A short, engaging guide to the Sweet 7 era and the rare sampler track "Ke Better."
By late 2008, the Sugababes—then comprised of Keisha Buchanan (the sole remaining original member), Heidi Range (joined in 2001), and Amelle Berrabah (replaced Mutya Buena in 2005)—were at a creative crossroads. Their previous album, Catfights and Spotlights, had underperformed despite critical acclaim. Their label, Island Records, wanted a radical sonic overhaul.
The result was Sweet 7: a sharp, aggressive, Auto-Tune-heavy foray into American electro-R&B. The group decamped to Los Angeles to work with the era’s biggest hitmakers: RedOne (Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance”), Ryan Tedder (Beyoncé’s “Halo”), and Stargate (Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music”). The lead single, “Get Sexy,” dropped in August 2009. It was brash, divisive, and a top-five hit.
But behind the scenes, the wheels were coming off. By September 2009, amid rumors of tension and "bullying" (which Keisha has vehemently denied for years), the unthinkable happened: Keisha Buchanan was fired via a lawyer’s letter. She was replaced overnight by Jade Ewen (the UK’s 2009 Eurovision entrant).
The Sweet 7 album was complete. Keisha’s vocals were on every track. But the label pressed forward with a new version of the album—re-recording all of Keisha’s parts with Jade in a matter of weeks.
If you only know Sweet 7 from the Jade Ewen version (officially released in 2010), you are missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. sugababes sweet 7 album sampler featuring ke better
While the final release polished Jade’s vocals onto the tracks, the sampler has a raw, aggressive energy that only Keisha brought. Specifically:
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Title: Throwback Review: Unpacking the Sugababes ‘Sweet 7’ Album Sampler (Feat. "Get Better")
Body: For many pop enthusiasts, the Sweet 7 era remains one of the most talked-about chapters in Sugababes history. Before the full album dropped, a promo sampler circulated that gave fans their first real taste of the "new" Sugababes sound (Amelle, Heidi, and Jade Ewen).
While the album is best known for the hit "About A Girl" and the controversial "Get Sexy," the sampler included a track that has piqued the curiosity of collectors: a song often cited in tracklists as "Get Better" (sometimes mislabeled as "Ke Better" on early file-sharing sites). Sugababes — Sweet 7 (Sampler featuring “Ke Better”)
The Context Released in late 2009/early 2010, this sampler was crucial. It was the bridge between the Keisha Buchanan era and the Jade Ewen era. For those looking for "Get Better," you are likely looking for the track that showcases the high-energy, EDM-influenced production that defined the Sweet 7 sessions.
Why this Sampler Matters
Verdict Whether you remember the era fondly or are a new listener digging through 2000s pop archives, the Sweet 7 sampler is an essential listen for understanding the evolution of the band. It’s pure, unadulterated pop energy from a time when girl groups ruled the charts.
If you are a collector, set up alerts for "Sugababes Sweet 7 Promo CD" or "Keisha Buchanan Album Sampler." Be wary of fakes; check the matrix runout number in the CD’s inner ring. Authentic samplers often have a white label with red text stating: "PROP 191 - Not For Resale."
Do not confuse this with the standard Sweet 7 (2009) with Keisha’s face on the cover. The sampler is the one with a tracklist printed on a single folded card, often missing tracks 5–10. "Wear My Kiss" : In the official release,
Listening to the sampler today is an exercise in melancholy. You hear a woman—Keisha Buchanan—fighting for relevance, leaning into a sound that wasn't hers, yet elevating it with pure star power. You hear a band about to shatter. And for those four tracks, you hear one of the greatest British pop vocalists of all time refusing to go quietly into the night.
The Sweet 7 sampler isn't just an album. It’s a warning, a farewell, and a masterpiece of what-could-have-been.
Have you heard the Keisha sampler? Do you prefer her versions to Jade Ewen’s? Join the debate in the comments below.
If you are digging through a charity shop or a car boot sale, here is how to identify the holy grail:
This is the crown jewel. The retail version of Sweet 7 uses the Keisha vocal, but the sampler features an extended 20-second intro where Keisha whispers the count-in and laughs. It’s a fleeting moment of humanity in an otherwise robotic pop landscape. The bass on the sampler is also noticeably heavier, making it a favorite for underground club DJs who received the promo vinyl.
A RedOne production that sounds exactly like a rejected The Fame B-side. On the sampler, Keisha takes the middle eight, her voice pitched slightly lower than the polished album version. Collectors argue that her delivery of the line "My lips are like a garage / You wanna park it" is more sardonic and "London" than the final take. The sampler also lacks the final "choir" effect in the bridge, giving it a sparse, gritty feel.