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Sugababes are an English pop trio
based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and
Jade Ewen.
The group were formed in 1998 by original members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya
Buena and Keisha Buchanan. After some initial success, Donaghy departed
due to arguments, and the introduction of Range in 2001 was met with the
commercial breakthrough of the group's first number-one single "Freak Like
Me" and parent album Angels with Dirty Faces in 2002. They had major
charting success with their singles; "Round Round" and "Hole in the Head".
The group survived a second line-up change in December 2005, when Buena
left to be with her child who had been born earlier in the year. She was
replaced by Berrabah. In September 2009, it was announced that after
eleven years in the Sugababes, Buchanan was no longer a part of the group
and had been replaced by Eurovision contestant Ewen. Ewen immediately
began recording over Buchanan's vocals for upcoming album, Sweet 7, and
since the line-up change the group have scored another UK Top 10 with
About a Girl.
The Sugababes have released 25 singles, 6 of which have reached #1 in the
UK and 22 have reached the UK top 20. With 17 of their 25 single releases
achieving top ten chart success in the UK, Brit Award winners, the trio
has been named the most successful British female act of the 21st century.
Upon the release of "About You Now" (2007), the Sugababes became the only
female act to have topped the single, album, and download charts
simultaneously twice, having previously achieved the same feat in 2005
with "Push the Button". They have attained at least platinum certification
for five of their albums in the UK.
The Sugababes are currently releasing their seventh studio album, Sweet 7,
their first since signing with Jay-Z's record label Roc Nation in March
2009. The album features productions from Ne-Yo, RedOne, Stargate, Ryan
Tedder, Fernando Garibay, and the Smeezingtons, with additional
contribution coming from Sean Kingston. Sweet 7, the first studio album
with new member Jade Ewen, will be released on 8 March 2010 in the UK.
The Sugababes were created when Keisha Buchanan and Mutya Buena, who had
been friends since they were eight, met Siobhán Donaghy at a party in 1998
when they were both thirteen; they were introduced by manager Ron Tom.
Buena and Donaghy had been working separately with Tom, and while they
were recording tracks for the album that would become the Sugababes' debut
album, One Touch, it was suggested that the duo might work better as a
trio. Buchanan had been invited by Buena to come along to watch, and was
asked to join if she could sing. Their name originates from Buchanan and
Buena's school nickname, Sugar baby, although the trio was officially
known as The Sugababies during the recording of the album. When the group
members were aged fourteen, London Records offered them a record contract,
and they tweaked their name to the more mature Sugababes.
Their debut single, "Overload", made the top ten on the UK Singles Chart
and was nominated for a BRIT Award for Best Single, climbing to number
three and number two in Germany and New Zealand, respectively. The group
co-wrote most of the tracks on One Touch with the help of All Saints
producer Cameron McVey. One Touch produced three more top 40 hits in the
UK—"New Year", "Run for Cover" and "Soul Sound". During a Japanese
promotional tour in 2001, Siobhán Donaghy left the group. She stated
initially that she wanted to pursue a fashion career, eventually being
diagnosed with clinical depression amid reports of in-fighting between the
Sugababes members.
Heidi Range was later announced as Donaghy's replacement. The album peaked
at number twenty six on the UK Album Chart and at number seven in Germany.
It was certified gold by the BPI and had sold 220,000 copies in the UK by
2008 according to Music Week. The sales of One Touch did not meet London
Records' expectations, and they dropped the group in 2001.
Having already started work on a second album with new member Range, the
trio looked for a new record label, eventually signing to Island Records.
Their first single on the new label, "Freak like Me"—a mash-up of "Are
Friends Electric?" by Tubeway Army and Adina Howard's "Freak like Me"—was
produced by Richard X and scored the group their first UK number-one.
Follow-up single "Round Round", produced by Kent-based production group
Xenomania, also debuted on top of the UK Singles Chart and peaked at
number two in Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Both singles were
certified silver by the BPI.
On the back of these singles, the Sugababes' second album, Angels with
Dirty Faces, debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart and was
certified triple platinum. It has sold 917,000 copies in the UK, and was
certified platinum in Europe (which includes the UK sales). In the UK, the
third single from the album, a ballad entitled "Stronger", gained the
girls their third consecutive top ten hit in their native country. The
track was released as a double-A side with "Angels with Dirty Faces" in
the UK, the latter song chosen as the theme tune to The Powerpuff Girls
Movie (2002). A fourth single, the Sting-sampling "Shape", made the top
ten in the Netherlands and Ireland in early 2003. The single featured a
mix of "Freak like Me" based on the performance at the 2003 BRIT Awards,
having won the award for Best British Dance Act. Their success led to the
recording of a new track, entitled "Party in the Club", for the theme tune
to ITV's teenage drama show Girls in Love, based on the book of the same
name by Jacqueline Wilson.
The group's third album, Three, was released in late 2003 and reached
number three on the UK Album Chart, earning the group a BRIT Award
nomination for Best Album. Certified double platinum, it has sold 855,000
copies. The album was preceded by Xenomania-produced lead single "Hole in
the Head", which became the groups's third UK number-one single and their
first chart-topper in Denmark. It also reached number two in Ireland,
Netherlands and Norway, and became the Sugababes' first single to chart in
the US, reaching number ninety-six on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top of
the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.
The second single, the Diane Warren-penned "Too Lost in You", appeared on
the soundtrack to the film Love Actually (2003) and went top ten in
Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. The album's third single, "In
the Middle", was released in 2004 and garnered the group another BRIT
Award nomination for Best Single; like its successor, the ballad "Caught
in a Moment", it went to number eight on the UK Singles Chart.
In 2004, the trio joined acts such as Coldplay's Chris Martin, Dido and
Robbie Williams on a 2004 version of the 1984 Band Aid's original "Do They
Know It's Christmas?", which went to number one in the UK in December and
sold over 200,000 copies in its first week. The money raised by this
charity single went towards famine relief in the Darfur region of Sudan.
After a break from the music industry, during the recording of their
fourth album, band member Mutya Buena announced she and her boyfriend,
Jay, were expecting a child. Their daughter, named Tahlia Maya, was born
in March 2005. The group later gave their first performance for over a
year at the Edinburgh Live 8 concert.
After a hiatus, the Sugababes released the Dallas Austin-produced "Push
the Button" in October 2005. It debuted at number one in the UK, giving
the group their fourth number-one single and first Irish number-one
single. Certified silver in the UK, it was later nominated at the BRIT
Awards for Best Single. It also went to number one in New Zealand, and is
their biggest Australian hit to date, peaking at number three and going
platinum. "Push the Button" became their most popular song in the United
States, becoming another hit on the Hot Dance Airplay and Hot Dance
Music/Club Play charts. In October 2005, Taller in More Ways became the
group's first UK number-one album. The same week, the group celebrated
being number one on the singles, album, airplay, and download charts
simultaneously. In addition to Austin, Taller in More Ways saw the trio
continue work with Guy Sigsworth and Xenomania, as well as Cameron McVey,
with whom they had not worked since One Touch.
Following an apparent illness that prevented Buena from promoting the
follow-up single "Ugly", it was announced on 21 December 2005 that Buena
had left Sugababes. According to an announcement on their site, "Mutya's
decision was based purely on personal reasons and she will continue to
remain the best of friends with both Keisha and Heidi." The last remaining
original member, Buchanan, said upon Buena's departure, "...we will all
miss Mutya, but we also knew there was still a place for bringing in
somebody new who could help us carry on taking the Sugababes brand of
music forward".
Amelle Berrabah joined the Sugababes in late December 2005. Berrabah was
chosen by the group's management and " instantly knew she was the only
person to share the rest of the journey with us." Before joining the
Sugababes, Berrabah had featured in the band 'Boo2' with her sister,
Samiya. The third single from Taller in More Ways was a re-recorded
version of "Red Dress", which was released in early 2006, and gave the
Sugababes a third consecutive top five hit from the album, entering the UK
singles chart at number four. Berrabah re-recorded three tracks and
co-wrote a brand new track with Buchanan and Range, and these tracks
appeared on a re-release of Taller in More Ways that reached number 18 in
the UK chart.
Taller in More Ways was certified double platinum in the UK, selling
886,000 copies. In early 2006, the album earned a Platinum Award from the
IFPI in recognition of over one million copies sold in Europe (including
UK sales). The final single from Taller in More Ways was "Follow Me Home",
released only in the UK in June, where it charted at number 32.
Sugababes returned to the recording studio to start work on their fifth
album, in mid-2006, recording two tracks for their contractual greatest
hits collection, entitled Overloaded: The Singles Collection. The lead
single from the compilation, "Easy", was co-written by George Astario and
Jason Pebworth from Californian band Orson, who share management with
Sugababes. "Easy" was released before the hits compilation album, and
peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. The singles compilation
was released in November 2006, peaking at number three on the albums chart
in the UK. The album, certified platinum by the BPI, has sold 598,000
copies.
The compilation contains tracks from One Touch to Taller in More Ways,
excluding "New Year", "Soul Sound", "Angels with Dirty Faces", and "Follow
Me Home", most of which were not released outside the UK. A separate
DVD—featuring 14 of their music videos and karaoke versions—was released,
as well as a special deluxe digital download version featuring live
performances, a special digital download remix collection (entitled
Overloaded: The Remix Collection), and a Napster Live Session featuring
acoustic versions of four of their hits and their cover of Primal Scream's
single "Rocks". On 6 November 2006, Sugababes joined Feeder on stage for
the encore of Feeder's WAR Child gig at 'The Roundhouse' in Camden,
London. They performed a cover of R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" and "Freak
Like Me".
Sugababes also stopped off at the Vena Festival in Poland, playing along
side artists such as 9Lies and the Fun Lovin' Criminals.
Sugababes recorded the 2007 Comic Relief single, a duet with fellow UK
girl group Girls Aloud, a cover of the hit "Walk This Way". Credited as
'Sugababes Vs Girls Aloud', the single was released in March 2007 in the
UK and became the band's fifth UK number-one single (and the first with
Berrabah). Mattel teamed up with Sugababes to create a new themed Barbie
doll collection, which hit stores in May 2007.
Following their Greatest Hits Tour, the Sugababes returned to the
recording studio in mid 2007 to work on a new album, Change, the first to
feature Berrabah on all tracks. Producers who worked on the album included
William Orbit, Dr. Luke, JC Chasez, Dallas Austin, Novel and Xenomania.
With the release of the Dr. Luke-produced single "About You Now", the
Sugababes were the first all female group to top the UK Singles Chart on
downloads alone. The song also broke the record for the biggest jump to
number one from inside the Top 40 (entering at no.35, though this has
since been surpassed by Pink's 2008 hit "So What" which entered at no.38),
and remained at number one for four weeks. "About You Now" was nominated
for a 2008 BRIT Award for Best British Single.
In October 2007, Change became the group's second UK number-one album,
debuting in that position and giving the group the top positions on the
singles, album and download charts simultaneously. The next single,
"Change", was released in December 2007 and peaked at number thirteen in
the UK. The third and final single from Change was "Denial", which reached
number fifteen. The album sold 494,000 copies in the UK, and was certified
platinum.
During this period, Sugababes appeared on the compilation Radio 1:
Established 1967 with a Lucas Secon-produced cover of The Stylistics'
"Betcha by Golly Wow!", and were part of a choir of 23 female acts on
Annie Lennox's song "Sing". In late 2007, the song "3 Spoons of Suga"
appeared on the soundtrack to the film St Trinian's. From March to May
2008, the Sugababes travelled the UK on the thirty-date Change Tour.
Sugababes went back into the studio after their Change Tour to write and
work on their sixth studio album, Catfights and Spotlights, and Orson's
lead singer Jason Pebworth, who worked with the group in the studio,
described the album as having a "funkier" sound than their previous
efforts. It was reported that producer Timbaland approached Sugababes to
work on their sixth album, but because of time schedules a collaboration
did not occur. British artist Taio Cruz, who worked with the group on the
album, released a remix of his single "She's Like a Star" featuring
additional vocals from Sugababes and Busta Rhymes shortly before the first
single from the group's sixth album was released.
The lead single from Catfights and Spotlights was "Girls", and was
released in October 2008. Although the single peaked at number three in
the UK, it was the first lead single since that from their debut album not
to reach number 1. The album reached number eight in the UK Albums Chart,
was named the sixth-best pop album of 2008 by the website Popjustice. The
album was also voted as the 3rd must have pop album by Amazon UK "No Can
Do", the second and final single, was released in December and peaked at
number 23 in the UK. In January 2009, the Publishing Right Society named
Sugababes the fourth hardest-working band of 2008 due to the number of
arena concerts performed during 2008. After the release of "No Can Do",
the group announced that there would be no 2009 tour in support of
Catfights and Spotlights so that they may focus on writing and recording
material for their seventh studio album.
In March 2009, the track "Nothing's as Good as You" from Catfights and
Spotlights was featured in an advert on the Disney Channel promoting
Disney Channel Original Movies such as High School Musical, The Cheetah
Girls and Camp Rock. Around this time, rumors arose that Sugababes had in
fact decided to split up after nine years together. However, the group
quickly released a statement on their official website to say that the
reports about splitting were not true, and that they were currently in the
process of working on the next album.
Although there was no tour to promote Catfights and Spotlights, the group
did play a number of open-air summer gigs where they performed many of
their past hits, plus songs from their most recent album. On 27 June, they
performed at the Cannock Chase Forest and at Thetford Forest on 11 July in
order to highlight the importance of Global warming. The Forestry
commission that promoted the gigs stated, "That with multi-million sales
and sold out tours, Sugababes has become synonymous with imaginative,
cutting edge and effervescent pop music". On 10 July, the group play at
the recently re-built Durham County Cricket Club’s Riverside Stadium. As
well as doing other low-key gigs, they performed as one of the headlining
acts for Roehampton University's Summer Ball along with The Zutons and
special guest Jake Allen. On 18 July, the group were the headline act at
Pontypridd's Big Weekend for the Saturday lineup. Due on stage at 8pm,
they were a little late on, but whipped the crowd up with a range of songs
from right across their repertoire. On 8 August, they are due to perform
at the Ashfield show in Sutton in Ashfield nottingham, this is a free show
on Saturday and Sunday however due to their performing on Saturday you
need a ticket. All tickets sold out in 1 day. Ashfield Show 2009
"Catfights and Spotlights" is the Sugababes lowest selling album in the UK
receiving only Silver certification.
On 6 April 2009, Digital Spy reported that the Sugababes were preparing to
fly out to the US to start work on Sweet 7, their seventh studio album.
The trio said that final arrangements were being made for recording the
follow-up to Catfights and Spotlights. On 27 April, it was revealed that
the Sugababes have signed a contract with Jay-Z's label Roc Nation They
will also be working with the production team StarGate who have produced
music for Ne-Yo, Rihanna, Beyoncé and Mariah Carey.
On 1 June, the Sugababes record label Island Records released the album
Island Life - 50 Years of Island Records, the Sugababes covered the track
"Teardrops" by Womack & Womack for the album, the track "Push The Button"
by the group was also added to the albums final track listing. On 2 June,
the band revealed that they had picked the first single to be released off
the untitled album. Buchanan stated on Twitter that the new single will be
played on Radio 1 in the second week of July 2009 for the first time. The
first single from their forthcoming seventh album, "Get Sexy", premiered
on BBC Radio 1 on 7 July at 16:51. It was released digitally on 30 August,
and physically the following day. The video for "Get Sexy" was screened
for the first time on 1 August on 4Music. Popjustice released the video
two days early, giving fans the chance to watch the video on 30 July at
5pm.
The album was set to be released in the UK on 23 November, but was
posponed until February 2010 after it was confirmed that Berrabah was
going to Austria for medical treatment. On 25 July 2009, Buchanan
announced the band would release two singles before releasing the album in
November. She also said that apparently the second single is going to be
titled "About a Girl", and called it a "A die-hard old school Sugababes
song". Buchanan also stated that she "hopes that the Ne-Yo track is going
to be a new single. It has the vibe of Beyoncé's 'Irreplaceable' and the
attitude". Buchanan confirmed in Amsterdam that "About a Girl" would be
the second single.
In a Digital Spy interview on 14 August, the group revealed that the album
has been named and is currently in production, although they didn't reveal
the album name. According to Amazon.co.uk the album will be released on 23
November 2009. According to HMV the album is entitled Sweet 7. The album
title was also confirmed by Range. On 6 September 2009, Get Sexy debuted
at number two on the UK Singles Chart, having had heavy competition from
Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West's Run This Town.
On 18 September, two updates were posted to the girls' website, confirming
details about the new video shoot, and pictures with Look., yet on this
date rumours circulated that Berrabah had quit Sugababes, due to rising
tensions with Buchanan and due to be replaced by former Eurovision entrant
Jade Ewen. MTV reported that Buchanan was allegedly jealous of Berrabah's
involvement with Tinchy Stryder, as she appeared on his single "Never
Leave You" which reached number 1.
Three days later, the official Sugababes website and Digital Spy revealed
that Buchanan had left the group, resulting in Sugababes retaining none of
its original members. Buchanan, who will remain as a solo artist with
Island Records, was replaced by Jade Ewen. Buchanan used her official
Twitter to clarify that it was not her decision to leave the band,
resulting in some journalists described her as having been "sacked".
I'm sad to say that I am no longer a part of the Sugababes ... Although it
was not my choice to leave, it's time to enter a new chapter in my life
... I would like to state that there were no arguments, bullying or
anything of the sort that lead to this. Sometimes a breakdown in
communication and lack of trust can result in many different things.
—Keisha Buchanan
Since then it was alleged that Range was behind a secret plot to force
Buchanan out of the group because she was fed up with the constant fights
between Buchanan and Berrabah. Former member Mutya Buena, declared that
the group, without any of its original members, no longer has the right to
bear its name as "Sugababes have ended". She eulogised the group by
stating "it all started so innocently ... a love for music and a dream ...
look what it's become", and slammed Range for not supporting Buchanan.
Buena also argued that, in the new line-up, Ewen would dominate so that
"it will kind of seem like Jade is the frontline, with two backing
singers". She also expressed interest in reforming the original line-up
with Buchanan and Donaghy as well.
Many fans reacted badly to the split, and the majority of critics have
also reacted negatively to the news. British broadsheet The Guardian ran
an article named "Why the Sugababes' show can't go on without Keisha". It
argued that the group had suffered "one lineup change too many, and moves
the band from a clever shape-shifting pop force into a total laughing
stock". Whilst praising the Sugababes music history as being soulful and
highly original, the article argued that its need to be a "brand" resulted
in a "rather miserable, undignified end to a band who fell together at
school... and achieved what they did with a rare class".
Today the Sugababes don't exist as a band, and after "Get Sexy" they don't
really exist as a sound either. If this new girl group before us today is
to have any future at all, and Ewen, Berrabah and Range do actually make a
great three-piece, it must find a new name. Sugababes died when Buchanan
left.
—Peter Robinson, The Guardian, 22 September 2009
Johnny Dee, also of The Guardian, agreed that "entirely consisting of
substitutes, one would imagine that the Sugababes could no longer
seriously exist". He also suggested the "ever-changing lineups... reveals
them for what they are... a business, a brand". Pop Justice stated
bluntly: "Sugababes as a band is now dead. Pick a new name or spend the
rest of your time in this band as a total laughing stock". In a separate
article, the website alluded to the group's current form as "Heidi, Amelle
& Jade" before discussing "the Sugababes (Mutya, Siobhan & Keisha)"
separately. Later, Pop Justice issued a clarification, stating: we still
believe Heidi, Amelle and Jade should go out under a new band name,
Entertainment news service Digital Spy began referring to the band as
"Sugababes" with quotation marks. Pop Justice created a eulogy webpage
entitled "Sugababes Forever 1998-2009", whilst Digital Spy ran an article
called "Keisha Buchanan, we salute you" in which they thanked her for her
contribution to "incredible pop songs".
Pop Justice, in reviewing photographs of the new line-up wearing sexy
outfits, commented on the possible reaction of Sugababes' management team:
"It's hard to look at those photographs and not wonder what the people who
were instrumental in Sugababes' early days think of the pictures... All
those people who did such a brilliant job of making sure the Sugababes had
a little bit more class than the others. Is this what they had in mind?"
Some critics have suggested that the latest line-up change "may be more
difficult for fans to take".
However since then it has been shown that Amelle and Heidi played no role
in the ousting of Keisha. In reality both Amelle and Heidi had quit the
Sugababes, only to find that their management had decided they would
follow them rather than find two new members for Keisha. Both Heidi and
Amelle had said their reasons for leaving were due to not being able to
face work every day.
On 16 October, another statement was published to the band's website,
stating that for the next few weeks, Berrabah would be staying at a
private health clinic in Austria. On 31 October, Digital Spy revealed the
release of Sweet 7 had been postponed until 22 February 2010 along with a
third single "Wear My Kiss", being released a few weeks before. Range
confirmed that the reason for the delay was because they didn't want to
rush it and no promotion had been done. Berrabah came back the following
week after her absence in Austria, the following day all three appeared on
The Xtra Factor.
Following Amelle's return, the new line-up began to make their first major
promotional appearances. Their first performance took place on morning
show GMTV, where they sang "About a Girl", followed by a performance at
BBC1's Live Lounge where they sang "About a Girl" once again, along with
"Rabbit Heart", a cover of Florence + the Machine. "About A Girl" went on
to reach #8 in the UK, an impressive peak considering that the song had
received almost no promotion due to Amelle's absence. It was announced
that a cover of "Santa Baby" would be released digitally in the UK on 21
December. The song was released for promotional purposes only and was not
accompanied by a music video, nor did it impact the official UK singles
chart.
It was then confirmed that the 3rd single from Sweet 7, would be "Wear My
Kiss", it will be released on 22 February 2010. A preview for the music
video was released in January on Channel 4.
on 11th February Sugababes performed an Acoustic version of About a Girl
and new track from the new album Crash N' Burn @ 1 Radio.
All members, former and current, with the exception of Heidi Range, have
completed solo work.
The first member to go solo, Siobhan Donaghy, has so far released five
singles and two studio albums: Revolution in Me in 2003 and the critically
acclaimed Ghosts in 2007. Neither album was met with significant
commercial success. Her best-selling single to date is entitled
"Overrated", which charted at number 19 in the UK and is thus Donaghy's
only UK Top 40 success. Other singles and both albums have all failed to
gain much, if any, chart success.
Mutya Buena was the next member to go solo in 2005 when she had the chance
to duet with George Michael on the track "This Is Not Real Love", a UK Top
20 success. She toured with him to perform this song. Her debut album Real
Girl was partially successful, reaching the UK Top 10, spawning two UK Top
10 singles -"Real Girl" and "Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)" and being
certified Gold by the BPI. She worked with many top producers and artists
including Groove Armada and Amy Winehouse. Buena eventually parted with
her record company but there is speculation that she plans to release a
second album sometime in 2010, although this had not been confirmed.
Keisha Buchanan has gone solo in 2009 after parting ways with the group.
She is currently writing new material for her first solo studio album. She
collaborated in 2007 Big-Z's "Can't Bring me Down". In 2008, she featured
on Don-E's Natural album on the song "Writing's on the Wall". She's also
collaborated with London rapper Crazy Titch on the undergound hit "Gully"
in 2004, as well as featuring on So Solid Crew member Asher D's album on
the track "Give It Up". She collaborated with Jay Sean in 2009 on its UK
version of his 3rd studio album All or Nothing on the track "Far Away"
which they both co-written.
Amelle Berrabah teamed up with Tinchy Stryder for the track "Never Leave
You", the third single from his second album, Catch 22 in August 2009. The
single immediately shot to the top UK charts, making Berrabah the only
member of the Sugababes, past and present, to achieve a number one single
outside of the group.
Jade Ewen was making her debut studio album, when she joined Sugababes.
She released 3 singles: "Got You", UK Eurovision song "It's My Time" and
"My Man". Her debut studio album has not been released.
Current members:
Heidi Range (2001–present) joined the band in 2001 replacing original
member Siobhán Donaghy. The line-up then released her first single, Freak
Like Me, which peaked at #1 giving the band their first number 1 single
and later that year released album Angels with Dirty Faces. Range is the
longest serving member of the band, and she is engaged to presenter Dave
Berry and is set to feature on the comeback single for Shayne Ward,
however Shayne Ward confirmed that this was not true on a ustream vlog.
Amelle Berrabah (2005–present) joined the band in December 2005 after
replacing original member Mutya Buena. Berrabah released her first single
Red Dress with the band in 2006 and released her first album with the band
Change in 2007. Berrbah also released alongside Tinchy Stryder in 2009
with the number 1 smash Never Leave You.
Jade Ewen (2009–present) is the latest member to join the band after she
replaced the last original member Keisha Buchanan in September of that
year, she released her first single with the band a month later in October
titled About a Girl which peaked at #8 in the charts and will release her
first album with the band Sweet 7 in March 2010. Ewen represented her
country at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest coming 5th place and following
by releasing 2 singles in 2009 which both peaked in the uk top 40. Ewen's
debut album "Punching Out" was scrapped due to her joining the band.
Former members:
Keisha Buchanan (1998–2009) was asked to leave the band in September 2009,
due to Range & Berrabah having huge personal issues towards Buchanan,
which caused a national stir in the media that month. She was with the
band for 11 years, and Ewen has re-recored her vocals for new album Sweet
7 in time for its release date in March 2010. Buchanan has recently got
back in contact with Buena and Donaghy.
Mutya Buena (1998–2005) left the band in December 2005 after no longer
enjoying being with the band and wanting to pursue a solo career, which
she achieved by releasing debut album Real Girl in June 2007. Buena has
had no contact with Range since leaving but has recently got back in touch
with other band mates Donaghy & Buchanan.
Siobhán Donaghy (1998–2001) was the first member to leave the band in 2001
due to constant tension and arguments with fellow band mate Buchanan where
she revealed she could no longer work with her. Donaghy has made contact
with Buchanan, the two have buried the hatchet and are back talking again. |
