All 27 Sugababes singles ranked definitively from worst to best

They will be playing Freak Like Me at my funeral

3 years ago

In the world of girl bands, Sugababes are a unique and tricky beast. Artistically, they’re mostly untouched by their peers. In a sea of Girls Aloud, The Saturdays and Little Mix, it’s Sugababes’ distinct songwriting and production that made their albums stand shoulders above the rest. These were not albums front loaded with some good singles propped up by a load of filler, but incredibly mature and well crafted pop albums that pushed the genre forward. The original lineup of Mutya, Keisha and Siobhan were formed as the Sugababes when they were just 13 years old – and the standard of their early work, of which they all have writing credits on, is phenomenal. They were, and still are, something so special in the music landscape. Authentic and talented, and that artistry makes getting Sugababes singles ranked no easy feat.

Of course, the Sugababes legacy is plagued by their infamous lineup changes. Siobhan’s departure after their debut album lead to a replacement in the form of Heidi Range. Mutya left and got backfilled by Amelle, a huge blow to the sound of the band and once Keisha left at the start of their seventh record and got replaced by Jade, could the band that remained even still be called Sugababes? Either way, despite the turbulence of the group, the music was nearly always impeccable. This is every Sugababes single ranked from worst to best.

27. No Can Do

This is one of the blandest pieces of music ever recorded. It’s advert music. It’s music that your mum would listen to reading the Argos catalogue. No clue why this was recorded or ever made. Dreary, dull, and couldn’t be less like a Sugababes song if it tried.

26. Girls

Girls is a slight improvement on No Can Do, but barely, and it’s a bleak state of affairs for their sixth album Catfights and Spotlights that these two Boots advert fodder were pushed as lead singles. I do think that bombastic brass production that feels almost Mark Ronsonesque was good for the time in 2008 – but it’s hard to imagine many people getting particularly excited by a song that sounds like the equivalent of getting a good deal on some face cream in 2021.

25. Change

Not sure what the college course in BTEC hair and beauty is going on with this music video, but Change is just fine. It’s completely and utterly fine. It’s miles better than the dregs of this list, but it is a song that elicits no response. Empty.

24. Follow Me Home

Follow Me Home was the fourth single from Taller In More Ways, and it’s just kind of… nice. The song was written when Mutya was still in the band and has a verse written by her about her daughter that then ended up being sang by Amelle, which just feels daft. I love a Sugababes midtempo, but this one isn’t really for the history books.

23. Get Sexy

This song is actually a load of shite. It’s so stupid. It’s what people who have no clue about pop music think pop music is. It kind of sounds like a fictional song in a film about music that they’d show the character releasing for the narrative of them selling out to the mainstream. But you know what? I kind of love it! If this comes on in a gay bar you know it’s popping off, and there’s a place for that. Even if it’s on a Sugababes singles ranked list sounding nothing like a Sugababes song.

22. Easy

Easy was the lead single from their greatest hits compilation record, and it’s pretty good, actually. Not sure why the video was filmed in a club toilet but I wish it well.

21. Wear My Kiss

An empty, soulless, vacuous bop. Not a Sugababes song in the slightest and barely a single reputable Sugababe singing. Could have been recorded by any pop artist in 2010. But do I slap my tits when it comes on? You bet.

20. Caught in a Moment

Caught In A Moment is a great song, and in a lesser group’s discography would get a much higher ranking. But the beats and vibes the girls go for here is similar to other songs they’ve done that are a lot better, and it often feels like just a placeholder in their catalogue to me and isn’t too much of a heavy hitter to the other tunes when you get the Sugababes singles ranked. Vocally gorgeous, though.

19. Ugly

A great little self love anthem in the vein of Beautiful by Christina Aguilera, complete with music video that tries to hit the exact same beats as that song. It’s good though. Great vocal harmonies on the chorus and a nice listen, even if its not particularly remarkable.

18. Red Dress

A Xenomania written tune that sounds too much like a Girls Aloud reject for it to be much in the Sugababes discography. It would be a middle of the pack Girls Aloud song, and it’s a middle of the pack song for the Sugababes also. A banger that we’re happy to hear, but uninspired lyricism and predictable production. It’s also Amelle’s first vocal appearance, which was never going to work particularly in its favour let’s be honest!

17. About a Girl

RedOne! SUGABABES! Cringing to the high heavens at this awful video, bopping to the high heavens over this anthemic EDM lead banger. The music video looks like a record label has just scooped up three random women and forced them to make a song. But this song goes off. Don’t deny it. The sparkling jewel in the middle of the Sweet 7 turd.

16. Shape

Shape marks the point of the ranked Sugababes singles where things are getting truly excellent. This is a brilliant song, and considering it was the last single of their second album and it’s still to this high quality is a testament to how good Angels With Dirty Faces is as a record. Everyone’s vocals are immaculate and the production is perfect. Mutya sounds like butter. Heidi in the video as some kind of butterfly goddess is gorg.

15. Soul Sound

The final single from their first and best album, Soul Sound is quite frankly just absolutely delicious, and if you think it’s ranked too high on this Sugababes singles ranked list – TOUGH. The way the OG Sugababes sound vocally together is untouchable. They work in perfect synchronization and sound so mature – they were 14/15 when they recorded their vocals for this. It’s lush.

14. New Year

Their second ever single New Year is this simple and heartfelt Christmas song, that deserves to be in the conversation for one of the best festive songs ever made. Certainly one of the best released after the year 2000. It’s one of those special Christmas songs that can exist outside of the holiday season. Christmas heartbreak is the theme, but the melody and lyrical content suits any time of year. A little festive gem in the Sugababes singles discography, and it’s getting ranked respectfully because of it.

13. Stronger

It’s heartbreaking to me that a song this great hasn’t even got into the top 10, but such is the calibre of the material we’re working with. Stronger is ominous, bursting with attitude and a jaded bitterness that makes the girls sound wise beyond their years. The production is cinematic and twinkly with glimmers of William Orbit. Heidi’s legendary police siren note in the bridge is the stuff pop music history is built on.

12. Push The Button

What Push The Button does so successfully that the sound shift for Catfights and Spotlights and Sweet 7 never managed is evolving the sound of the Sugababes to something poppier without abandoning what makes them sound special. It still sounds so distinctly them. The video is legendary, everyone’s vocals are amazing. Keisha’s pre-chorus is pop perfection and she literally never misses. It’s their second best selling single ever and a number one hit, with very good reason.

11. Denial

An absolute god tier later Sugababes single, and one that I think is deeply underrated. Written by industry legend V V Brown whilst she rode the Victoria Line, Denial samples Standing In The Way Of Control by Gossip but makes it completely its own. The chorus is euphoric, and the only way you could improve Denial is if Mutya sang instead of Amelle. Excellent and underrated pop banger.

10. Angels With Dirty Faces

Production wise alone, the title track from the Sugababes’ second record is one of their most futuristic and exciting. The way the song starts with that wob wob sound and the whispered “Keisha… Mutya… Heidi”? So special and thrilling. The verses have a UK garage bounce to them and then the chorus is full moans, harmonies and gorgeous layering. The lyric “you don’t know that we’re angels with dirty faces in the morning” is absolute cinema to me.

9. In The Middle

It’s a national outrage and travesty that this song’s music video only exists on YouTube in one megapixel of quality. We need a remaster immediately! In The Middle is like a shot of adrenaline to your veins. Rampant, chaotic, seductive. Absolute banger and deserves its solid placement when Sugababes singles get ranked. Every one is on top form. Goes off.

8. About You Now

Even Amelle’s fag ash breath vocals and Keisha’s horrible bob haircut couldn’t detract from About You Now being one of the best pop songs of the 21st century. This is how to do a pop smash. It pounds along at a banging pace, it’s vocally well layered and has arguably their best chorus. It’s their all time best selling song, a fact that surprises no one. Huge stuff. Keisha deserved a Grammy for her up the octave final chorus.

7. Hole in the Head

As soon as Mutya kicks off that sublime first verse with her unparalleled voice, you just know Hole in the Head is going to be so special. It’s bombastic and weird, and sounds completely cool and fresh nearly 20 years after it was released. Heidi’s throaty second verse sounds so perfectly 00s. Sugababes at their most unique and special.

6. Run For Cover

The third single from Sugababes’ first record One Touch is breathtakingly mature. Cinematic and lush orchestration over a hip hop drum beat. Run For Cover feels so dark and ominous, and once it soaks into your veins it never leaves. The 2021 MNEK rework is a great new take too, and really showcases the staying power of how good the Sugababes sound was.

5. Too Lost In You

Diane Warren wrote Too Lost In You as a rework of the French song Quand J’ai Peur du Tout by Patricia Kaas, and gave it new lyrics in a writing room with Mutya, Keisha and Heidi. The result is one of Sugababes’ most rich and haunting songs, with so much depth and replay value. They all sound absolutely perfect. It’s an irresistible song. If you aren’t obsessed with it I don’t know what to tell you. Click off this list now!

4. Round Round

Round Round is a song that just feels absolutely massive. It swirls and swells like a pop juggernaut, especially when coupled with the wind machine laden music video that has the Sugababes girls looking like they’re about to destroy earth with their star power and prowess all whilst bopping softly from side to side. By the time we get to Heidi’s legendary bridge that completely changes up the entire song in what feels like the music equivalent of an M Night Shyamalan film twist, I’ve already died and gone to pop heaven.

3. Flatline

Wasn’t sure wether to include this on a Sugababes singles ranked list, but concluded it’s too important not to. Original babes Mutya, Keisha and Siobhan came back together in 2013 and weren’t allowed to call themselves the band name that they originated. It was a stupid, legal faff – but under the name Mutya Keisha Siobhan came Flatline, one of their best ever songs that when it underperformed resulted in a comeback era that never really materialised. Produced by Dev Hynes (Blood Orange), Flatline is exactly what Sugababes should sound like in the 2010s/2020s. Gorgeous harmonies, production that suits them so well and a song that just feels so perfect to their artistry and legacy.

It’s been taken off streaming services, seemingly due to the girls now being back together with their original name. Justice for Flatline, one of the greatest songs of their career and the last decade.

2. Overload

Overload is one of those rare, special songs that come around about once in a blue moon. It’s a miraculous pop song written by a new girl group aged 13. The songwriting and production are so exemplary it’s had critical acclaim for years, appearing on best of lists for the year and for the decade. There’s something so special about it. It gets into your system. Overload is not just a song, it is a way of life. I listen at least once a day and probably will for the rest of my life. You should probably do the same.

1. Freak Like Me

Richard X, producer of Freak Like Me, had a stroke of genius when he mashed up Adina Howard’s original version with the instrumental of Are Friends Electric by Tubeway Army and Gary Numan. The Frankenstein formula of the song being put together ended up with the Sugababes vocals on because X couldn’t get the rights to Howard’s vocals. Released as the Sugababes 2.0 lineup’s big lead single, it was a huge critical and commercial success and is one of the best pop songs ever made.

It’s grimy, it’s filthy, it’s dark. It sounds nothing like anything that could have been released by any other girl group, and it helped change perceptions on pop music being cool again. It’s why the Sugababes are so special, and it’s the best single they’ve ever released. We are not worthy.