so good. The music back then was quality. Not to mention their three part harmony was brill.

They were like "yeah, this is us. We can sing. We can write. Here's a top tune. Enjoy".

Now they're all about image & making sure their dance is in sync with one another. Sad.
Saturn
26-09-2009
Completely agree with you OP. Having compared the new version to the old one it's much weaker. It's surprising but you really appreciate Keisha's vocal now that it's no longer there!

I felt like this when Amelle replaced Mutya.
Who's That Girl
26-09-2009
I can't really tell much difference to be honest. Amelle has the strongest voice out of the group imo. Jade just has far greater diction than Keisha does so its easier to make her out. Keisha was too shouty imo. I hated the way she screeched on Girls like some demented cat and I always thought Keisha's tone ruined Too Lost In You.

I guess its personal opinion on what makes a good singer. But regardless of anything. I think the Sugababes are still the strongest girl group vocally that are around and that goes for all line ups since 2002.
spaceygal
26-09-2009
Originally Posted by Saturn:
“Completely agree with you OP. Having compared the new version to the old one it's much weaker. It's surprising but you really appreciate Keisha's vocal now that it's no longer there!

I felt like this when Amelle replaced Mutya.”

Where can the original version with Keisha be heard? I've never heard it.
Saturn
26-09-2009
Originally Posted by spaceygal:
“Where can the original version with Keisha be heard? I've never heard it.”

Youtube search for it.
dejavue
26-09-2009
TBH About a Girl is generic with or without Keisha. I don't understand the sudden popularity in this dancey sound, especially as the sound is no different to what has been done years ago.
Who's That Girl
26-09-2009
Its probably because we are that used to Keisha so we are looking out for the differences. I mean Siobhan was without a doubt the sound of that first album and when she left their sound changed alot tbh. But this was the point they also started having more success and its the type of music Siobhan said she never wanted to do. Oddly Mutya always wanted to do the sound on the upcoming album but Keisha and Heidi were always against it until this year.
Boxfresh
26-09-2009
Originally Posted by Saturn:
“Completely agree with you OP. Having compared the new version to the old one it's much weaker. It's surprising but you really appreciate Keisha's vocal now that it's no longer there!

I felt like this when Amelle replaced Mutya.”

It makes me wonder how long they've been planning to oust Keisha, because there seems to have been a definte drive by the management to make Amelle's voice stand out more. From the duet with Tinchy, to Get Sexy (which were very Amelle heavy)...but yeah, it weird how I'm appreciating Keisha's vocals now that it's no longer there.
Anika Hanson
26-09-2009
I think Keisha leaving is the final nail in the coffin. When Mutya left, you had Amelle and Heidi who most of the time I cant tell the difference between their voices. But Keisha's voice was still distictive. Now that Keisha is gone they all sound too similar.
Who's That Girl
26-09-2009
Originally Posted by Anika Hanson:
“I think Keisha leaving is the final nail in the coffin. When Mutya left, you had Amelle and Heidi who most of the time I cant tell the difference between their voices. But Keisha's voice was still distictive. Now that Keisha is gone they all sound too similar.”

Heidi and Amelle sound nothing alike


Heidi has a sort of classical voice while Amelle's is rough rocker style.
LoveBug.
26-09-2009
I used to instantly recognise Keisha's voice... but now they all sound the same!
LoveBug.
26-09-2009
Originally Posted by Anika Hanson:
“I think Keisha leaving is the final nail in the coffin. When Mutya left, you had Amelle and Heidi who most of the time I cant tell the difference between their voices. But Keisha's voice was still distictive. Now that Keisha is gone they all sound too similar.”

Exactly
Boxfresh
26-09-2009
Originally Posted by Who's That Girl:
“Heidi and Amelle sound nothing alike


Heidi has a sort of classical voice while Amelle's is rough rocker style.”

I agree, they don't sound alike. But Heidi never really stood out next to the likes of Mutya and Keisha. Her voice lacks personality I guess (but she's often accused of being the blandest memember of the group, so that's no shocker).

Amelle's voice is more distinctive and has more personality than Heidi (which frankly, isn't difficult), but she's a Johnny come-lately. She hasn't been around long enough to have a Keisha or Mutya style impact on the band's sound. If she had been around as long as Heidi, I'd say that she probably could have had that sort of impact. It was obvious the management were trying to push Amelle's voice to the forefront for this era, for that reason.
Who's That Girl
26-09-2009
Originally Posted by LoveBug.:
“Exactly”

Can you define how they sound similar.

This is Heidi solo with Mutya and Keisha on backing vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GG0sIKV01Q

I'm not hearing Amelle.
stargirl1
26-09-2009
Originally Posted by Who's That Girl:
“Can you define how they sound similar.

This is Heidi solo with Mutya and Keisha on backing vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GG0sIKV01Q

I'm not hearing Amelle.”

She's nothing like Amelle.

If anything, Heidi reminds me vocally of Emma Bunton - nice pleasant voice to listen to but all a bit underwhelming. I don't think Heidi would ever have a chance of a successful solo career, unlike Amelle who has the voice and a bit of oomph about her.
Boxfresh
26-09-2009
Originally Posted by stargirl1:
“She's nothing like Amelle.

I anything, Heidi reminds me vocally of Emma Bunton - nice pleasant voice to listen to but all a bit underwhelming. I don't think Heidi would ever have a chance of a successful solo career, unlike Amelle who has the voice and a bit of oomph about her.”

Bingo. But Emma Bunton, bland as she is, isn't quite as forgettable as Heidi.
ravensborough
26-09-2009
As somebody who has followed the band since their very first very single, I have to say that the Sugababes' repertoire has always consisted of edgy songs (Freak Like Me, Push the Button, Denial, Round, Round) and generic singles: In the Middle, Too Lost in You, Easy, Girls, etc. So it's not just a new phenomenon. Ultimately, pop music is a competitive marketplace and it's either adapt or get dropped.
topcat2
26-09-2009
I think Heidi has the most beautiful voice of the group. I liked Mutya and Amelle. Never been keen on Keisha's voice. It's quite screechy imo.
evangeline007
26-09-2009
PREFER KEiSHA'S VOCAL HEAR STRONGER, SHE STANDS OUT HERE.
evangeline007
26-09-2009
AMELLLE'S TOO PUSHY, HEiDi WiLL BE OVERWHELMED BY HER.. HAPPY DAYS.. NO WAY.
rivercity_rules
26-09-2009
About A Girl just sounds like they forgot to put the lead vocalist on and they are simply releasing the backing track.

We have Heidi who has a nice voice, not good or brilliant, just nice. It's unoffensive and really did complement the differing sounds of Mutya and Keisha.

We have Jade and her talent show voice, a sort of sub-par Leona with all the stupid pointless warblings and whilst better than Heidi she's still just sort of innoffensive and undistinct.

Then Shouty Amelle, half singing, half shouty-talking. Like the UKs answer to Fergie, only problem being, noone actually asked the question so the answer is meaningless. Whilst Fergie can switch better shouty talking and singing, Amelle can't she does both at the same time which was fine when Keisha's superior vocals could cover it up, now it's at the fore. Plus unlike Jade and Heidi, her vocals do sound quite harsh and it's glaringly obvious having listened to About A Girl, how important Keisha was to the band.

I'm still so angry about this whole mess, day one of every album since One Touch, I've been down HMV or had their album delivered, but after Get Sexy the pre-order wasn't placed and now it certainly won't be, they'd have to pay me to put their music on my iPod.
Spesh~Chic
28-09-2009
Keisha has quite a nice tone to her voice, but i'm not really into their new sound. It's a shame Keisha's left the group, however i can't believe how the 'Sugababes' as a group have have managed to stay relativley successful with members coming and going so often. Surely any group would crash and burn, especially when Siobhan left at such an early stage. I'm very interested to see what now happens...
emza101
28-09-2009
Originally Posted by rivercity_rules:
“ I'm still so angry about this whole mess, day one of every album since One Touch, I've been down HMV or had their album delivered, but after Get Sexy the pre-order wasn't placed and now it certainly won't be, they'd have to pay me to put their music on my iPod.”

I know what you mean, I used to really look forward to the release of a new Sugababes album. I loved them and listened to their albums all the time. I was gutted when Mutya left, and thought Change was very generic. Didn't buy Catfights and Spotlights as I really didn't like the 2 singles and Change had been such a letdown.

Now there is NO WAY in the world I would get their new album - they are not the Sugababes to me - and Get Sexy/About a Girl are horrible songs IMO.

I'll just be interested to see how their album does? All these ex-fans who now won't be buying their album. And what's going to happen at their first live gig? I can honestly imagine them getting booed off stage if they did any big gig at the moment, like say T4 on the Beach or something. Which obviously won't happen cos the summer gigs season is over!
Who's That Girl
28-09-2009
There is a rumour going around saying that Get Sexy is being left off the album and they have recorded four new songs penned by Scott Storch.

I think this new album might do better than people expect. They have clearly got all on the big guns on board. Music experts are on whole praising the new line up. I have yet to see one bad article on the new line up being bad for them, more seem excited if anything. They are by all accounts now seen as a brand which is a massive shame really but as long as the music keeps selling itself they are fine and About A Girl is still as popular as it was with Keisha if you go off youtube. Of course some Keisha stans are giving it large but they are small fish. imo people got over Mutya and they will get over Keisha.

They had their biggest single without Mutya infact so who is to say their biggest yet isn't tucked away on this new album?
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