Higher (The Saturdays song)
"Higher" is a song by British-Irish girl group The Saturdays from their debut EP, Headlines!. Written by Ina Wroldsen and co-written & produced by Arnthor Birgisson, the song was released on 28 October 2010 as the second and final single from the EP. In preparation for its release, the single was remixed to feature new vocals from American rapper Flo Rida after the rapper's single "Club Can't Handle Me" beat the group's previous single "Missing You" to number one; it was the second time they had lost the position to Flo Rida. Rochelle Humes jokingly said that the group would never get a number one until they collaborated with him.
"Higher"
"Had It with Today"
28 October 2010
2009–2010 (Los Angeles)
- 3:31 (album version)
- 3:18 (single version)
Arnthor Birgisson
Flo Rida personally offered the collaboration for both his and the group's fans. Critics generally praised the song as the strongest offering from Headlines!, for being infectious, catchy and feisty. An accompanying music video for the song was shot in Los Angeles at Fox Studios, at the end of August 2010, and features the girls dancing through a New York City traffic jam. The single remix of the song premiered on 16 September 2010 through Capital FM, while a new version of the video featuring Flo Rida premiered on 9 October 2010. "Higher" was successful, peaking in the top-ten in the Scottish and UK singles charts as well as top-fifteen in Ireland. It also won the 2011 Popjustice £20 Music Prize.
Background[edit]
After the group's previous single "Missing You" was beaten to number one for a second time by U.S. rapper Flo Rida, Wiseman joked that the group would have to record a song with him before they could top the UK Singles Chart.[1] Flo Rida responded by telling The Daily Star, "If we could make a collaboration happen I would be up for that. I don't know much about The Saturdays but we put smiles on people's faces when we make music, which counts more than getting number ones".[2] Then several days later it was confirmed that a collaboration had gone ahead with Flo Rida recording vocals for one of the group's songs[3] though the group were not present when the recording took place.[4] Yahoo! Music confirmed that the rapper reached out to the group and "[they] graciously agreed to his generous offer".[5] The group's official website confirmed that he will feature on a brand new version of "Higher" which will be released as the next single from Headlines!.[6]
Composition[edit]
"Higher" was confirmed to be a new single from the group, back in April 2010 when Rochelle Wiseman was interviewed for 'Entertainment-Focus'.[7] It is an uptempo song, with a guitar-based melody.[8] It also has "surging beats" and a "breathless chorus".[9] Wiseman said "Higher is a classic Saturdays pop tune.... We can't help but dance around when it comes on!"[7] The lyrics show a more serious side to the group[8] who make use of auto-tuning on their vocals.[10] The production was described as "hectic".[9] The single version of the song features new vocals from US rapper, Flo Rida,[6] and was debuted on Capital FM on 16 September 2010.[11]
Awards[edit]
On 6 September 2011, "Higher" was awarded the Popjustice £20 Music Prize, as voted for by members in the music industry, and fans, via social network sites such as Twitter. "Higher" beat off competition from Adele, Jessie J and Take That, all of whom had enjoyed critical approval and chart success that year, with both #1 singles and albums.
Chart performance[edit]
"Higher" the album version, first charted on the UK Singles Chart at number eighty-six following the song's announcement as a single, following strong digital sales of Headlines!.[16] The remix featuring Flo Rida premiered on 16 September 2010 on Capital FM and the group's official YouTube page.[17] On 25 September "Higher" debuted at number sixteen in Scotland almost three weeks before the single was released.[18] The single peaked at number ten after its physical release on the UK Singles Chart and at number nine on the Scottish Charts.[19]
Live performances[edit]
The Saturdays performed "Higher" several times during music festivals over summer 2010, but had to perform without Mollie King after she got bitten by a horse-fly and became ill.[25] They performed the single together for the first time at the end of the second episode of their four-part reality TV series, The Saturdays: 24/7, on 2 September 2010.[26] "Higher" was also part of the setlist during their performance at the 2010 Help the Heroes concert on 12 September 2010.[27] On 5 October 2010 they were invited to perform at the season finale of Britain's Next Top Model.[28]