Whole Again
"Whole Again" | ||||
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Single by Atomic Kitten | ||||
from the album Right Now | ||||
Released | 29 January 2001 | |||
Studio |
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Length | 3:03 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Engine | |||
Atomic Kitten singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
Whole Again
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"Whole Again" is a song recorded by British girl group Atomic Kitten for their debut studio album, Right Now (2000). It was co-written by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members and Atomic Kitten founders Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, along with Jem Godfrey and Bill Padley, with production helmed by McCluskey and Kershaw under their production moniker Engine. Godfrey and Padley are credited as additional producers.
It is the group's biggest selling single to date and was the final single to feature founding member Kerry Katona, who left the group midway through promoting the single. "Whole Again" was the first single released from the album in Europe and South Africa. It was a massive success, reaching number one in several countries and selling over a million copies in the UK alone.[1]
The four writers were nominated for the Ivor Novello Award for excellence in songwriting,[2] and Billboard ranked the track number 96 on their list of the "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[3] Multiple artists, including OMD, have covered the song. Following the departure of Katona, she was replaced a few days later by Jenny Frost of fellow English girl group Precious, just after the single topped the UK Singles Chart. As a result, the music video was reshot and Frost's vocals appeared on the reissue of Right Now.
Background[]
"Whole Again" was written and produced by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members and Atomic Kitten founders Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw.[4] A mid-tempo ballad that combines a strolling beat and one-note string crescendos,[5] it initially featured all lines spoken by Kerry Katona with only the chorus sung by Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton.[5] 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.[6] 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 were not able to change its key.[6] Godfrey 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."[6]
Recording of the new verses took place at Godfrey and Padley's West Hampstead music studio.[6] 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.[6] 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 bit in the middle.[6] While the duo kept much of the "underwater organ sound" from the original session, they were forced to replay other elements and added a couple of additional loops from the sample albums Vinylistics 3 and Advanced Orchestra to the track.[6] 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.[6] 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.[6]
Release[]
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.[6] Following the commercial underperformance of both "Follow Me" and the initial release of the album,[7] Atomic Kitten persuaded their label to release "Whole Again" as a last-ditch attempt to keep their record deal.[6] 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 Jenny Frost's spoken word portion replaced the original version for radio airplay, and it was subsequently issued as a bonus track on international versions of the group's second album, Feels So Good.[8]
Chart performance[]
The single debuted at number one in the United Kingdom with first-week sales of 69,286 copies,[9] staying atop the chart for four weeks and increasing in sales during every week that it was at number one.[10][11] It has since gone on to sell over 1,000,000 copies in the UK alone.[12] 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.[10] It also became the 13th overall best-selling single of the 2000s decade.[13] As of November 2016, it remains the biggest-selling song of the 21st century in the UK by a girl band.[14]
In Australia, "Whole Again" peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart, being certified double platinum for shipments of over 140,000 copies.[15][16] The single was also released in Germany and New Zealand, where it secured the number-one position for six consecutive weeks in both countries.[17][18] 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.[19][20] It additionally peaked atop the charts of Austria, Ireland, and the Netherlands, as well as the Eurochart Hot 100.[21][22][23][24] In Denmark, Flanders, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, it entered the top 20.[25][26][27][28][29][30]
Music video[]
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".[10] The original version of the video includes Kerry Katona, who had left the group just before the song's release. Much of the video was subsequently reshot to feature new member Jenny Frost.[31]
As a result of the single's huge success in many international markets, a second music video was filmed for the U.S. release in May 2001 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 for Atomic Kitten's old logo is invisible in a shape of a kitten.
Track listings[]
UK CD single[32]
UK limited-edition CD single[33]
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European CD and cassette single[34][35]
French CD single[36]
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Credits and personnel[]
Credits are lifted from the liner notes of Right Now.[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
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
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Year-end charts[]
Decade-end charts[]
All-time charts[]
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Certifications and sales[]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[16] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[54] | Gold | 20,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[55] | Gold | 25,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[19] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[56] | Platinum | 60,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[20] | 2× Platinum | 20,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[57] | Gold | 15,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[58] | Gold | 20,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] | 2× Platinum | 1,010,000[14] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history[]
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
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United Kingdom | 29 January 2001 |
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[60][61] | |
Australia | 19 March 2001 | CD | [62] |
Southgate You're the One (Football's Coming Home Again)[]
"Southgate You're the One (Football's Coming Home Again)" | ||||
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Single by Atomic Kitten | ||||
Released | 6 July 2021 | |||
Length | 3:08 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Atomic Kitten singles chronology | ||||
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During England's run to the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the song was adopted as a football chant by England fans 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".[63] The song had previously been adapted by Celtic fans earlier in the 2017–18 season in honour of defender Mikael Lustig.[64]
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."[65] 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.[66]
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.[67][68] 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.[69] Jenny Frost rejoined the band following a 13-year break to re-record the single.[70]
Charts[]
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
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UK Singles (OCC)[71] | 14 |
References[]
- ^ Lane, Daniel (27 June 2013). "Daft Punk's Get Lucky becomes one of the UK's biggest selling singles of all-time!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
- ^ "Gray and Healy battle for Ivors". BBC News. 23 April 2002. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ a b Right Now (UK CD album liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2001. CDSINY6, 7243 8 10748 2 4.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ a b "ATOMIC KITTEN – Whole Again". freakytrigger.co.uk. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Inglis, Sam (2001). "Producing Atomic Kitten's 'Whole Again'". soundonsound.com. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ "Atomic Kitten's perfect year". BBC News. BBC. 30 December 2002. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ Feels So Good (Australasian CD album liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2002. CDSINF10, 724381337721.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ "All the No.1's". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 30 December 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Copsey, Rob (4 February 2021). "Official Charts Flashback 2001: Atomic Kitten – Whole Again". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ "Blimey! Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky' Passes the One Million Sales Mark in Just 69 Days – Celebrity Gossip, News & Photos, Movie Reviews, Competitions". Entertainmentwise. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Radio 1 Chart of the Decade, as presented by Nihal on Tuesday 29 December 2009
- ^ a b Myers, Justin (5 November 2016). "Girlbands vs Boybands – their biggest songs of the century revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ a b "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Atomic Kitten; 'Whole Again')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ a b "New Zealand single certifications – Atomic Kitten – Whole Again". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Whole Again". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 2001" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ a b "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19 no. 24. 9 June 2001. p. 9. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again". Tracklisten.
- ^ a b "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ a b c "Top of the Year 2001" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 9 December 2002. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again" Canciones Top 50.
- ^ a b "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again". Singles Top 100.
- ^ a b "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "SHOWBIZ | McFadden and Katona tie knot". BBC News. 5 January 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
- ^ Whole Again (UK CD single liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2001. SINCD 24, 7243 8 97361 20.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Whole Again (UK limited CD single liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2001. SINDX24, 7243 8 97369 2 2.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Whole Again (European CD single liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2001. SINCDE 24, 7243 8 97478 29.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Whole Again (European cassette single sleeve). Atomic Kitten. Innocent Records, Virgin Records. 2001. SINC 24, 7243 8 97361 44.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ Whole Again (French CD single liner notes). Atomic Kitten. Virgin Records. 2001. 897894.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "2001 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2001" (in German). Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2001" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 19 no. 52. 22 December 2001. p. 14. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2001" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Best selling singles in Ireland (2001)". Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2001". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2001" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 2001". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar, 2001" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2001" (in German). Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Top twenty best selling singles in the UK of 2001" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ "Gratis: 'Hits des neuen Jahrtausend'-Liste" [Free: 'Hits of the New Millennium' List] (in German). RTL. 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
- ^ "Best selling singles of the decade in the Netherlands". Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Atomic Kitten – Whole Again" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2001". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Dutch single certifications – Atomic Kitten – Whole Again" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 3 June 2020. Enter Whole Again in the "Artiest of titel" box.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Atomic Kitten; 'Whole Again')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "British single certifications – Atomic Kitten – Whole Again". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "Atomic Kitten – Whole Again". Can't Stop the Pop. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting January 29, 2001: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 27 January 2001. p. 39. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 19th March 2001" (PDF). ARIA. 19 March 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ Powell, Tom (4 July 2018). "Gareth Southgate England song to tune of Atomic Kitten hit sweeps the nation". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
- ^ https://www.balls.ie/football/watch-celtic-fans-mikael-lustig-song-377944
- ^ Neale, David. "Football's coming home again": watch Atomic Kitten sing reworked hit for England fans". NME
- ^ Natasha Hamilton (@NatashaOfficial) on Twitter Twitter
- ^ Mannion, Damian. "COMING HOME: England fans' song for Gareth Southgate, including lyrics for Atomic Kitten-inspired chant – and the group even performed the song for Ukraine win" TalkSport
- ^ Neal, Matthew (4 July 2021). ""Football's coming home again": watch Atomic Kitten sing reworked hit for England fans". NME. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ Columbia Records UK (@ColumbiaUK) on Twitter Twitter
- ^ Brandle, Lars (8 July 2021). "As Football Fever Sweeps England, Atomic Kitten Returns With 'Southgate You're The One'". Billboard. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
- 2000 songs
- 2000s ballads
- 2001 singles
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- 2021 singles
- Atomic Kitten songs
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- Cultural depictions of association football players
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- Football songs and chants
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