N.B. (album)
N.B. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 27 April 2007 | |||
Recorded | 2006–2007 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 47:22 | |||
Label | Phonogenic | |||
Producer |
| |||
Natasha Bedingfield chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Singles from N.B. | ||||
|
N.B. (released as Pocketful of Sunshine in North America and regional re-issues) is the second studio album released by British singer
Music and lyrics
"How Do You Do?", the
"Who Knows", the fourth track, begins with a "reggae-pop vibe" which slowly progresses to an electro-style sound featuring a string section.[3] It received positive reviews, with one reviewer stating that it was reminiscent of "Amy Winehouse's gruff vocal style and her sassiness".[4] "Who Knows" was also featured in the motion picture 27 Dresses. The fifth track and third single is "Say It Again". It is co-written with Mike Elizondo and Maroon 5's lead singer Adam Levine, who also provides backing vocals on the song. "Pirate Bones" discusses the pitfalls of celebrity and fame. On the song Bedingfield commented "if you're giving up your enjoyment of life for somebody else's idea of success, it's like being a pirate who's got his hoard of treasure and is sitting on an island where there are no shops to spend it. It doesn't mean anything."[1]
The eighth track, "Angel", was inspired by
Critical reception
Professional reviews | |
---|---|
N.B. | |
BBC | (positive) link |
Digital Spy | link |
The Guardian | link |
Stylus Magazine | (B) link |
Sydney Morning Herald | (positive) link |
Yahoo! | link |
Pocketful of Sunshine | |
Metacritic | 65/100 link |
About.com |
link |
AllMusic | link |
Billboard | (Positive) link |
Blender | link |
Entertainment Weekly | B−[7] |
Los Angeles Times | link |
Robert Christgau | C+ link |
N.B. received mixed to positive reviews from most music critics, but some criticised it for its lightweight content. In a review for The Guardian, Craig McLean wrote that the album has "nothing as catchy as Unwritten, the tunes are on the airy-fairy side of breezy, and the lyrics on the naff side of plain".[8] The Times called the album "patchy and disappointing" and gave it two out of five stars,[9] whilst Marie Claire magazine said that "many of the tracks are forgettable", but that Bedingfield's "strong voice and eccentricities elevate her above many blonde and bland popstars."[10] The album was called "good clean fun, entertaining and inoffensive" by Yahoo!, but was also noted for its lack of risk taking and Bedingfield's decision to continue her "grown-up cartoon pop" rather than try something new and that there was little chance of it being considered a classic album.[11] However, Entertainment.ie reviewer Sheena McGinley was less impressed, and wrote that it was "too embarrassing to listen to in public", rating the album two out of five stars.[12]
Pocketful of Sunshine received generally positive reviews from music critics. At
Commercial performance
N.B. debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number nine on 6 May 2007, selling 19,500 copies in its first week[19] This would be the album's highest chart position and the only week it spent within the Top 20. The album spent a total of 13 weeks in the UK Top 100.[20] Outside of the United Kingdom, the album failed to reach the top ten. In Ireland, N.B. debuted at number fourteen and in the Netherlands it reached number thirteen.[21] It peaked outside the top twenty in Switzerland.[21] In Australia, the album failed to enter the top one hundred, but peaked at number eleven on the Hitseekers albums chart.[22]
Pocketful of Sunshine debuted on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States at number three, selling 50,000 copies. The first-week sales surpassed her debut album, Unwritten, which sold 34,000 copies its first week of release.[23] The album has become the third highest debut by a United Kingdom-signed female artist in Billboard history, after Joss Stone, who entered at number two and now Leona Lewis, after her debut at number one.[24] The album, however, quickly fell down the chart. After performing on American Idol, sales of the album and single "Pocketful of Sunshine" increased considerably. The album jumped from number 97 to number 24 on the Billboard 200, while the single charted within the top five on the Billboard charts. The album was certified Gold on 12 December 2008. To date it has sold more than 750,000 copies.[25] In Canada, the album debuted at number thirteen.[26]
Singles
"
"
Promotional singles
"Say It Again", was released as promotional single from the album on 7 October 2007. The single completely failed to chart.[further explanation needed]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "How Do You Do?" |
|
| 3:41 |
2. | "I Wanna Have Your Babies" |
|
| 3:37 |
3. | "Soulmate" |
|
| 3:32 |
4. | "Who Knows" |
| Elizondo | 3:46 |
5. | "Say It Again" |
| Elizondo | 3:30 |
6. | "Pirate Bones" |
|
| 3:47 |
7. | "Backyard" |
|
| 3:27 |
8. | "Tricky Angel" |
|
| 3:04 |
9. | "When You Know You Know" |
|
| 2:50 |
10. | "I Think They're Thinking" (Interlude) | 0:58 | ||
11. | "(No More) What Ifs" (featuring Eve ) |
|
| 4:06 |
12. | "Not Givin' Up" |
| 3:47 | |
13. | "Still Here" | Diane Warren | Guy Roche | 3:56 |
14. | "Smell the Roses" |
|
| 3:21 |
15. | "Lay Down" (hidden track) |
| Elizondo | 3:30 |
16. | "Loved by You" (hidden track) | Bedingfield | Hauge | 2:35 |
Total length: | 53:27 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Unwritten" (Manny Marroquin Mix) |
|
| 4:13 |
Total length: | 57:40 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
16. | "Unwritten" (Live) | 6:01 |
17. | "What Ifs" | 4:01 |
18. | "I Wanna Have Your Babies" (Music video) | |
Total length: | 67:42 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
15. | "Stepping Stone" | 3:51 |
Total length: | 51:13 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
15. | "Loved by You" | 2:35 |
16. | "Stepping Stone" | 3:51 |
17. | "Lay Down" | 3:30 |
Total length: | 57:18 |
Pocketful of Sunshine
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Put Your Arms Around Me" |
|
| 3:43 |
2. | "Pocketful of Sunshine" |
| Shanks | 3:23 |
3. | "Happy" |
| Gad | 3:40 |
4. | "Love Like This" (featuring Sean Kingston) |
|
| 3:42 |
5. | "Piece of Your Heart" |
| J. R. Rotem | 3:47 |
6. | "Soulmate" |
|
| 3:34 |
7. | "Say It Again" |
| Elizondo | 3:32 |
8. | "Angel" |
| Jerkins | 4:08 |
9. | "Backyard" |
|
| 3:27 |
10. | "Freckles" |
| Gad | 3:46 |
11. | "Who Knows" |
| Elizondo | 3:46 |
12. | "Pirate Bones" |
|
| 3:52 |
13. | "Not Givin' Up" |
| Danja | 3:49 |
Total length: | 48:09 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Unwritten" (Stripped acoustic version) | 4:08 |
Total length: | 52:17 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
15. | "Love Like This" (Acoustic from Bleu Room) | 3:25 |
16. | "Cheer Me Up" | 3:22 |
Total length: | 59:04 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Stepping Stone" | 3:51 |
Total length: | 51:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Love Like This" (Live at Soundcheck) | 3:30 |
15. | "Unwritten" (Live at Soundcheck) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Unwritten" | |
15. | "These Words" | |
16. | "Single" | |
17. | "I Bruise Easily" | |
18. | "I Wanna Have Your Babies" | |
19. | "When You Know You Know" | |
20. | "Drop Me in the Middle" (featuring Bizarre from D12) | |
21. | "(No More) What Ifs" (featuring Eve) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Unwritten" (Johnny Vicious Mix) | |
15. | "The One That Got Away" (Valentin Mix) | |
16. | "Love Like This" (Johnny Vicious Mix) | |
17. | "Pocketful of Sunshine" (Stonebridge Mix) | |
18. | "Angel" (Moto Blanco Mix) | |
19. | "These Words" (Lenny B Mix) | |
20. | "Unwritten" (Hani Num Mix) | |
21. | "Angel" (Chicane Edit) | |
Total length: | 51:06 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "These Words" (Live in New York City) | |
2. | "I Bruise Easily" (Live in New York City) | |
3. | "Single" (Live in New York City) | |
4. | "Wild Horses" (Live in New York City) | |
5. | "Unwritten" (Live in New York City) | |
6. | "Love Like This" (Music video) | |
7. | "Pocketful of Sunshine" (Music video) | |
8. | "I Wanna Have Your Babies" (Music video) | |
9. | "Soulmate" (Music video) |
Notes
- ^a – signifies a vocal producer.
- ^b – signifies a remixer.
- Some digital releases of N.B. do not include "I Think They're Thinking (Interlude)" and/or "Lay Down" and "Loved by You".[46]
Personnel
N.B.
Adapted from the AllMusic credits.[47]
- Natasha Bedingfield – lead vocals, vocal producer, vocal arrangement
- Adam Levine – backing vocals
- Nikola Bedingfield – backing vocals
- Danielle Brisebois – backing vocals
- Jessica Collins – backing vocals
- M. Hauge – producer
- Charles Judge – keyboards
- Mike Krompass – drum engineering
- Adam MacDougall – keyboards
- Jonas Myrin – keyboards
- Nick Lashley – guitar
- Vanessa Freebirn – cello, string arrangements
- Ryan Freeland – engineer
- Adam Hawkins – engineer, mixing
- Wayne Rodrigues – digital editing, drum programming, editing, engineer, keyboards, producer, turntables, vocal arrangement
- Brian Scheuble – engineer
- Marcella "Ms. Lago" Araica – mixing
- Greg Kurstin – instrumentation, mixing, producer
- Mark "Spike" Stent– mixing
- John Akehurst – photography – mixing
- Joanne Morris – art direction– mixing
- W. Amar the Wizard Wilkins – drum programming, keyboard programming, keyboards, mixing, producer, programming
Pocketful of Sunshine
Adapted from the Pocketful of Sunshine AllMusic credits.[48]
- Natasha Bedingfield – background vocals, vocals, audio producer
- Louis Biancaniello – audio producer, producer
- Danielle Brisebois – backing vocals
- Ravaughn Brown – backing vocals
- Dernst Emile II – various instruments
- Steve Kipner – backing vocals, audio producer, producer
- Richard Love – backing vocals
- Meleni Smith – backing vocals
- Mike Elizondo – audio producer, guitar, bass guitar, bass, programming, keyboards
- Andrew Frampton – backing vocals, keyboards, programming
- Richard Altenbach – orchestra conductor, arranger, strings
- Toby Gad – arranger, audio producer, instrumentation, mixing, producer, programming, various instruments
- Mads Hauge – audio producer, guitars, vocal producer
- Rodney Jerkins – audio producer, various instruments
- J. R. Rotem – instrumentation, arranger
- Greg Kurstin – instrumentation, engineering
- Jack Rothschild – drums, programming, engineering
- John Shanks – guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
- Wayne Wilkins – keyboards, backing vocals, drum programming, keyboard programming
- Robbie Campesinos – vocal arrangements, backing vocals, guitar arrangements
- Trevor Lawrence – drums, cymbals
- Charles Judge – keyboards
- Nick Lashley, Wendy Melvoin – guitar
- Michael Valerio, Kate Bird – bass guitar
- Julie Gigante – violin
- Neel Hammond – violin
- Natalie Leggett – violin
- Mark Robertson – violin
- Keith Greene – viola
- Victor Lawrence – cello
- Sebastian Toettcher – cello
- Jason Pennock – digital editing
- Greg Ogan – engineering, vocal engineering
- Lleyton Blaine – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
- Adam Hawkins, Brian Scheuble – engineering
- Daniel Frampton – vocal engineering
- Keith Gretlein – assistant engineer
- Anne Kasdorf – assistant engineer
- Matt Serrecchio – assistant engineer
- Marcella "Ms. Lago" Araica – mixing
- Manny Marroquin – mixing
- Phil Tan – mixing
- Alex Dromgoole – mixing assistant
- Josh Houghkirk – mixing assistant
- Matt Paul – mixing assistant
- David Kutch – mastering
- John Akehurst – photography
- Michelle Holme – design
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[59] Pocketful of Sunshine |
Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[60] | Gold | 100,000* |
United States (RIAA)[61] Pocketful of Sunshine |
Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Edition | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
France | 27 April 2007 | N.B. (standard) | Sony BMG Music
|
[62][63] | |
Germany | [64][63] | ||||
United Kingdom | 30 April 2007 | Phonogenic | [65] | ||
Japan | 9 May 2007 | Sony BMG Music | [66] | ||
Australia | 25 May 2007 | [67] | |||
Canada | 3 January 2008 | N.B. (iTunes Store exclusive) | Digital download | [68] | |
22 January 2008 | Pocketful of Sunshine (standard) |
|
[69] | ||
United States | Epic | [43] | |||
Japan | 23 April 2008 | Sony BMG Music | [70] | ||
Canada | 11 November 2008 | Pocketful of Sunshine (deluxe) | CD+DVD | Sony Music
|
[45] |
United States | Epic | [71] |
References
- ^ a b Artist Profile Archived 12 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine. EMI Music Publishing. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ "I Wanna Have Your Babies" Charts Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. musicsquare.net. Retrieved 22 April 2007.
- ^ Lizzie Ennever. "Soulmate" Album Review. BBC. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ a b c Soulmate Album Review. IndieLondon.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ Alex Macpherson. "Soulmate Album Review. The Guardian. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ Keith Caulfield. Charting As Easily As 'Bruising?'. Billboard.com. 10 November 2006. Retrieved 7 March 2007.
- ^ link Archived 19 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Craig McLean. "Natasha Bedingfield, Soulmate". The Guardian. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
- ^ The Times (online edition) - review of NB (28 April 2007)
- ^ "N.B. by Natasha Bedingfield" Archived 29 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine. Marie Claire. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
- ^ Dan Gennoe. "Natasha Bedingfield -'Soulmate'". Yahoo!. 4 May 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
- ^ Sheena McGinley. "Natasha Bedingfield - Soulmate[permanent dead link]. Entertainment.ie. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
- ^ Mason, Kerri. "'Pocketful of Sunshine' Review". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
- ^ Hoard, Christian. "Pocketful of Sunshine: Natasha Bedingfield: Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
- About.com. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
- ^ "Album: Natasha Bedingfield's 'Pocketful of Sunshine'". Los Angeles Times. 20 January 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
- Allmusic. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
- ^ Gamboa, Glenn. "'Pocketful of Sunshine' Review". Newsday. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
- ^ "Sales Decline Hits Albums and Singles". chart-refugees.com (originally from Music Week), 6 May 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
- ^ "Natasha Bedingfield - Nb". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ a b World Charts. acharts.us. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
- ^ Australian Albums Chart. ARIA Charts. Retrieved 19 June 2007.
- ^ Hasty, Katie. "'Juno' Unseats Keys From Atop Album Chart". Billboard.com. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
- ^ "Pocketful of Sunshine Goes Down a Storm in the U.S." Archived 4 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine. NatashaBedingfield.com. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith. "Ask Billboard - UK Imports". Billboard. 12 September 2008.
- ^ Williams, John. "'Juno' soundtrack hits No. 1"[usurped]. Jam!. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
- ^ "Natasha Bedingfield - I Wanna Have Your Babies - Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ ds. "Sns Ifpi". Ifpicr.cz. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Available For Airplay Archive". fmbq.com. 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
- ^ "Natasha Bedingfield- Artist Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
- ^ "Available for Airplay". fmbq.com. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
- ^ "Natasha Bedingfield — Pocketful of Sunshine". acharts.us. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
- ^ "BOOKED: Natasha Bedingfield — Phil Griffin, director". videostatic.com. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
- ^ "Phil/Natasha Bedingfield". rhfilms.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
- ^ "Watch Full Episodes for Free Online - American Music Awards - ABC.com". Abc.go.com. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ [1] Archived 20 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ https://open.spotify.com/album/1MxMoIpFE4lCP43ITwPXDj?si=g_wx6rvXTiGp86sRFtRA9g
- ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/7298658-Natasha-Bedingfield-NB
- ^ https://open.spotify.com/album/57aBoipqZCdWmnl7dAbAuV
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20121110143800/https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/natasha-bedingfield/id271460428
- ^ a b "iTunes – Music – Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield". Itunes.apple.com. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Pocketfull of Sunshine product listing". HMV Japan. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
- ^ a b "Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine (CD, Album, Wal) at Discogs". Discogs. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/pocketful-of-sunshine/9200000044971161/
- ^ a b "Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine (CD, Album + DVD + Dlx) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ https://open.spotify.com/album/3YRPvcSapwUMOTvozmy4w5?si=RBdR_8bYTGiiikSDzggVDw
- Allmusic. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
- ^ "Pocketful of Sunshine". AllMusic.
- ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Natasha Bedingfield – N.B." (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
- GfK Entertainment Charts.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Natasha Bedingfield". Hung Medien.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – N.B.". Hung Medien.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ChartsPlus. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Natasha Bedingfield – Pocketful of Sunshine". Music Canada.
- ^ "British album certifications – Natasha Bedingfield – N.B." British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – Natasha Bedingfield – Pocketful of Sunshine". Recording Industry Association of America.
- France. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Natasha Bedingfield - N.B. (CD, Album, Enh) at Discogs". Discogs. 30 April 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- Germany. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- ^ Natasha Bedingfield N.B. Album (88697076452). eil.com. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
- ^ Natasha Bedingfield N.B. Album (BVCP-24109). eil.com. Retrieved 16 March 2007.
- ^ Natasha Bedingfield N.B. Album (88697077542). eil.com. Retrieved 11 May 2007.
- ^ "iTunes — Music — Natasha Bedingfield by Natasha Bedingfield". Itunes.apple.com. 3 January 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. 22 January 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ "Natasha Bedingfield = ナターシャ・ベディングフィールド* – Pocketful of Sunshine = ポケットフル・オブ・サンシャイン (CD, Album, Enh) at Discogs". Discogs. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
- ^ "Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine (CD, Album + DVD, NTSC + Dlx, Wal) at Discogs". Discogs. 11 November 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2016.