20 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 4 June 2021 | |||
Length | 72:36 | |||
Label | BMG | |||
Producer | Christian Geller | |||
No Angels chronology | ||||
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Singles from 20 | ||||
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20 is the sixth studio album by all-female German pop group No Angels. It was released by BMG Rights Management on 4 June 2021 in German-speaking Europe to coincide with the twentieth release anniversary of their debut single "Daylight in Your Eyes" (2001). The band's first full-length release since Welcome to the Dance (2009), 20 consists of twenty tracks, featuring four original songs and sixteen updated versions of songs that were selected from their first three studio albums Elle'ments (2001), Now... Us! (2002) and Pure (2003). Produced by Christian Geller, it marked the band's third full-length release to feature No Angels' third lineup, excluding original band member Vanessa Petruo.
The album received mixed reviews from critics, some of whom complimented the more cohesive, mature production as well as the modern nature of the new material, while others questioned the overall value of the project. 20 debuted at number one on the German Albums Chart, becoming No Angels' fourth non-consecutive number-one album as well as their first chart topper in nearly two decades, and reached the top ten in Austria and Switzerland. [1] Its release was preceded by the re-recorded singles "Daylight in Your Eyes" and "Still in Love with You", both of which were accompanied by two new music videos. In support of the 20, No Angels also embarked on their fourth concert tour, the Celebration Tour, in 2022.
In September 2010, following the release of the band's fifth studio album Welcome to the Dance (2009) and her two-year suspended sentence a month before, original band member Nadja Benaissa announced her departure from No Angels, leaving the band as a trio. [2] While Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, and Jessica Wahls were said to release a live album in 2011, [3] this project and other plans announced for the tenth anniversary of the band failed to materialize. [4] With Benaissa leaving a void within the group, the remaining three members of the band decided not to accept any further booking requests and instead reaffirmed their focus on individual solo projects and private ambitions. [5] In 2014, Diakovska confirmed that the band had dissolved again with no new commercial projects planned. [6]
In the following years, the former band members reconnected in private. [5] On 27 November 2020, the complete catalogue of No Angels albums re-entered various streaming platforms after BMG Rights Management had acquired the rights from Cheyenne Records. [7] The mostly positive reception of the re-release made the band members develop an Instagram account presenting both professional as well as amateur photos dating back to their early stages as a group. [8] Rumors regarding a possible comeback in 2021 sparked shortly after, [9] and while the band had initially planned to record a split screen video with all of them singing along the original backing track of "Daylight in Your Eyes" to celebration the song's 20th anniversary, [5] Wahls, Mölling, Benaissa and Diakovska were soon asked to sign a new deal with BMG to re-record the song, followed by a full-length album. [5] Original band member Vanessa Petruo, who had previously announced her retirement from the public eye, was not asked whether she would take part again. [5]
Recording of 20 started with the celebration version of No Angels' 2001 debut single "Daylight in Your Eyes" for which all vocals were recorded separately in January 2021 due to travel restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. [10] While Nadja Benaissa and Jessica Wahls recorded their vocals at producer Christian Geller's studio in Andernach, Lucy Diakovska went into a nearby studio in Bulgaria. [10] Sandy Mölling used the Los Angeles home studio of her husband Nasri Atweh to work with Geller on the song. [10] Additional recording began in Andernach in the first week of March 2021 where Mölling cut several tracks before returning to the United States. [10] On 8 March 2021, Wahls took to Instagram to reveal that she had started work with Geller on a new version of "There Must Be an Angel." [11] During an Instagram live stream, Mölling hinted on the absence of new renditions of material from the albums Destiny (2007) and Welcome to the Dance (2009). She explained that the latter album in particular would have been ahead of its time when it was released and would therefore have a more contemporary sound. Furthermore, in contrast to the repertoire from the years 2001 to 2003, the records had already been released with the band's current line-up. Therefore, there would not have been the necessity to re-record the tracks. [12] The master recordings of the whole album were handed in on April 16, 2021, as Geller confirmed via his Instagram the same day. [13]
In addition to sixteen cover versions of their own songs, including two different celebration versions of "Still in Love with You," the band recorded several new tracks for 20. [14] While it was initially announced that five new songs would be included on the album, [14] only four made the track listing after BMG wanted the fifth song to be recorded by a female solo artist. [15] "We Keep the Spirit Alive," co-written by Mölling, [16] is an uptempo power pop and synth-pop song that has been compared with English singer Dua Lipa's "Physical" (2020). [17] The song features several 1980s and disco tropes in its production, [14] making use of a synthwave bassline and a techno beat. [18] Lyrically, "We Keep the Spirit Alive" borrows from several others No Angels songs, with lines such as "awakened by the race of daylight, we cried a river full of joy" often incorporating former song titles. [17] Mölling also co-wrote "Love You for Eternity," a power ballad that alternates between calm verses and hymn-like choruses. [14] [17] "A New Day," a "spherical" high-energy pop track that is built upon a clapping drum pattern, [19] was written by Atweh. [16] A song about the hope and trust in better times, it was inspired by the deleterious mental consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns and distancing measures. [20] "Mad Wild," co-written by American-Canadian singer Sophie Simmons and Icelandic singer Ásdís María Viðarsdóttir, is the only title that was chosen from a selection of around a dozen songs which their record company BMG had proposed for recording, being the favorite individual choice of every No Angels member. [14] A song about a toxic relationship that always ends in bed instead of being ended for the better, [19] it is built upon a bouncing synth bass and a 1980s-style snare sample, blending elements of funk and pop with contemporary R&B sounds. [17] [19] Benaissa described "Mad Wild" as a "modern, powerful [...] feel good track." [14]
"Daylight in Your Eyes" was released as the lead single from 20 on 12 February 2021. [11] It debuted and peaked at number six on the German Download Chart, also prompting the original version to re-enter the German Singles Chart at number 74. [21] On 22 April 2021, it was announced that "There Must Be an Angel (celebration version)" would be made available on streaming and downloading platforms the next day, serving as a teaser single. [22] Another teaser single, the celebration version of "Rivers of Joy," was released on 14 May 2021. [23] Both songs were accompanied by lyric videos that were released on YouTube. [24] [25] On 21 May 2021, the band filmed a music video for "Still in Love with You" at the Mediterana day spa in Bergisch Gladbach. The song was made available on 4 June 2021 and served as the second single from 20. [26] The video for "Still in Love with You" premiered on the pre-taped music show Schlagercountdown – So wird's bald wieder sein, broadcast on Das Erste on 5 June 2021, [27] while the song peaked at number 34 on the German Download Chart in the following week. [28] A third single, a previously unreleased version of "Mad Wild," was issued on 6 August 2021 and reached number 67 on the same chart. [29] In an interview with Antenne Radio, released on 25 June 2021, Diakovska revealed that the band would film a video for a further single, most likely "A New Day," to be taken from 20 in October 2021. [30] However, these plans were later cancelled. [30] On 26 November 2021, No Angels released a winter edition of "When the Angels Sing," a Christmas-themed remix of the song's 2021 celebration version featuring a new instrumentation and a gospel choir. [31] In December 2021, Benaissa confirmed that the group was expecting to release another single from 20 in support of their 2022 Celebration Tour though again this did not come to fruition. [32]
On 27 February 2021, the band made their first performance in a decade on the Das Erste music show Schlagerchampions – Das grosse Fest der Besten, hosted by singer Florian Silbereisen, where they performed "Daylight in Your Eyes." [33] Following a short hiatus, the band reunited on 28 May 2021 to perform a medley of the celebration versions of "Daylight in Your Eyes", "Rivers of Joy" and "There Must Be an Angel" at the season finale of the dance competition television series Let's Dance . [34] The performance was largely panned by critics, who criticized the band for singing lip sync. [34] On 4 June 2021, No Angels played a live streaming concert on RTL Deutschland's website rtl.de. A mini-concert consisting of "There Must Be an Angel", "Still in Love with You", "Rivers of Joy", "A New Day" and "Daylight in Your Eyes," the broadcast was interrupted by a storm front across Cologne only minutes after their performance. [20] Two days later, the band performed "Still in Love with You" and "Daylight in Your Eyes" on ZDF-Fernsehgarten , broadcast live from the grounds of the ZDF broadcasting centre at Mainz. [35] On 17 June, No Angels appeared on Die Carolin Kebekus Show where they sung a shortened version of "Still in Love with You" and performed a girl band medley along with host Carolin Kebekus. [36] On 24 July 2021, No Angels appeared on Gottschalks große 90er-Show where they performed a live version of the Spice Girls' "Too Much" (1997). [37] Following another break, the band reteamed in fall 2021 to perform the winter version of "When the Angels Sing" on Das Adventsfest der 100.000 Lichter, broadcast on 27 November. [38]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
CDStarts.de | 5/10 [39] |
laut.de | [17] |
Matthias Halbig, writing for RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, found that most on 20 is typical No Angels fare "with fresh beats and strong vocal recordings, though a handful of songs suggest that the re-docking with the music scene is future-oriented. These new songs – with the exception of the ballad 'Love You for Eternity' – don't stick out much on the lush 20-song list, which speaks for a coherent production in first place." [40] Aida Baghernejad from daily newspaper Die Tageszeitung remarked that with 20 "the basses are fatter, the voices more mature and full, the composition more sophisticated." She felt that "the new songs almost exclusively rely on a feeling of nostalgia [...] and their sound could just as well be from the rest Oeuvre." [41] News agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur noted that new songs such "as 'Mad Wild' or 'We Keep The Spirit Alive' are fresh pop numbers that fit perfectly into today's radio landscape. Sometimes funky, sometimes with an 80s sound. It almost seems like No Angels never left." [42]
Magnus-Vinzenz Franz from laut.de found that "the darker and more mature atmosphere" of the re-recordings on 20 "is a nice alternative to the sometimes wild and stormy originals," but they "just offer very little added value." [17] Of the new material, he particularly emphasized "Mad Wild" with its "bouncing synth bass and '80s snare sample" which he compared to Ariana Grande und Dua Lipa. [17] In his review for t-online.de Sebastian Berning wrote that the production on 20 "is more modern, but the songs are largely preserved." He found that while the four new songs "are good pop goods, "Mad Wild" or the somewhat ABBA-like "We Keep the Spirit Alive" can't get out of the shadows of the big hits." [43] Similarly, Matthias Reichel from CDStarts.de wrote that while "the magic has fallen by the wayside [...] the revised arrangements are not remotely entangled in experiments, so even non-fans [can] recognize them immediately." He felt that the "new songs have a hard time, as expected, but they don't distract. In particular 'We Keep the Spirit Alive,' which incorporates a few harmonies from The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights,' can keep up quite well." [39] In a negative review, Süddeutsche Zeitung journalist Jakob Biazza wrote that 20 "sounds as if you had chosen the pre-set 'Deutschdancepop 2000' for the automatic accompaniment of a medium-priced keyboard and would then have died of boredom and shame with your hands clutching the second inversion of a C major chord." [44]
20 debuted at number one on the German Albums Chart in the week of 11 June 2021. [1] It became No Angels' non-consecutive fourth album to reach the top position on the chart as well as their first number one entry since Pure (2003) nearly two decades before. [1] 20 also became the first chart topper in the country by a girl group in fifteen years, following the December 2006 peak of Temptation by fellow Popstars winners Monrose. [1] In Austria, the album debuted at number two on the Austrian Albums Chart, becoming No Angels' third album to do so. [45] As in Germany, this marked their highest peak since Pure. [45] In Switzerland, 20 debuted at number six on the Swiss Albums Chart. [46] The band's fourth top ten album on the chart, it marked their highest-charting album since the top five peak of Now... Us! (2002). [46]
All tracks produced by Christian Geller. [47]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Daylight in Your Eyes" (celebration version) |
| 3:31 |
2. | "Still in Love with You" (celebration version) |
| 3:38 |
3. | "Something About Us" (celebration version) | 3:34 | |
4. | "When the Angels Sing" (celebration version) |
| 3:46 |
5. | "Rivers of Joy" (celebration version) |
| 3:30 |
6. | "There Must Be an Angel" (celebration version) | 3:57 | |
7. | "We Keep the Spirit Alive" |
| 3:26 |
8. | "All Cried Out" (celebration version) | 3:32 | |
9. | "Someday" (celebration version) |
| 3:18 |
10. | "Mad Wild" |
| 2:39 |
11. | "Washes Over Me" (celebration version) |
| 4:12 |
12. | "Feelgood Lies" (celebration version) |
| 3:34 |
13. | "A New Day" | Nasri Atweh | 3:16 |
14. | "Faith Can Move a Mountain" (celebration version) | Julian Feifel | 3:41 |
15. | "Cold as Ice" (celebration version) |
| 4:12 |
16. | "Love You for Eternity" |
| 3:51 |
17. | "Cry for You" (celebration version) |
| 3:34 |
18. | "No Angel (It's All in Your Mind)" (celebration version) |
| 3:12 |
19. | "That's the Reason" (celebration version) |
| 3:35 |
20. | "Still in Love with You" (acoustic celebration version) |
| 3:38 |
Total length: | 1:12:36 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes of 20. [16]
|
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Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | 4 June 2021 | BMG | [49] [50] [51] |
No Angels are an all-female pop group from Germany, formed in 2000. Originally a quintet, consisting of band members Nadja Benaissa, Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, Vanessa Petruo, and Jessica Wahls, they originated on the debut season of the German adaptation of the talent series Popstars and were one of the first television-cast acts to achieve sustainable success throughout Central Europe in the early 2000s. Following a major success with record-breaking single "Daylight in Your Eyes" and debut album Elle'ments in 2001, a series of hit records established their position as one of the most successful female band vocalists to emerge in the early decade. With four number-one hits, four number-one albums and record sales of more than 5.0 million, they became one of the most successful acts in German music history, winning three ECHOs, a World Music Award, a NRJ Music Award, two Comets, a Bambi and a Goldene Kamera.
Vanessa Anneliese Petruo-Zink is a German former singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. Born and raised in Berlin within a family of actors, she had minor roles in television and as a voice actress before she rose to fame as one of the members of the girl group No Angels, which were formed in 2000 on the German television talent show Popstars, becoming one of the best-selling girl groups of European origin of all time. Throughout her musical career, Petruo scored four number-one hits, including "Something About Us", which she co-wrote, and sold over five million albums and singles worldwide.
Nadja Benaissa is a German singer and television personality. She rose to fame in late 2000 when she auditioned for the German adaption of the reality television show Popstars and became a member of the girl group No Angels, one of the best-selling girl groups of European origin of all time. During their hiatus, Benaissa released her solo album, Schritt für Schritt (2007), which produced the single "Ich hab dich", and represented Hesse in the Bundesvision Song Contest 2006 with the song, finishing in fourth place.
Now... Us! is the second studio album by German girl group No Angels. It was released by Polydor and Cheyenne Records on June 24, 2002, in German-speaking Europe. Recorded after the release of the band's majorly successful debut album Elle'ments (2001), the group consulted work by frequent collaborators Thorsten Brötzmann, Peter Ries, and Leslie Mándoki as well as international songwriters and producers such as Anders Bagge, Figge Boström, Dennis Dowlut, Mousse T., Pontus Söderqvist, and Quiz & Larossi, while taking a wider role in contributing own lyrics and melodies to the album.
Elle'ments is the debut studio album by German girl group No Angels. It was first released by Polydor–Zeitgeist and Cheyenne Records on 12 March 2001 in German-speaking Europe. After winning the inaugural season of the reality talent contest Popstars in late 2000, Polydor consulted a small team of German-based musicians to work with the quintet, including Thorsten Brötzmann, Peter Ries, Leslie Mándoki, and Peter Plate. Elle'ments is a pop record with an inclusion of styles such as dance, R&B, Latin and rock. Conceptually, the album centered on the idea of the classical elements, and during that time was compared to English girl group the Spice Girls' Forever (2000) era.
The Best of No Angels is a compilation album by German girl group No Angels. It was released by Polydor–Zeitgeist and Cheyenne Records on 1 December 2003 in German-speaking Europe, coinciding with the group's first disbandment. A best-of album, it features all the singles from their first three studio albums Elle'ments (2001), Now... Us! (2002) and Pure (2003), as well as three additional album cuts from each album, including production from Thorsten Brötzmann, Leslie Mándoki, Mousse T., Perky Park, Peter Plate, Peter Ries, Ulf Leo Sommer, and Twin.
"Still in Love with You" is a song performed by German group No Angels. Penned and composed by Figge Boström and Johan Lindman of Swedish songwriting collective La Carr, it was co-produced by Pontus Söderqvist and Nick Nice for the band's second studio album Now... Us! (2002). A mid-paced latin pop ballad, it showcases a more mature side from the band, with its instrumentation consisting essentially of flamenco guitars and bongo drums. Lyrically, the track finds the female protagonist thinking deeply over her relationship with her love interest from whom she parted; however, she still pines for him and feels self-conscious for doing so.
"Let's Go to Bed" is a song performed by German pop group No Angels. It was written by Mousse T. and frequent collaborator Errol Rennalls and recorded for the band's second studio album Now... Us! (2002), while production was handled by the former. Musically, the track is a mid-paced pop song that is set in retro style. It contains heavy elements of psychedelic soul and funk music, with its instrumentation led by a bass guitar. "Let's Go to Bed" contains lyrics that reference to a celebration of sexual lust and conquest, leading up to a desire to invite a love interest to come to bed.
The discography of German girl group No Angels consists of six studio albums, three compilation albums, two live albums, four video albums and more than twenty singles. The group sold over five million records before breaking up in 2003, making them one of the highest-selling German girl groups of all time.
"Daylight in Your Eyes" is the debut single by German girl group No Angels. It was written by Tony Bruno and Tommy Byrnes and initially recorded by American rock band New Life Crisis. A Tony Moran-produced remix of their version appeared on MTV Party to Go Remixed (2001), but as their record company, Tommy Boy Entertainment, folded soon after, the group's original recording failed to receive a wider release, and the song was eventually sold separately abroad. There, "Daylight in Your Eyes" was purchased by Epic Records and re-recorded by the singer Victoria Faiella for her debut album with the label.
"No Angel (It's All in Your Mind)" is a song by German pop band No Angels. It was written by Pete Kirtley, Tim Hawes and Liz Winstanley for the group's third studio album, Pure (2003), while production was helmed by Nik Hafemann along with Arno Kammermeier, Peter Hayo, and Walter Merziger who are credited under their production moniker Perky Park. The mid-tempo pop track incorporates minor pop rock and soft rock elements; the song's instrumentation includes drums and guitars. Lyrically, it deals with picture-perfect illusions in a relationship.
"Someday" is a song performed by all-female German group No Angels. Written and composed by Swedish musicians Thomas Jansson and Niklas Hillbom, it was produced by frequent collaborator Thorsten Brötzmann for the band's third studio album Pure (2003). A latin-flavored pop song, the midtempo ballad's instrumentation includes flamenco guitars, castanets and synthesizers. Lyrically, "Someday" speaks of a woman realizing that her relationship has come to an end, though she is hopeful that she and her love interest will be able to resume their romance in another time and place.
"When the Angels Sing" is a song recorded by German pop group No Angels. It was written by Peter Ries and Charlemaine Thomas-Schmidtner and produced by the former for the band's debut studio album, Elle'ments (2001). A midtempo pop ballad, "When the Angels Sing" features a cascading piano arrangement and dominant drum pattern. Lyrically, it finds the group, as the protagonists, thinking deeply over their relationship with their love interests from whom they parted, still pining for them.
"All Cried Out" is a song by English singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, which was released in 1984 as the second single from her debut studio album Alf. It was written by Moyet and producers Jolley & Swain. The song peaked within the top ten on both the Irish and the UK Singles Chart, and also reached the top twenty in Switzerland.
"Goodbye to Yesterday" is a song by all-female German pop group No Angels. It was written by Pelle Ankarberg, Joacim Persson, Niclas Molinder, and David Jassy and produced by Swedish production team Twin for the band's comeback record, their fourth studio album Destiny (2007). No Angels' first release after a three-year hiatus, the song also marked their first commercial release to feature the group's second lineup, which excluded original band member Vanessa Petruo. Musically, "Goodbye to Yesterday" is a piano-led pop ballad with elements of pop rock; the song's lyrics are about the breakdown of a relationship which the female protagonist refuses to start all over again.
"Amaze Me" is a song performed by all-female German pop group No Angels. It was written by British songwriters Steve Mac and Karen Poole, and produced by Boogieman and Roland Spremberg for the band's comeback album, their fourth full-length studio album Destiny (2007). Musically, the song is a pulsating hymn-like pop ballad. Lyrically, "Amaze Me" is an ode to love. Still amazed by her lover, the female protagonist sings that she feels happy their relationship has lasted through good and bad times over the years.
"One Life" is a song by all-female German pop band No Angels. It was written by American musicians Nasri Atweh, Hakim Bell, Adam Messinger, Akene "The Champ" Dunkley, and group members Nadja Benaissa, Lucy Diakovska, Sandy Mölling, and Jessica Wahls for their fifth regular studio album Welcome to the Dance (2009). Produced by Bell and Dunkley, featuring additional production by The Messengers, consisting of Atweh and Messinger, the anthemic, self-manifesto song was created as a request to celebrate life, featuring autobiographical elements lyrically.
Welcome to the Dance is the fifth studio album by all-female German pop group No Angels, released by Polydor and Universal Music Domestic throughout German-speaking Europe on 11 September 2009. The band's second post-reunion effort following their reformation as a quartet in 2007, it was written, produced and recorded in Berlin, Los Angeles, and New York City between the years of 2008 and 2009, featuring production by Nasri, Hakim Bell, Bill Blast, Adam Messinger, and Aaron Pearce, among others.
"Mad Wild" is a song by all-female German pop band No Angels. It was written by Flo August, Andrew Tyler, Ásdís María Viðarsdóttir, and Sophie Alexandra Tweed-Simmons and recorded by the group for their sixth regular studio album 20 (2021), while production was helmed by Christian Geller. Supported by a remix version, the song was released as the album's third single on 6 August 2021, and reached number 67 on the German Download Chart.
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