Flesh Tone
Encyclopedia
Flesh Tone is the fifth studio album
by American recording artist Kelis
, first released on May 14, 2010. Recorded while the singer was an unsigned artist and while pregnant with her first child, the record is an ode to motherhood and is a distinct departure from the urban sound of her previous album, Kelis Was Here
. Production for the songs comes courtesy of David Guetta
, Boys Noize
, Jean Baptiste
and Benny Benassi
amongst others.
Flesh Tone was described as a pop
album but adopts electropop, synthpop
, house
and dancehall
elements to form a "euphoric dance album" which tributes the birth of Kelis' son. The record serves as her debut with Interscope Records
under the will.i.am music
brand. Clocking in at just over 37 minutes, contemporary critics praised the album for being cohesive as well as refreshing and lean. "Acapella
" was released as the album's lead single and topped the U.S. Dance/Club Songs and UK Dance
charts as well as peaking at top-ten on mainstream single charts in Europe. "4th of July (Fireworks)
" served as the second single reaching top five on the U.S. Dance/Club Chart and number six in the UK Dance Chart. The album was listed at number fifty-three on NME
s list of the "Top 75 Albums of 2010".
had parted ways following the lack of commercial success with Kelis Was Here
in the United States. Kelis was signed to Pharell Williams' record label Star Trak which was originally distributed by Virgin Records
but following mergers it was bought by Arista Records
and subsequently Kelis was moved to Jive Records
. Her manager, Jeff Rhaban explained that "It was a case of being in the ever-shrinking world of the record industry and finding herself on a label she wasn’t signed to and without a champion". It wasn't until two years later that Kelis began working on the album as an unsigned artist. She recorded much of the songs at her Los Angeles home, in her personal recording studio, in her garage: Casa De Kelis. Finishing touches were added at Jeepney Studios. Soon after parting ways with Jive, the singer hinted that she would work with Cee-Lo
on releasing a pop music
album.
In December 2009 Kelis released a statement in which she confirmed media reports that she been working with will.i.am
on new music and a record deal. She said she was happy to be part of the Interscope
family and was looking forward to putting out new music as well as touring for fans who appreciated real music. She also revealed that for label selection she took a completed album to key labels she thought would be interested in the project and understand its needs. According to the artist there was a lot of interest. When asked why she chose will.i.am's music label Kelis said "I think that he’s brilliant. As far as this generation goes, there's not a single song that you can bring up to him or a reference or an artist or an era of music that he is not privy to or that he doesn't understand. He's like a musical encyclopedia. It makes it fun. He's not afraid to push the limits and kinda go further than everyone else and that's exciting. He still seems to be having fun doing it and that's what it's all about." will.i.am. replied: "Kelis represents the kind of edge that pushes all of us not just musically but stylistically as well. She has always opened new doors for her audience and we're ready to walk through this next one with her."
According to Billboard magazine, who reviewed the upcoming album in January 2010, the project will contain eight songs although Kelis would later go on to confirm that the final mastered version of the album actually contains nine songs. The review also spoke of individual songs: "Acapella
", helmed by David Guetta
, is a tribute to her son; "4th of July", which was produced by DJ Ammo
; "Kids", which is inspired by gay club goers and "Carefree American", which is an acoustic-guitar driven number. She also entered the studio with her label boss DJ will.i.am to produce recordings for the album and according to the second official press release one of his records will appear on the album. Guetta also contributed another song, "Scream" to the album. It was also reported that the singer worked with British electropop duo La Roux
. The songs "Alive" (produced by Diplo) and "Carefree American" produced by Jean Baptiste are not included on the main standard pressings of the album. Additionally iTunes confirmed that the albums contains segues.
's early work. "Scream
" is an synthpop
and electro-dance
song with electro-rap and house music
elements. It was written by Kelis, Jean Baptiste
, David Guetta
and Roman de Garcez
. The production contains a "blade of blues melody [that] slices in atop a rinky-dink sampled piano." It also has "lots of sonic confusingness" as the "song evaporates in the middle ... then reassembles and feeds into a staccato spoken-word electroclash midsection." Many of the critics stated how the song has split sections, sometimes like "a beat-free beach house piano-based meditation" whilst at other times, sounding like "haughty electroclash ingenue". The verses are mainly house music whilst the choruses are electronica
and have rap music-stylings. The BBC gave 'Acapella' song a great review and during this described the song being "swept up in a new love, and transformed by the giddy thrill to such a degree that everything that happened before seems drab and gray by comparison". They then added that the track had themes of artist Donna Summer
. They added that the track had "astonishing synth-disco amazingness from the '70s". The song was written and produced with producer David Guetta
and it follows themes of Electronic music and has influences from such artist as; Timo Maas
, Basement Jaxx
, Bjork
, and the Crookers.
" as well as helming the photoshoot for the album's imagery and cover. Kelis described the album is "something you can get sweaty to" which reflects the "European Club-Scene" sound the album has.
" at Eva Longoria
's Las Vegas nightclub as well as performing three new songs from the album. At the end of March 2010 the promotional tour kicked off starting with an appearance at the Ultra Music Festival
during the Winter Music Conference
in Miami, Florida
where she performed "Acapella" as well as "Spaceship". The latter is a collaboration with Benny Benassi
and Apl.de.ap
for Benassi's upcoming album. Additionally she performed "Acapella" for the first time on live TV on April 6, 2010 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. In the United Kingdom
, Kelis promoted the album on GMTV
, Later with Jools Holland
, Live Lounge
and debuted "4th of July" as a single on T4
. She is also scheduled to perform at Isle of MTV Malta Special on June 30.
On June 18, Kelis will perform "4th of July" (the second single from the album) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
and The Tavis Smiley Show
. Kelis performed on The Today Show
and 106 and Park on July 6, the album's release date. She is also scheduled to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
on July 13. Kelis was honored and performed at Elle Magazine's "Women in Music" at the Highline Ballroom in New York City
on June 9, 2010. Kelis announced via her Twitter
account that herself and Swedish singer Robyn
were co-headlining a tour in the U.S. called All Hearts
.
" was released on February 23, 2010 as the album's first single. It topped the U.S.Hot Dance Club Songs chart In the United Kingdom the song made its debut at number five on the UK Singles Charts and number one on the UK Dance Singles
. In Ireland it made its debut at number 30 and by its fifth week had peaked at number seventeen. "4th of July (Fireworks)
" was released on June 8 in the U.S. as the second single and on July 5, 2010 in the UK. It debuted at number thirty-nine on the UK Dance Singles
chart following strong digital sales. Additionally on May 28, 2010 the song was added to UK urban music radio's B playlist. On June 9, 2010 the song was added the C-Playlist on UK Mainstream's Radio 1
. "4th of July" peaked at number four on the U.S. Hot Dance/Club Songs chart but in the UK it peaked at number six on the Dance chart and thirty-two on the main singles chart.
"Scream
", produced by David Guetta, is the third single released from the album. Its release will coincide with the European Leg of Kelis' All Hearts tour. It was to be released on October 4, 2010 in the UK, however was pushed back a week to October 10, 2010. A music video for the song was released on September 28, 2010 On October 5, 2010, Kelis released a 3D version of her Scream music video. This version can be found on her official website. "Brave
" is served as the album's fourth single, according to Kelis. The video was released on 20 November 2010. The video shows a still camera of Kelis, wearing a white top with a white background behind her with the camera moving while a large beat is being played. Kelis has also re-recorded the track in 'simlish' for video game The Sims 3: Late Night
. The single was released on January 9, 2011 in the UK.
. According to the site, many critics responded favorably toward the album's "club-friendly sound" and "ability to sample a wide range of dance music styles while still retaining Kelis’ personality and vision". Allmusic writer Andy Kellman gave it 4 out of 5 stars and stated "Flesh Tone is a headlong dive into sleek dance-pop ... [yet] it is much more personal than any of her past releases", and praised the album's arrangement, stating that "the setup works because the songs are conjoined and dynamically ordered ... Flesh Tone remains a stylistic outlier, the disc will always be a bright standout in Kelis' discography." Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian
shared a similar sentiment and wrote "As with her previous records, her fifth studio album doesn't sound like anyone else [its] stamped with her unique take on things. Flesh Tone may break no new musical ground, but it's very good." Spin
s Jessica Hopper wrote that Kelis "goes full-tilt house
diva" and commended her "husky-voiced, Oprah-esque survivor aphorisms". Sarah Bee of BBC Online called it a "sensual and exhilarating album" and praised Kelis's performance, stating "Kelis has always been a strong character and a brave musician – this is what carries the album and assures your ears that it’s no out-of-element flounder ... [Her] honey-husky voice slips easily into the hypnotic repetitions of dance music vocalisation." Digital Spy
's Nick Levine gave the album 4 out of 5 stars and stated "Flesh Tone grabs your attention straight away and refuses to let go ... [she] has reinvented herself as a Europoppy dance diva ... It works, and it works wonderfully, because she's committed herself unequivocally [to] a ballad-free, constantly-throbbing bop-til-you-drop dance record joined together by some intriguing segue pieces. [Its a] terrific club-pop record on a humongous high - and an all-natural one at that."
However, some critics viewed the album's sound as unoriginal and dated. Johnny Dee of Virgin Media
said "Flesh Tone marks a thrilling comeback ... The only complaint is that at 9 tracks it feels a little light." Slant Magazine
's Sal Cinquenmani was more critical of Kelis' direction towards dance music, stating "Her new album, Flesh Tone, sounds dated in the worst kind of way—that is, not enough to sound retro-cool, but enough to sound totally uncool. It helps that the album ... segued together with interludes that are more interesting than the actual songs. Flesh Tone should sound desperate, but it often sounds inspired instead. Kelis seems electrified by her new genre shift, and the result is an album that's one of her most consistent to date." Kaya Burgess of The Times
pointed out that 'Acapella' and 'Home' are the only tracks which "stand out from an otherwise rather copy-and-paste collection of electronic numbers". Los Angeles Times
writer Magaret Wappler expressed that Kelis has managed to "make a spirited but disciplined set of classic Euro-club bangers. Sometimes they're darkly contemplative, slipping into trance; other times they nearly rip at the seams ... it's clear that Kelis has carved out a new niche for herself, dancing in front of the turntables till the lights come on, if they dare." Sam Richards of Uncut
complimented its fusion of "R&B sass to thumping club beats" and stated "most everything Kelis touches drips with class". Gavin Haynes of NME
felt that "Flesh Tone has already filled out an application form for pop record of the year" and stated "Her ability to appear unimpeachably cool hasn’t wavered either. But these are as nothing. What’s important here is simply her direction: a genuinely innovative bearing that breaks new ground for pop without sounding any less pop for it. Kelis. Genius. Pop auteur."
Notes
Management
Performance credits
Marketing
Image and vision
Technical credits
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 American recording artist Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
, first released on May 14, 2010. Recorded while the singer was an unsigned artist and while pregnant with her first child, the record is an ode to motherhood and is a distinct departure from the urban sound of her previous album, Kelis Was Here
Kelis Was Here
Kelis Was Here is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Kelis, released in the United States on August 22, 2006 by LaFace Records and Jive Records...
. Production for the songs comes courtesy of David Guetta
David Guetta
Pierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...
, Boys Noize
Boys Noize
Boys Noize is the stage name of Alexander Ridha, a German electronic music producer and DJ. It is similar to the name of Ridha's label, Boysnoize Records, which he established in 2005...
, Jean Baptiste
Jean Baptiste Kouame
Jean Baptiste Kouame, often referred to simply as Jean Baptiste, is a songwriter and record producer.-2009:*The Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D.**"Boom Boom Pow" *Blake Lewis - Heartbreak on Vinyl**"Left My Baby for You"-2006:...
and Benny Benassi
Benny Benassi
Marco Benassi , better known as Benny Benassi, is a Grammy Award winning Italian disc jockey and record producer of electro house music. He is best known for his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction"...
amongst others.
Flesh Tone was described as a 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 but adopts electropop, synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
, house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
and dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
elements to form a "euphoric dance album" which tributes the birth of Kelis' son. The record serves as her debut with Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
under the will.i.am music
Will.i.am music group
will.i.am music group is a vanity label founded by hip hop artist will.i.am of the The Black Eyed Peas. Other than will.i.am, there are popular artists such as Fergie, Macy Gray and Sérgio Mendes signed to the label...
brand. Clocking in at just over 37 minutes, contemporary critics praised the album for being cohesive as well as refreshing and lean. "Acapella
Acapella (song)
"Acapella" is a song performed by American alternative artist Kelis, taken from her fifth studio album Flesh Tone. The song is a departure from her past singles in that it is a dance/electronica track rather than hip hop/R&B influenced...
" was released as the album's lead single and topped the U.S. Dance/Club Songs and UK Dance
UK Dance Chart
The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital...
charts as well as peaking at top-ten on mainstream single charts in Europe. "4th of July (Fireworks)
4th of July (Fireworks)
"4th of July " is the second single from Kelis' fifth album, Flesh Tone. It samples "You're My Heart " by Lioness. The song was listed at #51 on the list of the NME's best tracks of 2010...
" served as the second single reaching top five on the U.S. Dance/Club Chart and number six in the UK Dance Chart. The album was listed at number fifty-three on NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
s list of the "Top 75 Albums of 2010".
Background and development
In late 2007 it was revealed that Kelis and Jive RecordsJive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
had parted ways following the lack of commercial success with Kelis Was Here
Kelis Was Here
Kelis Was Here is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Kelis, released in the United States on August 22, 2006 by LaFace Records and Jive Records...
in the United States. Kelis was signed to Pharell Williams' record label Star Trak which was originally distributed by Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
but following mergers it was bought by Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
and subsequently Kelis was moved to Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
. Her manager, Jeff Rhaban explained that "It was a case of being in the ever-shrinking world of the record industry and finding herself on a label she wasn’t signed to and without a champion". It wasn't until two years later that Kelis began working on the album as an unsigned artist. She recorded much of the songs at her Los Angeles home, in her personal recording studio, in her garage: Casa De Kelis. Finishing touches were added at Jeepney Studios. Soon after parting ways with Jive, the singer hinted that she would work with Cee-Lo
Cee-Lo
Thomas DeCarlo Callaway , better known by his stage name Cee Lo Green, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor...
on releasing a pop music
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.
In December 2009 Kelis released a statement in which she confirmed media reports that she been working with will.i.am
Will.i.am
William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
on new music and a record deal. She said she was happy to be part of the Interscope
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
family and was looking forward to putting out new music as well as touring for fans who appreciated real music. She also revealed that for label selection she took a completed album to key labels she thought would be interested in the project and understand its needs. According to the artist there was a lot of interest. When asked why she chose will.i.am's music label Kelis said "I think that he’s brilliant. As far as this generation goes, there's not a single song that you can bring up to him or a reference or an artist or an era of music that he is not privy to or that he doesn't understand. He's like a musical encyclopedia. It makes it fun. He's not afraid to push the limits and kinda go further than everyone else and that's exciting. He still seems to be having fun doing it and that's what it's all about." will.i.am. replied: "Kelis represents the kind of edge that pushes all of us not just musically but stylistically as well. She has always opened new doors for her audience and we're ready to walk through this next one with her."
According to Billboard magazine, who reviewed the upcoming album in January 2010, the project will contain eight songs although Kelis would later go on to confirm that the final mastered version of the album actually contains nine songs. The review also spoke of individual songs: "Acapella
Acapella (song)
"Acapella" is a song performed by American alternative artist Kelis, taken from her fifth studio album Flesh Tone. The song is a departure from her past singles in that it is a dance/electronica track rather than hip hop/R&B influenced...
", helmed by David Guetta
David Guetta
Pierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...
, is a tribute to her son; "4th of July", which was produced by DJ Ammo
Ammo (musician)
Ammo is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. In November 2008, Ammo was signed to producer Dr. Luke's publishing company Prescription Songs as an exclusive producer and songwriter...
; "Kids", which is inspired by gay club goers and "Carefree American", which is an acoustic-guitar driven number. She also entered the studio with her label boss DJ will.i.am to produce recordings for the album and according to the second official press release one of his records will appear on the album. Guetta also contributed another song, "Scream" to the album. It was also reported that the singer worked with British electropop duo La Roux
La Roux
La Roux are an English electropop duo made up of singer, keyboardist, co-writer and co-producer Eleanor Kate Jackson, and co-writer and co-producer Ben Langmaid. Jackson describes their relationship as "very much a half and half sharing situation... not like a singer producer outfit", but also...
. The songs "Alive" (produced by Diplo) and "Carefree American" produced by Jean Baptiste are not included on the main standard pressings of the album. Additionally iTunes confirmed that the albums contains segues.
Music
The first song on the album is titled "Intro" which Kelis uses to announce "she's gone italo disco". The song has an electrofunk production and bears resemblance to some of David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's early work. "Scream
Scream (Kelis song)
"Scream" is a song performed by American recording artist Kelis, taken from her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone. The up-tempo electro-dance, techno synthpop song was written by Kelis and Jean Baptiste, and co-written and produced by David Guetta and El Tocadisco...
" is an synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
and electro-dance
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
song with electro-rap and house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
elements. It was written by Kelis, Jean Baptiste
Jean Baptiste Kouame
Jean Baptiste Kouame, often referred to simply as Jean Baptiste, is a songwriter and record producer.-2009:*The Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D.**"Boom Boom Pow" *Blake Lewis - Heartbreak on Vinyl**"Left My Baby for You"-2006:...
, David Guetta
David Guetta
Pierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...
and Roman de Garcez
DJ Tocadisco
-Biography:Tocadisco was born Roman Böer on 8 June 1974, and grew up in a small city near Cologne, Germany. He plays several instruments and played in different bands in his youth....
. The production contains a "blade of blues melody [that] slices in atop a rinky-dink sampled piano." It also has "lots of sonic confusingness" as the "song evaporates in the middle ... then reassembles and feeds into a staccato spoken-word electroclash midsection." Many of the critics stated how the song has split sections, sometimes like "a beat-free beach house piano-based meditation" whilst at other times, sounding like "haughty electroclash ingenue". The verses are mainly house music whilst the choruses are electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and have rap music-stylings. The BBC gave 'Acapella' song a great review and during this described the song being "swept up in a new love, and transformed by the giddy thrill to such a degree that everything that happened before seems drab and gray by comparison". They then added that the track had themes of artist Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
. They added that the track had "astonishing synth-disco amazingness from the '70s". The song was written and produced with producer David Guetta
David Guetta
Pierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...
and it follows themes of Electronic music and has influences from such artist as; Timo Maas
Timo Maas
Timo Maas is an electronic music DJ/producer and remixer.-Career:Maas bought his first set of turntables at the age of 17, and played his very first DJ set in 1982 at a party in his friend's home...
, Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...
, Bjork
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, and the Crookers.
Album cover and concept
On March 11, 2010 it was revealed that Kelis was working with British portrait and fashion photographer John "Rankin" Waddell. Rankin has helped fellow British director Chris Cottam to produce the video for the album's lead single, "AcapellaAcapella (song)
"Acapella" is a song performed by American alternative artist Kelis, taken from her fifth studio album Flesh Tone. The song is a departure from her past singles in that it is a dance/electronica track rather than hip hop/R&B influenced...
" as well as helming the photoshoot for the album's imagery and cover. Kelis described the album is "something you can get sweaty to" which reflects the "European Club-Scene" sound the album has.
Promotion and release
On February 26, 2010 Kelis officially premiered the lead single "AcapellaAcapella (song)
"Acapella" is a song performed by American alternative artist Kelis, taken from her fifth studio album Flesh Tone. The song is a departure from her past singles in that it is a dance/electronica track rather than hip hop/R&B influenced...
" at Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria
Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
's Las Vegas nightclub as well as performing three new songs from the album. At the end of March 2010 the promotional tour kicked off starting with an appearance at the Ultra Music Festival
Ultra Music Festival
Ultra Music Festival is an annual outdoor electronic music festival that occurs in March in the city of Miami usually during the annual Winter Music Conference. It is held in Downtown Miami in Bicentennial Park. It was a 1-day festival from 1999-2006, a 2-day festival from 2007-2010, and was a...
during the Winter Music Conference
Winter Music Conference
The Winter Music Conference is a weeklong electronic music conference, held every March since the mid-1980s in Miami, Florida, United States. Venues are hosted primarily in Downtown Miami and Miami's South Beach...
in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
where she performed "Acapella" as well as "Spaceship". The latter is a collaboration with Benny Benassi
Benny Benassi
Marco Benassi , better known as Benny Benassi, is a Grammy Award winning Italian disc jockey and record producer of electro house music. He is best known for his 2002 summer club hit "Satisfaction"...
and Apl.de.ap
Apl.de.ap
Allan Pineda Lindo, Jr. better known as apl.de.ap , is a Filipino-American rapper, record producer, and occasional drummer who is best known as a member of The Black Eyed Peas.-Early life:Pineda was born in Belfast...
for Benassi's upcoming album. Additionally she performed "Acapella" for the first time on live TV on April 6, 2010 on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Kelis promoted the album on GMTV
GMTV
GMTV was the national Channel 3 breakfast television contractor, broadcasting in the United Kingdom from 1 January 1993 to 3 September 2010. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of ITV plc. in November 2009. Shortly after, ITV plc announced the programme would end...
, Later with Jools Holland
Later with Jools Holland
Later... with Jools Holland is a contemporary British music television show hosted by Jools Holland. A spin-off of The Late Show, it has been running in short series since 1992 and is a part of BBC Two's late-night line-up, usually at around 11pm to 12 midnight...
, Live Lounge
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio station BBC Radio 1. Originally hosted by Jo Whiley on her mid-morning radio show and now hosted by Fearne Cotton, it exhibits well-known artists usually performing one song of their own and one by another artist, in an acoustic format...
and debuted "4th of July" as a single on T4
T4 (Channel 4)
T4 is a scheduling slot on Channel 4 from about 09:00 until 14:00 on Saturdays and 17:00 on Sundays. It also airs on weekdays in the school holidays. The slot has a separate station identification on screen graphic from Channel 4 and E4. The logo of T4 is noticeably the top right segment of the...
. She is also scheduled to perform at Isle of MTV Malta Special on June 30.
On June 18, Kelis will perform "4th of July" (the second single from the album) on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, three days following Johnny...
and The Tavis Smiley Show
The Tavis Smiley Show
The Tavis Smiley Show is an American public broadcasting radio talk show. A television show, simply titled Tavis Smiley, is a late night television program on Public Broadcasting Service . Both shows feature Tavis Smiley as host....
. Kelis performed on The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
and 106 and Park on July 6, the album's release date. She is also scheduled to appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon on NBC. The show premiered on March 2, 2009, as the third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman....
on July 13. Kelis was honored and performed at Elle Magazine's "Women in Music" at the Highline Ballroom in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on June 9, 2010. Kelis announced via her Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account that herself and Swedish singer Robyn
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
were co-headlining a tour in the U.S. called All Hearts
All Hearts
The All Hearts Tour was a joint concert tour by American R&B singer Kelis and Swedish pop singer Robyn in support of their albums Flesh Tone and Body Talk Pt. 1, respectively...
.
Singles
"AcapellaAcapella (song)
"Acapella" is a song performed by American alternative artist Kelis, taken from her fifth studio album Flesh Tone. The song is a departure from her past singles in that it is a dance/electronica track rather than hip hop/R&B influenced...
" was released on February 23, 2010 as the album's first single. It topped the U.S.Hot Dance Club Songs chart In the United Kingdom the song made its debut at number five on the UK Singles Charts and number one on the UK Dance Singles
UK Dance Chart
The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital...
. In Ireland it made its debut at number 30 and by its fifth week had peaked at number seventeen. "4th of July (Fireworks)
4th of July (Fireworks)
"4th of July " is the second single from Kelis' fifth album, Flesh Tone. It samples "You're My Heart " by Lioness. The song was listed at #51 on the list of the NME's best tracks of 2010...
" was released on June 8 in the U.S. as the second single and on July 5, 2010 in the UK. It debuted at number thirty-nine on the UK Dance Singles
UK Dance Chart
The UK Dance Chart is a chart compiled by The Official Charts Company from sales in record stores and digital downloads. Although the chart does not currently receive any airplay on the radio or television, the chart can be viewed on the BBC Radio 1 and The Official Charts Company website.Digital...
chart following strong digital sales. Additionally on May 28, 2010 the song was added to UK urban music radio's B playlist. On June 9, 2010 the song was added the C-Playlist on UK Mainstream's Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. "4th of July" peaked at number four on the U.S. Hot Dance/Club Songs chart but in the UK it peaked at number six on the Dance chart and thirty-two on the main singles chart.
"Scream
Scream (Kelis song)
"Scream" is a song performed by American recording artist Kelis, taken from her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone. The up-tempo electro-dance, techno synthpop song was written by Kelis and Jean Baptiste, and co-written and produced by David Guetta and El Tocadisco...
", produced by David Guetta, is the third single released from the album. Its release will coincide with the European Leg of Kelis' All Hearts tour. It was to be released on October 4, 2010 in the UK, however was pushed back a week to October 10, 2010. A music video for the song was released on September 28, 2010 On October 5, 2010, Kelis released a 3D version of her Scream music video. This version can be found on her official website. "Brave
Brave (Kelis song)
"Brave" is a song performed by American recording artist Kelis, taken from her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone. The up-tempo electro-dance song was written by Kelis, will.i.am, Jean Baptiste and James Fauntleroy, and produced by Benny Benassi and Alle Benassi. It was released on 6 January 2011, as...
" is served as the album's fourth single, according to Kelis. The video was released on 20 November 2010. The video shows a still camera of Kelis, wearing a white top with a white background behind her with the camera moving while a large beat is being played. Kelis has also re-recorded the track in 'simlish' for video game The Sims 3: Late Night
The Sims 3: Late Night
The Sims 3: Late Night is the third expansion pack for the strategic life simulation computer game The Sims 3 and is similar to previous expansions The Sims 2: Nightlife for The Sims 2 and The Sims: Hot Date for The Sims...
. The single was released on January 9, 2011 in the UK.
Critical reception
Flesh Tone was well received by contemporary critics who, on average, awarded the album 77 out of 100 (based on 16 reviews) according to review aggregator site, MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. According to the site, many critics responded favorably toward the album's "club-friendly sound" and "ability to sample a wide range of dance music styles while still retaining Kelis’ personality and vision". Allmusic writer Andy Kellman gave it 4 out of 5 stars and stated "Flesh Tone is a headlong dive into sleek dance-pop ... [yet] it is much more personal than any of her past releases", and praised the album's arrangement, stating that "the setup works because the songs are conjoined and dynamically ordered ... Flesh Tone remains a stylistic outlier, the disc will always be a bright standout in Kelis' discography." Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
shared a similar sentiment and wrote "As with her previous records, her fifth studio album doesn't sound like anyone else [its] stamped with her unique take on things. Flesh Tone may break no new musical ground, but it's very good." Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
s Jessica Hopper wrote that Kelis "goes full-tilt house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
diva" and commended her "husky-voiced, Oprah-esque survivor aphorisms". Sarah Bee of BBC Online called it a "sensual and exhilarating album" and praised Kelis's performance, stating "Kelis has always been a strong character and a brave musician – this is what carries the album and assures your ears that it’s no out-of-element flounder ... [Her] honey-husky voice slips easily into the hypnotic repetitions of dance music vocalisation." Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
's Nick Levine gave the album 4 out of 5 stars and stated "Flesh Tone grabs your attention straight away and refuses to let go ... [she] has reinvented herself as a Europoppy dance diva ... It works, and it works wonderfully, because she's committed herself unequivocally [to] a ballad-free, constantly-throbbing bop-til-you-drop dance record joined together by some intriguing segue pieces. [Its a] terrific club-pop record on a humongous high - and an all-natural one at that."
However, some critics viewed the album's sound as unoriginal and dated. Johnny Dee of Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
said "Flesh Tone marks a thrilling comeback ... The only complaint is that at 9 tracks it feels a little light." Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
's Sal Cinquenmani was more critical of Kelis' direction towards dance music, stating "Her new album, Flesh Tone, sounds dated in the worst kind of way—that is, not enough to sound retro-cool, but enough to sound totally uncool. It helps that the album ... segued together with interludes that are more interesting than the actual songs. Flesh Tone should sound desperate, but it often sounds inspired instead. Kelis seems electrified by her new genre shift, and the result is an album that's one of her most consistent to date." Kaya Burgess of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
pointed out that 'Acapella' and 'Home' are the only tracks which "stand out from an otherwise rather copy-and-paste collection of electronic numbers". Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
writer Magaret Wappler expressed that Kelis has managed to "make a spirited but disciplined set of classic Euro-club bangers. Sometimes they're darkly contemplative, slipping into trance; other times they nearly rip at the seams ... it's clear that Kelis has carved out a new niche for herself, dancing in front of the turntables till the lights come on, if they dare." Sam Richards of Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
complimented its fusion of "R&B sass to thumping club beats" and stated "most everything Kelis touches drips with class". Gavin Haynes of NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
felt that "Flesh Tone has already filled out an application form for pop record of the year" and stated "Her ability to appear unimpeachably cool hasn’t wavered either. But these are as nothing. What’s important here is simply her direction: a genuinely innovative bearing that breaks new ground for pop without sounding any less pop for it. Kelis. Genius. Pop auteur."
Track listing
* indicates Co-Producer
Notes
- The segues were produced and performed by Free School.
- "4th of July (Fireworks)" samples "You’re My Heart (Pilotpriest Remix)" by LionessLioness (band)Lioness is a Canadian indie rock dance band formed in January 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:The band was formed by Ronnie Morris and Jeff Scheven, former rhythm section of controller.controller and No Dynamics' vocalist Vanessa Fischer...
Personnel
Taken from Flesh Tone album booklet.Management
- A&R - Nick J. Groff, Neil Jacobson
- Production supervisor - Cliff Feiman
- Executive producerExecutive 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...
- William "will.i.am" Adams, Jean Baptiste, Mark Gillespie (associate), DJ Replay (associate), Kelis Rogers
Performance credits
- Background vocals - Jean BaptisteJean Baptiste KouameJean Baptiste Kouame, often referred to simply as Jean Baptiste, is a songwriter and record producer.-2009:*The Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D.**"Boom Boom Pow" *Blake Lewis - Heartbreak on Vinyl**"Left My Baby for You"-2006:...
, Alle Benassi, Stacy Barthe, Sylvia Gordon, Nick J. Groff, Neil Jacobson, Michael McHenry, Sylvia Plath, DJ Rashida, George Robertson
- Lead vocals - Kelis RogersKelisKelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
Marketing
- Coordinator - Chelsea Avery, Jennifer Bowling
- Publicity - Brett Bracy, Ambrosia Healy, Christine Wolff
- General - Karen Goodman, Julie Hovsepian
Image and vision
- Hair stylist - Anthony Dickey
- Make-up - Kathy Jeung, Miesha Oliver
- Photography - John "Rankin" WaddellRankin (photographer)John Rankin Waddell, working name Rankin, born 1966, is a British portrait and fashion photographer.-Life and career:Waddell was brought up in St Albans, Hertfordshire. At the age of 21, whilst studying accounting at Brighton Polytechnic, he realized that his interests lay elsewhere and dropped...
- Stylist - Paula Bradley, Erin Cooney, Rodrigo Otazu
Technical credits
- Composer - William "will.i.am" AdamsWill.i.amWilliam James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
, Jean Baptiste, Alle Benassi, Benny Benassi, Printz Boards, Anthony Burns, James FauntleroyJames Fauntleroy IIJames Edward Fauntleroy II is an American R&B singer-songwriter signed to Roc Nation. Formerly a member of The Underdogs, Fauntleroy currently works with the production group The Y's, and is the acting president of entertainment conglomerate "1500 Or Nothin"...
, Vanessa Fischer, Roman "El Tocadisco" De Garcez, David GuettaDavid GuettaPierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...
, Damien Leroy, Nick "Free School" Marsh, Michael McHenry, Andreas Meid, Ronald Morris, Ian O'Brien-Docker, Makeba RiddickMakeba RiddickMakeba Riddick is a singer-songwriter who has been active since 2005. She is originally from West Baltimore, United States. Currently she is managed by Jay-Z's record label and production house, Roc Nation...
, Alex "Boys Noize" Ridha, Fred Riesterer, Kelis Rogers, Jeff Scheven - Producer - William "will.i.am" Adams, Alle Benassi, Benny Benassi, Printz Boards, D.I.M., Roman "El Tocadisco" De Garcez, David Guetta, Damien Leroy, Nick "Free School" Marsh, Alexandar "Boys NoizeBoys NoizeBoys Noize is the stage name of Alexander Ridha, a German electronic music producer and DJ. It is similar to the name of Ridha's label, Boysnoize Records, which he established in 2005...
" Ridha, Fred Riesterer
- Engineer - Ryan Buendia, Renato Lopez, Michael McHenry, Jamie Munson
- InstrumentationInstrumentation (music)In music, instrumentation refers to the particular combination of musical instruments employed in a composition, and to the properties of those instruments individually...
- Benny Benassi, D.I.M., Damien Leroy, Nick "Free School" Marsh, Michael McHenry, Ian O'Brien-Docker, Alexandar "Boys Noize" Ridha, Brian B. Russ - FlugelhornFlugelhornThe flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
- Printz Boards
- GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Alain Whyte - Mastering - Gene Grimaldi
- 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...
- Alle Benassi, Dylan Dresdow, David Guetta, Robert Orton
Charts
The album debuted at number forty-eight in the United States with first-week sales of 8,000 copies and overall sales of 53,000 copies sold.| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Flanders) |
64 |
| Dutch Albums Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
81 |
| French Albums Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
132 |
| German Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
61 |
| Greek International Albums Chart IFPI Greece International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Greece or IFPI Greece is the Greek branch of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and is the official charts provider and recording sales certification body for Greece. Currently two charts are compiled, one for sales of... |
12 |
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
54 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
49 |
| 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... |
46 |
| UK R&B Albums Chart UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
6 |
| 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... |
48 |
| US Dance/Electronic Albums | 5 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | May 14, 2010 | Universal Music | |
| United Kingdom | May 17, 2010 | Polydor Records Polydor Records Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone... |
2739016 |
| Worldwide | Universal Music Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations... |
N/A | |
| Japan | May 19, 2010 | UICS1209 | |
| Germany | May 28, 2010 | ||
| United States | July 6, 2010 | will.i.am music Will.i.am music group will.i.am music group is a vanity label founded by hip hop artist will.i.am of the The Black Eyed Peas. Other than will.i.am, there are popular artists such as Fergie, Macy Gray and Sérgio Mendes signed to the label... , Interscope Records Interscope Records Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:... |
|
| Canada | Universal Music | ||
| Australia | |||
| New Zealand |
External links
- Flesh Tone at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...