It’s been 25 years since Sweet Female Attitude shot to (almost) the top of the charts with their iconic song Flowers.
The song peaked at number two in the UK in April 2000, spending five weeks in the top 10 and becoming an instant club classic.
Sweet Female Attitude, consisting of Leanne Brown and Catherine Cassidy,then released follow-up single 8 Days A Week and an album, In Person, but couldn’t keep up with Flowers’ momentum.
Leanne says the track has become ‘family’ and ‘part of her DNA’, having initially recorded it when she was just 17.
However, the now 45-year-old singer confessed to Metro that having such a successful song could be a ‘double-edged sword’.
‘It’s a glass half empty or half full situation,’ Leanne said of being branded a one hit wonder in the years since Flowers was released.
(Picture: David Parry/PA Media Assignments)
She continued: ‘I would have loved to have been able to follow up the success of that but I just haven’t had the same engine which that song had at the time.
‘I mean, I’ve had other songs that are underground hits or I’ve done vocals on people’s club hits that they don’t know it’s me because I’m an anonymous singer.
‘I hate “one hit wonder” because it means that everything else is ignored but at the same time I’m thinking; “It’s better to have a one hit than a non hit”.’
During some periods in her life, Flowers’ success has made Leanne feel ‘typecast’ but Leanne is now ‘used to’ the title so it ‘bothers’ her less.
She added: ‘It certainly put my foot in the door in terms of being able to work with other industry professionals.’
In honour of the song’s 25th anniversary, the Manchester-born icon has teamed up with Amex Gold and is giving out free flowers to Londoners on January 8 and 9.
‘If I was walking down the street and somebody was just there handing out flowers in front of a nice, vibrant billboard, it would brighten my day up,’ she grinned. ‘Hopefully, it’ll bring a bit of warmth to people’s days.’
The song might have been an instant chart success but Leanne recalled a ‘very long and laborious’ journey to get it released.
Flowers had two writers — Mike Powell and Martin Green — with Leanne being brought in to provide vocals and give the song her own Sweet Female Attitude spin.
They would do full days and nights working in the studio, even flying out to Denmark to meet with acclaimed producers Cutfather & Joe.
Cutfather is best known for his Return Of The Mack remix has worked on songs like Jamelia’s Superstar and Kylie Minogue’s Get Outta My Way.
Sweet Female Attitude ‘never expected anything’ to happen with the song, which made the first time Leanne heard it on the radio even more incredible.
‘Hearing a song on the radio for the very first time is like nothing I think I’ll ever experience again,’ she said and added: ‘There’s nothing weirder than hearing your own voice on the radio for the first time.’
She’s proud of the career she’s built but wishes she had been more attentive to the business side of the music industry when she first started out.
The singer advises any other young artists to make sure it is clear exactly who contributed what to each track, with ‘all the Ts crossed and Is dotted’.
‘It can dampen the positivity of a song if you don’t take care of that business at the start,’ she warned.
Despite some industry difficulties, Leanne still loves performing Flowers and calls that moment of recognition her ‘favourite thing’.
She laughed and shared: ‘Sometimes the penny hasn’t dropped for people that it’s Sweet Female Attitude. They’re just really having a good time and when that song drops, they can hear the voice is the same.
‘They’re like “Oh wow, okay”, that’s my favourite thing. Then people want pictures afterwards when I’ve got sweaty hair and sweaty face — it’s never before.’
Leanne still tours frequently, mainly doing DJ sets with her husband, as well as releasing remixes and even some new tracks.
She teased: ‘We’re going to be writing and releasing another Sweet Female Attitude album of R&B, House and Garage originals. We’re literally going to be in the studio for most of the year.
‘Definitely [keeping] the upbeat energy of Flowers. I’ve identified that the key Flowers is in resonates. So, a similar sort of essence.’
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