Obsession (Animotion song)

Side one

1. "Obsession" - 3:58

Side two

1. "Turn Around" - 3:54

Side one

1. "Obsession (Dance Remix)" - 6:00

Side two

1. "Obsession (Special Dub Mix)" - 5:30

The Sugababes' version of "Obsession" was produced by Dallas Austin, who collaborated with the Sugababes on various tracks on the album.[15] Group member Heidi Range initially recorded "Obsession" as a demo with Ashley Hamilton, although the Sugababes later decided to record it as a group. They spoke to Austin about their desire to record the song, and according to Range, "he was made up, because it’s one of his favourite songs."[16] "Obsession" was mixed by Jeremy Wheatley at TwentyOne Studios, London, with assistance from Richard Edgeler.[17] It was engineered collectively by Rick Shepphard, Graham Marsh (producer), Ian Rossiter and Owen Clark.[17] Tony Reyes provides background vocals for the song.[17] "Obsession" was recorded at DARP Studios, in Atlanta & Home Recordings, London.[17] It derives from the genres of synthpop[18][19] and electronic rock.[20] K. Ross Hoffman of AllMusic described it as "sugary synth pop".[19] Talia Kraines of BBC called the cover an "exact reworking" of the original.[18] The instrumentation consists of an electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and keys.[17] Alex Roginski of the Sydney Morning Herald noted that the song "thumps out analog synth and the glittering chord progressions of a 1980s nightclub".[21]

The Sugababes' cover of "Obsession" had a polarizing effect on critics. Harry Rubenstein of The Jerusalem Post felt that the group added nothing new to the track and instead stuck to a "straight up" cover, which he considered disappointing.[22] Nick Southall of Stylus Magazine regarded it as a "pleasant but unspectacular cover".[23] A journalist from The Scotsman considered it a "less engaging non-song" and criticised the group's decision to cover it.[24] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian felt that the Sugababes' version "sands off the edges rather than amps up the lunacy", and concluded: "what's left is like 1980s night at karaoke".[25] On the positive side, BBC's Talia Kraines named it the album's standout pop track.[18] Similarly, Peter Robinson of The Observer described the "spirited gambol" as one of the album's highlights.[26] Anna Britten from Yahoo! Music thought that the cover was even better than the original, and appreciated the "gorgeous, perfumed menace on the song's subject" which she felt resembled Sin City's "gun-toting Valkyrie-hookers".[27] Simon Price of The Independent praised the song as "instant pop",[20] and a writer from The Liverpool Daily Post & Echo considered it a "brilliantly seductive reworking" of the original.[28]

The Sugababes performed "Obsession" on the tours for Taller in More Ways and Overloaded.

"Obsession" was included in the set list for the Sugababes' tour supporting Taller in More Ways.[29] It was one of three tracks from the album that was not released as a single to be performed on the tour.[29] Gurdip Thandi of Birmingham Mail regarded the song's performance at the NIA Academy as "polished".[30] "Obsession" was also included in the set list for their 2007 tour in support of Overloaded: The Singles Collection, the group's 2006 greatest hits album.[31]

Recording

• Recorded at DARP Studios, Atlanta & Home Recordings, London

Personnel

• Songwriting – Holly Knight, Michael Des Barres
• Production – Dallas Austin
• Engineering – Rick Shepphard
• Assistant recording engineering – Graham Marsh (producer), Ian Rossiter, Owen Clark
• Mixing – Jeremy Wheatley for 365 Artists at TwentyOne Studio, London
• Guitar and bass guitar – Tony Reyes
• Drums and keys – Dallas Austin
• Background vocals – Tony Reyes

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Taller in More Ways, Universal Island Records.[17]