''Princess P'' is the debut album by ''
American Idol'' contestant,
Paris Bennett. It was released on May 8, 2007 through 306 Entertainment, owned by Paul Jones, her uncle, and
TVT Records. Bennett worked with Jon Jon Traxx,
Darren Lighty, and
Rodney Jerkins
Rodney Roy Jerkins (born July 29, 1977), also known by his stage name Darkchild, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists.
Jerkins has won multiple Grammy Awards. Among hi ...
on ''Princess P''. The album name comes from the nickname used affectionately for her by
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest (born December 24, 1974) is an American media personality and producer. He is the co-host of ''Live with Kelly and Ryan'', as well as the host of multiple media shows including ''American Idol'', ''American Top 40'', and '' ...
on ''
American Idol''. Bennett co-wrote the album with J. Isaac Moore.
Critical reception
''Princess P'' garnered mixed reviews from
music critic
''The Oxford Companion to Music'' defines music criticism as "the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres". In this sense, it is a branch of mus ...
s. A writer from
AllMusic said that, "Like a lot of AmIdol artists, Bennett's music can seem light and fluffy, but it's that very quality that makes ''Princess P'' a pleasurable pop concoction."
Adam B. Vary of ''
Entertainment Weekly'' wrote about the album saying, "Fans of Kewpie-sweet Paris Bennett from ''American Idol''s fifth season may never get over what they hear on ''Princess P'', her debut CD. "Imma give it to you straight no chaser," she bellows on "I'm So Hot," the hardest – and least winning – of the album's hard-edged, surprisingly competent (but not catchy) club tracks. Other than the hook-soaked "Get Bizzy" (co-written by her mother, Jamecia), what gives these sub-
Ciara songs their kick is Paris' full-throated delivery. The less said about her rap with Kevin "Chicken Little" Covais, meanwhile, the better."
Elysa Gardner of ''
USA Today'' noted how Bennett and her team of songwriters and producers tend to "cling to tried-and-true contemporary pop-R&B formulas." She concluded with, "Still, the album offers enough homespun charm to leave you rooting for the plucky upstart."
In a dual review with
Elliott Yamin
Efraym Elliott Yamin ( he, אפרים אליוט ימין; born July 20, 1978) is an American singer known for his hit single " Wait for You" and for placing third on the fifth season of ''American Idol''.
His self-titled album, released Marc ...
's
self-titled debut, ''
Vibe'' writer Sean Fennessey criticized the overly upbeat and pop-centric material that misuses Bennett's vocals to the point of anonymity, concluding that "Unlike the goofily sincere Yamin, she never seems to be herself."
Track listing
Charts
Singles
"Ordinary Love" is the debut single from Paris Bennett, the
American Idol fifth place finalist (May 3, 2006) with production Jon Jon Traxx and J. Isaac.
"Ordinary Love" failed to make it onto any charts.
Music video
The video to Ordinary Love was filmed on January 12, in
Minneapolis and directed by Danny Kimura with
Dustin Breeding
B5, previously known as TNT Boyz and Audio, is an American R&B group originating from St. Petersburg, Florida, which later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. The group consists of the five Breeding family brothers, Dustin Michael (b. October 8, ...
of boy band
B5 as the leading man and features her friends from high school. The director said "I sense Paris is hungry for this, and she's going to go for it today."
The video begins with closeups of Bennett and Breeding, with shots of Bennett singing in a red room, driving in a car with her friends, talking on the phone and dancing with friends. Then Bennett discovers Breeding flirting with another girl, breaks up with him and the song changes to I'm So Hot, in which Bennett and dancers are shown dancing in a studio. The video was officially premiered on Yahoo! Music on April 23, 2007.
External links
"Ordinary Love" Music Video
References
{{Authority control
Paris Bennett albums
2007 debut albums