Ms. Kelly

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Untitled

Ms. Kelly is the second solo studio album by American R&B singer Kelly Rowland, released by Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World and Sony Urban Music on June 22, 2007 (see 2007 in music) in most of Continental Europe, June 25 2007 in the United Kingdom, July 3, 2007 in New Zealand and the United States and July 7 2007 in Australia. Two Deluxe re-release of the album were released on March 25, and May 12, 2008 respectively, containing previously unreleased songs and remixes.[1]

Production

Writing and recording process

Rowland had been working on her second solo album on and off since 2004.[2] Originally entitled My Story,[2] the album's first version was actually scheduled for a release on June 13, 2006 and involving main production by Big Tank, Soulshock & Karlin, Patrick "J. Que" Smith, Rich Harrison, Rodney Jerkins; songwriting credits by Robin Thicke and Solange Knowles,[2] and guest appearances by female rappers Remy Ma and Shawnna.[2] Although she world premiered a CKB-produced lead single, "Gotsta Go," on the 2006 MTV Asia Awards in Bangkok on May 6, 2006, Rowland, her management and Columbia Records eventually decided to shelve the album in favor of a re-worked version with a different vibe since the singer considered the final tracklist "too full of midtempos and ballads:"[3] "It was basically a list of songs that I put together about the past three years of my life, with love and relationships," Rowland said of the original album in an interview with MTV News. "And I remember listening to the record, and I was just like, 'I don't want this to be too deep to where, you know, [I] lose people.' I still wanna have my party records, and I still wanna make people get up and bob their heads and vibe a little bit ..."[3]

Rowland, who cited former bandmate Beyoncé, Brandy and Whitney Houston as major inspirations while recording her album,[3] eventually consulted a few other songwriters and producers to collaborate on the album, renamed Ms. Kelly, including Mysto & Pizzi, Sean Garrett, Scott Storch,[4] and Atlanta-based Polow da Don, who contributed the single "Like This," a duet with rapper Eve, to the album. "I really put my heart and soul into this record," she said in another interview, "and not only am I excited that everyone's going to hear the music, I'm looking forward to people getting to hear the real me. That's the reason I called the album Ms. Kelly. Because the title is all about respect, being an adult and that's how I feel about my life, and my music."[3]

Reception

Critical response

Ms. Kelly received "generally favorable reviews" from critics, averaging a 71 out of a 100 among averaged reviews on metacritic.com.[5] Alex Macpherson of The Guardian complimented the album as "poised, dignified and completely lacking in the hysteria normally associated with R&B divas giving vent to their feelings. But the emotions simmering beneath her glassy, controlled tones are as raw as any Mary J Blige classic," giving it four and a half stars out of five.[6] Ben Williams of the New York Post referred the album as a "mostly upbeat record that soulfully delves into contemporary funk,"[7] while Andy Kellman wrote for All Music Guide: "All-around, the album does provide a stronger set of songs than 2002's Simply Deep. The material tends to be kind of insidious, rather than hitting you immediately or going through one ear and out the other."[8] He also noted that "the lyrics [...] are direct and specific, going beyond basic breakup material."[8]

In his review for About.com, Mark Edward Nero characterized the album as "basically one by someone with the persona of a backup player who's been thrust in a lead role. And although she may feel comfortable in the role, Kelly can't carry the full weight - just like Scottie Pippen never could with the [Chicago] Bulls."[9] Dotmusic`s Jaime Gill called Ms. Kelly "old-fashioned", adding that "Rowland's big problem is that she has the lungs but not the voice [...] She can holler like Beyoncé, growl like Kelis or swoon like Aaliyah, but has little to no natural style of her own."[10] Ken Capobianco's review for The Boston Globe was more emphatic dubbing it "a solid if somewhat safe set of grooves, but the album never takes full flight to become something special."[11]

Commercial performance

Ms. Kelly debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and at number 6 on the official Billboard 200, with moderately successful first week sales of 82,500 copies (5,000 more than her previous album Simply Deep);[12] making it Rowland's first domestic top 10 album. It remained five weeks within the upper half of the Billboard 200,[13] selling about 190,000 copies until its last week on the chart in September 2007.[13] As of April 2008, it has sold 213,000 copies domestically, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[14] Outside the United States, the album failed to enter the top forty of the majority of the charts it appeared on, except for Brazil and the United Kingdom where it opened at number 11 and 37 respectively.[15] The album also peaked at number 10 on the Japanese Foreign Charts.[16]

Re-release

Following the album's "poor acceptance,"[1] the singer decided to re-enter recording studios to record new songs for a re-release edition of Ms. Kelly, including production by Stargate,[17] Jeff Dawson, CKB and Mark Feist.[18] Rowland was also expected to record with producer Danja, but deadline pressure prevented from happening;[19] a new track by J. R. Rotem did not make the final cut.[20]

"The sales weren’t as good as I wanted them to be and to be honest, I did feel sad about that for a little while," Rowland stated in a 2008 interview with TeenMusic.com, still blaming the final tracklist for too many midtempos and ballads. "I didn't realize it while I was recording it. After it was released [back in June] many fans said the songs would rock if they were more upbeat."[1] Branded with the name Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe, the U.S. re-release received a digital release only on March 25, 2008,[21] its lead single being the previously unreleased Bobby Womack cover "Daylight," a collaboration with Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes.[1] "The tracks on Diva Deluxe are too hot to hold onto," Rowland stated, "so I decided to release them digitally so my fans could get into them as soon as possible. I hope everyone enjoys the new songs as much as I did recording them."[22]

The international version of the Ms. Kelly re-release was released on May 12 2008, re-titled as Ms. Kelly Deluxe.[23] It removed eight tracks from the original release and replaced them with six of the seven Diva Deluxe tracks, as Rowland "wanted to have another view on the record and close the Ms. Kelly chapter" with the re-release.[24][25] This version of the album opened at number 23 on the UK Albums Chart in the week of May 18, 2008, which was 14 positions higher than the original release. Ms.Kelly Deluxe helped the album to pass 1 million mark worldwide, and was moderate success, which was better internationally, but did not help to boost sales in U.S.

Track listing

  1. "Like This" (featuring Eve) - (Kelly Rowland, Sean Garrett, Jamal Jones, Elvis Williams, Jason Perry, Eve Jeffers) - 3:35
  2. "Comeback" - (Rowland, Scott Storch, Jason Boyd, Lyndrea Price) - 3:26
  3. "Ghetto" (featuring Snoop Dogg) - (Rowland, Durrell Babbs, J. "Lonny" Bereal, Calvin Broadus) - 2:55
  4. "Work" - (Rowland, Storch, Boyd) - 3:28
  5. "Flashback" - (Rowland, Charles Bereal, Kenneth Bereal, J. Bereal, Huy Nguyen, Britney Jackson) - 4:21
  6. "Every Thought Is You" - (Rowland, Dana Stinson, Loren Dawson, J. Bereal, Billy Mann, Huy Nguyen, Shalondra Buckines) - 3:56
  7. "The Show" (featuring Tank) (Rowland, Babbs, J. Bereal) - 3:36
  8. "Interlude" - (Rowland, Carsten Schack, Kenneth Karlin, J. Bereal, Billy Mann, Price) - 1:00
  9. "Still in Love with My Ex" - (Rowland, Schack, Karlin, J. Bereal, Mann, Price) - 3:38
  10. "Love" - (Slav Vynnytsky, Marc Joseph, Solange Knowles) - 3:51
  11. "Better Without You" - (C. Bereal, K. Bereal, J. Bereal, Charmelle Colfied) - 3:57
  12. "This Is Love" - (Mann) - 4:46
Bonus tracks
  2. "Gotsta Go (Part I)" (featuring Da Brat) [European bonus track] - (Rowland, C. Bereal, K. Bereal, J. Bereal, Angela Beyince, S. Harris) - 3:48
  4. "Like This" (Azza's Nu Soul Remix) [iTunes bonus track] - 3:54
  6. "H'Bibi I Love You" (with Amine) [French bonus track] - 4:08
  8. "Dilemma" (with Nelly) [Japanese bonus track]] - (Cornell Haynes Jr., Bunny Sigler, Kenny Gamble) - 4:49
  10. "Like This" (DJ Speedy Remix; featuring Sean P & Eve) [Special Premium Edition bonus digital download] - 4:13
Bonus DVD
Exclusively at Walmart, original Ms. Kelly was packaged with a bonus DVD titled, BET Presents Kelly Rowland. The DVD features BET highlights, performance highlights, and music videos from throughout Rowland's career.[26]

Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe

  1. "Daylight" (featuring Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes) - (Bobby Womack, Harold Payne) - 3:30
  2. "Broken" - (K. Rowland, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tariano Jackson, J. Bereal, Hugh Atkins) - 3:24
  3. "Comeback" (Karmatronics Club Mix) - 6:20
  4. "Like This" (Redline Remix) - 2:50
  5. "Love Again" - (J. Bereal, R. Battle, C. Cofield, C. Bereal, C. Jones) - 3:50
  6. "Unity (Stay with Me)" - (Jordan Thorsteinson, Troy Samson, Mike James) - 3:51
  7. "No Man No Cry" - (Mark Feist, Damon Sharpe, Lauren Evans) - 3:28

Ms. Kelly Deluxe

  1. "Work" (Freemasons Radio Edit) - 3:13
  2. "Daylight (featuring Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes) - 3:30
  3. "Like This" (featuring Eve) - 3:35
  4. "Love" - 3:51
  5. "This Is Love" - 4:50
  6. "Broken" - 3:24
  7. "Better Without You" - 3:58
  8. "Every Thought Is You" - 3:56
  9. "Love Again" - 3:51
  10. "Unity (Stay with Me)" - 3:50
  11. "No Man No Cry" - 3:28
  12. "Daylight" (Joey Negro Club Mix) - 7:06
  13. "Comeback" (Kamatronics Remix) - 6:20 [25]

Leftover tracks

  • "All on You" (featuring Lil Wayne) [27] (Demo features Lauren Evans instead of Kelly Rowland)
  • "Bad Habit" (Part 2) [28]
  • "Back on" [28]
  • "Can't Do It Again" [28]
  • "Just Me" [28]
  • "Last Time" (written by J. Que, Ezekiel Lewis) [27]
  • "Mr. Postman" (produced by Big Tank) [29][failed verification]
  • "Tell Me" (produced by Flintstone) [28]
  • "Time by Myself" (written by K. Rowland, Sean Garrett, Warren Felder) [30]
  • "Watcha Do" (written by J. Que, E. Lewis) [27]
  • "What It Do" (written by J. Que) [28]
  • "Work Her Man" (written by Big Tank, Les) [29][failed verification]

Singles

Release history

Region Date Label
Japan June 20 2007 Columbia, Music World
Austria June 22 2007
Denmark
France
Germany
Switzerland
Poland June 25 2007
United Kingdom
New Zealand July 3 2007
United States
Israel July 5 2007
Australia July 7 2007

Credits and personnel

Production

  • Executive producers: Mathew Knowles, Kelly Rowland
  • Vocal producers: J. "Lonny" Bereal, Jason Boyd, Montina Cooper, Huy Nguyen, K. Rowland
  • Vocal assistance: J. "Lonny" Bereal, Montina Cooper
  • Engineers: Wayne Allison, Chris Jackson, Colin Miller, Brian Sumner, Rommel Nino Villanueva
  • Assistant engineers: Vadim Chislov, Gelly Kusuma, Kobla Tetey
  • Mixing: Jason Goldstein, Jean Marie Horvat, Tony Maserati, Dexter Simmons, Phil Tan, Andy Zulla
  • Mixing assistince: Christian Baker
  • Mastering: Tom Coyne, Chris Gehringer
  • Art Direction: Fusako Chubachi, Erwin Gorostiza

Charts and certifications

  • These are the peak positions and certifications from chart providers.
Chart (2007) Provider Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[39] ARIA 44
Australian Urban Chart[40] 8
Brazil Hot 100[41] ABPD 11
Canadian Albums Chart[42] CRIA/Nielsen SoundScan 64
Dutch Albums Chart[15] MegaCharts 61
French Albums Chart[43] SNEP/IFOP 88
German Albums Chart[44] Media Control 80
Irish Albums Chart[15] IRMA 46
Italian Albums Chart[15] FIMI 41
Japanese Foreign Charts[45] Oricon 10
New Zealand Albums Chart RIANZ 53
Swiss Albums Chart[15] Media Control 38
UK Albums Chart[15] BPI/The Official UK Charts Company 23
U.S. Billboard 200[15] Billboard 6
U.S. Top Digital Albums[46] 16
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[13] 2
United World Chart[15] Media Traffic 16

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Interview: "Kelly Rowland's All About Action"". TeenMusic. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  2. ^ a b c d ""Kelly Rowland Hooks Up With Beyonce's Sister Again For Solo LP"". Limmatta Online. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  3. ^ a b c d ""Kelly Rowland Scraps Sappy Story, Picks Up Snoop"". VH1. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  4. ^ ""Scott Storch Responds To Timbaland's Jabs"". MTV News. Retrieved 2007-03-13.
  5. ^ ""Ms. Kelly"". Metacritic. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  6. ^ Alex Macpherson. ""Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly"". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-02-02. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  7. ^ Dan Aquilante. "Ms. Kelly review". New York Post. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  8. ^ a b Andy Kellman. "Ms. Kelly review". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  9. ^ Mark Edward Nero. "Ms. Kelly". About.com. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  10. ^ Jaime Gill. "Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly". Dot Music. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  11. ^ Ken Capobianco. ""Still standing in the shadows"". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  12. ^ """Ms. Kelly". SOHH. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
  13. ^ a b c "?". Billboard.bz. Retrieved 2008-02-02. Cite error: The named reference "us2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  14. ^ Gail Mitchell. ""Ask Billboard: Ms. Kelly Sales"". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-04-04.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h "Charts Performance". A-Charts.us. Cite error: The named reference "acharts" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  16. ^ "UK Albums Chart". Yahoo Charts. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
  17. ^ "Ms. Kelly re-release VIBE". VIBE Magazine. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
  18. ^ a b c ""Kelly Rowland Shouts-Out That Grape Juice"". Young Voices. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  19. ^ "Interview". That Grape Juice. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  20. ^ Aaron Frank. ""The HHNLive.com Interview: J.R. Rotem Part 1"". HHNLive.com. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  21. ^ ""Kelly Rowland Revamps With New Songs, Digital Album Drops March 25"". Singersroom.com. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  22. ^ ""Grammy Winning R&B/Pop Superstar Kelly Rowland Kicks It New School with the Release of Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe"". EarthTimes.org. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
  23. ^ ""New Single Daylight feat. Travis from Gym Class Heroes- out 5th May"". KellyRowland.Bebo.com. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  24. ^ a b ""Kelly Rowland Speaks To Top DC Fansite"". That Grape Juice. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  25. ^ a b ""Kelly Rowland - Ms. Kelly Deluxe"". Play.com. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  26. ^ ""BET Presents Kelly Rowland Bonus DVD"". Walmart. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  27. ^ a b c ""Windswept Monthly"" (PDF). Windswept Pacific. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
  28. ^ a b c d e f ""Oft-Delayed Kelly Rowland Album Due in June"". Billboard. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  29. ^ a b ""Kelly Rowland Album Review"". Urban Bridgez. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  30. ^ "ASCAP ACE". Ascap. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  31. ^ a b ""like This" History". a-Charts. Retrieved 2007-06-15. Cite error: The named reference "msquare" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  32. ^ a b "AMG: Billboard Singles". All Music Guide. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |work= at position 11 (help)
  33. ^ Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles; 2007-09-01
  34. ^ ""Kelly Rowland shoots new video"". So-Urban.com. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
  35. ^ "Deutsche Black Charts KW 04". Trendcharts. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
  36. ^ http://www.newuksinglereleases.co.uk/
  37. ^ "Partizan Music Videos by Philip Andelman". Partizan.com. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
  38. ^ "Interview". MiddleChild Promotions. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  39. ^ "ARIA Charts" (PDF). ARIA Charts.
  40. ^ "ARIA Charts". ARIA Charts.
  41. ^ "Brazil Hot 100". Brazil Hot 100.
  42. ^ "ALBUMS : Top 100". CANOE - JAM! Music.
  43. ^ "Albums Top 200". Les Charts.
  44. ^ "Album Top 100". Musicload. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
  45. ^ "Japanese Foreign Chart". Oricon. Retrieved 2007-07-02.
  46. ^ "Top Digital Albums 2007-07-21". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 2008-01-25.
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