Supernatural (Des'ree album)

Supernatural is the third studio album by British recording artist Des'ree. Released by 550 Music and Epic Records on 29 June 1998, it follows four years after the singer's previous album, I Ain't Movin'. Predominantly an R&B album, Supernatural received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised Des'ree's voice, but noted that the album lacked memorable songs. The album appeared on several record charts, reaching the top ten in Austria and the Netherlands, and the top twenty in Flanders, France, Norway, Sweden and the UK.

Supernatural
Studio album by
Des'ree
Released29 June 1998
GenreR&B
Length50:58
Label
ProducerTimothy Atack, Babyface, Des'ree, Ashley Ingram, Peter Lord Moreland, Rick Nowels, Michael Peden, V. Jeffrey Smith, Brian Tench
Des'ree chronology
I Ain't Movin'
(1994)		 Supernatural
(1998)		 Endangered Species
(2000)
Singles from Supernatural
  1. "I'm Kissing You"
    Released: 24 February 1997
  2. "Life"
    Released: 8 June 1998
  3. "Fire"
    Released: 16 June 1998
  4. "What's Your Sign?"
    Released: 26 October 1998
  5. "God Only Knows"
    Released: 21 January 1999
  6. "You Gotta Be (1999 Mix)"
    Released: 22 March 1999

"Life" was released as the lead single from Supernatural, although "I'm Kissing You" was used as the soundtrack single for the 1996 film Romeo + Juliet. "Life" charted well, topping the singles charts of Italy and the Netherlands.

Background

Des'ree's previous album, I Ain't Movin', was released in 1994. Its lead single, "You Gotta Be", was a hit in the United States, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100.[1][2] The singer took a four-year break before releasing Supernatural, which she said made her nervous. "But I said to myself, 'I'd rather have that absence and come out with a stunning record than feel the pressure to come out with something earlier and the record be mediocre.'"[2] Polly Anthony, president of 550 Music, said that the record label had been "patiently waiting" for Supernatural, and was comfortable with artists working within their own timeframes.[2]

Composition

Supernatural is an R&B and pop album, and uses acoustic guitar and light basslines.[3] String instruments, percussion and synthesisers are also used.[4] Dayton Daily News' A. M. Jamison wrote, "On Supernatural, Des'ree's voice is the main instrument".[4] It opens with "What's Your Sign?", a song about astrological compatibility. Des'ree says it was written because of her own interest in astrological horoscopes, but she is also "fascinated by people's fascination with it, especially within the [music] industry".[5] In "God Only Knows" Des'ree mentions her overthinking, while in "Life" she sings about superstitions.[6]

Release and promotion

Supernatural was released by Sony Soho2 in the UK on 29 June 1998,[7] and by 550 Music and Epic Records in the United States on 11 August 1998.[8] The album was re-issued in Japan on 9 September 1998. This edition contains two bonus tracks – "Warm Hands, Cold Heart" and "Soul Paradise.[9]

"I'm Kissing You" was released as the soundtrack single for Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film Romeo + Juliet on 18 June 1997 and was included on its soundtrack album.[10] It reached number seventeen on the Australian Singles Chart.[11] "Life" was released as the album's lead single in the United Kingdom on 8 June 1998.[2][12] It reached number one on the Ö3 Austria Top 40 and the Dutch Single Top 100, while reaching the top ten in Australia, Belgium, France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.[13][14] The song "Fire", a duet with Babyface and a cover of the Bruce Springsteen song was released in the US on 16 June 1998.[15] A music video was made to accompany the release and it was featured on the Hav Plenty film soundtrack. "What's Your Sign?" was released on 26 October 1998 as the fourth single from the album.[16] It peaked at number nineteen in the UK,[14] and attained top-fifty places in Austria, France, New Zealand and Switzerland.[17] "God Only Knows" was released as a Japan-only single on 21 January 1999.[18] "You Gotta Be" was released for the third time in the UK on 22 March 1999 because of its use in the 1999 Ford Focus advertising campaign.[19] This version charted within the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart for the first time. Due to the success of this mix, "You Gotta Be" (1999 Mix) replaced "Fire" as the eleventh track on UK physical copies of Supernatural following the re-issue on 14 December 1998.[20]

Critical reception
Supernatural
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[21]

AllMusic's Michael Gallucci awarded Supernatural two and a half out of five stars, calling the songs "forgettable" but commending Des'ree's voice.[8] Angela Lewis of The Independent positively reviewed the album, stating that Des'ree is "as gorgeously earthy and organic as she used to be, if not quite as fascinating".[22] Writing for Entertainment Weekly, J. D. Considine noted Supernatural as "exquisitely listenable" and complimented Des'ree's voice for its "depth and complexity".[21] A. M. Jamison from the Dayton Daily News praised Des'ree's optimistic lyrics and described the record as refreshing.[4]

Commercial reception

Supernatural debuted at number 185 on the United States Billboard 200, on the issue dated 5 September 1998.[23] On 12 September it fell to number 187,[24] before slipping off the chart the following week. On the Top R&B Albums appeared at number 72 on the chart of 5 September,[25] moving to number 82 the next issue.[26] In its third week, it jumped to number 73,[27] while its final week on the component chart was spent at number 96 on 26 September 1998.[28] Supernatural sold 50,000 copies in the US, while I Ain't Movin' sold 500,000 and went Gold.[29]

In Europe, Supernatural reached the top ten of album charts in Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland, and the top twenty in Flanders, France, Norway and Sweden, and number twenty-three in Wallonia. On the UK Albums Chart, it debuted at number sixteen,[14] and spent nine weeks on the chart.[30] In Australia, the album peaked at number twenty-seven, lasting eleven weeks on the chart. In New Zealand, Supernatural appeared at number forty-one on the chart dated 4 October 1998, before falling off the chart.[31]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What's Your Sign?"Des'ree, Ashley Ingram4:07
2."God Only Knows"Eric Bazilian, Des'ree4:44
3."Life"Des'ree, Prince Sampson3:38
4."Best Days"Des'ree, Sampson4:11
5."Proud to Be a Dread"Des'ree, Michale Graves3:57
6."I'm Kissing You"Timothy Atack, Des'ree4:53
7."Indigo Daisies"Des'ree, Sampson6:55
8."Time"Des'ree, Rick Nowels4:13
9."Down by the River"Des'ree, Sampson5:11
10."Darwin Star"Atack, Des'ree, Sampson5:20
11."Fire" (with Babyface)Bruce Springsteen3:49
Total length:50:58
Japanese bonus tracks[32]
No.TitleLength
11."Warm Hands, Cold Heart"4:39
12."Soul Paradise"4:06
13."Fire"3:49
UK re-release[33]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."You Gotta Be" (1999 mix)Des'ree, Ashley Ingram4:00

Personnel

Credits for Supernatural, adapted from AllMusic:[34]

Charts
Chart (1998) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[31] 27
Austrian Albums Chart[31] 6
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[31] 14
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[31] 23
Dutch Albums Chart[31] 4
Finnish Albums Chart[31] 5
French Albums Chart[31] 16
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[35] 17
Japanese Albums Chart[31] 11
Irish Albums Chart[31] 9
Italian Albums Chart[31] 10
New Zealand Albums Chart[31] 41
Norwegian Albums Chart[31] 18
Spanish Albums Chart[31] 8
Swedish Albums Chart[31] 12
Swiss Albums Chart[31] 7
UK Albums Chart[36] 16
US Billboard 200[37] 185
US Top R&B Albums[37] 72

Year-end charts
Chart (1998) Position
German Albums Chart[38] 82

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[39] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[40] Gold 145,200[41]
Japan (RIAJ)[42] Platinum 200,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[43] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[44] Gold 100,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

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References
  1. "Des'ree: Awards". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  2. Sexton, Paul (13 June 1998). "550 Music's Des'ree Gets 'Supernatural' on 3rd Set". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 110 (24): 14.
  3. Farber, Jim (2 August 1998). "Dull & Daft With Des'ree". Daily News. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  4. Jamison, A. M. (25 September 1998). "Recordings on Review". Dayton Daily News. p. 19.
  5. Bliss, Karen (1 November 1998). "Des'ree: supernatural Sagittarius". What Magazine.
  6. Powers, Ann (2 September 1998). "Critics's Choice: Pop CD's; The Year of the Black Auteur, Soulfully and Seductively". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  7. "Supernatural [Cassette]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  8. Gallucci, Michael. "Supernatural: review". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  9. "Des'ree – Supernatural CD – Import". CD Universe. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  10. "Kissing You: Des'ree: Amazon.co.jp: Music". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  11. "Des'ree – I'm Kissing You". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  12. "Life [CD 1] [Single]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  13. "Des'ree – Life". Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  14. "Des'ree". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  15. "Second Hand Songs – Artist: Babyface & Des'Ree". Second Hand Songs. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  16. "Whats Your Sign [CD 1] [Single, Maxi]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  17. "Des'ree – What's Your Sign?". Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  18. "God Only Knows: Des'ree: Amazon.co.jp: Music". Amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  19. "Des'ree – Poster You Gotta Be: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  20. "Supernatural [CD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  21. Considine, J. D. (21 August 1998). "Music Review: 'Supernatural'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  22. Lewis, Angela (20 June 1998). "Jazz: Album Reviews". The Independent. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  23. "Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 5 September 1998. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  24. "Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 110 (37): 129. 12 September 1998.
  25. "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 5 September 1998. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  26. "Top R&B Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 110 (37): 35. 12 September 1998.
  27. "Top R&B Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 110 (38): 42. 19 September 1998.
  28. "Top R&B Albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 110 (39): 29. 26 September 1998.
  29. Farber, Jim (11 January 1999). "Some Lp Stars Whose Fortunes Changed". Daily News. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  30. "Des'ree – Supernatural". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  31. "Des'ree – Supernatural". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  32. "Supernatural". Last.fm. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  33. "Desree: Supernatural: Includes You Gotta Be (1999): CD: hmv.com". HMV. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  34. Supernatural at AllMusic. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  35. "Offiziellecharts.de – Des'ree – Supernatural" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  36. "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. 11 July 1998. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  37. "Supernatural – Des'ree". Billboard. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  38. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  39. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  40. "French album certifications – Des'ree – Supernatural" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  41. "Les Albums Or". infodisc.fr. SNEP. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  42. "Japanese album certifications – Des'ree – Supernatural" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  43. "Solo Exitos 1959-2002 Ano A Ano: Certificados 1996-1999". Solo Exitos 1959-2002 Ano A Ano. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  44. "British album certifications – Des'ree – Supernatural". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Supernatural in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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