Shontelligence | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 18, 2008 March 10, 2009 (re-release) | |||
Recorded | 2006-2008 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 40:23 | |||
Label | SRC Records/Motown Records | |||
Producer | Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin-Quee, Classic Soul Productions, Andrew Frapton, Fredo, The Heavyweights, The Jam, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, Stargate, Wayne Wilkins | |||
Shontelle chronology | ||||
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Singles from Shontelligence | ||||
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Shontelligence [1] is the debut studio album of Barbadian R&B/pop singer Shontelle. It was released on November 18, 2008. [2] The album was re-released featuring the new single "Stuck with Each Other", on March 10, 2009.
Speaking to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning 'Blues & Soul' in February 2009, Shontelle described how the album title first came about: "We were actually hanging out in the studio, kinda waiting for things to bubble up - you know, the guys there tend to get a bit silly sometimes with their sense of humour. So one guy somehow comes up with this bright idea - 'Hey Shontelle! Let's play a word-game with your name today! Whoever can come up with the most words using your name gets free lunch!'! So they're like 'Shontel-evator', 'Shontel-evision', 'Shontel-icopter'... Then my engineer, Al, suddenly turns round and says 'Yeah, that's some real Shontelligence there!'... And straightaway everyone in the studio turned around at the same time, and were like 'That has to be your album title!'!" [3]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
ARTISTdirect | [4] |
The Guardian | [5] |
LiveDaily | [6] |
The New York Times | (negative) [7] |
The album has received generally mixed reviews from music critics.
Ben Ratliffe of The New York Times gave the album a mixed review stating that:
Alex Macpherson of The Guardian gave the album a mixed 3/5 stars, citing the artist's "thoughtful songwriting and an understated vocal presence". [5] The Guardian's Paul Lester was more negative, saying the album's lead single was horrible and that he preferred Rihanna to Shontelle, and labeled her a "wannabe hitmaker", citing "the bland lyrics" of "T-Shirt" being comparable to any R&B song. Both reviewers compared Shontelle to Ne-Yo. [8]
David Balls of Digital Spy gave the album a mixed 3/5 stars:
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "T-Shirt" | Andrew Frampton, Wayne Wilkins, Savan Kotecha | 3:54 |
2. | "Battle Cry" | Jamie Jones, Jack Kugell, Wilkins, Jason Pennock, Jordan Omley, Michael Mani | 3:32 |
3. | "Superwoman" | Amanda Ghost, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Ian Dench | 4:19 |
4. | "Cold Cold Summer" | Shontelle Layne, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers | 3:44 |
5. | "Roll It" | Layne, Sheldon Benjamin | 3:31 |
6. | "Life Is Not an Easy Road" | Layne, Dwayne Chin Quee, Mitchum Chin | 3:44 |
7. | "Focus Pon Me" | Layne, Eliseus Joseph | 3:06 |
8. | "Plastic People" | Layne, Sturken, Rogers | 3:59 |
9. | "I Crave You" | Layne, Sturken, Rogers | 3:57 |
10. | "Ghetto Lullabye" | Frederik Odesjo, Layne, Rogers, Sturken | 3:06 |
11. | "Flesh and Bone" | Layne, Sturken, Rogers | 3:31 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Naughty" (featuring Beenie Man) | Troyton Rami, Xavier Cordover | 3:21 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Blaze It Up" (featuring Collie Buddz) | Layne, Holland, Harper | 3:53 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Stuck with Each Other" (featuring Akon) | Diane Warren | 3:20 |
Notes:
Chart | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Albums (OCC) | 147 |
US Billboard 200 | 115 |
US Billboard Top R&B Hip/Hop Albums | 24 |
"The Trouble with Love Is" is a song by American singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson, for her debut studio album Thankful (2003). The song was written by Clarkson with its producers Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken. It was released as the fourth and final single from the album, being first serviced to US contemporary hit radio on November 10, 2003. "The Trouble with Love Is" is an R&B and soul ballad, with elements of gospel music in its chorus. Lyrically, the song finds Clarkson explaining how love can be joyful and sorrowful at the same time. It received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who praised it for being "soulful" and "romantic", while also praising Clarkson's vocals, comparing them to those of Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.
Music of the Sun is the debut studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on August 29, 2005, by Def Jam Recordings. Prior to signing with Def Jam, Rihanna was discovered by record producer Evan Rogers in Barbados, who helped Rihanna record demo tapes to send out to several record labels. Jay-Z, the former chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Def Jam, was given Rihanna's demo by Jay Brown, his A&R at Def Jam, and invited her to audition for the label after hearing the song that would become her first single, "Pon de Replay". She auditioned for Jay-Z and L.A. Reid, the former CEO and president of record label group The Island Def Jam Music Group, and was signed on the spot to prevent her from signing with another record label.
Mandy Moore is the second studio album by American singer Mandy Moore. It was released by Epic Records on June 19, 2001. Moore began taking more creative control of her music with the album, transitioning from the teen pop styles from her debut studio album, So Real (1999). The album includes elements of dance, R&B, pop rock, hip hop and Middle Eastern music.
A Girl Like Me is the second studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on April 10, 2006, by Def Jam Recordings. For the production of the album, Rihanna worked with Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Stargate, J. R. Rotem, and label-mate Ne-Yo, who wrote the album's second single. A Girl Like Me is a pop and reggae album influenced by Rihanna's Caribbean roots. The album also incorporates elements of dancehall and rock, as well as ballads, which music critics were ambivalent towards.
"Roll It Gal" is a song written by Shontelle Layne and Sheldon Benjamin, and originally recorded by soca singer Alison Hinds, taken from her debut album Soca Queen. The single was released by Hinds in 2005 in Barbados and in the United Kingdom in 2007. A music video was produced for Hinds' version of the song in 2005. The Hinds version of "Roll It Gal" shot to the top of the charts in Barbados, Trinidad and throughout the Caribbean. The song contains a sample of Benjamin's "Big Love".
Good Girl Gone Bad is the third studio album by Barbadian singer Rihanna. It was released on May 31, 2007, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Rihanna worked with various producers on the album, including Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Neo da Matrix, Timbaland, Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers and Stargate. Inspired by Brandy's fourth studio album Afrodisiac (2004), Good Girl Gone Bad is a pop, dance-pop and R&B record with 1980s music influences. Described as a turning point in Rihanna's career, it represents a departure from the Caribbean sound of her previous releases, Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl like Me (2006). Apart from the sound, she also endorsed a new image for the release going from an innocent young woman to an edgier, more mature look.
Shontelle Delia Layne, known mononymously as Shontelle, is a Barbadian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album Shontelligence in 2008. Her second album, No Gravity, was released in 2010. Her singles "T-Shirt" and "Impossible" achieved international success. In 2020, Shontelle released "Remember Me".
Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers are New York–based songwriters and record producers. They have produced hits for Ruben Studdard, Wild Orchid, Christina Aguilera and Evelyn Champagne King and helped build the career of Rihanna. In addition to being principals of Rihanna's production company SRP Music Group, they have achieved more than twenty top 40 hits, twelve top 5 hits and six BMI Awards. Their songs have sold more than 60 million albums around the world.
As I Am is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, released on November 9, 2007, by J Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at various recording studios from 2005 until 2007. Production was handled primarily by Keys, Kerry Brothers Jr., Jack Splash, and Linda Perry, with a guest contribution from musician John Mayer.
"Superwoman" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her third studio album As I Am (2007). Written by Keys, Linda Perry, and Steve Mostyn, it was released as the fourth and final single from As I Am on July 29, 2008, by J Records.
"T-Shirt" is the first solo single released by Barbadian singer Shontelle from her album Shontelligence (2008). It is her second official single following the release of 2007's "Roll It" which was released only in select European countries. A remix, featuring The-Dream, is included on her second album, No Gravity (2010). The single peaked at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and number 41 on the Canadian Hot 100 in Canada. Outside of North America, "T-Shirt" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belgium and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, "T-Shirt" was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry.
"Need U Bad" is a song performed by American recording artist Jazmine Sullivan from her debut album, Fearless (2008). The song features rapper Missy Elliott, as well as rapper Pepa of rap duo Salt-N-Pepa speaking a Jamaican chant. "Need U Bad" is Sullivan's debut single and the lead single from Fearless. It was first released on May 13, 2008 in the United States by J and Arista Records. The song was co-written by Sullivan in collaboration with Elliott, Cainon Lamb, and Taurian Osbourne. It was produced by Elliott and Lamb. The song uses a sample from Nicholas Taylor Stanton's "Higher Meditation Riddim Version", and Tapper Zukie's "Papa Big Shirt".
Wayne Wilkins is a British record producer, songwriter, record engineer and record mixer. He has produced and written for artists such as Rick Astley, Natasha Bedingfield, Beyoncé, Cheryl Cole, and Jordin Sparks ("Battlefield").
"Stuck with Each Other" is the second solo single released by Barbadian singer Shontelle. It was released to radio in the United States on February 10, 2009, and May 21, 2009 as a single in the United Kingdom. It features R&B singer Akon and is the first single from the re-release of her debut album, Shontelligence. It is also featured on the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack. The song was the second single from Shontelligence in the UK, being added to BBC Radio 1's C-list playlist on April 22, 2009, and has since reached the B-List. "Stuck with Each Other" also reached the A-List of BBC Radio 2's playlist. It became her second top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart.
The discography of Barbadian R&B and pop singer Shontelle contains two studio albums, five singles and ten music videos.
All or Nothing is the third studio album by British R&B singer Jay Sean, released in the United States on 23 November 2009 through Cash Money Records and Universal Republic as the singer's international debut album and a week later on 30 November 2009 with Jayded Records and 2Point9 Records. The album was also released in international markets from December 2009.
"Battle Cry" is the third and final single released by Barbadian singer Shontelle from her album Shontelligence (2008). It was the third single taken from the album following "T-Shirt" and "Stuck with Each Other". The song was sent to radio as the third single in the US on June 9, 2009 and was released in the UK as a digital single bundle on August 10, 2009.
"Angels Cry" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey from her twelfth studio album, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009). It was written and produced by Carey, Tricky Stewart and James "Big Jim" Wright, with additional songwriting from Crystal Johnson. On the album's track listing, "Angels Cry" is preceded by a one-minute, four second prelude called "Angel ", which consists of Carey performing purely in her whistle register. The prelude then leads into "Angels Cry", a song about trying to fix a broken relationship because true love only happens once. Carey released "Angels Cry" as a remix single featuring Ne-Yo in January 2010 for a proposed Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel remix album called Angels Advocate, which was ultimately shelved.
"Impossible" is a song by Barbadian singer Shontelle. It is the lead single from her second studio album, No Gravity (2010). The song was written by Arnthor Birgisson and Ina Wroldsen, and produced by Birgisson. It was released digitally on February 9, 2010. "Impossible" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, number 33 in Canada, number nine in the United Kingdom and number five in Denmark.
No Gravity is the second and most recent studio album by Barbadian recording artist Shontelle, released on September 21, 2010 by SRC Records in the United States. The album was later released on October 18, 2010 in the United Kingdom. Initially scheduled for an August 2010 release the album had been in production since August 2009 and was pushed back by one month to include additional recording sessions with Rodney Jerkins.