Change (Sugababes song)

The song received mixed reviews from critics. Sunday Mail critic Mickey McMonagle called "Change" the album's best track and "a definite chart topper".[12] Alex Fletcher from Digital Spy and the BBC Chart Blog's Fraser McAlphine rated the song four out of five stars; the former regarded it as a "sophisticated pop ballad" and highlighted the Sugababes' vocal abilities,[5] while the latter described the chorus as "anthemic".[14] According to Dave Kelly of the Birmingham Mail, "Change" allows the Sugababes "to show that they have matured without surrendering their pop smarts".[11] In contrast, a writer from The Scotsman considered it "vapid",[22] while a critic for Manchester Evening News felt that the group's vocals were average.[10] Yahoo! Music's Emily Mackay criticised the song as "a limper retread" of the group's 2002 single "Stronger".[23] Tom Young of BBC Music wrote that "Change" "only flirts with credibility" due to the group's "irrepressible and watertight harmonies".[24] Writing for The Independent, Andy Gill regarded it as "colourless".[9]

"Change" failed to duplicate the success of its predecessor "About You Now". It entered the Irish Singles Chart in the issue dated 13 December 2007 at number 47, and peaked at number 21 the following week.[25] The single debuted on the UK Singles Chart on 1 December 2007 at number 85, based on digital downloads from the album.[26] It was considered a contender for the chart's 2007 Christmas number one,[27] but only managed to reach number 13 in the issue dated 29 December 2007.[26] Consequently, it marked the first time since 2000 where the second single from their album failed to reach the top ten.[26] "Change" spent 14 weeks on the chart,[26] and had sold 95,000 copies in the UK by April 2010, making it their 15th highest-selling single in the country.[28] "Change" peaked at number 31 on the Netherlands' Dutch Top 40 chart,[29] number 32 on the German Singles Chart,[30] and number 36 on the Romanian Top 100 chart.[31] The song debuted on the Slovakian Singles Chart at number 69, and reached number 15 nine weeks later.[32] In total, it spent 16 weeks on the chart.[32] The single appeared on the European Hot 100 Singles chart at number 45.[33]

The Sugababes represent the four seasons of the year in the song's music video.

The music video for "Change" was directed by Fatima Robinson.[34] Pictures from the set of the shoot were revealed in November 2007,[35][36] and the video made its premiere on 16 November 2007 on Channel 4. The concept focusses on the Sugababes represented as the four seasons of the year.[37] It opens with a scene of Buchanan, who depicts the season of spring.[37] She is featured with blue decoration in her hair and pink flowers around her eyes.[38] It then cuts to Berrabah, who is shown with long eyelashes and large red and yellow blooms in her hair, to represent summer.

The Sugababes are shown standing together in the next scene, where they are presented in a dark environment and covered in glitter.[38] Range is represented as the season of autumn.[35] The subsequent clip depicts Berrabah in a winter environment.[37] The group is shown together for a second time, although in a natural environment.[38] The next scenes depict Buchanan in the centre of a large purple flower, and leaves blowing past Range.[38] Towards the end of the video, the Sugababes are shown in the same dark and natural environments and eventually in their solo settings, before concluding with a shot of them in their natural environment behind a waterfall.[38] Mickey McMonagle from the Sunday Mail praised the group's seasonal outfits in the video.[39]

To promote the release of "Change", the Sugababes performed the single during an acoustic gig on 12 December 2007 in Scotland, as part of Radio Clyde's Up Close series.[40] They were supported by three musicians and played in front of 250 people.[40][41] The group performed the song on The Paul O'Grady Show the following day,[42] and on BBC Switch's entertainment programme Sound on 15 December 2007.[43] "Change" was included in the set list for the Sugababes' 2008 tour of the same name.[44] During the performances, they wore kimono-like robes which were covered in petals and autumn leaves.[44] The band also released petals into the crowd.[44]