Round Round

"Round Round"
Single by Sugababes
from the album Angels with Dirty Faces
B-side"Groove Is Going On"
Released12 August 2002 (2002-08-12)
GenreDance-pop
Length3:54
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Sugababes singles chronology
"Freak like Me"
(2002) 		"Round Round"
(2002) 		"Stronger" / "Angels with Dirty Faces"
(2002)
Audio sample
Music video
"Sugababes - Round Round" on YouTube

"Round Round" is a song performed by British girl group Sugababes. It was written by group members Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, and Heidi Range, as well as Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Nick Coler, and Lisa Cowling. It samples the song "Tango Forte" by German production team Dublex Inc., so the songwriters of that track are credited as well. Produced by Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby, the song was released as the second single from the group's second studio album, Angels with Dirty Faces (2002).

Following its release on 12 August 2002, "Round Round" peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the group's second number-one single domestically. In August 2022, it was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). "Round Round" also reached the top 10 in Austria, Ireland, Italy, and New Zealand, among other countries. In 2003, it became the group's first single to chart in the United States, peaking at number seven on the Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart. Alongside "Sound of the Underground" by Girls Aloud, this song has been credited in reshaping British pop music for the 2000s.[1]

Background

[edit]

"Round Round" was written by Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper, Lisa Cowling, Tim Powell, Nick Coler, Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, and Heidi Range.[2] Due to the inclusion of a sample from "Tango Forte" by Dublex Inc., Florian Pflueger, Felix Stecher, Robin Hofmann, and Rino Spadavecchia are also credited as songwriters.[2] In turn, "Tango Forte" is based around an uncredited sample from "Whatever Lola Wants" performed by American composer Les Baxter.[2] Production on "Round Round" was helmed by Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby for Manna Productions based on an original track Higgins and Powell had created for Xenomania Records, while Jeremy Wheatley provided additional production and handled the mixing.[2] Guitar recording and programming were overseen by Yoad Nevo for 247 Arists.[2]

Musically, "Round Round" was actually built up of a number of different songs.[3] On the BBC2 series Secrets of the Pop Song, Brian Higgins described the genesis of the song: "We had a drum track which was just stunning and so I sat down with Miranda [Cooper] on the one day we had the Sugababes in the studio and said 'Right, you know, this is a hit, this piece of music is a hit. I haven't got anything on it, we don't have any song attached to it. So what are we gonna do about that? You've got three hours to come up with something'."[3] Subsequently, Cooper went through her catalogue of unused tracks that she had written over the last two or three years and sung the chorus of every single song against Higgins' piece of drumming.[3] Three hours later, she sang the lyrics 'round round baby round round' to Higgins, who said "that's it, that's amazing."[3]

Chart performance

[edit]

"Round Round" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart and remained at the top spot for a week, giving the Sugababes their second consecutive UK number one single following "Freak like Me".[4] The song was eventually certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) denoting units of 400,000 sales and streams, and as of August 2020, the song had sold 277,000 pure copies in the UK.[5][6] "Round Round" was also a success worldwide, reaching number two in Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand.[7][8][9] The song also reached number three in Denmark and number four in Norway, Romania, and Switzerland.[10][11] In Australia, "Round Round" debuted at number 21 and rose to a peak of number 13, giving the group their first Australian top-20 hit.[12] It was certified Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), making it the Sugababes' best-selling Australian single up until the release of their 2005 single "Push the Button", which reached number three and was certified Platinum.[12][13][14]

Music video

[edit]
The Sugababes featured as a band performing on a rotating platform in the video for "Round Round".

The music video for "Round Round" was directed by Phil Griffin.[15] It has the group performing on a rotating platform, while being surrounded by a tornado with dust and rubble accumulating in it. There is a rusty caged wall with an audience watching, a pair of sunglasses and a ring get sucked into the tornado from them. When Heidi's verse comes up, everything moves in slow-motion, including the tornado, before speeding up again. The girls slowly walk around three male dancers in the middle, and for the end chorus it appears the tornado has dissipated.

Cover versions

[edit]

The song was covered by Hong Kong singer Emme Wong in Cantonese in 2003. It was Wong's first single after her record label Universal Music modified her image for a sexier direction. The song quickly became a hit, due to its sexually explicit lyrics and dance moves, as well as the TV-banned video. The song reached the top of several music charts across Southeast China. In the year end, it won a number of awards, including "Best Covered Song", "Best Dance Record", and "Best Stage Performance".

Track listings

[edit]
UK CD1 and Japanese CD single[16][17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Round Round" (album version)
Various
3:59
2."Groove Is Going On"
Themis4:04
3."Freak like Me" (Girls on Top dancehall mix)
  • Eugene Hanes
  • Marc Valentine
  • Loren Hill
  • William Collins
  • George Clinton
  • Gary Numan
Richard X3:30
UK CD2[18]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Round Round" (album version)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
  • Bacon
  • Quarmby
  • Wheatley[a]
  • Higgins[b]
3:55
2."Round Round" (Craigie & Crichton remix)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
4:59
3."Round Round" (Soulwax remix)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
4:11
4."Round Round" (Seani B. remix featuring Zaguzaar)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
4:25
UK cassette single[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Round Round" (album version)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
  • Bacon
  • Quarmby
  • Wheatley[a]
  • Higgins[b]
3:59
2."Groove Is Going On"
  • Themis
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
Themis4:04
3."Round Round" (Craigie & Crichton remix)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
4:59
European CD single[20]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Round Round" (album version)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
  • Bacon
  • Quarmby
  • Wheatley[a]
  • Higgins[b]
3:59
2."Groove Is Going On"
  • Themis
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
Themis4:04
Australian CD single[21]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Round Round" (album version)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
  • Bacon
  • Quarmby
  • Wheatley[a]
  • Higgins[b]
3:59
2."Round Round" (Craigie & Crichton remix)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
4:59
3."Round Round" (Soulwax remix)
Various
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
  • Coler
  • Cooper
  • Cowling
  • Higgins
  • Powell
  • Range
  • Pflueger
  • Stecher
  • Hofmann
  • Spadavecchia
4:11
4."Freak Like Me" (Girls on Top dancehall mix)
  • Hanes
  • Valentine
  • Hill
  • Collins
  • Clinton
  • Numan
Richard X3:28
5."Groove Is Going On"
  • Themis
  • Buchanan
  • Buena
Themis4:04

Notes

  • ^a denotes additional producer(s)
  • ^b denotes original producer(s)

Personnel

[edit]

Personnel are adapted from the liner notes of Angels with Dirty Faces.[2]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[13] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[5] Gold 400,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United Kingdom 12 August 2002
  • CD
  • cassette
 Island [53][54]
United States 16 September 2002
Universal [55]
Australia 4 November 2002 CD Island [56]
Japan 19 February 2003 [57]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ End of Decade: Sound of the Overground (NME article, November 2009)
  2. ^ a b c d e f Angels with Dirty Faces (UK CD album booklet). Sugababes. Island Records. 2002. CIDZ8122.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ a b c d Kheraj, Alim (12 November 2016). "The surprising stories behind 6 of Sugababes' biggest hits". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Sugababes: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b "British single certifications – Sugababes – Round Round". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  6. ^ Myers, Justin (20 August 2020). "Official Charts Flashback 2002: Sugababes – Round Round". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  7. ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Sugababes". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 40, 2002" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Sugababes – Round Round". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Sugababes – Round Round". Tracklisten. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 48, saptamina 2.12–8.12, 2002" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 17 February 2005. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  12. ^ a b c "Sugababes – Round Round". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  13. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2002 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  14. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2006 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  15. ^ Overloaded: The Singles Collection (DVD liner notes). Island Records. November 2006.
  16. ^ Round Round (UK CD1 liner notes). Sugababes. Island Records. 2002. CID804, 063962-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ Round Round (Japanese CD single liner notes). Sugababes. Island Records. 2003. UICI-5010.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Round Round (UK CD2 liner notes). Sugababes. Island Records. 2002. CIDX804, 063963-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. ^ Round Round (UK cassette single sleeve). Sugababes. Island Records. 2002. CIS 804, 063963-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ^ Round Round (European CD single liner notes). Sugababes. Island Records. 2002. CIDT 804, 063 952-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Round Round (Australian CD single liner notes). Sugababes. Island Records. 2002. 0638302.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  25. ^ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 5 October 2002. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda – Pro týden 41/2002" (in Czech). IFPI ČR. Archived from the original on 17 October 2002. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 38. 24 September 2002. p. 15. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  28. ^ "Sugababes – Round Round" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  29. ^ "Sugababes – Round Round" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  30. ^ "Top 50 Singles" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on 1 December 2002. Retrieved 29 June 2020. See Best column.
  31. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  32. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
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  35. ^ "Sugababes – Round Round". VG-lista. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  36. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 48/2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 48. 23 November 2002. p. 23. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  37. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  38. ^ "Sugababes – Round Round". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  39. ^ "Sugababes – Round Round". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  40. ^ "Sugababes Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
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  43. ^ "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2002" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 2–3. 11 January 2003. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Songs of 2002". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2002. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  45. ^ "Top of the Music – Mix e Singoli" (PDF) (in Italian). FIMI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  46. ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2002". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2002" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
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  49. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2002" (in German). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  50. ^ "Charts Plus Year End 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  51. ^ "Most Broadcast of 2002 – Airplay Top 50" (PDF). Music Week. 18 January 2003. p. 31. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  52. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2003". ARIA. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  53. ^ Hubner, Miriam (10 August 2002). "Airborne" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 33. p. 10. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  54. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 12 August 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 10 August 2002. p. 27. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  55. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1470. 13 September 2002. p. 45. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  56. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 4th November 2002" (PDF). ARIA. 4 November 2002. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2002. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  57. ^ "2003/2月新譜リリース表" [February 2003 New Release List] (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Archived from the original on 9 June 2003. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
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