The MF Life
The MF Life | ||||
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Melanie Fiona chronology | ||||
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Singles from The MF Life | ||||
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The MF Life is the second studio album by Canadian recording artist
The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, selling 34,000 copies in its first week. It produced three singles, including the R&B hit "4 AM". Upon its release, The MF Life received generally positive reviews from music critics, who commended its production, songwriting and Fiona's vocals. Fiona promoted it with a national tour throughout March 2012. As of May 2012, the album has sold 69,500 copies in the United States.
Background and recording
After the shutdown of
Recording sessions for the album took place at Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank, 4220 Feng Shui Studios in Los Angeles, Circle House Studios, The Hit Factory Criteria, and Body Music in Miami, Chevy Shack and Losta Studios in Atlanta, Summit Sound in New York, and The Armoury Vault in Toronto, Canada.[3]
In a press release, Fiona explained the album's title, "the ‘MF’ in the album title represents my initials, but it also gets at the many facets of myself as an artist and a young woman. It can be viewed as the ‘Mighty Fine Life’ in times of triumph and success, but also the ‘Mother-F-ing Life’ when I'm dealing with frustration or misfortune. I celebrate both. I feel it would be dishonest if everything was all about glitz and glamour. It's about the balance of life, the yin and the yang, the good and the bad, all of that."[4]
Music and lyrics
According to Sarah Godfrey of
The album's lyrics deal with themes of longing, aggrievement,[6][9] and romantic triumph.[8] Music writers have noted Fiona's singing voice on the album as slightly husky and emotive.[6][8][9]
Release and promotion
The album's
Originally scheduled for a 2011 release, The MF Life was released on March 20, 2012, on SRC and Universal Republic.[2][14] Fiona promoted the album with a national tour throughout March 2012.[15] It included dates at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia and the Austin Urban Music Festival in Texas.[2]
When The MF Life was released, it sold 34,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number seven on the
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Fact | 3/5[10] |
Los Angeles Times | [8] |
Now | 2/5[22] |
Rolling Stone | [23] |
USA Today | [1] |
The MF Life received generally positive reviews from critics. At
In a mixed review, Kevin Ritchie of
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | " Los Da Mystro | 4:05 | ||
8. | "Gone and Never Coming Back" |
|
| 3:45 |
9. | "Bones" |
| Jack Splash | 3:53 |
10. | "Watch Me Work" |
|
| 3:25 |
11. | "Can’t Say I Never Loved You" |
| Espionage | 3:47 |
12. | "L.O.V.E." (duet with John Legend) |
| No I.D. | 3:55 |
13. | "6 AM" (featuring T-Pain) (bonus track) |
|
| 4:13 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Gone (La Dada Di)" (featuring Snoop Dogg) |
| Soundz | 3:36 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Rock Paper Scissors" |
| Sham & Motesart | |
15. | "Can't Do This No More" |
| Jack Splash | |
16. | "What Am I to Do" |
| Jack Splash | |
17. | "Like I Love You" |
| Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin-Quee |
Personnel
Credits for The MF Life adapted from liner notes.[25]
|
|
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
References
- ^ a b Jones, Steve (March 20, 2012). "Listen Up: Esperanza Spalding, Melanie Fiona, more". USA Today. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Graff, Gary (March 14, 2012). "Melanie Fiona Used 'MF Life' Delay To Bring In Nas, Drake, J. Cole". Billboard. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
- ^ "Melanie Fiona – MF Life CD Album". CD Universe. Muze. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
- Universal Republic. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ Godfrey, Sarah (March 19, 2012). "Review: Melanie Fiona takes on new genres in 'The MF Life'". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- ^ Rovi Corporation. Review. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c Capobianco, Ken (March 17, 2012). "Melanie Fiona, 'The MF Life'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Hardy, Ernest (March 19, 2012). "Album review: Melanie Fiona's 'The MF Life'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Caramanica, Jon (March 20, 2012). "Albums From Wiz Khalifa, Melanie Fiona and Lost in the Trees". The New York Times. p. C3. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- ^ Fact. The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
- ^ "Gone and Never Coming Back – Melanie Fiona". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ "Melanie Fiona". AllAccess. February 27, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ "Melanie Fiona Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ "Melanie Fiona Reveals Release Date, Cover Art For "The MF Life"". Rap-Up.com. Rap-Up. February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ "MELANIE FIONA's "THE MF LIFE" in Stores Today" (Press release). New York: Business Wire. March 20, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (March 28, 2012). "'Hunger Games' Soundtrack Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- ^ Langhorne, Cyrus (April 4, 2012). "Madonna Strips Down At No. 1, Drake Falls From Top 20, E-40, DJ Premier & Freddie Foxxx Invade The Chart". SOHH. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
- ^ Langhorne, Cyrus (April 18, 2012). "Nicki Minaj Falls From No. 1, Monica Brings Life To Top 5, Trip Lee Invades The Chart". SOHH. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ "Melanie Fiona – The MF Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ "2012-03-31 Top 40 R&B Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
- ^ a b "The MF Life review – Melanie Fiona Review". Entertainment Weekly. No. 1199. March 23, 2012. p. 74.
- ^ a b Ritchie, Kevin (April 26, 2012). "Melanie Fiona – The MF Life". Now. Vol. 31, no. 35. Toronto. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
- ^ a b Johnston, Maura (April 13, 2012). "The MF Life". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
- CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
- Universal Republic Records. B0016719-02.)
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link - ^ "Swisscharts.com – Melanie Fiona – The MF Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "Melanie Fiona Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "Melanie Fiona Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "Melanie Fiona Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved August 1, 2020.