Hot Video Alert: Sugababes - Freedom

UGH! I'm just so bored with the Sugababes nowadays. I just don't know what happened...

Wait a minute. Yes I do. Keisha Buchanan left the group.

Ever since that fateful day, my love affair with the Sugababes has spiraled into blase indifference.  Whether I would have liked the girls' seventh studio album, Sweet 7 with Buchanan's name and voice still attached...I'll never know.  What I do know is Sweet 7 was a big fat dud.  The album was a complete unoriginal mix and match of pop garbage that almost any group could have put out (and has).  Let the record show, I harbor no ill feelings towards newbie, Jade Ewen, Heidi Range or Amelle (and wish them all the best on their solo careers)...I just wish things had turned out differently for the girl group that first caught my attention all those years ago for their original sound and fresh take on girl group pop music.  Now that Keisha is gone, there really is nothing left of the original lineup, is there?  What the hell is the point then?  I'm all for reinvention and lineup changes but the Sugababes just aren't the Sugababes anymore and their new single, "Freedom" isn't going to change any one's mind.

"Freedom" is the official first single for the Sugababes since leaving Island Records, the band's home for 10 years, and joining RCA.  Due for UK release on September 25th, the single was produced by The Invisible Men and Parker & James and co-written by (*BIG BREATH*) Jason Pebworth, Jon Shave, George Astasio, Kyle Abrahams, Peter Ighile, Mariah Young-Jones & Rowan Martin. PHEW! Exhausting, typing out all of those names.  I'd love to know which one of those people were responsible for the bit in the chorus that goes..."Dumb Dumb Dumb Dumb..." because that basically sums up everything I'm feeling about the song right now.  The issue I have with the song (SURPRISINGLY) isn't the lyrics...it's the beat. It's a generic pop song, nothing more.  There's really very few redeeming qualities about the song.  If this is what we have to look forward to off the new album then I think the Sugababes might be in trouble.  At least we have the music video to look forward to...oh wait. That's a bore as well.  Directed by Sean De Sparengo, the "Freedom" video is essentially a re-hash of the video for their 2008 single, "Girls," you're average club scene video featuring the girls dancing up on some gentlemen and shaking their bodies.  At least deliver a sick video if the song is this boring. Come on Sugababes!  Get it together! My patience is wearing thin.

Download the single (currently being used in an advertisement for Nokia at home in England) September 25th if you like what you hear and look out for remixes from 7th Heaven, Kris De Angelis, Benny Page, Friends Electric, Johnson Somerset, Thundercatz and Tom Dick & Harry.  The single also features a B-Side, a cover of "Standing In The Way of Control" by Gossip.

 Check out the Sugababes on the web: 

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Sugababes Lose A Member - Heidi + Amelle + Jade Ewen - Keisha?

Imagine my shock and surprise when I returned from the gym to see THIS message on the Sugababes Official MySpace & website...

Shocker! After much premature speculation that it would be newest member, Amelle Berrabah that was leaving - turns out - it will be none other than the last of the original lineup - Keisha Buchanan. SAD! While Heat World.com did in fact have it right that the newest member would in fact be Eurovision entry, Jade Ewen - they got the booted member incorrect.

Keisha took to her Twitter page to set the record straight. In a series of Tweets, Keisha had this to say:

Dear Friends I'm sad to say that I am no longer apart of the Sugababes. I've had a great time and have achieved more then I ever thought I would. Although it was not my choice to leave, it's time to enter a new chapter in my life. I have nothing but positive things to say about the girls and I wish them the best of luck. I would like to state that there were no arguments, bullying or anything of the sort that lead to this. Sometimes a break down in communication and lack of trust can result in many different things. I would also like to point out that I have always supported the girls and they have also supported me. Remember my drunk pictures out with Amelle, supporting her on her success with Tinchy Stryder... Oh the shame... But what a fun night we had. Now I'm going to take some time to focus on me. I've been in this band for 11 years and I have achieved so much. I have a great family and friends who are behind me 100% and at the age of 24, I'm now going out into this world on my own....Although im nervous... I'm still very excited on what lies ahead. :-) I want to thank the Sugababes fans and my fans for all your support and all who have never judged me, but excepted me for who I am...This is not the end... but the beginning!!!! Thank you always... Keisha xxx

Wow. According to reports, Keisha was blindsided by the news. What's going to happen with the new album and promotion? I'm hoping some more reports come out, explaining what lead up to this HUGE move. Now... I'm not going to go as far as to say that I'll never support the girls ever again. That's a bit idiotic. Isn't it about the music? If they produce a catchy song, or even a catchy album, what's to stop me from enjoying it? I still support Keisha and it sounds like she's still going to have a solo career on Island Records. I can have my cake and eat it too. My cake being Keisha of course. I'm not worried about her.

I must say that I kind of agree with Popjustice when they say that the girls need a new name. I do believe that the Sugababes' name should be retired, given that there no originals left.

Now whatever happens, there's no denying that Jade Ewen is talented. I'm eager to hear what she injects into the group and what happens with their upcoming album, Sweet 7. I don't know how much of the album has been recorded already but I hope they don't have to pull another Taller In More Ways and re-release the album with vocal contributions from Amelle (after Mutya left the group). I'm also curious to see what's going to happen with Jade's debut album (she was signed to Polydor). I'm guessing with this recent development, it's going to be shelved. Shame.

I guess we'll have to see what happens with this but regardless, I'll support the Sugababes and I'll support Keisha as the separate entities that they now are.