Simply Deep | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 22, 2002 | |||
Recorded | June–August 2002 | |||
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Length | 53:09 | |||
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Kelly Rowland chronology | ||||
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Singles from Simply Deep | ||||
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Simply Deep is the debut solo studio album by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was first released on October 22, 2002, by Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment. Initially expected to be released during the hiatus of her group Destiny's Child in 2003, recording of the album was accelerated after the success of the single "Dilemma," a collaboration with rapper Nelly. Largely produced within three weeks only, guest appearances on Simply Deep include Nelly, Solange Knowles and Joe Budden.
The album received generally mixed to lukewarm reviews from most music critics who called it a pleasant listen but found that it lacked ambition. While Simply Deep peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and sold over 600,000 copies in the United States, [2] it was regarded as a bigger commercial success abroad, where it topped the UK Albums Chart, [3] reached the top five in Australia, Denmark, and Ireland, and singles such as "Stole" and "Can't Nobody" were released to stronger commercial success.
In late 2003, nearly a year after the album's initial release, Rowland embarked on her debut solo Simply Deeper Tour to promote the album in Europe. While Simply Deep established Rowland as a viable solo artist and, with worldwide sales of more than 2 million units, remains the biggest-selling album within her solo catalogue, [4] the singer has expressed her dissatisfaction with the rushed and less thought out character of the album, though still being fond of the material that she had recorded for it. [5]
Rowland launched her singing career with all-female R&B group Destiny's Child in the late 1990s. While recording their third studio album, Survivor , in late 2000, the band announced that members of the group would disband for a short period to produce solo albums in the coming years, which they hoped would boost interest in Destiny's Child. [6] The idea of individual releases emanated from the group's manager, Mathew Knowles. [7] With different types of music for each member to produce, the albums were not intended to compete on the charts as Destiny's Child's management strategically planned to stagger the release of each group member's album to maximize sales. [8]
Michelle Williams became the first to release a debut solo album, Heart to Yours , in April 2002. [8] Beyoncé Knowles debuted on the big screen, starring in the spy comedy film Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), and started recording her solo debut Dangerously in Love (2003). [8] Meanwhile, Rowland collaborated with American rapper Nelly on the song "Dilemma" as a solo artist. The song originally appeared on his album Nellyville (2002), and while it was initially not expected to be released as a single, [9] it received a positive response from DJs and listeners and was eventually promoted to single status. [9] Issued to major success, "Dilemma" became a worldwide number-one hit that year, allowing Rowland's label Columbia Records to advance the release date of Simply Deep from 2003 to late 2002. [8]
In order to capitalize on the success of "Dilemma," the ordering of Knowles and Rowland's albums was switched, leading to the postponement of Knowles's solo album Dangerously in Love to mid-2003 and the recording of Simply Deep being accelerated to summer 2002. [10] Rowland who had previously signed on to star in Ronny Yu's slasher film Freddy vs. Jason and was expected to start filming in Vancouver in September 2002, [11] was forced to complete the album within a month. [3] [12] The singer felt pressured by high expectations due to Destiny's Child and their huge success. [13] She later revealed: "It was a challenge and I did that creatively and vocally. I was very nervous, but I came through with flying colors because of my family and, of course, Destiny's Child. There were days in the studio where I would run out, like, 'I'm frustrated! I don't wanna do this!' And they would calm me and tell me that everything was gonna be okay. I got through it because of them." Rowland eventually overcame her fears during the process as her newfound independence offered her an opportunity to branch out and try new things. [14] In fact, she co-wrote three songs on the album and came up with the vocal arrangements for several tracks. [15]
Columbia Records arranged for Rowland to record with a large group of previous collaborators, several of which had worked with Destiny's Child on their 2001 studio album Survivor , including producers Anthony Dent, Rob Fusari, Falonte Moore, Mark J. Feist, Jovonn Alexander, and Damon Elliott. [16] In addition, she would work with Troy Johnson, Alonzo Jackson, Damon Sharpe, Billy Mann, Anders Barrén, and Jany Schella, and trio Steve Kipner, Dane Deviller, and Sean Hosein. [16] Songwriter-producer Rich Harrison contributed "Can't Nobody," the first of many songs which he would produce for either Destiny's Child or the band's solo projects. [16] Robert "Big Bert" Smith oversaw the production of "Love/Hate," a song co-written by his then-girlfriend, fellow singer Brandy. [17] Solange Knowles, Beyoncé's younger sister, wrote and co-produced three songs on Simply Deep. [18] Recording sessions for the album took place at several recording studios, including Studio 353, The Hit Factory and Sound-on-Sound Studio in New York City, Stankonia Recording Studio in Atlanta, Audio Vision Recording Studios in Miami Beach, and The Enterprise in Burbank, Henson Recording Studios and The Record Plant in Los Angeles, Heeba Jeeba Studios in Sherman Oaks and the Real FM Sound and Nature's Finest Studios in Hollywood. [18]
Musically, the album took Rowland's solo work into an alternative R&B sound, which she described as a "weird fusion [of] a little bit of Sade and a little bit of rock." [12] [19] According to Rowland it was her manager Matthew Knowles idea for her to "craft her own brand of Rock & R&B". [20] In an Interview with Billboard, she stated, "He's always known how much I love rock music and alternative music; He brought the idea to me and I was so excited because I never thought that I could do something like that". [20]
Simply Deep was released through Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Music on October 28, 2002, in both the United States and Canada. The album would not be released worldwide until February 3, 2003. The album yielded three singles; "Stole," a pop rock -influenced mid-tempo track about school bullying, was released as the album's lead single. The song entered the top 20 on the majority of the charts it appeared on, reaching the top five in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where it remains her highest-charting solo single to date. [21] [22] The album's second single was an up-tempo track entitled "Can't Nobody". [23] The final single, "Train on a Track", was featured on the soundtrack of the romantic comedy film Maid in Manhattan (2003). [24]
Although "Dilemma" was not technically the lead single from the album, it was the first song on the album recorded and released before Rowland even began the process of recording the album. "Dilemma" was generally well received by critics. It was number one in ten countries, including the UK, the US and Australia, selling over 7.6 million copies worldwide also becoming Rowland's first number one single as a solo artist, her highest charting and most successful single to date and her biggest international hit. [25] "Stole" was released as the album's lead single in October 2002, following the worldwide success of "Dilemma", it entered the top twenty on the majority of the charts it appeared on but only a moderate hit compared to its predecessor. "Can't Nobody" was released as the album's second single (3rd overall) although it widely failed to match the success of "Dilemma" or "Stole". "Train on a Track", was the final track released from the album and only entered the top twenty on the UK Singles Chart, although it was featured on the soundtrack to the romantic comedy film The Seat Filler and Maid in Manhattan .
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [26] |
Blender | [27] |
The Guardian | [28] |
Houston Chronicle | C- [29] |
Slant Magazine | [30] |
The Times | [31] |
Vibe | [32] |
Upon its release, Simply Deep received generally mixed to lukewarm reviews from most music critics. [26] British morning newspaper The Independent gave the album a generally favorable review, writing that "on the whole the album sticks closely to the standard urban-diva formula, mixing garage twitchers with the usual billing and cooing on ballads such as "Haven't Told You". But it's all done with style and intelligence, whether she's luxuriating in the loneliness of "Everytime You Walk Out That Door" or evoking the momentum of the first flush of love in "Train on a Track"." [33] Lisa Verrico of The Times stated "on first listen, Simply Deep does everything but live up to its title. It sounds like a shallow stroll through the poppier end of urban music [...] But give it another listen and [it] does grow on you if you’re looking for an easy-on-the-ear album. It is a pleasant listen." [31] Joy Dunbar, writing for BBC Music, noted that while "the albums main weakness is that it tries to offer too much diversity and Kelly tries too hard to stand outside her former incarnation," it was a must-have for fans of R&B music, adding: "Simply Deep endeavours to demonstrate another side of Kelly Rowland, as a songwriter and an independent solo artist [...] The in frequent high points make this a must for your collection." [34]
In her review for Simply Deep, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian wrote, "Rowland is no longer a mere backing vocalist for Beyoncé Knowles. But while she undoubtedly has talent to burn, her first solo album is a mildly disappointing setting for it. A top-flight example of the American inclination toward lush but lightweight soul, it makes all the right R&B noises without engaging the emotions." [28] She gave it three out of five stars. [28] Sal Cinquemani of Slant dismissed the ballads on Simply Deep as "all gloppy-goo and no soul; but through it all Rowland manages to keep her cool. The album's best tracks, the light and breezy "Train on a Track" and "(Love Lives In) Strange Places," infuse the singer's lush harmonies with acoustic guitars and poetic wordplay." [30] He especially criticized Solange Knowles' contribution to the album, noting her "icky [and] laughable lyrics" as the worst on Simply Deep which he rated two and a half out of five stars. [30] Jon Caramanica of Entertainment Weekly commented that "Rowland, at times, seems like Destiny's adopted child, never receiving a full helping of Knowles-family adulation. Alas, her first solo project doesn't pull her out from Beyonce's shadow. She needs added star power: Her backup-singer instincts leave even the hottest songs here feeling somewhat chilly." [35] Craig Seymour of Vibe was generally disappointed with the album, writing: "Rowland's solo album marks an attempt to further establish herself as a singular talent, but the effort is as misguided as the Nelly hookup was savvy [...] An abundance of cheesy folk/R&B numbers make Rowland come off like Brandy fronting as India.Arie." [32] Rolling Stone 's Christian Hoard found that the album's "tired character sketches and polite R&B hooks will make you long for the sass and spirit of her main outfit." [36]
"Dilemma" was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Record of the Year at the 45th Grammy Awards (2003), winning the award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. During the 55th Anniversary of the Hot 100 issue of Billboard magazine, the song was ranked at number 75 on the all-time Hot 100 songs, [37] while at the end of 2009 was named the eleventh most successful song from 2000 to 2009, on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs of the Decade. [38] "Dilemma" was accredited internationally with sixteen certifications.
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | Grammy Award | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration |
| "Dilemma" | Won |
Record of the Year | Nominated |
Simply Deep debuted and peaked at number twelve on the Billboard 200, the official albums chart in the United States, on November 9, 2002, [39] selling 77,000 units in its first week of release. [40] It was this week's fourth-highest charting entry after Santana's Shaman , Foo Fighter's One by One and Rod Stewart's It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook . [39] Simultaneously, the album also charted on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally, reaching number three behind LL Cool J's 10 (2002) and Gerald Levert's The G Spot (2002). [41] On December 5, 2002, Simply Deep was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments figures in excess of 500,000 copies. [42] The album remains Rowland's best-selling album in the country to date. By August 2007, it had sold more than 600,000 copies domestically. [43]
Released to even bigger success in international territories, in the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number-one on the UK Albums Chart on February 15, 2003, selling more than 100,000 copies in its first week. [44] It received both a silver and a gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) the following week, and on April 11, 2003, was certified platinum for sales of 300,000 units. [45] Simply Deep also reached number two on the Irish Albums Chart, elsewhere in Europe, the album managed to enter the top ten in Denmark and the top twenty in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland. [46] Across Oceania, it placed fifth and seventh on the Australian and the New Zealand Albums Chart, in the week of January 26, 2003, [46] [47] and was certified gold by both the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ). [47] Worldwide, the album has sold over 2.5 million copies, making it Rowland's best-selling solo album to date. [4]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Stole" |
|
| 4:09 |
2. | "Dilemma" (with Nelly) | BAM & Ryan | 4:49 | |
3. | "Haven't Told You" |
|
| 3:42 |
4. | "Can't Nobody" | Harrison | 4:04 | |
5. | "Love/Hate" |
| Big Bert | 3:08 |
6. | "Simply Deep" (featuring Solange) |
|
| 3:22 |
7. | "(Love Lives In) Strange Places" |
|
| 3:32 |
8. | "Obsession" |
|
| 3:36 |
9. | "Heaven" |
| A. Jackson | 3:59 |
10. | "Past 12" |
|
| 3:28 |
11. | "Everytime You Walk Out That Door" |
| 4:08 | |
12. | "Train on a Track" |
| 3:43 | |
13. | "Beyond Imagination" |
|
| 3:21 |
Total length: | 53:09 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Make U Wanna Stay" (featuring Joe Budden) |
|
| 4:09 |
Total length: | 57:18 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "No Coincidence" |
| Fusari | 3:45 |
Total length: | 61:03 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Director(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
16. | "Stole" (music video) |
| Sanaa Hamri | 4:12 |
Total length: | 65:15 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "No Coincidence" |
|
| 3:45 |
16. | "What Would You Do" | Dent | 3:10 | |
Total length: | 64:13 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
15. | "Une femme en prison" (Stomy Bugsy featuring Kelly Rowland) |
|
| 5:07 |
16. | "Stole" (H&D nu soul mix) |
|
| 3:01 |
17. | "No Coincidence" |
|
| 3:45 |
Total length: | 69:11 |
Notes
Sample credits
Credits are taken from the album's liner notes. [16]
Managerial and imagery
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Performance credits
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Instruments
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Technical and production
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Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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</ref> </ref> </ref> </ref> </ref>
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [77] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada) [78] | Gold | 50,000^ |
South Korea | — | 3,697 [79] |
United Kingdom (BPI) [45] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [42] | Gold | 602,000 [2] |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 2,500,000 [4] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | October 22, 2002 | Sony Music | [80] | |
Canada | [81] | |||
Italy | [82] | |||
Mexico | [83] | |||
United States | [81] | |||
Japan | January 22, 2003 | Sony Music | [84] | |
Austria | February 3, 2003 | [85] | ||
France | [86] | |||
Ireland | [87] | |||
Germany | February 10, 2003 | [88] |
Destiny's Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. The group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990 in Houston, Texas. After years of limited success, the original quartet comprising Knowles, Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett were signed in 1997 to Columbia Records as Destiny's Child. The group was launched into mainstream recognition following the release of the song "No, No, No" and their best-selling second album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999), which contained the number-one singles "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name", alongside successful singles "Bug a Boo" and "Jumpin', Jumpin'". Despite critical and commercial success, the group was plagued by internal conflict and legal turmoil, as Roberson and Luckett attempted to split from the group's manager Mathew Knowles due to favoritism of Knowles and Rowland.
Kelendria Trene Rowland is an American singer, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups. During the group's three-year hiatus, Rowland released her debut solo studio album, Simply Deep (2002), which debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and sold over 3 million copies worldwide. It included the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Dilemma", as well as the UK top-five hits "Stole" and "Can't Nobody". Rowland also ventured into acting with starring roles in Freddy vs. Jason (2003) and The Seat Filler (2005).
Dangerously in Love is the debut solo studio album by American singer and songwriter Beyoncé. It was released on June 23, 2003, by Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment.
Destiny Fulfilled is the fifth and final studio album by American girl group Destiny's Child. It was released on November 8, 2004, by Columbia Records and Sony Urban Music. Following the conclusion of promotional activities for their globally successful third studio album Survivor (2001), Destiny's Child embarked on a two-year hiatus, during which each member released solo albums to varying levels of success. They reunited in the summer of 2004 to record Destiny Fulfilled, primarily at the Sony Music Studios in New York City. Unlike the group's previous recordings, the album saw each member equally contributing to the songwriting and production, drawing inspiration from the events in their lives while being apart.
Survivor is the third studio album by American girl group Destiny's Child. It was released on April 25, 2001, by Columbia Records. As their breakthrough second studio album The Writing's on the Wall (1999) became a rising commercial success, Destiny's Child faced the controversial departure of original members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson, who were replaced with Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams, in February 2000. Soon afterwards, they commenced production of their third studio album, tentatively titled Independent Women.
Heart to Yours is the debut solo studio album by American singer and songwriter Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records, it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member. Production of the album began in 2001, with Williams working with an array of producers, including her brother Erron Williams, HR Crump and Warryn Campbell. Heart to Yours is primarily a contemporary gospel album, which incorporates elements of other styles and genres such as neo-soul, inspirational, R&B and rock music. The album includes a tribute, dedicated to the victims and families affected by the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Writing on her vocal performances, critics drew comparisons to Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott.
The Writing's on the Wall is the second studio album by American girl group Destiny's Child. It was released on July 14, 1999, by Columbia Records. Dissatisfied with their 1998 eponymous debut studio album, Destiny's Child sought transition from the record's neo soul-influenced sound. Hence, the group took more creative control and enlisted an almost entirely different array of collaborators, including Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, Kandi Burruss, Missy Elliott, Rodney Jerkins, and LaShawn Daniels, among others.
"Dilemma" is a song by American rapper Nelly featuring American singer Kelly Rowland. It was released on June 25, 2002, as the second single from the former's second studio album, Nellyville (2002). The song also appeared on Rowland's debut solo studio album, Simply Deep (2002). A pop and R&B ballad, the song consists of a high-pitched intonation and call and response, and contains a sample of Patti LaBelle's 1983 song "Love, Need and Want You". The lyrics describe a man infatuated with a woman committed in an existing relationship. "Dilemma" was written by Nelly, Antoine "Bam" Macon and Ryan Bowser, alongside the "Love, Need and Want You" writers, Kenneth Gamble and Bunny Sigler.
"Say My Name" is a song by American group Destiny's Child from their second studio album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999). It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, and Rodney Jerkins, featuring production by the latter. While the song and single artwork features the group's original line-up consisting of Luckett and Roberson, the music video for the single marked the introduction of the group's second line-up with replacement members Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin. "Say My Name" was released as the third single from The Writing's on the Wall on October 14, 1999, by Columbia Records.
#1's is the first greatest hits album by American girl group Destiny's Child. It was released on October 21, 2005, by Columbia Records, Music World Entertainment and Sony Urban Music.
"Can't Nobody" is a song performed by American recording artist Kelly Rowland. It was written and produced by Rich Harrison for Rowland's solo debut album Simply Deep (2002). The song is built around a sample of "Let's Get Small" (1982) by American R&B band Trouble Funk. Due to the inclusion of the sample, band members Robert "Syke Dyke" Reed and Tony Fisher are also credited as songwriters. Musically, the uptempo track has been described as an "airy hip hop funk" song, that has Rowland describing an infatuation as she tries to convince the object of desire of her charms and advantages.
"Stole" is a song by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was written and produced by Dane Deviller, Sean Hosein and Steve Kipner for Rowland's debut solo album Simply Deep (2002). A rock-tinged mid-tempo pop song, "Stole" describes the collateral effects of a school shooting. Following "Dilemma" (2002), Rowland's worldwide number-one hit with rapper Nelly, "Stole" was released as her official solo debut single as well as the album's lead single on September 9, 2002.
"Train on a Track" is a song by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was written by Rob Fusari, Sylvester Jordan Jr., Balewa Muhammad, and Tiaa Wells and recorded by Rowland for her solo debut album Simply Deep (2002), while production was helmed by Fusari. A light and breezy pop rock song that is built around an acoustic guitar-driven instrumentation, the love song has Rowland singing about a person whom she considers her equal in every manner. The song's musical composition, as well as Rowland's harmonies and the poetic wordplay of its lyrics, positively surprised critics.
8 Days of Christmas is the fourth studio album and only Christmas album by American R&B girl group Destiny's Child, released on October 30, 2001 by Columbia Records.
Ms. Kelly is the second solo studio album by American recording artist Kelly Rowland. It was released on June 20, 2007, through Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Entertainment. Originally titled My Story and expected for a mid-2006 release, the album marked Rowland's first solo studio album in four years. Retitled and delayed numerous times prior to its official release, the album's release date was eventually moved to 2007 in favor of a multi-tiered marketing strategy and additional recording sessions. Willed to produce a more personal effort after her debut studio album Simply Deep (2002), Rowland contributed nine tracks to the reworked Ms. Kelly, which took her solo work further into urban music markets, involving production by Scott Storch, Polow da Don, Soulshock & Karlin and singer Tank, among others.
American singer Kelly Rowland has released four studio albums, two compilation albums and a box set, four extended plays, three video albums and DVDs, 45 official, featuring, charity and promotional singles, and 55 music videos. She began her career in 1997 with one of the best-selling girl groups, Destiny's Child, who have sold around 60 million records worldwide.
Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe is the debut extended play (EP) by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was released on March 18, 2008, through Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Entertainment and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. A digital-only collection of new songs and previously unreleased remixes, it became available exclusively through major online digital music providers. Initially planned to be included on a reissue of Rowland's second solo album, Ms. Kelly (2007), she announced that the eight tracks would be included on a standalone release. A deluxe edition of the original album, entitled Ms. Kelly Deluxe, was released on May 7, 2008.
Love Songs is the third compilation album by American R&B girl group Destiny's Child, released on January 25, 2013 through Columbia Records. The album differs from their first two compilations in that it features mostly album-only selections as well as the newly recorded song "Nuclear", the first original song from Destiny's Child since the group disbanded in 2005. The album cover is based on the single artwork from the group's 2004 single "Lose My Breath".
Ms. Rowland explored alterna-pop, releasing an album called "Simply Deep"....
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