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British pop sensations S Membership (then generally known as S Membership 7) burst onto the charts and TV screens in 1999 with the discharge of their worldwide hit “Bring It All Back” and their TV sequence Miami 7. Over the subsequent 4 years, the group – Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O’Meara, Hannah Spearitt, and Rachel Stevens – grew to become one of many greatest pop acts within the UK with 11 Prime 10 singles, 4 hit albums, an additional three TV sequence’ (LA 7, Hollywood 7, and Viva S Membership) and the 2003 characteristic movie, Seeing Double.
After splitting in 2003, numerous iterations of S Membership existed till, earlier this 12 months, the total, authentic line-up introduced they had been to reform to tour the UK. Months later, the group had been rocked by the tragic demise of Paul Cattermole, with Hannah Spearritt consequently pulling out of the reunion. The remaining members have pledged to proceed to honor Paul’s reminiscence. As our personal tribute, listed below are 10 of the most effective S Membership tracks.
Hearken to the most effective S Membership songs now.
“S Club Party” (S Membership, 1999)
What higher place to start out than with the tune that launched every member of the group (“Tina’s doing her thing,” and so on.) to pop followers the world over? Their second single was a UK No. 2 hit that took the hip-hop-inspired pop template of the Spice Women’ “Say You’ll Be There” and ramped up the power, whereas giving the boys within the group an opportunity to present us their finest whoops and hollers. The video was a day-glo delight, with S Membership touring again in time to the 50s the place they tackle The Rockets (seemingly the S Membership of their day) in a Grease-style drag race, with Rachel on the wheel. Naturally, S Membership are victorious, however The Rockets are gracious sufficient to affix their rivals from the longer term in a mass-choreographed dance sequence. Maybe there actually isn’t any social gathering like an S Membership social gathering?
“You” (Sunshine, 2001)
The gang had been transported to a 50s-styled sci-fi world for this finger-snapping retro-pop deal with’s video. Regardless of the classic outfits and interiors, there are hints – Paul’s jet-pack, Rachel’s remote-controlled ice bucket – of a futuristic, Jetsons-style world. “You” was chosen because the theme tune for the group’s third TV sequence, Hollywood 7, which adopted the fictionalized model of the group trying to make it within the States. “You” was one other big hit at residence and, once more, noticed them attain the UK No. 2 spot for what would show Paul’s final single with S Membership.
“Have You Ever” (Sunshine, 2001)
S Membership’s fourth UK chart-topper, the reflective ballad “Have You Ever,” was additionally a record-breaker. The tune was chosen because the official single for the BBC’s annual Youngsters In Want televised charity drive, and a brand new model was recorded for the event utilizing vocals from kids in colleges throughout the UK. This model of “Have You Ever” is listed within the Guinness Ebook of World Data as having the very best variety of folks’s voices recorded on a single tune. “Have You Ever” has one other declare to fame: It options Greg Wells, the producer who would win a Grammy in 2019 for producing and mixing The Biggest Showman soundtrack, on piano and organ.
“Alive” (Seeing Double, 2002)
The lead single from their fourth album, Seeing Double, “Alive” was the primary single to be launched underneath the identify S Membership following the departure of Paul Cattermole. The swooping strings, squelchy bass, vocodered vocals, and disco beat mixed for a dynamic dance hit, reaching No. 5 within the UK singles chart. It was later revealed that Bradley’s lead vocal on the verse was initially recorded by Paul, however was rerecorded after the latter left the group.
“Natural” (7, 2000)
The second single from S Membership’s 2000 album 7 was the group’s most mature to this point, with a slinky, R&B and funk-infused groove and their lustiest lyrics up to now. The tune was a success throughout Europe and should have appeared particularly acquainted to Francophone pop followers because it was an Anglicised model of French pop singer Norma Ray’s hit “Tous Les Maux D’Armour” (which interprets as “every heartache”). Like Ray’s authentic, a manufacturing flourish added the unmistakable snaking primary melody from Gabriel Fauré’s Pavane Op 50.
“Love Ain’t Gonna Wait For You” (Seeing Double, 2002)
Launched within the UK as a double A-side single with the nostalgic ballad “Say Goodbye,” “Love Ain’t Gonna Wait For You” was a rocket-fuelled dancefloor filler that served as a becoming farewell to the primary section of S Membership. The video would have supplied some comfort for these mourning the lack of the band, with goofy behind-the-scenes footage from the TV exhibits, clips from their best-loved movies, and dwell footage reminding pop followers of the nice instances.
“Bring It All Back” (S Membership, 1999)
The tune that began all of it sounds as recent as we speak as when it propelled S Membership straight to the highest of the charts on its launch. It’s a supremely catchy, light-on-its-feet thrill, calling to thoughts an replace of the soul-pop rush of early Jackson 5. It’s the one S Membership tune on which the vocals are shared by all 4 feminine singers, with the boys taking a again seat and offering backing vocals. The video offered the group performing the tune on a Miami sound stage, liberally sprinkled with clips from Miami 7, introducing pop lovers to their new favourite group.
“Never Had A Dream Come True” (7, 2010)
S Membership’s signature ballad was their greatest worldwide hit, not solely hitting the highest spot within the UK, however reaching No. 10 on the US Billboard Sizzling 100. Simon Ellis later recalled writing the tune with Cathy Dennis in Attain For The Stars, Michael Cragg’s 2023 oral historical past of UK pop music from 1996-2006: “We started about 11am and by 7pm we had nothing. All I wanted to do was go home. Cathy said, ‘Look, let’s give it another 10 minutes and see what happens.’ So she went downstairs to make a coffee and while she was doing that I played the ‘Never Had A Dream Come True’ melody and Cathy shouted, ‘What’s that? That sounds great.’ By the time she’d made the coffee and walked up the stairs, she had half the lyric for the chorus, the title, and all of the melody for the chorus. We finished it in about 20 minutes.” Add a stellar lead vocal from Jo O’Meara, and pop historical past was made.
“Reach” (7, 2000)
The relentlessly optimistic “Reach” discovered S Membership channeling the bubbling pop bounce of 60s Motown. It was one other big UK No. 1 hit written by Cathy Dennis, this time with former Republica keyboardist Andrew Todd, with the sassy brass supplied by famed session group The Kick Horns (The Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, The Who). The video finds S Membership driving into an on a regular basis city on a carnival float, spreading colour into in any other case humdrum lives by dishing out magical sweet – a becoming metaphor for the joy-giving qualities of the tune.
“Don’t Stop Movin’” (Sunshine, 2001)
S Membership’s crowning glory, “Don’t Stop Movin’” was an irresistible name to the dancefloor that took its cue from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and gave the group a brand new credibility. In Attain for the Stars, lead vocalist Bradley thought-about its enchantment, “’Don’t Stop Movin’ was the one where we moved beyond the young kid, teenybopper audience. That one made us cool all of a sudden.” The singer went on to disclose that he nearly didn’t make the session. “They needed me to vocal the song, but I was at the club. I remember someone walked in and said, ‘Bradley, we need you at the studio.’ I jumped in a car.” Co-writer Simon Ellis added, “He pitches up with this carrier bag full of beer and goes into the vocal booth. He was out of there by 2 am and went back to the club.” Regardless of its chaotic recording, “Don’t Stop Movin’” gave S Membership one other UK No. 1, promoting over one million within the course of. It stays a stone-cold pop traditional.
Hearken to the most effective S Membership songs now.
