Stooshe are an English Hip-Hop and R&B trio, comprising members Alexandra Buggs, Karis Anderson and Courtney Rumbold. Formed and based in South London, the group has gone on to achieve two top-five singles in "Love Me" and "Black Heart". They have also supported the likes of Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez on tour.
Though their image is prone to people thinking of three Jessie Js put into one group, their music is actually soul reminiscent of groups such as The Supremes. However, their lyrics are often more explicit and swearier than the Motown songs they were inspired by.
Discography:
- London With the Lights On (2013)
Stooshe provide examples of:
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: "Black Heart".
- Be Yourself: "Your Own Kind of Beautiful".
- Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: Courtney, Alexandra and Karis are the configuration of this, in that order.
- Bowdlerization: "Love Me". It includes, among its many edits, the line "turn it up and I'll go" in place of "make me come and I'll go". Which is good for radio and all, but it makes no sense.
- Break Up Song: "Perfectly Wrong".
- The Cameo: T-Boz and Chilli make an appearance in the "Waterfalls" video. They don't look too pleased to be there.
- Celebrity Endorsement: For the new range of Furbies.
- Cerebus Syndrome: Set in right in the middle of the campaign for their debut album. Listen to "Betty Woz Gone", "Fuck Me" and all of their other "early" tracks, then listen to "See Me Like This", "Your Own Kind of Beautiful" and their other "later" tracks. Big difference.
- Cover Version: Their debut album will contain covers of TLC's "Waterfalls" and Salt n' Pepa's "Whatta Man". They also covered Ini Kamoze's "Here Comes the Hotstepper" for the American Reunion soundtrack, as well as C+C Music Factory's "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." as the B-Side to "Black Heart".
- Girl Group
- Gold Digger: "Hoochi Mumma", about women who deliberately trap men by getting pregnant.
- Intercourse with You: "Fuck Me". It's in the title.
- There's also the Lighter and Softer Beyoncé soundalike, "Turning Me On".
- Meaningful Name: Their name is a portmanteau of "Stoosh", meaning anything from "good" to "stoned" (in addition to being the name of one of Skunk Anansie's albums), and "she".
- Not Staying for Breakfast: "Fuck/Love Me" is told from the POV of the person ... not staying for breakfast.
- One Man Song: "Jimmy".
- Rock Trio
- Record Producer: Almost all their songs are produced by Future Cut (Shakira, Lily Allen, Little Mix, Mutya Keisha Siobhan).
- Retraux / Genre Throwback: The majority or their music is based on retro soul, with "Ain't No Other Me" being a prime example. The video for "Slip" is also inspired by vintage TV shows and films, taking place in a Happy Days-style bowling bar.
- Scary Musicians, Harmless Music: There was actually a time when the group's image and sound actually matched up. Nowadays ... not so much.
- Self-Titled Album: Their debut album was going to b this at one stage.
- Singer Namedrop: In much of their earlier material, they had a tendency to say or sing their own name in their songs.
- Studio Chatter: Again, in much of their earlier material.
- Surprisingly Gentle Song: "Black Heart" was this to the hard-edged "Love/Fuck Me" and the snarky "Betty Woz Gone". However, their newer output seems to be leaning towards a Lighter and Softer approach anyway with songs like "Waterfalls" and "See Me Like This".
- Title-Only Chorus: "Betty Woz Gone".
- A Wild Rapper Appears!: Suave Debonaire/Travie McCoy in "Love/Fuck Me".