Hole In The Head

## **Hole In The Head**Single by Sugababes

"**Hole In The Head**" is the first single and track of the Sugababes' third studio album, *Three*. It was written by Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper, Tim Powell, Nick Coler, Niara Scarlett, Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, and Heidi Range, and co-produced by Higgins and Jeremy Wheatley. The song was met with acclaim from critics and was a commercial success, entering at the top of the UK Singles chart. It became their only single to chart in the United States, peaking at number ninety-six on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

## Background

The uptempo pop and R&B song's backing track was built during Xenomania's work with Girls Aloud. In a 2004 Popjustice interview with Brian Higgins, member of the production team Xenomania, he agreed that "Hole In The Head" was almost a Girls Aloud song but corrected that the song was done with Sugababes in mind. Higgins also remarked that the lyric referencing "Ricki Lake" was referring to the girls watching American tv shows while not singing in the studio. "Hole In The Head" was described as reminiscent of Sugababes' previous hit "Round Round" which was also produced by Xenomania.

### Reception and performance

"Hole In The Head" received critical acclaim from music critics, with many praising the vocal harmonies of the band and the strength of Xenomania's production.

"Hole In The Head" gained popular radio and television airplay after its release in the UK and was in close competition with "Turn Me On" by Kevin Lyttle for the number one position on the UK Singles Chart. The song eventually debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart with sales of 58,452 copies, ending the Black Eyed Peas' six-week run at the top with their single "Where Is the Love?". "Hole In The Head" spent thirteen weeks on the chart, and sold 185,000 copies in the UK by April 2010, ranking as their sixth highest-selling single in the country. It was placed 76th on the UK's list of most popular radio songs of the 2000s. The single charted high across Europe, reaching the Top 20 in Austria, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands and Sweden.

The single debuted and peaked at number 25 on the Australian Singles Chart, where it charted for 12 weeks. It was more successful on the New Zealand Singles Chart, where it peaked at number 11 for two non-consecutive weeks and charted for a total of 15 weeks.

Upon its release in the United States, "Hole In The Head" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, number 24 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart, and number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song debuted at number 98 on the Billboard Hot 100 issue dated week ending 12 June 2004 and rose to number 96 the following week, before dropping off the chart.

## Track listing

UK Enhanced Single - CD 1
1. Hole In The Head - 3:38
2. Who - 3:46
3. Hole In The Head (Full Intention Vocal Mix) - 7:16
4. Hole In The Head (Video)

UK Single - CD 2
1. Hole In The Head (Clean Radio Edit) - 3:38
2. This Ain't A Party Thing - 4:00
3. Hole In The Head (Gravitas Mix) - 8:27

US Promo Vinyl 2003
1. Hole In The Head (Full Intention Vocal Mix) - 7:13
2. Hole In The Head (Full Intention Club Mix) - 6:34
3. Hole In The Head (Gravitas Mix) - 8:25
4. Hole In The Head (Album Version) - 3:39

US Promo Vinyl 2004
1. Hole In The Head (Armand Van Helden Remix) - 7:32
2. Hole In The Head (Dummies Club Mix) - 7:06
3. Hole In The Head (David Garcia & High Spies Vocal Mix) - 6:23

US CD Single
1. Hole In The Head (Radio Edit) - 3:38
2. Hole In The Head (Armand Van Helden Remix) - 7:32

## Personnel

* Guitar – Nick Coler, Shawn Lee
* Keyboards – Brian Higgins, Tim Powell
* Mixed By – Jeremy Wheatley
* Producer – Brian Higgins, Jeremy Wheatley, Xenomania
* Producer [Additional] – Yoad Nevo
* Programmed By – Nick Coler, Tim Powell
* Written-By – Brian Higgins, Heidi Range, Keisha Buchanan, Miranda Cooper, Mutya Buena, Niara Scarlett, Nick Coler, Tim Powell

## Music video

The music video for "Hole In The Head" was directed by Matthew Rolston and filmed on various locations in London in September 2003. There are 2 other versions of the music video. One is an uncensored version of the video available on the CD single with extra footage. Aside from it being the original explicit version of the song, there is also a scene where Buchanan gives the middle finger to the camera. Second being the US version of the music video with extra scenes of the girls in front of a black background replacing the more 'violent' scenes.

### Video plot

The video shows the girls wearing heavy make up while dressed in gothic-like clothing and accessories and dancing around. They are also shown dating a rock band called *Erased* with whom they go to a gig. The girls discover the band getting intimate with other girls during the show. In the end, while the trio is performing in front of the crowd, the girls come out first grabbing the guys and throwing them off the stage and start damaging the instruments.

## Mixes and Remixes

"Hole In The Head" gathered official mixes and remixes of a clean edit, four different mixes, and a remix upon following various release dates worldwide. Mixes include Full Intention Vocal Mix, Full Intention Club Mix, Gravitas Mix, Dummies Club Mix, David Garcia & High Spies Vocal Mix. The official remix featured is the Armand Van Helden Remix. "Hole In The Head" has also garnered an unofficial Rockamerica remix.

## References

1. ↑ Brian Higgins interview (Popjustice, 2004). Xenomania News. https://xenomanianews.blogspot.com/2010/09/brian-higgins-interview-popjustice-2004.html
2. ↑ CD 1. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/221224-Sugababes-Hole-In-The-Head
3. ↑  CD 2. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/597169-Sugababes-Hole-In-The-Head
4. ↑ US Promo Vinyl 2003. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/385165-Sugababes-Hole-In-The-Head
5. ↑ US Promo Vinyl 2004. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/374149-Sugababes-Hole-In-The-Head
6. ↑ US Promo CD. Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/299127-Sugababes-Hole-In-The-Head
7. ↑ Three (Special Edition). Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/5581754-Sugababes-Three

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