The first glimpse of new material came to light on 7 January 2013 when the group uploaded an short a cappella clip of their debut single "Boys" on Keisha Buchanan's YouTube account.
The original line-up of the group featured a group of friends Keisha Buchanan, Siobhán Donaghy and Buena. Buena and Buchanan were friends from school and met Donaghy at a music recording studio in 1998. Since gaining a record deal, the band have gone on to become one of the most successful U.K. girl groups in the history of British music, second only to the Spice Girls in terms of record sales. They have had four platinum selling albums, six number one singles and a BRIT-Award as well as a platinum-selling greatest hits album.
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, "Buena's decision was based purely on personal reasons and she will continue to remain the best of friends with both". It was found that Buchanan wanted to stay friends with Buena but found it hard as she never sees her. 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 group just 48 hours after Buena's departure. 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."
Since her departure from the Sugababes, Buena has worked with a range of record producers, singers and musicians, including Amy Winehouse, George Michael and dance music writers Groove Armada.
Buena began working on her debut album in early 2006, after signing with her previous label Universal Island Records. The first single to be released in the U.K. featuring Buena was that of a ballad duet with George Michael, entitled This Is Not Real Love. Released in November 2006, it was a U.K. Top 20 hit after reaching number 15. It also appeared on Michael's Greatest Hits album Twenty Five. Following this, Buena toured with Michael on the London and Manchester leg of his 2006 25 Live tour. The duet between Michael and Buena is also included on Buena's debut album Real Girl. Preceding the album, the title track Real Girl was released in early 2007. It was a big hit in the UK, making it to Number 2 in the charts, as well as having a BRIT Award nomination for "Best Single". The song samples Lenny Kravitz's hit It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over, and was produced by London-based production company Full Phat. Real Girl was also featured on the Sex and the City, Vol 2: More Music Soundtrack. Following this, Buena's debut album Real Girl was released, and made Number 10 in the UK amid mixed reviews from critics and fans alike. The album only held a place in the U.K. Top 40 Albums for three weeks, quickly dropping off the chart.
Buena performed at V Festival on 18 and 19 August 2007 at Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Western Park, Staffordshire. She also appeared at T4 On The Beach 2007 on Sunday 22 July 2007. Buena also covered Tracy Chapman's classic "Fast Car" in 2007 for BBC Radio 1 as part of the "Radio 1 Established 1967" 40-year anniversary.
The third song to be released from the album was "Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)" , her collaboration with dance duo Groove Armada. The song received rave reviews from Popjustice reached position 8 in the U.K. charts. The fourth release from the album was "Just a Little Bit" which reached number 65. Buena then collaborated with Amy Winehouse, on a re-working of the track "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes, entitled "B Boy Baby" which reached number 73 in the UK top 75. Mutya's debut solo album Real Girl, was certified to Gold.
On 1 October 2007, Buena was nominated for the 2007 British "Music of Black Origin" (MOBO) awards at the O2 Arena in London. On 14 December 2007, she stood in at the last minute for the ill Jill Scott on the BBC Two program Later... with Jools Holland, fronting Scott's band singing Real Girl and Just A Little Bit.
On 12 February 2008, Mutya was dropped by her record label due to poor sales and charting positions from Real Girl and her last two singles, Just a Little Bit and B Boy Baby.
My Song
Mutya Buena Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Just get me anywhere away from here
'Cause until I'm in a different time zone
I'll still be too near"
He said: "We could go
For as far as you'll pay for
But I'ma tell you this for free
If you're searching for salvation
[Chorus:]
This is a song
For anyone the world came crushing down on
This is a song
If you suffer in silence and still stay strong
This is a song
If you don't wanna deal with real life no more
This is a song
You can take it any way you want to
It may not be much
But it's my song
I said:
"We need to stop the car, pull over
'Cause I really need to get some air"
We pulled up in the middle of nowhere
Taxi driver turned around and said:
"Young lady, it sounds like you need Jesus"
I said: "Well he's welcome to help us out
And I know he made a blind man see but
Can he do it the other way round?"
[Chorus]
And it's just a song
And I know it really won't change nothing at all
How weakly heroes fall
And it's all my fault
'Cause my head was somewhere else
Now I blame it on myself
Could have been there, should of helped
[Chorus x2]
In Mutya Buena's song "My Song," the singer is feeling overwhelmed and needs to escape from their current situation. They ask a taxi driver to take them anywhere away from where they are, symbolizing a desire to escape both physically and mentally. The line "If you're searching for salvation, you won't find it with me" suggests that the taxi driver cannot offer the singer any true relief or healing. The chorus serves as an anthem for anyone who has experienced a crushing blow, who suffers in silence and still manages to stay strong. Buena acknowledges that the song may not change anything, but it serves as an expression of her personal experience and emotions.
The second verse has the singer asking the taxi driver to pull over, indicating a desire to address their inner turmoil in a more tangible way. The taxi driver offers Jesus as a solution, and while the singer acknowledges Jesus' ability to perform miracles, they wonder if he is capable of reversing the loss and pain they have experienced. The lines "Could have been there, should have helped" serve as a personal reflection, suggesting regret for not taking action.
Line by Line Meaning
I said to the taxi driver
The singer is addressing the taxi driver, suggesting she needs to escape her current situation.
"Just get me anywhere away from here
The singer pleads with the taxi driver to take her anywhere but where she currently is because it is causing her emotional distress.
'Cause until I'm in a different time zone
The singer feels that she needs to physically distance herself from her current situation in order to find relief from her emotional turmoil.
I'll still be too near"
The singer believes that distance is the key factor in finding a solution to her problems.
He said: "We could go
The taxi driver responds with a willingness to take her wherever she desires as long as she's willing to pay for it.
For as far as you'll pay for
The driver is willing to take the singer as far as she desires, as long as she can pay for the trip.
But I'ma tell you this for free
The taxi driver wants to give the singer a piece of advice without charging her for it.
If you're searching for salvation
The driver understands that the singer is hoping to find a solution for her problems.
You won't find it with me"
The driver tells the singer that he does not have the answers to her problems.
"We need to stop the car, pull over
The singer requests the car be pulled over to the side because she needs to take a break from the journey.
'Cause I really need to get some air"
The singer needs some fresh air to feel better.
We pulled up in the middle of nowhere
The taxi driver stops the car in a remote area where there is no one around.
Taxi driver turned around and said:
The driver turns his attention back to the singer and speaks to her.
"Young lady, it sounds like you need Jesus"
The driver offers the singer faith as a solution to her problems.
I said: "Well he's welcome to help us out
The singer is open to the idea of Jesus helping her out of her current situation, as well as that of the taxi driver.
And I know he made a blind man see but
The singer acknowledges that Jesus has performed great miracles in the past.
Can he do it the other way round?"
The singer seems to be asking if Jesus can fix her situation or if he can fix the taxi driver's situation.
And it's just a song
The song is just an expression of the singer's feelings and emotions.
And I know it really won't change nothing at all
The singer understands that the song won't fix her problems, but it's her way of expressing her feelings.
How weakly heroes fall
The singer is pointing out how easily people can lose their hero status and become vulnerable.
And it's all my fault
The singer takes the blame for the problems that she is facing.
'Cause my head was somewhere else
The singer's mind is preoccupied with other things, leading to her current difficult situation.
Now I blame it on myself
The singer realizes she is responsible for the choices that led to her current circumstances.
Could have been there, should of helped
The singer acknowledges that she could have done more to help herself, but now it's too late.
"This is a song
The chorus begins with the singer introducing the song she has been singing all along.
For anyone the world came crushing down on
The song hopes to provide solace for those who have experienced moments when everything in their world seemed to be crashing down on them.
If you suffer in silence and still stay strong
The song celebrates individuals who have persevered in times of crisis, even if they have not opened up about their struggles.
If you don't wanna deal with real life no more
The song acknowledges that life can be difficult to handle at times and that some people might want to escape it altogether.
You can take it any way you want to
The song can be interpreted in any way the listener sees fit.
It may not be much
The song is not a cure-all or a panacea for life's problems, but it's a small comfort.
But it's my song"
The song is the singer's creation and a reflection of her emotions and experiences.
Chorus x2
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the song's message and providing the listener with a sense of hope and connection.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK CYRUS, MARK STEVENS, BEN OFOEDU, ANTHONY THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind