Ugly (Sugababes song)

"Ugly" was written and produced by Dallas Austin for the Sugababes' fourth studio album, Taller in More Ways.{{cite AV media notes |title=Taller in More Ways |others=Sugababes |date=2005 |type=liner notes |publisher=Universal Island Records}} Paul Sheehy, Doug Harms, Graham Marsh and Ian Rossiter served as the assistant recording engineers for the song. "Ugly" was mixed by Jeremy Wheatley for 365 Artists at TwentyOne Studio, London. Tony Reyes provided the accompanying guitar and bass guitar for the track, while the drums and keys were provided by Austin. "Ugly" was recorded at DARP Studios, at Atlanta & Home Recordings, London.

During an interview with Jess Cartner-Morley of The Guardian, the Sugababes revealed that Austin wrote the song after reading "the cuttings file he was sent about the band".{{cite web|last=Cartner-Morley|first=Jess|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/sep/16/fashion.shopping|title=Jess Cartner-Morley meets the Sugababes|work=The Guardian|date=16 September 2005|access-date=6 February 2012}} Keisha Buchanan, one of the group's members, elaborated upon this: "All the rubbish and nasty stuff that's been written about us, calling us the Sugalumps, that sort of thing." The title of the song's parent album, Taller in More Ways, was inspired by a line in "Ugly", which reads: "I grew taller than them in more ways / But there'll always be one who will say / Something bad to make them feel great".

{{Listen|pos=left|filename=Sugababes - Ugly.ogg|title="Ugly"|description=A 27 second audio sample of the song, containing lyrics about body-image issues.|format=Ogg|}}

"Ugly" is a midtempo pop rock ballad that has a length of three minutes and fifty-three seconds.{{cite web|url=http://www.popscoop.org/2013/12/20/single-review-little-mix-little/|title=SINGLE REVIEW: Little Mix – 'Little Me'|last=Mace-Tessler|first=Isaac|date=20 December 2013|publisher=Pop Scoop|access-date=8 December 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/ugly-ep/id99736232|title=iTunes - Music - Ugly - EP by Sugababes|publisher=iTunes (UK). Apple|access-date=6 February 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015202342/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/ugly-ep/id99736232|archivedate=15 October 2013}} The song was composed in the key of C major using common time with a tempo of 117 beats per minute.{{cite web|title=Sugababes - Ugly Sheet Music (Digital Download)|work=Musicnotes.com|publisher=Peer International Music Publishing|id=MN0068245 (Product Number)|year=2005}} The Sugababes' vocal range on the song span from the lower note of G₃ to the higher note of E₅. Instrumentation consists of a guitar, bass guitar, drums and keys. Nick Southall of Stylus Magazine noted that the song incorporates acoustic guitars "buoyed by peripheral detail".{{cite magazine|last=Southall|first=Nick|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3476|title=Sugababes - Taller in More Ways - Review - Stylus Magazine|magazine=Stylus Magazine|date=20 October 2005|access-date=15 April 2012|archive-date=10 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010234418/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/sugababes/taller-in-more-ways.htm|url-status=dead}}

K. Ross Hoffman of Allmusic described "Ugly" as a "towering ballad" with romantic and body-image issues. The song received numerous comparisons to "Unpretty" by American girl group TLC, another track composed by Austin. Group member Heidi Range compared the song's lyrics to "Beautiful", a song performed by American recording artist Christina Aguilera. Harry Rubenstein of The Jerusalem Post also noted that the song is reminiscent of both "Unpretty" and "Beautiful".{{cite web|last=Rubenstein|first=Harry|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-118025677.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805171731/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-118025677.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 August 2016|title=Disk Reviews|work=The Jerusalem Post|publisher=Mirkaei Tikshoret|date=31 January 2006|access-date=13 September 2006}} {{subscription required}} The lyrical content makes reference to feeling ugly from having different eyes and hair, in addition to being shorter than other people.{{cite web|last=Britten|first=Anna|url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/051010/33/1ydf3.html|title=Sugababes - Taller in More Ways|work=Yahoo! Music|publisher=Yahoo! UK & Ireland|date=11 October 2005|access-date=16 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012133914/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/051010/33/1ydf3.html|archive-date=12 October 2007}}

File:Christina Aguilera (at premiere of "To John With Love", September 2010).jpg" by Christina Aguilera.]]

"Ugly" was released as a CD single in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2005, containing the radio edit of the song, and "Come Together". The extended play version of "Ugly" was released on the same day and contains the album version of the song, a B-side titled "Future Shokk!", a Desert Eagle Discs remix, and a Suga Shaker Vocal Mix. On 9 December 2005, "Ugly" was released as a CD single in Germany, which contains the same tracks on the extended play release, in addition to the single's music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/Ugly-Sugababes/dp/B000CBLPEC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347541859&sr=8-3|title=Ugly (Single)|publisher=Amazon (DE)|access-date=13 September 2012}} In Australia, Island Records released the song as a CD single on 16 January 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue828.pdf|title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 16th January 2006|publisher=ARIA|page=28|date=16 January 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060119130000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20060120-0000/issue828.pdf|archive-date=19 January 2006|access-date=11 November 2021}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

"Ugly" garnered generally positive reviews from music critics. Phil Udell of Hot Press regarded it as a "classy, catchy pop tune with a human heart".{{cite web|last=Udell|first=Phil|url=http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2839703.html|title=Ugly|work=Hot Press|publisher=Niall Stokes|date=30 November 2005|access-date=13 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216105855/http://hotpress.com/archive/2839703.html|archive-date=16 February 2010|url-status=dead}} Peter Robinson of The Observer felt that the track was one of the album's standouts, stating that it "immediately hits on the Sugababes' core values", which according to him are "cool, but so unswervingly radio-friendly that it would hardly be out of place as this year's Children in Need single".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2005/sep/18/shopping7|title=The first ten: 2, Sugababes, Taller in More Ways|work=The Guardian|date=18 September 2005|access-date=6 February 2012}} Talia Kraines of BBC described "Ugly" as a "ballad full of true Sugababes attitude".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/nv9x|title=Sugababes Taller in More Ways Review|publisher=BBC|date=23 September 2005|access-date=6 February 2012}} K. Ross Hoffman of AllMusic considered the track as an "aptly pitched inspirational mini-epic",{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/taller-in-more-ways-r805636/review\|title=Taller in More Ways - Sugababes|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|access-date=6 February 2012}} and a writer for The Liverpool Daily Post & Echo characterised it as an "empowering anthem".{{cite web|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-137257307|title=Back to form with full-throttle rock|work=Liverpool Daily Post & Echo|publisher=Trinity Mirror|date=7 October 2005|access-date=13 September 2012}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{subscription required}} Nick Southall of Stylus Magazine called it "vastly superior self-help pop" and "lovingly produced". However, Ben Hogwood of musicOMH thought the song was unconvincing,{{cite magazine|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/sugababes_1005.htm|title=Sugababes - Taller in More Ways (Island)|magazine=musicOMH|access-date=11 February 2012|archive-date=17 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017021343/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/sugababes_1005.htm|url-status=dead}} while Alex Roginski of Sydney Morning Herald criticized the songwriting as "flat".{{cite web|last=Roginski|first=Alex|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/cd-reviews/taller-in-many-ways/2006/01/23/1137864842103.html|title=Taller in Many Ways|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=23 January 2006|access-date=16 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728182919/http://www.smh.com.au/news/cd-reviews/taller-in-many-ways/2006/01/23/1137864842103.html|archive-date=28 July 2014|url-status=dead}}

"Ugly" entered the UK Singles Chart at number three on 11 December 2005 ― for the week ending dated 17 December 2005 ― with sales of 21,107,{{cite news|url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/eminem-and-now-62-lead-albums-sales/028984|title=Eminem and Now! 62 lead albums sales|work=Music Week|publisher=Intent Media|date=12 December 2005|access-date=15 August 2012}} becoming the Sugababes' second consecutive top-three single and their tenth top ten hit overall. The song spent four weeks in the chart's top-ten and 20 weeks on the chart overall.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Ugly|title=The Official Charts Company - Ugly by Sugababes Search |date=6 May 2013|publisher=The Official Charts Company}} "Ugly" had sold 170,000 copies in the UK and ranks as the group's seventh best-selling single in the country as of 2010, and has since been certified silver for sales of over 200,000 units.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/mtv-official-countdowns/episode/sugababes-official-top-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424071220/http://www.mtv.co.uk/shows/mtv-official-countdowns/episode/sugababes-official-top-20|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 April 2010|title=Sugababes Official Top 20 Best Selling Singles|work=MTV UK|publisher=MTV Networks|access-date=15 August 2012}} "Ugly" debuted and peaked at number seven on the Irish Singles Chart, becoming the Sugababes' sixth top ten single in Ireland. The song peaked at number four in Denmark, becoming the Sugababes' fourth top-five single in the country. "Ugly" also reached number seven in Hungary and the Netherlands, earning the Sugababes their fourth top ten hit in the former and their seventh one in the latter respectively.

"Ugly" also became a commercial success in many other European countries. The single number eight in the Czech Republic and Finland,{{cite web|url=http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Sugababes&titel=Angels+With+Dirty+Faces&cat=a|title=Sugababes - Angels With Dirty Faces|work=Finnishcharts.com|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=3 October 2012}} and number nine in Norway. In Belgium, the song reached numbers eight and 13 on the Wallonia Ultratip and Flanders Ultratop charts, respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/1061/Sugababes-Angels-With-Dirty-Faces|title=Sugababes - Angels With Dirty Faces|work=Ultratop.be|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=3 October 2012}} "Ugly" attained top-twenty positions in Austria, Sweden and Switzerland; it charted at number 26 in Germany{{cite web|url=http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Sugababes/?type=longplay|title=Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline|work=Musicline.de|publisher=Media Control|access-date=17 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201180039/http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Sugababes/?type=longplay|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=dead}} and number 68 in Slovakia. "Ugly" also achieved success outside of Europe. In New Zealand, it entered the chart at number seven and peaked at number five two weeks later, becoming the Sugababes' second consecutive top-five single in the country and their fourth one overall. It remained in the chart for 16 weeks. In Australia, "Ugly" debuted at number 16 and peaked at number 13 on its fourth week on the chart, becoming their second-best performing single in the country.{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Sugababes-Red-Dress/release/692842 |title=Sugababes - Red Dress (CD, Maxi, Enh) |access-date=11 January 2010 |work=Discogs.com}}

The accompanying music video for "Ugly" was directed by Toby Tremlett and filmed on 1 November 2005.{{cite AV media notes|title=Overloaded: The Singles Collection|type=DVD liner notes|publisher= Island Records|date=November 2006}} It is set in a warehouse in New York City that is used for people who are taking part in an audition.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/4nD2vZfdzGg/search/Sugababes|title=Sugababes - Ugly |work=NME. IPC Media|access-date=11 February 2012}} It begins with a yellow taxi driving on a New York City road with apartment complexes. As the song begins, Buena sings her verse while looking into a mirror, and other people in the warehouse begin to hold up signs of the song's lyrics. During the chorus, they begin to showcase their talents such as dancing and juggling. Buchanan's chorus features her sitting on a staircase; during this part, a child holds up a sign reading "short" while a woman carries a sign saying "loneliness". As Range sings the bridge, she is leaning on a wall in the warehouse while more people begin dancing. When Sugababes sing the chorus again, they dance with the people who also begin to show other talents, including instrumentation and magic tricks. As the video ends, a row of people hold up signs containing one word from the song's lyrics, "people are all the same", and then another message "don't be afraid to be you", with Buchanan, Buena and Range holding each letter of the last word.

Sugababes performed "Ugly" at the V Festival in 2006 as part of a set list, which included "Hole in the Head", "Red Dress" and "Push the Button". In 2008, they performed the song at the same event in the JJB Champion Arena, as part of a set list which included Push the Button and About You Now.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/v-festival/42228-v-festival-review|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421044156/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/v-festival/42228-v-festival-review|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 April 2013|title=V Festival Review|work=MTV UK|publisher=MTV Networks|date=18 August 2008|access-date=11 February 2012}} The performance received positive reviews, with a reviewer from MTV UK calling it "a highlight of our festival in the JJB Arena". In August 2007, former group member Mutya Buena, who left the band shortly following the single's release, performed the song at the V Festival in Chelmsford.{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/news/v-festival/30481|title=Mutya Buena plays Sugababes song at V Festival|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media|date=19 August 2007|access-date=14 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304235722/http://www.nme.com/news/v-festival/30481|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} On 18 September 2007, Sugababes performed an acoustic version of "Ugly" at the Indig02 as part of a set list, which included such songs as "Freak Like Me", "Round Round", "In the Middle", "Red Dress" and "Too Lost In You". Nick Levine of Digital Spy felt the performance "proves that no member's a slacker in the trilling department".{{cite web|last=Levine|first=Nick|url=http://www.digitalspy.com.au/music/gigreports/a75805/sugababes--indigo2-september-14.html|title=Sugababes @ IndigO2, September 14|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|date=18 September 2007|access-date=15 April 2012}}

In March 2006, it was announced by The Commission for Racial Equality Croeso initiative that the Sugababes would take part in supporting diversity and opposing injustice in Wales.{{cite web|url=http://www.newswales.co.uk/?section=Community&F=1&id=8616|title=Pop group backs schools on racial harmony|publisher=News Wales|date=15 March 2006|access-date=16 April 2012}} The group allowed all schools located in Wales to use "Ugly" as part of an assembly, in which the schools can use the same resources provided by the Croeso initiative.

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• CD single{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/ugly-single/id102046645|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321051833/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/ugly-single/id102046645|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 March 2016|title=iTunes - Music - Ugly - Single by Sugababes|publisher=iTunes (UK). Apple|access-date=11 February 2012}}

1. "Ugly" (Radio Edit) - 3:02
2. "Come Together" - 3:52

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• CD maxi

1. "Ugly" (Album Version) - 3:50
2. "Future Shokk!" - 4:05
3. "Ugly" (The Desert Eagle Discs Remix) - 4:13
4. "Ugly" (Suga Shaker Vocal Mix) - 5:42

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• Songwriting – Dallas Austin
• Production – Dallas Austin
• Mixing – Jeremy Wheatley, Richard Edgeler
• Steve Barney - drums on "Come Together" (track 2)

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• Engineering – Rick Sheppard
• Engineering (assistant recording) – Doug Harms, Graham Marsh (producer), Ian Rossiter, Paul Sheehy Guitar
• Instruments – Dallas Austin, Tony Reyes

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Ugly"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Sugababes|title=Ugly|award=Silver|relyear=2005|certyear=2017|id=14245-402-1}}

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Category:2000s ballads

Category:2005 singles

Category:Body image in popular culture

Category:Contemporary R&B ballads

Category:Pop ballads

Category:Song recordings produced by Dallas Austin

Category:Songs written by Dallas Austin

Category:Sugababes songs