Ugly

Sugababes

About Ugly

"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 rock 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 on 21 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. 


Year:
2005
101 
#1

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When I was 7
They said I was strange
I noticed that my eyes and hair weren't the same
I asked my parents if I was OK
They said you're more beautiful
And that's the way, they show that they wish
That they had your smile
So my confidence was up for a while
I got real comfortable with my own style
I knew that they were only jealous cos

People are all the same
And we only get judged by what we do
Personality reflects name
And if I'm ugly then
So are you
So are you

There was a time when I felt like I cared
That I was shorter than everyone there
People made me feel like life was unfair
And I did things that made me ashamed
Cos I didn't know my body would change
I grew taller than them in more ways
But there will always be the one who will say
Something bad to make them feel great

People are all the same 
And we only get judged by what we do 
Personality reflects name 
And if I'm ugly then
So are you
So are you

People are all the same 
And we only get judged by what we do 
Personality reflects name 
And if I'm ugly then
So are you
So are you

Everybody talks bad about somebody else
And never realises how it affects somebody else
And you bet it won't be forgotten
Envy is the only thing it could be

(Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh)

Cos people are all the same
(The same, the same)
And we only get judged by what we do
(What we do, yeah, yeah)
Personality reflects name
And if I'm ugly then
(Yeah, you)
So are you
So are you

People are all the same
(Oh, oh, oh)
And we only get judged by what we do
(What we do, yeah)
Personality reflects name
And if I'm ugly then
(Yeah, so are you)
So are you
So are you

(Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh) 
so are you
(People are all the same)

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Sugababes

The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London Records. Donaghy soon departed from the group, which was later dropped by London. With the introduction of Range, the Sugababes signed with Island Records and experienced a higher level of commercial success, releasing three multi-platinum albums. The band survived a second line-up change when Buena left and was subsequently replaced by Berrabah. After eleven years in the band, Buchanan was replaced by Ewen. The fourth line-up signed with RCA Records in 2011 after par… more »

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Written by: DALLAS AUSTIN, DALLAS L AUSTIN

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


20 facts about this song

Release and Response
"Ugly" was released by "Sugababes" as the second single from their fourth studio album, "Taller in More Ways" in 2005. The song garnered positive response from music critics, with many praising its sincere and poignant lyrics.
Commercial Success
The song was a commercial success, reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. Internationally, "Ugly" also charted within the top forty in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Norway.
Themes
"Ugly" is recognized for its themes of individualism and embracing personal beauty, qualities which the singers also attempted to emphasize via its associated music video which portrayed variety of people with unique personalities and different backgrounds, embracing their individuality.
Awards
The song earned the "Sugababes" a nomination at the 2006 BRIT Awards for Best British Single.
Songwriting and Production
"Ugly" was written and produced by the legendary Dallas Austin, who has worked with numerous well-known artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Pink. This fact underlines the importance of collaboration in creating popular music.
Lyrics
The lyrics of "Ugly" carry a powerful message about acceptance, self-love and not succumbing to societal standards of beauty. This progressive message stood out, as many pop songs of the time were focused on romance or heartbreak.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered on various occasions by different artists and has been featured in pop culture. For instance, it was performed by contestants on popular reality shows like The X Factor and American Idol.
Music Video
The music video for "Ugly", directed by Jake Nava, is known for its depiction of a variety of characters, each expressing their individual quirks and peculiarities. This was reportedly an attempt to reinforce the song's central theme of rejecting societal norms and definitions of beauty.
Change in Band Lineup
Interestingly, "Ugly" was one of the last songs featuring the band's original line-up. Shortly after its release, original member Mutya Buena left the group and was replaced by Amelle Berrabah.
U.S. Release
Despite being a UK-based group, "Ugly" also had a significant release in the U.S., where it was included in the soundtrack of the popular movie "She's The Man." However, it failed to chart on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Song Identity
"Ugly" is a song by British girl band Sugababes from their fourth studio album, "Taller In More Ways" (2005).
Message
The song contains a message of self-acceptance and the suggestion that everyone is beautiful in their own way, irrespective of their physical appearance.
Lyrics
It was written by Dallas Austin, who composed it with an aim to promote a positive self-image and to challenge societal beauty standards.
Commercial Success
Upon its release in 2005, "Ugly" reached number three on the UK Singles Chart. Also, it entered the top 40 in several other countries, including Australia, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
Critical Reception
The song was well-received by music critics, who noted its powerful messages and the strong vocal performance by the Sugababes.
Music Video
The video for the song features various individuals, each exhibiting unique attributes that society may perceive as 'ugly.' It translates the song's lyrics visually and promotes the idea of individuality and inner beauty.
Cover Versions
Interestingly, the song has been covered by many artists, including American band Secondhand Serenade and Italian singer Maria De Filippi.
Legacy
Even several years after its release, the song is remembered for its uplifting message and is often referred to in discussions about self-love and body positivity in popular music.
Performance
Sugababes performed "Ugly" live on various shows and platforms including BBC's "Top of the Pops," "Saturday Show Live," and "GMTV."
Cultural Impact
The song is often played on the radio or used in promotional campaigns focusing on self-love and body acceptance, proving its lasting cultural impact.

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