"Ugly" | ||||
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Single by Sugababes | ||||
from the album Taller in More Ways | ||||
B-side | "Come Together" "Future Shokk!" |
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Released | 5 December 2005 | |||
Format | CD single, digital download | |||
Recorded | DARP Studios Atlanta & Home Recordings, London |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 3:50 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Writer(s) | Dallas Austin | |||
Producer(s) | Dallas Austin | |||
Sugababes singles chronology | ||||
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"Ugly" is a song by British girl group Sugababes from their fourth studio album, Taller in More Ways (2005). Written and produced by Dallas Austin, inspiration for the song was conceptualised in the midst of reading negative comments about members of the band. The song released on 5 December 2005 in the United Kingdom as the second single from the album. "Ugly" is a midtempo pop and R&B ballad that contains lyrics about personality and body-image issues. It received comparisons to "Unpretty" by girl group TLC and "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera. Ugly is the band's final single released under the second line up of Sugababes, after original member Mutya Buena departed the group in December 2005.
"Ugly" garnered positive reviews from music critics, many of whom praised the emotional and empowering concept behind it. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. It achieved international commercial success, where it reached the top five in Denmark and New Zealand, and the top-ten the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway. The song's accompanying music video is set in a warehouse in New York City, and features people of different ages and races showcasing their talents. The Sugababes have performed the song at the V Festival in both 2006 and 2008, and at the Indig02 in London, all of which received positive reviews from critics. "Ugly" has been used in schools within Wales to promote diversity and eliminate prejudice.
"Ugly" was written and produced by Dallas Austin for the Sugababes' fourth studio album, Taller in More Ways. 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.