Chasing Lights
Encyclopedia
Chasing Lights is the debut album by British-Irish girl group The Saturdays
, released on 27 October 2008 by Fascination Records
. The album was re-issued on 16 March 2009 to include their cover of Depeche Mode
's 1981 song "Just Can't Get Enough".
The album has sold over 400,000 copies.
—with whom they share the same record label—on their Tangled Up Tour
. The Saturdays were also reportedly offered the chance to record songs rejected by Girls Aloud. Band member Mollie King told the Daily Star, "We all thought it was a bit of a cheek. Why would we want their rejects? [...] It's bad enough with all the comparisons being made." The last track of Chasing Lights, "Why Me, Why Now" was originally a demo by Alex Cartana
, but later picked up by The Saturdays. The members of The Saturdays have no writing credits on the record.
and Girls Aloud
, they have been praised for their debut album.
Some critics even referring to Chasing Lights as "A definite contender for pop album of the year." -- Most also appreciated the fact that The Saturdays are able to be in the same league as their fellow UK Pop-Acts after less than a year of being together.
The album was number four on Popjustice
's 2008 year-end chart of the best albums.
The Saturdays
The Saturdays are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London, United Kingdom. The group consists of five members Una Healy, Mollie King, Frankie Sandford, Vanessa White and Rochelle Wiseman. In 2007 the band were formed through Fascination Records which gave them an instant record deal with...
, released on 27 October 2008 by Fascination Records
Fascination Records
Fascination Records is a UK-based record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as an imprint of Polydor Records. The label was launched in spring 2006, and is managed by former TOTP Magazine editor Peter Loraine...
. The album was re-issued on 16 March 2009 to include their cover of Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
's 1981 song "Just Can't Get Enough".
The album has sold over 400,000 copies.
Album information
The Saturdays started production of their debut album in May 2008 while supporting Girls AloudGirls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
—with whom they share the same record label—on their Tangled Up Tour
Tangled Up Tour
The Tangled Up Tour was the fourth concert tour third arena tour, by British pop group Girls Aloud, in support of the group's fourth studio album Tangled Up. The tour was initially announced to reach arenas across the United Kingdom in November 2007. The shows commenced in Belfast on 3 May 2008 and...
. The Saturdays were also reportedly offered the chance to record songs rejected by Girls Aloud. Band member Mollie King told the Daily Star, "We all thought it was a bit of a cheek. Why would we want their rejects? [...] It's bad enough with all the comparisons being made." The last track of Chasing Lights, "Why Me, Why Now" was originally a demo by Alex Cartana
Alex Cartana
Alex Cartañá is a Spanish/British singer-songwriter and actress. Cartañá first came to fame in 2003 as the featured artist and co-writer of the hit dance record "Shake It ", which peaked at #16 in the UK Singles Chart.-Early years and influences:Alex Cartañá was born to a British mother Spanish...
, but later picked up by The Saturdays. The members of The Saturdays have no writing credits on the record.
Reception
Critical
Chasing Lights received remarkably positive reception from music critics. Often being compared to other British female acts such as the SugababesSugababes
The Sugababes are an English pop girl group based in London, consisting of members Heidi Range, Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen. The Sugababes were formed in 1998 with founding members Siobhán Donaghy, Mutya Buena and Keisha Buchanan. Their debut album, One Touch, was released in 2000 under London...
and Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
, they have been praised for their debut album.
Some critics even referring to Chasing Lights as "A definite contender for pop album of the year." -- Most also appreciated the fact that The Saturdays are able to be in the same league as their fellow UK Pop-Acts after less than a year of being together.
The album was number four on Popjustice
Popjustice
Popjustice is a music website founded in 2000 and is the work of UK freelance music journalist Peter Robinson, who has worked for NME, The Guardian, Attitude and many others....
's 2008 year-end chart of the best albums.
Commercial
In the UK, Chasing Lights debuted at number eleven while in Ireland it debuted at number forty-nine. By April 2009, the album reached a new peak of number thirty-four in Ireland. The album climbed from number fourteen to number nine on 25 January 2009, marking the album's first time inside the UK top ten. The album was certified Platinum in the UK on November 6, 2009.Singles
- "If This Is LoveIf This Is Love"If This Is Love" is a song performed by British-Irish recording girl group The Saturdays from their debut studio album, Chasing Lights . It was co-written by Joe Belmaati, Michaela Breen, Vince Clarke, Mich Hansen, Alison Moyet, John Reid, Remee and Ina Wroldsen. The song was produced by Belmaati...
", released digitally on 27 July 2008, is the album's lead single. It was released commercially in the UK on 28 July, through digital and physical distribution. The song hit number eight on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and became their first top ten hit.
- "UpUp (The Saturdays song)"Up" is a song performed by British-Irish recording girl group The Saturdays from their debut studio album, Chasing Lights . It was co-written by the track's producers, Josef Larossi and Andreas Romdhane of Quiz & Larossi, in collaboration with Ina Wroldsen...
", released digitally on 12 October 2008, is the album's second single. It was released commercially in the UK on 13 October, through digital and physical distribution. The song hit number five on the UK Singles Chart, becoming their second consecutive top ten hit, and debuted at number eleven on the Irish Singles ChartIrish Singles ChartThe Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
. "Up" is the group's debut single in Brazil.
- "Issues", released officially on 5 January 2009, is the album's third single. It was released commercially in the UK on 5 January after spending a few weeks in the top forty. The song hit number six on the UK Singles Chart and became their third consecutive top ten hit. The following week it climbed to number four, making this their best-charting single to date.
- "Just Can't Get Enough", a Comic ReliefComic ReliefComic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
single not originally on the album was released on 2 March 2009. The song entered the UK Singles Chart at number two on 8 March 2009. It was kept off the number-one spot by Flo RidaFlo RidaTramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida , is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He released his debut album, Mail on Sunday, in March 2008. His debut single "Low", featuring T-Pain, was a #1 hit for ten weeks in United States in early 2008. Two other singles resulted from...
's "Right RoundRight Round“Right Round” is a song performed by American rapper Flo Rida featuring pop singer Kesha from R.O.O.T.S., his second studio album. It was released to radio as the album's lead single on January 27, 2009 and was digitally released on February 10 by Poe Boy Entertainment and Atlantic Records...
". On the Irish Singles Chart, the song debuted at number seventeen. The following week, it climbed to number nine and peaked at number six becoming their first top ten and highest-charting single yet in Ireland.
- "WorkWork (The Saturdays song)"Work" is the fifth single from British-Irish girl group The Saturdays. The pop song was written by Ina Wroldsen, Harry Sommerdahl and Kalle Engström. "Work" was released as the final single from the group's debut album, Chasing Lights...
" was announced in January 2009 as the fifth single overall to be released from the album. It was a fan-favourite since the release of the album, and was released in the UK on 29 June 2009 but only peaked on the UK Singles Chart at number twenty-two, becoming their lowest-charting single in the UK to date.
Track listing
Other recorded tracks
- "What Am I Gonna Do" B-side to "If This Is LoveIf This Is Love"If This Is Love" is a song performed by British-Irish recording girl group The Saturdays from their debut studio album, Chasing Lights . It was co-written by Joe Belmaati, Michaela Breen, Vince Clarke, Mich Hansen, Alison Moyet, John Reid, Remee and Ina Wroldsen. The song was produced by Belmaati...
". - "Crashing Down" B-side to "UpUp (The Saturdays song)"Up" is a song performed by British-Irish recording girl group The Saturdays from their debut studio album, Chasing Lights . It was co-written by the track's producers, Josef Larossi and Andreas Romdhane of Quiz & Larossi, in collaboration with Ina Wroldsen...
", cover of The NolansThe NolansThe Nolans are an Anglo-Irish all-female band consisting of a group of sisters. The group, best known for their song "I'm In the Mood for Dancing", gained prominence as guest performers on numerous television shows in the United Kingdom...
' track. - "Golden Rules" B-side to "Just Can't Get Enough".
- "Unofficial" B-side to "Work".
- "Not Good Enough" Other recorded track. Leaked in late 2008 prior to the release of the album. A remixed version was included on the second album WordshakerWordshaker"Wordshaker" generated generally favorable reviews amongst critics upon its release. Allmusic's Matthew Chisling awarded the album three out of five stars, praising the girls and the album for "combining aggressive basslines and vocals that are a pinch of prowess". Chisling's praised tracks like...
. - "Believe In Me" Other recorded track for the Chasing Lights album sessions.
Charts and certifications
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| European Top 100 Albums European Top 100 Albums The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created in March 1984.The European Top 100 Albums, commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums shows the sales of an act in 19 European countries based on IFPI data.The European Top 100... |
46 |
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
34 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
9 |
| Country | Provider | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
BPI British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... |
Platinum |