Walk This Way

## **Walk This Way**Single by Sugababes, Girls Aloud

**Walk This Way** is a single recorded by the Sugababes and Girls Aloud for British charity *Comic Relief*. Released in 10 February 2007, it is a cover of the 1986 hit penned by American rock band Aerosmith. The song was produced by "Push The Button" producer Dallas Austin, and garnered the Sugababes their fifth number 1 single.

The music video was a comic re-enactment of the Run-D.M.C. video. "Walk This Way" was promoted through numerous live appearances and has been included on tours by both Girls Aloud and Sugababes. Contemporary music critics criticised the cover version, but supported the single due to its fundraising nature.

## Background

The idea of a Girls Aloud and Sugababes collaboration came from Comic Relief co-founder and trustee Richard Curtis. Several songs were possibilities, including Blur's "Girls & Boys" and Candi Staton's "You Got the Love", which was Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts' idea and favourite choice. "Walk This Way" is notably the first Girls Aloud single to date not to feature production from Brian Higgins and Xenomania, who have also worked with Sugababes. Girls Aloud and Sugababes launched the charity appeal on January 31. Kimberley Walsh of Girls Aloud said, "It's a fantastic song and hopefully will raise tons of money for people living in really difficult situations here and in Africa."

Cheryl and Amelle perform the refrain, Kimberley and Nadine sang the first verse, Keisha and Heidi sang the second verse, and Sarah, Nicola, and Amelle rap in the middle eight.

While the Run-D.M.C. cover is nearly identical to the original version, the Girls Aloud/Sugababes version has a few changes tweaked into the song; the additional line "Walk this way, you wanna talk this way" is added, the vocoder is added, the lyrics are moved around, and the beat is slightly sped up and realized on a drum machine to add a further dance-pop feel to the song.

### Release

The single was released on March 12, 2007 on just one CD single format, which included a remix of the single and its music video. It was also available as a digital download.

### Performance

"Walk This Way" entered the UK Singles Chart at number 1 on March 18, 2007 ― for the week ending date March 24, 2007. The following week, the single dropped to number 2; it was dethroned by another Comic Relief single, "I'm Gonna Roll (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers with Peter Kay and Matt Lucas. In its third week on the chart, "Walk This Way" dropped twelve places out of the top ten, placing itself at number 14.

The song also charted at number 8 on the Billboard European Hot 100 Singles chart.

## Track listing

CD Single
1. Walk This Way - 2:54
2. Walk This Way (Yoad Mix) - 3:01
3. Walk This Way (Video)- 3:04
4. Behind The Scenes Footage (Video) - 3:11

## Personnel

* Engineer – Rick Sheppard
* Engineer [Assistant Recording] – Graham Archer
* Mixed By – Jeremy Wheatley
* Mixed By [Assistant] – Richard Edgeler
* Photography By – Ray Burmiston
* Producer – Dallas Austin
* Written-By – Joe Perry, Steven Tyler

## Music video

The music video premiered on The Box on February 2, 2007, and was shown on Channel 4's Popworld the following day. The video was filmed over three days in January 2007 – Sugababes on the first, Cheryl Cole, Nicola Roberts, and Kimberley Walsh on the second, and Nadine Coyle and Sarah Harding on the third and final day. The video includes cameos from Davina McCall, Lily Cole, Stephen Mangan, Graham Norton, Ruby Wax and Natalie Cassidy.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sugababes Vs Girls Aloud - Walk This Way. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/1292240-Sugababes-Vs-Girls-Aloud-Walk-This-Way

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