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My Happy Place

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My Happy Place
Studio album by
Emma Bunton
Released12 April 2019
Genre
Length33:33
LabelBMG
Producer
Emma Bunton chronology
Life in Mono
(2006) 		My Happy Place
(2019)
Singles from My Happy Place
  1. "Baby Please Don't Stop"
    Released: 27 February 2019
  2. "Too Many Teardrops"
    Released: 8 March 2019[2]
  3. "You're All I Need to Get By"
    Released: 29 March 2019[3]

My Happy Place is the fourth studio album by British singer Emma Bunton. It was released on 12 April 2019 by BMG Rights Management. The album consists of ten tracks; eight are cover versions of some of Bunton's favourite songs and two are original songs co-written by the singer.[4]

Background and development

The album was inspired by 1960's sounds, like motown and sixties pop.[1][5] In January 2010, Bunton stated that she had no plans to record a new album. She stated that while she loves singing, in her view it takes a lot of time and work to promote an album, and said that she would rather focus her time on her son Beau, who was born in 2007.[6] In February 2018, it was reported that Bunton was secretly recording new music.[7] [deprecated source]Bunton officially acknowledged the fact that she was recording new music on This Morning in June 2018.[8]

In November 2018, Bunton revealed that she had signed a record deal with BMG Rights Management and would be releasing a new album in 2019.[9] The album was officially announced on 25 February 2019. Explaining the album's title, Bunton said: "The reason I called the album My Happy Place is because my happy place is with my family, with my friends, listening to music and being in the studio. All those things came together on this album. While recording it my kids came to the studio, my friends came down, my mum listened to every song over and over again. Being in the studio I just feel so happy".[10]

Singles

"Baby Please Don't Stop" was released as the lead single from the album on 27 February 2019.[10]

On 8 March 2019, the second original track "Too Many Teardrops" was released as a buzz track. The song was described as "a resilient breakup anthem that sees her moving on from a failed relationship".[2]

A cover of the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell song "You're All I Need to Get By" was released as the album's second and final single from the album on 29 March 2019.[3] An accompanying music video starring Bunton's husband Jade Jones who duets on the song with her, was released on 13 May 2019.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Albumism[11]
AllMusic[1]
Darkstars7.5/10[12]
The Guardian[13]
The Irish News6/10[14]
The Leader6/10[15]
Metro[16]

My Happy Place received mixed reviews upon release. Some critics praised the cheerfulness and maturity of the album, whilst others criticised that it lacked in personality.

Quentin Harrison of Albumism gave the album four out of five stars, writing "It is a welcome return for the pop vocalist even with it breaking no new ground in the process", and referred to the original songs, "Baby Please Don't Stop" and "Too Many Teardrops" as the standout tracks.[11] The Irish News gave the album a 6/10 rating, naming "You're All I Need to Get By" the "strongest offering" on the record and referred to the rendition of "Here Comes the Sun" as "adorable", and concluding saying: "Some of her covers get lost in translation but mostly this is sweetly inoffensive".[14] Florian Buechting of flyctory.com gave the album three out of five stars, writing that it is "not all bad, but definitely not a must-buy as well. But listening to it the second and third time (which is very quick due to the limited playtime) makes it feel better and better".[17] The Herald Standard gave the album a positive review.[18] Mathias Frank of Gaeliste commented that the songs are "charmingly reinterpreted without destroying anything", praising the original tracks as well as the album's version of "2 Become 1".[19] Nina Mende of Tempelores wrote that "with a warm and soft voice, [Bunton] is singing each song, comforting you so you will gently sway along".[20] Chris Strieder of Darkstars awarded the album 7.5 out of 10 stars, calling its content "great and well-produced radio pop".[12] The Leader called My Happy Place "a sweetly inoffensive body of work that shows off [Bunton's] tuneful, easy-on-the-ears vocal and loveable personality".[15]

Metro gave My Happy Place a negative review, awarding it two out of five stars. The review praised the first three songs, but added that the rest "is a series of covers that seem to exist for no benefit other than Bunton’s. Given how well it started and how swiftly it palls thereafter, you’ll just wish you could love Bunton’s Happy Place more".[16] Thiago Nolla of Cinepop gave it two and a half stars out of five, criticising it for lacking in personality and uniqueness and felt that Bunton lost herself "in the midst of so many unnecessary emulations" and seemed "stagnant in a remote past". However, he praised "Too Many Teardrops" and "Baby Please Don't Stop", noting the latter has her "best vocals and creates a engaging, sexy and breathtaking atmosphere".[21] Aimee Cliff of The Guardian gave the album 2 out of five stars, concluding the review by writing: "It’s heartwarming to hear someone who has been through the mill of pop megastardom emerge so blatantly, straightforwardly happy. Unfortunately, with no drama or risks, it’s also incredibly dull".[13] AllMusic gave the album 2.5 out of five stars, praising the originals songs, as well as the covers of "I Wish I Could Have Loved You More" and "Don't Call Me Baby", but felt that the album as a whole was "a mixed bag".[1]

Chart performance

My Happy Place debuted and peaked at number 11 on the UK Albums Chart.[22] This marked Bunton's third non-consecutive top 20 entry on the chart.[22] Elsewhere in the UK, the album peaked at number three on Independent Albums Chart,[23] while also reaching number 9 on the UK Album Downloads,[24] and number 6 on both the Physical Albums,[25] and the Albums Sales Chart.[26] My Happy Place also debuted at number 7 on the Scottish Albums Chart.[27]

Track listing

All songs produced by Metrophonic.[28]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Baby Please Don't Stop"
3:00
2."I Wish I Could Have Loved You More"
3:23
3."Too Many Teardrops"
  • Bunton
  • Mascall
  • Barry
3:01
4."I Only Want to Be with You" (featuring Will Young)
3:58
5."Don't Call Me Baby"
4:05
6."You're All I Need to Get By" (featuring Jade Jones)
2:48
7."Come Away with Me" (featuring Josh Kumra)Norah Jones2:49
8."Emotion"
3:39
9."2 Become 1" (featuring Robbie Williams)
3:42
10."Here Comes the Sun"George Harrison3:08
Total length:33:33

Charts

Chart performance for My Happy Place
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[29] 92
French Physical Albums (SNEP)[30] 174
Irish Albums (IRMA)[31] 88
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27] 7
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[32] 55
UK Albums (OCC)[22] 11
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[23] 3
US Top Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[33] 7

Release history

My Happy Place release history
Country Date Edition Format Label Ref.
France 12 April 2019 Standard Digital download BMG [34]
Germany [35]
United Kingdom
  • Standard
  • deluxe
  • CD
  • digital download
  • cassette
  • LP
 [36]
Australia
  • Standard
  • deluxe
  • CD
  • digital download
United States 12 April 2019 Standard Digital download [37]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Yeung, Neil Z. "Emma Bunton My Happy Place". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b Nied, Mike (12 March 2019). "Emma Bunton Continues Serving Retro Vibes On New Single "Too Many Teardrops"". Idolator. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Listen: Emma Bunton & her boyfriend Jade Jones cover 'You're All I Need to Get By' live". axs. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Emma Bunton announces new album, duet with Robbie Williams". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Emma Bunton: My Happy Place review – smily Spice sticks to the inoffensive". The Guardian. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  6. ^ Balls, David (20 January 2010). "Emma Bunton rules out new solo album". Digital Spy.
  7. ^ Ingham, James (4 February 2018). "Spice girls to release NEW MUSIC as part of their comeback – but it won't be as a group". Dailystar.co.uk.
  8. ^ Kitchener, Shaun (7 June 2018). "Spice Girls' Emma Bunton drops bombshell on live TV: 'This is the first time I've said it'". Express.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Emma Bunton to release new album in 2019 after signing new solo deal with BMG". 17 November 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Emma Bunton announces first solo album in 12 years, 'My Happy Place'". Attitude.co.uk. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  11. ^ a b Harrison, Quentin. "Emma Bunton Returns in Reverent & Ravishing Form with 'My Happy Place'". Albumism. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  12. ^ a b Strieder, Chris. "Emma Bunton – My Happy Place". Darkstars. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  13. ^ a b Cliff, Aimee (12 April 2019). "Emma Bunton: My Happy Place review – smily Spice sticks to the inoffensive". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  14. ^ a b Mapstone, Lucy (12 April 2019). "Album reviews: The Chemical Brothers, Emma Bunton, LSD, The Drums". The Irish News. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  15. ^ a b Staff Reporter. "Album reviews: The Chemical Brothers prove they've still got it". The Leader. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Music reviews: Chemical Brothers bring that big beat back!". Metro. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  17. ^ Buechting, Florian. "Emma Bunton – My Happy Place (Album Review)". flyctory. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Music review: Emma Bunton – 'My Happy Place'". The Herald Standard. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  19. ^ Frank, Mathias. "Emma Bunton – My Happy Place". Gaesteliste. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  20. ^ Mende, Nina (12 April 2019). "Emma Bunton – My Happy Place". Templores. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  21. ^ Nolla, Thiago (12 April 2019). "Album Review My Happy Place – Emma Bunton resurances from the ashes with album without much personality". CinePop. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  22. ^ a b c "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100 (19 April 2019 - 25 April 2019 )". Official Charts. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100 (Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100)". Official Charts. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100 (19 April 2019 - 25 April 2019 )". Official Charts. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  28. ^ "Emma Bunton announces new solo album including some HUGE duets". Heat. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  29. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #521". auspOp. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  30. ^ "Top Albums Physiques (12/04/2019 - 19/04/2019)". SNEP. April 2019. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  31. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 19 April 2019". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  32. ^ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 16: del 12.4.2019 al 18.4.2019" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Billboard Heatseekers". Billboard. 27 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  34. ^ "My Happy Place".
  35. ^ "My Happy Place". Amazon Germany.
  36. ^ Release of My Happy Place in the United Kingdom:
  37. ^ "My Happy Place". Amazon.
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