:Sexy! No No No...
{{Short description|2007 single by Girls Aloud}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Sexy! No No No...
| cover = Girls Aloud - Sexy! No No No….png
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Girls Aloud
| album = Tangled Up
| B-side = Dog Without a Bone
| released = 31 August 2007
| recorded = 2007
| genre = Electropunk
| length = 3:18
| label = Fascination
| writer = {{hlist|Pete Agnew|Myra Antonia Boyle|Manny Charlton|Cheryl Cole|Nick Coler|Miranda Cooper|Lisa Cowling|Nadine Coyle|Matthew Del Gray|Sarah Harding|Brian Higgins|Dan McCafferty|Tim Powell|Nicola Roberts|Darrell Sweet|Kimberley Walsh|Carla Marie Williams}}
| producer = {{hlist|Brian Higgins|Xenomania}}
| prev_title = Walk This Way
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = Call the Shots
| next_year = 2007
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|cZlttVuTgqY|"Sexy! No No No…"}}}}
}}
"Sexy! No No No..." is a song by British-Irish girl group Girls Aloud from their fourth studio album, Tangled Up (2007). In April 2007, the group announced that they would release a new album, due in November of that year. In July 2007, it was announced that "Sexy! No No No...", due to be released in September, would be as the first single from Tangled Up, with a radio premiere scheduled for 20 July. The track leaked a few hours prior to the premiere. "Sexy! No No No..." was written by Girls Aloud and Xenomania, and is an electropunk song that incorporates a sample of Nazareth's 1975 song "Hair of the Dog", for which they received a writing credit. Composed of three songs welded together, the song avoids the verse-chorus form present in most contemporary pop music, similar to their previous single "Biology" (2005).
"Sexy! No No No..." received generally favourable reviews from music critics, and peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart, continuing the band's string of hits by becoming their fifteenth consecutive single to chart within the top ten. The song also peaked at number 11 on the Irish Singles Chart. The accompanying music video was directed by Trudy Bellinger, and features the group singing and dancing through pins and wires in black latex catsuits and red dresses. To promote the song, Girls Aloud performed "Sexy! No No No..." at Dance X, ITV1 special Saturday Night Divas and T4 on the Beach. The track was also included in three of the group's concert tours, 2008's Tangled Up Tour, 2009's Out of Control Tour and 2013's Ten: The Hits Tour.
Background
In April 2007, the group announced that they would release a new album in November of that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/girls-aloud/40091-girls-aloud-we-re-not-splitting|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014012715/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/girls-aloud/40091-girls-aloud-we-re-not-splitting|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 October 2012|title=Girls Aloud: "We're not splitting!"|date=16 April 2007|access-date=8 January 2013|publisher=MTV. MTV Networks}} The production and songwriting began with producer Brian Higgins meeting each member of the group individually, and discussing their life since the release of Chemistry (2005).{{ cite news | url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/features/2007/11/24/ps-and-qs-girls-aloud-91466-20148275/ | title=Ps and Qs: Girls Aloud | work=Western Mail |publisher=Trinity Mirror | date=24 November 2007 | access-date=8 January 2013}} Higgins took inspiration from these discussions in his songwriting, with bandmate Nicola Roberts explaining that "it's important he's up to date with where we are. Our songs have to reflect us so that's why we do it." "Sexy! No No No..." was then written by Girls Aloud with production team Xenomania.{{cite AV media notes |title=Tangled Up (Fan Edition) |others=Girls Aloud |year=2007 |chapter=liner notes|page=11 |type=booklet |publisher=Fascination Records |location=London, England }} Roberts, Cheryl Cole, Sarah Harding and Kimberley Walsh recorded vocals for the song in London, England, while Nadine Coyle recorded her vocals in Los Angeles, California.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/nov/11/popandrock.girlsaloud|title=Smashed hits|last=McLean|first=Craig|date=11 November 2007|access-date=8 January 2013|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News and Media}}
Release
In July 2007, Girls Aloud announced that they would release "Sexy! No No No...", as the first single from Tangled Up, in September 2007.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/girls-aloud/29858|title=Girls Aloud back with new single|date=23 July 2007|access-date=8 January 2013|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media}} The radio premiere of the song was scheduled for the morning of 20 July 2007 on BBC Radio 1,{{cite web|url=http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1385&Itemid=206|title=Notes on the new Girls Aloud single|last=Robinson|first=Peter|author-link=Peter Robinson (journalist)|date=19 July 2007|access-date=8 January 2013|publisher=Popjustice|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928103610/http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1385&Itemid=206|url-status=live|archive-date=28 September 2007}} however, it leaked in full online earlier the same day at 02:21 GMT.{{cite web|url=http://www.popjustice.com/briefing/the-chatter-of-popjustice-girls-aloud-special/47406/|title=The chatter of Popjustice: Girls Aloud special|last=Robinson|first=Peter|date=20 July 2007|access-date=8 January 2013|publisher=Popjustice}} "Sexy! No No No..." was released for digital download on 31 August 2007,{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sexy!-no-no-no...-single/id266642432|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306000800/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sexy!-no-no-no...-single/id266642432|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 March 2016|title=Sexy! No No No... - Single by Girls Aloud|date=31 August 2007|access-date=8 January 2013|publisher=iTunes Store. Apple, Inc}} while it was also made available on two different CD single formats on 3 September 2007.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sexy-No-Girls-Aloud/dp/B000UNBQT6|title=Sexy! No No No: Amazon.co.uk: Music|website=Amazon UK|date=3 September 2007|access-date=8 January 2013}} The first disc included a live version of "Something Kinda Ooooh" (2006), recorded at the Bournemouth International Centre.{{ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/Girls-Aloud-Sexy-No-No-No/release/1297671 | title=Girls Aloud - Sexy! No No No... (CD, Single, CD1) | publisher=Discogs. Zink Media Inc | access-date=31 August 2010 }} The second CD format featured Tony Lamezma's "Yes Yes Yes" Mix of "Sexy! No No No..." and also a new track as a b-side, entitled "Dog Without a Bone".{{ cite web | url=http://www.discogs.com/Girls-Aloud-Sexy-No-No-No/release/1622771 | title=Girls Aloud - Sexy! No No No... (CD, Single, Enh) | publisher=Discogs. Zink Media Inc | access-date=31 August 2010}} The b-side was originally written in 2006 in an attempt to come up with a lead single for the group's first compilation album, The Sound of Girls Aloud: The Greatest Hits, however, "Something Kinda Ooooh" was released instead.{{cite AV media notes |title=The Singles Boxset |others=Girls Aloud |year=2009 |chapter=Something Kinda Ooooh | last=Robinson | first=Peter |page=31 |type=Booklet |publisher=Fascination Records |location=London, England }} "Dog Without a Bone" was Popjustice's song of the day on 20 August 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.popjustice.com/songs/girls-aloud-dog-without-a-bone/|title=Song of the Day > Girls Aloud - 'Dog Without A Bone'|date=20 August 2007|access-date=9 January 2013|publisher=Popjustice|last=Robinson|first=Peter}}
Composition
{{Listen
|filename=Girls Aloud - Sexy! No No No...ogg
|title=Girls Aloud - Sexy! No No No...
|description=A 19 second sample of "Sexy! No No No...", in which Cole's vocals during the introduction were vocodered, before the electropunk chorus starts with an incorporated sample from Nazareth's 1975 track "Hair of the Dog".
|format=Ogg |pos=left}}
"Sexy! No No No..." is an electropunk song, which consists of three songs welded together, according to journalist Peter Robinson: one with a samba rhythm, one with a sped-up sample and a breakbeat, and an intro from elsewhere.{{cite AV media notes |title=The Singles Boxset |others=Girls Aloud |year=2009 |chapter=Sexy! No No No… | first=Peter | last=Robinson |author-link=Peter Robinson (journalist) |pages=36–37 |type=Booklet |publisher=Fascination Records |location=London, England }} The track opens with Cole singing over "spooky" instrumentation. Her vocals have been vocodered and she sings "Cause I've been sitting back, no chance of falling / Hoping that nothing ever blows, no no / Boy, did you ever think that loving would be / Nothing more than walking me home, no no".{{cite AV media notes |title=Tangled Up (Fan Edition) |others=Girls Aloud |year=2007 |chapter=Sexy! No No No |page=3 |type=Booklet |publisher=Fascination Records |location=London, England }} As the chorus begins, the song incorporates a sample from Scottish rock band Nazareth's 1975 track "Hair of the Dog",{{ cite news | url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2007/09/08/girls-aloud-use-sample-of-scots-band-nazareth-86908-19809312/ | title=Girls Aloud use sample of Scots band Nazareth | first=John |last=Dingwall | work=Daily Record | publisher=Trinity Mirror | date=8 August 2007 | access-date=31 August 2010 }} and the group starts singing, "Did you tell him? No no no / Give him kisses? No no no / Whisper honey? No no no / You're delicious? Hell no". John Murphy of musicOMH noted that "Sexy! No No No.." is not "structured like a proper pop song - there's no verse-chorus-verse".{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/singles/girls-aloud-10_0807.htm|title=Girls Aloud - Sexy! No No No (Polydor)|last=Murphy|first=John|date=3 September 2007|access-date=9 January 2013|publisher=musicOMH}} The instrumentation of "Sexy! No No No..." is composed of multi-layered guitar riffs and "euphoric woo woo-oo harmonies",{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a75051/girls-aloud-sexy-no-no-no.html|title=Girls Aloud: 'Sexy! No No No...'|last=Levine|first=Nick|date=3 September 2007|access-date=9 January 2013|publisher=Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK}} while the song's structure follows as introduction, chorus, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, middle eight, verse. A Newsround reviewer described the lyrical content, saying that Girls Aloud are "trying a different approach to getting the guy", in that "instead of being 'sexy', they've backed off."
Reception
=Critical response=
File:Girls Aloud - Tangled Up Tour 05.jpg (2008).]]
"Sexy! No No No..." received positive reviews from music critics. John Lucas of Allmusic described the "pounding electro-punk number" as "one of the most daring songs they've yet released,"{{ cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1263699|pure_url=yes}} |first=John |last=Lucas|date=17 November 2007 |title=Tangled Up |publisher=Allmusic. Rovi Corporation|access-date=9 January 2013}} while a reviewer for Newsround deemed it "yet another sample of their perfect pop: bold, sassy, slightly loopy and unbelievably catchy."{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6970000/newsid_6979400/6979432.stm |date=18 October 2007 |title=Single Review: Girls Aloud - Sexy! No No No… | work=Newsround |publisher=BBC |access-date=9 January 2013}} Fraser McAlpine of BBC thought that "Sexy! No No No..." is "kinda dumb, kinda sassy, kinda pumping and kinda 'what on EARTH is THAT?', just like all the best Aloud anthems are",{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chartblog/2007/08/girls_aloud_rating.shtml|title=I Think We're A-List Now...|publisher=BBC|last=McAlpine|first=Fraser|date=2 August 2007|access-date=9 January 2013}} while Nick Levine of Digital Spy rated it four out of five stars, noting that Xenomania sacrificed the "conventional song structure in the name of keeping those hooks coming thick and fast - and quite right too." Levine also praised Girls Aloud for restyling themselves "as teasing minxes, claiming that they've 'dropped their d-d-dirty style'". Lauren Murphy of Entertainment.ie said that "Sexy! No No No..." was a "stellar single", describing it as an "'80s-flavoured radio hit",{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.ie/album-review/Girls-Aloud---Tangled-Up/5428.htm |date=17 December 2007 |title=Girls Aloud - Tangled Up | first=Lauren |last=Murphy |publisher=Entertainment.ie |access-date=9 January 2013}} while Matt O'Leary of Virgin Media stated that the song "slam[s] home the power-pop message we're used to [from Girls Aloud]."{{cite web |url=http://www.virginmedia.com/music/reviews/girlsaloud-tangledup.php |first=Matt |last=O'Leary |date=17 November 2007 |title=Girls Aloud: Tangled Up review |publisher=Virgin Media. Virgin Group | access-date=11 June 2010}}
=Chart performance=
Because it was available to download one week prior to the release of the CD single, "Sexy! No No No..." debuted at number 64 on the UK Singles Chart, based solely on digital downloads.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hQ4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA88|title=Hits of the World|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc|date=22 September 2007|access-date=9 January 2013}} The following week, the single reached a new peak at number five, continuing Girls Aloud's string of hits by becoming their fifteenth consecutive single to chart within the top ten.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/girls%20aloud/|title=Girls Aloud - Chart History|access-date=9 January 2013|publisher=UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company}} It spent a total of ten weeks on the top 40, and is among fifteen best-selling singles by the group.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/girls-aloud-crowned-the-biggest-selling-girl-group-of-the-21st-century-1652/|title=Girls Aloud crowned the biggest selling girl group of the 21st Century|last=Kreisler|first=Lauren|date=18 October 2012|access-date=9 January 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company}} On the week ending 22 September 2007, "Sexy! No No No..." debuted at number 11 on the Euro Digital Chart compiled by Billboard. The track peaked at the same position on the Irish Singles Chart.{{cite web | url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p/musicvideo/music/archive/index_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2007&year=2007&week=36 | title=Top 50 singles, week ending 6 September 2007 | publisher=Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association | access-date=31 August 2010 | date=6 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516115720/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240001&arch=t&lyr=2007&year=2007&week=36 | archive-date=16 May 2012 | url-status=dead }}
Music video
The music video was directed by Trudy Bellinger, and premiered on 13 August 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.popjustice.com/briefing/you-cant-mistake-their-embroidery/47460/|title=You can't mistake their embroidery|date=13 August 2007|access-date=9 January 2013|publisher=Popjustice|last=Robinson|first=Peter}} It opens with Cheryl singing the introduction, as she and the group are seen wearing latex catsuits while standing in front of shiny red material.{{cite web|url=http://libidex.com/the-pop-scene-girls-aloud-cheryl-cole-will-i-am-the-saturdays/|title=THE POP SCENE - Girls Aloud, Cheryl Cole & Will I Am, The Saturdays|date=2 January 2013|publisher=Libidex.com}} The material is being used by a seamstress who is starting work on a dress. As the chorus begins, the camera zooms out to show the girls wearing giant inflatable red dresses. The seamstress starts putting large pins into her dress, poking their way around the girls, until the pins start tearing into their dresses. The pins tear the dresses off and the girls are back in their catsuits, surrounded by the threads of their dresses. Journalist Peter Robinson deemed the video "iconic" and "stylish".
Live performances
Girls Aloud first performed "Sexy! No No No..." at the T4 on the Beach special on 22 July 2007. The group also performed it at Dance X on 18 August 2007,{{cite web|url=http://www.bebo.com/BlogView.jsp?MemberId=3227421358&BlogId=4455749194|title=Girls Aloud Update - 24th July|date=24 July 2007|access-date=9 January 2013|publisher=Girls Aloud Bebo blog|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606130217/http://www.bebo.com/BlogView.jsp?MemberId=3227421358&BlogId=4455749194|archive-date=6 June 2012|url-status=dead}} at ITV1 special Saturday Night Divas on 3 November 2007,{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DON'T+MISS%3B+SATURDAY+NIGHT+DIVAS+SAT,+STV,+9.45pm.-a0170612528|title=Don't miss: Saturday Night Divas, Saturday|date=3 November 2007|access-date=9 January 2013|work=Daily Record|publisher=Trinity Mirror}} and at the V Festival in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/girls-aloud/38960|title=Girls Aloud cover Robyn at V Festival|date=16 August 2008|access-date=15 December 2012|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media}} The same year, "Sexy! No No No..." served as the introduction for the Tangled Up Tour.{{ cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/first-night-girls-aloud-secc-glasgow-823132.html | title=First Night: Girls Aloud, SECC, Glasgow | work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print Limited | first=David |last=Pollock | date=5 August 2008 | access-date=5 August 2008}} During the first part of the performance, the girls were suspended on wires as they hovered in the air in black cloaks. As the song's chorus began, Girls Aloud removed their cloaks to reveal stage outfits designed by Julien Macdonald.{{ cite web | url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2008/05/08/girls-in-sparkle | title=Girls in sparkle | work=Vogue |publisher=Condé Nast Publications |first=Jessica |last=Bumpus | date=8 August 2008 | access-date=8 August 2008 }} For 2009's Out of Control Tour, "Sexy! No No No..." was remixed with parts of "Disturbia" by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna.{{cite AV media notes |title=Out of Control Tour: Live from the O2 Arena |others=Paul Caslin |publisher=Universal Music |location=London, England }} In 2013, the song was performed during the second act of the .{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a460856/girls-aloud-begin-ten-uk-tour-in-newcastle-pictures.html|title=Girls Aloud begin 'Ten' UK tour in Newcastle - pictures|date=22 February 2013|access-date=22 February 2013|last=Corner|first=Lewis|publisher=Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK}}
Formats and track listings
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- "Sexy! No No No..." – 3:18
- "Something Kinda Ooooh" (Live at Bournemouth International Centre) – 3:24
- "Sexy! No No No..." – 3:18
- "Sexy! No No No..." (Tony Lamezma's "Yes Yes Yes" Mix) – 6:13
- "Dog Without a Bone" – 4:00
- "Sexy! No No No..." (video) – 3:18
- "Sexy! No No No..." – 3:18
{{col-2}}
- "Sexy! No No No..." – 3:18
- "Something Kinda Ooooh" (Live in Bournemouth) – 3:24
- "Sexy! No No No..." (Tony Lamezma's "Yes Yes Yes" mix) – 6:13
- "Dog Without A Bone" – 4:00
- "Sexy! No No No..." (Xenomania Club mix) – 5:00
- "Sexy! No No No..." (Flip & Fill mix) – 6:07
- "Sexy! No No No..." (video) – 3:18
- "Sexy! No No No..." – 3:15
- "Something Kinda Ooooh" (Live in Bournemouth) – 3:23
- "Sexy! No No No..." (Tony Lamezma's "Yes Yes Yes" mix) – 6:13
- "Dog Without a Bone" – 4:00
- "Sexy! No No No..." (Xenomania Club mix) – 4:56
- "Sexy! No No No..." (Flip & Fill mix) – 6:05
{{col-end}}
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Tangled Up.
- Guitar – Nick Coler, Owen Parker
- Keyboard – Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Toby Scott
- Mastering – Dick Beetham for 360 Mastering
- Mixing – Jeremy Wheatley
- Production – Brian Higgins, Xenomania
- Programming – Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Tim Powell, Toby Scott
- Songwriting – Girls Aloud, Nazareth, Xenomania
- Contains a sample of "Hair of the Dog" by Nazareth (Dan McCafferty, Darrell Sweet, Manny Charlton, Pete Agnew)
- Vocals - Girls Aloud
- Published by Warner/Chappell Music and Xenomania Music
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Weekly chart performance for "Sexy! No No No..." !scope="col"|Chart (2007) !scope="col"|Peak |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue915.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 17th September 2007|publisher=ARIA|page=26|date=17 September 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222442/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20071020-0000/issue915.pdf|archive-date=22 February 2008|access-date=20 July 2022}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|17 |
|---|
| {{single chart|Ireland2|11|artist=Girls Aloud|song=Sexy! No No No|access-date=27 January 2020||rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|Scotland|2|artist=Girls Aloud|song=Sexy! No No No...|date=20070908|access-date=21 November 2017||rowheader=true}} |
| {{single chart|UK|5|artist=Girls Aloud|song=Sexy! No No No...|date=20070915|access-date=15 December 2012||rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Year-end chart performance for "Sexy! No No No..." !scope="col"|Chart (2007) !scope="col"|Position |
| scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite web|url=http://www.ukchartsplus.co.uk/ChartsPlusYE2007.pdf|title=The Official UK Singles Chart 2007|work=UKChartsPlus|access-date=13 October 2018}}
|104 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Sexy! No No No..."}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Girls Aloud|title=Sexy No No No|award=Silver|relyear=2007|certyear=2024|id=20172-2111-1|access-date=13 July 2024}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release dates and formats for "Sexy! No No No..." !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row" rowspan=2|United Kingdom
|31 August 2007 |
|---|
| 3 September 2007 |
| scope="row"|United States
|9 October 2007 |Digital download |Polydor Records |
References
{{Reflist|3}}
{{Girls Aloud songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Trudy Bellinger
Category:Song recordings produced by Xenomania
Category:Songs written by Manny Charlton
Category:Songs written by Nick Coler
Category:Songs written by Miranda Cooper
Category:Songs written by Lisa Cowling
Category:Songs written by Brian Higgins (producer)
Category:Songs written by Dan McCafferty
Category:Songs written by Tim Powell (producer)
Category:Songs written by Nicola Roberts