Unbreakable Smile Explained

Unbreakable Smile
Type:Studio
Artist:Tori Kelly
Cover:Unbreakable Smile (Official Album Cover) by Tori Kelly.png
Recorded:2014–2015
Length:49:16
Prev Title:Foreword
Prev Year:2013
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Unbreakable Smile is the debut studio album by American singer Tori Kelly.[1] [2] It was released on June 23, 2015, through Capitol Records and Schoolboy Records. The album was executively produced by Max Martin.[3] The album received generally positive reviews from critics.

Unbreakable Smile was preceded by two singles, "Nobody Love" and "Should've Been Us". The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. The reissue of the album features two new tracks, "Hollow" and "Something Beautiful", and an alternate album cover was released on January 29, 2016.[4]

Release and promotion

In April 2015, Kelly announced a North American tour, which is called the Where I Belong Tour which took place through May and June to support Unbreakable Smile.[5] [6] Kelly performed her single "Should've Been Us" along with an interview on Good Morning America on June 22, 2015, the day before the album's release.[7] [8]

"Nobody Love" was released as the album's lead single on February 8, 2015.[9] "Unbreakable Smile" was officially released on April 27, 2015 as the album's first promotional single. "Should've Been Us" was initially made available as a promotional single along with the album's pre-order on May 12, 2015.[10] Later, it was released to Top 40 radio as the album's second single on June 2, 2015.[11]

"Hollow" was released digitally on October 19, 2015, and released in North America on October 22, 2015, as the third single from the album, and the first from the reissue[12] and was released to Top 40 radio on November 3, 2015.[13]

All of the aforementioned tracks received music videos.[14] [15] [16] [17]

Critical reception

Empty Lighthouse Magazine called the album Kelly's "break into the industry" with applaud to her songwriting and vocals.[18] Music Snake wrote that the album was an "impressive debut" with Kelly being "boldly authentic and effortlessly talented."[19] In a review from Trendio, the album was called "timeless" and lived up to expectations. However, it was said that Kelly should have broken out of her comfort zone a little more.[20] Matthew Scott Donnelly from PopCrush rated the album 3 out of 5. He wrote that the first half of the album surpassed the second half and closed with "Kelly’s got pipes that could stop an Olympic sprinter in her tracks—and she’s got a great album in her—but Unbreakable Smile, for its undeniable glint, could do with a bit of elective orthodontia."[21] AndPops Merna Jibrail complimented the album's variety although she noted the lack of singles that could have potentially built more momentum and promotion for the album.[22]

Commercial performance

The album was predicted to sell 65,000 units in its first week and debut in the top five of the US Billboard 200.[23] [24] The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, with 75,000 album-equivalent units, including 65,000 pure album sales.[25]

Reissue

The album was re-released on January 29, 2016.[26] "Hollow" was released on October 22, 2015, as the first single from the new edition of the album.[26] [27] In addition to the standard reissue of the album, an exclusive version of the re-release was made available at Target stores. In addition to the two new tracks, it retains the two additional bonus tracks from the original exclusive version of the album. The iTunes bonus tracks were included on the reissue of the album on iTunes everywhere except North America.

Track listing

Notes

Charts

Year-end charts

Release history

RegionDateFormatEditionLabelRef.
AustraliaJune 23, 2015Digital downloadDeluxe[29]
United States[30] [31]
South Africa[32] [33]
SwedenStandard[34]
JapanDigital downloadDeluxe[35]
AustraliaJune 26, 2015CDStandard[36]
United KingdomOctober 16, 2015[37] [38]
WorldwideJanuary 23, 2016

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kelly. Tori. Tori Kelly on Facebook - "ANNOUNCEMENT: my debut album is coming out this summer, titled "Unbreakable Smile"". Facebook.com/ToriKellyMusic. Tori Kelly. April 19, 2015.
  2. Web site: Kelly. Tori. Tori Kelly on Facebook - "MY ALBUM IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON APRIL 28!!". Facebook.com/ToriKellyMusic. Tori Kelly. April 19, 2015.
  3. Web site: Fleming. Olivia. TORI KELLY MIGHT JUST BE THE NEXT BRITNEY SPEARS/KATY PERRY/TAYLOR SWIFT. Elle. April 19, 2015.
  4. Web site: Tori Kelly - Unbreakable Smile (Target Exclusive) (Reissue): Target. January 11, 2016. January 29, 2016. Target.
  5. Web site: Tori Kelly Announces "Where I Belong" Tour Dates!. Pop Star. April 27, 2015. June 25, 2015. September 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924075933/http://www.popstaronline.com/tori-kelly-announces-new-tour-dates/. dead.
  6. Web site: Stickler. Jon. Tori Kelly Lines Up North American 'Where I Belong Tour'. Stereo Board. April 29, 2015.
  7. Web site: Tori Kelly Performs "Should've Been Us" on GMA; Plus Official Music Video. Singers Room. June 22, 2015.
  8. Web site: Video: Tori Kelly on Good Morning America: Live Interview, Performance 'Should've Been Us'. Shallow Nation. June 22, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093212/http://www.shallownation.com/2015/06/22/video-tori-kelly-on-good-morning-america-shouldve-been-us-live-performance/. March 4, 2016.
  9. Web site: Kelly. Tori. single release hangz. YouTube.com/ToriKelly. Tori Kelly. April 19, 2015.
  10. Web site: Tori Kelly - Debut Album Pre-Order & Tour. Google. 28 May 2020.
  11. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150531151504/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases . Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates . May 31, 2015 . August 3, 2016 . AllAccess Music Group.
  12. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20151126224851/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hollow-single/id1050331374. Hollow - Single by Tori Kelly on iTunes. November 26, 2015 . August 3, 2016. iTunes Store (US).
  13. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20151102001121/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases. Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates. November 2, 2015. August 3, 2016. AllAccess Music Group.
  14. Web site: Tori Kelly - Nobody Love (Official Video). Google. 28 May 2020.
  15. Web site: Tori Kelly - Unbreakable Smile (Official Video). Google. 28 May 2020.
  16. Web site: Tori Kelly - Should've Been Us (Official Video). Google. 28 May 2020.
  17. Web site: Tori Kelly - Hollow (Official). Google. 28 May 2020.
  18. Web site: Album Review: Tori Kelly's 'Unbreakable Smile,' Catchy and Emotional. Empty Lighthouse Magazine. June 23, 2015.
  19. Web site: Jeremiah. Marcel. Tori Kelly: 'Unbreakable Smile' Track-by-Track Album Review. Music Snake. June 22, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150627050552/http://musicsnake.com/tori-kelly-unbreakable-smile-track-track-album-review/. June 27, 2015.
  20. Web site: Review: Tori Kelly Releases a Timeless Debut Album. Trendio. June 23, 2015. June 23, 2015. June 29, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150629054622/http://trendio.us/2015/06/review-tori-kelly-releases-a-timeless-debut-album/. dead.
  21. Web site: Donnelly . Matthew Scott . Tori Kelly's 'Unbreakable Smile' Is A Lovely Grin That Grows A Little Tired (Album Review) . PopCrush . June 23, 2015.
  22. Web site: Jibrail. Merna. Track-By-Track Album Review: Unbreakable Smile By Tori Kelly. AndPop. June 24, 2015. June 25, 2015. June 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150626134549/http://www.andpop.com/2015/06/24/track-by-track-album-review-unbreakable-smile-by-tori-kelly/. dead.
  23. Web site: Cantor. Brian. Tori Kelly's 'Unbreakable Smile' Pacing For 60-65K First Week Sales. June 24, 2015.
  24. Caulfield. Keith. Tori Kelly Aiming for Top Five Debut on Billboard 200 Albums Chart. Billboard. June 26, 2015.
  25. Caulfield. Keith. Breaking Benjamin Earns Its First No. 1 Album on the Billboard 200 Chart. Billboard. July 1, 2015.
  26. Web site: Garibaldi . Christina . Tori Kelly's Single 'Hollow' Is Your New Heartbreak Song: Will someone please wrap Tori up in their love?. https://web.archive.org/web/20151023103125/http://www.mtv.com/news/2358037/tori-kelly-hollow-single/. dead. October 23, 2015. Mtv.com. October 22, 2015. October 22, 2015.
  27. Web site: Hollow - Single by Tori Kelly. iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. October 22, 2015. October 29, 2015.
  28. Top 200 Albums Chart Year End 2015. Billboard. December 11, 2015.
  29. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160802202749/https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/unbreakable-smile-bonus-version/id990949149. Unbreakable Smile (Bonus Version) by Tori Kelly on Apple Music. August 2, 2016. August 2, 2016. iTunes Store (AU).
  30. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150701011132/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/unbreakable-smile-bonus-track/id988591612. iTunes - Music - Unbreakable Smile (Bonus Track Version) by Tori Kelly. July 1, 2015. August 2, 2016. iTunes Store (US).
  31. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160802202037/http://www.target.com/p/tori-kelly-unbreakable-smile-target-exclusive/-/A-17427251. Tori Kelly - Unbreakable Smile - Target Exclusive : Target. August 2, 2016 . August 2, 2016. Target.
  32. Web site: Unbreakable Smile by Tori Kelly on Apple Music. August 2, 2016. June 23, 2015. iTunes Store (ZA).
  33. Web site: Unbreakable Smile (Bonus Tracks) by Tori Kelly on Apple Music. August 2, 2016. June 23, 2015. iTunes Store (ZA).
  34. Web site: Unbreakable Smile by Tori Kelly on Apple Music. August 2, 2016. June 23, 2015. iTunes Store (SE).
  35. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20150626164642/https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/unbreakable-smile-bonus-tracks/id990684863. iTunes - Music - Tori Kelly - Unbreakable Smile (Bonus Tracks). June 26, 2015. August 2, 2016. iTunes Store (JP).
  36. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160802203356/https://www.jbhifi.com.au/music/browse/pop/unbreakable-smile/711027/. JB Hi-Fi - Unbreakable Smile KELLY, TORI. August 2, 2016. August 2, 2016. JB Hi-Fi.
  37. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20160202080815/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/unbreakable-smile/id1017288572. Unbreakable Smile by Tori Kelly on iTunes. February 2, 2016. August 2, 2016. iTunes Store (UK).
  38. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20151129053258/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/unbreakable-smile-deluxe/id1016991303. Unbreakable Smile (Deluxe) by Tori Kelly on iTunes. November 29, 2015. August 2, 2016. iTunes Store (UK).