Pink Elephant (album)
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Pink Elephant is the fourth studio album by American recording artist N'Dambi. A neo soul record that incorporates elements of jazz and funk, it focuses on themes including double lives, love-hate relationships, true love, betrayal, and the music industry. N'Dambi highlighted classic R&B artists such as Betty Davis and Smokey Robinson as her influences when recording the album; for the album's writing and production, she worked with Leon Sylvers III, who was known for his work with artists including Gladys Knight, Shalamar, and Blackstreet.
The album was released in the United States on October 6, 2009, by
Background
N'dambi, born Chonita Gilbert, began her music career at age 18 as a background vocalist for Gaye Arbuckle, a gospel singer in her native Dallas, Texas. After two years as a backup singer for Arbuckle, Gilbert began working with neo-soul singer Erykah Badu, recording backing vocals for her 1997 debut album Baduizm, including on the track "Certainly (Flipped It)".[2] Gilbert also began recording music as a solo artist, and independently released her debut studio album, Little Lost Girls Blues, in 1999; the record went on to sell over 70,000 copies, primarily driven by word of mouth promotion.[3] She went on to independently release two more studio albums before signing with the newly-reformed record label Stax in 2006.[3] Regarding the significance of her signing with the label, Gilbert stated in an interview that it was "a connection to my Southern roots. I knew it was a label that started in the South that was the soundtrack to many people's lives. Those songs have stories behind the music. I wanted to create music that did that."[4]
For her fourth studio album, and first to be released by a major label, Gilbert partnered with Leon Sylvers III, a producer best known for his soul and disco work with artists including Shalamar, The Whispers, and Lakeside in the early 1980s, as well as later work with artists like Blackstreet.[3][5] The album was recorded in Santa Monica, California and produced in Los Angeles.[3][5] Gilbert named the album Pink Elephant as a nod to the phrase "elephant in the room", with the album's "elephant" representing "people understanding their purpose in life and their greatness and how, when they do embrace it, they should shine to their FULLEST!" — and that that shining would be impossible to ignore, like an elephant in the room.[3] She selected the color pink, meanwhile, for its symbolism of hope and strength.[3]
Composition
Gilbert cited Slave, Heatwave, The Jacksons, Betty Davis, Isaac Hayes, Smokey Robinson, and The Sylvers as influences in writing and recording the album.[5] In a 2010 interview, she stated that, when writing her songs, she occasionally drew from personal experiences, but more often focused on storytelling: "I think of the place, the time, the setting of a story, and invent a situation that shines a light on a particular issue or theme."[5]
Album opener "L.I.E.", an abbreviation for Long Island Expressway, tells the story of a man living along the expressway as he leads a double life.[5] The song takes influence from jazz and funk.[5][1] "Ooo Baby" chronicles a reconnection with an ex-lover, while "The One" is a jazz-influenced ballad about true love.[6] "Can't Hardly Wait" is a mid-tempo song chronicling a love-hate relationship that drew comparison to Badu's "Tyrone".[7] Its hook prominently features the phrase "fuckinwitchu".[7] On the mid-tempo "Imitator", N'Dambi tells the story of a young woman whose lover doesn't keep his promises; the song features the lyric "You’re not the man I used to know, you’re an imitator."[6]
Release
In advance of the album's release, its lead single, "Can't Hardly Wait", was released by
In the issue of
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
PopMatters | [19] |
Spin | [20] |
Upon its release, Pink Elephant received favorable reviews from music critics, holding a score of 77 out of 100 on review aggregator Album of the Year, based on three reviews.[21] Writing for Billboard, critic Gail Mitchell praised both the album's lyrics for "keenly observ(ing) life's frequent ironies", as well as N'Dambi's vocals for being "rich" and "earthy". Mitchell went on to single out "Nobody Jones", "What It Takes", and "Can't Hardly Wait" as highlights and concluded that N'Dambi is among the few artists "who can truly make the listener feel a song."[22] Lloyd Bradley, in a review for the BBC, hailed the album as "that rare beast: a soul album that sounds completely modern yet fulfills all traditional expectations".[1] Bradley commended N'Dambi for building her music's backing track around her lyrics, instead of the other way around, and praised her storytelling songwriting for creating a "mini-drama".[1] He praised the a capella version of "Can't Hardly Wait" for "bringing out its true sentiments", and concluded that the album sounds like the music one would "expect from the likes of Smokey Robinson or Gladys Knight had they been born 40 years later".[1]
Accolades
At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, Pink Elephant earned N'Dambi her first Grammy nomination, for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.[23] The award ultimately went to John Mayer's fourth studio album, Battle Studies.[24]
Track listing
All tracks are written by N'Dambi and Leon Sylvers III, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "L.I.E." |
| 4:44 |
2. | "What It Takes" | 3:32 | |
3. | "Nobody Jones" |
| 4:20 |
4. | "Ooo Baby" | 5:11 | |
5. | "Mind Blowin'" | 3:36 | |
6. | "The One" | 4:50 | |
7. | "Take It Out" |
| 4:12 |
8. | "Daisy Chain" | 3:54 | |
9. | "Can't Hardly Wait" |
| 4:28 |
10. | "The World Is a Beat" | N'Dambi, Sylvers III, Shockley | 4:12 |
11. | "Imitator" |
| 5:08 |
12. | "Free Fallin' (Bonus Track)" | 5:02 | |
Total length: | 51:05 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Can't Hardly Wait" (a capella version) | 3:55 |
14. | "The World is a Beat" (Soulflower mix) | 7:53 |
Total length: | 63:53 |
Charts
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Heatseekers Albums[13]
|
31 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[14] | 42 |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Bradley, Lloyd (2010). "N'Dambi Pink Elephant Review". BBC. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ Mitchell, Gail (10 February 2017). "'Baduizm' at 20: Erykah Badu Explains the Album's Most Unlikely Dedications, From Steve Harvey to Craig Mack". Billboard. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Pete. "N'dambi: True Colors". Blues & Soul. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Watts, Jr., James D. (August 4, 2011). "Jazz Hall of Fame to host N'dambi". Tulsa World. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h DJ Soulswede (May 8, 2010). "Interviews: N'dambi (2010)". Soul Interviews. Soulswede Music. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ a b Crain, Zac (August 12, 2009). "Stax Records To Release Pink Elephant By Dallas Soul Songstress N'dambi". D Magazine. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ a b Harlem (August 7, 2009). "First Spin: N'dambi's 'Can't Hardly Wait' Is A Step Above". SoulBounce. Kimberly Shines Media. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "N'Dambi — Can't Hardly Wait [Digital Download]". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "Overview: N'Dambi — Pink Elephant at AllMusic". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "Take A Sip Of N'dambi's 'Pink Elephant'". SoulBounce. October 6, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ Butta (July 12, 2011). "This N'dambi Video Will Have You Saying 'Ooo Baby'". SoulBounce. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ Lewsi, Jason (October 27, 2011). "5 Questions for Soul Singer N'Dambi". LA Sentinel. Bakewell Media. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ a b "Top Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 42. October 24, 2009. p. 41. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 43. October 31, 2009. p. 46. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 43. October 31, 2009. p. 41. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 44. November 7, 2021. p. 74. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Vol. 122, no. 1. January 9, 2010. p. 47. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Adult R&B Songs — December 12, 2009". Billboard. December 12, 2009. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ Dietzel, Andrew (February 10, 2010). "N'dambi: Pink Elephant". PopMatters. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ "Overview: N'Dambi — Pink Elephant". Album of the Year. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ Mitchell, Gail (October 3, 2009). "Albums: R&B — N'Dambi — Pink Elephant". Billboard. Vol. 121, no. 39. p. 32. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "Artist Overview: N'Dambi". Recording Academy Grammy Awards. Recording Academy. 23 November 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
- ^ "2010 Grammy Winners". Recording Academy Grammy Awards. Recording Academy. Retrieved December 17, 2021.