Scandalous (Mis-Teeq song)

"Scandalous"
Single by Mis-Teeq
from the album Eye Candy
Released	17 March 2003 (2003-03-17)
Studio	StarGate (Norway)
Genre	R&B
Length	3:59
Label	Telstar Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Mikkel S. Eriksen Hallgeir Rustan Tor Erik Hermansen Alesha Dixon Sabrina Washington Su-Elise Nash
Producer(s)	StarGate
Mis-Teeq singles chronology
"Roll On"/"This Is How We Do It" (2002) "Scandalous" (2003) "Can't Get It Back" (2003)
Alternative cover
US maxi-single cover
Music video
"Scandalous" on YouTube

"Scandalous" is a song by British girl group Mis-Teeq. It was composed by band members Su-Elise Nash, Alesha Dixon, and Sabrina Washington along with frequent collaborators Hallgeir Rustan, Tor Erik Hermansen, and Mikkel Eriksen for their second studio album, Eye Candy (2003), with record production handled by the latter two under their production moniker StarGate. Written in the key of C minor, "Scandalous" is an up-tempo R&B song with a heavy bassline, strings, a siren sound, and suggestive lyrics.

The song became a hit throughout Europe and Oceania, reaching the top 10 in Australia, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. "Scandalous" has sold 195,000 copies in the UK, becoming the group's biggest-selling single.[1] In 2004, "Scandalous" was chosen as Mis-Teeq's second single in the United States, where it reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Billboard Dance Singles Sales chart, and number 11 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40.

A mashup of "Scandalous" with the Redman & Adam F song "Smash Sumthin'" was performed live at the 2003 MOBO Awards, where the song was nominated for two awards, including 'Best Video'.[2] The mashup, titled "Sumthin' Scandalous", appears on the limited edition of "Eye Candy".

Music video

The music video was directed by Jake Nava. It starts at night, where a lone man is seen running through an urban, inner city area, and disabling CCTV cameras, with a vicious dog on a leash barking at him. The man then runs into an unused warehouse, the location of a secret nightclub where Mis-Teeq are seen. Street dance and breakdancing is predominantly seen throughout the rest of the video. The audio for the music video starts out as the radio version for most of the song, before transitioning to the Jazzwad remix from the middle of the bridge onwards.

Track listings

UK CD single[3] "Scandalous" (radio mix) – 4:02 "Scandalous" (Oracle remix) – 4:59 "Scandalous" (Jazzwad remix) – 4:41 "Scandalous" (Blacksmith radio remix) – 3:48 "Scandalous" (video) UK cassette single and European CD single[4][5] "Scandalous" (radio mix) – 4:02 "Scandalous" (Oracle remix) – 4:59 Australian CD single[6] "Scandalous" (radio mix) – 4:00 "Scandalous" (Oracle remix) – 4:57 "Scandalous" (Jazzwad remix) – 4:40 "Scandalous" (Blacksmith radio remix) – 3:48

US CD single[7] "Scandalous" (single version) – 3:58 "Scandalous" (Blacksmith radio remix) – 3:48 US maxi-CD single[8] "Scandalous" (single version) – 3:58 "Scandalous" (Blacksmith remix) – 5:03 "Scandalous" (Jazzwad remix) – 4:47 "Scandalous" (Rudeness vocal remix) – 6:21 "Scandalous" (Bermudez & Griffin Stained Blue Dress mix) – 7:52

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Eye Candy album booklet.[9]

Studios

• Recorded and mixed at StarGate Studios (Norway)
• Mastered at Metropolis Mastering (London, England)

Personnel

• StarGate – production
  • Mikkel S. Eriksen – writing, all instruments
  • Hallgeir Rustan – writing, all instruments
  • Tor Erik Hermansen – writing, all instruments
• Mis-Teeq – all vocals
  • Alesha Dixon – writing
  • Sabrina Washington – writing
  • Su-Elise Nash – writing
• Miles Showell – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003–2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[10] 9 Australian Urban (ARIA)[11] 5 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[13] 25 Canada CHR/Pop Top 30 (Radio & Records)[14] 4 Canada Hot AC Top 30 (Radio & Records)[15] 16 Denmark (Tracklisten)[16] 9 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 13 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[18] 19 France (SNEP)[19] 27 Germany (GfK)[20] 59 Greece (IFPI)[21] 11 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[22] 25 Ireland (IRMA)[23] 3 Italy (FIMI)[24] 33 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[25] 7 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 34 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 4 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[28] 15 Scotland (OCC)[29] 3 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 35 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 35 UK Singles (OCC)[32] 2 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[33] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[34] 35 US Dance Club Play (Billboard)[35] Remixes 32 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[36] Remixes 2 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 11

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position Australia (ARIA)[38] 68 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[39] 88 Ireland (IRMA)[40] 47 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[41] 50 UK Singles (OCC)[42] 40 Chart (2004) Position US Dance Radio Airplay (Billboard)[43] 42 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[44] 23 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[45] 51

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[46]	Gold	35,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[47]	Gold	400,000^‡
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
United Kingdom	17 March 2003	CD	Telstar	[48]
Japan	31 March 2003		Victor	[49]
Australia	7 April 2003		Telstar	[50]
United States	12 April 2004	Contemporary hit radio	Reprise	[51]
	15 June 2004	CD		[52]

In popular culture

Mis-Teeq promoted the song by appearing in Coca-Cola television commercials aired in 2003 to coincide with the song's release, resulting in extra publicity.[53] The song was then featured in promotions for the 2004 film Catwoman. Originally, the film's theme song was to be Britney Spears' "Outrageous", but Spears broke her knee on the set of the music video and the idea was scrapped. This resulted in "Scandalous" becoming the theme song.[54] It was also featured in the 2024 film Madame Web.[55]

References

1. "Official Chart Pop Gem #16: Mis-Teeq, Scandalous". Official Charts. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
2. "Mobo Awards 2003: The nominees". BBC News. 1 September 2003. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
3. Scandalous (UK CD single liner notes). Mis-Teeq. Telstar Records. 2003. CDSTAS3319.
4. Scandalous (UK cassette single sleeve). Mis-Teeq. Telstar Records. 2003. CASTAS3319.
5. Scandalous (European CD single liner notes). Mis-Teeq. Telstar Records. 2003. TWR0068-2, 2467 80068-2.
6. Scandalous (Australian CD single liner notes). Mis-Teeq. Telstar Records. 2003. 2467-80075-2.
7. Scandalous (US CD single liner notes). Mis-Teeq. Reprise Records. 2004. 16435-2.
8. Scandalous (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Mis-Teeq. Reprise Records. 2004. 2-42723.
9. Eye Candy (UK CD album booklet). Mis-Teeq. Telstar Records. 2003. TCD3304.
10. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
11. "Issue 691" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
12. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
13. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
14. "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1565. 23 July 2004. p. 25. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
15. "R&R Canada CHR/Pop Top 30" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1568. 13 August 2004. p. 57. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
16. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous". Tracklisten. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 21, no. 15. 5 April 2003. p. 13. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
18. "Mis-Teeq: Scandalous" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
19. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
20. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
21. "Top 50 Singles Εβδομάδα 30/11–06/12" (in Greek). IFPI. Archived from the original on 9 December 2003. Retrieved 29 June 2020. See Best Position column.
22. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
23. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Scandalous". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
24. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous". Top Digital Download. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
25. "Tipparade-lijst van week 21, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
26. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
27. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
28. "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 32, saptamina 18.08–24.08, 2003" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on 19 February 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
30. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
31. "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
32. "Mis-Teeq: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
33. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
34. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 10 July 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
35. "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 17 July 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
36. "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 10 July 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
37. "Pop Airplay". Billboard. 26 June 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
38. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2003". ARIA. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
39. "Jaaroverzichten 2003". ultratop.be.|access date=11 September 2022
40. "Top 100 Songs of 2003". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 2003. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
41. "End of Year Charts 2003". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
42. "ChartsPlus Year-End 2003" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
43. "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Dance Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. 17 December 2004. p. 56.
44. "Year in Music & Touring: Hot Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 52. 25 December 2004. p. YE-61.
45. "2004 The Year in Charts: Most-Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs". Billboard Radio Monitor. Vol. 12, no. 51. 17 December 2004. p. 22.
46. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
47. "British single certifications – Mis-Teeq – Scandalous". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
48. "New Releases – For Week Starting 17 March 2003: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 15 March 2003. p. 29. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
49. "スキャンダラス | ミスティーク" [Scandalous | Mis-Teeq] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
50. "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 7th April 2003" (PDF). ARIA. 7 April 2003. p. 27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2003. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
51. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1550. 9 April 2004. p. 20. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
52. "Scandalous [CD-5] – Mis-Teeq | Release Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
53. "Coca-Cola to use Mis-Teeq TV ad". www.campaignlive.co.uk.
54. cantstopthepop (15 March 2021). "Mis-Teeq – Scandalous". Can't Stop the Pop.
55. Rivieccio, Genna (19 March 2024). "The Most Glaring Issue About Madame Web Is Actually Its Timeline Faux Pas With Britney Spears' "Toxic" and Mis-Teeq's "Scandalous"". Culled Culture.