Unwritten (album)

Last updated

Unwritten
Natasha Bedingfield Unwritten.jpg
Standard edition cover artwork, except for the United States. Some editions feature a light yellow frame on the cover artwork.
Studio album by
Released6 September 2004 (2004-09-06)
Recorded2003–2004
Genre
Length47:01
Label Phonogenic
Producer
Natasha Bedingfield chronology
Unwritten
(2004)
N.B.
(2007)
Singles from Unwritten
  1. "Single"
    Released: 3 May 2004
  2. "These Words"
    Released: 16 August 2004
  3. "Unwritten"
    Released: 29 November 2004
  4. "I Bruise Easily"
    Released: 4 April 2005

Unwritten is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. It was released in Europe on 6 September 2004 through Phonogenic Records and in the United States on 2 August 2005 through Epic Records. A pop and R&B album, Unwritten was produced by a number of producers, including Danielle Brisebois, Guy Chambers, Peter Wade Keusch, Steve Kipner, Patrick Leonard and Greg Wells.

Contents

In the United Kingdom, Unwritten topped both the UK Albums Chart and the Scottish Albums Chart, receiving a triple platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry for sales of over a million copies in the United Kingdom. In North America, it peaked at number twenty-six on the US Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of over 500,000 copies in the United States. The album spawned four singles: "Single", "These Words", "Unwritten" and "I Bruise Easily" from the 2006 reissue. The song "Drop Me in the Middle" featured rapper Bizarre on the international editions of the album, and English rapper and singer Estelle on the US editions. In 2006, the album was re-released in North America with new cover artwork and a slightly altered track listing, including "The One That Got Away".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [3]
BBC Music (positive) [4]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
musicOMH (positive) [5]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Earning a 7 out of 10 from PopMatters , Adrien Begrand, who said the album was Bedingfield's "brand of clever, R&B infused pop." Though, he went on to admit that the album was "not without its pitfalls." [1] David Hooper from the BBC gave the album another positive review, writing "there's no denying this is a finely-crafted number with bold, voluptuous harmonies. It's guaranteed to thrill, at least for the first 30 plays." Further, Hollow stated "Unwritten is a textbook quality pop album, lifted by Natasha's strong voice, immaculate production and some absolutely corking singles. Whether you like it or not, you won't be able to get those tunes out of your head." [4]

UK-based music review website musicOMH critic David Welsh praised the album, compared Bedingfield's success to that of her brother, calling the album "a startlingly accomplished debut outing, letting the whole world know that Daniel is by no means the only talented Bedingfield out there." Welsh continued to add that Unwritten was "both musically note-worthy and lyrically substantial", concluding that there was "no shame in adding this to your collection." [5]

Commercial performance

Unwritten peaked at number one on the Official Charts Company's UK Albums Chart. It sold over one million copies in the United Kingdom, being certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). [7] In the United States, it peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard 200 with first week sales of 34,000. [8] Its currently certified gold from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In Australia, it peaked at number 89 on ARIA Albums Chart. It also peaked at number 26 in Austria, number 20 in Germany, number 33 in Mexico and number 23 in Switzerland, making smaller impact outside the United Kingdom and the United States.

Track listing

Unwritten– Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."These Words"
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:36
2."Single"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:57
3."I'm a Bomb"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:42
4."Unwritten"
  • Rodrigues
  • Brisebois
4:19
5."I Bruise Easily"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Paul Herman
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
4:14
6."If You're Gonna Jump"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:22
7."Silent Movie"
  • Chambers
  • Richard Flack
3:47
8."We're All Mad In Our Way"
  • Bedingfield
  • Brisebois
  • Nick Lashley
  • Rodrigues
  • Brisebois
  • Lashley
4:48
9."Frogs & Princes"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
3:45
10."Drop Me in the Middle" (featuring Bizarre from D12)
  • Rodrigues
  • Brisebois
4:16
11."Wild Horses"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
4:01
12."Sojourn" (hidden track)
 3:19
Unwritten– UK edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Size Matters"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:25
13."Peace of Me"Leonard3:45
14."Sojourn" (hidden track)
  • Bedingfield
  • O'Mahony
  • Keynes
  • Harwood
 3:19
Total length:54:16
Unwritten— Japanese edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleLength
12."Size Matters"3:25
13."Peace of Me"3:45
14."The One That Got Away"4:16
15."Sojourn" (hidden track)3:19
Total length:58:32
Unwritten– Japanese 2005 reissue edition
No.TitleLength
1."These Words"3:36
2."Single"3:55
3."Unwritten"4:15
4."Silent Movie"3:47
5."Stumble"3:36
6."Peace of Me"3:43
7."If You're Gonna..."3:21
8."Drop Me in the Middle" (featuring Estelle)3:44
9."We're All Mad"4:45
10."I Bruise Easily"4:13
11."The One That Got Away"4:06
12."Size Matters"3:26
13."Wild Horses"3:58
14."Sojourn" (hidden track)3:19
Total length:51:04
Unwritten– North American edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."These Words"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Wilkins
3:38
2."Single"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Wilkins
3:54
3."Unwritten"
  • Bedingfield
  • Brisebois
  • Rodrigues
4:18
4."Silent Movie"
  • Bedingfield
  • Chambers
3:45
5."Stumble"3:36
6."Peace of Me"
  • Bedingfield
  • DioGuardi
  • Leonard
3:42
7."If You're Gonna ..."
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Wilkins
3:12
8."Drop Me in the Middle" (featuring Estelle)
4:14
9."We're All Mad"
  • Bedingfield
  • Brisebois
  • Lashley
4:46
10."I Bruise Easily"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Herman
  • Wilkins
4:12
11."The One That Got Away"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Michael Tafaro
  • Nathan Winkler
4:16
12."Size Matters"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Wilkins
3:23
13."Wild Horses"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:55
14."Sojourn" (hidden track)
  • Bedingfield
  • O'Mahony
  • Keynes
  • Harwood
3:19
Total length:51:03
Unwritten– North American and European DualDisc edition (bonus DVD)
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Entire Album in Enhanced Stereo"  
2."In the Studio Interview"  
3."These Words" (music video; US version) Chris Milk 3:43
4."Making of These Words"  
5."Single" (music video) Jake Nava 3:30
6."I Bruise Easily" (music video) Matthew Rolston 3:46
Unwritten– North American 2006 reissue and South Asian digital edition
No.TitleLength
1."These Words" (Manny Marroquin Mix)3:36
2."Single" ('06 Mix) 
3."Unwritten"4:15
4."Silent Movie"3:47
5."I Bruise Easily"4:13
6."If You're Gonna..."3:20
7."Drop Me in the Middle" (featuring Estelle)3:43
8."Peace of Me"3:42
9."We're All Mad"4:44
10."Stumble"3:36
11."The One That Got Away" (Wamdue Pop Rocks Mix)4:56
12."Size Matters"3:25
13."Wild Horses"3:58
14."Sojourn" (hidden track)3:19
Total length:51:09

Notes

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI) [30] Gold100,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [7] 3× Platinum1,000,000 [31]
United States (RIAA) [32] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateEditionFormat(s)Label(s)CatalogRef.
Europe6 September 2004Standard CD
  • 82876637022 (United Kingdom)
  • 82876639992
Australia11 October 2004BMG82876640002
Japan20 October 2004
  • BVCP-27068
  • 82876640012
Canada2 August 200582876715642
United States
  • Empire
  • Phonogenic
  • Epic
  • 82876775152 (CD)
  • EN94987 (CD+DVD)
Europe30 September 2005ReissueCD+DVDBMG82876736772
Japan7 December 2005CDBVCP-21434
United States6 June 2006
  • Phonogenic
  • Epic
82876775152

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