Subject to Change (Kelsea Ballerini album)

Last updated
Subject to Change
Kelsea Ballerini - Subject to Change.png
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2022
Genre Country pop [1]
Length46:39
Label Black River
Producer
Kelsea Ballerini chronology
Ballerini
(2020)
Subject to Change
(2022)
Rolling Up the Welcome Mat
(2023)
Singles from Subject to Change
  1. "Heartfirst"
    Released: April 8, 2022
  2. "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)"
    Released: December 5, 2022

Subject to Change (stylized in all caps) is the fourth studio album by American country pop artist Kelsea Ballerini. The album was released on September 23, 2022, through Black River Entertainment. Ballerini co-produced the album along with Shane McAnally, Julian Bunetta, Jesse Frasure, and Alysa Vanderheym. "Heartfirst" was released as its first single on April 8, 2022.

Contents

Background

Ballerini first announced the album in July 2022. [2] Ballerini had hinted that there was a collaboration on the album, and on September 8, 2022, confirmed that the song, "You're Drunk, Go Home" featured Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce. [3] Ballerini co-wrote on fourteen tracks, and sole wrote one.

The albums track listing is "90s-inspired", and shows her growth as an artist. Some songs on the album are described as "breezy pop" and "super fun, honky tonk-style". [2] [3] Talking about the composition of the album, Ballerini explained to Billboard that she "intentionally wanted to write with more women this time. For me, when you are making a record about emotions, when you connect with a woman creatively, you’re gonna be able to tap into that in a whole different way". She noted that the writing process for her 2021 poetry book Feel Your Way Through influenced her songwriting for Subject to Change, stating that "I credit a lot of the openness and the more poetic side of the songwriting to the book. I feel like that opened my mind creatively and helped me work outside of the [standard song] structure. That creative freedom unlocked a part of me I hope to keep pushing in any kind of project that I do". She also described The Corrs, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Sixpence None the Richer and Sheryl Crow as key influences for the album. [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
PopMatters 6/10 [6]

Steven Thomas Ervin of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars. He says, "Subject to Change is simultaneously glossy and softly lit, an album with plenty of modern electric flair. " [5]

Compared to her previous album, Jeffrey Davies of PopMatters wrote that the album's material has "moved backward as bland" and described Subject to Change as Ballerini's most conservative work to date. However, he praised her vocals as the strongest they've ever been and observed that she is "is in her element musically." [6]

Rachel Kovach of The Penn calls it a "stellar album that is certainly Grammy worthy." [7]

Rolling Stone 's Dan Hyman said that the album is "mature and refreshing" and that it features some of her "most sonically progressive material to date." [8]

Singles

The lead single "Heartfirst" was released on April 8, 2022. It debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, [9] and ultimately reached a peak of number 23. "If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" was released on December 5, 2022, as the album's second single.

"Love Is a Cowboy" was released as the first promotional single on July 15, 2022. [2] "The Little Things" and "What I Have" were also issued ahead of the album release. [10] [11]

Promotion

On September 23, 2022, she appeared on Good Morning America and performed "Heartfirst". [12] On September 27, 2022, Ballerini performed "Love Is a Cowboy" on The Late Late Show with James Corden . [13] She performed "What I Have" on The Kelly Clarkson Show on September 30, 2022 [14]

Tour

She promoted the album on the ten date Heartfirst Tour, which began on September 24, 2022, in New York City. [15]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Kelsea Ballerini, Shane McAnally and Julian Bunetta, with the exception of "Love Is a Cowboy", produced alongside Jesse Frasure, and "Doin' My Best", produced alongside Alysa Vanderheym.

Subject to Change track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Subject to Change"
2:59
2."The Little Things"
2:57
3."I Can't Help Myself"
3:21
4."If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)"
  • Ballerini
  • McAnally
  • Bunetta
2:46
5."Love Is a Cowboy"
2:43
6."Muscle Memory"
  • Ballerini
  • McAnally
  • Bunetta
3:31
7."I Guess They Call It Fallin'"
  • Ballerini
  • McAnally
  • Bunetta
  • Vanderheym
  • Miranda Glory
  • Jordan Shellheart
4:01
8."Weather"
  • Ballerini
  • Vanderheym
2:54
9."Universe"
2:56
10."Walk in the Park"
3:20
11."Heartfirst"
  • Ballerini
  • Fairchild
  • Vanderheym
3:07
12."You're Drunk, Go Home" (with Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce)
  • Ballerini
  • McAnally
  • Bunetta
2:55
13."Doin' My Best"
  • Ballerini
  • Vanderheym
2:37
14."Marilyn"Ballerini3:26
15."What I Have"
2:58
Total length:46:39

Personnel

Vocals

Musicians

Production

Imagery

Charts

Chart performance for Subject to Change
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [16] 82
Australian Country Albums (ARIA) [17] 7
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [18] 72
Scottish Albums (OCC) [19] 68
UK Country Albums (OCC) [20] 1
UK Album Downloads (OCC) [21] 11
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [22] 27
US Billboard 200 [23] 18
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [24] 4
US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [25] 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Clarkson</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1982)

Kelly Brianne, known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She rose to fame after winning the first season of American Idol in 2002, which earned her a record deal with RCA Records. Her debut single, "A Moment Like This", topped the US Billboard Hot 100, and became the country's best-selling single of 2002. It was included on her debut studio album, Thankful (2003), which entered the Billboard 200 at number one, and also yielded the top-10 single "Miss Independent". Trying to reinvent her image, Clarkson parted ways with Idol management and shifted genres to pop rock for her second studio album, Breakaway (2004), one of the best-selling albums by a female artist. Supported by four US top-ten singles–the title track, "Since U Been Gone", "Behind These Hazel Eyes", and "Because of You" – Breakaway sold over 12 million copies worldwide and won two Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelsea Ballerini</span> American singer (born 1993)

Kelsea Nicole Ballerini is an American country pop singer and songwriter. A four-time Grammy Award nominee, she has gained success since the 2010s, being honored with the Gene Weed Milestone Award at the Academy of Country Music Awards and the Rising Star Award at the Billboard Women in Music.

Jesse Vernon Frasure, also known as DJ Telemitry, is an American music publisher, record producer, songwriter, and DJ. He has written 22 number one songs and has cuts with various artists including Chris Stapleton, Marshmello, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Thomas Rhett, Leon Bridges, Kane Brown, Jelly Roll, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindell, Meghan Trainor, Florida Georgia Line and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Me Like You Mean It</span> 2014 single by Kelsea Ballerini

"Love Me Like You Mean It" is a song co-written and recorded by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Josh Kerr, Forest Glen Whitehead and Lance Carpenter. It was released on July 8, 2014, as Ballerini's debut single and the lead single from her debut studio album, The First Time, released on May 19, 2015, by Black River Entertainment. The song is about a young woman showing interest in a man. The song was previously released in promotion of Ballerini's 2014 self-titled EP.

<i>The First Time</i> (Kelsea Ballerini album) 2015 studio album by Kelsea Ballerini

The First Time is the debut studio album by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini. It was released on May 19, 2015, by Black River Entertainment. The album's track listing and cover art was released on April 1, 2015. With the album's first three singles all reaching number one on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, Ballerini became the first new female artist to send her first three releases to the top of the charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dibs (song)</span> 2015 single by Kelsea Ballerini

"Dibs" is a song co-written and recorded by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini for her debut studio album The First Time (2015). Ballerini co-wrote the song with Josh Kerr, Ryan Griffin, and Jason Duke. It was released to American country radio by Black River Entertainment on July 20, 2015, as the album's second single. The song was previously included on Ballerini's 2014 self-titled EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Pan (Kelsea Ballerini song)</span> 2016 single by Kelsea Ballerini

"Peter Pan" is a song co-written and recorded by American recording artist Kelsea Ballerini. It was released to American country radio by Black River Entertainment as the third single from her debut studio album The First Time (2015). Ballerini co-wrote the song with Forest Glen Whitehead and Jesse Lee. The track is a country pop ballad about a lost love being compared to the song's namesake as a metaphor for being immature and having a tendency to run off to his own fantasy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yeah Boy</span> Single by Kelsea Ballerini

"Yeah Boy" is a song co-written and recorded by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini for her debut studio album, The First Time (2015). Ballerini co-wrote the song with Forest Glen Whitehead and Keesy Timmer. It was released to American country radio on October 10, 2016 and was to be the album's fourth and final single. The song garnered a positive reception from critics praising its upbeat nature and Ballerini's bubbly charm for being a return to her first two singles. The song was previously included on Ballerini's 2014 self-titled EP.

<i>Unapologetically</i> 2017 studio album by Kelsea Ballerini

Unapologetically is the second studio album by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini. It was released on November 3, 2017. Ballerini announced the album's title and release date on July 25, 2017. In August, the album's track listing was first revealed to fans during a four-day check-in event over the mobile app Swarm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelsea Ballerini discography</span>

American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini has released four studio albums, two extended plays, one compilation album, one remix album, and 14 singles, including two as a featured artist. Her first three singles all reached the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart, making Ballerini the first female artist since Wynonna Judd in 1992 to accomplish this feat. The third such single, "Peter Pan", also made Ballerini the first female to top the Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs charts simultaneously since the latter was reformatted in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss Me More</span> 2018 single by Kelsea Ballerini

"Miss Me More" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini for her second studio album, Unapologetically (2017). Ballerini co-wrote the song with David Hodges and Brett McLaughlin. "Miss Me More" was released digitally on October 20, 2017, as the album's third and final promotional single, and was later serviced to American country radio on October 15, 2018, as the third and final single from the album. Ballerini named her 2019 tour after the single.

<i>Center Point Road</i> 2019 studio album by Thomas Rhett

Center Point Road is the fourth studio album by American country music singer Thomas Rhett, released on May 31, 2019, through Big Machine Label Group imprint Valory Music Co. It was supported by the lead single "Look What God Gave Her". Rhett co-wrote and co-produced all 16 tracks on the album, sharing production duties with Dann Huff, Jesse Frasure, Julian Bunetta, The Stereotypes, and Cleve Wilson. The album also features collaborations with Little Big Town, Jon Pardi, and Kelsea Ballerini. The album received a nomination for Best Country Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homecoming Queen?</span> 2019 single by Kelsea Ballerini

"Homecoming Queen?" is a song by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini, released on September 6, 2019, as the lead single from her third studio album Kelsea, which was released on March 20, 2020. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Jimmy Robbins and Nicolle Galyon. "Homecoming Queen?" peaked at numbers 14 and 17 on both the Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts respectively. It also reached number 65 on the Hot 100 chart. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 70,000 copies as of February 2020. The song achieved similar prominence in Canada, reaching number 15 on the Country chart and number 35 on the All-Format chart. The accompanying music video for the song, directed by Shane Drake, features Ballerini in a dressing room as she goes from a glamorous image to a more stripped down look. An alternate recording of the song is also included on Ballerini's first remix album, Ballerini.

<i>Kelsea</i> 2020 studio album by Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsea is the third studio album by American country pop artist Kelsea Ballerini. The album was released on March 20, 2020. Kelsea debuted at numbers 2 and 12 on the Top Country Albums and Billboard 200 charts, respectively. It spawned four official singles "Homecoming Queen?", "The Other Girl", "Hole in the Bottle", and "Half of My Hometown" as well as two promotional singles "Club" and "LA".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hole in the Bottle</span> 2020 single by Kelsea Ballerini

"Hole in the Bottle" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kelsea Ballerini. It was released to country radio on May 27, 2020, as the third single from Ballerini's third studio album Kelsea. A remix of the song, featuring fellow country singer Shania Twain was released on November 13, 2020. An alternate recording of the song is also included on Ballerini's first remix album, Ballerini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartfirst</span> 2022 single by Kelsea Ballerini

"Heartfirst" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kelsea Ballerini. It was released to country music radio on April 8, 2022, as the first single from Ballerini's fourth studio album, Subject to Change. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Alysa Vanderheym and Little Big Town member Karen Fairchild.

"You're Drunk, Go Home" is a song recorded by American recording artists Kelsea Ballerini, Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce for Ballerini's fourth studio album, Subject to Change. Ballerini co-wrote the song with Julian Bunetta and Shane McAnally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)</span> 2022 single by Kelsea Ballerini

"If You Go Down (I'm Goin' Down Too)" is a song recorded by American country music artist Kelsea Ballerini. It was released to country music radio on December 5, 2022, as the second single from Ballerini's fourth studio album, Subject to Change. It was written by Ballerini, Shane McAnally and Julian Bunetta, with the latter two also producing the track. Lyrically, the song is about a supportive female friendship, with Ballerini noting that she will stick with her friend through whatever trouble she ends up getting into.

<i>Rolling Up the Welcome Mat</i> 2023 EP by Kelsea Ballerini

Rolling Up the Welcome Mat is the second extended play (EP) by American country pop singer Kelsea Ballerini. It was released on February 14, 2023, by Black River Entertainment. Accompanied by a short film of the same name, the project was nominated for Album of the Year at the 57th Annual CMA Awards and Best Country Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowboys Cry Too</span> 2024 single by Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan

"Cowboys Cry Too" is a song performed by American singer-songwriters Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan. It was released on June 28, 2024, as the lead single from Ballerini's forthcoming fifth studio album, Patterns. Ballerini and Kahan co-wrote the song with Alysa Vanderheym, who also co-produced the track with Ballerini.

References

  1. "Kelsea Ballerini – 'Subject to Change' review". 22 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Goldstein, Tiffany (July 14, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Announces New Album, "Subject To Change"". CMT. Viacom International Inc. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Norwin, Alyssa (September 12, 2022). "Carly Pearce Teases 'Super Fun' New Song With Kelsea Ballerini & Kelly Clarkson". Hollywood Life. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  4. "Kelsea Ballerini Geeked Out on Poetry, Marilyn Monroe & More While Making New Album". Billboard .
  5. 1 2 Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "AllMusic Review". AllMusic . Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Davies, Jeffrey (October 4, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Plays It Safe On 'Subject to Change'". PopMatters . Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  7. Kovach, Rachel (September 26, 2022). "Media Reviews: Kelsea Ballerini's fourth album, "Subject To Change"". The Penn. The Peen. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  8. Hyman, Dan (September 23, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Opens Up About Her Divorce and a Falling-Out With Halsey: 'They're No Longer in My Life'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  9. Tom Roland (May 10, 2022). "Makin' Tracks: Kelsea Ballerini Celebrates Smart Risk, Potential Reward in 'Heartfirst'". Billboard . Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  10. Freeman, Jon (August 5, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Sings the Praises of 'The Little Things' in Breezy New Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  11. Chua, Jeremy (September 2, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Takes Stock of Her Blessings in 'What I Have'". Taste of Country. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  12. "Kelsea Ballerini performs 'Heartfirst' live on 'GMA'". Good Morning America. ABC News Internet Ventures. September 23, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  13. Cantor, Brian (September 27, 2022). "Kelsea Ballerini Delivers Performance On "Late Late Show With James Corden" (First Look)". Headline Planet. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  14. "Kelsea Ballerini & Kelly Share Hilarious Story Behind Recording New Single". Yahoo. Yaho. September 30, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  15. "Kelsea Ballerini Returns The Road On The Heartfirst Tour For 10 Exclusive Nights Only This Fall". Kelsea Ballerini. July 22, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  16. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 3 October 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1700. Australian Recording Industry Association. October 3, 2022. p. 6.
  17. "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  18. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  19. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  20. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  21. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  22. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  23. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  24. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  25. "Kelsea Ballerini Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2022.