The Family Jewels (Marina and the Diamonds album)

Last updated

The Family Jewels
Marina and the Diamonds - The Family Jewels.png
Studio album by
Marina and the Diamonds
Released15 February 2010 (2010-02-15)
Recorded2007–2009
Studio
Genre
Length45:35
Label
Producer
Marina and the Diamonds chronology
Mermaid vs Sailor
(2007)		The Family Jewels
(2010)		 Electra Heart
(2012)
Singles from The Family Jewels
  1. "Obsessions"
    Released: 16 February 2009
  2. "Mowgli's Road"
    Released: 16 February 2009
  3. "Hollywood"
    Released: 1 February 2010
  4. "I Am Not a Robot"
    Released: 23 April 2010
  5. "Oh No!"
    Released: 2 August 2010
  6. "Shampain"
    Released: 11 October 2010

The Family Jewels is the debut studio album by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds. It was released on 15 February 2010 by 679 Recordings and Atlantic Records. Diamandis collaborated with several producers including Pascal Gabriel, Liam Howe, Greg Kurstin, Richard "Biff" Stannard, and Starsmith during its recording. She identifies the lyrical themes as "the seduction of commercialism, modern social values, family, and female sexuality."

Contents

Music critics gave The Family Jewels fairly positive reviews, with the vocal delivery dividing opinions. The record debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 27,618 copies. The album was eventually certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and has sold 195,358 units in the United Kingdom. The Family Jewels performed moderately on international record charts; it peaked at number 138 on the Billboard 200 in the United States, selling 4,000 copies its first week.

The Family Jewels was supported by five singles, all of which were supplemented by accompanying music videos. "Mowgli's Road" was released on 13 November 2009, although "Hollywood" became its first charting track after reaching number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. Follow-up singles "I Am Not a Robot", "Oh No!" and "Shampain" respectively peaked at numbers 26, 38, and 141 in the United Kingdom. The record was additionally promoted by Diamandis' headlining the Family Jewels Tour, which visited Australia, Europe and North America from January 2010 through December 2011.

Background

Diamandis performing on the NME Radar Tour, October 2009 Marina & the Diamonds live NME Radar Tour 2009.jpg
Diamandis performing on the NME Radar Tour, October 2009

Born and raised in South East Wales, Diamandis moved to London at the age of 18 to study music, despite not having a musical background. After dropping out of four institutions and failing in auditions, she began composing her own music. [1] After the success of her Myspace-released EP Mermaid vs Sailor in 2007, she was signed by Neon Gold Records the following year and by 679 Artists in October 2008. [2] In 2009, after playing at a variety of festivals including Glastonbury in the summer, [3] she ranked in second place in the BBC's Sound of 2010 [4] and was one of the three nominees for the Critics' Choice Award at the 2010 Brit Awards. [5] In a 2012 interview with Between the Lines , Diamandis said that the album's title came from a slang term for testes, but she had been too coy to admit it before. [6]

Composition

The Family Jewels is mainly an alternative pop, [7] bubblegum-punk, [8] electropop, [9] and synth-pop record [10] with influences of 1980s dance music and late-1990s female rock. [11] Diamandis explained that the album is "a body of work largely inspired by the seduction of commercialism, modern social values, family and female sexuality", intended to be "enjoyed and consumed as a story and theory that encourages people to question themselves". [12]

"I think it's a really diverse album stylistically speaking because I'm such a flexible writer. So there's a lot of pop on it, but there's kind of a lot of leftfield experimental stuff as well. It's basically an album about what not to be."

— Diamandis explaining the album's musical style to Clash , January 2010 [13]

In a review for Q , writer Hugh Montgomery noted genres such as disco ("Shampain"), bubblegum punk ("Girls") and cabaret ("Hermit the Frog"). [14] The opening track, "Are You Satisfied?", ponders the meaning of a fulfilling life; a writer for The Line of Best Fit likened it to the thinking of Danish existentialist philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. [15] In a January 2010 interview with The Daily Telegraph , Diamandis admitted that she "cringes" at the lyrics of the song "Girls", which "could be seen as a bit misogynistic", including the lines "Girls they never befriend me/'Cause I fall asleep when they speak/Of all the calories they eat"; she clarified that the lyrics concerned her own psychological problems with weight. [1] A Neon Gold press release for a limited double A-side of "Obsessions" and "Mowgli's Road" described the former as a "bold and ambitious ... master work" and the latter as a "a high intensity, left field pop smash". [16]

Diamandis claimed that she made producer Liam Howe take 486 vocal takes for "The Outsider". [17] [18] "Hollywood" takes inspiration from Diamandis' previous obsession with American celebrity culture, [4] while in "I Am Not a Robot", her favourite track from the album, she sings to tell herself to accept imperfection, with lines such as "you've been acting awful tough lately, smoking a lot of cigarettes lately ... don't be so pathetic"; she expected audiences to be able to relate to the song. [19] "Numb" is an orchestral pop song that reflects on the dedication and sacrifice needed during her early years in London; [20] [1] "Oh No!" and "Are You Satisfied?" have similar lyrical themes. [21] "Oh No!" was a late addition to the track listing, causing some reviews of the album to not include it. [17] The album had initially been scheduled for release in October 2009, and was delayed by Diamandis' self-confessed perfectionism. [22]

Release and promotion

Music videos

In 2008, Diamandis filmed videos for the tracks "Seventeen" and "Obsessions". [23] The following year, photographer Rankin directed the accompaniment for "I Am Not a Robot", which used much body glitter. [24] [25] The video for "Mowgli's Road" featured Diamandis and two dancers, with puppeteers standing in front of them to give them the impression of having concertina limbs; it was shot over 17 hours. [22] Polish artist Kinga Burza shot the "classic pop video" for "Hollywood", with the aim to "make her audiences fall in love her even more, perhaps crave a little popcorn and feel inspired to dress up for fun". [26] Burza also filmed the video for "Oh No!", with an aesthetic based on "zany neon" MTV graphics and the fame-hungry lyrics. [27] The video to "Shampain" made an homage to Michael Jackson's Thriller . [24] Dan Knight made a video for Chilly Gonzales' "stripped-down" remix of "Hollywood" that was intended to be the opposite of Burza's official video. In the video, Gonzales and Diamandis perform on a 1980s Estonian music show complete with subtitles. [28]

Singles

Diamandis performing "Obsessions" in May 2010 at Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms, during the Family Jewels Tour Marina and the Diamonds performing Obsessions.jpg
Diamandis performing "Obsessions" in May 2010 at Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms, during the Family Jewels Tour

"Obsessions" and "Mowgli's Road" were Diamandis' first singles, released as a double A-side in 7-inch format on 16 February 2009. [16] "Mowgli's Road" was later released digitally on 13 November 2009, pairing with a cover of Late of the Pier's "Space and the Woods". [29] She chose "Mowgli's Road" as an "uncommercial" taster due to its oddness, but it received attention after being shared by the likes of Perez Hilton and Kanye West. [30]

"Hollywood" was released as the album's second single and Diamandis' first major release on 1 February 2010. [12] It reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. [31] It was followed on 26 April by "I Am Not a Robot", which peaked at number 26 on the same listing. [31] "Oh No!" was released as the album's fourth single on 2 August only in the UK and Ireland; it charted at number 38. [31] "Shampain" was released as the album's fifth and final single on 11 October, again only in the same region, [32] and reached number 141 in the UK. [33] "I Am Not a Robot" was nominated for the 2010 Popjustice £20 Music Prize for best British single, eventually losing to "Kickstarts" by Example. [34]

Tour

Diamandis went on her first headlining tour to promote the album, performing in Europe, North America and Australia. Dates included the Glastonbury Festival 2010, South by Southwest and the Falls Festival. In parallel to headlining her own tour in the United States in mid-2011, she was an opening act for Katy Perry's California Dreams Tour, [35] and finished by opening for Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto Tour at the Manchester Arena that December. [36] After a performance at Manchester's Deaf Institute on 21 February 2010, Contactmusic.com writer Katy Ratican awarded Diamandis a 9/10 rating, stating, "Next time she plays Manchester, it will be to a sold out Academy 2 audience, with a top-selling album gracing the merchandising stand. Marina won't be playing to a few hundred people above a trendy bar in the foreseeable future". [37]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?6.8/10 [38]
Metacritic 68/100 [39]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
The A.V. Club C [40]
Clash 6/10 [41]
The Daily Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [42]
Drowned in Sound 5/10 [43]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [44]
NME 9/10 [17]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [14]
Spin 7/10 [45]
The Sunday Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [46]

The Family Jewels received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 68, based on 21 reviews. [39] Hugh Montgomery of Q magazine noted that the singer's "imaginative reach" was "complemented by a winning pop savviness", [14] while Luke O'Neil from The Phoenix stated that "[t]he likes of Kate Nash and company have flitted through this piano siren/exuberant dance-diva territory, but never mind, because this gorgeous genre starts now." [47] Leonie Cooper of NME praised the album as "astonishing" and wrote that "Diamandis mixes sparkling pop with beautiful darkness for a debut that dazzles". [17]

More mixed reviews were critical of Diamandis' vocal delivery. Lou Thomas from BBC Music commented that "over 13 songs of Sparks-voice and many similar staccato piano riffs listeners may feel bludgeoned", [21] and Sean O'Neal of The A.V. Club wrote that after "dozens of squeaky Regina Spektor-ish enunciations" and "Kate Bush trills", the "overbearing need to prove herself just ends up being exhausting". [40] Joe Rivers of No Ripcord praised "Are You Satisfied?", "Hollywood" and "Oh No!" but was put off by sudden "howling" in "Hermit the Frog" and a "throaty growl" in "The Outsider". [48] Joe Copplestone of PopMatters concluded that Diamandis would have to "tone down" these vocal techniques on future releases as not to overshadow "melodically inventive" music. [49]

A negative review came from The Independent 's Andy Gill who panned "Shampain" and "Hermit the Frog" as "every bit as annoying as their punning titles, with queasy, prancing piano and synth figures". He found certain vocal techniques in "Mowgli's Road" and "I Am Not a Robot" to be "infantile", and evaluated the lyrics of "Girls" and "Hollywood" as shallow. [50] At Drowned in Sound , Mary Bellamy described the album as split between original songwriting and commercial pop production "at the expense of achieving anything great in either camp". [43] NME placed the album at number 33 on its list of the Top 75 Albums of 2010. [51]

Commercial performance

The Family Jewels debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 27,618 copies. [52] It remains Diamandis' best-selling debut week in the UK, after her second studio album Electra Heart entered the chart at number one with first-week sales of 21,358 units. [53] It ranked at number 87 in the Official Charts Company's list of the highest selling albums of 2010 in the UK. [54] The Family Jewels was later certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), [55] and had sold 195,358 copies in the United Kingdom as of April 2015. [56] The record debuted at number seven in Greece and number nine in Ireland; [57] [58] it was eventually certified Gold by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). [59]

The Family Jewels performed moderately on several international record charts. It reached number 12 in Germany, [60] and entered the Austrian chart at number 18. [61] It peaked at number 88 in the Netherlands, [62] number 100 in Switzerland, [63] and number 132 in France. [64] In Oceania, the album reached number 79 in Australia. [65] With first-week sales of 4,000 copies in the United States, The Family Jewels entered the Billboard 200 at number 138, [66] while peaking at numbers two and 49 on Billboard 's Top Heatseekers and Top Rock Albums charts, respectively. [67] [68] As of 2012, The Family Jewels had sold 300,000 copies worldwide. [69]

In an interview for Australian radio in January 2011, Diamandis said that her career that far had been "more like a failure than a success", particularly in the American market. She attributed this to the inaction of Chop Shop Records, her label in the United States, as well as a move in musical tastes to "pumping beats" by artists like Lady Gaga. She cancelled performances in the United States in order to begin work on a new album. [70]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Marina Diamandis except where noted

The Family Jewels – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Are You Satisfied?" 
3:21
2."Shampain"
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
  • Stannard [a]
  • Howes [a]
3:11
3."I Am Not a Robot" Howe3:35
4."Girls"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Gabriel
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
3:28
5."Mowgli's Road"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
Howe3:12
6."Obsessions" Howe3:38
7."Hollywood" 
3:50
8."The Outsider" 
  • Howe
  • Diamandis
3:17
9."Hermit the Frog" 
  • Howe
  • Diamandis [a]
3:35
10."Oh No!"
Kurstin3:02
11."Rootless"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Gabriel
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
3:28
12."Numb" Howe4:16
13."Guilty"
  • Diamandis
  • Stannard
  • Howes
  • Stannard
  • Howes
3:40
Total length:45:35
The Family Jewels – iTunes Store (bonus track) [71]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
14."The Family Jewels"Howe4:05
Total length:49:40
The Family Jewels – Japanese edition (bonus tracks) [72]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
15."Seventeen"Howe3:05
16."Mowgli's Road" (music video) 3:02
17."Hollywood" (music video) 3:25
Total length:59:12
The Family Jewels – American standard edition [73]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
7."Hollywood" (single version) 
  • Stannard
  • Howes
  • Starsmith [b]
3:24
8."The Outsider" 
  • Howe
  • Diamandis
3:17
9."Guilty"
  • Diamandis
  • Stannard
  • Howes
  • Stannard
  • Howes
3:40
10."Hermit the Frog" 
  • Howe
  • Diamandis [a]
3:35
11."Oh No!"
  • Diamandis
  • Kurstin
Kurstin3:02
12."Seventeen" Howe3:05
13."Numb" Howe4:16
Total length:41:27
The Family Jewels – iTunes Store American deluxe edition (bonus tracks) [74]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Rootless"
  • Diamandis
  • Howe
  • Gabriel
  • Diamandis
  • Gabriel
  • Howe
3:28
15."I Am Not a Robot" (Flex'd Rework) (Passion Pit Remix) 
  • Howe
  • Passion Pit [c]
4:47
16."Obsessions" (Ocelot Remix) 
  • Howe
  • Ocelot [c]
6:26
17."I Am Not a Robot" (Starsmith 24 Carat remix) 
  • Howe
  • Starsmith [c]
5:18
18."Hollywood" (music video)  3:25
Total length:64:51
The Family Jewels – 2021 digital deluxe edition (bonus tracks) [75]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
15."The Family Jewels"Howe4:05
16."Hollywood" (Gonzales remix)
  • Stannard
  • Howes
  • Starsmith
  • Gonzales [c]
3:43
17."Obsessions" (Ocelot remix)
  • Howe
  • Ocelot [c]
6:26
18."I Am Not a Robot" (Flex'd Rework) (Passion Pit Remix)
  • Howe
  • Passion Pit [c]
4:47
19."I Am Not a Robot" (Starsmith 24 Carat remix)
  • Howe
  • Starsmith [c]
5:18
20."I Am Not a Robot" (The Shoes - No Shoes remix)
  • Howe
  • The Shoes [c]
4:02
Total length:73:16

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Family Jewels. [76]

Musicians

  • Marina Diamandis – vocals (all tracks); piano (tracks 1–3, 6, 8, 12), glockenspiel (track 3); Casio VL-tone (track 8); organ (track 12)
  • Richard "Biff" Stannard – keys (track 1); programming (tracks 1, 2, 7, 13); additional keys (track 2); all instruments (tracks 7, 13); drums (track 7)
  • Ash Howes – keys (track 1); programming (tracks 1, 2, 7, 13); additional keys (track 2); all instruments (tracks 7, 13)
  • Luke Potashnick – guitar (track 1)
  • Lucy Shaw – string arrangements, double bass (tracks 1, 3, 7, 9, 12, 13)
  • Liam Howe – programming (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12); bass (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6); Mellotron (tracks 1, 3, 6, 9, 12); synths (tracks 1–3, 6, 8); electric guitar, additional piano (track 2); Philicorda (track 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12); all instruments (tracks 4, 11); spoons, whistle, glockenspiel, acoustic guitar (track 5); Jew's harp, santoor (track 8); mandolin, recorders (tracks 9, 12)
  • Alison Dods – violin (tracks 1, 3, 7, 13)
  • Calina de la Mere – violin (tracks 1, 3)
  • Rachel Robson – viola (tracks 1, 3)
  • Chris Allan – cello (tracks 1, 3)
  • Steve Durham – drums (tracks 1–3)
  • Pascal Gabriel – programming (tracks 2, 4, 11); synths (track 2); all instruments (tracks 4, 11)
  • Alex Mackenzie – harpsichord, drums (tracks 5, 6); additional piano, mandolin (track 6)
  • Raymond67 (Freesound Project) – mechanical monkey (track 5)
  • Sandyrb (Freesound Project) – human monkey (track 5)
  • Stephen Large – string arrangements (tracks 7, 13); piano (tracks 9, 12); Hammond (track 12)
  • Niel Catchpole – violin (tracks 7, 13)
  • Oli Langford – viola (tracks 7, 9, 12, 13); violin (tracks 7, 13)
  • Anna Mowat – cello (tracks 7, 13)
  • Anna Phoebe – violin (tracks 9, 12)
  • Rebekah Allan – violin (tracks 9, 12)
  • Chris Worsey – cello (tracks 9, 12)
  • David Westlake – drums (track 9)
  • Greg Kurstin – keys, guitars, programming (track 10)

Technical

  • Liam Howe – production (tracks 1–6, 8, 9, 11, 12); mixing (track 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12); engineering (tracks 5, 6, 8)
  • Richard "Biff" Stannard – production (tracks 1, 7, 13); additional production (track 2); mixing (tracks 2, 7, 13)
  • Ash Howes – production (tracks 1, 7, 13); mixing (tracks 1, 2, 7, 13); additional production (track 2)
  • Richard Wilkinson – engineering (tracks 1–3, 9, 12)
  • Dougal Lott – engineering assistance (tracks 1–3, 9, 12); Pro Tools (track 5)
  • Pascal Gabriel – production (tracks 2, 4, 11); engineering, mixing (tracks 4, 11)
  • Marina Diamandis – mixing (tracks 4, 11); production (track 8); additional production (track 9)
  • Starsmith – original production (track 7)
  • Greg Kurstin – production, recording, mixing (track 10)
  • Guy Davie – mastering (tracks 1–9, 11–13)
  • Dave Turner – mastering (track 10)

Artwork

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Ireland (IRMA) [59] Gold7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI) [55] Gold195,358 [56]
Summaries
Worldwide—300,000 [69]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for The Family Jewels
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
Ireland15 February 2010 [81]
United Kingdom22 February 2010 [82]
Scandinavia24 February 2010 Warner [83]
Australia26 February 2010 [84]
France1 March 2010 [85]
Netherlands19 March 2010 [86]
Japan21 April 2010 [72]
Poland30 April 2010 [87]
Germany14 May 2010 [88]
Canada25 May 2010 [89]
United States
 [73]
15 June 2010 LP [90]
Ireland30 October 2015Atlantic [91]
United Kingdom [92]
Brazil14 October 2016CDWarner [93]
Various5 November 2021Streaming679 [75]

Notes

  1. ↑ Tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 12
  2. ↑ Tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 9 and 12
  3. ↑ Tracks 1, 2, 7 and 13
  4. ↑ Tracks 4 and 11
  5. ↑ Tracks 7 and 13
  6. ↑ Track 10

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marina Diamandis</span> Greek-Welsh singer-songwriter (born 1985)

Marina Lambrini Diamandis, known mononymously as Marina and previously by the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, is a Welsh singer, songwriter, poet and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mowgli's Road</span> 2009 single by Marina and the Diamonds

"Mowgli's Road" is a song by Welsh singer Marina and the Diamonds from her debut studio album, The Family Jewels (2010). The song's demo was released as a double A-side single with "Obsessions", on 16 February 2009 by Neon Gold Records. On 13 November 2009, "Mowgli's Road" was released digitally again as a double A-side, pairing with a cover of the Late of the Pier song "Space and the Woods".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood (Marina and the Diamonds song)</span> 2010 single by Marina and the Diamonds

"Hollywood" is a song by Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, from her debut studio album, The Family Jewels (2010). It was released digitally on 29 January 2010 and physically on 1 February 2010 as the third single from The Family Jewels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marina Diamandis discography</span>

Welsh singer and songwriter Marina Diamandis, known professionally as Marina and formerly Marina and the Diamonds, has released five studio albums, seven extended plays, 26 singles, five promotional singles and 34 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Am Not a Robot</span> 2010 single by Marina and the Diamonds

"I Am Not a Robot" is a song by Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, from her debut studio album, The Family Jewels (2010). It was released digitally on 23 April 2010 and physically on 26 April 2010 as the album's third single. The track originally appeared on Diamandis's second extended play, The Crown Jewels EP (2009). The single was added to BBC Radio 1's A List in April 2010. A choral version of "I Am Not a Robot" was used in an advertisement for British healthcare provider Bupa in March 2011. Additionally, the song was heavily sampled by American rapper Hoodie Allen for his debut single "You Are Not a Robot" (2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Family Jewels Tour</span> 2010–11 concert tour by Marina and the Diamonds

The Family Jewels Tour was the first major headlining concert tour by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis, known professionally as MARINA in support of her debut album, The Family Jewels. In December 2009, prior to the release of her album, she announced an eight-date concert tour for the United Kingdom in February 2010. Following the success of her British tour, with tickets selling out, Diamandis announced her second United Kingdom and Ireland tour, entitled The Gem Tour. Tour dates for the United States and mainland Europe, in countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, were shortly added. In May 2010, Diamandis announced sixteen dates for her third United Kingdom and Ireland tour in Autumn the following year. Marina announced on 14 October that her third headlining UK tour would be called The Burger Queen Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shampain</span> 2010 single by Marina and the Diamonds

"Shampain" is a song by Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds from her debut studio album, The Family Jewels (2010). It was released on 11 October 2010 as the album's fifth and final single, only in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oh No! (Marina and the Diamonds song)</span> 2010 single by Marina and the Diamonds

"Oh No!" is a song by Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, from her debut studio album, The Family Jewels (2010). It was released as the album's fourth single on 2 August 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radioactive (Marina and the Diamonds song)</span> 2011 promotional single by Marina and the Diamonds

"Radioactive" is a song by Welsh recording artist Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, from the deluxe version of her second studio album Electra Heart (2012). It was released on 23 September 2011 as the first promotional single from the record; it preceded the premiere of the official lead single "Primadonna" on 20 March 2012.

<i>Electra Heart</i> 2012 studio album by Marina and the Diamonds

Electra Heart is the second studio album by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds. It was released on 27 April 2012 by 679 Artists and Atlantic Records. Diamandis collaborated with producers including Liam Howe, Greg Kurstin, Dr. Luke, Diplo and Stargate during its recording, and subsequently transitioned from the new wave musical styles seen throughout her debut studio album, The Family Jewels (2010). Their efforts resulted in a concept album consisting of electropop and dance-pop music, a distinct departure from her earlier projects. Lyrically, the album discusses topics of love and identity. Diamandis created the title character "Electra Heart" to represent female archetypes in popular American culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Primadonna (Marina and the Diamonds song)</span> 2012 single by Marina and the Diamonds

"Primadonna" is a song by Marina and the Diamonds, the stage name of Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis, from her second studio album, Electra Heart (2012). It was released on 20 March 2012 as the album's official lead single. The song reached the top five in Austria, Ireland and New Zealand alongside the top-ten in the Scotland and Slovakia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power & Control</span> 2012 single by Marina and the Diamonds

"Power & Control" is a song by Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, from her second studio album, Electra Heart (2012). It was released on 20 July 2012 by 679 Artists and Atlantic Records as the second single from the record. Diamandis collaborated with Swedish House Mafia member Steve Angello while writing the track, and enlisted Greg Kurstin to oversee its production. An electropop, power pop, and dance-pop track, "Power & Control" describes the struggle between romantic partners in achieving superiority in their relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How to Be a Heartbreaker</span> 2012 single by Marina and the Diamonds

"How to Be a Heartbreaker" is a song by Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds, from her second studio album, Electra Heart (2012). It was released on 7 December 2012 by 679 Artists and Atlantic Records as the album's third and final single. Diamandis worked with Ammar Malik, Benny Blanco, Cirkut, Daniel Omelio, and Dr. Luke during the songwriting process, and enlisted Blanco, Cirkut, and Dr. Luke to oversee its production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lonely Hearts Club Tour</span> 2012–13 concert tour by Marina and the Diamonds

The Lonely Hearts Club Tour was the second concert tour by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis, formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Froot (song)</span> 2014 single by Marina and the Diamonds

"Froot" is a song by Welsh singer Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds. It was released for streaming on 10 October 2014, to coincide with the singer's birthday, and later received a full digital release as the lead single of her third studio album of the same name. Diamandis premiered the single on YouTube.

<i>Froot</i> 2015 album by Marina and the Diamonds

Froot is the third studio album by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis and her last under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds. It was originally scheduled to be released on 3 April 2015 by Neon Gold Records and Atlantic Records, although it was ultimately released on 13 March 2015 due to unauthorised Internet leaks. Written entirely by Diamandis, she collaborated with David Kosten for production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neon Nature Tour</span> 2015–16 concert tour by Marina

The Neon Nature Tour is the third concert tour by Welsh recording artist Marina in support of her third studio album, Froot (2015). The tour was officially announced three months after the release of the album, on 23 June 2015. The tour began on 12 October 2015, in Houston, Texas at the Revention Music Center and concluded on March 20, 2016, in Santiago, Chile, with a total of fifty-two shows over six months.

<i>Love + Fear</i> 2019 studio album by Marina

Love + Fear is the fourth studio album by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis and her first under the mononym Marina. It was released in full on 26 April 2019 by Atlantic Records, though the album's first half was released on 4 April 2019 as a surprise. Diamandis took a hiatus after she concluded touring in support of her third studio album Froot (2015) with plans of retiring from music. However, she began working on a new record with several producers like Sam de Jong, Oscar Görres, Joel Little, Jack Patterson, Mark Ralph, James Flannigan, and Oscar Holter during its recording.

<i>Mermaid vs Sailor</i> 2007 EP by Marina and the Diamonds

Mermaid vs Sailor is the first extended play by Welsh singer-songwriter Marina Diamandis, released under the stage name Marina and the Diamonds. The EP was independently released on 23 November 2007 and distributed via her official profile on Myspace. It contains six demos recorded by Diamandis at her home and approximately 70 CD-R copies were created. She also distributed the EP to several record labels with the hope that she would secure a contract; she ultimately was signed to 679 Recordings in 2008. The EP is a collection of indie pop tracks that heavily utilise keyboards in their production.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Diu, Nisha Lilia (20 January 2011). "'I'm Marina, You're the Diamonds'". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Fulton, Rick (12 February 2010). "I once played to seven people in Aberdeen but things have got better, says music newcomer Marina Diamandis". Daily Record . Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Marina and the Diamonds: 'I almost strangled myself at Glastonbury'". NME. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  4. 1 2 Savage, Mark (7 January 2010). "BBC Sound of 2010: Marina and the Diamonds". BBC News . Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ellie Goulding wins Brit Awards 2010 Critics' Choice prize". Metro . 9 December 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Azzopardi, Chris (19 July 2012). "Marina and the Diamonds On Nervous Breakdown, Gay Following & Being One of the 'Greats'". Between the Lines . Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  7. ↑ Rogers, Toby (31 March 2010). "Best of What's Next: Marina & The Diamonds". Paste . Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  8. ↑ Watkins, Annaliese (24 November 2015). "Review: Marina and the Diamonds @ The Ritz, Manchester". Manchester Evening News . Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  9. ↑ Nolan, Paul (23 February 2010). "The Family Jewels". Hot Press . Archived from the original on 13 August 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  10. ↑ Hirsh, Marc (24 May 2010). "Marina and the Diamonds, 'The Family Jewels'". Boston.com . Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  11. 1 2 Chisling, Matthew. "The Family Jewels – Marina and the Diamonds". AllMusic . Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Marina and the Diamonds announce debut album details and release date". NME . 1 December 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  13. ↑ Murray, Robin (26 January 2010). "Marina on Musical Background". Clash . Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  14. 1 2 3 Montgomery, Hugh (March 2010). "Marina & the Diamonds – The Family Jewels". Q . No. 284. p. 105. ISSN   0955-4955.
  15. ↑ Day, Laurence (2 January 2015). "Marina & The Diamonds shares new track "Immortal"". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  16. 1 2 "Obsessions / Mowgli's Road 7". Neon Gold Records. Archived from the original on 20 January 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Cooper, Leonie (22 February 2010). "Album review: Marina And The Diamonds – 'The Family Jewels' (679)". NME. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  18. ↑ Savage, Mark (3 November 2009). "Shine on, Marina Diamond". BBC News. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  19. ↑ "Marina and the Diamonds gives herself a telling-off in song". Wales Online . 21 March 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  20. ↑ Fortier, Lindsey (11 June 2010). "Marina & the Diamonds, "The Family Jewels"". Billboard . Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  21. 1 2 Thomas, Lou (12 February 2010). "Review of Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". BBC Music . Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  22. 1 2 Mulligan, Jenny (5 November 2009). "Interview With Marina and The Diamonds". Entertainment.ie . Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Marina & The Diamonds". IMVDb. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  24. 1 2 Rees, Alex (7 September 2010). "Here's "Shampain"—The New Video From Marina & The Diamonds". Teen Vogue . Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  25. ↑ "Video: Marina and the Diamonds – I Am Not A Robot". Nialler9. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  26. ↑ "Marina Goes to Hollywood". Dazed . 4 December 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  27. ↑ "Marina and The Diamonds". Vogue UK . 22 June 2010. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
  28. ↑ Brown, Dan (10 February 2010). "Marina & The Diamonds' Hollywood Viral (feat. Gonzales) by Dan Knight". Promo News. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  29. ↑ "Mowgli's Road / Space and the Woods – Single by Marina & The Diamonds". iTunes Store . United Kingdom. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  30. ↑ Salmon, Chris (12 November 2009). "Marina Diamandis: shine on you crazy diamond". The Guardian . Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  31. 1 2 3 "Marina and the Diamonds". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  32. ↑ "Hey Diamonds, as ..." 16 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010– via Facebook.
  33. ↑ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". Zobbel. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  34. ↑ "Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize". Popjustice . Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  35. ↑ Dinh, James (20 January 2011). "Katy Perry announces California Dreams Tour dates". MTV News. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  36. ↑ "Coldplay in Manchester". Big Live Acts. 4 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  37. ↑ Ratican, Katy (23 February 2010). "Marina and the Diamonds – The Deaf Institute, Manchester, Sunday 21/02/2010 Live Review". Contactmusic.com . Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  38. ↑ "The Family Jewels by Marina And The Diamonds Reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  39. 1 2 "The Family Jewels by Marina and the Diamonds Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  40. 1 2 O'Neal, Sean (25 May 2010). "Marina And The Diamonds: The Family Jewels". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  41. ↑ James, Gareth (8 February 2010). "Marina and The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". Clash. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  42. ↑ McCormick, Neil (18 February 2010). "Marina & the Diamonds: The Family Jewels, CD review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  43. 1 2 Bellamy, Mary (15 February 2018). "The Family Jewels". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  44. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (18 February 2010). "Marina and the Diamonds: The Family Jewels". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  45. ↑ Walters, Barry (19 May 2010). "Marina & the Diamonds, 'The Family Jewels' (Chop Shop/Atlantic)". Spin . Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  46. ↑ Edwards, Mark (14 February 2010). "Marina & The Diamonds: The Family Jewels". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 14 February 2010.[ dead link ]
  47. ↑ O'Neil, Luke (13 July 2010). "Marina and the Diamonds | The Family Jewels". The Phoenix . Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  48. ↑ Rivers, Joe (17 June 2010). "The Family Jewels". No Ripcord. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  49. ↑ Copplestone, Joe (11 April 2010). "Marina & The Diamonds: The Family Jewels". PopMatters . Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  50. ↑ Gill, Andy (12 February 2010). "Album: Marina & The Diamonds, The Family Jewels (679)" . The Independent . Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  51. ↑ "75 best albums of 2010". NME. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  52. ↑ "Derulo and GaGa take chart honours". Music Week . 1 March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  53. ↑ Eames, Tom (16 July 2012). "Newton Faulkner sells just 16k to get number one album". Digital Spy . Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  54. 1 2 "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  55. 1 2 "British album certifications – Marina & the Diamonds – The Family Jewels". British Phonographic Industry. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  56. 1 2 Jones, Alan (23 March 2015). "Official Charts Analysis: Kendrick Lamar first rapper since 2013 to top Albums Chart with sales of 29,695" . Music Week. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  57. 1 2 "Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". greekcharts.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  58. 1 2 "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 8, 2010". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  59. 1 2 "The Irish Charts - 2010 Certification Awards - Gold". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  60. 1 2 "Offiziellecharts.de – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  61. 1 2 "Austriancharts.at – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  62. 1 2 "Dutchcharts.nl – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  63. 1 2 "Swisscharts.com – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  64. 1 2 "Lescharts.com – Marina & The Diamonds – The Family Jewels". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  65. 1 2 "ARIA Top 100 Albums – Week Commencing 8th March 2010" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (1045): 6. 8 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2014– via Pandora Archive.
  66. ↑ "Maximum Exposure 2010". Billboard . Vol. 122, no. 39. 2 October 2010. p. 16. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 3 September 2015– via Google Books.
  67. 1 2 "Marina and the Diamonds Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  68. 1 2 "Marina and the Diamonds Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  69. 1 2 "Marina and The Diamonds : Artists". Atlantic Records UK. Archived from the original on 12 August 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  70. ↑ "Marina And The Diamonds says career so far 'a failure'". Newsbeat . 7 January 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  71. ↑ "The Family Jewels by Marina and The Diamonds". iTunes Store. United Kingdom. 15 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2 September 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  72. 1 2 "The Family Jewels / ザ・ファミリー・ジュエルズ（初回限定スペシャル・プライス盤）" (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  73. 1 2 "The Family Jewels: Marina and the Diamonds (CD)". Amazon . United States. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  74. ↑ "The Family Jewels (Deluxe) by Marina and The Diamonds". iTunes Store. United States. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  75. 1 2 "The Family Jewels (Deluxe)". Apple Music. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  76. ↑ The Family Jewels (liner notes). Marina and the Diamonds. 679 Recordings. 2010. 825646836253.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  77. ↑ "European Top 20 Charts – Week Commencing 8th March 2010" (PDF). Billboard. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2014– via Pandora Archive.
  78. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  79. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  80. ↑ "Marina and the Diamonds Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  81. ↑ "The Family Jewels by Marina and The Diamonds". iTunes Store. Ireland. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  82. ↑ "Marina & The Diamonds: Family Jewels". HMV. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  83. ↑ "The Family Jewels – Marina & The Diamonds". CDON.eu. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  84. ↑ "Family Jewels, The". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  85. ↑ "Family jewels – Marina and the Diamonds – CD album" (in French). Fnac . Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  86. ↑ "19 maart 'The Family Jewels'" (in Dutch). Warner Music Netherlands. 26 February 2010. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  87. ↑ "Marina and the Diamonds - The Family Jewels" (in Polish). Warner Music Poland. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  88. ↑ "Marina and the Diamonds – Veröffentlichungen" (in German). Warner Music Germany. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
  89. ↑ "Family Jewels by Marina & The Diamonds". HMV Canada. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  90. ↑ "The Family Jewels: Marina and the Diamonds (Vinyl)". Amazon. United States. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  91. ↑ "The Family Jewels – Marina and the Diamonds – Vinyl". HMV Ireland. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  92. ↑ "The Family Jewels: Marina & The Diamonds (Vinyl)". Amazon. United Kingdom. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  93. ↑ "The Family Jewels" (in Portuguese). Livraria Cultura. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.