Heartbreak Weather Explained

Heartbreak Weather
Type:studio
Artist:Niall Horan
Cover:Niall Horan - Heartbreak Weather.png
Released:13 March 2020
Recorded:October 2018 – January 2020
Studio:
  • Playpen, Enemy Dojo (Calabasas)
  • Sound City Studios (Sherman Oaks)
  • SARM Music Village (London)
  • Sanctuary Studios (The Bahamas)
  • Inspiration Way, Laurel House Studios, Echo Studio (Los Angeles)
  • The Barn Studios, State of the Ark Studios (Richmond)
  • The Shed Studios (Van Nuys)
  • Home Team (Nashville)
Genre:
Length:46:04
Label:Capitol
Producer:
Prev Title:Flicker
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:The Show
Next Year:2023

Heartbreak Weather is the second studio album by Irish singer Niall Horan, released through Capitol Records on 13 March 2020. It was promoted with five singles: "Nice to Meet Ya", "Put a Little Love on Me", "No Judgement", the title track and "Black and White".[2]

On the Billboard 200 chart, Heartbreak Weather debuted at number four, marking Horan's second top-10 album in the United States. The album also debuted at number one on the Irish and UK album charts, marking Horan's first UK number one album as a solo artist.

Background and recording

Horan announced the album on 7 February 2020 alongside the release of the third single "No Judgement", and stated in a press release that with the album, he wanted to "tell the story that was in my head, hopefully lead people down the storytelling lane of an album track listing. [...] I wanted to write songs from different sides or from someone else looking in."[3] Horan took inspiration from the work of Bruce Springsteen[4] as well as the Arctic Monkeys and The Weeknd.[5] The album was recorded from October 2018 to January 2020.[6] [7]

Promotion

Singles

"Nice to Meet Ya" was released as the album's lead single on 4 October 2019.[8] The song was promoted with many live performances including at the 2019 MTV Europe Music Awards, Saturday Night Live and The Late Late Show with James Corden. In the official video, it mentioned Heartbreak Weather on a poster, at the timestamp 1:15.[9] [10] [11] The song received a music video, directed by The Young Astronauts, which was released along with the song.[12] The song entered many official charts worldwide including peaking at number 7 on the Irish Singles Chart, 22 on the UK Singles Chart and 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Put a Little Love on Me" serves as the second single from the album, being released on 6 December 2019.[13] The song entered the Irish and Scottish singles chart peaking at number 32 and 38 respectively. The song received a music video which accompanied its release and was directed by Cameron Busby.[14]

"No Judgement" was released on 7 February 2020 as the album's third single.[15] The song was compared to Horan's 2017 single "Slow Hands".[16] The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles chart peaking at number 97 and 32 respectively. The song's music video was released alongside the song and was directed by Drew Kirsch.[17] The song also received a remix by Steve Void and an acoustic version.[18] [19] "Black and White" was released on 21 April 2020 as the album's fourth single.[20]

Cancelled tour

Horan officially announced the Nice to Meet Ya Tour in October 2019.[21] The tour was set to go through North America, Oceania, Europe and Latin America between April and December 2020. On 3 April 2020 Horan announced the tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated he intended to tour in 2021, "when the crisis blows over."[22] No, rescheduled dates have been announced.[23] Lewis Capaldi, Fletcher and Maisie Peters were set to open for Horan on the tour.[21] [24]

Critical reception

Heartbreak Weather received generally favourable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 63, based on eight reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

AllMusic's Neil Yeung reviewed the album positively, stating that the production of the album was better than Horan's 2017 debut album, Flicker, adding that "despite the often dour and forlorn lyrical content, the songs are full-blooded and more energetic than the average breakup album". Chris DeVille, writing for Stereogum, stated that the album is "much better" than Flicker, commenting that Heartbreak Weather writing, production, and performance all represented "an upgrade". However, he felt that "Horan is capable of evolving" but added that "such flourishes suggest this boy-band alumnus may someday grow up to be the man after all — or at the very least he won't be desperate for a reunion tour". Jason Scott, writing for American Songwriter, named the record "a stylistic leveling-up" while complimenting Horan's take on heartbreak.[25] Michael Cragg of The Guardian highlighted that the album contains "hints of experimentation, such as the swaggering hybrid of Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian in "Nice To Meet Ya", but it's the excellent title track's flirtation with glossy, synth-tinged MOR that suggests where Horan might be headed next. Proof that it's often the quiet ones you need to keep an eye on". Mike Wass, writing for Idolator, wrote that the record "just might be pop's first, feel-good breakup album" and that "there's no sophomore slump here" while calling it "a winning collection of love songs from multiple perspectives with very few skips."[26]

Some reviews were more mixed. Mark Kennedy of the Associated Press called the album an "overall bright collection" and felt that Horan made "14 perfectly fine tracks, if not volcanic ones" and that it "is in no way a disaster" but that "it's just not an improvement on his debut effort".[27] Ella Kemp of NME called the album "a mixed bag" and felt that there was "a great voice let down by some not great songs", writing that Horan's "lyrical landscape is somewhat thinner and the production even more impenetrable" than that of Flicker. She concluded by complimenting Horan's "incredible" and "convincing" voice, adding that the album "isn't an entirely lost cause, but one to build upon for a more inspiring future all the same". Adam White, writing for The Independent, described Heartbreak Weather as "a tranquilliser of an album that only occasionally sparks to life" and "largely drab", explaining that Horan "struggles to define his musical identity on his shiny if haphazard second album" which is "entirely stuck on safe mode". Nevertheless, White specifically praised "New Angel" and "Arms of a Stranger", calling the latter "concert-ready and irresistibly shiny". Writing for The Telegraph, Neil McCormick felt like the album lacks "any particular character" and that "everything sounds like something you might have heard somewhere before", stating that the record is "the closest thing to a One Direction album since the band split". Ed Power of the Irish Examiner wrote that Horan "ticks the boxes but doesn't cause a storm".[28] Quinn Moreland, writing for Pitchfork, felt that Horan "spends too much of the record bouncing between sounds and songwriting concepts to feel distinct" but did compliment the album's final track, "Still," calling it "the realest, rawest moment on the record and a small bit of proof that Horan has the potential to make it on his own."[1]

Commercial performance

Heartbreak Weather debuted atop the Irish Albums Chart and UK Albums Chart.

In the United States, the album debuted at number four with 59,000 equivalent album units (42,000 pure) in its first week, making it the top-selling album of the week.[29] The album also debuted at number one on the Top Album Sales chart, marking Horan’s second leader on the list, following his debut album, Flicker.

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Heartbreak Weather.[30]

Studios

Main recording locations

Additional recording locations

Engineering locations

Mixing and mastering locations

Vocals and musicians

Production

Technical

Artwork and management

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Heartbreak Weather
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Estonian Albums (Eesti Tipp-40)[31] 4
Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)[32] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[33] 66
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[34] 94
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[35] 94
Irish Albums (IRMA)[36] 12
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[37] 100
Chart (2021)Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[38] 172
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[39] 95

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label
Various13 March 2020Capitol[40] [41] [42] [43]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Niall Horan: Heartbreak Weather Album Review. Pitchfork. Moreland. Quinn. 20 March 2020. 20 March 2020.
  2. Niall Horan sets new album Heartbreak Weather, drops new single 'No Judgement': Listen. Billboard. Aniftos. Rania. 7 February 2020. 7 February 2020.
  3. Web site: Niall Horan Announces Sophomore LP 'Heartbreak Weather,' Drops "No Judgement". Idolator. Wass. Mike. 7 February 2020. 7 February 2020.
  4. Web site: Listen: Niall Horan's new album 'Heartbreak Weather'. . Coup de Main . 13 March 2020 . 2 November 2022.
  5. Web site: NIALL HORAN SHARES NEW ALBUM, HEARTBREAK WEATHER, OUT TODAY . 2 November 2022.
  6. Web site: Niall Horan on Instagram: "In October 2018 I wrote the first song for this record. Both you and I have been waiting for this day for a long time. I had so much fun...". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/niallhoran/2263682496507874570 . 25 December 2021 . registration. Instagram. 15 March 2020.
  7. Stay Calm, Niall Horan's Album Is 'Officially Complete'. Billboard. Aniftos. Rania. 16 January 2020. 15 March 2020.
  8. Niall Horan Announces 'Nice to Meet Ya' Single. Billboard. Pace. Lilly. 26 September 2019. 15 March 2020.
  9. Niall Horan Melts the SNL Audience With a Mix of Sultry and Sweet Performances: Watch. Billboard. Hughes. Hilary. 15 December 2019. 15 March 2020.
  10. Niall Horan's 'Nice to Meet Ya' Performance at the 2019 MTV EMAs: Watch. Billboard. Ginsberg. Gab. 3 November 2019. 15 March 2020.
  11. Watch Niall Horan Perform 'Nice to Meet Ya' on 'Corden'. Rolling Stone. Zemler. Emily. 10 March 2020. 15 March 2020.
  12. Web site: Niall Horan – Nice To Meet Ya (Official). NiallHoranVEVO. YouTube. 3 October 2019. 15 March 2020.
  13. Web site: Niall Horan Announces New Single "Put A Little Love On Me". Idolator. Wass. Mike. 5 December 2019. 15 March 2020.
  14. Web site: Niall Horan – Put A Little Love On Me (Official). NiallHoranVEVO. YouTube. 5 December 2019. 15 March 2020.
  15. Niall Horan Sets New Album 'Heartbreak Weather,' Drops New Single 'No Judgement': Listen. Billboard. Aniftos. Rania. 7 February 2020. 15 March 2020.
  16. Web site: Niall Horan Announces Sophomore LP Heartbreak Weather Drops 'No Judgement'. Idolator. Wass. Mike. 7 February 2020. 15 March 2020.
  17. Web site: Niall Horan – No Judgement (Official). NiallHoranVEVO. YouTube. 6 February 2020. 15 March 2020.
  18. Web site: No Judgement (Steve Void Remix) – Single by Niall Horan & Steve Void. Apple Music. 15 March 2020.
  19. Web site: No Judgement (Acoustic) – Single by Niall Horan. Apple Music. 15 March 2020.
  20. Web site: Niall Horan picks "Black and White" as next single . . 20 April 2020 . 21 April 2020 . Wass, Mike.
  21. Niall Horan Plots 'Nice to Meet Ya' North American Tour . Rolling Stone . 31 October 2019 . 15 March 2020 . Legaspi, Althea.
  22. Web site: Niall Horan has CANCELLED his world tour . Sound Health and Lasting Wealth . 4 April 2020 . 20 April 2020 .
  23. Web site: Niall Horan – Official Website . Niall Horan . 15 March 2020.
  24. Web site: Niall Horan on Instagram: "Here we goooooo! #NICETOMEETYATOUR is going international babyyyyyyy! Can't wait to see you all For all pre-sale and general on-sale info...". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/niallhoran/2253687734887402724 . 25 December 2021 . registration. Instagram. 15 March 2020.
  25. Web site: Niall Horan Levels Up With Second Album, 'Heartbreak Weather'. American Songwriter. Scott. Jason. 13 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
  26. Web site: Album Review: Niall Horan Lightens Up On Breezy Heartbreak Weather. Idolator. Wass. Mike. 15 March 2020. 28 March 2020.
  27. Web site: Music Review: Niall Horan endures a stormy 2nd solo album. Associated Press. Kennedy. Mark. 10 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
  28. Web site: Heartbreak Weather review: Niall Horan ticks the boxes but doesn't cause a storm. Irish Examiner. Power. Ed. 13 March 2020. 13 March 2020.
  29. Lil Uzi Vert's 'Eternal Atake' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart. 2021-10-21. Billboard. en.
  30. Heartbreak Weather. Niall Horan. 2020. Neon Haze Music / Capitol Records.
  31. Web site: ALBUMID TIPP-40. Eesti Ekspress. 23 March 2020. 26 March 2020.
  32. Web site: Top Album - Semanal (del 13 al 19 de marzo de 2020). March 30, 2020. es . Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas . https://web.archive.org/web/20200406175955/https://amprofon.com.mx/es/pages/rankings/top-album.php. April 6, 2020.
  33. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2020. Australian Recording Industry Association. 15 January 2021.
  34. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2020. Ultratop. 18 December 2020.
  35. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 2020. MegaCharts. nl. 6 January 2021.
  36. Web site: Ireland's Official Top 50 biggest albums of 2020. Official Charts Company. White. Jack. 10 January 2021. 12 January 2021.
  37. Web site: Year-End Charts: Top Album Sales (2020). Billboard. 8 May 2024.
  38. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2021. Ultratop. 5 January 2022.
  39. Web site: Top 100 Albums Annual 2021. Productores de Música de España. 20 January 2022.
  40. Web site: Heartbreak Weather by Niall Horan. Apple Music. United States. 15 March 2020.
  41. Web site: Heartbreak Weather D2C Exclusive Vinyl. Niall Horan. 15 March 2020.
  42. Web site: Heartbreak Weather Standard Vinyl. Niall Horan. 15 March 2020. 6 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200606223328/https://shop.universalmusic.ca/niallhoran/*/Music/Heartbreak-Weather-Standard-Vinyl/6DUJ0QW5000. dead.
  43. Web site: Heartbreak Weather CD. Niall Horan. 15 March 2020. 7 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200507100215/https://shop.universalmusic.ca/niallhoran/*/Music/Heartbreak-Weather-CD/6DUL0QW5000. dead.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Heartbreak Weather".

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