Shape (song)

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|filename = ShapeSample.ogg

|title="Shape"

|description=A music sample of "Shape", which is a rendition of Sting's 1993 recording "Shape of My Heart".

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"Shape" was written by Sting, Dominic Miller and Craigie Dodds, and produced by Dodds under his production name Craigie, for the Sugababes' second studio album, Angels with Dirty Faces (2002). It is a remake of Sting's 1993 recording "Shape of My Heart"; the song's verses were changed, while the chorus that features Sting's vocals was re-recorded.{{cite news|last=Dingwall|first=John|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-90517129|title=All Round good girls: Success is sweeter for Sugababes|work=Daily Record|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=20 August 2002|access-date=30 March 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{subscription required}} According to Sugababes member Mutya Buena, "He felt he could do better with the chorus, so he came in to re-record it". The song was engineered by Jack Guy, and programmed by Craigie Dodds and Additional programming by Dean Barratt. Additional vocal recording was completed by Ben Georgiades. "Shape" is the album's fourth and final single, and was released in the United Kingdom on 10 March 2003 as a CD single and cassette tape.{{cite web|url=http://www.sugababes.com/news/details.php?thenewsid=83&thecountryid=8|title=New single "Shape" out now!|publisher=Sugababes.com|access-date=18 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030830025651/http://www.sugababes.com/news/details.php?thenewsid=83&thecountryid=8|archive-date=30 August 2003}} The B-side is a cover version of English producer Adamski's 1990 single "Killer".{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/killer-mt0013374861|title=Killer – Sugababes|work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=23 March 2013}}

"Shape" is a midtempo pop and R&B ballad with a subtle dance groove. The song was composed in the key of F minor, at a moderately slow tempo of 82 beats per minute.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0068487|title=Digital Sheet Music – Sugababes – Shape|year=1992|work=Musicnotes.com|publisher=EMI Music Publishing|id=MN0068487}} The Sugababes' vocal range in the song spans from the lower note of F₃ to the highest note of G₄. Its instrumentation consists of keyboards and bass guitar. The chorus of the song features Sting's vocals.{{cite news|last=Sloan|first=Billy|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-90283109|title=It's cool to be a virgin|work=Sunday Mail|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=11 August 2002|access-date=6 October 2012}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{subscription required}}

"Shape" received generally mixed reviews from critics. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian criticised the track as a "lumbering, mirthless AOR ballad, grown-up in the worst sense of the phrase".{{cite news|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/aug/23/popandrock.artsfeatures|title=Sugababes: Angels with Dirty Faces|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News & Media|date=23 August 2002|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114061016/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2002/aug/23/popandrock.artsfeatures|url-status=live|archive-date=14 November 2012}} The Birmingham Post's Andrew Cowen panned the song as "horrible", and regarded the sample from "Shape of My Heart" as "not big or clever".{{cite news|last=Cowen|first=Andrew|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-90479302|title=Culture: CD Reviews|work=Birmingham Post|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=17 August 2002|access-date=6 October 2012}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{subscription required}} Andy Kellman of AllMusic called "Shape" a "bum moment" on the album, and dismissed it as a "misguided re-configuration" of the sample.{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/angels-with-dirty-faces-bonus-tracks-mw0000456550|title=Sugababes – Angels with Dirty Faces|work=AllMusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006145832/http://www.allmusic.com/album/angels-with-dirty-faces-bonus-tracks-mw0000456550|url-status=live|archive-date=6 October 2012}} Alex Needham of NME considered it a "massive faux pas" on the album.{{cite web|last=Needham|first=Alex|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/sugababes/6686|title=Sugababes : Angels With Dirty Faces|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media|date=30 August 2002|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218181320/http://www.nme.com/reviews/sugababes/6686|archive-date=18 February 2006 }} The Jerusalem Post writer Harry Rubenstein viewed "Shape" as "[a] sing- along, more than a cover, that sounds completely uninspired and out of place amongst the faster-paced R&B tracks on the rest of the album".{{cite news|last=Rubenstein|first=Harry|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-68577071.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018215630/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-68577071.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2016|title=Pop goes the disc|work=The Jerusalem Post|publisher=Mirkaei Tikshoret|date=8 October 2002|access-date=1 May 2013}} {{subscription required}} In contrast, David Byrne of RTÉ.ie called the track a "nice touch" on the album,{{cite web|last=Byrne|first=David|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2002/0816/sugababes.html|title=Sugababes – Angels With Dirty Faces|work=RTÉ.ie|publisher=RTÉ|date=16 August 2002|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918140112/https://www.rte.ie/ten/2002/0816/sugababes.html|url-status=live|archive-date=18 September 2012}} while Daily Record writer Julie MacCaskill complimented the sample of Sting's "Shape of My Heart", which she felt produced the song's powerful hook.{{cite news|last=MacCaskill|first=Julue|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-98690247|title=The Singles and Albums Reviews|work=Daily Record|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=13 March 2003|access-date=6 October 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{subscription required}} Alan Poole from the Coventry Evening Telegraph wrote that the Sugababes "underline their versatility" on the track.{{cite news|last=Poole|first=Alan|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-90782438|title=GO! Rock: From Mouths of Babes...|work=Coventry Evening Telegraph|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=23 August 2002|access-date=6 October 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{subscription required}} A writer from South Wales Echo felt that "Shape" was equally good as "Freak like Me" and "Round Round", the group's number-one singles from the same album.{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90986500.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018212350/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-90986500.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2016|title=Friday Live: new sounds|work=South Wales Echo|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=30 August 2002|access-date=6 October 2012}} {{subscription required}} A critic from Daily Mirror described it as a "clever" cover that depicts the Sugababes "on top form".{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-98535832.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018212705/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-98535832.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2016|title=Sugababes – Shape|work=Daily Mirror|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=10 March 2003|access-date=2 January 2013}} {{subscription required}}

"Shape" debuted at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart on 22 March 2003. It became the first single from Angels with Dirty Faces to not reach the top ten.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/sugababes/|title=Sugababes|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=10 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419005418/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/Sugababes/|archive-date=19 April 2012}} By early 2010, it had sold 55,000 copies in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/mtv-official-countdowns/episode/sugababes-official-top-20|title=Sugababes Official Top 20 Best Selling Singles|work=MTV UK|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013141952/http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/mtv-official-countdowns/episode/sugababes-official-top-20|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2012}} The song was more successful on the Irish Singles Chart, where it debuted and peaked at number nine, and in turn became the third single from Angels with Dirty Faces to reach the top ten.{{cite web|url=http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sugababes|title=Sugababes|work=Irish-charts.com|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=18 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713060952/http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sugababes|archive-date=13 July 2011}} "Shape" also achieved commercial success in Continental Europe. In Belgium, the song reached number two on the Ultratip chart in Wallonia, and number 49 on the Ultratop chart in Flanders. The single debuted at number 16 on the Netherlands' Dutch Top 40 chart, and peaked at number seven three weeks later. It ended as the chart's 76th best-performing single of 2003. The song peaked at number 16 on the Norwegian VG-lista chart and spent four weeks in the top twenty. "Shape" attained top-forty positions on the German and Swiss singles charts, and reached the top fifty on the Austrian chart. The single debuted and peaked at number 75 on the Australian Singles Chart, where it charted for a total of four weeks.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue695.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: Week Commencing: 16th June 2003 Issue No: 695|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|date=16 June 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030706140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030707-0000/Issue695.pdf|archive-date=6 July 2003|access-date=6 October 2012}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

File:Sydney skyline at dusk - Dec 2008.jpg, Australia.]]

The accompanying music video for "Shape" was directed by Michael Gracey and Pete Commins.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/skating-babies-in-our-botanic-gardens-20090725-dww2.html|title=Skating babies in our Botanic Gardens?|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=26 July 2009|access-date=7 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116003955/http://www.theage.com.au/national/skating-babies-in-our-botanic-gardens-20090725-dww2.html|url-status=live|archive-date=16 January 2010}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Overloaded: The Singles Collection|type=DVD liner notes|publisher=Island Records|date=November 2006}} It was filmed during December 2002 in Sydney, Australia, and was released on 24 February 2003.{{cite news|last1=Callan|first1=Jessica|last2=Waldegrave|first2=Niki|last3=Kerins|first3=Suzanne|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94706063.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165442/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-94706063.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Every little Sting they do is magic|work=Daily Mirror|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=28 November 2002|access-date=2 January 2013}} {{subscription required}} Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge! team assisted in its production. Sting did not appear in the video due to a busy schedule. The video was subsequently re-shot after being deemed "too raunchy".{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-97988697.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924165729/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-97988697.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Suga Coating|work=Daily Mirror|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=24 February 2003|access-date=2 January 2013}} {{subscription required}} The video features computer-generated butterflies around the group members' bodies and was described as displaying "a wonderland".{{cite web|last=Quill|first=Colleen M.|url=http://www.hiponline.com/3328/sugababes-interview.html|title=Sugababes – Interview|publisher=Hip Online|date=17 May 2004|access-date=26 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426033238/http://www.hiponline.com/3328/sugababes-interview.html|url-status=live|archive-date=26 April 2013}}

The video opens with a scene of the ocean at night. It then shows a mansion by the water, in which Buena is seen standing by a balcony.{{cite AV media|people=Sugababes|year=2002|title=Shape|publisher=Island Records|location=Sydney, Australia}} The following scene shows Range entering the mansion as two men open the doors for her. Buena is shown walking in the middle of a masquerade ball, in which she captures the attention of a man. The Sugababes are shown on a couch, where Buchanan holds a man's hand; they all then walk down the mansion's staircase. Each group member begins to dance with a man at the ball. Buena walks towards a mirror which depicts a reflection of the Sugababes, while Buchanan drops her white mask which subsequently shatters. Towards the end of the video, they are shown leaving the ball before Buchanan jumps off the balcony and into the water. All three members are shown collectively in the water, which begins to fade out into the sky. The last scene shows the men that were in the mansion walking away.

The Sugababes performed "Shape" on GMTV on 20 February 2003 which was the same day of the 2003 BRIT Awards.{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Annie|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-97867306|title=Sugababy Love for Brave Paige|work=Daily Record|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=20 February 2003|access-date=6 October 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{subscription required}} They performed the song on 30 March 2003 at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool.{{cite news|last=Empire|first=Kitty|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2003/mar/30/features.review57|title=Once a kitten and now a minx|work=The Observer|publisher=Guardian News & Media|date=30 March 2003|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304215015/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2003/mar/30/features.review57|url-status=live|archive-date=4 March 2016}} An acoustic version of the song was performed during their tour in support of Three (2003), the group's third studio album.{{cite news|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/mar/22/popandrock|title=Sugababes, Brighton Centre|work=The Guardian|publisher=Guardian News & Media|date=22 March 2004|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314120051/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2004/mar/22/popandrock|url-status=live|archive-date=14 March 2016}} The group sang "Shape" at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange on 18 August 2004 as part of a set list.{{cite news|last=Rae|first=Carolyn|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-150479605.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018202259/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-150479605.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2016|title=Radiohead captivated fans and Sugababes proved they have both style and substance|work=Sunday Mail|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=27 August 2006|access-date=29 April 2013}} {{subscription required}} The third line-up of the Sugababes, comprising Buchanan, Range and Amelle Berrabah, played the single while on the Taller in More Ways tour as part of a medley with "Stronger".{{cite news|last=Price|first=Simon|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-2013543.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411021753/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-2013543.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 April 2013|title=Who's a babe and does it really Mutya?|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=16 April 2006|access-date=30 March 2013}} {{subscription required}} The trio also performed these two songs as an acoustic medley at the 2006 V Festival,{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/hard-fi/23993|title=Hard-Fi play last 'organised' UK shows before second album|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media|date=19 August 2006|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002237/http://www.nme.com/news/hard-fi/23993|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2016}} and at the 100 Club in London to promote the release of their greatest hits album, Overloaded: The Singles Collection.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/sugababes/24564|title=Sugababes play secret gig|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media|date=3 October 2006|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002542/http://www.nme.com/news/sugababes/24564|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2016}}

{{tracklist

| headline = CD1 single

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Shape

| note1 = radio mix

| writer1 = {{hlist|Sting|Dominic Miller|Craig Dodds}}

| extra1 = Craigie

| length1 = 4:11

| title2 = Killer

| writer2 = {{hlist|Adam Tinley|Seal Henry Samuel}}

| extra2 = Brian Higgins

| length2 = 4:02

| title3 = Freak like Me

| note3 = Brits 2003 version

| writer3 = {{hlist|Eugene Hanes|Marc Valentine|Loren Hill|William Collins|George Clinton|Gary Numan}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Richard X|Jeremy Wheatley{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length3 = 3:26

| title4 = Shape

| note4 = video

| length4 = 4:11

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = CD2 single

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Shape

| note1 = album version

| writer1 = {{hlist|Sting|Miller|Dodds}}

| extra1 = Craigie

| length1 = 4:11

| title2 = Shape

| note2 = Salaam Remi remix

| writer2 = {{hlist|Sting|Miller|Dodds}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Craigie|Salaam Remi{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length2 = 4:10

| title3 = Shape

| note3 = Double R remix featuring Romeo

| writer3 = {{hlist|Sting|Miller|Dodds|Marvin Dawkins}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Craigie|Double R{{ref|a|[a]}}|Jeff Ishmal{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length3 = 4:50

| title4 = Shape

| note4 = D-Bop's vocal breakdown mix

| writer4 = {{hlist|Sting|Miller|Dodds}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Craigie|D-Bop{{ref|a|[a]}}|Andy Allder{{ref|a|[a]}}|Dave Cross{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length4 = 7:44

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Cassette single

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Shape

| note1 = radio mix

| writer1 = {{hlist|Sting|Miller|Dodds}}

| extra1 = Craigie

| length1 = 4:11

| title2 = Killer

| writer2 = {{hlist|Tinley|Samuel}}

| extra2 = Higgins

| length2 = 4:02

| title3 = Shape

| note3 = live version

| writer3 = {{hlist|Sting|Miller|Dodds}}

| extra3 = Craigie

| length3 = 4:15

}}

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|a}}}} denotes additional producer(s)
• {{sup|{{note|b|b}}}} denotes additional vocal producer(s)

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Overloaded: The Singles Collection.{{cite AV media notes|title=Overloaded: The Singles Collection|title-link=Overloaded: The Singles Collection|others=Sugababes|year=2006|pages=13–14|type=album|publisher=Universal Island Records|id=1712650}}

• Songwriting – Sting, Dominic Miller, Craig Dodds
• Production – Craigie Dodds
• Engineering – Jack Guy
• Programming – Craigie Dodds
• Additional vocal recording – Ben Georgiades
• Additional programming – Dean Barratt
• Keyboards – Jonathan Quarmby
• Vocals – Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, Heidi Range
• Bass guitar – Kevin Bacon

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shape (Song)}}

Category:2000s ballads

Category:2002 songs

Category:2003 singles

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Songs written by Sting (musician)

Category:Sugababes songs