The group was formed in 1998 with original members Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan & Siobhán Donaghy, who were introduced to each other by manager Ron Tom. After some initial success, Donaghy departed and the introduction of Heidi Range (formerly of Atomic Kitten) in 2001 was met with the commercial breakthrough of the group's first number-one single "Freak Like Me" and parent album Angels with Dirty Faces in 2002. The group survived a second line-up change in 2005, when Mutya Buena left and was replaced by Amelle Berrabah. In September 2009, it was announced that after eleven years in the Sugababes, Keisha Buchanan was no longer a part of the group and had been replaced by Jade Ewen.
Sugababes have released twenty five singles, six of which have reached number-one in the UK and twenty have reached the top 20 in the UK, seven studio albums that have reached top 40 charts worldwide with success around Europe and Asia having number-one singles in fifteen countries. With seventeen of their twenty five single releases achieving top ten chart success in the UK, Brit Award winners, the trio have been named the UK's most successful female act of the 21st century. Upon the release of "About You Now" (2007), the Sugababes became the only female act to have topped the single, album, and download charts simultaneously twice, having previously achieved the same feat in 2005 with "Push the Button". They have attained at least platinum certification for five of their albums in the UK.
Their most recent release 'Sweet 7' saw them scoring yet another 3 Top 10 hits in the UK charts, with also being Sugababes' first studio album to be recorded with new member Jade Ewen. In September 2013, Ewen stated that the Sugababes officially split in 2011. Ewen claimed that the band "fizzled out" two years ago and are "pretty much done", saying: "I don't feel comfortable lying", but Berrabah claimed afterwards that they will all be "getting back together at the end of next year". Meanwhile, the three original band members got back together and went on to form Mutya Keisha Siobhan, releasing one single, 'Flatline', in 2013. A full album was recorded but never released, with the majority of tracks recorded leaking from Christmas 2016.
In July 2019, the original line-up of the band confirmed they were back in the studio making music - with a cover of Sweet Female Attitude's 'Flowers' set to appear on the compilation album 'DJ Spoony Presents Garage Classical'. In September 2019, the pre-order for the compilation album confirmed the original trio had regained the name Sugababes.
Come Together
Sugababes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker he just do what he please
He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
He say "I know you, you know me"
Come together right now over me
He bag production he got walrus gumboot
He got Ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knee
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
Come together right now over me
He roller-coaster he got early warning
He got muddy water he one mojo filter
He say "One and one and one is three"
Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see
Come together right now over me
The lyrics to Sugababes' "Come Together" are derived from The Beatles' song "Come Together" which was released in 1969. The song describes various unusual characteristics of a man, "Flattop," who is portrayed as a mysterious and unconventional person who lives by his own rules. Flattop is described as having "joo-joo eyeball" and being a "holy roller," suggesting that he might be interested in spirituality or religion. He is also said to have "hair down to his knee" and to be a "joker" who does what he pleases, indicating that he is not tied down by conventional norms of society. Flattop is said to wear no shoes, rather he has "toe-jam football" and "monkey finger" which further highlights his uniqueness. The chorus, "Come together right now over me" is a call for people to unite in solidarity.
The second verse of the song continues to describe Flattop as being quite different from ordinary men. He is said to have "walrus gumboot" and an "Ono sideboard" which are obscure references to his possessions. He is also said to have "feet down below his knee" and to hold people in his "armchair" and make them feel his "disease," suggesting perhaps that he has a malignant or contagious personality. The verse ends with the same chorus as the first verse, "Come together right now over me."
Overall, the song seems to be a call for people to embrace diversity and celebrate individuality. Flattop's eccentricities are presented as admirable qualities that set him apart from the average person. By calling for people to "come together" and unite over him, the song encourages the idea of standing up against oppression and conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly
A man with long hair and an easygoing attitude is approaching.
He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
He has an intense gaze and is religiously devoted.
He got hair down to his knee
His hair is very long.
Got to be a joker he just do what he please
He enjoys joking around and doing what he wants.
He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
He doesn't shine his shoes and plays a rough sport.
He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
He has dexterity and enjoys drinking Coca-Cola.
He say "I know you, you know me"
He claims to be familiar with the person he's speaking to.
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
He believes in the importance of personal freedom.
Come together right now over me
He invites people to come together.
He bag production he got walrus gumboot
He is involved in production and wears tall rain boots.
He got Ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
He has furniture designed by Yoko Ono and can crack spines.
He got feet down below his knee
His feet are very long.
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
Being near him is uncomfortable and unpleasant.
He roller-coaster he got early warning
He enjoys thrill rides and is prescient.
He got muddy water he one mojo filter
He is muddy and mysterious.
He say "One and one and one is three"
He insists that one plus one plus one equals three.
Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see
He's hard to see, so he must be good-looking.
Come together right now over me
He again invites people to come together.
Contributed by Alexis F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.