"Sound of the Underground"
Single by Girls Aloud
from the album Sound of the Underground
B-side(s)	"Stay Another Day"
Released	December 16, 2002
Format	CD single, Cassette.
Recorded	2002
Genre	Pop Rock
Length	3:41
Label	Polydor
Writer(s)	Miranda Cooper Niara Scarlett Brian Higgins Xenomania
Producer(s)	Brian Higgins Xenomania
Certification	Platinum single - UK (600,000)
Peak chart positions
#1 (UK, Ireland) #7 (Europe) #8 (Greece) #9 (Netherlands) #13 (Belgium) #27 (World) #31 (Australia) #39 (Sweden)
Girls Aloud singles chronology
"Sound of the Underground" (2002) "No Good Advice" (2003)
The Sound of Girls Aloud track listing
	"Sound of the Underground" (1)	"Love Machine" (2)
Alternate cover
UK CD 2 cover
Audio sample
Info "Sound of the Underground" (help· info)

"Sound of the Underground" is the first single to be released by Popstars winners Girls Aloud. It was released on Christmas week in the UK, and spent four weeks at #1 - going platinum. In the United Kingdom, the single sold 213,140 copies in its first week of release and has sold 560,094 copies to date, with the British Phonographic Industry certifying the single as a platinum single. It was also the title track of their debut album, Sound of the Underground. It was written and produced by Xenomania. Image File history File links Soundoftheunderground1. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Girls Aloud are a Smash Hits Poll Winners, TMF Award winning and BRIT Award nominated British girl group who found fame after winning the ITV1 talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 on which they were created. ... Sound of the Underground is the title of British pop group Girls Alouds debut the album and lead single from it, which was also the UKs 51st Christmas number one. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the music genre. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Polydor Records is a record label once headquartered in Germany. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Miranda Cooper is a member of the UK-based Xenomania writing and production team founded by Brian Higgins. ... Niara Scarlett is a British born singer-songwriter, perhaps most famous for her work with British production house Xenomania. ... Brian Higgins is a British music producer who has written and produced albums and tracks for several pop music singers and groups (most notably Girls Aloud) through his Xenomania production group. ... Xenomania members Niara Scarlett and Giselle Sommerville on the sleeve to their 2004 Mania single Looking For A Place. Xenomania are one of the UKs leading pop production houses, put together by writer and producer Brian Higgins. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... “Golden record” redirects here. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... // A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The United World Chart is a worldwide chart issued every week by Media Traffic, using both sales (digital and physical) and airplay to determine the most popular albums and singles in the world. The United World Chart uses the same system as the Billboard Hot 100, in which the tracking... Girls Aloud are a Smash Hits Poll Winners, TMF Award winning and BRIT Award nominated British girl group who found fame after winning the ITV1 talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 on which they were created. ... No Good Advice was the follow-up single to Girls Alouds #1 single Sound of the Underground. While it was not as big a hit as its predecessor, it still managed to reach #2 in the UK singles charts and became a big seller despite 5 months being left... Alternative covers Limited Edition Bonus CD cover. ... What Will The Neighbours Say? track listing The Show (1) Love Machine (2) Ill Stand by You (3) The Sound of Girls Aloud track listing Sound of the Underground (1) Love Machine (2) Biology (3) Alternate cover UK Maxi CD cover Audio sample Info Love Machine (help· info) Love... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links SoundOfTheUndergroundSample. ... Image File history File links SoundOfTheUndergroundSample. ... Countries which had a version of Popstars Popstars is an international reality television program and a precursor to the Idol series. ... Girls Aloud are a Smash Hits Poll Winners, TMF Award winning and BRIT Award nominated British girl group who found fame after winning the ITV1 talent show Popstars: The Rivals in 2002 on which they were created. ... The British Phonographic Industry was founded in 1973 to represent the interests of British music companies and to fight the growing problem of music piracy. ... Sound of the Underground is the title of British pop group Girls Alouds debut the album and lead single from it, which was also the UKs 51st Christmas number one. ... Xenomania members Niara Scarlett and Giselle Sommerville on the sleeve to their 2004 Mania single Looking For A Place. Xenomania are one of the UKs leading pop production houses, put together by writer and producer Brian Higgins. ...

Song information

Pete Waterman who managed One True Voice, the boy band runners-up from Popstars: The Rivals, caused a media frenzy accusing the girls of not being original with this song (after they claimed it was better to release a new song than a cover as the A-side) and not singing on the record. Pete on the cover of his autobiography I Wish I Was Me Peter Alan Waterman, OBE (born in Coventry on January 15, 1947) is an English record producer, songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. ... One True Voice were a British boyband created by the ITV television series Popstars: The Rivals, which also produced girl group Girls Aloud. ...

It emerged that the song was originally recorded by London girl group, Orchid, who disbanded before gaining a firm record deal. Many articles falsly claim that this track was then "stolen" by Girls Aloud. In actual fact, the track was owned by Xenomania (Girls Aloud's chosen producers) and the original version was used as a "session singers" version. When played to the girls and their team, it was decided they would record it and be the first to release the single - making it theirs and not a cover as some articles suggest. This is not unknown in the music industry with writers employing session singers to sing their song so they could offer it to artists to sing.

Due to the press attention, the members of Orchid are credited on the single release and remain backing singers on the single. Sarah Harding explained that this just pads out the track and is not uncommon in the industry. They also sang the track live throughout promotion to prove it was them singing and rubbish Pete Waterman's attempt to sabotage the release. For the Jurassic Park character, Dr. Sarah Harding, see List of characters in Jurassic Park Sarah Nicole Harding (born 17 November 1981, in Ascot) is an English singer in the girl group Girls Aloud, and model. ... Pete on the cover of his autobiography I Wish I Was Me Peter Alan Waterman, OBE (born in Coventry on January 15, 1947) is an English record producer, songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. ...

This has become one of the group's signature songs, along with "Biology", "Love Machine" and "Something Kinda Ooooh". It is also a favourite amongst those inside and outside the fan community. The Sound of Girls Aloud track listing Love Machine (2) Biology (3) No Good Advice (4) Alternate cover UK Maxi CD cover Audio sample Biology is a song recorded by the British pop girlgroup Girls Aloud. ... What Will The Neighbours Say? track listing The Show (1) Love Machine (2) Ill Stand by You (3) The Sound of Girls Aloud track listing Sound of the Underground (1) Love Machine (2) Biology (3) Alternate cover UK Maxi CD cover Audio sample Info Love Machine (help· info) Love... The Sound of Girls Aloud track listing Life Got Cold (10) Something Kinda Ooooh (11) Whole Lotta History (12) Alternate cover UK Maxi CD cover Audio sample Info Something Kinda Ooooh (help· info) Something Kinda Ooooh was the thirteenth single to be released by British girl band Girls Aloud. ...

A cover of East 17's previous Christmas number one single, "Stay Another Day" was featured as the b-side - vocals recorded by one of the other contestants from the series, Chloe (later to become a member of Clea) can be heard when listened to very closely. For the postcode, see E postal area East 17 (later regrouped as E-17) are a British pop boy band founded in 1992. ... Each year, record companies compete for the Christmas number one single spot on the British charts. ... Stay Another Day is a single by British boy band East 17. ... Clea is a fictional character, a sorceress in the Marvel Comics Universe. ...

Music video

Girls Aloud in their music video for "Sound of the Underground". From left to right: Nicola Roberts, Kimberley Walsh, Nadine Coyle, Cheryl Cole & Sarah Harding.

The video for "Sound of the Underground" was shot just days after Girls Aloud's formation on the last week of competition of Popstars: The Rivals. Image File history File links GirlsAloud_SOTU.jpg‎ A screenshot of British pop group Girls Aloud in their music video for Sound of the Underground (2002). ... Image File history File links GirlsAloud_SOTU.jpg‎ A screenshot of British pop group Girls Aloud in their music video for Sound of the Underground (2002). ... Nicola Maria Roberts (born 5 October 1985, Runcorn, Cheshire), is an English pop singer, and one fifth of British girl group, Girls Aloud. ... Kimberley Jane Walsh (born November 20, 1981) is an English singer and member of pop group Girls Aloud. ... Nadine Elizabeth Louise Coyle (born June 15, 1985, Derry, Northern Ireland) is a singer from the all-girl group Girls Aloud. ... Cheryl Ann Cole, (née Tweedy) (born 30 June 1983) is an English singer and member of the girl group Girls Aloud. ... For the Jurassic Park character, Dr. Sarah Harding, see List of characters in Jurassic Park Sarah Nicole Harding (born 17 November 1981, in Ascot) is an English singer in the girl group Girls Aloud, and model. ... Countries which had a version of Popstars Popstars is an international reality television program and a precursor to the Idol series. ...

It features the band members in various scenes "underground".

In the group scene, they are singing backed by a band in a large metal enclosure.

As the song progresses, each band member also incorporates a tall microphone stand into the choreography, echoed in many live performances in the song.

In the solo scenes, each member is shown sitting or standing in the "underground" setting while various other shots, such as a lightbulb spontaneously cracking open, are shown. The incandescent light bulb uses a glowing wire filament heated to white-hot by electrical resistance, to generate light (a process known as thermal radiation). ...

Track listings and formats

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Sound Of The Underground".

Stay Another Day is a single by British boy band East 17. ... Stay Another Day is a single by British boy band East 17. ... Stay Another Day is a single by British boy band East 17. ...

Charts

“British Hit Singles” redirects here. ... The Irish Singles Chart is the Irish music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. ... The Dutch Top 40 (Dutch: Nederlandse Top 40) is a weekly music chart, which started as the Veronica Top 40, because the pirate radio channel Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. ... This is a summary of 2002 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year. ... See also: 2002 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2002 Record labels established in 2002 // 2002 was marked by significant trends in rock music. ... This is a summary of 2003 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year. ... See also: 2003 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2003 Record labels established in 2003 // January - following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It... This article is about the country. ... The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. ... The Mexican Top 100 is a weekly-compiled musical chart that shows the top 100 songs in airplay and sales in Mexico. ...

Trivia

• An alternate version of "Sound of the Underground" with extended instrumental, appears on "The Sound of Girls Aloud" (Special Edition).
• Only girls aloud single ever to be released that has gone platunum.

Alternative covers Limited Edition Bonus CD cover. ...

Cover versions

• The 4 Of Us on Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 1

The 4 Of Us are a rock band from Ireland. ... Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. ...

External links

• Cover of "Sounds of the Underground" at CBBC News Report 2002
• Music video for "Sound of the Underground" at YouTube
• Chart Positions avaliable from this site