Stacie Orrico (album)

''Stacie Orrico'' is the second studio album by American singer Stacie Orrico. It was released by ForeFront Records and Virgin Records on March 25, 2003, in the United States. Initially conceived as a Contemporary Christian music album, much in style of Orrico's debut album '' Genuine'' (2000), it was actually titled ''Say It Again'' and expected to be released in 2002, featuring production by Anthony Dent and Tedd T, among others. Additional recording sessions with mainstream producers Dallas Austin and The Underdogs led to a different musical direction however and resulted in the renaming of the project. Stylistically, the album mixes the singer's native Christian music with more pop and R&B styles, but also features incorporation of teen pop and dance music.

''Stacie Orrico'' received generally favorable reviews from music critics, many calling Orrico the new "diva" of music, and praised the songs, but some said that it really was mixed with different genres. The album peaked at number fifty-nine on the US ''Billboard'' 200, while also reaching the top spot on ''Billboard''s Top Christian Albums, and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It peaked in the top ten in different countries, including Japan and Norway, and the top twenty in Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland. ''Stacie Orrico'' produced the international top ten hits " Stuck" and " (There's Gotta Be) More to Life" and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, but lost to Michael W. Smith.

Background

When Orrico released her debut album, '' Genuine'' (2000), she released only one mainstream single which was "Everything". It was later announced that she would record another album with her record label Forefront Records, ''Say It Again'', which was originally intended solely for Christian pop radio, with a release date of April 2002. However, when Virgin Records saw mainstream potential with Orrico, the album was postponed and then cancelled while it was retooled. Four tracks from ''Say It Again'' were removed, although two were later released as single B-sides and Japanese bonus tracks on the album, including "Truth", "Until I Find You", "That’s the Way" and " Star of My Story". Meanwhile, "Bounce Back", ''Say It Again''s first single, was completely re-recorded and "Security" and "Maybe I Won't Look Back" received major alterations. The songs " Stuck", " (There's Gotta Be) More to Life", " I Promise", "I Could Be the One", "Instead", and "Strong Enough" were added to the track listing.

Singles

The release of the album was preceded by the single "Bounce Back." When ''Say It Again'' was reworked into ''Stacie Orrico'', the song was demoted and replaced by Dallas Austin-produced " Stuck" as the album's leading single. A worldwide success, "Stuck" reached the top five in Australia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand and became a top ten success on most other charts it appeared on. In the United States, the song underperformed on the US ''Billboard'' 100, reaching number 52 only, though it peaked inside the top ten of the Mainstream Top 40, while the Thunderpuss Remix topped the US Hot Dance Singles Sales.

Second single " (There's Gotta Be) More to Life" became a top ten success in Ireland, New Zealand, and Norway, and reached the top 20 in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Scotland, and the United Kingdom. It also peaked at number thirty on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, making it Orrico's highest-charting single there. Third single " I Promise" did not do as well as her previous singles, but did make the top 20 in Ireland and the top 30 in the United Kingdom. A fourth and final single from the album, "I Could Be the One," reached number 34 on the UK Singles Chart.

Critical reception

''Stacie Orrico'' received generally positive reviews from music critics. Steve Losey from Allmusic rated the album three stars out of five. He pointed out about Orrico that "vocally the opus stretches her talents by delving into several tempo and mood changes that the 17-year-old embraces like a seasoned veteran." He also said that "the astounding thing about the disc is that the grooves drip of dance floor sweat, maturity, and soulfulness while maintaining integrity and purity from America's newest diva/role model." ''PopMatters'' noted that on her second album, "Orrico knows what she can do – excellent melodic pop – and doesn't try to push any boundaries. At this time in her young career, this clear path is a benefit." While the online magazine felt that a "couple of weaker, moderate-tempo songs prevent ''Stacie Orrico'' from matching '' Genuine'', it declared the album a "well-crafted and focused" project, complimenting it for its "solid melodies and songs."

''Billboard'' remarked that the album had Orrico "making major inroads into mainstream pop" and called it an "adventurous set that perfectly showcases Orrico's vocal sass and youthful exuberance." ''Rolling Stone'' critic Kerry L. Smith found that the album had Orrico invoke a "sexy, sophisticated spirit hatspices up her R&B-heavy; sophomore album with hip-hop, pop and gospel stylings well beyond her years ..The album's shining moments are the ballads "Strong Enough," which Orrico performs on keyboard and "I Promise." If Orrico continues to stay true to herself, her career is one promise she's sure to make good on." Bill Lehane from MusicOMH gave ''Stacie Orrico'' a positive review. He found that "the urban, R&B; sound is certainly there, but this girl is singing about a much more serious mythical force than a genie in a bottle." He concluded that "this record, Orrico's second despite her tender years, is a beautiful album, and it packs a spiritual punch without alienating the average Aguilera fan. At least I hope it won't, because this contains some of the best solo female urban material in years. Does it matter that she's not singing about sex?"

Commercial response

''Stacie Orrico'' enjoyed moderate international success. It scored its chart highest entry in Japan where it reached number three on the Japanese Albums Chart and was later certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), indicating sales in excess of the 500,000 units. The album also reached the top ten in Norway, peaking at number seven. It was eventually certified gold by the Norwegian International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for sales of more than 20,000 copies. Elsewhere, ''Stacie Orrico'' entered the top 20 in Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Switzerland. The album also peaked at number 43 on the Australian Albums Chart and number 72 on the Dutch Top 40, where it spent 22 weeks on the chart.

In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 37 on the UK Albums Chart, but did not pass its peak of 37, and it slipped down and rose several weeks, staying in the charts for 16weeks. It eventually passed sales in excess of 100,000 copies, and was later certified silver and gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In the United States, ''Stacie Orrico'' peaked at number 59 on the US ''Billboard'' 200, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the shipment of over 500,000 copies. It also topped ''Billboard''s Top Christian Albums, becoming Orrico's first album to do so, and finished eighth on both the chart's 2003 and 2004 year-end rankings. By January 2007, the album had sold 498,000 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Track listing

Notes
* signifies a co-producer
* signifies an additional producer

Personnel

*Anthony Anderson – guitar, MIDI programming
*David Angell – violin
*Dallas Austin – producer
*Ken Bell – guitar, MIDI programming
*Teddy Campbell – drums
*Melody Chambers – vocals
*Kyle Cook – guitar
*Eric Darken – percussion
*David Davidson – violin
*Eddie DeGarmo – executive producer
*Dave Deviller – producer
*Aaron Featherstone – acoustic guitar
*Greg Ham – executive producer
*Sean Hosien – producer
*Victor Indrizzo – drums
*Kenya Ivey – vocals
*Corky James – guitar, bass
*Kevin Kadish – MIDI programming
*Anthony LaMarchina – cello
*Harvey Mason Jr. – producer
*David May – Acoustic guitar
*Mooki – drums, keyboards, vocals, producer, drum programming, MIDI programming
*Marcelo Pennell – engineer, mixer
*Nashville String Machine – strings
*Lynn Nichols – guitar
*Stacie Orrico – vocals, producer
*Carlos Pennell – guitar
*Tony Reyes – guitar
*Matt Rollings – piano, producer
*Matt Serletic – producer
*Neil Stubenhaus – bass

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

Notes

References

{{Authority control

2003 albums
Stacie Orrico albums
Albums produced by Dallas Austin
Albums produced by Matt Serletic
Albums produced by the Underdogs (production team)
ForeFront Records albums
Virgin Records albums