| "Something New" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byGirls Aloud | ||||
| from the albumTen | ||||
| Released | 16 November 2012 | |||
| Recorded | May 2012 | |||
| Genre | Dance,dance-pop | |||
| Length | 3:19 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Songwriters |
| |||
| Producer | Brian Higgins | |||
| Girls Aloud singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Something New" onYouTube | ||||
"Something New" is a song recorded by Britishgirl groupGirls Aloud from their second compilation album,Ten (2012). It was released byPolydor Records on 16 November 2012, as the first single from the album and the official single forChildren in Need 2012.[1] In February 2009, the group signed a new record deal withFascination Records that would see the group release another three studio albums; however, they announced that they were taking ahiatus to pursue solo projects. In April 2012, bandmateCheryl revealed the girls had been in talks to regroup for the group's tenth anniversary later that year. In October 2012, a countdown was activated on Girls Aloud's official website, which would last until 19 October 2012, when "Something New" would be premiered on radio. However the date was brought forward to 16 October 2012 following an early online leak of the track. The release marked the group's first song to be instead ofFascination Records.
"Something New" is adance song written byXenomania along with group memberNicola Roberts andWayne Hector, and produced by Girls Aloud's long-time collaboratorBrian Higgins.Music critics were mostly positive towards the production, and compared it to songs byDavid Guetta,Nicki Minaj andLady Gaga. They also noted that the track's structure follow the group's signature style. "Something New" debuted and peaked at number two on theUK Singles Chart, becoming Girls Aloud's 16th top five hit in the country. The song also peaked inside the top five in Ireland and Scotland. The accompanyingmusic video was directed byRay Kay, and features a mixture of black-and-white and coloured shots of the entire group, while also showcasing each member in a separate set-up. Girls Aloud performed "Something New" in few programmes, such asStrictly Come Dancing andTop of the Pops, and in 2013'sTen: The Hits Tour.
This is the second Children in Need song that the band have released, the first being "I'll Stand by You" in 2004.
In February 2009, Girls Aloud signed a new record deal withFascination Records that would see the group release another three studio albums.[2] However, in July 2009, the group announced that they were taking a year-longhiatus to pursue solo projects but would reunite for a new studio album in 2010; this did not happen, however.[3] Two months later, the hiatus was briefly interrupted when they did two shows supportingColdplay along withJay-Z atWembley Stadium.[4] In April 2012, during an interview withChris Moyles onRadio 1,Cheryl Cole revealed the girls had been in talks to regroup for the group's tenth anniversary later that year.[5] In August 2012,Nicola Roberts was also featured on the same radio show, and said, "It's our tenth birthday in November so we will definitely celebrating. I wanna tell you everything but I really can't!"[6]
The comeback was confirmed when Girls Aloud's official website posted on 9 October a countdown that would last until 19 October, when the girls would make a special announcement.[6] It was speculated that they would make an appearance onBBC'sStrictly Come Dancing, where bandmateKimberley Walsh joined as a contestant.[6] However, on 15 October, the surprise, a single titled "Something New", leaked online in full.[7] The official radio premiere of the song was then brought forward to the following day, with Girls Aloud posting on their website, "It's here! The finished version of Something New will be played on radio from midday and will also be on YouTube to listen in full."[8] "Something New" was released on 16 November 2012 byPolydor Records throughdigital download, serving as the officialChildren in Need 2012 single. When asked about how she felt with the group being back together and the reception from the public, Walsh said, "I'm kind of flattered people actually care if we come back or not. I think we are all quite proud that we made enough of an impact to be able to a comeback."[8]
"Something New" was recorded in May 2012 and produced by Girls Aloud's long-time collaboratorBrian Higgins.[10] The uptempodance song and was written inA major with atime signature incommon time and atempo of 115beats per minute.[9][11] "Something New" opens with Cole andNadine Coyle chanting "Go, girls, g-g-go, go, go / We girls gonna take control / You boys better know, know, know / We girls gonna run this show" over a piano melody. As the chorus begins, the five girls join together and sing, "All I want is something new / Something I can hold on to / I don’t wanna talk / I just wanna dance / Baby let it drop / Catch me if you can."[12] It ends with the group shouting, "Boy you better watch your back / Cause we're the leaders of the pack."[13] A reviewer forHeat notice similarities toDavid Guetta productions and compared it to songs byNicki Minaj andLady Gaga.[14] Michael Cragg ofThe Guardian compared the verse's structure to the one of "Sexy! No No No..." (2007), and thought that "Something New" echoed the group's previous single, "Something Kinda Ooooh" (2006), not only because of the title, "but it also has the same slightly demented feel to it, all distorted backing vocals, strange rap sections and a brilliantly effortless chorus that soars out of an amazing bridge bit."[15] Most critics also had a similar perception to Cragg regarding the song's "odd" structure, which is noted as "typical" and the group's "signature style".[15][16][17]
According to aMetro publication, "Something New" had a generally positive reaction from fans.[12] Susana Novo Vásquez ofThe Huffington Post stated that "the indisputable team of Xenomania/Girls Aloud have been the ones to set the trends over the years for others to follow," adding that the song "continues down that path."[17] Vásquez continued saying that the group returned into a moment where the "pop scene ... isn't the same as when they left," but thought that they were "doing it in a very intelligent way: by adopting some of theCalvin Harris electronic massive sound that is current right now, yet creating an intricate song structure."[17] Robert Copsey ofDigital Spy said that "like most Girls Aloud singles, a few listens are required to get our heads around it."[13] Copsey criticized the distorted vocals and the fact that "there probably won't be a full album of new tracks to accompany it," but admitted that "it sounds modern enough for today's charts without compromising their signature sound" and praised its "massive chorus."[13] Douglas Wolk ofPitchfork Media thought that the track "is a game approximation of the Girls Aloud of seven years ago,"[18] whileBBC Music reviewer Ian Wade concluded that, "as its title suggests, Something New is just that, a fanfare-like call to arms announcing the group’s return."[19]
Phill Udel ofState said that, with the song, Girls Aloud "have managed to maintain the quality" they had prior to the release ofTen, and commented that "the other three new songs are nowhere near up to the same standard."[20]Idolator blogger Sam Lansky commented that, for the fans, "Something New" is "a welcome relief to have an injection of fresh energy into the stagnant girl group scene," and concluded that, "given that this may be the group's final single before disbanding for good, they're certainly going out on a high note, with a track that feels quintessentially Aloud but retooled for 2012."[16] Rebecca Twomey ofMarie Claire said that the group is "on key with the current trend for dance music with their new song," while noting that they have "clearly taken inspiration from Cheryl'sCall My Name."[21] Katy Brand ofThe Daily Telegraph was critical towards the song. Brand said that the lyrics "are the usual post-Spice fare," but commented that "the images weren't quite matching the words. I was hearing the battle cry of enraged queens who will be oppressed no longer; I was watching five young women wearing identical orange mini-dresses, strutting up and down in perfect synchronicity, like catwalk models."[22]
In 2013 it was nominated for thePopjustice £20 Music Prize.[23]
"Something New" debuted and peaked at number two on theUK Singles Chart with sales of 70,000 units,[24] becoming Girls Aloud's 16th top five hit in the country, but being held off the top spot byOlly Murs's "Troublemaker" (2012), which sold a total of 121,000 units.[25] The following week, the song fell out of the top ten, reaching number 14.[26] It also debuted at number four in Ireland, falling to number 17 the following week.[27] In Scotland, the song became the group's third consecutive single to peak at number two, falling to 13 the following week.[28]
Amidst rumors that Girls Aloud were preparing the release of a new single,Daily Mirror reported that the group reunited for the video shoot on 2 October 2012.[10] A music video teaser for "Something New" was officially revealed on October 15, 2012. ahead of the official music video release on 19 October, the video was officially released throughVEVO.[29] Directed byRay Kay, the video features a mixture of black-and-white and colored shots, and also showcases each member in a separate set-up – based around a triangle-enthused backdrop, while being accentuated by a projection of light.[30] These shots are primarily beauty shots, with the group singing, while dancing alone. The bridge features Harding sitting in front of a white background, wearing a nude bodysuit while abstract images are projected onto her. The video intercalates with stylized lyrics of the song, and builds throughout, until the last section, where the group abandon their various stages of walking and begin to dance together. Carl Williott of Idolator said the video "matches [the song's] swagger with the UK quintet mugging for the camera, strutting around in those orange dresses and declaring 'We’re the leaders of the pack'."[31] James Robertson ofDaily Mirror deemed the video "perfect", praising the "sexy faces and high-tempo choreography."[32]
Girls Aloud first performed "Something New" on 16 November 2012 atChildren in Need 2012.[33] The group also performed the song at the Wembley special ofStrictly Come Dancing, aired on 18 November 2012.[34] Girls Aloud also joinedCapital FM's 2012 Jingle Bell Ball, and they included "Something New" on the setlist.[35] On 31 December 2012, they also performed it at the New Year's Eve special ofTop of the Pops. In 2013, "Something New" was the last song performed during the before the encore of theTen: The Hits Tour.[36] DuringThe Girls Aloud Show in 2024, it was performed as the third number.
These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Something New".
| Digital EP[40]
|
Keisha Buchanan from rival girl group,Sugababes, revealed on herYouTube channel[41] that she had helped writeSomething New, including the main melody of the song. However, Sugababes decided the song “wasn’t the direction (they) were going for” and thatSomething New eventually was picked up by Girls Aloud.[42] Buchanan does not appear on the credits forSomething New.
Credits adapted from the liner notes ofTen.[43]
Personnel
|
|
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[54] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
