Wordshaker

The Saturdays release the second album only in a year after the debut

Girls bands appear and disappear every now and then making it to give the world several singles during their existence. Spice Girls, Girls Aloud, Sugarbabes, Pussycat Dolls, Danity Kane – the number of such bands is still not that large as to confuse the audience and yet quite enough to create touch competition among them. That was the state of things when the British female five-piece in The Saturdays was formed in 2007. The band has resulted to be rather standard: five pretty girls with good vocal skills, two of which had already tasted the scene by that time, pop-tunes and purely girlish themes of songs. Nevertheless, the debut album Chasing Lights has received the platinum status, and some of the singles got into the British charts top tens. Only a year later completing a tour around its native country The Saturdays release their sophomore effort Wordshaker proving to be no less bright and incendiary than its predecessor. The first single Forever Is Over has already pleased the fans leaking in the Internet in August and the album Wordshaker contains much more successful moments than one could presume.

Mid-tempo songs and romantic ballads on Wordshaker

Most of the songs for the album Wordshaker has been written by Norwegian songwriter Ina Wroldsen who worked on the debut album, too. A surprise for the fans is the composition Deeper co-written by all the members of The Saturdays, and it definitely signs the artist’s huge potentials. As for the really good compositions, they actually prevail on the album. Here you can find some mid-tempo and energetic songs such as the opening first single Forever Is Over, demonstrating at once that each of the girls sings even more confidently, and a number of romantic ballads like for example Here Standing on which their vocal harmonies still please the ear. As for the themes the singers still cannot refuse to sing of too proud guys – listen to the rebuff Ego with contagious synths, a heavier song One Shot, a real bitch anthem, or the title track Wordshaker with a splendid club beat and memorable tune. No One, a sensual and emotional ballad is among the album’s most beautiful songs as well as a softer composition Denial on which the band members’ vulnerable side becomes obvious. Another danceable track Lose Control reminds me once again that we are dealing with contemporary girls inclined to independence and having fun, whereas a great R&B-number Not Good Enough has all the chances to become a new hit – the contrast of melodious verses and emotional chorus is especially successful here. The record ends up with three bonus tracks, the live versions of the songs Chasing Lights, Wordshaker and One Shot, proving that The Saturdays can sound on stage even better than in the studio.

Sincerity and independence in one bottle

No matter what the evil tongues might say The Saturdays deserve praise not only for its notable image and self-confidence but also for the evident members’ talent. Their voices can be heard very clearly on Wordshaker, and none of them can be called a leading vocalist. Besides, if the general atmosphere on the previous album was quite feministic, this time around the girls have been brave enough to display their vulnerable side. First, because the songs of the latter kind will prove closer to the male part of the audience, second, they will attract more emotional female listeners to The Saturdays. On the whole Wordshaker makes it clear: despite all the striving to seem independent as the today’s society demands from women, the group members are still capable of real feelings. The secret of their belief in themselves is hidden in this very sincerity: they know exactly when to play games and put on the masks and when to take them off and put all chips on the table. Judging by intensity of The Saturdays’ studio work its third creation will not take too long for the competition is still here and Wordshaker had better be followed by an even more original album.