Whole Again#Other versions

"Whole Again" was written and produced by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members and Atomic Kitten founders Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw. A mid-tempo ballad that combines a strolling beat and one-note string crescendos,{{cite web|url=http://freakytrigger.co.uk/popular/2015/08/atomic-kitten-whole-again/|title=ATOMIC KITTEN – Whole Again|website=freakytrigger.co.uk|date=15 August 2016|access-date=15 July 2021}} it initially featured all lines spoken by Kerry Katona with only the chorus sung by Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton. While this version was included on the Japanese version of Atomic Kitten's debut album Right Now (2000), Innocent Records A&R manager Hugh Goldsmith felt that it was still a half‑finished song and asked songwriters and producers Jem Godfrey and Bill Padley to re-write it for the UK version of the album.{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Inglis|url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/producing-atomic-kittens-whole-again|title=Producing Atomic Kitten's 'Whole Again'|website=soundonsound.com|date=2001|access-date=15 July 2021}} With the chorus being already there, Godfrey and Padley decided on writing a melody for the verses and changed most of the chords in "Whole Again", but they were not able to change its key. Padley later described the process as "quite difficult, because the chorus of the song was so hooky that the verse had to lead up to it but not overshadow it, which is why it ended up sounding as low as it does. We very carefully worked out what the vocal range of the Kittens was, because the last thing we wanted was to write a melody that was fantastic but that they wouldn't be able to sing."

Recording of the new verses took place at Padley's West Hampstead music studio. A hasty affair due to the band's hectic schedule at that time, much of the vocals were recorded within 30 minutes, with McClarnon and Hamilton each singing the whole song twice only. As well as recording the new vocals, Godfrey and Padley also took over the job of producing "Whole Again", although they were careful to preserve the features of McCluskey and Kershaw's original version, including Katona's spoken middle-8 section. While the duo kept much of the "underwater organ sound" from the original session, they were forced to replay and retune other elements and added a few additional percussion and string loops from the sample albums Vinylistics 3 and Advanced Orchestra to the track. Padley and singer friend Angie Giles also provided vocals for the gospel part near the end of the song for which the producers tracked about forty vocals and put several delays and effects on it to sound like a choir. While Innocent Records liked their version, they asked Godfrey and Padley to re-record McClarnon and Hamilton's vocals at least two more times, though they eventually decided on using the original vocals that had been recorded in West Hampstead in the end.

While Innocent Records planned to release "Whole Again" as Atomic Kitten's fourth single at times, it was eventually replaced by "Follow Me" to lead the UK release of parent album Right Now. Following the commercial underperformance of both "Follow Me" and the initial release of the album,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2538381.stm|title=Atomic Kitten's perfect year|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=30 December 2002|access-date=8 July 2012}} Atomic Kitten persuaded their label to release "Whole Again" as a last-ditch attempt to keep their record deal. During promotion for the single, Katona announced her pregnancy and subsequent decision to leave the group. With the single's release imminent, the group opted to recruit Jenny Frost, previously a member of fellow British girl group Precious, as a replacement and continued their promotional campaign. The version with Frost's spoken word portion replaced the original version for radio airplay, and it was subsequently included on a reissue of Right Now. An alternate take of Frost's vocals was issued as a bonus track on international versions of the group's second album, Feels So Good.{{cite AV media notes|title=Feels So Good|title-link=Feels So Good (Atomic Kitten album)|others=Atomic Kitten|year=2002|type=Australasian CD album liner notes|publisher=Innocent Records, Virgin Records|id=CDSINF10, 724381337721}}

The single debuted at number one in the United Kingdom with first-week sales of 69,286 copies,{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/zoom.php?id=890|title=All the No.1's|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=1 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230122258/http://theofficialcharts.com/zoom.php?id=890|archive-date=30 December 2009}} staying atop the chart for four weeks and increasing in sales during every week that it was at number one.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-charts-flashback-2001-atomic-kitten-whole-again__25506/|title=Official Charts Flashback 2001: Atomic Kitten – Whole Again|last=Copsey|first=Rob|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=4 February 2021|access-date=16 February 2021}} It has since gone on to sell over 1,000,000 copies in the UK alone.{{cite web|url=http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/119163/Blimey-Daft-Punks-Get-Lucky-Passes-The-One-Million-Sales-Mark-In-Just-69-Days|title=Blimey! Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' Passes the One Million Sales Mark in Just 69 Days – Celebrity Gossip, News & Photos, Movie Reviews, Competitions|publisher=Entertainmentwise|date=28 June 2013|access-date=1 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408160051/http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/119163/Blimey-Daft-Punks-Get-Lucky-Passes-The-One-Million-Sales-Mark-In-Just-69-Days|archive-date=8 April 2014}} It is the fourth best-selling single by a girl group of all time, after "Wannabe" and "2 Become 1" by the Spice Girls and "Never Ever" by All Saints. It also became the 13th overall best-selling single of the 2000s decade. As of November 2016, it remains the biggest-selling song of the 21st century in the UK by a girl group.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/girlbands-vs-boybands-their-biggest-songs-of-the-century-revealed__16965/|title=Girlbands vs Boybands – their biggest songs of the century revealed|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=5 November 2016|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=5 November 2016}}

In Australia, "Whole Again" peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart, being certified double platinum for shipments of over 140,000 copies. The single was also released in Germany and New Zealand, where it secured the number-one position for six consecutive weeks in both countries. In Germany, the single was certified platinum for shipments exceeding 500,000, while in New Zealand, it was certified double platinum, denoting sales of over 20,000. It additionally peaked atop the charts of Austria, Ireland, and the Netherlands, as well as the Eurochart Hot 100. In Denmark, Flanders, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, it entered the top 20.

The music video for "Whole Again" was filmed on a very small budget due to the commercial failure of previous single "Follow Me". It features the Kittens singing in front of a plain white background—similar to the video for the Sugababes' debut single, "Overload". The original version of the video includes Kerry Katona, who had left the group just before the song's release. After Katona's departure and replacement by Jenny Frost, parts of the video were re-shot with the new line-up as well as solo shots of Frost. These were then edited together with scenes of Hamilton and McClarnon from the original video.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1742999.stm|title=SHOWBIZ | McFadden and Katona tie knot|publisher=BBC News|date=5 January 2002|access-date=1 April 2014}}

As a result of the single's huge success in many international markets, a second music video was filmed for the U.S. release with a much larger budget. This version features the three women walking through the streets in Downtown Los Angeles and walking out into the countryside, gradually picking up more people along the way. The video ends with the camera zooming out on the field making the crowd take on the shape of Atomic Kitten's logo.{{youTube|1RYy_k6-rlc|Atomic Kitten Whole again US Version}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

UK CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Whole Again|others=Atomic Kitten|year=2001|type=UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Innocent Records, Virgin Records|id=SINCD 24, 7243 8 97361 20}}

1. "Whole Again" – 3:03
2. "Holiday" – 3:13
3. "Whole Again" (Whirlwind Mix) – 3:05

UK limited-edition CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Whole Again|others=Atomic Kitten|year=2001|type=UK limited CD single liner notes|publisher=Innocent Records, Virgin Records|id=SINDX24, 7243 8 97369 2 2}}

1. "Whole Again" – 3:03
2. "Whole Again" (original version) – 3:17
3. "Locomotion" – 3:32

{{col-2}}

European CD and cassette single{{cite AV media notes|title=Whole Again|others=Atomic Kitten|year=2001|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Innocent Records, Virgin Records|id=SINCDE 24, 7243 8 97478 29}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Whole Again|others=Atomic Kitten|year=2001|type=European cassette single sleeve|publisher=Innocent Records, Virgin Records|id=SINC 24, 7243 8 97361 44}}

1. "Whole Again" – 3:04
2. "Locomotion" – 3:32

French CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Whole Again|others=Atomic Kitten|year=2001|type=French CD single liner notes|publisher=Virgin Records|id=897894}}

1. "Whole Again" – 3:03
2. "Whole Again" (Whirlwind Mix) – 3:05

{{col-end}}

Credits are lifted from the liner notes of Right Now.{{cite AV media notes|title=Right Now|title-link=Right Now (Atomic Kitten album)|others=Atomic Kitten|year=2001|type=UK CD album liner notes|publisher=Innocent Records, Virgin Records|id=CDSINY6, 7243 8 10748 2 4}}

Studios

• Recorded at Motor Museum Studios (Liverpool, UK) and Wise Buddah Studios (London, UK)
• Mixed at Wise Buddah Studios (London, UK)

Personnel

• Andy McCluskey – writing, keys and programming
• Stuart Kershaw – writing, keys and programming
• Jem Godfrey – writing, keys and programming, additional production and remix
• Bill Padley – writing, backing vocals, keys and programming, additional production and remix
• Atomic Kitten – vocals
• Angie Giles – backing vocals
• Engine – production
• Pete Craigie – engineering
• Pat O'Shaughnessy – engineering

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=3 June 2020|refname="auscert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|artist=Atomic Kitten|title=Whole Again|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=3 June 2020|refname="ifpiaut"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=3 June 2020|refname="belcert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Atomic Kitten|title=Whole Again|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2024|id=14036|access-date=28 June 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|artist=Atomic Kitten|title=Whole Again|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=3 June 2020|refname="bvmi"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=single|artist=Atomic Kitten|title=Whole Again|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=3 June 2020|refname="nvpi"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Atomic Kitten|title=Whole Again|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|id=2001-06-01|source=newchart|access-date=20 November 2024|refname="nzcert"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=3 June 2020|refname="swecerti"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=single|artist=Atomic Kitten|title=Whole Again|award=Gold|relyear=2001|certyear=2001|access-date=3 June 2020|refname="swicerti"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Atomic Kitten|title=Whole Again|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2001|certyear=2020|id=8244-47-1|access-date=3 June 2020|refname="bpicerti"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Southgate You're the One

| cover = Atomic Kitten - Southgate You're the One (Football's Coming Home Again).png

| type = single

| artist = Atomic Kitten

| album =

| released = {{start date|2021|7|06|df=y}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 3:08

| label = Columbia

| writer =

• Andy McCluskey
• Stuart Kershaw
• Jem Godfrey
• Bill Padley
• Liz McClarnon

| producer =

• Bill Padley
• Goldcrush

| prev_title = I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

| prev_year = 2013

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|IFQVlySuoac|"Southgate You're the One (Football's Coming Home Again)"}}|header=Lyric video}}

}}

During England's run to the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, England fans adapted the song as a football chant in honour of manager Gareth Southgate. The lines "Baby you're the one / You still turn me on / You can make me whole again" were changed to "Southgate, you're the one / You still turn me on / Football's coming home again" in reference to "Three Lions" by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and The Lightning Seeds.{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/southgate-youre-the-one-new-gareth-southgate-chant-to-the-tune-of-atomic-kitten-hit-sweeps-nation-a3878941.html|title=Gareth Southgate England song to tune of Atomic Kitten hit sweeps the nation|first=Tom|last=Powell|newspaper=Evening Standard|date=4 July 2018|access-date=8 July 2018}} The song had previously been adapted by Celtic fans earlier in the 2017–18 season in honour of defender Mikael Lustig{{cite web | url=https://www.balls.ie/football/watch-celtic-fans-mikael-lustig-song-377944 | title=Watch: Celtic Fans Re-Work 'Atomic Kitten' Classic for Mikael Lustig Song | Balls.ie | date=18 November 2017 }} and has since also been adapted by England fans in honour of women's manager Sarina Wiegman.{{cite web |author=England Women (Lionesses)|author-link=England women's national football team |title=Sarina You're The One! #WEuro2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/JuJQs8xLuX4 |website=YouTube |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=24 December 2023 |language=en}}

Andy McCluskey, one of the song's original songwriters, said about England fans adapting it into one of their chants, "The Kittens are really chuffed and are actually considering remaking the single with the England lyrics. Any time something you've created becomes widely accepted is humbling and touching. I wonder who made that first connection by starting to sing it, and suddenly everyone was doing it."{{cite news |last1=Neale |first1=Matthew |title="Football's coming home again": watch Atomic Kitten sing reworked hit for England fans |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/footballs-coming-home-again-watch-atomic-kitten-sing-reworked-hit-for-england-fans-2984508 |work=NME |access-date=12 July 2024 |date=4 July 2021}} During the 2018 World Cup before England's quarterfinal against Sweden, which England won 2–0, Natasha Hamilton shared a video of herself on Twitter singing the alternate lyrics.[https://twitter.com/NatashaOfficial/status/1015318374438629381 Natasha Hamilton (@NatashaOfficial) on Twitter] Twitter

On 3 July 2021 during UEFA Euro 2020, Atomic Kitten then returned to perform the song with reworked lyrics including the existing alternate ones in front of chanting football fans at a watch party at Boxpark Croydon for England's quarterfinal against Ukraine, which England won 4–0.{{cite news |last1=Mannion |first1=Damian |title=Coming Home: England fans' song for Gareth Southgate, including lyrics for Atomic Kitten-inspired chant – and the group have even released it as a nation awaits Euro 2020 final |url=https://talksport.com/football/393670/england-fans-song-southgate-lyrics-atomic-kitten/ |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=TalkSPORT |date=11 July 2021 |language=en-gb}} On 6 July 2021, the day before England's semi-final against Denmark, the group released an official full-length version of the adapted song called "Southgate You're the One (Football's Coming Home Again)" via Columbia Records UK.[https://twitter.com/ColumbiaUK/status/1412450963508629513 Columbia Records UK (@ColumbiaUK) on Twitter] Twitter Jenny Frost rejoined the band following a 13-year break to re-record the single.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9597989/football-fever-england-atomic-kitten-southgate|title=As Football Fever Sweeps England, Atomic Kitten Returns With 'Southgate You're The One'|first=Lars|last=Brandle|magazine=Billboard|date=8 July 2021|access-date=13 July 2021}}

On 26 January 2002, Darius Campbell Danesh covered the song during his time on Pop Idol. That night he had previously sung It's Not Unusual by Tom Jones. Atomic Kitten singer Natasha Hamilton was in the audience; Darius opened by saying, "For my next song, the job's made all the more difficult by singing a song where the original singer's in the audience tonight. Ladies and gentlemen... Natasha from Atomic Kitten. One thing that I didn't do the last time I sang a female song was ask the permission of the female songstress. So, Natasha, do I have permission to sing Whole Again?" - to which she replied, "You certainly do. Take it away." Darius replied, "Thank you."{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/cHa36YkgUhQ?si=JB5mnGpzkdeS9wB6|title=Darius - Whole Again @ Pop Idol, 26.01.2002 - Tash in Audience|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=26 June 2024}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025}}

In 2003, Swedish girl group Play covered “Whole Again” and released it as the second and final single off their second album Replay.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_YYTOAEoSk Play - Whole Again ]

In 2023, Daði Freyr, the Icelandic representative for the cancelled 2020 Eurovision Song Contest and 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, performed a cover of "Whole Again" as a part of an interval act for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final called the Liverpool Songbook.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkj1E07_yWk|title=The Liverpool Songbook {{!}} Eurovision 2023|date=14 May 2023 |publisher=YouTube|access-date=24 May 2023}} This version was released as a single, with the artwork being a parody of Atomic Kitten's single artwork, with Dadi's face instead of the three members.

{{Reflist}}

{{Atomic Kitten}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2000 songs

Category:2001 singles

Category:2003 singles

Category:Atomic Kitten songs

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles

Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles

Category:Innocent Records singles

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Music videos directed by Trey Fanjoy

Category:Number-one singles in Austria

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand

Category:Number-one singles in Scotland

Category:Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark songs

Category:Songs written by Andy McCluskey

Category:Songs written by Bill Padley

Category:Songs written by Jem Godfrey

Category:Songs written by Stuart Kershaw

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Virgin Records singles

Category:2000s ballads