The Bridge (Melanie Fiona album)

Last updated
The Bridge
Melaniefiona-thebridge.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 26, 2009
Recorded2008–2009
Genre R&B, soul
Length45:06
Label SRC, Universal Motown
Producer
Melanie Fiona chronology
The Bridge
(2009)
The MF Life
(2012)
Singles from The Bridge
  1. "Give It to Me Right"
    Released: February 28, 2009
  2. "It Kills Me"
    Released: July 22, 2009
  3. "Bang Bang"
    Released: October 18, 2009
  4. "Monday Morning"
    Released: October 25, 2009
  5. "Ay Yo [ citation needed ]"
    Released: April 17, 2010
  6. "Priceless [ citation needed ]"
    Released: April 2010

The Bridge is the debut album of Canadian R&B/soul singer Melanie Fiona, released under the SRC/Universal Motown label in June 2009. It was released in the United States on November 10, 2009. The album debuted at number four on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number 57 on the Billboard 200 chart, where it later peaked at number 27. The album received generally favorable reviews. As of February 2012, the album has sold 450,000 copies in the United States. [1]

Contents

Background

The album is a mixture of soul, R&B, neo soul, reggae and hip hop music influenced by pop music. In an interview, Fiona described the album's sound as "pop soul". [2] On the album, she worked with Andrea Martin, Rob Fusari, Peter Wade Keusch, Sidh Solanki, Vada Nobles, Bill Blast, Future Cut, Stereotypes, Dan Strong, JK, Jay Fenix, Affiliate.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Hot Press (favorable) [5]
The Observer (mixed) [6]
Planet Sound (7/10) [7]
Shields Gazette (8/10) [8]
Sunday Mercury (favorable) [9]
The Couch SessionsStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]

The Bridge has received generally positive reviews from music critics. Edwin McFee of Hot Press called the album "an intelligent homage to ‘60s Motown, sampling soul classics while putting her own unique stamp on things". [5] Allmusic's Matthew Chisling gave it 3 out of 5 stars and wrote that "where it does go, it goes masterfully", concerning its sound. [4] Despite noting a weakness in the album's cohesiveness, Mark Edward Nero of About.com wrote favorably of the album's production and commended Fiona for her vocal ability. "It Kills Me" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. [3]

Singles

"Sad Songs" was released in April 2009 in the UK only as a digital download, with the reggae-tinged songs "Somebody Come Get Me" and "Island Boy" as B-sides. [11] "Sad Songs" did not chart in the UK.

"Give It to Me Right" was the first official single from The Bridge. The song peaked at number 41 in the UK but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It did, however, reach number 57 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

"It Kills Me" was Fiona's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, charting at number 43. [12] The single was the second from the album in the US and charted at number one on the US R&B chart. It was released in Canada as the third single from the album and was released as the third single in the UK on June 14, 2010.

"Bang Bang" was sent to radio in the UK and Canada as the second single for top 40 and hot adult contemporary radio stations.

"Monday Morning" charted in Switzerland and Poland at number one [13] [14] and in Austria at number five. [15] It was released as the third US single (however, "Bang Bang" was sent to radio as the second Canadian single for Canadian top 40 & hot AC play), but due to "Priceless" not being released in Canada, "Monday Morning" served as the fifth single in Canada due to hot adult contemporary radio station CKZZ-FM (Virgin Radio 953) in Vancouver having the song on its playlist.

"Ay Yo" was released as the fourth official single from The Bridge, according to Fiona's website and Twitter. The music video premiered on April 12, 2010.[ citation needed ]

"Priceless" was the fifth US single due to airplay on urban adult contemporary stations. Due to "Priceless" not being released in Canada, "Monday Morning" was serviced to Canadian stations as the fifth single, even though "Monday Morning" was released as the third American single.[ citation needed ]

Promotional singles

"You Stop My Heart" was released as a promotional single to coincide with Valentine's Day. The music video was released on Valentine's Day, 2010.

A music video was also released for "Bang Bang", and the song was used as the second Canadian single. The song was featured in an episode of ABC's Ugly Betty .

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Give It to Me Right"
  • Martin
  • Argent
3:43
2."Bang Bang"
Fusari3:28
3."Monday Morning"
  • Keusch
  • Solanski
3:38
4."Please Don’t Go (Cry Baby)"
3:15
5."Ay Yo"
Future Cut3:18
6."Walk On By"
Martin3:31
7."You Stop My Heart"
  • Martin
  • Babalola
  • Lewis
  • Ed Marshall
Future Cut3:46
8."Johnny"The Stereotypes3:42
9."Sad Songs"
Martin4:38
10."Priceless"
  • Joel "JK" Kipnis
  • Dan Strong
3:47
11."It Kills Me"
  • Martin
  • Leon Carr
  • Robert Littlejohn Jr.
  • Melvin "Melomuzic Parker"
  • Earl Shuman
  • Jay Fenix
  • Martin
4:10
12."Teach Him"
  • Martin
  • Diego Baliardo
  • Paco Baliardo
  • Tonino Baliardo
  • André Reyes
  • Canut Reyes
  • Nicolas Reyes
Martin4:10
Deluxe edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."G.A.M." (Bonus track)2:50
Samples

Charts

Personnel

Technical personnel

Release history

RegionDate
ItalyJune 26, 2009
CanadaJune 30, 2009
United KingdomJuly 20, 2009
United StatesNovember 10, 2009

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