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Celeb News: Heidi & Amelle Speak
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/23/2008
Posts: 14,330
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Working with Keisha was too hard and we couldn't take the put downs anymore, says Sugababe Amelle Berrabah
HEIDE RANGE and Amelle Berrabah have - for the first time - revealed the unbearable demands of Keisha Buchanan, which led to her being ousted from the Sugababes.
Speaking openly for the first time about their decision to carry on with new member Jade Ewen, the pair claim Buchanan's constant putdowns made them dread being in her company.
The bullying left Amelle so stressed she checked into rehab to try to rebuild her self-esteem.
Though they stop just short of using the B-word, Heidi, 26, and Amelle, 25, paint a picture of life in the Sugababes which explains their decision to risk their careers rather than continue as they were.
Amelle admits: "Bullying is a strong word. It sounds bad. But no one likes to be treated horribly. I was being singled out every day and I didn't like the way I was being treated. I dreaded going in to work even though I had worked so hard to get here.
"I didn't have a voice, Heidi didn't have a voice and the people who worked around her didn't have a voice. Even people who worked with us threatened to quit because they couldn't take it. I took a lot of s*** from her as did Heidi and the rest of the team.
"Morally, you can only allow youself to be treated a certain way for so long. It got to a point where we couldn't do it anymore. I still respect Keisha. I would never speak badly about her or go into detail but we tried for a long time to make things work and it just got worse and worse.
"Me and Heidi were struggling for a year and trying our best to make things work. But it was so negative on a daily basis, it upset me. It affected my health. The stress got to me."
Amelle adds: "I didn't know what I wanted any more. I was lost. I didn't feel like myself. Heidi said I was like a shadow. I kept asking myself why it was happening. I can take a lot and don't hold grudges. Sometimes that gets abused. I felt like I was being used and spoken to a certain way.
"I used to be bubbly and outgoing but I became quiet. People told me I would never speak in interviews. I was paranoid that I would get the eye. I would let her carry on and live my life quietly.
"There is only so much you can take. It came to a point that I wasn't going to let that happen to me any more. It was the same with Heidi.
"I didn't want to lose what I had spent my whole life trying to get. I wanted to believe I could handle it. But I couldn't. It got to the point where I decided, no, I'm not going to allow it to happen anymore."
The first hint that the Sugababes were set for yet another line-up change came when Heidi and Keisha turned up without Amelle for an anti-racism concert in Glasgow.
At the time, the pair claimed Amelle had discovered a friend had been in a car accident and was too shocked to join them on the road. But quickly the truth emerged.
Amelle had checked into rehab suffering from stress, just days before the group were due to fly to Los Angeles for a video shoot.
Heidi recalls: "We were told her friend had been in a car accident but she had gone away for a week because she couldn't take any more. The day before we flew to LA, it came to a head. I couldn't take it any more and neither could Amelle. How we allowed ourselves to be treated had gone on too long.
"It was pretty bad the last year of the previous line-up. I respect Keisha for the eight and a half years we have been together so I wouldn't want to tell tales. But we had to make a decision whether to work in that environment. This job is our life and it wasn't a nice atmosphere. It wasn't a happy environment."
Amelle picks up: "The story came out that I had disappeared and there were even rumours that I had been kidnapped. But the truth is I had just had enough. I didn't want to go to LA. I was willing to throw away my dreams because I had to think of my mental health. By then, every day was a struggle.
"My head was so full of s*** that I had to go somewhere different. I went off to a centre to relax. For the first time in my life I went somewhere for me. I was healing.
"It is not in me to be nasty. I hope Keisha has a great career ahead of her. She is a very talented lady. But I know I made the right decision staying with Heidi."
That Heidi had sided with the newest member of the Sugababes, rather than founding member Keisha Buchanan, came as a shock to many who had seen a revolving door policy with the group's other founding members Siobhán Donaghy and Mutya Buena departing in 2001 and 2005 respectively.
Buchanan had been the one constant and was widely seen as the driving force behind the Sugababes.
The penultimate twist came when Heidi got a call from the record label two days after the split, asking if she would consider carrying on with Amelle if the label could find a new member to replace Buchanan.
Heidi reveals: "I landed at LAX and me and Amelle made the decision that it wasn't working anymore so we left the Sugababes. As much as I knew I had made the right decision it was still heartbreaking to come to the end of a relationship.
"I thought the Sugababes were over but I wasn't even thinking about that. We had another four days before we were due to fly home. It was during that time the label phoned and said they wanted us to carry on with someone else. Even that was a scary thing to think about.
"They told us they had someone in mind and that they would fly this person out. By this point the video had been shot with three body doubles. There was no band on the day of the shoot.
"They made the video without us because they'd paid for the director. They told us if we got on with the new girl we could be part of that video. That's when they flew Jade over. We met on the Sunday and shot the video on the Tuesday."
Amelle adds: "We got a phone call from the record label saying they wanted to keep us on with another girl. I was emotionally drained at that point. I was shocked. However, it was Keisha's turn to get a shock but I hope she can be happy and do her solo stuff. At the time, me and Heidi had left the band and we thought that was it. But it also felt like a release. I had put my career on the line not to work with Keisha."
Former Eurovision Song Contestant Jade Ewan, 22, flew to Los Angeles straight away to meet the girls and took part in the video shoot. It was Keisha's turn to be left out in the cold.
"Now Jade is on board we are really happy and it is nice coming into work," Amelle admits. "Jade is a breath of fresh air and a nice girl. We are so looking forward to the future. I am the happiest person ever."
Initially, set for release last November, the group's latest album Sweet 7 is out on March 15 - with Keisha's vocal wiped and Jade's vocals added to the songs.
Heidi explains: "Jade went in and re-recorded the parts that Keisha had done. We also recorded a brand new track with Jade. She sounds amazing and has made the parts her own. She has been incredible recording it after being put under so much pressure.
"Things are so much better with Jade. We are really enjoying working together. It is like a fresh start. I'm not going to say we are best friends because we are still getting to know Jade but she is a lovely girl."
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http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz...6908-22075729/
Perhaps I am biased cause I would find a way to defend Keisha if she ran me over with her car, but I found this interview to be in bad taste.
Love how they try and take the high road, acting like they aren't going to badmouth Keisha, but they're still throwing major shade.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 5/6/2009
Posts: 14,429
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Heidi is now the biggest bitch in that group. I always thought she was the girl who went with flow because she was always quiet, but she has now shown her true colours. It isn't the same without Keisha, but I still enjoy their music.
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Member Since: 12/29/2009
Posts: 5,976
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Keisha is apparently suing over them using the name Sugababes.
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Member Since: 9/28/2009
Posts: 9,353
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This is a mess 
I'm annoyed at them for always acting almost self-righteous when talking about Keisha but Keisha needs to move on and not be suing them. 
But honestly, I think they should have taken a hiatus instead...Island just didn't have the guts to cancel Sweet 7 and let them do that and now they're stuck with an album that will underperform. Just a really bad situation.
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Member Since: 9/24/2008
Posts: 14,256
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sir. Frost
Heidi is now the biggest bitch in that group. I always thought she was the girl who went with flow because she was always quiet, but she has now shown her true colours. It isn't the same without Keisha, but I still enjoy their music.
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+1 I can't stand Heidi. She is so self-righteous and false.
I hope Keisha can reclaim the the name Sugababes, as far as I'm concerned the Sugababes are no more. I used to be a big fan, but when Mutya left they lost all credibility IMO.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/23/2008
Posts: 14,330
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I think Keisha should be allowed to perform as the "Sugababes" by herself. 
But really, this entire era is ****ed now.  Sweet 7 is a good album too, so it's a shame it'll most likely under-perform. They should have just stuck it out with Keisha for this last album, let her crush their spirits and drain them of their confidence or whatever it is they're claiming, and then go their separate ways after a couple singles.
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Member Since: 10/8/2009
Posts: 35,527
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Quote:
Originally posted by Skeleton Boy
Keisha is apparently suing over them using the name Sugababes.
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yeah i think thats why they did this interview. they have never talked about this before, never talked about what she did and they tried to take the high road. then that bitch just goes and stabs them in the back. i'd do the same thing as what heidi and amelle did.
i hope keisha fails MISERABLY with her solo career. she deserves everything thats coming to her. imagine going to work everyday and having to work with someone like that. i'd do the EXACT same as what they did and so would a lot of you in all honesty so i dont see the need to disrespect them.
Sugababes 4.0 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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Member Since: 3/30/2009
Posts: 79,408
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I'm really getting sick of Keisha. 
My fave Sugababe now is Amelle, Heidi was never my biggest fave, but I liked her, but now I really don't.
Amelle owns the new album. 
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Member Since: 12/15/2009
Posts: 23,385
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why are they so dramatic.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/23/2008
Posts: 14,330
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Love the last line, also.
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I'm not going to say we are best friends because we are still getting to know Jade but she is a lovely girl."
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Translation: We're as jealous of Jade as we were of Keisha cause she infinitely more talented than we are and as the new girl she's getting more press.
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Member Since: 9/28/2009
Posts: 9,353
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Amelle needs to go solo and her lead single needs to be produced by the Smeezingtons.
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Member Since: 10/8/2009
Posts: 35,527
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^^^ oh dear "/ have you ever thought through all your translations that maybe she isnt best friends with jade but actually IS fond of her? didnt think so ...
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Member Since: 11/2/2009
Posts: 19,838
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Damn.
The way they protrayed it, Keshia was almost moments away from beating the **** out of them.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/23/2008
Posts: 14,330
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Quote:
Originally posted by PopBoi
^^^ oh dear "/ have you ever thought through all your translations that maybe she isnt best friends with jade but actually IS fond of her? didnt think so ...
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I wasn't being serious. I'm sure they don't hate Jade's guts... yet.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 5/6/2009
Posts: 14,429
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Sugababes needed someone like Keisha she was fierce and added the most personlity into Sugababes. Heidi is bland, and Jade is nothing speical either. Amelle is the icon of the group now Keisha has gone.
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Member Since: 9/24/2008
Posts: 14,256
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Quote:
Originally posted by Patrick
Love the last line, also.
Translation: We're as jealous of Jade as we were of Keisha cause she infinitely more talented than we are and as the new girl she's getting more press.
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Jade is also much better looking! If Heidi keeps aging as badly as she is then I'm sure she will be the next one to get the boot. The Sugababes have become a brand rather than a band. I'm sure the Record Label will replace the faces of their Brand in the future as they see fit.
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Member Since: 9/28/2009
Posts: 9,353
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Quote:
Originally posted by Celestial
Jade is also much better looking! If Heidi keeps aging as badly as she is then I'm sure she will be the next one to get the boot. The Sugababes have become a brand rather than a band. I'm sure the Record Label will replace the faces of their Brand in the future as they see fit.
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This is the one reason why I hope Keisha gets the rights to the Sugababes name.
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Member Since: 9/24/2008
Posts: 14,256
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Originally posted by £100
This is the one reason why I hope Keisha gets the rights to the Sugababes name.
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Mutya Buena applies to own Sugababes name
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Founding Sugababes member Mutya Buena has applied for ownership of the band's name, her legal firm has confirmed.
The star, who quit the band in 2005, has applied to the European Trademarks Authority for permission. Her request has been registered, but not approved.
The last of the pop group's original members, Keisha Buchanan, left last year, and was replaced by Jade Ewen.
At the time, Buena said: "It just means the Sugababes have ended because there are no original people remaining".
She added: "It kind of doesn't make sense that there is Sugababes any more. I don't know if it's just me, but Keisha being the original that was left out of the band, her leaving doesn't make it Sugababes really
'Lack of trust'
If Buena's application is successful, it could mean that she will own the rights to use the Sugababes name on goods such as CDs, DVDs and books.
Kilburn and Strode, the firm that has put forward the application, said they were "hopeful" registration would be passed in a few months.
Sugababes trademark application
The application has yet to be approved
All three original members - Buena, Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy - are named on the document, but Kilburn and Strode told the BBC that Buena was the "sole applicant".
The current line-up, which includes Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah, are expected to attend the launch of their new album later.
Sweet 7 is the first release by the new trio, and has been delayed while Ewen re-recorded Buchanan's vocals.
Buchanan has always maintained that it was not her decision to leave the pop group last September.
At the time, the band's official website said she had quit to focus on her solo career.
But she blamed "a breakdown in communication" and "lack of trust" for her no longer singing in the band.
On the social networking site Twitter, Buchanan said: "Although it was not my choice to leave, it's time to enter a new chapter in my life.
"I've had a great time and have achieved more then I ever thought I would."
Representatives for the former and current line-ups of the Sugababes were not immediately available to comment on the trademark application.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8548338.stm
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 5/6/2009
Posts: 14,429
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The thing is that Jade now has the voice of the band. Amelle acts like the icon. While Hedie has nothing to give, her personality never gets across.
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Member Since: 10/8/2009
Posts: 35,527
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^ so what? she has beautiful vocals.
and the sugababes have been a brand ever since mutya left, they would probably even admit that themselves.
and what would mutya do with the sugababes name at all? she just doing it out of spite IMO.
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