Graffiti My Soul
Encyclopedia
"Graffiti My Soul" is a song by British all-female pop
group Girls Aloud
, written and produced by Brian Higgins
and his production team Xenomania
. Originally written for Britney Spears
and including a sample of Peplab's "It's Not The Drug", the song appeared on Girls Aloud's second album What Will The Neighbours Say?
. It was expected to be the album's final single, but was canceled so Girls Aloud could begin recording their third album Chemistry.
, producer Brian Higgins
revealed that "Graffiti My Soul" was intended for Britney Spears
's In The Zone
. While the record company loved "Graffiti My Soul", Britney's people felt that the song needed more of a chorus. Higgins said that they wanted "essentially Sound of the Underground 2
."
Cheryl Cole
said in January 2008 that if there was an album track she'd like to release, it would be "Graffiti My Soul". She described Britney's version as "strange," adding that it wasn't fully mixed. Cole said that Spears sang it in "that really strange voice and it freaked me out."
The song was performed at two of Girls Aloud's tours, What Will the Neighbours Say? Live and Girls Aloud: Greatest Hits Live From Wembley Arena.
described "Graffiti" as a standout track on Girls Aloud's album, describing it as "a full-scale collision between Madonna
, Michael Jackson
and the Prodigy
". The Guardian
, the sister publication of The Observer, also said the song makes you question: "What if the Prodigy hadn't turned down the chance to write with Madonna?" Yahoo! Music
called the song "frighteningly sharp and sassy."
Matt Helders
, the drummer of indie rock
band Arctic Monkeys
, praised the song: "Their songs do really musical, clever things; the stutter-rapping in Graffiti My Soul… They're unbeatable."
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group 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...
, written and produced by Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins (producer)
Brian Thomas Higgins is a British music producer who has written and produced albums and tracks for several highly successful pop music singers and groups, most notably Girls Aloud, through his Xenomania production group...
and his production team Xenomania
Xenomania
Xenomania is a British songwriting and production team founded by Brian Higgins and based in Kent, England. Formed after Higgins met Miranda Cooper, Xenomania has written and produced for renowned artists such as Cher, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Pet Shop Boys, and Sugababes...
. Originally written for Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
and including a sample of Peplab's "It's Not The Drug", the song appeared on Girls Aloud's second album What Will The Neighbours Say?
What Will the Neighbours Say?
What Will the Neighbours Say? is the second album by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud. It was released in the United Kingdom on 29 November 2004 by Polydor Records. Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania were enlisted to produce the entire album, allowing for more inventive ideas...
. It was expected to be the album's final single, but was canceled so Girls Aloud could begin recording their third album Chemistry.
Background
In a 2004 interview with The ObserverThe Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, producer Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins (producer)
Brian Thomas Higgins is a British music producer who has written and produced albums and tracks for several highly successful pop music singers and groups, most notably Girls Aloud, through his Xenomania production group...
revealed that "Graffiti My Soul" was intended for Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
's In The Zone
In the Zone
In the Zone is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Britney Spears, released on November 16, 2003, by Jive Records. Following the end of the Dream Within a Dream Tour in July 2002 and her break-up with Justin Timberlake, Spears announced she would take a six-month break from her...
. While the record company loved "Graffiti My Soul", Britney's people felt that the song needed more of a chorus. Higgins said that they wanted "essentially Sound of the Underground 2
Sound of the Underground (song)
"Sound of the Underground" is the debut single by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, later featured on their debut album of the same name. The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, and Niara Scarlett, and produced by Higgins and his production team Xenomania...
."
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
said in January 2008 that if there was an album track she'd like to release, it would be "Graffiti My Soul". She described Britney's version as "strange," adding that it wasn't fully mixed. Cole said that Spears sang it in "that really strange voice and it freaked me out."
The song was performed at two of Girls Aloud's tours, What Will the Neighbours Say? Live and Girls Aloud: Greatest Hits Live From Wembley Arena.
Critical reception
The ObserverThe Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
described "Graffiti" as a standout track on Girls Aloud's album, describing it as "a full-scale collision between Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and the Prodigy
The Prodigy
The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
". The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, the sister publication of The Observer, also said the song makes you question: "What if the Prodigy hadn't turned down the chance to write with Madonna?" Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music
Yahoo! Music, owned by Yahoo!, is the provider of a variety of music services, including Internet radio, music videos, news, artist information, and original programming...
called the song "frighteningly sharp and sassy."
Matt Helders
Matt Helders
Matthew Helders , is the drummer for English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys. He is the most comprehensive backing vocalist in the group, appearing on several tracks, including the majority of 'Humbug'...
, the drummer of indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, praised the song: "Their songs do really musical, clever things; the stutter-rapping in Graffiti My Soul… They're unbeatable."