Groove Armada talk about Popjustice & Sugababes in Oz Newspaper

[Adem]

From todays Hit Lift-out in the Herald Sun Newspaper, an interview with Tom Findlay from Groove Armada.  Popjustice gets a couple of mentions and there''s a big chunk on Mutya/Sugababes, though the included selection might be of interest to some of you:

HS: The standout moment on Soundboy Rock is Song 4 Mutya, featuring Mutya Buena, formerly of the Sugababes.
TOM: Popjustice, this website in the UK, called it the first great pop record of ''07.  We''ve never been in that world.  We''ve never really been cool in the way Basement Jaxx were cool.  I think this record has moved us into that area while still being a good record.  It does that thing great pop records do.  My wife''s sister, who has the cheesiest taste, loves it, and Popjustice get that it ''s a good record.

HS: How did Mutya end up on the song?
TOM: We needed an iconic voice.  It''s the voice of a generation, that generation of female pop acts.  The same way that Robbie Williams left Take That at the right time, she left the Sugababes at the right time.  The Sugababes are a bit random for me now.  It doesn''t work any more.  She''s one of those pop voices, when you mention her, people don''t go "What are you working with her for?", they go "She''s cool." Mainly ''cos she''s so scary.

HS: Did you get the real reason she left Sugababes out of her?
TOM: No, we didn''t get on on that level, really.  She''s 21.  She''s on her mobile all the time talking to her friends about hair dye.  Occasionally I''d get her in to do some singing.  She was always late, very often cancelled, but lovely.  We had lunch with her twice and both times she had battered sausages & chips, which I really respect.  Very easy to work with, apart from the cancellations after big nights out.  She may have a baby but she''s 21 and she''s still enjoying herself.  I like that about her.  She''s not a mouse who gets pushed out.

HS: The song says Prince''s HOT THING is playing while she''s driving and she knows every line.  Does she?
TOM: Ah, no, that''s definitely my lyric.  I don''t think she''d know what that''s about.

[treblenheavybass]

The only good Mutya song I''ve heard so far and it''s not even hers.

[hullaballoo]

I agree with you on that one. All this Mutya vs Sugababes bullshit is getting on my nerves, and from that interview, Mutya doesn''t seem the easiest person to work with. Still, the end result is ace and that''s all that matters.

[Kirkland]

It''s a fantastic song isn''t it?  I love her voice when she speaks and when she sings...there is not a voice like hers.  See the potential.  Watch her grow into a potentially great artist.  She is worth a billion of the Leona Lewis types.

[hullaballoo]

Are we hopeful for the album though? Mutya''s I mean. I don''t know whether people are going to invest in it.

[Kirkland]

Are we hopeful for the album though? Mutya''''s I mean. I don''''t know whether people are going to invest in it.

Perhaps it will be too bland for what most Sugababes fans are hoping for but then most of them bought Three and that was shite!

[Mirror Man]

HS: The song says Prince''s HOT THING is playing while she''s driving and she knows every line.  Does she?
TOM: Ah, no, that''s definitely my lyric.  I don''t think she''d know what that''s about.

Do you think she goes into the studio like a robot and sings whatever is put in front of her? Don’t they discuss these things? How odd.

Actually, she sounds like a fucking nightmare what with her tardiness and battered sausages. You’ve got to love her, though.

[Tribal Spaceman]

I will always refer to her as "Muntered Banana" whatever happens.

[N¡ck]

Mutya has a beautiful voice that I could listen to all day. I haven''t really heard any of her new songs besides the new single (which I love). I heard a couple on her MySpace about a year ago that sounded rubbish, but nothing can beat the crapness of the duet with George Michael. But what I''m saying is the songs will have to be terrible to put me off her, because her amazing voice should save the day.

[someboy0716]

HS: The song says Prince''''s HOT THING is playing while she''''s driving and she knows every line.  Does she?
TOM: Ah, no, that''''s definitely my lyric.  I don''''t think she''''d know what that''''s about.

Do you think she goes into the studio like a robot and sings whatever is put in front of her? Don’t they discuss these things? How odd.

Actually, she sounds like a fucking nightmare what with her tardiness and battered sausages. You’ve got to love her, though.

Funny, she sounded like any other 21 year old to me.

[ciam45]

Are we hopeful for the album though? Mutya''''''''s I mean. I don''''''''t know whether people are going to invest in it.

Perhaps it will be too bland for what most Sugababes fans are hoping for but then most of them bought Three and that was shite!

its funny how everyone slates three and says its shit yet its the only album whose singles all ended up on overloaded.

[swinginglondontown]

I respect the Buena for her predeliction for battered sausage.

Good on ''er.

[KamikazeCamel]

I''ve gone back to my old habit of listening to this song about 10 times in a row. Going to a different song and then playing "Song 4 Mutya" ten times in a row again. I tellsya. It''s genius.

[hullaballoo]

I didn''t realise Song 4 Mutya could be legally downloaded now.

[princenelly]

I will always refer to her as "Muntered Banana" whatever happens.

I will always refer to her as Mutt.

[KamikazeCamel]

I didn''''t realise Song 4 Mutya could be legally downloaded now.

Well, the album is out so I would assume it could be downloaded.

ADEM! Do you live in Victoria? I''m from Geelong! I read the same article as you so I figured you''re probably from the same state at least.

[AshLover1977]

From the Feral Scum it would have to be a Victorian.

Good to know Popjustice is reaching Sleepy Hollow. I wished I''d had it as a teenager in that hell hole.

[Adem]

KamikazeCamel... not only am I from Victoria but I too am from Geelong.  Never did I expect a Geelongian on the PJ forums!!!!

[MSernity]

its funny how everyone slates three and says its shit yet its the only album whose singles all ended up on overloaded.

I think that Three - as an album - is their best effort. But much like Kylie''s "Body Language" it lacks some killer hits. "Hole In The Head" is nothing against their other lead singles (except the shitty "Easy"). Plus it is a bit ballad-heavy
There are some fantastic songs, and lyrics, on there though. "Hole In The Head", "Whatever Makes You Happy", "Caught In A Moment", "Situation''s Heavy", "Million Different Ways", "Too Lost In You", "Sometimes" and "Maya" are all VERY great songs, or are they not?

[crash9080]

Did anyone just see Mutya and Groove Armada on The Culture Show performing Song 4 Mutya? I watched the whole bleeding 1/2 hour to be treated to a "stripped back" performance at the end. It was pretty uninspiring without all the wonderful 80s blips. Despite Mutya''''s best efforts, it all sounded a bit half hearted.

Still, better than B Boy. Can''''t say I like that too much if that sampler is anything to go by. Like PJ pointed out, it does sound rather like an Xmas novelty record...

[Osiris]

Mutya has no stage presence, never had, never will.

[KamikazeCamel]

KamikazeCamel... not only am I from Victoria but I too am from Geelong.  Never did I expect a Geelongian on the PJ forums!!!!

Crazy!

(I write for Forte if you ever read that)

[Scott]

Everytime I''ve seen Mutya live, she owns the stage.

[Kirkland]

Mutya has no stage presence, never had, never will.

The Sugababes generally have no stage presence.  Keisha and Heidi are just as bad if not worse, though in the original days that was cute as Siobhan, Keisha and Mutya looked totally bored when they sang.

[Osiris]

Actually Keisha has the most stage presence in the band. She''s always been the one to do the effort to talk to the audience!

[redekmanguz]

The only good Mutya song I''''ve heard so far and it''''s not even hers.

EMI Music Publishing seems to have a different take, or is it just a spin for Mutya? It says, "More dad-friendly, but just as sly, is Out Of Control, Mutya’s ‘80s dance pop- influenced collaboration with Groove Armada, featuring one of those ‘ain’t it the truth?’ lyrics courtesy of Karen Poole and Mutya herself."

http://www.emimusicpub.com/worldwide/artist_profile/mutya-buena_profile.html

[xenomania]

I guess someone forgot to clue in Messrs Groove Armada what the "official" word was on who wrote what.