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Chelsea (song)

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"Chelsea"
Song
B-side"Cover Up"

"Chelsea" is the debut song recorded by American pop rock band Stefy. It was released as the lead single from their debut album, The Orange Album (2006). It was issued to mainstream radio in June 2006 and was made available as a CD single and digital download by Wind-up Records on July 18. The song features a melody, similar to that of The Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".

"Chelsea" was written by Jimmy Harry, and Greg Kurstin, while production was handled by Harry. The song received generally mixed reviews from music critics who compared it to the works of Gwen Stefani and Blondie, but found it to be a "weak" debut single. The song was moderately successful after its release, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play, and playing a prominent role in the video game 2006 FIFA World Cup (2006).

Background and release

"Chelsea" was written and produced during recording sessions in Los Angeles, California at 320 Studios and Bombshelter Studios.[1] Sessions for Stefy's debut album, The Orange Album, began when lead singer Stefy Rae was "look[ing] for [a] sense of uniqueness" in the music industry.[2] Rae stated that she was inspired to write "Chelsea" after another woman stole her boyfriend.[2]

The single was written by Stefy lead singer Stefy Rae, Greg Kurstin, and Jimmy Harry, while production was handled solely by Harry.[1] The track was released in 2006 as a CD single and digital download by Wind-up Records.[3] The CD single version of "Chelsea" came with B-side track "Cover Up".[4] The single was later issued to mainstream radio in June 2006, where it received modest success and significant airplay, charting on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play for nine consecutive weeks.[5]

Composition and reception

Color picture of singer Gwen Stefani
"Chelsea" was heavily compared to the works of Gwen Stefani.

Musically, "Chelsea" is a pop and new wave track, referencing the music of the late 80s and early 90s.[6] Chris Carle, writing for IGN, described the single as an "ode to jealousy, begin[ning] with [a] Eurhythmics-style synth before launching into a snarling, almost-tough chorus."[6] Marcus Duke for the Daily Express also noted the "sly sampling" of Eurhythmics, and stated "Stefy Rae has definitely been influenced by Gwen Stefani."[7] Francis Petruziello of Domain Cleveland Entertainment wrote an album review of The Orange Album and stated "'Chelsea' kicks off [the] album with the pixie-like vocals of Stefy Rae singing about a boyfriend leaving her for another woman."[8]

"Chelsea" received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Chris Carle of IGN praised the song for being a "standout track" and a "great blend of playful and painful".[6] Similarly, Marcus Dunk of the Daily Express wrote that "Chelsea" was a highlight for Stefy.[7] Francis Petruziello, writing for Domain Cleveland Entertainment, enjoyed the "danceable" qualities of the song.[8] A reviewer of Billboard enjoyed the single, comparing it to Gwen Stefani and Blondie's work, but considered it "hardly a proper intro" on The Orange Album, however, the reviewer praised it for being a "delectably bubble gum" song.[3] A critic from CMJ New Music Monthly was displeased with "Chelsea", stating that it's a "pale imitation of [a] classic decade-of-decadence act", referencing the song's sampling of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".[9]

Commercial performance

After its release, "Chelsea" was moderately successful. Due to strong airplay on mainstream radio, the single was able to peak at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play; it remained on the charts for nine weeks before departing the chart on October 7, 2006.[10] It also peaked at number eighteen on the Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart, where it lasted for four weeks.[5] In Europe, the single also faired moderately well. In the United Kingdom, the track debuted and peaked at number eighty-two on the Official Charts Company.[11] In Ireland, "Chelsea" debuted and peaked at number ninety-six.[12]

Music video

The official music video for "Chelsea" was first released on September 1, 2006 via YouTube, before being made available for purchase on September 13.[13] The video was directed by Nigel Dick and features a guest appearance by Adam West as the judge of a court case.[13] The video begins with Rae arriving at the scene of the case, surrounded by West and a group of female jurors who clap along to the song's melody. Presumably, Rae is trying to convict her ex-boyfriend of cheating on her. Various scenes include Rae performing at a school's gymnasium and picking a fight with a female antagonist named Chelsea. The video concludes with Rae winning the court case and walking away from the scene.

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from The Orange Album liner notes[1]

Recording
  • Recorded at 3:20 Studios and Bombshelter Studios, Los Angeles
Personnel

Charts

Charts (2006–07) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 96
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 82
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[10] 15
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[5] 18

Release history

Region Date Format Label
United States[3] June 2006 Mainstream radio Wind-up Records
United States[14] July 18, 2006 CD single, digital download
United States[15] Sebastien Leger Remixes CD
United Kingdom[4] 2007 CD single, digital download
Denmark[16] Sebastien Leger Remixes CD
United States[17] February 12, 2007 The Remixes EP The Bicycle Music Company
United Kingdom[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c The Orange Album (Liner notes). Stefy. New York City, New York: Wind-up Records. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ a b c "Billboard – Oct 14. 2006". Billboard. October 14, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b c "Stefy (2) – Chelsea". Discogs. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Chart Search". Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay for Stefy. Retrieved May 1, 2016. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b c Carle, Chris (August 28, 2006). "Stefy – The Orange Album". IGN. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Dunk, Marcus (April 13, 2007). "Stefy: The Orange Album". Daily Express. Retrieved May 1, 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b Petruziello, Francis (August 29, 2006). "Stefy – The Orange Album". Domain Cleveland Entertaiment. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  8. ^ "CMJ New Music Monthly – Sep 2006". CMJ New Music Monthly. September 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2016. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ a b "Stefy Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Stefy: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Chart Track: Week 10, 2006". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Stefy – Chelsea". Roxwell. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Stefy (2) – Chelsea". Discogs. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Stefy (2) – Chelsea - Sebastien Leger Remixes". Discogs. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Stefy (2) – Chelsea (Sebastien Leger Remix)". Discogs. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Stefy (2) – Chelsea (The Remixes)". Discogs. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Stefy (2) – Chelsea (The Remixes)". Discogs. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
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