Ouch (song)
Encyclopedia
"Ouch" is a song performed, written and produced the by English
hip hop
group N-Dubz
. It was released as the group's fourth overall single, first single with the record label All Around The World
and the first official single for their debut Platinum
-selling album, Uncle B
.
" as both songs deal with the issue of cheating within a relationship. The key difference between the two tracks is that "Ouch" involves the man in the relationship cheating whereas in "I Swear" it's the woman. In contrast the track's accompanied music video, whick leaked four month's prior to the song's single release, tells the same story as the song lyrics The song reached the B-list on BBC Radio 1
. The single reached a peak of #22 on the UK Singles Chart
making it the second consecutive single by the group to peak within the top thirty. "Ouch" combines elements of pop
, British hip hop
as well as R&B
or blue-eyed soul
. The song is accompanied by backing that combines both a violin
and a piano
melody
. As with all N-Dubz
songs, it was penned by the group themselves with group member, Fazer being credited for its production. The song is slow to mid-paced and features Tulisa taking on high and emotive vocals throughout the song. Dappy raps in the verses with Fazer rapping towards the end. The whole structure of the track revolves around a call-and-response argument between two lovers who in this case are played by the group members. The track is also significantly different from other N-Dubz songs in the sense that the song is opened with Tulisa singing the first verse as aposed to their regular tradition of Dappy opening the song rapping. The group planned on releasing the track much earlier than they did, but due to conflict with previous label Polydor Records
they were unable to until they were signed with All Around The World
.
The song's concept involves a real story of infidelity where Tulisa plays the role of the girl being cheated on by her boyfriend, which in the song's storyline is played by Dappy. Tulisa elaborated on the song's concept in an interview with FemaleFirst:
's program "Sound." The acoustic version was later made available for download on iTunes
during the single's promotion period before the release of "Papa Can You Hear Me?
" "Ouch" is featured as track number fourteen on the setlist for the group's "Uncle B Tour
." The Jorg Schmid
remix of "Ouch" features as track number three on disc number two on the compilation album "Clubland 14
". The lyric "My name is Shanikwa and what?" became so much of a popular catchphrase among the group's fans that it was imprinted and made available on specialised T-shirts for fans to wear.
Chart Blog reviewed the song, "The focal point of the song, and the reason why it does not suck (if that is what you believe to be true), is the story and the way they deliver each line as if they actually are the people in the song. He went on to elaborate on the levels of passion, fire and proper acting included in it. IndieLondon reviewed the song: "A big Kiss FM
anthem, N-Dubz
Ouch begins as a moody slice of smooth groove R’n’B before trading boy-girl raps over a story of bickering lovers. A thumping back beat adds atmosphere, some shameless “ah ah ha”’s bring pop credibility, but the gritty, urban style of the vocals lend it a much harder edge". Urbanreview.co.uk complimented it as a "banger" of a song with a "solid" music video. Subba-cultcha.com described the track as "Glossy R&B balladery."
on May 21, 2008. As of January 11, 2009, Ouch has had over 10 million views. On September 30, 2008, an unedited version hit the popular video sharing site YouTube
. The video begins with Dappy in a romantic setting with another woman whilst Tulisa is seen walking toward the house with a large suitcase after arriving from tour. Another scene then features all group members standing side-by-side in a black room with white and blue neon lights. Tulisa is visible singing on a balcony which looks over the city as wind blows through her hair. After entering the house, Tulisa walks up the staircase as she sings and uses hand gestures to perform the 'One step, two step, three step, for' lyric. She then walks into her bedroom only to find her boyfriend (not fazer) in their bed with another woman, the woman then gets upset and shouts "Name's Shaniqua and what?" which has become a famous catchphrase for N-Dubz
. Her boyfriend and Tulisa then start pushing each other around out of frustration from the situation. Tulisa starts throwing house objects at Fazer, who wears numerous types of outfits throughout the music video. Dappy is also seen performing on a rooftop. In the next scene, Tulisa takes her bag and gets into the car and starts driving whilst Fazer is holding onto the car, upset, and trying to stop her from driving away. As a result, Dappy has another new woman visit him and a romantic situation then occurs between the two of them as Shanikwa walks in on them with a response of anger. The second woman can also be seen slapping Dappy. In another scene, Tulisa can be seen singing whilst another man holds her. Tulisa also takes on a pair of black sunglasses later on, in the scene with her singing on the balcony. Fazer is featured in scenes throughout the video, and he can also be seen being slapped for infedility. The music video received a nomination at the 2008 Urban Music Awards
for 'Best Music Video' alongside the likes of Tinchy Stryder
and DJ Ironik
.
at #37 on downloads alone, upon its physical release it climbed to #22, the following week it fell 9 places to #31. The next week down to #38. It spend a total of 4 weeks inside the top 40. The song then went on to spend a further five more weeks in the top 75, totaling its charting period to nine weeks. It is so far the group's fourth most successful single to-date, with the singles: "Number 1," "I Need You
" and "Papa Can You Hear Me?
" all outperforming it chartswise.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
group N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
. It was released as the group's fourth overall single, first single with the record label All Around The World
All Around The World (record label)
All Around the World Productions Limited is a record label from Blackburn, England. The label specialises in Dance Music and most recently R&B.-History:AATW was founded by directors Matt Cadman & Cris Nutall in 1991....
and the first official single for their debut Platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
-selling album, Uncle B
Uncle B
Uncle B is the debut album released by N-Dubz. It was released on 17 November 2008. The album is dedicated to former N-Dubz manager and father of Dappy, Byron Contostavlos, who died shortly before the band were signed to their second record label All Around the World. It entered the official UK...
.
Background
The single was released digitally on 29 September 2008 and then received as a physical single the following week. The CD single features six different versions of the song, including three remixes. "Ouch" has been defined as the response single to the group's second single "I SwearI Swear (N-Dubz song)
"I Swear" is the second overall single released by English hip hop trio, N-Dubz under their self-funded record label. It was released on September 12, 2006 as their first mainstream release. The maxi single is the only single by N-Dubz that is available on the US iTunes store...
" as both songs deal with the issue of cheating within a relationship. The key difference between the two tracks is that "Ouch" involves the man in the relationship cheating whereas in "I Swear" it's the woman. In contrast the track's accompanied music video, whick leaked four month's prior to the song's single release, tells the same story as the song lyrics The song reached the B-list on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. The single reached a peak of #22 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The 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 ...
making it the second consecutive single by the group to peak within the top thirty. "Ouch" combines elements of pop
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...
, British hip hop
British hip hop
British hip hop is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of urban music...
as well as R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
or blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul
Blue-eyed soul is a media term that was used to describe rhythm and blues and soul music performed by white artists, with a strong pop music influence. The term was first used in the mid-1960s to describe white artists who performed soul and R&B that was similar to the music of the Motown and...
. The song is accompanied by backing that combines both a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
. As with all N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
songs, it was penned by the group themselves with group member, Fazer being credited for its production. The song is slow to mid-paced and features Tulisa taking on high and emotive vocals throughout the song. Dappy raps in the verses with Fazer rapping towards the end. The whole structure of the track revolves around a call-and-response argument between two lovers who in this case are played by the group members. The track is also significantly different from other N-Dubz songs in the sense that the song is opened with Tulisa singing the first verse as aposed to their regular tradition of Dappy opening the song rapping. The group planned on releasing the track much earlier than they did, but due to conflict with previous label Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
they were unable to until they were signed with All Around The World
All Around The World (record label)
All Around the World Productions Limited is a record label from Blackburn, England. The label specialises in Dance Music and most recently R&B.-History:AATW was founded by directors Matt Cadman & Cris Nutall in 1991....
.
We came to a standstill after the MOBO’s because we were having problems with the label and we weren’t agreeing on the path they chose for us. We kept bringing them singles like Ouch and they said ‘No, we don’t like it!’ and they kept trying to put us with new writers, with new producers. It was like – if you want to start doing this to us, you might as well get three little kids off the street and re-make them because that’s not why we came here.
The song's concept involves a real story of infidelity where Tulisa plays the role of the girl being cheated on by her boyfriend, which in the song's storyline is played by Dappy. Tulisa elaborated on the song's concept in an interview with FemaleFirst:
Ouch is a part two to I SwearAn exclusive acoustic performance of "Ouch" was performed by the group in bathroom showroom for BBC SwitchI Swear (N-Dubz song)"I Swear" is the second overall single released by English hip hop trio, N-Dubz under their self-funded record label. It was released on September 12, 2006 as their first mainstream release. The maxi single is the only single by N-Dubz that is available on the US iTunes store...
, and it's basically the other way round to I Swear, it's me being a girl, coming home, finding my boyfriend cheating on me. And then Dappy and Fazer come from a boys point of view and they're sort of asking for me back, "it's not my fault", that kind of business. It's all about a whole debate between a woman and man after finding out the mans cheated. It's just a whole storyline, the whole aftermath of it. The video's got a whole storyline too that people can relate to.
BBC Switch
BBC Switch was the brand for BBC content aimed at UK teenagers. The brand launched on Saturday 20 October 2007 on BBC Two And ceased broadcasting on Saturday 17 December 2010...
's program "Sound." The acoustic version was later made available for download on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
during the single's promotion period before the release of "Papa Can You Hear Me?
Papa Can You Hear Me?
"Papa Can You Hear Me?" is the sixth single by British Hip hop trio, N-Dubz. The song is dedicated to the group's former manager Byron Contostavlos, who died shortly before the band were signed to new label All Around the World...
" "Ouch" is featured as track number fourteen on the setlist for the group's "Uncle B Tour
Uncle B Tour
The Uncle B Tour was N-Dubz's first tour as a signed band. The tour was in support of their debut album, Uncle B.-Set list:* N-Dubz Backstage * I Swear* You Better Not Waste My Time* Feva Las Vegas** Costume Change...
." The Jorg Schmid
N Force
N Force was a small New Zealand Army unit which garrisoned Norfolk Island between October 1942 and February 1944. N Force was formed by detaching units from the 3rd New Zealand Division. As Norfolk Island never came under attack N Force did not see action....
remix of "Ouch" features as track number three on disc number two on the compilation album "Clubland 14
Clubland 14
Clubland 14 is a dance compilation album, from the Clubland series by Universal Music TV and All Around The World, released in 2008.-Track listing:...
". The lyric "My name is Shanikwa and what?" became so much of a popular catchphrase among the group's fans that it was imprinted and made available on specialised T-shirts for fans to wear.
Reviews
- Fraser McAlpine of the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Chart Blog reviewed the song, "The focal point of the song, and the reason why it does not suck (if that is what you believe to be true), is the story and the way they deliver each line as if they actually are the people in the song. He went on to elaborate on the levels of passion, fire and proper acting included in it. IndieLondon reviewed the song: "A big Kiss FM
Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
anthem, N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
Ouch begins as a moody slice of smooth groove R’n’B before trading boy-girl raps over a story of bickering lovers. A thumping back beat adds atmosphere, some shameless “ah ah ha”’s bring pop credibility, but the gritty, urban style of the vocals lend it a much harder edge". Urbanreview.co.uk complimented it as a "banger" of a song with a "solid" music video. Subba-cultcha.com described the track as "Glossy R&B balladery."
Music video
The music video was released on to YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on May 21, 2008. As of January 11, 2009, Ouch has had over 10 million views. On September 30, 2008, an unedited version hit the popular video sharing site YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. The video begins with Dappy in a romantic setting with another woman whilst Tulisa is seen walking toward the house with a large suitcase after arriving from tour. Another scene then features all group members standing side-by-side in a black room with white and blue neon lights. Tulisa is visible singing on a balcony which looks over the city as wind blows through her hair. After entering the house, Tulisa walks up the staircase as she sings and uses hand gestures to perform the 'One step, two step, three step, for' lyric. She then walks into her bedroom only to find her boyfriend (not fazer) in their bed with another woman, the woman then gets upset and shouts "Name's Shaniqua and what?" which has become a famous catchphrase for N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
. Her boyfriend and Tulisa then start pushing each other around out of frustration from the situation. Tulisa starts throwing house objects at Fazer, who wears numerous types of outfits throughout the music video. Dappy is also seen performing on a rooftop. In the next scene, Tulisa takes her bag and gets into the car and starts driving whilst Fazer is holding onto the car, upset, and trying to stop her from driving away. As a result, Dappy has another new woman visit him and a romantic situation then occurs between the two of them as Shanikwa walks in on them with a response of anger. The second woman can also be seen slapping Dappy. In another scene, Tulisa can be seen singing whilst another man holds her. Tulisa also takes on a pair of black sunglasses later on, in the scene with her singing on the balcony. Fazer is featured in scenes throughout the video, and he can also be seen being slapped for infedility. The music video received a nomination at the 2008 Urban Music Awards
Urban Music Awards
The Urban Music Awards is a HipHop, R&B, Dance and soul music awards ceremony launched in 2003 and now held in six countries annually.The awards ceremony is held annually by Invincible Media Group. The UMA's is now held in 6 countries annually...
for 'Best Music Video' alongside the likes of Tinchy Stryder
Tinchy Stryder
Kwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...
and DJ Ironik
DJ Ironik
James Christian Charters , better known as Ironik, is a British musician, DJ and rapper. His genre of music varies from R&B, grime and hip hop....
.
Track listing
UK CD Single / Digital Download- "Ouch" (Radio Edit) - 3:57
- "Ouch" (Wideboys Full Club Mix) - 6:51
- "Ouch" (Original Mix) - 3:57
- "Ouch" (Martin K Remix) - 3:50
- "Ouch" (Wideboys Bassline Mix) - 5:24
- "Ouch" (Jorg SchmidN Force (Band)N-Force is a UK Dance Act that formed in 2008. The act comprises Lois McConnell as the Lead Singer and Jorg Schmid, Chris Henry and Alex Zimbo. N-Force is currently signed to UK Dance label All Around The World, and have so far released six singles in the UK and Germany. N-Force's tracks have...
Remix) - 5:23
Chart performance
On October 5, 2008, the song entered the UK Singles ChartUK Singles Chart
The 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 ...
at #37 on downloads alone, upon its physical release it climbed to #22, the following week it fell 9 places to #31. The next week down to #38. It spend a total of 4 weeks inside the top 40. The song then went on to spend a further five more weeks in the top 75, totaling its charting period to nine weeks. It is so far the group's fourth most successful single to-date, with the singles: "Number 1," "I Need You
I Need You (N-Dubz song)
"I Need You" is a song performed, written and produced by MOBO Award-winning English hip hop trio, N-Dubz. The song was written by all the group members: Dappy, Fazer and Tulisa. Dappy and Fazer have been noted as the track's producers...
" and "Papa Can You Hear Me?
Papa Can You Hear Me?
"Papa Can You Hear Me?" is the sixth single by British Hip hop trio, N-Dubz. The song is dedicated to the group's former manager Byron Contostavlos, who died shortly before the band were signed to new label All Around the World...
" all outperforming it chartswise.
| Chart | Peak Position |
|---|