Caught in a Moment

"Caught in a Moment"
Single by Sugababes
from the album Three
B-side "Conversation's Over"
Released 23 August 2004
Format
Recorded
  • Mayfair
  • Strongroom
  • Metropolis
Genre
Length 4:23
Label Island
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Jony Rockstar
Sugababes singles chronology
"In the Middle"
(2004)		 "Caught in a Moment"
(2004)		 "Push the Button"
(2005)

"Caught in a Moment" is a song by English girl group Sugababes from their third studio album Three (2003). It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 August 2004 as the album's fourth and final single. The song was written by the group's members in collaboration with Karen Poole, Marius De Vries and its producer Jony Rockstar. "Caught in a Moment" is a downtempo R&B and soul ballad backed by an orchestal musical arrangement, and contains emotive lyrics that explore concepts of melancholy and hopefulness. The track received mixed reviews from critics who were ambivalent towards its balladry.

Following its release, the song became the group's fourth consecutive top-ten hit on the UK Singles Chart, while internationally it peaked within the top forty on the singles charts of Ireland, Hungary and the Netherlands. The music video, which is black-and-white, was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and features the Sugababes' silhouettes behind a large screen. To promote "Caught in a Moment", the trio performed it at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and as part of the set lists for their tours in support of Taller in More Ways (2005), Overloaded: The Singles Collection (2006) and Change (2007).

Background and composition

In 2003, the Sugababes began to work on songs for their third studio album Three (2003).[1] They wrote and recorded material in various countries around the world as they performed at festivals such as the Liverpool Summer Pops.[1][2] "Caught in a Moment" was written by the Sugababes—consisting of Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Heidi Range—in collaboration with Karen Poole, Marius De Vries and its producer, Jony Rockstar.[3] Pete Craigie recorded the group's vocals while Tom Elmhirst mixed the song; both musicians engineered it.[3] "Caught in a Moment" is the album's fourth and final single, and was released as a CD single in the United Kingdom on 23 August 2004.[4] It appears on the soundtrack to the 2004 film Wimbledon,[5] and is included on the group's 2006 greatest hits album Overloaded: The Singles Collection.[3]

"Caught in a Moment" is a downtempo R&B and soul ballad,[6][7] with similar production to the Sugababes' older ballads "Stronger" and "Too Lost in You".[8][9] It was composed in the key of E minor using common time at a tempo of 72 beats per minute, and follows the chord progression of Em—A—D.[10] The song's instrumentation is provided by bass, guitar, percussion, piano, beats, strings, violins, cello and double bass.[3] The strings are high-pitched and the song is supported by an electronica-infused ambience.[11][12] "Caught in a Moment" contains emotive lyrics that explore concepts of melancholy and hopefulness.[9][13] It was compared to the works of girl band All Saints, and English musical group Massive Attack.[14][15]

Reception

Critical response

"Caught in a Moment" received mixed reviews from critics. K. Ross Hoffman of AllMusic described the song as "a stirring, string-laden monolith of melody" and commended it as the standout ballad from Three.[16] Dorian Lynskey of The Guardian praised the song as terrific and highlighted its "deep-pile swoon".[17] Dan Gennoe of Yahoo! Music wrote that "Caught in a Moment" and "Too Lost in You" are reminders that the Sugababes "handle trip-hop melancholy with the same devastating confidence as their seething club stomps".[18] Tim de Lisle from Daily Mail acknowledged that while some parts are unoriginal, the song succeeds through its "colossal simplicity".[6] According to a critic from Entertainment Ireland, "Caught in a Moment" is one of three tracks from the album that displays the group's "funky vocals and brattish attitude".[19] A writer for Daily Record described it as a "slow, thoughtful number" with sophisticated sounds.[9] Hot Press magazine's Phil Udell called the song an elegant ballad,[20] while Shane Murray of RTÉ.ie described it as atmospheric.[21]

The song's balladry was also a focal point for criticism. Writers from the London Evening Standard wrote that "instead of sweeping you up all misty-eyed" like their previously released ballad "Too Lost in You", "Caught in a Moment" "drifts by a bit inconsequentially".[22] The Observer‍ '​s Kitty Empire was unfavourable of the sound and mature nature of the song, questioning: "Who wants Sugababes to grow up gracefully, into the mini-Gabrielle poses of songs like 'Caught in a Moment'?"[23] A writer from Virgin Media criticised the song's "trudging" balladry and its orchestral backdrop as bland, elaborating: "For a band who've previously put out some genuinely edgy and confident pop, this is inexcusably forgettable".[24] A critic from The Scotsman regarded "Caught in a Moment" as a mediocre filler track,[8] while The Independent‍ '​s Simon Price considered it insipid.[25] Anna Britten of Yahoo! Music rated the song five out of ten stars and wrote that it "has all the standard features of your average MOR lady ballad".[26]

Chart performance

The song's first chart appearance was on the 26 August 2004 issue of the Irish Singles Chart, where it debuted and peaked at number 28.[27] It subsequently became the group's second lowest-charting single in Ireland to date.[27] "Caught in a Moment" was most successful on the UK Singles Chart, where it debuted at number eight with sales of 11,633 copies,[28] and became the Sugababes' fourth consecutive top-ten hit in the United Kingdom.[29][30] The song spent seven weeks on the chart.[30] In the Netherlands, "Caught in a Moment" debuted on the Dutch Top 40 chart at number 32 and later peaked at number 30,[31] while on the Mega Single Top 100 chart, it reached number 46.[32] The ballad reached number 38 on the Hungarian Dance Chart,[33] and number 56 on the Austrian and Swiss charts.[34][35] The song spent nine weeks on the German Singles Chart, where it charted at number 71.[36]

Music video

In the music video, the Sugababes' silhouettes are shown as they undress and engage in sexual acts with men.

The music video for "Caught in a Moment" was directed by Howard Greenhalgh and filmed in July 2004.[37][38] It was reported that during the filming, Buena, Buchanan and Range were experiencing conflicts, refused to speak with each other and would only communicate through intermediaries.[38][39] According to British newspaper the Daily Star, "the frosty silence between Mutya, Heidi and Keisha, made for a difficult afternoon's work".[38] The video is black-and-white,[9] and features Buena and Range in dresses, and Buchanan in a two-piece outfit.[40] It was later included on the group's DVD release, Overloaded: The Videos Collection.[37]

During the video, the group's members undress and kiss a man behind a large screen.[38][40] The clips show them seated both individually and as a group, and surrounded by large lights which flash several times.[40] At the time of its release, the video was considered one of the group's most sexually suggestive videos; Sky News described it as "their most explicit yet with scenes showing the girls writhing, stripping and kissing in silhouette behind giant screens".[38] A critic from the Daily Record was favourable of the video and wrote that it "sums up the classy appeal" of the song.[9] It debuted and peaked at number 12 on the UK TV airplay chart.[41]

Live performances

The Sugababes performed "Caught in a Moment" on 12 August 2004 at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, which is one of Europe's biggest balloon festivals.[42][43] The third-line up of the band, consisting of Buchanan, Range and Amelle Berrabah, performed "Caught in a Moment" at the Sheffield City Hall in March 2006 as part of their tour in support of Taller in More Ways (2005).[44] According to Dave Simpson of The Guardian, the performance suggested that Berrabah "could trigger an unlikely shift into soul" for the group.[44] The trio performed "Caught in a Moment" at the 100 Club, London on 3 October 2006 as part of a gig, which was in promotion of Overloaded: The Singles Collection.[45] They performed the song as part of the Overloaded tour, and were seated on stools in the centre of the stage.[46] With regard to their performance on 13 April 2007 at the Wembley Arena, London,[47] Ben Rawson-Jones of Digital Spy commented: "Their epiphanic beauty was fully realised with the fragile, emotive nature of Heidi's voice and Keisha's powerful singing".[48] "Caught in a Moment" appeared in the set list for the group's 2008 Change Tour.[49] According to The Journal‍ '​s Kat Keogh, their performance at the Newcastle City Hall "displayed a confident shift from moody pop princesses to sassy Supremes-style harmony".[49]

Track listings and formats

  • CD1 single / digital download[4][50]
  1. "Caught in a Moment" – 4:23
  2. "Caught in a Moment" (D-Bop Remix) – 5:34
  1. "Caught in a Moment" – 4:23
  2. "Conversation's Over" (AOL Session) – 4:08
  3. "Hole in the Head" (AOL Session) – 3:34

Credits and personnel

Recording
Personnel

  • Songwriting – Jony Rockstar, Karen Poole, Marius De Vries, Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena, Heidi Range
  • Production – Jony Rockstar
  • Mixing – Tom Elmhirst at Metrapolis
  • Vocal recording – Pete Craigie
  • Engineering – Pete Craigie
  • Additional vocal engineering – Jonathan Shakhovskoy
  • Protools – Jonathan Shakhovskoy
  • Additional engineering – Richard Wilkinson
  • Bass – Marius de Vries
  • Guitar – Shawn Lee
  • Percussion – Pete Lockett
  • Piano – Chris Elliot
  • Beats – Jony Rockstar
  • Strings arranged and conducted by Guy Farley
  • Strings recorded by Mike Ross Trevor at Sony Studios, Whitfield Street
  • Assistant engineer – Dave Clarke
  • Violin – Marcia Crayford, David Juritz, Darrell Kolk, Thomas Bowes, Martin Burgess, Alison Kelly, Jan Schmolck, Gaby Lester, Philippe Hanoré, Fenella Barton, Ralph De Souza, Simon Smith, Steve Morris, Sophie Barber, Celia Sheen, Liz Edwards, Douglas Mackie, Manon Derome, Jo Godden, Sue Briscoe
  • Viola – Roger Benedict, Vicci Wardmen, Tim Grant, Fiona Bonds, Jonathan Barritt, Ivo Van Der Werff
  • Cello – Caroline Dale, Nick Roberts, Jonathan Williams, Melissa Phelps, Caroline Dearnley, Lional Handy
  • Double bass – Dominic Seldis, Steve Williams, Lynda Houghton, Steve Mair

Credits are taken from the liner notes of Overloaded: The Singles Collection.[3]

Charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[34] 56
Germany (Media Control AG)[36] 71
Hungary (Dance Top 40)[33] 38
Ireland (IRMA)[27] 28
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 30
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[32] 46
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 56
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[29] 8

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Johnson, Debbie (28 July 2003). "Pop-pickers!". Liverpool Echo (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved 20 April 2013. (subscription required)
  2. ↑ "'Babes in bad shape". Daily Mirror (Trinity Mirror). 8 August 2003. Retrieved 20 April 2013. (subscription required)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Overloaded: The Singles Collection (album). Sugababes. Universal Island Records. 2006. pp. 13–14. 1712650.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Sugababes, Caught in a Moment". Contactmusic.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "Caught in a Moment (From Wimbledon) – Sugababes". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 de Lisle, Tim (26 October 2003). "Sugababes stay sweet". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers). Retrieved 20 April 2013. (subscription required)
  7. ↑ Braidwood, Alan (23 September 2003). "Sugababes – Three – Review". BBC Music. BBC. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Shepherd, Fiona (24 October 2003). "CD of the Week: Sugababes: Three". The Scotsman (Johnston Publishing). Retrieved 12 January 2013. (subscription required)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 "Sugababes: Caught in a Moment". Daily Record (Trinity Mirror). 27 August 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2013. (subscription required)
  10. ↑ "Digital Sheet Music – Sugababes – Caught in a Moment". Musicnotes.com. Hal Leonard Publishing. 2004. SC0014008.
  11. ↑ Spiteri, Sharleen (1 November 2003). "Three is the magic number for the babes". Birmingham Post (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved 9 December 2012. (subscription required)
  12. ↑ Rubenstein, Harry (3 February 2004). "Sugababes: Pop girls with a difference". Jerusalem Post (Mirkaei Tikshoret). Retrieved 8 April 2013. (subscription required)
  13. ↑ Perry, Natasha. "Sugababes – Three – Album Review". Contactmusic.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  14. ↑ Thrills, Adrian (24 October 2003). "The new Sophie: This blonde shoots to thrill". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers). Retrieved 8 April 2013. (subscription required)
  15. ↑ Virtue, Graeme (26 October 2003). "Sweet nothings". Sunday Herald (Newsquest). Retrieved 20 April 2013. (subscription required)
  16. ↑ Hoffman, K. Ross. "Three – Sugababes". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  17. ↑ Lynskye, Dorian (24 October 2003). "CD: Sugababes, Three". The Guardian (Guardian News & Media). Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  18. ↑ Gennoe, Dan (28 October 2003). "Sugababes – Three". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! UK & Ireland. Archived from the original on 6 April 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "Sugababes – Three". Entertainment Ireland. Entertainment Media Networks. 6 November 2003. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  20. ↑ Udell, Phil (13 November 2003). "Three". Hot Press. Niall Stokes. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  21. ↑ Murray, Shane (11 November 2003). "Sugababes – Three". RTÉ.ie. RTE. Archived from the original on 20 December 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  22. ↑ Howard, Becky; Williams, Andrew (23 August 2004). "Singles out". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  23. ↑ Empire, Kitty (26 October 2003). "Pop CD of the week". The Observer (Guardian News & Media). Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  24. ↑ "Sugababes – Caught in a Moment". Virgin Media. Virgin Group. Archived from the original on 23 December 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  25. ↑ Price, Simon (26 October 2003). "Sugababes: Three (Universal)". The Independent (Independent News & Media). Retrieved 20 April 2013. (subscription required)
  26. ↑ Britten, Anna (27 August 2004). "Sugababes – 'Caught in a Moment'". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! UK & Ireland. Archived from the original on 13 January 2006. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 "Irish Charts – Sugababes". Irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  28. ↑ "Melua and Sugababes top UK charts". Music Week. Intent Media. 3 October 2005. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "2004 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive". UK Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. 4 September 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Sugababes". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Sugababes – Caught in a Moment". Dutch Top 40 (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Sugababes – Caught in a Moment". Dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Dance Top 40 lista". Dance Top 40 lista (in Hungarian). Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. November 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2013. Note: insert Dance Top 40 lista, 2004 and 45 into search parameters.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Sugababes – Caught in a Moment". Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 11 February 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Sugababes – Caught in a Moment". Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 1 June 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Sugababes – Single-Chartverfolgung". Musicline (in German). Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Overloaded: The Singles Collection (DVD liner notes). Island Records. November 2006.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 "No sweet talk between the Sugababes". Sky News. Sky. 21 July 2004. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  39. ↑ "Sugababes se spet kregajo" (in Slovenian). Radiotelevizija Slovenija. 22 July 2004. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 "Caught in a Moment". MTV Australia. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  41. ↑ "TV airplay chart: Avril Lavigne betters her performance on the other charts, rising to number, while Sugababes enter at number 12". Music Week. Intent Media. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2013. (subscription required)
  42. ↑ "VIP: Suga off!". Daily Mirror (Trinity Mirror). 8 August 2004. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  43. ↑ "UK pop divas flying high at balloon extravaganza". Hello. 13 August 2004. Archived from the original on 15 August 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Simpson, Dave (20 March 2006). "The Sugababes, City Hall, Sheffield". The Guardian (Guardian News & Media). Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  45. ↑ "Sugababes play secret gig". NME. IPC Media. 3 October 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2006. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  46. ↑ "Sugababes, Dragonette @ M.E.N. Arena". Manchester Evening News (Trinity Mirror). 2 April 2007. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  47. ↑ "Sugababes announce Greatest Hits tour". NME. IPC Media. 8 November 2006. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  48. ↑ Rawson-Jones, Ben (18 April 2007). "The Sugababes @ Wembley Arena, April 13". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Keogh, Kat (26 March 2008). "Review: Sugababes, Newcastle City Hall". The Journal (Trinity Mirror). Archived from the original on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  50. ↑ "Caught in a Moment – Single – Sugababes". iTunes Store. Apple. 20 September 2004. Retrieved 20 May 2013.

External links