Journey to Freedom (album)
Journey to Freedom | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 9, 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2012–2014, London Bridge Studios, L.A. | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 49:26 | |||
Label |
| |||
Producer | Harmony Samuels | |||
Michelle Williams chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Journey to Freedom | ||||
|
Journey to Freedom is the fourth studio album by American recording artist
Released to critical acclaim, Journey to Freedom is ranked as the number-one, best gospel album of 2014 by Jubilee Cast. It is Williams' highest-charting album on the US Billboard 200, where it debuted in the top 30[1] and her second album to reach number two on the US Top Gospel Albums chart, where it is ranked by Billboard as one of the top 20 gospel albums of 2014.
The album was preceded by the release of the lead single, "
Background
In October 2008, Williams released her third studio album
In January 2010, Michelle announced that she had parted ways with manager
On June 7, 2012, it was announced that Williams had been signed to
Music and lyrics
"Fire" contains a biblical reference to
Release and promotion
Singles
"
"
"Say Yes" featuring former Destiny's Child bandmates Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland was released as the third single on June 2, 2014. Although not a Destiny's Child song, "Say Yes" is the first song released as a single including all three former members since the group's disbandment in 2005. An accompanying music video was released on June 18, 2014.[27] The music video for "Say Yes" was directed by Matthew A. Cherry and was filmed on May 20, 2014.[28]
"Say Yes" peaked at number one on the US Hot Gospel Songs chart for seven non-consecutive weeks,
In the UK, the album track "Need Your Help" peaked at number-one on the weekly Cross Rhythms chart and ranked at number 58 on their year-end Top 100 Chart for 2015.[51]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Idolator | [57] |
Middlechild Promotions | [58] |
Soul Tracks | ('Recommended')[59] |
Yada Mag | [60] |
Journey To Freedom received highly positive reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman of
Timothy Yap of Hallels lent praise to the lyrical themes, writing, 'it's a theological meaty album with doses of spiritual muscle-inducing supplements derived directly from Scripture.' However, he noted 'the record is far too slanted towards having far too many mid-pacers. Songs such as "Free," "Just Like You" and "Everything" basically utilizes the same urban template effortlessly without having much time invested in developing stronger hooks making them more memorable. "Believe in Me," a smooth Diane Warren-styled R&B beat ballad, is redemptive in terms of breaking up the tempo. Nevertheless, despite the quibbles, Journey to Freedom is still one of this year's important releases. Williams could have chosen to journey the safe and money grabbing route by compromising her beliefs and Christian stance. But here she chooses to be true to her faith, her calling and her Lord; and the rewards are eternal.'[56]
The GospelPundit praised Samuels' production and Williams' vocals writing; '[the album] is a catchy collection of upbeat music that promises a party, while inspiring and encouraging listeners. The Samuels Nigerian heritage provides a rich musical backdrop of African-influenced beats and chants, while his proven success in mainstream music (Chris Brown, J Lo, Ne-Yo and more) promises pop and urban styles that are relevant to a broad marketplace of music lovers. Michelle Williams tops it all off with vocals that range from pop to passionate, simple to soaring, all the while staying true to her own voice and vibe.'[55] RoJay of Middlechild Promotions lauded the Williams' vocal performance 'although still criminally underrated as a vocalist, Michelle Williams takes control of her destiny once again and delivers another solid solo album where she gets to showcase the side of her personality that makes her as genuine and true to her art as her peers.'[58]
Accolades
Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Jubilee Cast | Best Gospel Albums of 2014 | 1 | [61] |
Commercial performance
Journey to Freedom debuted at number 29 on the US Billboard 200, Williams' highest appearance to date.[1] It became her second debut at number two on the Top Gospel Albums chart — following Do You Know (2004)[62] — peaking behind Lecrae's Anomaly, which was also released September 9, 2014 and became the first full-length album to top both the Billboard 200 and Top Gospel Albums chart simultaneously,[63] selling over 88,000 units in its first week.[64]Journey to Freedom also debuted at number 7 on the US Independent Albums chart[65] and number 6 on the UK Christian & Gospel Albums chart.[66]
Journey to Freedom spent a total of 30 weeks on the US Top Gospel Albums chart, making it her second longest-appearing album on the chart, following her debut album Heart to Yours (2002) which spent a total of 46 weeks on the chart.[62] Billboard ranked the album at number 20 on the 2014 year-end chart, which lists the year's top 50 best-performing albums on the US Top Gospel Albums chart.[67] Furthermore, Billboard ranked Williams as the 13th Top Gospel Artist of 2014[68] and 5th Top Gospel Artist - Female of 2014.[69]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Need Your Help" (featuring Eric Dawkins) |
|
| 4:34 |
12. | "Say Yes" (featuring Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland) |
| 4:12 | |
Total length: | 49:26 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Say Yes" (Jochen Simms radio edit) (featuring Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland) | 3:26 |
14. | "Say Yes" (John J-C Carr remix) (featuring Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland)) | 5:56 |
Total length: | 58:48 |
No. | Title | Director(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Say Yes" (behind the scenes) | 1:33 | |
2. | "Say Yes" (music video) | Matthew A. Cherry | 4:22 |
3. | "Say Yes" (lyric video) | 4:13 | |
4. | "Fire" (behind the scenes) | 2:07 | |
5. | "Fire" (music video) | Harmony Samuels | 3:50 |
6. | "If We Had Your Eyes" (behind the scenes) | 2:22 | |
7. | "If We Had Your Eyes" (music video) | Harmony Samuels | 4:42 |
8. | "behind the scenes" (In the studio) |
Personnel
|
|
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Awards and nominations
Year | Category | Nominated | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
BET Awards | ||||
2015 | Best Gospel Artist | Michelle Williams | Nominated | [71] |
Gospel Touch Music Awards | ||||
2014 | Song of the Year | "Say Yes" | Won | [72] |
NAACP Image Awards | ||||
2014 | Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary) | Journey to Freedom | Nominated | [2] |
Soul Train Music Awards | ||||
2014 | Best Gospel/Inspirational Song | "Say Yes" | Nominated | [73] |
Stellar Awards | ||||
2015 | Female Vocalist of the Year | Michelle Williams | Nominated | [74][48] |
Song of the Year | "Say Yes" | Nominated | ||
Urban/Inspirational/Instrumental Single/Performance of the Year | Nominated | |||
Music Video of the Year | Won |
References
- ^ a b c "Michelle Williams Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ a b "The 46th NAACP Image Awards – Nominees". NAACP Image Awards. NAACP. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
- ^ "Unexpected – Michelle Williams". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
- ^ "SEISMIC DISASTER!!! MICHELLE WILLIAMS SELLS ONLY 14,000 UNITS IN HER FIRST WEEK!!!". Media Take Out. October 16, 2008. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
- ^ a b c "Michelle Williams Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ Joszor, Njai (July 11, 2008). "Michelle Williams Dances Straight To #1 With 'We Break The Dawn'". Singersroom.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
- Billboard.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Levine, Nick (June 29, 2009). "Music – Interview – Michelle Williams – Digital Spy". Digital Spy. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
- ^ Lewis, Pete (2009). "Michelle Williams: Heart to Hart". Blues & Soul. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- ^ "Michelle Williams' Run As 'Roxie Hart' in "Chicago: The Musical" Extended". michellewilliamsonline.com. August 21, 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-12-28. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
- ^ "Exclusive: Michelle Williams Parts Ways With Music World". That Grape Juice. January 12, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
- ^ Daniels, Colin (August 21, 2010). "Michelle Williams tipped for 'Strictly'". Digital Spy. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
- ^ Latrell, Ryan (June 7, 2012). "BRAVE: Buzz! Michelle Williams plots return on all-new label (Details)". BRAVE Magazine. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ Latrell, Ryan (June 7, 2012). "MICHELLE WILLIAMS ANNOUNCES NEW LABEL DEAL WITH LIGHT RECORDS/eONE ALL-NEW GOSPEL ALBUM TO BE RELEASED IN 2013". Constant Contact. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
- ^ North, Jesse (January 13, 2013). "Destiny's Child Singer Michelle Williams to Join National Tour of Fela!". Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
- ^ "Beyoncé to Perform at Super Bowl Halftime Show". Rap-Up. October 16, 2012. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ^ "New Music: Kelly Rowland f/ Beyoncé & Michelle Williams – 'You Changed'". Rap-Up.com. 2013-05-28. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
- ^ "Kelly Rowland – You Changed – R&B Digital Songs Chart history". Billboard.
- ^ Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- Billboard.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- Billboard.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Michelle Williams Releases Video For 'If We Had Your Eyes'". RTT News. September 9, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ Williams, Michelle (September 3, 2013). ""If We Had Your Eyes" – Michelle Williams [Official Music Video]". YouTube. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ Imarenezor, Christine (September 3, 2013). "MUSIC VIDEO: MICHELLE WILLIAMS – "IF WE HAD YOUR EYES"". Concrete Loop. Archived from the original on 2013-09-04. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "Fire - Single by Michelle Williams on Apple Music". Apple Music. September 24, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Lloyd, Matt (May 26, 2014). "Former Destiny's Child Singer Michelle Williams Releases New Music Video for Single "Fire" (VIDEO)". jubileecast.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "The Destiny's Child reunion". vox.com. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ Gottlieb, Steven (June 19, 2014). "Destiny's Child Reunites in Michelle Williams "Say Yes" (Matthew A Cherry, dir.)". videostatic.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 22, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- ^ "Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. November 29, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- ^ "Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 6, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
- ^ "Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
- ^ "Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. December 20, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
- Billboard.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- Billboard.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- Billboard.com. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ "Ultratop.be - Michelle Williams feat. Beyoncé & Kelly Rowland - Say Yes" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
- Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 10, 2021 – via lescharts.com.
- Single Top 100. Retrieved October 10, 2021 – via dutchcharts.nl.
- ^ "UK Singles Chart: CLUK Update (14.06.2014 – week 23)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
- ^ "Release.beat.preview". Musicbeat.de. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
- UK Indie Chart. Official Charts Company. 8 June 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ a b Caslin, Yvette (April 5, 2015). "Destiny's Child, Tamela Mann, Deitrick Haddon and more on the 30th annual Stellar Awards". Rolling Out. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
- Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Say Yes (Stellar Awards 2015) by Michelle Williams on Amazon Music". Amazon. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ "Cross Rhythms Annual Chart: Top 100 Chart for 2015". Cross Rhythms. Cross Rhythms. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Journey to Freedom – Michelle Williams". AllMusic. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ^ Greer, Andrew (October 15, 2014). "Michelle Williams: Journey To Freedom". CCM Magazine. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
- ^ Cummings, Tony (28 January 2015). "Review: Journey To Freedom - Michelle Williams". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Michelle Williams inspires with rich musicality in Journey To Freedom". GospelPundit. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- ^ a b "Michelle Williams "Journey to Freedom" Album Review". Hallels.
- ^ Idolator. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- ^ a b "Review: Michelle Williams – Journey To Freedom". "Middlechild Promotions". September 9, 2014. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- ^ Oliver, Peggy. "Michelle Williams – Journey to Freedom". Soul Tracks. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ^ Iti, Harry (September 24, 2014). "Album Review: Michelle Williams- Journey To Freedom". Yada Mag. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ^ Yap, Timothy (December 30, 2014). "Best Gospel Albums of 2014". jubileecast.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Michelle Williams Chart History (Top Gospel Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ Lipshutz, Jason (December 5, 2014). "Grammys 2015: Meet The Lesser-Known Nominees". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
- ^ Tardio, Andres (September 17, 2014). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Lecrae, Jhene Aiko, Jeezy". HipHop DX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
- ^ a b "Michelle Williams Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ a b "2014 Top 40 Official Christian & Gospel Albums Chart Archive". Official Charts Company. September 20, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
- ^ "Top Gospel Artists - Year-End | Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Top Gospel Artists - Female - Year-End | Billboard". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Amazon.co.jp: ジャーニー・トゥ・フリーダム". Amazon.co.jp.
- ^ "Michelle Williams, Erica Campbell & Deitrick Haddon Nominated for BET Awards". eurweb.com. May 27, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- ^ "Gospel Touch Music Awards Winners". Gospel Touch Music Awards. Archived from the original on 2015-08-15. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- Billboard.com. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
- ASCAP. January 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
External links
- Journey to Freedom at Discogs (list of releases)