"Whole Again" | ||||
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Single by Atomic Kitten | ||||
from the album Right Now | ||||
B-side |
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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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Music video | ||||
"Whole Again" on YouTube | ||||
Audio sample | ||||
Whole Again |
"Whole Again" is a song 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.
"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 they were not able to change its key. [6] Padley 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 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 middle-8 section. [6] While the duo kept much of the "underwater organ sound" from the original session,they were forced to replay and retune other elements and added a few additional percussion and string 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]
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 Frost's spoken word portion replaced the original version for radio airplay,and it was subsequently included on a reissue of Right Now. An alternate take of Frost's vocals was issued as a bonus track on international versions of the group's second album, Feels So Good . [8]
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 group. [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]
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. After Katona's departure and replacement by Jenny Frost,parts of the video were re-shot with the new line-up as well as solo shots of Frost. These were then edited together with scenes of Hamilton and McClarnon from the original video. [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 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 making the crowd take on the shape of Atomic Kitten's logo. [32]
UK CD single [33]
UK limited-edition CD single [34]
| European CD and cassette single [35] [36]
French CD single [37]
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Credits are lifted from the liner notes of Right Now. [4]
Studios
Personnel
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [16] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [58] | Gold | 20,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [59] | Gold | 25,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [60] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [19] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI) [61] | Platinum | 60,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [20] | 2× Platinum | 20,000* |
Sweden (GLF) [62] | Gold | 15,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [63] | Gold | 20,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [64] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref(s). |
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United Kingdom | 29 January 2001 |
| [65] [66] | |
Australia | 19 March 2001 | CD | [67] | |
New Zealand | 2 April 2001 |
| [68] |
"Southgate You're the One" | ||||
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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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Audio video | ||||
"Atomic Kitten - Southgate You're the One (Football's Coming Home Again) (Official Audio)" on YouTube |
During England's run to the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, England fans adapted the song as a football chant 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" in reference to "Three Lions" by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and The Lightning Seeds. [69] The song had previously been adapted by Celtic fans earlier in the 2017–18 season in honour of defender Mikael Lustig [70] and has since also been adapted by England fans in honour of women's manager Sarina Wiegman. [71]
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." [72] 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. [73]
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. [72] [74] 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. [75] Jenny Frost rejoined the band following a 13-year break to re-record the single. [76]
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
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UK Singles (OCC) [77] | 14 |
On 26 January 2002, Darius Campbell Danesh covered the song during his time on Pop Idol. That night he had previously sung It's Not Unusual by Tom Jones. Atomic Kitten singer Natasha Hamilton was in the audience; Darius opened by saying, "For my next song, the job's made all the more difficult by singing a song where the original singer's in the audience tonight. Ladies and gentlemen... Natasha from Atomic Kitten. One thing that I didn't do the last time I sang a female song was ask the permission of the female songstress. So, Natasha, do I have permission to sing Whole Again?" - to which she replied, "You certainly do. Take it away." Darius replied, "Thank you." [78]
In 2003, Swedish girl group Play covered “Whole Again” and released it as the second and final single off their second album Replay. [79]
In 2023, Daði Freyr, the Icelandic representative for the cancelled 2020 Eurovision Song Contest and 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, performed a cover of "Whole Again" as a part of an interval act for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Grand Final called the Liverpool Songbook. [80] This version was released as a single, with the artwork being a parody of Atomic Kitten's single artwork, with Dadi's face instead of the 3 members.
Atomic Kitten are an English girl group formed in Liverpool in 1998, whose current members are Liz McClarnon and Natasha Hamilton. The group was founded by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) members Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, who served as principal songwriters during Atomic Kitten's early years. The group's debut album Right Now was released in October 2000 and charted at number 39 in the United Kingdom. After five top ten singles, original member Kerry Katona quit – four weeks before "Whole Again" reached number one in the UK Singles Chart – and was replaced by former Precious singer Jenny Frost. "Whole Again" became the group's most successful single, staying at number one for four weeks in the UK and six weeks in Germany, and reaching number one in many other territories; in Britain, it was the 13th-best-selling single of the 2000s. The group re-released their debut album, with some tracks re-recorded with Frost's vocals: it peaked at number one in the UK and was certified double platinum after selling over 600,000 copies.
Jennifer "Jenny" Frost is an English singer and television presenter. She is best known as member of girl groups Precious and Atomic Kitten, replacing Kerry Katona in the latter.
"Eternal Flame" is a song by American pop rock group the Bangles for their third studio album, Everything (1988). Released on January 23, 1989, the power ballad was written by group member Susanna Hoffs with the established hit songwriting team of Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. Upon its 1989 single release, "Eternal Flame" became a number-one hit in nine countries, including Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Since its release, it has been covered by many musical artists, including Australian boy band Human Nature, who reached the Australian top 10 with their version, and British girl group Atomic Kitten, who topped four national charts with their rendition.
Elizabeth Margaret McClarnon-Cho is an English singer, songwriter and actress. She is the longest serving member of the girl group Atomic Kitten, with whom she has scored three number-one singles and also two number-one albums. McClarnon co-wrote several Atomic Kitten songs, including the UK top 10 hits "See Ya", "I Want Your Love" and "Someone Like Me".
"The Tide Is High" is a 1967 rocksteady song written by John Holt, originally produced by Duke Reid and performed by the Jamaican group the Paragons, with Holt as lead singer. The song gained international attention in 1980, when a cover version by the American band Blondie became a US and UK number one hit. The song topped the UK Singles Chart again in 2002 with a version by the British girl group Atomic Kitten, while Canadian rapper Kardinal Offishall had a minor hit with his interpretation in 2008.
Feels So Good is the second studio album by girl group Atomic Kitten and the first full original album featuring Jenny Frost. The style of the album is both comparable and different from the first album as it has upbeat dance songs, but consists mainly of pop ballads and midtempos. As with debut album Right Now, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members and Atomic Kitten founders, Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw – who parted ways with the group during recording – made multiple songwriting contributions.
Right Now is the debut studio album by English girl group Atomic Kitten, released on 16 March 2000. The first release of the album originally peaked at number 39, putting the group at risk of being dropped by their record label. Following the departure of Kerry Katona in January 2001, the album was re-released on 6 August 2001 featuring vocals from new member Jenny Frost with additional new tracks featured on the album. The re-release was a success, peaking at number 1. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members and Atomic Kitten founders, Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, were among the album's principal songwriters.
"Ladies' Night" is a song by American band Kool & the Gang, released as the first single from their eleventh album of the same name (1979). It is a play on the popular use of "Ladies Nights" at bars and clubs that were meant to draw in more female patrons in order to draw in even more male clientele.
Jeremy "Jem" Godfrey is a British music producer, keyboardist and songwriter.
"Follow Me" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten. It was written by Lucy Abbot, Sara Eker, Dawn Joseph, Steve Robson, and Peter Kearney for their debut album, Right Now (2000), with production helmed by Trevor Steel, John Holliday, and additional producer Quiet Money. "Follow Me" was released as the album's fourth single in October 2000. A departure from the bubblegum pop of Atomic Kitten's first three singles, it introduced a more mature and mellow, R&B-influenced pop sound but was less successful than their previous top 10 hits, peaking at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart.
"I Want Your Love" is a song by Atomic Kitten, released as the third single from their debut album, Right Now (2000). The song samples the theme to the 1958 film The Big Country, and it was produced, arranged, recorded, and mixed by Damien Mendis at Metropolis Studios in London.
"See Ya" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten, released as the second single from their debut album, Right Now (2000). The song was written by Stuart Kershaw, Andy McCluskey, and Atomic Kitten-member Liz McClarnon. It was produced by Engine and Pete Craigie, with the radio mix receiving production from Cutfather & Joe. The single peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, reached number 50 in Ireland, and was a minor hit in the Flanders region of Belgium.
"Right Now" is the debut single of English girl group Atomic Kitten from their first album of the same name (2000). The song was re-recorded twice: once for the album's 2001 re-issue with new member Jenny Frost and again in 2004 for the group's Greatest Hits album. The 2004 version, titled "Right Now 2004", proved to be a greater international chart success. The song was written by Atomic Kitten founders and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark members Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw.
"You Are" is a song by English pop girl group Atomic Kitten. It was written by Paul Gendler, Wayne Hector, Ali Tennant, and Steve Mac and recorded for the 2001 reissue of the band's debut album, Right Now (2000), while production was helmed by Mac. "You Are" is an uplifting midtempo ballad; the instrumental elements used on it include keyboards, a piano, strummy guitars, soft drums, and a prominent string riff. Lyrically, the song finds the female protagonist expressing her love and affection for a man who doubts whether he is the right one for her.
"It's OK!" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten for their second studio album, Feels So Good (2002). It was written by Norwegian musicians Hallgeir Rustan, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen and Tor Erik Hermansen and one out of several songs they produced for the trio under their production moniker Stargate. "It's OK!" features an instrumentation consisting essentially of acoustic guitars, soft drums, and synthesized strings. Lyrically, it has the protagonist reminiscing about an emotionally unfruitful relationship with a former loved one from which she has since moved on for the better.
"The Last Goodbye" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten. It was written by Daniel Poku, Espen Lind, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Hallgeir Rustan, and Peter Björklund and recorded by the band for their second album Feels So Good (2002), while production of the song was overseen by Rustan, Eriksen and Hermansen under their under their production moniker Stargate. "The Last Goodbye" is built upon a flute motif and an acoustic guitar loop. Lyrically, the break-up song finds the trio thinking deeply over a relationship with their love interests from whom they parted.
"Cradle 2005" is a song recorded by English girl group Atomic Kitten from their compilation The Greatest Hits. It was released as a single on 14 February 2005, in aid of World Vision. It is a re-recorded version of a song that was previously included on their debut album, Right Now (2000). "Cradle" was released a year after the group's announcement of their split in 2004. "Cradle 2005" reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart and number 46 in Ireland.
"Love Doesn't Have to Hurt" is a song by English girl group Atomic Kitten. It was written by Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles along with Billy Steinberg, and Tom Kelly and recorded for the band's second studio album, Feels So Good (2002). Production on "Love Doesn't Have to Hurt" was helmed by Bill Padley and Jem Godfrey, with Martin Harrington and Ash Howes credited as additional producers. Initially recorded by Hoffs, it was later given to Atomic Kitten whose rendition of the Bangles' 1988 song "Eternal Flame" had been a number-one success the year before.
"Someone like Me" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten. Released on 29 March 2004 as the third and final single from their third studio album, Ladies Night (2003), the piano-driven track was issued as a double A-side with "Right Now 2004", a remixed version of their debut single, "Right Now". With the group having announced their split prior to the song's release, it was originally intended to be released as their final single, though they later released a further three one-off singles in 2005 and two charity singles in 2006 and 2008. The group reformed officially in September 2012 without Jenny Frost, who was replaced with original member Kerry Katona.
"Be with You" is a song by British girl group Atomic Kitten. It was written by songwriting trio Bionic, consisting of Greg Wilson, Tracey Carmen and Martin Foster, and recorded for the reissue of the band's second album Feels So Good (2002). Production was helmed by Ash Howes and Martin Harrington, based on Bionic's original track. The disco-fused dance pop song is an adaptation of "Last Train to London" (1979) by English rock band Electric Light Orchestra. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Jeff Lynne is also credited as a songwriter. Its lyrics refer to seducing someone in a nightclub.
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