Black Coffee (All Saints song) Coffee" was written by Tom Nichols, Alexander von Soos and Kirsty Bertarelli. It is unique for being the only All Saints original single not to be written by group member Shaznay Lewis. Instead, the song was initially recorded by Kirsty under the title "I Wouldn't Wanna Be". She first wrote the song, basing it on her relationship with Swiss entrepreneur Ernesto Bertarelli who she met on his yacht off the coast of Sardinia in 1997. Gary Davies, a BBC Radio 1 DJ and Kirsty's manager, passed on the track's production to Nichols who was also under his management at the
Rock Steady (All Saints song) tracks. The song is upbeat and contains prominent 2 Tone, dance-pop, reggae fusion, rocksteady and ska or as described by the "Huddersfield Daily Examiner", "sassy reggae pop" musical characteristics. The song is constructed in verse-chorus form. The first verse is sung by Shaznay and the second verse is sung by Nicole. Melanie Blatt leads the song's middle 8 along with Natalie. All the verses are sung in call and response with the chorus being sung as a combined vocal by all group members with Shaznay on lead. Surrounding the release of "Rock Steady" was controversy regarding its sound after Cheryl