Anastacia (album)

Untitled

Anastacia is the name of the self-titled third studio album by American pop singer-songwriter Anastacia, released outside the United States in March 2004. The album peaked at the top of the album charts in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Greece and Australia, eventually selling roughly 10 million copies worldwide.

The album was never released in the United States, Anastacia's home country, although there were plans to release the album at one time. The track listing for the U.S. was to be different from the European version, replacing "Sexy Single" with the b-side "Underground Army". The plans were cancelled for unknown reasons, most likely due to the apparent poor reception of lead single Left Outside Alone at radio outlets.

History

In January 2003, Anastacia had discovered that she had breast cancer when she was preparing for breast reduction surgery due to orthopedic reasons. Anastacia subsequently established a fund through the Breast Cancer Research Fund to promote awareness of breast cancer amongst younger women.

After this traumatic experience, Anastacia entered record studios in September 2003 to record the Anastacia album with Glen Ballard, Dallas Austin, and Dave Stewart for release in 2004. Anastacia was after more of a rock feel on the album, as is most apparent in the track I Do which featured Sonny Sandoval from P.O.D..

Anastacia says on her website that her illness made it more difficult to record the album:

... the experience was not pleasant. I usually look for the bright side of things, but so far nothing about making this record was positive for me. My doctor told me I'd be tired, not stupid. I could not focus on anything. I'd write a verse and then I couldn't write the chorus or I'd write the chorus but couldn't write the bridge. I couldn't talk, I couldn't think straight, I was totally out of it. The doctors said I'd be tired - but of course I had insomnia. It was tough ...

She struggled through the process to finish the album for release in March 2004.

Track listing

Worldwide Version

1. "Seasons Change" (Anastacia, DioGuardi, Rzeznik) – 4:17
2. "Left Outside Alone" (Anastacia, Austin, Ballard) – 4:17
3. "Time" (Anastacia, Austin, Ballard) – 3:33
4. "Sick and Tired" (Anastacia, Austin, Ballard) – 3:30
5. "Heavy on My Heart" (Anastacia, Mann) – 4:26
6. "I Do" (featuring Sonny Sandoval) (Anastacia, Burton, Dioguardi, Weissfeld) – 3:04
7. "Welcome to My Truth" (Anastacia, Dioguardi, Shanks) – 4:03
8. "Pretty Little Dum Dum" (Anastacia, Ballard, Dioguardi) – 4:37
9. "Sexy Single" (Anastacia, Stewart) – 3:52
10. "Rearview" (Anastacia, Dioguardi, Shanks) – 4:12
11. "Where Do I Belong" (Anastacia, Dioguardi, Leonard) – 3:26
12. "Maybe Today" (Anastacia, Stewart) – 5:15

Limited edition A small batch of this album was released with a bonus DVD, Anastacia poster and slip case. The DVD includes "Making Of Anastacia", "2002 Europe Promo Tour" & a photo gallery.

Cancelled U.S. Version

1. "Seasons Change"
2. "Left Outside Alone"
3. "Time"
4. "Sick and Tired"
5. "Heavy on My Heart"
6. "I Do" (featuring Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D.)
7. "Welcome to My Truth"
8. "Pretty Little Dum Dum"
9. "Underground Army"
10. "Rearview"
11. "Where Do I Belong"
12. "Maybe Today"

B-Sides

There were also several b-sides to the album. The tracks released were:

1. "Get Ready" (which appeared on the "Left Outside Alone" single)
2. "Twisted Girl" (which appeared on the "Sick and Tired" single)
3. "The Saddest Part" (which appeared on the "Welcome to My Truth" single)
4. "Underground Army" (which appeared on the "Heavy on My Heart" single)
5. "Trop Lourd Dans Mon Coeur" (a French version of "Heavy on My Heart", which appeared on the latter's single)

Chart success

Anastacia proved to be a huge smash hit reaching the top of the album charts in 11 European countries including the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland and number two in Spain, Portugal, Italy & Ireland. The album's lead single "Left Outside Alone" proved to be equally successful, reaching number one in Australia, Italy, Austria and Switzerland; top five on the composite European singles chart, in Australia, and in the UK. Strong airplay for the song throughout Europe led to the song's managing a world airplay ranking as one of the top five songs played on top 40 radio stations throughout the world in April 2004. The album also spawned another 3 European hit singles: 'Sick & Tired', 'Welcome To My Truth' & 'Heavy on My Heart', 'Sick & Tired' was the biggest hit from the three scoring top 5 single status across numerous European countries, almost reaching the success of 'Left Outside Alone'. 'Welcome To My Truth' scored Anastacia her best ever selling single in Spain and gained moderate European airplay and sales, the single 'Heavy on My Heart' fared slightly worse but proceeds from the single were donated to Anastacia's Breast Cancer Fund.

Charts

Chart	Position	Weeks on chart
German Top 100 Albums	1 (9)	73
Switzerland Top 100	1 (6)	62
Austrian Top 100	1 (5)	56
Netherlands Album Top 100	1 (4)	60
UK Album Top 75	1 (3)	47
Belgium UltraTop 50	1 (3)	37
Denmark Top 40	1 (3)	35
Australian Albums Chart	1 (2)	41
Sweden Album Top 60	1 (2)	39
Norway Top 50	1 (1)	31
Greece Top 50	1 (3)	70
Portugal Top 40 Albums	2 (5)	69
Italian Top 40	2 (3)	59
Spain Top 50	2 (1)	18
New Zealand Top 40 Albums	26 (1)	3
Ireland Top 75 Albums	2 (1)	45
Finland Top 40 Albums	3 (2)	35
Hungarian Top 40 Albums	4 (2)	61
France Top 200 Albums	14 (1)	72

Year end charts/specials

• Austrian Album Top 100: #2 (2004).
• Belgian UltraTop 100: #6 (2004).
• Dutch Album Top 100: #2 (2004), #99 (2005).
• Swiss Album Top 100: #1 (2004), #94 (2005).
• German Album Top 100: #1 (2004), #55 (2005).
• Hungarian Album Top 40: # 20 as chart position; #32 as sales (2004)
• United Kingdom: #6 (2004)
• Anastacia currently peaks at #90 in the "Best of Alltime Albums" in Sweden.

External links

• Anastacia official website