Battlefield (album) explained

Battlefield
Type:studio
Artist:Jordin Sparks
Cover:BattlefieldCover.jpg
Caption:Standard edition cover
Recorded:January–June 2009
Length:44:45
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Jordin Sparks
Prev Year:2007
Next Title:
  1. ByeFelicia
Next Year:2014

Battlefield is the second studio album by American singer Jordin Sparks, first released on July 17, 2009 through Jive Records and 19 Recordings.[1] [2] The album debuted at number 7 in the United States, number 11 in the UK, number 34 in Australia and top 20 in many territories.

Contributions to the album's production came from a variety of producers, including Harvey Mason, Jr., Claude Kelly, Ryan Tedder, Dr. Luke and Lucas Secon. The title track was released as the lead single from the album in May 2009, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. "S.O.S. (Let the Music Play)" (which contains a sample from Shannon's 1983 single "Let the Music Play") was released as the second single from Battlefield in August 2009, followed by "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" (a cover version of Fefe Dobson's song of the same name) as the third single in January 2010. Upon its release, Battlefield received mixed reviews from music critics, most of whom complimented the production and Sparks' vocal performance, but criticized its lack of originality in terms of pop music. The album sold over 600,000 copies worldwide.[3]

Background and production

Sparks confirmed in several interviews that the album would take the themes from the first single, "Battlefield". Then it was announced through the official press release that the album would be named Battlefield, after the first single, because it was central to the themes and other recordings for the album. Speaking of the lead song, Sparks said

Sparks spoke to Billboard magazine about how the recording process was much different to that of her previous album. Her debut had been recorded in approximately 20 days due to the huge appetite that fans had for her music.[4] On the new album Sparks took her time meaning that not only could she write some of the songs but also had time to make the sound more mature or reject records which she felt unhappy with.[4] Writing for the album began in the middle of 2008.

Music

On May 18, 2009 it was revealed so far Sparks had recorded 30 songs for the album but would select songs that fit well with the first single "Battlefield" since that was now also the name for the album.[5] Later in May during an interview with Digital Spy,[6] Sparks revealed that she has been involved in writing songs for the album, in total contributing to about 12 of approximately 30 recorded songs. She also revealed that although the album had at that time produced no duets she was hopeful to collaborate with Leona Lewis for a powerful ballad. When asked who else she would like to collaborate with she said Fergie, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Keys.[6]

None of these collaborations materialized although Sparks did confirm in an interview that she had made a pact to record a duet with Lewis for her future album as she believes the duo could be the next "Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey". The reason cited for no duets on this album was a lack of time and tight deadlines.[7] As mentioned previously there are no vocal guests on the album although Tedder can be heard single backing vocals and ad-libs on the album's title song "Battlefield". Originally the album was intended to feature one guest in the form of T-Pain who had produced and appeared on the song "Watch You Go" with his signature vocoder (singing autotune), but for unspecified reasons this version of the song was omitted and replaced with a solo version featuring just Spark's vocals.[8] Furthermore, of the 12 songs she has penned four have made the final version of the album ("Emergency (911)", "Was I the Only One", "Faith" and "The Cure") whilst a further two are being used as promotional songs (bonus tracks "Vertigo" and "Papercut"). All together between 30 and 40 songs had been short-listed for inclusion in the album, from which the final track list was selected and mastered.[4]

Release and promotion

The album was first announced to be released on July 14, 2009 in America by Sparks herself through Twitter and by Amazon.com. However it was then later confirmed through the official press release from Jive Records that the album would in fact be released a week later instead on July 21, 2009.[2]

On May 10, Sparks went ahead with a planned photo shoot for the album's cover and future singles.[13] A picture from the photo shoot was released in the aforementioned press release which shows Sparks wearing a partially buttoned denim jacket over a white dress, seen leaning against a big fan with stage lights shining through.[2]

Sparks released a two disc deluxe edition featuring two bonus tracks at the same time as the standard edition,[14] following in the footsteps of fellow label-mates Ciara and Britney Spears. In international markets, "Tattoo" and "One Step at a Time" from her debut album were included as bonus tracks to help promote the album; both songs were successful in their own rights, reaching top 20 in Japan, the UK and Australia with no promotion.

Singles

Tour

See main article: Battlefield Tour.

On March 15, 2010 it was announced that Sparks was going on her first headlining tour, the Battlefield Tour in support of her second studio album of the same name.[24] The tour kicked off on May 1, 2010 in Uncasville, Connecticut and saw Sparks performing at 39 intimate venues across the US such as theaters, ballrooms, amusement parks, and casinos. The tour ended on July 18, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 7 on the US Billboard 200, selling 48,000 copies in its first week. It charted three spots higher, but also with lower sales than her debut album. As of July 2015, the album had sold 190,000 copies in the United States.[25] The album has sold over 600,000 copies worldwide by September 2010.[3]

Critical response

Upon its release, Battlefield received generally mixed reviews from most music critics, based on an aggregate score of 63/100 from Metacritic.[26]

The Guardian writes "The 2007 hit 'No Air' gave you the breathy, cleancut gist; this second album employs the same tricks - almost literally, in the case of 'Let It Rain', which has a tremulous build-up and heroic chorus ("Let it rain, wash me clean," she commands). Squelchy electronics and a relatively earthy lyric ("Look in her eyes, she's mentally undressing him") give 'S.O.S.' an urban hue, and the clattering 'Let It Rain' is modern R&B worthy of Rihanna. Regrettably, though, Sparks sounds more comfortable with power ballads such as 'No Parade'; and there's an inner Pat Benatar struggling to get out on the title track. OK if you like this kind of thing."[27]

Slant Magazine writes "Sparks is a pop artist and makes no bones about it here. Much of the album's running time is filled with the kind of soggy adult contemporary pulp that weighed down both the singer's self-titled debut and Leona Lewis's Spirit, and the addition of two paper-themed bonus tracks, "Papercut" and "Postcard," on the deluxe version of Battlefield doesn't help matters. One wonders if it would have been a smarter move in terms of career longevity to try to build on the urban audience she started to cultivate with 'No Air'."[28]

Entertainment Weekly said "Battlefield certainly delivers on the artistic end: It's packed with more hooks than a fisherman's tackle box, none better than on the gorgeous title track, which sports a soaring chorus. Resistance is futile when Sparks, showing heretofore unseen vocal dexterity, takes to the dance floor to ward off a vixen who's barking up the wrong boyfriend. There is actually enough potential hits to keep the singer in heavy rotation until well into Idol's 10th season."[29]

Digital Spy also gave the album a generally mixed review, writing, "Nothing here is as irresistible as the single, a brilliant update of the '80s arena rock sound that deserves better than its middling chart performance, but several tracks aren't too far off. 'Don't Let It Go To Your Head' [and] 'Let It Rain'... offers lots of soft rock bombast." However, the reviewer also criticized the album for "sentimental mush in its final stretch, with Sparks delivering a series of threadbare clichés over dull, dated arrangements...The result is an album that improves upon Sparks' debut – it doesn't try so hard to cover all of the bases, and Sparks sounds more comfortable on the uptempo cuts – but has the same Achilles heel: a paucity of really memorable songs. Then again, faced with some tough choices and release date approaching, it's hard to blame Sparks – still only 19, lest we forget - for sticking a little too closely to the middle of the road."[30]

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Credits for Battlefield adapted from Allmusic.[31]

Charts and certifications

Certifications

Release history

CountryRelease dateLabel(s)
Netherlands[33] July 17, 2009Sony Music Entertainment
Australia[34] Zomba, Sony Music
IrelandRCA Records, Sony Music
United Kingdom[35] July 20, 2009
FranceJive Epic Records
Philippines[36] Zomba, Sony Music
Denmark
Hong Kong
Norway
New Zealand
Portugal
Finland
Colombia
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
CanadaJuly 21, 2009Jive Records, Zomba
United States
SpainZomba, Sony Music
SwedenJuly 22, 2009
Thailand[37] July 23, 2009
GermanyJuly 24, 2009
Austria
Japan[38] August 12, 2009Sony Music Japan
BelgiumAugust 24, 2009Zomba, Sony Music
Poland[39] January 11, 2010Sony Music

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Q100 Interview Sparks after Idol Performance . 2009-05-14 . webcast . radio interview.
  2. Web site: prnewswire: press release about Sparks and "Battlefield" album. 2009-06-08. press-release. https://web.archive.org/web/20090606075154/http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F05-26-2009%2F0005032776&EDATE=. 6 June 2009. dead. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20100926080336/http://popline.mtv.uol.com.br/its-on-os-10-flops-que-moram-no-nosso-coracao-parte-i . September 26, 2010 . +popline . It's On: Os 10 flops que moram no nosso coração - Parte I | Nathalia Ferrari lista os álbuns mais injustiçados do pop | PortalPOPLine.com.br . Popline.mtv.uol.com.br . 2012-01-09.
  4. Graff. Gary. Jordin Sparks At Peace With 'Battlefield'. Billboard. 2009-07-13. 2014-05-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20140514113118/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268125/jordin-sparks-at-peace-with-battlefield. live.
  5. Web site: Ryan Seacrest Interviews Sparks regarding new album . 2009-05-18 . webcast . radio interview . https://web.archive.org/web/20160128033700/http://www.kiisfm.com/cc-common/mediaplayer/player.html?redir=yes&mps=onairryan.php&mid=http%3A%2F%2Fa1135.g.akamai.net%2Ff%2F1135%2F18227%2F1h%2Fcchannel.download.akamai.com%2F18227%2Fpodcast%2FLOSANGELES-CA%2FKIIS-FM%2Fjordansparks051809.mp3%3FCPROG%3DPCAST%3FCCOMRRMID&CPROG=RICHMEDIA&MARKET=LOSANGELES-CA&NG_FORMAT=chrrhythmic&NG_ID=kiis102fm&OR_NEWSFORMAT=chr&OWNER=&SERVER_NAME=www.kiisfm.com&SITE_ID=842&STATION_ID=KIIS-FM&TRACK= . 2016-01-28 . dead .
  6. Web site: Digital Spy: Interview with Sparks . 2009-05-29 . interview. https://web.archive.org/web/20090530172938/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a157414/jordin-sparks.html. 30 May 2009 . live.
  7. Web site: Digital Spy: Sparks and Lewis make duet pact . 2009-07-30 . interview . 2009-08-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090802073745/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a168296/jordin-sparks-lewis-make-duet-pact.html . live .
  8. Web site: Yahoo Report on Jordin's new album and collaborations . 2009-06-21 . newsreport.
  9. Web site: It's On with Alexa Chung . MTV . 2009-08-16 . 2009-08-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090818040150/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/alexa_chung/schedule.jhtml . dead .
  10. Web site: JS's official website confirms new appearances and events . 2009-07-10 . official website .
  11. Web site: Jordin Sparks' new album 'Battlefield' in stores July 21 . Sawfnews.com . 2009-07-20 . 2009-08-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090827045314/http://www.sawfnews.com/Entertainment/58971.aspx . 2009-08-27 . dead .
  12. Episode Detail: Regis and Kelly - Regis and Kelly . TV Guide . 2009-08-16 . 2022-06-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625234113/https://www.tvguide.com/ . live .
  13. Web site: Jordin Tweets about Photoshoot . 2009-05-10 . official twitter.
  14. Web site: Amazon: Battlefield Deluxe Edition . 2009-06-17 . pre-order listing . 2022-06-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625234110/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002935GH8 . live .
  15. Web site: UK Top 40 Hit Database>search by Artist name. EveryHit.com. 2009-10-02. 2015-10-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20151025234857/http://www.everyhit.com/. live.
  16. Web site: Fresh 1027: Interview with sparks . 2009-07-17 . radio interview . 2009-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090720233002/http://www.fresh1027.com/pages/4817636.php . live .
  17. Web site: Buy Sos (Let The Music Play) Jordin Sparks, Rock/Pop, CD Singles . Sanity . 2009-09-04 . 2012-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120323055749/http://www.sanity.com.au/ProductDetail.aspx?id=263078 . 2012-03-23 . dead .
  18. Web site: All Access: Future Releases . 2009-08-08 . listing . 2016-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160613143115/http://www.allaccess.com/ . live .
  19. Web site: Music - Singles Release Diary: 2008/09 Archive. Digital Spy. 2009-12-07. 2022-06-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20220625234112/https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a37650/singles-release-diary-201011-archive/. live.
  20. Web site: Gottlieb. Steven. SHOT: Jordin Sparks - Chris Robinson, director. video STATIC. 2009-08-17. 2009-08-22. 2009-08-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20090822182844/http://www.videostatic.com/vs/2009/08/shot-jordin-sparks-chris-robinson-director.html. live.
  21. Web site: Twitter / Jordin Sparks: Thanks 2 Chris Robinson (N . Twitter.com . 2009-08-16.
  22. Web site: Don't Let It Go To Your Head (Main Version) by Jordin Sparks From the Album Don't Let It Go To Your Head. Amazon.co.uk. 2010-01-08. 2010-01-21. 2022-06-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20220625234111/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0031QJH5O. live.
  23. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0031QCAOO/ Don't Let It Go To Your Head by Jordin Sparks
  24. Web site: Archived copy . 2010-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100317161927/http://www.sparkstown.com/news/news.php?uid=72 . 2010-03-17 . dead .
  25. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150724001918/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases . July 24, 2015 . Upcoming Releases . Hits Daily Double . HITS Digital Ventures .
  26. Web site: Music: Battlefield (album) by Jordin Sparks. Metacritic. 2009-12-11. review. 2009-07-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20090725120815/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/sparksjordin/battlefield. live.
  27. News: Guardian: Review of "Battlefield", 3/5 stars . 2009-07-17 . review . London . Caroline . Sullivan . 2009-07-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20090721052239/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/17/jordin-sparks-battlefield. 21 July 2009 . live.
  28. Web site: Slant Magazine: Review of "Battlefield", 3/5 stars . 2009-07-17 . review . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090719090618/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1799 . 2009-07-19 .
  29. Slezak. Michael. Music Review Battlefield (2009)Jordin Sparks'. Entertainment Weekly. 2009-07-17. 2009-07-15. 2009-07-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20090718082348/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20291410,00.html. live.
  30. Web site: Levine. Nick. Music Review Battlefield (2009) Jordin Sparks'. Digital Spy. 2009-07-26. 2009-07-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20090729024727/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a167347/jordin-sparks-battlefield.html. live.
  31. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1596822/credits|pure_url=yes}} allmusic Jordin Sparks ''Battlefield'' Standard Edition, Credits]. 2009-11-13.
  32. Web site: Official Retail Sales Chart - Top 100. ZPAV. Polish Music Charts. 2011-10-20. pl. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120407112442/http://zpav.pl/rankingi/listy/top100/index.php?idlisty=2. 2012-04-07.
  33. Web site: iTunes. iTunes. 2014-02-16. 2014-06-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20140617153939/https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=323050205&s=143452. live.
  34. Web site: 'Battlefield' Album Release Dates . 2009-07-15 . albumrelease . 2009-07-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090716065004/https://twitter.com/TheRealJordin . live .
  35. Web site: Amazon: UK Release of Battlefield . 2009-06-14 . pre-order listing . 2022-06-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625234223/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002D0WDUK . live .
  36. Web site: Sony Music (Philippines) Reveals Track-listing . 2009-06-17 . albumlisting . https://web.archive.org/web/20090620060741/http://www.sonymusic.com.ph/index.php/artists/album/124/162 . 20 June 2009 . dead .
  37. http://www.sonymusic.co.th/album/pop/viewans.asp?id=1361 Jordin Sparks - Battlefield
  38. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1620754|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic: Japanese Album Details ]. 2009-07-18 . albumlisting.
  39. Web site: Sony Music Poland | Facebook . Sonymusic.pl . 2012-01-09 .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Battlefield (album)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.