Sister, Sister (song)

"Sister, Sister" is a single by Kuboian girl group Shady Sisters, released on 6th December 1998 as the second single from their only studio album Sister Act. Produced by Mad Hatter and co-written by Boaz Böhler, it has been described by AllMusic as a "progressive KB hopscotch tune". According to member Emily Merletta, the song is about being there for your family and friends during hard times.

The song was originally released in December 1998 with the hopes that it would become a Christmas number one, although limited promotion and competition from other popular songs made "Sister, Sister" only chart at number six. However, after the song was used heavily during the fourth series of Magma Eye, it re-entered the Karuboia charts in February 1999 at peaked at number one, becoming Shady Sisters' second and final single to do so. It has often been described as their signature song.

Background
Unlike their previous single, "Sister, Sister" was mostly written by members Emily Merletta and Enny Emery themselves. The song's titular "sister, sister" hook came from a catchphrase that Merletta and Emery would sometimes use when speaking to each other. In a 2000 interview, the duo denied speculations that the song title/catchphrase was a reference to the American sitcom Sister, Sister, with Emery claiming she had never watched the show.

"Sister, Sister" uses the "Amen break", although the sample was not credited upon the single's official release.

The single's B-side, "Lose Control", is a cover of "Plus Profond" by Belgian band Hooverphonic, which appears on their 1996 album A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular. The cover appears as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Sister Act.

Critical reception
Pop Magazine gave "Sister, Sister" a B rating citing "The Shady Sisters are back with a dark, gritty dance tune with great harmony and a crazy rhythm. Maybe not the future of hopscotch, but certainly a track that will get anybody on the floor."

Chart performance
"Sister, Sister" debuted on the Karuboia charts on 13th December 1998 at #14, rising to #6 the following week. The song remained in the top 100 for the following seven weeks. Following its inclusion in the premiere on the fourth series of Magma Eye, the song rose back to the top twenty, charting at #15 on 7th February 1999. The following week, it finally peaked at #1, where it remained for three weeks. It marked the Shady Sisters' second and final song to peak at the top of the charts.

Music video
The music video for "Sister, Sister" was shot in Jaillage, East Kuboia, on a tight budget. Emily Merletta said "We didn't want to spend too much money making something big and flashy. We just wanted to make a video that could go well with the song." The video features Emery and two other teenagers heading out at night to meet Merletta. After walking through some gritty, abandoned buildings, they start being followed by a man in a black car with tinted windows. Eventually, Merletta realises what is going on and tricks the man into opening a door with the police she called earlier in the video and is swiftly arrested.

An alternative music video premiered on Nick Go! in October 1999. This version instead features Merletta and Emery singing the song in a bedroom whilst the video occasionally switches to scenes of the second, third and fourth series of Magma Eye.

Kuboian cassette single

 * 1) "Sister, Sister"
 * 2) "Lose Control"

Kuboian CD single

 * 1) "Sister, Sister"
 * 2) "Sister, Sister" (Frank Weasel acid mix)
 * 3) "Lose Control"
 * 4) "Sister, Sister" (karaoke ver.)

UK CD single

 * 1) "Sister, Sister" (UK radio edit)
 * 2) "Sister, Sister" (extended mix)
 * 3) "Sister, Sister" (N-Trance rave mix)
 * 4) "Lose Control"