Beauty Marks (album) explained

Beauty Marks
Type:studio
Artist:Ciara
Cover:Ciara - Beauty Marks.png
Border:yes
Recorded:2017–2019
Studio:
  • Sphere Studios (London)
  • Rocco's Castle
  • Beauty Marks Studios
  • Neptune Valley (Los Angeles)
  • Space Primates Palace
Genre:
Length:40:03
Label:Beauty Marks
Producer:
Prev Title:Jackie
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:CiCi
Next Year:2023

Beauty Marks is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Ciara. It was released on May 10, 2019, through her own independent label, Beauty Marks Entertainment with distribution from Alternative Distribution Alliance. It is her first album since Jackie (2015). The album was preceded by five singles "Level Up", "Freak Me", "Dose", "Greatest Love" and "Thinkin Bout You".[3]

Background

After the release of her sixth studio album, Jackie (2015), Ciara decided to leave Epic Records in early 2016. Although the album spawned the Platinum-certified single, "I Bet", it failed to make much of a commercial impact, selling only around 160,000 copies worldwide within a three-month period.[4] The singer had planned to further promote the album with a second leg of the Jackie Tour in March 2016, after postponing the dates from November 2015; however, on February 27, 2016, Ciara announced that the remaining dates of the tour had been cancelled and that she'd instead focus on recording her seventh studio album, while expressing that the album would see her undertaking a new musical direction.[5] [6]

On January 27, 2017, it was announced that Ciara had signed a new recording contract with Warner Bros. Records.[7] [8] As a part of the deal, Ciara began working on her seventh studio album and shot a music video for its lead single, "Level Up", in 2017. However, the Warner Records CEO didn't agree with the musical direction; as a result, Ciara's contract with the label was terminated and she was given the masters from the recording sessions for free.[9]

In 2017, Ciara launched her own record and entertainment company, Beauty Marks Entertainment (BME); the venture was launched for her to follow her own creative direction and release her music on her own terms, with the singer eventually hoping to sign additional artists.[10] BME's first endeavor was the release of the singles "Level Up", "Freak Me", and "Dose" in 2018, while Ciara officially announced its formation on February 7, 2019 at the MAKERS Conference.[10]

On March 28, 2019, Ciara announced that her seventh studio album would be titled Beauty Marks after her label and that it would be released on May 10, 2019. The album was made available for pre-order the following day, along with its fifth single, "Thinkin' Bout You".[11] In speaking on the album's development process, Ciara expressed that she now feels as she did at the start of her career, stating:

Ciara revealed that she co-wrote the title track "Beauty Marks" with Skylar Grey.[12]

Singles

"Level Up" was released via digital download and through streaming platforms on July 18, 2018 as the album's lead single, alongside a high-octane music video. The single peaked at 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100[13] and at 23 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[14] while its music video inspired the viral "level up dance challenge". Ciara also challenged fans to share three ways that they hoped to "level up" in life in promotion of the single. The song was certified Platinum by the RIAA. With the success of "Level Up", Ciara released the album's second single, "Freak Me", featuring Nigerian rapper, Tekno, less than a month later on August 10, 2018. The single peaked at 22 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs Chart.[15]

"Dose" was released as the album's third single on September 14, 2018, after premiering on ESPN’s Monday Night Football halftime show. The song's music video premiered on October 25, 2018 (Ciara's 33rd birthday). The single peaked at 7 on the US R&B Digital Songs Sales chart.[16] The album's fourth single, "Greatest Love", was released alongside its music video on February 11, 2019, to coincide with Valentine's Day. The single peaked at 21 on the US R&B Digital Songs Sales chart.[16]

"Thinkin Bout You" was released as the fifth single on March 29, 2019, along with the album's pre-order. Its music video premiered that same day. The single peaked at 20 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Songs Chart.[15]

Ciara released a music video for the album's title track on May 11, 2019 and one for the album's third track, "Set", on June 14, 2019. Despite not being released as a single, the title track peaked at 22 on the R&B Digital Songs Sales chart.[16]

Critical reception

Beauty Marks received generally mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 57, based on 4 reviews. Andy Kellman, writing for AllMusic, noted that Ciara "retreads just about every move she has made before," and praised the ballads for the ballads for "easily prevail[ing] over the up-tempo numbers, not one of which is a match for the singer's previous dancefloor conquests." In his Spin review, Alfred Soto called the album "mediocre", but remarked that "[it] manages to land in the middle of Ciara's discography when boldness is required." Nick Levine rated the album with 3 out of 5 stars, claiming that "[t]hough ‘Beauty Marks’ is rarely innovative, Ciara shows a respectable amount of range throughout the record. During his review for Pitchfork, Eric Torres perceived that "despite a handful of highlights, Beauty Marks is marred by filler, moving between frothy pop-R&B and stale empowerment anthems that leave Ciara's talents largely underused." In a more positive note, Steven J. Horowitz praised the album's themes of happiness and contentment, claiming that they "suit her well, as does her newfound openness. This is the Ciara that we deserve, and that she deserves too."

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 87 on the US Billboard 200 and number 48 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. As of May 2019, the album has sold over 135,000 equivalent album units globally.[17]

Track listing

All songs were written by Ciara. Additional writers are noted below.

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits for Beauty Marks adapted from Allmusic.[18]

Studios

Recording locations

Mixing locations

Performers and Vocals

Production

Technical

Artwork

Release history

RegionDateEditionFormatLabelRef.
VariousMay 10, 2019StandardBeauty Marks[20] [21]
JapanJune 5, 2019JapaneseCDWarner Music Japan[22]

Beauty Marks Tour

Concert Tour Name:Beauty Marks Tour
Artist:Ciara
Type:National
Location:U.S., North America
Album:Beauty Marks
Start Date:September 13, 2019
End Date:October 4, 2019
Number Of Legs:1
Number Of Shows:7 in North America
Last Tour:Jackie Tour
(2015)
This Tour:Beauty Marks Tour
(2019)

The Beauty Marks Tour was the fifth concert tour by American singer Ciara. The tour supported her seventh studio album, Beauty Marks.

Background

Ciara announced the tour on June 1, 2019, during a performance on Good Morning America.[23]

Reception

Reviewing the Houston date for the Houston Chronicle, Joey Guerra said that "every song was a renewed blast of energy" and that regardless of whether she was singing her first hits or her newest songs, "it's still an intoxicating sound".[24]

Tour dates

DateCityCountryVenue
September 13, 2019PuyallupUnited StatesWashington State Fair
September 17, 2019Los AngelesThe Wiltern
September 24, 2019HoustonHouse of Blues
September 26, 2019AtlantaCenter Stage Theater
September 29, 2019Silver SpringThe Fillmore
October 1, 2019New York CitySony Hall
October 4, 2019ChicagoPark West

Set list

  1. "Dose"
  2. "Set"
  3. "Goodies"
  4. "That's Right"
  5. "Get Up"
  6. "Ride"
  7. "Oh"
  8. "Promise"
  9. "And I"
  10. "Sorry"
  11. "I Bet"
  12. "Like a Boy"
  13. "Girl Gang"
  14. "If"
  15. "Freak Me"
  16. "Ciara to the Stage"
  17. "Like a Surgeon"
  18. "Body Party"
  19. "Thinkin Bout You"
  20. "1, 2 Step"
  21. "Tootsee Roll"
  22. "Level Up"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The singer's seventh album moves between frothy pop-R&B and stale empowerment anthems that leave her talents largely underused . Pitchfork . May 16, 2019 . June 1, 2019 . June 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190601122327/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/ciara-beauty-marks/ . live .
  2. Web site: Ciara gifts fans with new album, 'Beauty Marks' . . May 10, 2019 . May 10, 2019 . October 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201012210655/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2019/5/10/ciara-gifts-fans-with-new-album-beauty-marks.html . live .
  3. Web site: Ciara Announces New Album Beauty Marks . . Strauss . Matthew . March 28, 2019 . March 29, 2019 . March 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210301073131/https://pitchfork.com/news/ciara-announces-new-album-beauty-marks/ . live .
  4. Web site: Ciara is leaving Epic Records according to @deontaemoore . February 18, 2016 . Hip-hopvibe.com . May 12, 2019 . April 25, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190425020414/https://www.hip-hopvibe.com/2016/02/18/ciara-is-leaving-epic-records-according-to-deontaemoore/ . live .
  5. Ciara Cancels Upcoming North American Tour Dates . Billboard . May 12, 2019 . April 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200427033239/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/6890499/ciara-cancels-upcoming-north-american-jackie-tour-dates . live .
  6. Web site: CIARA DEFENDS 'JACKIE,' SAYS NEXT ALBUM WILL BE BEST OF HER CAREER . . March 1, 2016 . November 11, 2016 . Gracie, Bianca . November 11, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161111201538/http://www.fuse.tv/2016/03/ciara-defends-jackie-best-seventh-album . live .
  7. Lamarre . Carl . Ciara Signs With Warner Bros. Records . January 27, 2017 . . . January 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170127155239/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7669857/ciara-signs-warner-bros-records . January 27, 2017 . United States.
  8. Web site: Sam . Ciara Signs New Record Deal With Warner Bros . Thatgrapejuice.net . January 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170127145946/http://thatgrapejuice.net/2017/01/ciara-signs-new-record-deal-warner-bros/ . January 27, 2017 . United States . January 27, 2017.
  9. Web site: Ciara Asked Label for Her Masters After They Didn't Believe "Level Up" Would be Successful . HNHH . June 20, 2022 . June 21, 2022 . June 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220621030643/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/ciara-asked-label-for-her-masters-after-they-didnt-believe-level-up-would-be-successful-news.153861.html . live .
  10. Ciara Talks New Label, 'Leveling Up' to Be Her Own Boss: 'Tough Moments Build Your Character' . Billboard . May 12, 2019 . March 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210303004327/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8497439/ciara-interview-leveling-up-beauty-marks-entertainment . live .
  11. Web site: Ciara Announces New Album 'Beauty Marks' . . March 28, 2019 . March 29, 2019 . February 13, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210213161114/https://www.rap-up.com/2019/03/28/ciara-announces-new-album-beauty-marks/ . live .
  12. Web site: Ciara Talks "Thinkin Bout You" Performance & Oprah's Impact BBMAs 2019 . . May 2, 2019 . May 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190502214554/https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/be-prepared/ciara-talks-thinkin-bout-you-performance-and-oprahs-impact-bbmas-2019/vp-AAAMvFq . live .
  13. Web site: Ciara . Billboard . 2021-02-26 . November 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117150144/https://www.billboard.com/artist/ciara/chart-history/hsi/ . live .
  14. Web site: Ciara . Billboard . 2021-02-26 . November 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117153237/https://www.billboard.com/artist/ciara/chart-history/bsi/ . live .
  15. Web site: Ciara . Billboard . 2021-02-26 . April 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413152712/https://www.billboard.com/artist/ciara/chart-history/rbt/ . live .
  16. Web site: Ciara . Billboard . 2021-02-26 . April 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413152628/https://www.billboard.com/artist/ciara/chart-history/rdt/ . live .
  17. Web site: Ciara Is Headed to Harvard! 'Level Up' Singer Set to Attend the Ivy League's Business School. May 20, 2019. May 20, 2022. May 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220521011312/https://people.com/music/ciara-attending-harvard-business-school-program/. live. Web site: Ciara Performs on 'GMA' Summer Concert Series. May 20, 2022. January 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200104171641/https://www.rap-up.com/2019/05/31/ciara-performs-gma-summer-concert-series/amp/. live.
  18. Web site: Beauty Marks – Ciara — Credits — . Allmusic . June 12, 2019 . May 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508021233/https://www.allmusic.com/album/beauty-marks-mw0003267090 . live .
  19. Web site: ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums . . May 20, 2019 . May 18, 2019 . May 18, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190518122720/http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/EB34BAD05445E70A32621AFEC34CCF5D66F99EEFE9EB010479B800B481CEBFEB/ARIA%20Digital%20Albums%20Chart.pdf?seq=24 . live .
  20. Web site: Beauty Marks by Ciara on Amazon Music . Amazon . May 2, 2020 . October 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191006023001/https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Marks-Ciara/dp/B07PXV2NRD . live .
  21. Web site: Ciara Beauty Marks on ImportantCDs . ImportantCDs.com . May 2, 2020 . April 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413152628/https://www.importcds.com/beauty-marks/896710998337 . live .
  22. Web site: Ciara / シアラ 「Beauty Marks / ビューティー・マークス」 . Warner Music Japan . May 2, 2020 . April 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220413152630/https://wmg.jp/ciara/discography/20894/ . live .
  23. Web site: Ciara announces 'Beauty Marks' tour: "I want to make sure it's a unique experience" . . June 3, 2019 . May 8, 2020 . June 7, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190607104713/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2019/6/3/ciara-announces-beauty-marks-tour-i-want-to-make-sure-its-a.html . live .
  24. News: Guerra . Joey . Ciara proves she still has the 'Goodies' at Houston show . . September 24, 2019 . May 8, 2020 . December 7, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191207071358/https://www.chron.com/entertainment/music/article/Ciara-proves-she-still-has-the-goodies-at-Houston-14465922.php . live .

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