Mis-Teeq were a British R&B girl group, comprising singers Alesha
Dixon, Su-Elise Nash and Sabrina Washington. Originally a quartet which
included Zena McNally, the group was formed in 1999 and released three
major studio albums and seven consecutive UK top ten singles, including
international hits such as "All I Want", "One Night
Stand" and "B With Me".
Following the release of their self-titled U.S. album and the single "Scandalous" in
2004, the band's record label Telstar Records went bankrupt,[1] in
January 2005 Mis-Teeq announced their disbandment.
Since splitting, Dixon has had numerous success including winning
Strictly Come Dancing in 2007, followed by becoming a judge on the
show in 2009, alongside releasing three albums since her debut release
in 2006.
Alesha Dixon and Sabrina Washington soon met Su-Elise Nash, and
together they formed a trio. They were then signed to Sub Pop by
Pat Travers, who went on to sign them to Telstar Records with the
addition of a new member, Zena McNally, and became Mis-Teeq.
[edit] 2000-2002: Rise to fame
After months of recording - including sessions with producers Norwegian
duo Stargate, Ed Case, Blacksmith, Rishi Rich, and Ceri Evans - Mis-Teeq
finally released their debut single "Why?". Co-written
and produced by David Brant, a remix version by Matt "Jam" Lamont
soon became a success in the underground UK garage scene, and as
a result a second music video for the song was filmed and released.
While "Why" became a hit on the UK Singles Chart, with
a peak position of #8, McNally decided to leave the line-up in spring
2001.
The three remaining women went on to release their second single "All
I Want" in June 2001 Co-written and originally produced by David
Brant & Produced and Remixed by Ceri Evans aka Sunship. The song
topped the success of the trio's debut single and became a #2 hit
in the UK, simultaneously entering the top 30 of the Australian singles
chart. On October 27, 2001, the band finally released their debut
album, Lickin' on Both Sides. The album became a platinum success
and sold more than 300,000 copies domestically.[2] Outside the UK,
however, Lickin' on Both Sides failed to chart or sell noticeably.
Nevertheless Mis-Teeq saw instant international success with their
Stargate-produced third single "One Night Stand": While
the song peaked at #5 on the UK singles chart, it also entered the
top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Denmark. In 2002, the
band's fourth single, "B with Me", continued the group's
remarkable sales with another top 10 entry in the UK; once again
entering at #5. The last release from Lickin' on Both Sides was a
double A-side of "Roll on" and the Montell Jordan cover "This
Is How We Do It", latter song being featured on the soundtrack
for Ali G's 2002 film Ali G Indahouse. This release entered the charts
at #7 on 29 June 2002.
The band supported Shaggy on his UK tour in 2002. Their album was
featured on the popular driving game Midtown Madness.
[edit] 2003-2005: Eye Candy and split
Returning from a short hiatus, Mis-Teeq released their second album,
Eye Candy on March 29, 2003. The album featured production by Stargate,
Ed Case, Salaam Remi, singer Joe, Delroy "D-Roy" Andrews
and Jermaine Dupri and debuted at its peak position of #6 on the
UK Albums Chart, eventually receiving a gold certification.[2] While
Eye Candy's sales failed to link on the sudden success of Lickin'
on Both Sides, pre-released lead single "Scandalous" became
the group's most successful single by then: It reached #2 in the
UK and top 10 in Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and Denmark.
In June 2003 the album's second single "Can't Get It Back" became
the band's seventh and final domestic top ten single. Originally
a remake of the same-titled unreleased Blaque single from 2002, Mis-Teeq
and Telstar agreed not to use album version, instead releasing the
alternate "Ignorants Radio Edit" as an official single
version which entered the UK charts at #8 on 12 July 2003. The song
also was included on a Special Edition of Eye Candy which was released
in December of the same year and spawned a third single with "Style".
However the song failed to reach the UK top 10 and eventually peaked
at #13.
"Scandalous" was released in the US in May 2004 (under
another label, Reprise Records) and reached #35 on the Billboard
Hot 100 chart in June, making it their only US hit. The song was
featured as the theme of the film Catwoman, starring Halle Berry,
in Summer 2004.
After the announcement of their split in 2005 they released a compilation
album, Greatest Hits, containing a new track, a cover of The Andrews
Sisters 1940s song "Shoo Shoo Baby", and they were awarded
a 2005 Soul Train Lady of Soul Nomination for Best R&B/Soul Album
- Group, Band or Duo for their album "Mis-Teeq".
A reworked version of their hit single "Scandalous" can
be heard in the new commercial for the Giorgio Armani fragrance,
'Armani Code'.
*
o BREAKING NEWS** - There are several petition's going around on twitter for
the girls to re-form this year and do a tour and release a new record. The
petition to date after only two days has had over 70,000 signatures. The
girls of course will have the final say on this, although Alesha Dixon did
state on several occasions to the press late last year that she would consider
performing with the group again as there is unfinished business.
[edit] 2006-present: Solo careers
It was scheduled for Dixon to release her debut album Fired Up during
2007, however the album's UK release was cancelled due to the poor
reception of the first two singles "Lipstick" and "Knock
Down" which charted at #14 and #45 respectively.
Dixon performing Drummer Boy while supporting McFly
Fired Up did however achieve moderate success in Japan. Her comeback
single, "The Boy Does Nothing" (co-written by Brian Higgins)
was received much more positively, reaching #5 on the UK single chart
and the top twenty in various other European countries. Her follow-up
single, "Breathe Slow", followed it into the top 10 in
early 2009. "Breathe Slow" has so far become Dixon's most
successful single peaking on the UK charts at #3. The Alesha Show
debuted on the UK charts at #26. However, after the success of "Breathe
Slow" it climbed to reach a new peak of 12. The Alesha Show
has so far been certified platinum by the BPI, selling in excess
of 300,000 copies in the UK.[2][3] The next single was released on
the 11 May 2009 and was entitled "Let's Get Excited". Dixon
started her first UK headlining tour, The Alesha Show, in October
2009. Meanwhile, in September 2010 Alesha released a new single "Drummer
Boy", which entered the UK chart at #15. Her third album, The
Entertainer which was released in November was not as successful
as her second, reaching #82 in the chart with the single "Radio" peaking
at #46.
Washington, who changed her stage name to Puma Washington, released
a demo titled "Pocket Rocket" in June 2006. She featured
in the ITV reality TV show, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
in 2009, finishing in sixth place.
Nash went back to university to get her business degree. In 2008,
she was in the jury of the television casting show, Britain's Next
Urban Superstar, broadcast on Flava (UK), a cable channel, whose
winner was Frenzee from Bristol.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
Year Title Peak positions
UK[4] NZ U.S. BEL
2001 Lickin' on Both Sides 3 — — 28
2003 Eye Candy 6 40 — —
2004 Mis-Teeq — — 125 —
2005 Mis-Teeq: Greatest Hits 28 — — —
[edit] Singles
Year Title Peak positions Album
UK[4] IRE U.S. AUS BEL NL
2000 "Why?" 8 — — — — — Lickin'
on Both Sides
2001 "All I Want" 2 — — 31 23 —
"
One Night Stand" 5 28 — 17 47 —
2002 "B With Me" 5 — — 19 — 77
"
Roll On"/"This Is How We Do It" 7 — — 42 — 25
2003 "Scandalous" 2 3 35 9 19 34 Eye Candy
"
Can't Get It Back" 8 14 — — 48 —
"
Style" 13 — — — — —
2005 "Shoo Shoo Baby" — — — — — — Mis-Teeq:
Greatest Hits
[edit] Soundtracks
Year Title Film
2001 "Why?" Goodbye Charlie Bright
2002 "This Is How We Do It" Ali G Indahouse
2004 "Scandalous" Catwoman
2005 "Shoo Shoo Baby" Valiant