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I Belong to Me

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For the 1967 Danish film, see I Belong to Me (film).
"I Belong to Me"
Song

"I Belong to Me" is a song by American recording artist Jessica Simpson from her fifth studio album, A Public Affair. The song was written by Diane Warren[1] and produced by Stargate.[2] It was released on September 26, 2006 by Epic Records, as the second single from the album. Originally the song was not included in the standard version of the album, but was released in a version of Walmart as a bonus track. The lyrics of "I Belong to Me" is constructed in verse-chorus format and focuses on the dissatisfaction of love.

The song received mixed reviews, despite the success of previous single "A Public Affair". In the United States, the single reached number 10 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and at number ninety-nine the Billboard Pop 100.

Background and subject matter

After finishing with the process of promoting the movie The Dukes of Hazzard, in late 2005, and in the midst of pain of separation with Nick Lachey, her husband at the time, Simpson told MTV beginning in the process of preparation of their fifth studio album. In mid January, the album begins to walk up, unlike their last album which was full of pop ballads, this would be more mobile and with a little disco similar to those of the 1980s.

"I Belong To Me" was recorded in March 2006, was not included in the final cut of the album songs, however Walmart launched a new version of the album where this was included as a bonus track, because the label, I think the song had great potential as future success. In August 2006, Simpson fans could listen on its official website the songs, "B.O.Y.", "I Belong to Me", "I Don't Want to Care", "If You Were Mine", "The Lover in Me" and "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" and vote for the song that would become the second single. It was reported in early September that Simpson had chosen "I Belong to Me" as the second single.

When asked in an interview whether she had written songs that were reflective of her life, Diane Warren named "I Belong to Me", saying "that's one of the closer songs to me, because I feel that. I don't need someone to complete me. I complete myself. I don't believe that you need a person to complete you. That's my philosophy."[3] Simpson said of the song, "It's a very powerful statement ... about owning yourself and controlling yourself. It's part of evolving, of growing up and becoming a woman."[4]

Critical reception

"I Belong to Me" received mixed reviews from music critics. According to Billboard magazine, the song has the same "self-empowerment theme" as Simpson's 2004 single "With You".[5] Billboard wrote that "Simple R&B-lite production allows Simpson's lovely vocal to hold the reins, making for a song (written by the incomparable Diane Warren) that is a thematic bull's-eye for her female teen target [...] let's see if programmers make this release more of the public affair it deserves to be".[5] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine wrote, "I Belong To Me," an exclusive Walmart bonus track, will instead be the follow-up, a coup for the retail giant and a big fuck-you to competitors and unknowing fans who pick up the album anywhere else. The song is an obvious rip of Mariah's "We Belong Together," but succeeds at giving the singer a potential hit that might actually have long-term appeal.[6]

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone (magazine) gave the song two stars out of five; Did Ashlee get all the talent? On Jessica's big post-divorce statement, she still sounds like a prissy kid, braying, "I complete myself" in "I Belong to Me," her answer to Nick Lachey's "What's Left of Me."[7]

Commercial release

Before the release of A Public Affair, the song was taken off the album's track listing[3]—Simpson said that this was because she "was kind of afraid to sing the song"[4]—and only the Wal-Mart edition of the album included the song as a bonus track.[5] It was believed that the song had hit potential,[3] and consequently Simpson's record label added it to subsequent versions of the album.[5] During August 2006, Simpson's fans could listen on her official website to the songs "B.O.Y.", "I Belong to Me", "I Don't Want to Care", "If You Were Mine", "The Lover in Me" and "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", and vote for which song would become the second single.[8] It was reported in early September that Simpson had chosen "I Belong to Me" as the second single.[9]

In the United States, "I Belong to Me" was made available for airplay at mainstream contemporary hit radio stations on September 26.[10] During the same period, the song debuted at number twenty-five on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart and at number ninety-nine on the Billboard Pop 100.[11][12] It spent three non-consecutive weeks on each chart (until early November), peaking at number ten on the former and at number ninety on the latter.[13][14] It failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.[15]

Music video

Background and concept

The music video for the song directed by Matthew Rolston was filmed in September 2006.[16] It was given a "sneak peek" on MTV's Total Request Live in the U.S. on October 4, and was premiered in its entirety on October 11. On October 3, 2009 the video was released to the official VEVO channel Simpson, currently has over 4 million reproductions. Simpson said that the shoot was "a very emotional time" for her, and that she thought viewers of the video would "experience what I've been experiencing for the past year".[17]

The video shows Simpson with blonde hair platinum. Begins with a close-up Jessica's face with green focus clear images. Then she is lying on a bed, take an undergarment and throws it to the ground, walk around the room and looking out through a window. Keep walking and you look in a mirror, take scissors and begins to cut off the hair improperly. Once end takes an eye pencil, and starts exaggeratedly maquillase. Mind after a crown is placed on his head and starts much to mourn. Going to the toilet and begins to clean your face.

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles[13] 10
US Pop 100 (Billboard)[18] 90
Ukraine (FDR Pop Charts)[19] 7

References

  1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-belong-to-me-mw0001900121
  2. ^ http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Jessica+Simpson&titel=I+Belong+To+Me&cat=s
  3. ^ a b c Arianne Cohen (2006). "I Belong to Me". Nerve.com. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b AP (October 9, 2006). "Taking charge of a 'normal' life". The Age. The Age Company Ltd. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d Taylor, Chuck. "I Belong to Me". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-12-25. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/jessica-simpson-a-public-affair
  7. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/a-public-affair-20060907#ixzz38el0j1wb
  8. ^ Staff (August 11, 2006). "For The Record: Quick News On Jessica Simpson, Beyonce, Notorious B.I.G., Tego Calderon, Harry Potter & More". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Staff (September 7, 2006). "For The Record: Quick News On Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Kevin Federline, Jessica Simpson & More". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ "CHR - Available for Airplay". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - I Belong To Me". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 23, 2006. Archived from the original on 2014-08-22. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ "Pop 100 - I Belong To Me". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 23, 2006. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) [dead link‍]
  13. ^ a b "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles - I Belong To Me". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 4, 2006. Archived from the original on 2014-08-22. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ "Pop 100 - I Belong To Me". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 4, 2006. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) [dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Jessica Simpson - Artist Chart History - Singles". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ Shah, Neel (October 25, 2006). "Joe Simpson's Family Photo". Radar Online. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ ExtraTV Staff (September 20, 2006). "Jessica Simpson Set to Remake 'Working Girl'". ExtraTV.com. TTT West Coast, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-23. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  18. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jessica-simpson-mn0000287407/awards
  19. ^ http://fdr.com.ua/compilation/P/281/
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