Overload (Sugababes song)
"Overload" is the debut single of British girl group Sugababes. It was released on 11 September 2000 through London Records as the lead single from the group's debut studio album, One Touch (2000). At the time, the group consisted of Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. It was co-produced and co-written by British songwriters and producers Paul Simm, Felix Howard, Jony Rockstar and Cameron McVey. The general theme of the song involves a teenage girl's crush towards a boy and her finding the situation difficult to manage.
"Overload" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Sugababes | ||||
from the album One Touch | ||||
B-side | "Lush Life" | |||
Released | 11 September 2000 | |||
Studio | Mayfair (London, UK) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:35 | |||
Label | London | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Sugababes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Audio sample | ||||
Music video | ||||
"Sugababes – Overload (2021 HD Remaster)" on YouTube |
The song was listed at 432 on Pitchfork Media's Top 500 songs of the 2000s. It received an overwhelmingly positive reception from music critics.[1][2] The song features on the soundtrack to the 2001 film High Heels and Low Lifes, directed by Mel Smith, and the 2002 film 40 Days and 40 Nights, directed by Michael Lehmann. The song was nominated for "Best British Single" at the 2001 BRIT Awards and later inspired the title of the group's greatest hits compilation Overloaded: The Singles Collection. English indie pop band Bastille covered the song for the soundtrack of the 2015 film Kill Your Friends. In August 2024, the Sugababes collaborated with A Little Sound on the single "Situation", which interpolates the chorus from "Overload", alongside new lyrics for verses. The song was produced by Billen Ted and Kove.[3]
Background
edit"Overload" was co-written by group members Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, and Siobhán Donaghy together with Felix Howard, the song's co-producers Cameron McVey, Paul Simm and long-time Sugababes contributor, Jony Rockstar. The track fuses together styles of soul and hip-hop and features contributions of numerous instruments, including: drum, bass, keyboard, electric guitar and horns.
Composition
edit"Overload" is a pop and R&B song[4] with elements of soul[5] and hip hop.[6] Amy Raphael of The Observer described it as a "smoothly produced, seductive R&B track".[7] According to the digital sheet music published by EMI, the song is written in the key of F♯ Phrygian dominant using common time, at a tempo of 125 beats per minute.[8] The Sugababes' vocal range in the song spans from the lower note of F♯3 to the higher note of G5.[8] The song's chorus line, "Train comes, I don't know its destination", is sung in doubled octaves.[9] Matthew Horton of Virgin Media noted that the song contains "huffling beats, honeyed vocals and surf guitar".[10]
Critical reception
edit"Overload" received universal critical acclaim from music critics. NME regarded the song's quality as "hauntingly infectious", and praised the track as irresistible and radio-friendly.[11] The Portland Mercury also considered the song irresistible, and applauded its "snappy pop harmonies" and "jazzy dance beats".[12] Sydney Morning Herald called the track "disarmingly sophisticated".[13] Cameron Adams of Herald Sun wrote that "Overload" is one of the group's "finest moments", and reflected upon this as to why the song does not resemble those released by other girl groups.[14] The Observer's Kitty Empire called the song a "brilliant" hit with "unexpected class", and cited it as the starting point of the Sugababes' "course to stardom".[15][16]
Digital Spy considered "Overload" one of the best debut singles by a British girl group,[17] whilst it also made NME's Year End Top 10 Singles for the year of 2000.[18] Pitchfork included it at number 432 on their Top 500 Tracks of the Decade list in 2009.[19] In October 2011, NME placed it at number 51 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[20] In 2014 they included it at number 493 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[21]
Chart performance
edit"Overload" entered the UK Singles Chart at number six on 23 September 2000.[22] The following week, it dropped to number nine for two consecutive weeks, and eventually spent a further five weeks on the chart.[22] "Overload" has sold approximately 160,000 copies in the United Kingdom, ranking it as their ninth best-selling single.[23] In Ireland, "Overload" debuted at number 25[24] and reached its peak of number 15 five weeks later.[25] It was the group's only single from the One Touch era to reach the top-twenty in Ireland.[26] "Overload" entered the singles chart in Austria at number 34 on 21 January 2001, and later reached number three for two consecutive weeks, spending an additional three weeks in the chart's top-ten.[27] It became the group's second-best performing single in Austria to-date.[27]
In Germany, "Overload" debuted at number four and reached number three two weeks later.[28] The song managed to spend six weeks in the chart's top-ten, and was certified Gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie, denoting shipments of 250,000 copies of the single.[29] "Overload" reached number five in Switzerland and spent 29 weeks on the chart.[30] In Norway, "Overload" debuted at number 17 and held the position for three consecutive weeks; it reached a peak position of number 12 in its fourth week on the chart.[31] The single attained top-twenty in the Netherlands[32][33] and top-forty positions in the Flanders and Wallonia regions of Belgium.[34][35] The song reached number 21 in Sweden and spent 17 weeks on the chart.[36] "Overload" also became a commercial success in New Zealand, where it peaked at number two.[37] In Australia, the song peaked at number 27 for two non-consecutive weeks.[38]
Music video
editThe music video for "Overload" was directed by Phil Poynter and filmed in London, England in August 2000. The video has no plot and is known for its fresh and simplistic style, a theme that they would continue in their early videos. It features the group in a variety of ever-changing outfits, singing the song in front of a plain white background, either by themselves or together as a group.
Track listings
editNo. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Overload" (Original Edit) |
|
| 4:35 |
2. | "Lush Life" |
|
| 4:41 |
3. | "Overload" (Capoeira Remix – Vocal Version) |
|
| 8:06 |
4. | "Overload" (Instrumental) |
|
| 4:19 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Overload" (Original Edit) |
|
| 4:35 |
2. | "Lush Life" |
|
| 4:41 |
3. | "Overload" (Instrumental) |
|
| 4:19 |
Notes
- ^a denotes additional producer(s)
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Germany (BVMI)[51] | Gold | 250,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] | Silver | 231,000[52] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 11 September 2000 |
|
London | [54] |
Australia | 5 February 2001 | CD | [55] |
"Situation"
editSituation
edit"Situation" | ||||
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Single by A Little Sound and Sugababes | ||||
Released | 30 August 2024 | |||
Recorded | 2024 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:52 | |||
Label | Ministry of Sound Recordings | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | ||||
A Little Sound singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Sugababes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Visualizer video | ||||
"A Little Sound & Sugababes - Situations (Official Visualiser)" on YouTube |
"Situation" is a 2024 song by English drum and bass musician and TikToker A Little Sound and English girl group Sugababes, which interpolates the chorus from the Sugababes' debut 2000 single "Overload" while the verses consist of new lyrics. The song was produced by Billen Ted and Kove.
A Little Sound stated, "I was in a session with Billen Ted and incredible writer Katy Tiz when we realised the chord progression reminded us of something,” she recounts. “Billen Ted started humming the melody to "Overload", and from then, we decided it would be stupid not to give it a go. Katy and I wrote verses to complement the hook, and before we knew it, Sugababes really liked what we’d done and were keen to jump on it with us [...] It took one more studio session to get the girls' harmonies on top of the track, and then we were set for an official release."[3]
Music video
editAn official visualiser, filmed on 21 August 2024, was released on the same day as the single's release. The video begins with A Little Sound waiting at a bus stop for the Sugababes, before being joined by them after which they are seen on board a night bus.[56] They each switch places and move around the bus during the video, which is sped up.[57][3]
Charts
editChart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Latvia Airplay (TopHit)[58] | 49 |
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[59] | 38 |
UK Singles Downloads (Official Charts Company)[60] | 82 |
UK Singles Sales (Official Charts Company)[61] | 84 |
Release history
editRegion | Date | Format | Label | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 30 August 2024 | Ministry of Sound Recordings | [62][63] |
References
edit- ^ McLeay, Ben (16 December 2019). "'Overload' By Sugababes Is A Perfect Masterpiece That Was Wasted On The 2000s". Pedestrian. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Yates, Henry; Yates, Interviews by Henry (11 October 2021). "'My God, we were mobbed so much!' – how we made Overload, by Sugababes". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Ackroyd, Stephen (30 August 2024). "A Little Sound: I honestly didn't think this summer could top last year's". Read Dork. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ Salmon, Chris (17 March 2008). "'We're the biggest ... '". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "Even the rockers were ready to Rumba!". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 16 December 2002. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Sturges, Fiona (2 June 2006). "New Sugababe on the block". The New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Raphael, Amy (22 June 2003). "Sweetness follows". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Sugababes - Overload Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. EMI Music Publishing. 2000. MN0076619 (Product Number). Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Roginski, Alex (23 January 2006). "Taller in Many Ways". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ Horton, Matthew (12 August 2011). "The changing faces of Sugababes". Virgin Media. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "Overload". NME. IPC Media. 26 September 2000. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "CD Review". The Portland Mercury. Rob Crocker. 5 July 2001. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "Sweet as..." The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 28 April 2003. Archived from the original on 28 July 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Adams, Cameron (14 December 2006). "Such sweet relief". Herald Sun. The Herald & Weekly Times. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (9 October 2005). "Pop CD of the week: Sugababes, Taller in More Ways". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ Empire, Kitty (30 March 2003). "Once a kitten and now a minx". The Observer. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ Levine, Nick (28 July 2008). "The Saturdays: 'If This Is Love'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
- ^ "Sugababes - Angels With Dirty Faces - Review - Stylus Magazine". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved 11 November 2009.
- ^ "Staff Lists". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016.
- ^ "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". NME.
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- ^ a b c "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "Sugababes Official Top 20 Best Selling Singles". MTV UK. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Overload". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- ^ "Discography Sugababes". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b c "Sugababes – Overload" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline". Musicline.de. Media Control. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Sugababes; 'Overload')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Sugababes – Overload". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Sugababes – Overload". VG-lista. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 48, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Sugababes – Overload" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Sugababes – Overload" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Sugababes – Overload" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Sugababes – Overload". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Sugababes – Overload". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
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- ^ "Issue 587" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
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- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 13. 24 March 2001. p. 17. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 5. 27 January 2001. p. 36. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (Vikuna 8.12. – 14.12. 2000 49. Vika)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 8 December 2000. p. 12. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
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- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001" (in German). Retrieved 5 April 2019.
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- ^ "Single Year charts 2001" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2001" (in German). Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Sugababes; 'Overload')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Sugababes' One Touch: 5 surprising Official Chart facts about the group's debut album". Music Week. Intent Media. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
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- ^ "Fresh Tracks | The latest tunes worth checking out". OUTinPerth. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "A Little Sound, Sugababes - Situation (Official Visualiser)". YouTube. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ "Top Radio Hits Latvia Weekly Chart: Nov 21, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
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