19/03/2021
Sarah Harding’s songwriting talent is being recognised, so it is lovely to see 'Hear Me Out' by Girls Aloud sat at no.1 on iTunes. This was Sarah's co-write on the 2nd album 'What Will The Neighbours Say'.
This is how it happened……
They all came down to Kent on a really hot mid summer day in 2004 to each write a song for the album. It was a classic English summers day, hot, the colour green and the colour blue everywhere with with a warm light breeze.
We took the whole day very seriously and we wanted each song to bring the very best out of each girl’s writing talents. The band knew before they arrived that this was very much their day, so, on arrival, The Old Vicarage was filled with this added layer of fantastic, excited energy.
It was a great day to be at Xenomania - everybody wanted them to smash it! Lots of adrenaline and buzz to do great things and see what each girl had. One by one, Miranda and I sat with the band as they came in to write their song against music they had chosen earlier - all the xeno team had prepared their musical ideas that they each thought would capture one or some of the girls’ attention.
Gladly, each girl heard something they were confident in and felt was close to their own musical hearts.
The lyric and top line writing took place in the yellow room at our first studio in Westerham. The sun was pouring into the room and it was about 4.30pm so the light felt perfect. It was also hot in the room, but not oppressive - just right. Sarah was definitely very nervous and hyped before we started, big bolts of adrenaline rushing through her. The music started and BANG! The chorus roared out of her virtually finished! Miranda and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows, mouths falling open. WOW! I was not expecting that. In the one time she had heard the musical backing track when picking music earlier, she had been able to write the whole of the chorus. It is pretty amazing when things like that happen - when the first idea smashes it.
And what a vocal performance! It’s emotional, it’s earnest and it’s raw, but, the vocal melody is also skilled, intelligent and finds true and real emotions in the chords that the music offers. This is art - true, complete expression. This is why we do it - we pursue that moment, we pursue those feelings. To boot, It also has the feel of classic 80’s/90’s euro which makes it even more amazing!
As a song, 'Hear Me Out', completely warrants its place on the album. It was talked about as a 4th single and just lost out to the pile driver that is 'Wake Me Up'. Sarah chose that moment to write the song of her life - a song that is completely true to who she is.
I am very grateful to anyone who has downloaded or streamed the song and made it so visible right now because it has given me the opportunity to tell the story of 'Hear Me Out'.
Sarah, I am delighted for you with this success and recognition of your abilities, you deserve this!
Lots of love from Brian, Miranda, Tim, Nick, Jon, Lisa, Tim L, Shawn, Sarah, Richie and from anyone else who worked with you and the band on that album on that day in the summer of 2004 x
