Supernatural (Des'ree album)
Encyclopedia
Supernatural is the third studio album
by British recording artist Des'ree
. Released by 550 Music
and Epic Records
on 11 August 1998, it follows four years after the singer's previous album, I Ain't Movin'
. Predominantly an R&B
album, Supernatural received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised Des'ree's voice, but noted that the album lacked memorable songs. The album appeared on several record charts, reaching the top ten in Austria and the Netherlands, and the top twenty in Flanders, France, Norway, Sweden and the UK.
"Life
" was released as the lead single
from Supernatural, although "I'm Kissing You" was used as the soundtrack single
for the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet. "Life" charted well, topping the singles charts of Austria and the Netherlands. "What's Your Sign?
" was the album's second single; however it did not perform as well as "Life".
, was released in 1994. Its lead single
, "You Gotta Be
", was a hit in the United States, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100
. The singer took a four-year break before releasing Supernatural, which she said made her nervous. "But I said to myself, 'I'd rather have that absence and come out with a stunning record than feel the pressure to come out with something earlier and the record be mediocre.'" Polly Anthony, president of 550 Music
said that the record label had been "patiently waiting" for Supernatural, and was comfortable with artists working within their own timeframes.
and pop
album, and uses acoustic guitar
and light bassline
s. String instrument
s, percussion
and synthesisers are also used. Dayton Daily News
A. M. Jamison wrote, "On Supernatural, Des'ree's voice is the main instrument". It opens with "What's Your Sign?", a song about astrological compatibility
. Des'ree says it was written because of her own interest in astrological horoscopes, but she is also "fascinated by people's fascination with it, especially within the [music] industry". In "God Only Knows" Des'ree mentions her overthinking, while in "Life
" she sings about superstitions.
and Epic Records
on 11 August 1998. The album was re-issued in Japan on 9 September 1998. This edition contains two bonus tracks – "Warm Hands, Cold Heart" and "Soul Paradise.
"Life
" was released as the album's lead single in the United Kingdom on 1 June 1998. It reached number one on the Ö3 Austria Top 40
and the Dutch Single Top 100, while reaching the top ten in Australia, Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
"What's Your Sign?" was released on 26 October 1998, and peaked at number nineteen in the UK, and attained top-fifty places in Austria, France, New Zealand and Switzerland. "I'm Kissing You
" was released as the soundtrack single for Baz Lurhmann's 1996 film Romeo + Juliet, and was included on its soundtrack album
. It reached number seventeen on the Australian Singles Chart.
Angela Lewis of The Independent
positively reviewed the album, stating that Des'ree is "as gorgeously earthy and organic as she used to be, if not quite as fascinating". Writing for Entertainment Weekly
, J. D. Considine
noted Supernatural as "exquisitely listenable" and complimented Des'ree's voice for its "depth and complexity". A. M. Jamison from the Dayton Daily News
praised Des'ree's optimistic lyrics and described the record as refreshing.
, on the issue dated 5 September 1998. On 12 September it fell to number 187, before slipping off the chart the following week. On the Top R&B Albums appeared at number 72 on the chart of 5 September, moving to number 82 the next issue. In its third week, it jumped to number 73, while its final week on the component chart was spent at number 96 on 26 September 1998. Supernatural sold 50,000 copies in the US, while I Ain't Movin sold over one million.
In Europe, Supernatural reached the top ten of album charts in Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and the top twenty in Flanders, France, Norway and Sweden, and number twenty-three in Wallonia. On the UK Albums Chart
, it debuted at number sixteen, and spent nine weeks on the chart. In Australia, the album peaked at number twenty-seven, lasting eleven weeks on the chart. In New Zealand, Supernatural appeared at number forty-one on the chart dated 4 October 1998, before falling off the chart.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by British recording artist Des'ree
Des'ree
Des'ree is an English pop/soul singer who was popular during the 1990s. She is well known for her hits: "Feel So High", "You Gotta Be", "Life", and "Kissing You"...
. Released by 550 Music
550 Music
550 Music was a unit of Sony Music Entertainment, which operated through Sony Music's Epic Records division while in activity. Launched in 1992, the "550" name was inspired by the address of the Sony building, located at 550 Madison Avenue in New York...
and Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
on 11 August 1998, it follows four years after the singer's previous album, I Ain't Movin'
I Ain't Movin'
I Ain't Movin is a full-length album by soul singer-songwriter Des'ree. It was released on July 5 1994 on Epic Records, and features the top 5 smash hit, "You Gotta Be"...
. Predominantly an R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
album, Supernatural received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised Des'ree's voice, but noted that the album lacked memorable songs. The album appeared on several record charts, reaching the top ten in Austria and the Netherlands, and the top twenty in Flanders, France, Norway, Sweden and the UK.
"Life
Life (Des'ree song)
"Life" is a popular song recorded by the British pop and soul singer Des'ree. It was the third single from her third album Supernatural and was released on 2 June 1998...
" was released as the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
from Supernatural, although "I'm Kissing You" was used as the soundtrack single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
for the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet. "Life" charted well, topping the singles charts of Austria and the Netherlands. "What's Your Sign?
What's your sign?
What's your sign? is a phrase used to ask about someone's astrological sign. It is also considered a cliched pick-up line.Music*A song featured on The Flintstone Comedy Hour*The 9th track on the 1973 Harry Nillson album Duit on Mon Dei...
" was the album's second single; however it did not perform as well as "Life".
Background
Des'ree's previous album, I Ain't Movin'I Ain't Movin'
I Ain't Movin is a full-length album by soul singer-songwriter Des'ree. It was released on July 5 1994 on Epic Records, and features the top 5 smash hit, "You Gotta Be"...
, was released in 1994. Its lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
, "You Gotta Be
You Gotta Be
"You Gotta Be" is a song recorded by the British pop and soul singer Des'ree. Written by the singer with the track's producer Ashley Ingram, "You Gotta Be" was the first single release from Des'ree's second album I Ain't Movin .-Background:...
", was a hit in the United States, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The singer took a four-year break before releasing Supernatural, which she said made her nervous. "But I said to myself, 'I'd rather have that absence and come out with a stunning record than feel the pressure to come out with something earlier and the record be mediocre.'" Polly Anthony, president of 550 Music
550 Music
550 Music was a unit of Sony Music Entertainment, which operated through Sony Music's Epic Records division while in activity. Launched in 1992, the "550" name was inspired by the address of the Sony building, located at 550 Madison Avenue in New York...
said that the record label had been "patiently waiting" for Supernatural, and was comfortable with artists working within their own timeframes.
Composition
Supernatural is an R&BContemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
album, and uses acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and light bassline
Bassline
A bassline is the term used in many styles of popular music, such as jazz, blues, funk, dub and electronic music for the low-pitched instrumental part or line played by a rhythm section instrument such as the electric bass, double bass, tuba or keyboard...
s. String instrument
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
s, percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
and synthesisers are also used. Dayton Daily News
Dayton Daily News
The Dayton Daily News is a daily newspaper published in Dayton, Ohio. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. In the 2010 Associated Press Society of Ohio newspaper competition that takes place every year, DaytonDailyNews.com was named "the best large-newspaper web site in Ohio".-History:On August 15,...
A. M. Jamison wrote, "On Supernatural, Des'ree's voice is the main instrument". It opens with "What's Your Sign?", a song about astrological compatibility
Astrological compatibility
Astrological compatibility is the branch of astrology that studies relationships by comparing natal horoscopes. A natal horoscope is a chart, map, or imaginary snapshot of the planets in the Solar System and their positions in the zodiac at the exact time of a person's birth. The signs of the...
. Des'ree says it was written because of her own interest in astrological horoscopes, but she is also "fascinated by people's fascination with it, especially within the [music] industry". In "God Only Knows" Des'ree mentions her overthinking, while in "Life
Life (Des'ree song)
"Life" is a popular song recorded by the British pop and soul singer Des'ree. It was the third single from her third album Supernatural and was released on 2 June 1998...
" she sings about superstitions.
Release and promotion
Supernatural was released by 550 Music550 Music
550 Music was a unit of Sony Music Entertainment, which operated through Sony Music's Epic Records division while in activity. Launched in 1992, the "550" name was inspired by the address of the Sony building, located at 550 Madison Avenue in New York...
and Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
on 11 August 1998. The album was re-issued in Japan on 9 September 1998. This edition contains two bonus tracks – "Warm Hands, Cold Heart" and "Soul Paradise.
"Life
Life (Des'ree song)
"Life" is a popular song recorded by the British pop and soul singer Des'ree. It was the third single from her third album Supernatural and was released on 2 June 1998...
" was released as the album's lead single in the United Kingdom on 1 June 1998. It reached number one on the Ö3 Austria Top 40
Ö3 Austria Top 40
Ö3 Austria Top 40 is the name of the official Austrian singles chart, as well as the radio show which presents it, aired Fridays on Hitradio Ö3. The show presents the Austrian singles, ringtones and downloads chart. It premiered on 26 November 1968 as Disc Parade and was presented by Ernst Grissemann...
and the Dutch Single Top 100, while reaching the top ten in Australia, Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
"What's Your Sign?" was released on 26 October 1998, and peaked at number nineteen in the UK, and attained top-fifty places in Austria, France, New Zealand and Switzerland. "I'm Kissing You
Kissing You (Des'ree song)
"Kissing You" is a song by British singer Des'ree. It was written by the singer with Timothy Atack for Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film Romeo + Juliet. The song was included on the film's soundtrack album and Des'ree's third studio album, Supernatural...
" was released as the soundtrack single for Baz Lurhmann's 1996 film Romeo + Juliet, and was included on its soundtrack album
Romeo + Juliet (soundtrack)
William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack to the 1996 film of the same name. The soundtrack contained two separate releases: the first containing popular music from the film and the second containing the score to the film composed by Nellee Hooper, Craig...
. It reached number seventeen on the Australian Singles Chart.
Critical reception
Allmusic's Michael Gallucci awarded Supernatural two and a half out of five stars, calling the songs "forgettable" but commending Des'ree's voice.Angela Lewis of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
positively reviewed the album, stating that Des'ree is "as gorgeously earthy and organic as she used to be, if not quite as fascinating". Writing for Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, J. D. Considine
J. D. Considine
J. D. Considine is an established music critic who has been writing about music professionally since 1977. His work has been published in numerous newspapers and music magazines, and he has contributed to several books. Over the years, he has claimed to have put over three million words into...
noted Supernatural as "exquisitely listenable" and complimented Des'ree's voice for its "depth and complexity". A. M. Jamison from the Dayton Daily News
Dayton Daily News
The Dayton Daily News is a daily newspaper published in Dayton, Ohio. It is owned by Cox Enterprises. In the 2010 Associated Press Society of Ohio newspaper competition that takes place every year, DaytonDailyNews.com was named "the best large-newspaper web site in Ohio".-History:On August 15,...
praised Des'ree's optimistic lyrics and described the record as refreshing.
Commercial reception
Supernatural debuted at number 185 on the United States Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, on the issue dated 5 September 1998. On 12 September it fell to number 187, before slipping off the chart the following week. On the Top R&B Albums appeared at number 72 on the chart of 5 September, moving to number 82 the next issue. In its third week, it jumped to number 73, while its final week on the component chart was spent at number 96 on 26 September 1998. Supernatural sold 50,000 copies in the US, while I Ain't Movin sold over one million.
In Europe, Supernatural reached the top ten of album charts in Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and the top twenty in Flanders, France, Norway and Sweden, and number twenty-three in Wallonia. On the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, it debuted at number sixteen, and spent nine weeks on the chart. In Australia, the album peaked at number twenty-seven, lasting eleven weeks on the chart. In New Zealand, Supernatural appeared at number forty-one on the chart dated 4 October 1998, before falling off the chart.
Track listing
Personnel
Credits for Supernatural, adapted from Allmusic:- Timothy Atack – mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
, productionRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Babyface – production
- Paul Buckmaster – conductingConductingConducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, mixing - Steve "Barney" Cahse – engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, mixing - Jason Clift – mixing
- Des'ree – executive productionExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
, production, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Anne Dudley – conducting, mixing
- Simon Hale – conducting, mixing
- Ashley Ingram – conducting, mixing, production
- Steve MacMillan – engineering
- Will Malone – conducting, mixing
- Peter Lord Moreland – production
- Peter Moshay – engineering
- Rick Nowels – production
- Michael Peden – production
- V. Jeffrey Smith – production
- Mario Sorrenti – photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
- Brian Tench – engineering, mixing, production
Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart | 27 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 8 |
| Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders) | 14 |
| Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia) | 23 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | 4 |
| French Albums Chart | 16 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 41 |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 18 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 12 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
16 |
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
185 |
| US Top R&B Albums | 72 |