K–12 (album) explained

K–12
Type:studio
Longtype:/ Soundtrack
Artist:Melanie Martinez
Cover:Melanie Martinez - K-12.png
Recorded:2015–2017[1]
Genre:
Label:Atlantic
Producer:
  • Michael Keenan
  • One Love
Prev Title:Cry Baby's Extra Clutter EP
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:After School
Next Year:2020

K–12 (pronounced "K through twelve"[2] [3]) is the second studio album by American singer Melanie Martinez. It was released with an accompanying film of the same name on September 6, 2019,[4] through Atlantic Records.[5] Martinez played the main character, "Cry Baby," in this film that she wrote and directed.

Background

Martinez began writing the album in 2015.[6] [7] [8] In a 2017 interview with Billboard, Martinez said that her then-untitled second album was finished and would be accompanied by a film that she was writing and directing.[9] In a February 2019 Instagram post, she wrote that the album "had been done for like two and a half years now", that it would likely be released at the end of summer and that no singles would be commercially released before it.[10] however, on an Instagram story in January 2020, Martinez revealed that “Lunchbox Friends” would be the album's lead single.

On January 7, 2020, Martinez announced through her Instagram stories that she would be releasing an EP titled After School that is attached to K–12 and will also be released as the extended deluxe. She originally planned to release the project in the spring of 2020, but the project ended up being released on September 25, 2020.[11] [12] Martinez also revealed that she had planned two more films, both of which were supposed to be accompanied by albums however, both were scrapped due to Martinez’s decision to close the Cry Baby storyline, and because the projects would be too expensive to create.[13]

Promotion

See main article: K–12 (film). A teaser video of Martinez in a pastel classroom was released on May 15, 2019.[14] On May 16, she unveiled the album cover through her social media accounts.[15] Martinez revealed the release date through Instagram on May 29.[16]

On June 18, a TV spot was released, which included a snippet of "Nurse's Office".[17] This was followed by weekly promotions, or "assignments", beginning in late June 2019, followed by snippets usually a few hours or a day later. Despite no singles being released from the album, Martinez released snippets along with respective animated videos for every song from the album to different location hotspots called "assignments," later uploading them to her social media and YouTube accounts.[18]

On July 23, the official trailer for the K–12 film was released alongside the album tracklist and pre-order. It reveals some of the plot, while a snippet of "Show & Tell" plays at the end of the trailer. It also reveals that the film would be released in select theatres for one day only on September 5, 2019. Martinez will embark on the K-12 Tour in support of the album from October to December 2019, starting in Washington, D.C.[19]

On September 25, 2020, Melanie Martinez released the After School EP, which was also included at the end of K–12 as a deluxe version of the album.[20] "The Bakery" was released as the lead single from the EP, therefore becoming the first official single from K-12. This was following planned lead single from the album, "Lunchbox Friends", failing to be released as a single, and planned singles from After School, "Copy Cat" (with Tierra Whack) and "Fire Drill", failing to be included on the EP itself.

Promotional singles

Prior to the announcement that "Lunchbox Friends" would be the first official single from the album, Martinez pushed both "High School Sweethearts" and "Strawberry Shortcake" as promotional singles in July 2019 via vinyl release. She performed both tracks on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, alongside album track "Recess", on 16 September 2019, 10 days after the album release.[21] [22]

Music

K–12 was mostly produced by Michael Keenan, who had previously collaborated with Martinez on a few tracks on her previous album, Cry Baby. One track, "Drama Club", was co-written and produced by Martinez's frequent collaborators, Kinetics & One Love. A concept album,[23] it has been described to be an alternative pop,[24] dark pop,[25] and art pop record.[26] Martinez's official website describes the album's sound as "a vibrant and singular melting pot of low-key hip-hop, soulful pop and indie-leaning electro".[27] AllMusic also notes influences of hip hop and R&B.[28]

Critical reception

Matt Collar of AllMusic wrote that the album is a "more sophisticated production, with better hooks showcasing Martinez's growth as a songwriter".

Commercial performance

Despite no singles being released prior to the album, K–12 debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 with 57,000 album-equivalent units, of which 30,000 were pure album sales. It is Martinez's second US top-10 album[30] Additionally it topped the alternative album chart becoming her second consecutive top charter. Elsewhere the album reached the top 10 of eight different countries including the UK, Australia and Canada.

Track listing

Notes

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Estonian Albums (Eesti Ekspress)[32] 9
Latvian Albums (LAIPA)[33] 9
Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[34] 4
Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)[35] 4
US Billboard 2003
US Top Soundtracks (Billboard)[36] 1
Chart (2023-2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[37] 12
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[38] 48

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"
Position
Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)93
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[39] 16
Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Position
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[40] 8
Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard)[41] 10

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateVersionFormat(s)Label
VariousSeptember 6, 2019StandardAtlantic[42]
September 25, 2020After School – Deluxe Edition

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Melanie Martinez On Concept Albums & The Future Adventures Of Cry Baby: Idolator Interview. Idolator. Wass. Mike. November 30, 2015. October 8, 2019.
  2. Web site: Melanie Martinez - K-12 (Official Trailer). July 23, 2019 . YouTube. August 30, 2019.
  3. Web site: Film Review: Melanie Martinez's 'K-12' Is A Twisted Pop Musical. Wass. Mike. 2019-09-04. Idolator. 2019-09-07.
  4. Web site: K-12 SEPT 6. Twitter. May 29, 2019. May 30, 2019.
  5. Web site: LI Sound: Melanie Martinez readying new album, movie. Newsday. Gamboa. Glenn. May 23, 2019. May 30, 2019.
  6. Web site: littlebodybigheart Instagram Stories. ISDB PW. July 22, 2018. June 29, 2019.
  7. Web site: Interview: Melanie Martinez On 'K-12' & Stepping Into Her Power. Idolator. Wass. Mike. September 6, 2019. October 8, 2019.
  8. Web site: The Second Coming Of Melanie Martinez. Rosenzweig. Mathias. September 14, 2019. V Magazine. October 14, 2019.
  9. Melanie Martinez Celebrates 'Cry Baby' Chart Success, Looks Ahead To Elaborate Album/Film Project. Lipshutz. Jason. August 15, 2017. Billboard. June 3, 2019.
  10. Web site: Been dying to give you all an Album/Movie update.... https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bt8EddMgG-B . 2021-12-24 . limited. Instagram. February 16, 2019. July 19, 2019.
  11. Web site: Melanie Martinez Teases New EP, Which Is Probably Called 'After School'. Idolator. Wass. Mike. en. 2020-01-08. 2020-03-17.
  12. Web site: Melanie Martinez - After School. The Tartan. Kim. Madeline. en. 2020-02-16. 2020-03-17.
  13. Web site: Melanie Martinez reveals plans for two more movies after K-12. PopBuzz. en. 2019-09-21.
  14. Web site: Melanie Martinez teases 'K-12' era with eerie video, album art. Alternative Press. May 16, 2019. May 30, 2019.
  15. Web site: She's Back! Melanie Martinez Teases Sophomore LP, 'K-12'. Idolator. Wass. Mike. May 15, 2019. May 30, 2019.
  16. Web site: Stories • littlebodybigheart. Instagram. May 29, 2019. May 30, 2019.
  17. Web site: Melanie Martinez - K-12 (TV Spot). YouTube. June 17, 2019. July 19, 2019.
  18. Web site: melanie martinez - YouTube . 2023-07-02 . www.youtube.com.
  19. Web site: Melanie Martinez Announces 'The K-12 Tour'. Live Nation Entertainment. July 29, 2019. August 13, 2019.
  20. Web site: K-12 (After School – Deluxe Edition) by Melanie Martinez. 2020-10-18. Apple Music. 6 September 2019. en-au.
  21. Web site: K-12 (Exclusive Mint Colored Vinyl). Melaniemartinez.com. July 23, 2019.
  22. Web site: Melanie Martinez Setlist at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Los Angeles. 2020-10-18. setlist.fm. en.
  23. Web site: Wass. Mike. Melanie Martinez Teases New EP, Which Is Probably Called 'After School'. Idolator. January 8, 2020. July 7, 2021.
  24. Web site: Campbell. Rachel. Melanie Martinez Heads Back to School in Pastel Alt-Pop Style with 'K-12'. Alternative Press. September 6, 2019. July 7, 2021.
  25. Web site: Strokes. Alyson. Melanie Martinez Takes on Her Darkest Vulnerabilities in 'K-12' Film. Alternative Press. September 6, 2019. July 7, 2021.
  26. Web site: Samways. Gemma. Melanie Martinez review: Pop princess loses her way in fairytale settings. Evening Standard. June 7, 2021. February 18, 2020.
  27. Web site: Melanie Martinez – K-12 – About . Melanie Martinez Music . 9 September 2019.
  28. Web site: K-12 – Melanie Martinez. AllMusic. Collar. Matt. September 9, 2019.
  29. Aniftos . Rania . September 22, 2020 . Post Malone Leads 2020 Billboard Music Awards Nominations With 16: Full List . . 0006-2510 . September 22, 2020.
  30. Post Malone Scores Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 With 'Hollywood's Bleeding'. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. September 15, 2019. September 16, 2019.
  31. Web site: Credits / K-12 (After School – Deluxe Edition) / Melanie Martinez – TIDAL. Tidal. September 25, 2020.
  32. Web site: EESTI TIPP-40 MUUSIKAS: Ohhoo! Madison Mars ja Liis Lemsalu ründavad räpparite hirmuvalitsust!. Eesti Ekspress. et. September 18, 2019.
  33. Web site: Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 37. nedēļa. lv. LAIPA. November 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191010115018/https://www.parmuziku.lv/muzikas-zinas/latvija/muzikas-paterina-tops-37-nedela-8128. October 10, 2019.
  34. Web site: Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100). lt. AGATA. September 16, 2019. November 30, 2019.
  35. Web site: Top 100 México - Los más vendidos 2019. January 25, 2020. es . Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas . https://archive.today/20200125050400/http://centrodedesarrollodigital.com/amprofonanual/100.php. January 25, 2020.
  36. Melanie Martinez Chart History: Soundtracks. Billboard. September 17, 2019.
  37. Web site: Lista prodaje 14. tjedan 2024.. March 25, 2024. . hr. April 10, 2024. April 10, 2024. https://archive.today/20240410184927/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-14-tjedan-2024/. dead.
  38. Melanie Martinez Chart History (Top Rock & Alternative Albums). Billboard. 11 April 2022.
  39. Soundtracks – Year-End 2019. Billboard. 2 January 2013. June 23, 2020.
  40. Soundtracks – Year-End 2020. Billboard. 2 January 2013. January 6, 2021.
  41. Soundtracks – Year-End 2021. Billboard. 2 January 2013. December 6, 2021.
  42. Web site: K-12. melaniemartinezmusic.com. September 11, 2019. March 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200303231929/https://store.melaniemartinezmusic.com/k-12.html. dead.