Fifty Shades of Grey (soundtrack) explained

Fifty Shades of Grey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Various artists
Cover:Fifty Shades of Grey_-_Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.png
Label:Republic

Fifty Shades of Grey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the film of the same name adapted from E. L. James's eponymous novel that was released through Republic Records on February 10, 2015. It was the seventh best-selling album of 2015 with 2.2 million copies sold worldwide.[1]

Background

Meetings about the album took place nearly two years prior the album's release when plans of a film were announced. Mike Knobloch, president of film music and publishing at Universal said: "We really wanted the songs to be part of the fiber of the film — nothing crowbarred in or just auxiliary to the experience. There was a very deliberate effort to create as much original material as possible, to tailor the production, the lyrics, and the performance."

Beyoncé was one of the first singers approached for the film. Knobloch said: "She thought it was an opportunity to do something that aligned nicely with her brand and agenda." Sia was approached by Knobloch and music supervisor Dana Sano with a scene they had in mind: "It's a pivotal moment, when the two protagonists have an ecstatic and intimate first sexual encounter. [Sia] played us songs and we would say, 'That's good, but could it be more of this, or less of that?'. By the end we left her spinning her wheels about what she had to do to deliver just the right song to us for the film."[2] The Weeknd was involved in the project very early. Tom Mackay, a manager at Republic Records, explained: "He worked on a number of songs for a number of scenes. Some were working and some weren't, but he just kept at it, and kept at it, and kept at it. In the end, he wrote 'Earned It' and it's the biggest song of his career to date. It's the only song that's in the movie twice."[2]

On January 12, 2015, E. L. James announced the soundtrack would be released on February 10, 2015.[3] [4]

Singles

The soundtrack was preceded by the release of two singles. "Earned It" by Canadian singer the Weeknd was released as the album's lead single on December 23, 2014,[5] peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was included on his second album Beauty Behind the Madness.[6] "Love Me like You Do" by English singer Ellie Goulding was released as the second single on January 7, 2015;[7] it reached number one on the national charts of 16 countries including the UK Singles Chart, and peaked at number three on the Hot 100 and was included on her third album Delirium.

Promotional singles

"Salted Wound" by Sia was released as the first promotional single on January 27, 2015.[8] Two further promotional singles, "One Last Night" by Vaults and "I Know You" by Skylar Grey, were released on February 3, 2015. "I'm on Fire", a Bruce Springsteen cover performed by Awolnation, was released as the fourth promotional single on February 9, 2015.[9]

Reception

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with sales of 258,000 units (210,000 copies of traditional albums) in its first week behind Drake's If You're Reading This It's Too Late.[10] As of January 2017, it had sold 913,000 copies in the United States.[11]

The album debuted at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 18,000 copies.[12] As of July 2015, it had sold 89,000 copies in the country.[13]

Critical reception

In contrast to the near-universal panning of the film, its soundtrack has received generally favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the soundtrack received an average score of 65, based on 7 reviews. Kenneth Partridge of Billboard rated the soundtrack three-and-a-half out of five stars, writing that the soundtrack "wisely skews mainstream".[14] Chuck Arnold of Rolling Stone compared the soundtrack to those of The Twilight Saga and The Hunger Games while noting that the Weeknd's "Earned It" brings "Bond-theme drama" to the soundtrack.[15] However, AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the soundtrack as "suitable for any romantic evening" and a seduction.[16] Jim Farber of the New York Daily News claimed that the lyrics speak of "romanticized sex", while highlighting the album's "soft-edged production".[17] Writing for ABC News, Allan Raible described the soundtrack as a collection of "sultry electro blues pop", but criticized the inclusions of older publications.[18] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times called the soundtrack a "slog" and criticized the album's midtempo tracks, while comparing the album's commercial performance to that of Taylor Swift's 1989.[19]

Track listing

Notes

Credits

Credits for the soundtrack adapted from AllMusic.[20]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2015)Peak
position
Argentinian Albums (CAPIF)[21] 4
Brazilian Albums (ABPD)[22] 5
Greek Albums (IFPI)[23] 2
Irish Compilation Albums (IRMA)[24] 1
Italian Compilation Albums (FIMI)[25] 2
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[26] 184
Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)[27] 1
Russian Albums (2M)1

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[28] 13
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[29] 16
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[30] 18
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[31] 24
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[32] 11
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[33] 17
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[34] 63
French Albums (SNEP)[35] 20
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[36] 21
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[37] 50
Italian Compilation Albums (FIMI)[38] 4
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[39] 2
Russian Albums (2M)1
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[40] 48
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 10
US Billboard 200[42] 9
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[43] 1
Chart (2016)Position
French Albums (SNEP)[44] 184
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[45] 9

Decade-end charts

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Global Music Report. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. April 12, 2016. April 12, 2016. April 12, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160412192734/http://www.ifpi.org/downloads/GMR2016.pdf. dead.
  2. Web site: Ugwu. Reggie. Why The "Fifty Shades Of Grey" Soundtrack Is Better Than It Has Any Right To Be. BuzzFeed. February 27, 2015. February 26, 2015.
  3. Web site: Movie Tie-in Edition Now Available & Soundtrack Coming Soon!. James. E L. January 12, 2015. January 12, 2015.
  4. News: 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Soundtrack Features Beyoncé, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Sia, And More. Kozak. Oktay Ege. January 12, 2015. January 12, 2015. Indie Wire. https://web.archive.org/web/20150113063137/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/fifty-shades-of-grey-soundtrack-features-beyonce-the-rolling-stones-frank-sinatra-sia-and-more-20150112. January 13, 2015. dead.
  5. Hear The Weeknd's 'Earned It' from 'Fifty Shades of Grey'. Zuckerman. Esther. December 24, 2014. January 12, 2015. Entertainment Weekly.
  6. http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2015-04-18 Billboard, Week of April 18, 2015
  7. Listen To Ellie Goulding's Sexy New Song From 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Soundtrack. Strecker. Erin. January 7, 2015. January 12, 2015. Billboard.
  8. Web site: Fifty Shades of Grey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) . January 27, 2015 . January 27, 2015 . Apple . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150209161808/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fifty-shades-grey-original/id956689788 . February 9, 2015 .
  9. Web site: iTunes - Music - Fifty Shades of Grey (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150209161808/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fifty-shades-grey-original/id956689788 . February 9, 2015 .
  10. Caulfield. Keith. Drake's Surprise Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200. Billboard. 18 February 2015. 18 February 2015.
  11. Upcoming Releases . . https://web.archive.org/web/20170108033429/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases . January 8, 2017 . January 8, 2017.
  12. Web site: Cross. Alan. Weekly Music Sales Report and Analysis: 18 February 2015. February 18, 2015. February 20, 2015.
  13. Web site: 2015 Nielsen Mid-Year Music Canada Report . 2 . . July 21, 2015 . August 7, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150807021809/http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/public%20factsheets/Soundscan/mid-year-2015-canada-music-data.pdf#page=2 . dead .
  14. Album Review: The 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Soundtrack Hits Hard Enough to Leave a Lasting Mark . Kenneth Partridge . . February 11, 2015 . February 11, 2015 .
  15. ALBUM REVIEW: Fifty Shades of Grey: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack . Chuck Arnold . . February 10, 2015 . February 11, 2015.
  16. Web site: Fifty Shades of Grey [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards ]. AllMusic. February 10, 2015. February 13, 2015.
  17. News: Review: 'Fifty Shades' soundtrack is not racy enough . New York Daily News. February 3, 2015. February 13, 2015.
  18. Web site: Music Reviews: The Latest From 'Fifty Shades of Grey' Soundtrack, Ricky Martin, and More . Raible. Allan. ABC News. February 14, 2015. February 14, 2015.
  19. News: 'Fifty Shades of Grey': Soundtrack album has a job to do . Los Angeles Times. February 13, 2015. March 6, 2015.
  20. Web site: Fifty Shades of Grey [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] Credits]. AllMusic. April 13, 2015.
  21. Web site: Ranking Mensual . . March 22, 2015 . es . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130511182935/http://www.capif.org.ar/ . May 11, 2013 . To view the chart position Select '2015' and 'Febrero'.
  22. Web site: Ranking ABPD "CD" (30/03/2015 a 05/04/2015) . 8 June 2012 . pt . Portal Sucesso . April 27, 2015.
  23. Web site: Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 6/2015) . . https://web.archive.org/web/20150223123039/http://www.ifpi.gr/charts_en.html . February 23, 2015 . March 7, 2015 . dead .
  24. Web site: Top 30 Multi-Artist Compilation Album, Week Ending 12 February 2015 . . February 28, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040219/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240003&arch=t&lyr=2015&year=2015&week=7 . 24 September 2015 . dead .
  25. Web site: Compilation – Classifica settimanale WK 8 (dal 2015-02-22 al 2015-03-16) . it . . February 26, 2015.
  26. Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/74438/products/1109846/1/ . ja:フィフティ・シェイズ・オブ・グレイ ～サウンドトラック . Fifty Shades of Grey ~ Soundtrack . ja . . February 28, 2015.
  27. Web site: Puesto #1 del #Top100MX del ... . es . . April 1, 2015 . April 2, 2015.
  28. Web site: ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2015 . . January 6, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160112063600/http://www.aria.com.au/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2015.htm . January 12, 2016 .
  29. Web site: Jahreshitparade Alben 2015 . de . austriancharts.at. Hung Medien . January 5, 2016.
  30. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2015 – Albums . nl . Ultratop. Hung Medien . January 1, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160310120835/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2015&cat=a . March 10, 2016 .
  31. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2015 – Albums . fr . Ultratop. Hung Medien . January 1, 2016.
  32. Top Canadian Albums: Year End 2015 . Billboard . 2 January 2013 . Prometheus Global Media . January 1, 2016.
  33. Web site: Album Top-100 2015 . da . . January 1, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160101183721/http://hitlisten.nu/top2015.asp . January 1, 2016 .
  34. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 2015 . nl . dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien . January 1, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160313231618/http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2015&cat=a . March 13, 2016 .
  35. Web site: Le Top de l'année : Top Albums Fusionnés – 2015 . 10 June 2013 . fr . . January 14, 2016.
  36. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2015 . de . Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment . January 9, 2016.
  37. Web site: Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista – eladási darabszám alapján – 2015 . hu . MAHASZ . March 11, 2016.
  38. Web site: Classifiche "Top of the Music" 2015 FIMI-GfK: La musica italiana in vetta negli album e nei singoli digitali . it . Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . January 9, 2016 . January 11, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160111221358/http://www.fimi.it/news/classifiche-top-of-the-music-2015-fimi-gfk-la-musica-italiana-in-vetta-negli-album-e-nei-singoli-digitali . dead . Click on "Scarica allegato" to download the zipped file containing the year-end chart PDF documents.
  39. Web site: Lista OLiS – podsumowanie 2015 roku . pl . Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry . March 11, 2016.
  40. Web site: Top 100 Albumes 2015 . PDF . es . . March 11, 2016.
  41. Web site: Swiss Year-End Charts 2015 . swisscharts.com. Hung Medien . January 5, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160114025806/http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/2015 . January 14, 2016 .
  42. Top Billboard 200 Albums: Year End 2015 . Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . January 1, 2016.
  43. Soundtracks: Year End 2015 . Billboard . 2 January 2013 . Prometheus Global Media . January 1, 2016.
  44. Web site: Top de l'année Top Albums 2016. SNEP. fr. September 19, 2020.
  45. Soundtracks – Year-End 2016. Billboard. 2 January 2013. July 11, 2020.
  46. Decade-End Charts: Billboard 200. Billboard. January 31, 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930183821/https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/billboard-200 . September 30, 2020.

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