Monday 13 July 2009

95: Sweet Female Attitude - Flowers

UK Garage was something of a phenomenon, no? For a brief period from the summer of 1999 to the summer of 2001, the UK Singles Chart was littered with big-selling chart hits that fitted neatly into their own genre, best described as "speed garage" or "2 step", more club and radio-friendly than earlier jungle and drum'n'bass tracks. Significantly, most of these tracks were successful only in the UK, giving the whole scene a very British feel. Shanks & Bigfoot, DJ Luck & MC Neat, and The Artful Dodger all hit the top of the charts in 1999, and by 2001, as the genre was starting to be supplanted by more traditional rap and R'n'B, Mis-Teeq and So Solid Crew were still able to record huge hits.

Right in the middle of the era of UK garage, in April 2000 came one of its biggest successes, and most likeable tracks, in the form of 'Flowers'. Recorded by one-hit wonders from Stockport, its catchy rythmn and singable chorus ("I'll bring you flowers in the pouring rain, living without you is driving me insane") created a dancefloor smash that summer, which sold over 300,000 copies, and was nominated for a Brit Award.




Sweet Female Attitude turned out to be such one-hit wonders that no other information seems to exist about them on the entire interweb. I can tell you, however, that their names were Leanne Brown and Catherine Cassidy, and that having gone off to start families, they are now back recording again, working with a member of Body Rockers under the name The Koo Zooz. Though bizarrely, their MySpace now lists Arctic Monkeys as an influence.

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