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Strip Me

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For the Anna Tsuchiya album, see Strip Me?
Untitled

Strip Me is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. Originally due for release on 9 November 2010, the album's release was pushed back to 7 December 2010. It is the second album that Bedingfield released exclusively in Canada and the United States, following in the footsteps of Pocketful of Sunshine (2007). Strip Me was preceded by the buzz single, "Touch" on 18 May 2010 and the album's title song which served as the official lead single on 21 September 2010.

Neither of the album's singles were particularly successful on the US Billboard charts, although the album's title song enjoyed some success on the adult contemporary format, where it peaked at number twenty-three. Critical response to the album was generally mixed, with critics praising Strip Me's polished production, but stating that Bedingfield failed to deliver anything different or outstanding. Commercially, the album only managed to debut at number 103 with 10,000 copies sold compared to her previous album, Pocketful of Sunshine, which debuted at number three, selling five times as many copies.

Background and production

Bedingfield finished recording the album in July 2010.[1] The project's title was unveiled through Bedingfield's official Twitter page on 15 July 2010.[2] She described the album as "be[ing] the next level from what I've already done. I think I've taken it to another place. It's just more vibrant and exciting. And I can't wait for people to hear it."[1] In an interview with Billboard's Mariel Concepcion, Bedingfield spoke of the album's concept. She said:

"I've titled the album Strip Me because its about stripping down who we are as humans. We're united about our needs, our desires and our pain, all the different things we go through together. Strip Me felt like it explains what the songs are about more than any other title I could think of. So it has a double meaning, but I think people kind of know me enough to know what I mean by it.[3]

The thirteen-track standard edition,[4] the twenty-one track deluxe edition[5] and pre-order bonus track editions[6] of the album where all constructed from more than fifty songs which Bedingfield had written since touring. In an interview with PopEater she said "I've been touring for so many years now that I wrote with my live gigs in mind. I wanted to write anthems that people could sing along to – things that were still personal, but definitely trying to find the best way to connect with people."[7] On the album she worked with Andreas Kleerup, John Hill, Wyclef Jean, Salaam Remi, Ryan Tedder, Jonas Myrin, Eg White and Sia Furler.[8] None of the songs worked on with Jean, Remi or Furler made the final tracklisting, although all of the songs on the final track list were co-written by Bedingfield.[4] Additionally Idolator revealed that Bedingfield had recorded a Ne-Yo-assisted duet titled "The Little Things", which was produced by StarGate, though it was not included on the final pressing either.[9] Bedingfield told fans in December 2010, via a recorded video message, that the album could be released elsewhere in the world later on but for the near present she was focussing on America.[10]

Promotion

Bedingfield's label, Epic records, outlined plans for the artist to tour in the second half of 2010, in support of the album.[11] However in September 2010, Billboard revealed that Bedingfield's tour plans were shifted back into 2011 though no dates were confirmed.[3] Additionally, the singer announced a partnership with NIVEA skincare for an upcoming beauty campaign[12] which will see the album's lead single, "Touch", being featured in TV commercials. Bedingfield said "I've never been happier than I am right now [...] I just celebrated my one-year wedding anniversary with the love of my life, and my new album, which I'm very proud of, will be released this fall."[13] Album track "Can't Fall Down" was exclusively streamed via Billboard's official website on 3 December 2010.[3] Meanwhile another song from the album, "Weightless", was made available to stream on E! Online's website.[14] Bedingfield promoted the album with performances of the album's title song on The Today Show on 7 December, LIVE! with Regis and Kelly on 8 December, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 9 December 2010 as well as appearances on Chelsea Lately and Rachel Ray.[15] She was also announced on the line-up for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve concert hosted by Ryan Seacrest.[16] According to AOL online, Bedingfield also signed a promotion deal with Hotel Indigo which would see cross promotion of the hotel chain and album.[17] In January 2011, Bedingfield was invited to the head offices of Rolling Stone magazine, where she performed "Pocketful of Sunshine", "Soulmate" and "Strip Me".[18]

Singles

"Touch" was initially unveiled as the album's lead single. The up-tempo song was written by Bedingfield, Julien Bunetta and Steve Kipner, and produced by Bunetta and Kipner,[12][11] It was released to the iTunes Store on 18 May 2010.[19] Additionally it was sent to U.S. Mainstream radio stations on 29 June 2010.[20] The song peaked on the Canadian Hot 100 at number sixty.[21] However it was later declared a buzz single, by Bedingfield's official website and the album's title track revealed as the replacement lead single.[22] "Strip Me" was released to Mainstream radio stations on 31 August 2010[20] and digital download on 21 September 2010.[23] "Strip Me" was moderately more successful, reaching number sixty-five in Canada and number ninety-one on the Billboard Hot 100.[24]

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[25]
California Chronicle[26]
Entertainment Weekly(C)[27]
Rolling Stone[28]
Slant Magazine[29]

Mikael Wood of Entertainment Weekly gave Strip Me a C rating and wrote that it "plays like one long, increasingly desperate pep talk. The only breather? 'Unexpected Hero,' a lovely late-Beatles-style ballad."[27] Allmusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted the album for "retaining [the] same blend of well-manicured R&B and European sophistication" of Bedingfield's debut album and commented that she "plays it exceptionally safe, to the extent that she even tones down the self-empowerment of her first two records, preferring pristine blue-eyed soul and adult contemporary ballads, all tailored for an aspirational upscale lifestyle".[25] Slant magazine's Jonathon Keefe found it "single-minded in its uplifting, inspirational tone", writing in conclusion that "Bedingfield uses her powerful voice to oversing most of her material, making Strip Me feel like even more of a sermon. It may not be the year's worst pop album, but it might just be the most exhausting and heavy-handed."[29]

Chart performance

Strip Me was originally due to be released on 9 November 9, 2010,[30] however it was pushed back to 7 December 2010.[31] It is Bedingfield's third album to be released in the United States and Canada and the second release by Bedingfield to be released exclusively in these territories, following in the footsteps of 2008's Pocketful of Sunshine.[32] On 16 December 2010, the album made its U.S. Billboard 200 chart debut at number 103, having sold just under 10,000 copies. It was a significant decline compared to Pocketful of Sunshine (2008), which debuted at number three having sold 50,000 copies.[33] It remained in the Top 200 for just its opening week,[34] however it re-appeared in 2011, on 15 January, at number 157.[35]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Little Too Much"John Hill, Jonas MyrinHill3:30
2."All I Need" (featuring Kevin Rudolf)Danielle Brisebois, Rudolf, John ShanksShanks3:45
3."Strip Me"Ryan Tedder, Wayne WilkinsBedingfield, Tedder, Wilkins3:29
4."Neon Lights"Tedder, WilkinsBedingfield, Tedder, Wilkins3:44
5."Weightless"Steve Kipner, Andre Merritt, WilkinsBedingfield, Kipner, Wilkins3:55
6."Can't Fall Down"Andrew Frampton, Kipner, WilkinsBedingfield, Kipner, Wilkins4:09
7."Try"Brisebois, ShanksShanks3:16
8."Touch"Julian Bunetta, KipnerBunetta, Kipner3:47
9."Run-Run-Run"Hill, Jonas MyrinHill3:06
10."Break Thru"Andreas Kleerup, Jonas MyrinKleerup4:07
11."No Mozart"Frampton, Kipner, WilkinsFrampton, Kipner, Wilkins3:48
12."Recover"Francis WhiteMarshell Altman3:49
13."Weightless (Less is More Version)"Kipner, Merritt, WilkinsAltman4:31
Total length:48:49
iTunes Store bonus track[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Easy" (with Rascal Flatts)Katrina Elam, Mike MobleyRascal Flats, Dann Huff3:39
iTunes Store pre-order bonus track[6]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Unexpected Hero"Daniel Carey[36]Carey[27]3:22
Deluxe edition bonus content[5]
  1. "Strip Me" (Less Is More Version)
  2. "All I Need" (Less Is More Version)
  3. "Can't Fall Down" (Less Is More Version)
  4. "Strip Me" (Less Is More Version) [Live Performance]
  5. "All I Need" (Less Is More Version) [Live Performance]
  6. "Can't Fall Down" (Less Is More Version) [Live Performance]
  7. "Weightless" (Less Is More Version) [Live Performance]
Sample credits

Personnel

Taken from Barnes and Noble.[37]

Performance Credits
Technical Credits

Charts

Release history

List of release dates, record label and catalog number
Region Date Edition (format) Label Catalog
Canada 7 December 2010 Standard Edition (CD, digital download)[38] Sony Music Entertainment 886977442222
Deluxe Edition (digital download)[39] 886977442223
United States[6] Standard Editions (CD, digital download) Epic Records 886977442222
Deluxe Edition (digital download)[40] 886977442223

References

  1. ^ a b McGonigle, Molly (16 July 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield on her new album: 'I've taken it to another place'". Wonderwall (MSN). Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  2. ^ Semigran, Aly (15 July 2010). "'Inception' Anticipation And Joe Jonas Films 'Cleveland' In Today's Tweet Dreams". Hollywoodcrush.mtv.com MTV Networks (Viacom). Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Concepcion, Mariel (14 September 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield Exclusive Song: "Can't Fall Down"". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). New York. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Strip Me (Media notes). Los Angeles, CA: Phonogenic, Epic Records (Cat no. 88697744222). 2010. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |albumlink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b "Strip Me (Deluxe Version) by Natasha Bedingfield – Preorder Strip Me (Deluxe Version) on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d "Strip Me by Natasha Bedingfield – Preorder Strip Me on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  7. ^ "Exclusive: Natasha Bedingfield Sets CD Release Date". PopEater.com. 7 September 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  8. ^ Bain, Becky (21 May 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield Is Back And Ready To Dance With New Single "Touch"". Idolator. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  9. ^ Bain, Becky (5 January 2011). "Natasha Bedingfield Celebrates "The Little Things" With Ne-Yo". Idolator.com (Buzz Media). Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  10. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield - New Album Message". YouTube. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  11. ^ a b Epic Records (15 June 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield Releases First Single, 'Touch' Off Forthcoming New Album". New York: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  12. ^ a b "Bedingfield releases new single on iTunes". UPI.com (United Press International). 25 June 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  13. ^ Epic Records (25 June 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield and NIVEA to Spread Happiness Across the Country With Exclusive New Single, 'Touch'". Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 11 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |locate= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Listen Now: Natasha Bedingfield's New Song "Weightless"". E! Online (E! Entertainment Television). 1 December 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  15. ^ Epic Records. "NATASHA BEDINGFIELD'S NEW ALBUM STRIP ME OUT NOW!". Epicrecords.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  16. ^ "Willow Smith, Drake to Rock in the New Year". Rap-Up.com. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  17. ^ Golden, Fran (16 July 2010). "Pop Star Launches Hotel Promo". Travel.aol.com AOL. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  18. ^ Medeiros, Kavad (13 January 2011). "Natasha Bedingfield faz performance ao vivo para a revista Rolling Stone" (in Portuguese). Popline.mtv.uol (MTV). Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Exclusive Natasha Bedingfield track "Touch" now available on iTunes U.S." natashabegingfield.com. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  20. ^ a b "CHR Available for Airplay Archive". FMBQ. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  21. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Billboard Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 1 February 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  22. ^ "Official News (US)". Natasha Bedingfield. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  23. ^ Latest activity 3 hours ago. "Strip Me: Natasha Bedingfield: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 1 December 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Charts & Awards". Allmusic. (Macrovision). Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  25. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (9 November 2010). "Strip Me – Natasha Bedingfield". AllMusic (Macrovision / Rovicorp). Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  26. ^ "Bedingfield stays upbeat and on point". California Chronicle. News Sentinel / ProRequest LLC (YellowBrix Inc.). Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  27. ^ a b c Wood, Mikael (1 December 2010). "Strip Me | Music". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  28. ^ Ganz, Caryn (7 December 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield - Strip Me (album review)". Rolling Stone. Jann S. Wenner. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  29. ^ a b Keefe, Jonathan (12 December 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield: Strip Me | Music Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  30. ^ Herrara, Monica; Lipshutz, Jason (14 September 2010). "Billboard Bits: M.I.A. Still Promises Free Show, Don Imus Preps 'Ranch Record'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  31. ^ "Strip Me: Natasha Bedingfield: Music". Amazon.com. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  32. ^ "Music - Natasha Bedingfield – Strip Me Review". 411mania.com. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  33. ^ Jones, Alan (16 December 2010). "Mixed US fortunes for UK females". Music Week (United Business Media). Retrieved 16 December 2010.
  34. ^ a b "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (albums)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  35. ^ a b "Billboard Top 200 Albums: Date 15 January 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  36. ^ "Title Search: Unexpected Hero (Natasha Bedingfield) Work ID: 881917722". ASCAP. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  37. ^ "Strip Me, Natasha Bedingfield, Music CD – Barnes & Noble". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved 1 December 2001.
  38. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield - Strip Me (Phonogenic/Epic)". Ca.7digital.com. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  39. ^ "Strip Me (Deluxe Version) by Natasha Bedingfield - Download Strip Me (Deluxe Version) on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  40. ^ "Strip Me (Deluxe Version) by Natasha Bedingfield - Download Strip Me (Deluxe Version) on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
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