Jennifer Hudson (album)

Jennifer Hudson
Studio album by Jennifer Hudson
Released September 27, 2008 (2008-09-27)
(see release history)
Recorded 2006–08
Genre R&B, soul, gospel
Length 52:23
Label Arista, J Records
Producer Jim Beanz, Warryn Campbell, Rock City, Missy Elliott, Brian Kennedy, Ne-Yo, Polow da Don, Pro-Jay, Salaam Remi, Jack Splash, Stargate, T-Pain, Tank, Robin Thicke, Timbaland, The Underdogs
Jennifer Hudson chronology
Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture
(2006)		 Jennifer Hudson
(2008)		 I Remember Me
(2011)
Singles from Jennifer Hudson
  1. "Spotlight"
    Released: June 10, 2008
  2. "If This Isn't Love"
    Released: February 24, 2009
  3. "Giving Myself"
    Released: June 2, 2009

Jennifer Hudson is the debut studio album by American actress and recording artist Jennifer Hudson. It was first released in Australia, and it physically released in North America on September 27, 2008, by Arista Records and J Records. Jennifer Hudson has worked with a variety range of several producers and songwriters on the album; including Rock City, Missy Elliott, Brian Kennedy, Ne-Yo, Salaam Remi, T-Pain, Tank, Timbaland and The Underdogs, among others. Three singles were released from the album; including the lead single "Spotlight", and it has reached atop on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and also peaked on the top 20 on the UK Singles Chart. It was well-received to generally mixed reception by music critics, Jennifer Hudson debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, with first week sales of 217,000 copies. It became a commercial success, it was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States.

Hudson promoted the album in a numerous live appearances; including co-heading a North American concert tour, with a fellow R&B singer Robin Thicke, from March and May 2009. On the same year, Hudson won three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding New Artist, Outstanding Album and Outstanding Duo or Group for the album,[1] and was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning in the Best R&B Album category.[2] A deluxe edition was released to iTunes on February 24, 2009.[3][4]

Background

In January 2002, Hudson signed her first recording contract with Righteous Records, a Chicago-based independent record label. In 2004, she was released from her five-year contract by the company's president, David Johnson, so that she could audition for the third season of the talent series American Idol in Atlanta.[5] As a finalist, Hudson received the highest number of votes in the Top 9 after her performance of Elton John's "Circle of Life" on April 6, 2004, but two weeks later she was eliminated after performing Barry Manilow's "Weekend in New England", coming in seventh place.[6]

In November 2005, Hudson was cast in the role of Effie White for the film adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls, which also starred Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles and Eddie Murphy.[7] The filmmakers insisted on casting a relative unknown in the role, paralleling the casting of then-21-year-old Jennifer Holliday in that role for the original Broadway production.[7] 783 singing actresses auditioned for the role of Effie White, among them American Idol alumnae Hudson, Fantasia Barrino, the former Disney star Raven-Symoné, and the Broadway stars Capathia Jenkins and Patina Miller.[8] Hudson was eventually selected to play Effie, leading Barrino to telephone Hudson and jokingly complain that Hudson "stole [Barrino's] part".[9][10][11] Her performance earned her several prizes, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Hudson won particular praise for her show-stopping onscreen rendition of the hit song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", the signature song of the role, which had earlier been recorded, and had already reached the status of musical standard, because of the definitive performance of Jennifer Holliday.[12][13] Her rendition entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 98 in the January 13, 2007, issue and was Hudson's first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B Airplay chart on February 24, 2007.

In September 2006, Hudson performed the song "Over It" live on Fox Chicago Morning News. In the interview, she said that the song would be included on her first album, to be released in early 2007; however, this was before she had been signed to a record label.[14] In late November 2006, it was announced that Hudson has signed a recording contract with the music mogul Clive Davis's J Records, a label of the Sony BMG music conglomerate.[15] Hudson spoke to Access Hollywood at the 2006 A Fine Romance event in Hollywood, exclaiming,: "My album, I’ll be recording my album! I just signed my record deal two weeks ago. So I’m starting on that in January."[15]

Release and promotion

Singles

The first single, "Spotlight", written and produced by Ne-Yo and Stargate, was played on U.S. radio on June 9, 2008, and the following day was available as a music download. The song peaked at number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, spending two consecutive weeks on top. In September 2008, "Spotlight" reached number eleven on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number one on UK Airplay Chart.

The album's second single, "If This Isn't Love", was released on February 24, 2009.[16] "My Heart" was originally scheduled as the second single and was due for an October 2008 release, but when her family murders occurred, Hudson rescheduled the release to January 2009. The single was then changed to "If This Isn't Love". On the charts, the track failed to make much impact, though it reached number five of the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and the top forty of the UK Singles Chart. "If This Isn't Love" had a second consecutive week at number one on the Urban Adult Radio Charts, Hudson thus joining a group of only five other women in urban adult history to reach this accomplishment.[17]

"Giving Myself", the third and final single from the album, was sent to US radio on June 2, 2009.[18] It charted on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number 84.

Tour

Spring Tour with Robin Thicke
Tour by Jennifer Hudson
Associated album Jennifer Hudson
Start date March 31, 2009
End date May 21, 2009
Number of shows 20 in North America

The "Spring Tour with Robin Thicke",[19] a tour to promote her album, began on March 31, 2009, in Albany, New York.[20][21] Due to strain on her vocal cords, Hudson was instructed by her doctor to go on vocal rest, which led to several dates having to be rescheduled.[22]

Tour dates

Date City Venue
[23]
March 31, 2009 Albany, New York Palace Theatre
April 2, 2009 Newark, New Jersey Performing Arts Center
April 3, 2009 Philadelphia Tower Theatre
April 4, 2009 Baltimore Lyric Theatre
April 5, 2009 Washington, D.C. DAR Constitution Hall
April 9, 2009 Mashantucket, Connecticut MGM Grand
April 10, 2009 New York WaMu Theatre
April 12, 2009 Norfolk, Virginia Chrysler Hall
April 15, 2009 Atlanta Fox Theatre
April 17, 2009 Charlotte, North Carolina Ovens Auditorium
April 18, 2009 Newark, New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Greensboro, North Carolina Special Events Center
April 19, 2009 Richmond, Virginia Landmark Theater
April 23, 2009 St. Louis, Missouri Fox Theatre
April 24, 2009 Detroit Opera House
April 25, 2009 Chicago Arie Crown Theater
May 2, 2009 Los Angeles Nokia Theatre
May 17, 2009[24] Houston Verizon Wireless Theater
May 19, 2009[24] Oakland, California Paramount Theatre
May 21, 2009[24] Dallas Nokia Theatre

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[25]
Allmusic[26]
Billboard(favorable)[27]
Boston Globe(positive)[28]
Chicago Tribune(mixed)[29]
Digital Spy[30]
Entertainment Weekly(B-)[31]
New York Daily News[32]
Slant Magazine[33]
The Times[34]

Jennifer Hudson received generally mixed to average reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted mean rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 58, based on seven reviews.[35] Mark Edward Nero form About.com commended the album as "generally well-sung and well-produced" and considered it "without a doubt one of the strongest R&B albums of 2008."[25] Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe found that, "despite its flaws, Hudson's debut comes on much like her Dreamgirls character, with admirable self-assurance and real-girl sensuality." While she felt that the album was "a sometimes illogical jumble that hopscotches from gritty urban soul to glossy adult contemporary pop to the song that clinched her the little gold statue — "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going." Hudson ties it all together with her titanic vocal prowess and emotional conviction. The Chicago native owns the strong material and elevates the weak [...] The most striking thing about the record, and what ultimately holds it together, is the placement of Hudson's voice front and center in the mix.[28] Billboard named Jennifer Hudson 2008's "best R&B album" and said that Hudson's "self-titled debut showcases a voice so big, with an interpretive talent so natural, that it seems to burst beyond the confines of the recording. Hudson is so comfortable with singing — whatever the song might be — that she elevates the material, making it sound like nothing you've ever heard before. All hail the new diva".[27][36]

Less enthusiastic, Chris Willman of Entertainment Weekly stated that, "The identity-defying something for everybody mentality yields a Robin Thicke ballad, a Timbaland stomper, some semi-acoustic soul from Stargate, and so on. None are exceptional, but they're all a sufficient delivery system for those spectacular vocal chops." He gave the album a B– rating.[31] Similarly, Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune wrote, "There’s no denying the Chicago native is a prodigiously gifted vocalist. But a singer is only as strong as her material, and there’s not enough on Jennifer Hudson that measures up to her gutsy, gospel-drenched alto. Hudson’s raw ability has been badly mismanaged."[29] New York Daily News's Jim Farber wrote, that "clearly, Hudson needed the younger stuff to get on radio. Unfortunately, it violates her gift as a twentysomething woman whose voice sounds like it has been there and back. When she calls on that, Hudson comes closest to nailing the dream."[32] Andy Kellman of Allmusic said, "Few vocalists as young as Hudson have a voice that is as versatile and expressive, proficient enough to pull off a multi-dimensional set of R&B songs, yet her debut is as tricked out as that of an artist with a small fraction of the talent. Neither the treatments nor the accessories were necessary."[26]

Accolades

Hudson's debut album quickly earned her some acclaim, as it received four Grammy Award nominations at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, including nods in the categories for Best R&B Album, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals along with Fantasia for "I'm His Only Woman", and both Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for lead single "Spotlight".[37] At the ceremony on February 8, 2009, where also she performed the song "You Pulled Me Through" on stage, she won the award for Best R&B Album. It marked Hudson's first ever Grammy Award.[38]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with sales of 217,000 copies sold in the United States.[39] In its second week, the album fell to number 4, with sales of 63,000 copies.[40] According to RIAA Certification, the album sold more than 500,000 copies in the United States in the first 6 weeks. On November 7, 2008, her album was certified Gold by RIAA. By 2011, it had sold 826,000 copies.[41]

The album peaked at number twenty-one on the UK Albums Chart,[42] and has sold 172,720 copies as of April 2011.[43]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Spotlight"  Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Shaffer SmithStargate, Ne-Yo 4:10
2. "If This Isn't Love"  Brian Kennedy, Theron Thomas, Timothy ThomasKennedy 3:36
3. "Pocketbook" (featuring Ludacris)Christopher Bridges, Hannon Lane, Timothy Mosley, Candice Nelson, James WashingtonTimbaland, Jim Beanz 3:18
4. "Giving Myself"  Robin ThickeRobin Thicke, Pro-Jay 4:15
5. "What's Wrong (Go Away)" (featuring T-Pain)Sara Stokes Faheem NajmT-Pain 3:47
6. "My Heart"  Johntá Austin, Jamal Jones, Kennedy, Jason "JP" PerryPolow da Don 3:33
7. "You Pulled Me Through"  Diane WarrenHarvey Mason, Jr., Kennedy 3:40
8. "I'm His Only Woman" (featuring Fantasia)Melissa Elliott, Jack Splash, Jazmine Sullivan,Missy Elliott, Jack Splash 4:18
9. "Can't Stop the Rain"  Amund Bjorklund, Hermansen, Espen Lind, Eriksen, SmithStargate, Ne-Yo 4:44
10. "We Gon' Fight"  Durrell Babbs, Antonio DixonTank 4:02
11. "Invisible"  Tiffany Fred, Steven Russell, Mason, Jr., Damon ThomasThe Underdogs 3:43
12. "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"  Tom Eyen, Henry KriegerThe Underdogs 4:43
13. "Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There"  TraditionalWarryn Campbell 4:24

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2008) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[44] 73
Irish Albums Chart[42] 46
Italian Albums Chart [45] 75
Japanese Oricon Chart[42] 27
UK Albums Chart[42] 21
US Billboard 200[39] 2
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[46] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2008) Position
US Billboard 200[47] 93

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Gold 100,000
United States (RIAA)[49] Gold 500,000

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

Release history

Region Date Version
Australia September 27, 2008 Original
United Kingdom September 29, 2008
United States September 30, 2008
Canada October 7, 2008
Europe December 12, 2008
United States February 24, 2009 Re-release
Brazil March 11, 2009 Original

References

  1. ↑ Hite, N'neka (February 12, 2009). "Bees big at NAACP Image Awards". Variety. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  2. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (February 8, 2009). "Jennifer Hudson wins at marathon Grammys show". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson (Deluxe Edition) Available on iTunes Today! | The Official Jennifer Hudson Site". Jenniferhudsononline.com. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  4. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Jennifer Hudson (Deluxe Edition) by Jennifer Hudson". Ax.itunes.apple.com. February 24, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  5. ↑ Silverman, Stephen M. (November 8, 2008). "Jennifer Hudson Moves to 'Better Place'". People. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
  6. ↑ "'Idol' Jennifer Hudson Says She Was Robbed". MTV. April 23, 2004. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
  7. 1 2 (2007). Building the Dream (Documentary from Dreamgirls: 2 Disc Showstopper Edition). DreamWorks Home Entertainment/Paramount Pictures.
  8. ↑ Murray, Jawn (26 December 2006). "BVBuzz". AOL Black Voices. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  9. ↑ "'American Idol' finalist Jennifer Hudson gets lead role in 'Dreamgirls' movie". Jet magazine, December 5, 2005). Retrieved on March 3, 2007.
  10. ↑ O'Neil, Tom, "Dreamgirl Hudson is frontrunner for supporting Oscar". TheEnvelope.com: Gold Derby, August 15, 2006. Retrieved on November 11, 2006.
  11. ↑ Fonseca, Nicholas, "Fantasia's Second Act." Entertainment Weekly, December 8, 2006). Retrieved on January 21, 2008.
  12. ↑ Vilkomerson, Sara (December 3, 2006). "Dreamgirls Wakes Up". The New York Observer. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Hudson steals ‘Dreamgirls,’ flirts with Oscar". MSNBC. December 11, 2006. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson sings 'Over It'". YouTube. September 7, 2005. Retrieved July 9, 2006.
  15. 1 2 Nero, Mark Edward. "Jennifer Hudson signs with Clive Davis". Access Hollywood. USA Today. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  16. ↑ "All Access Music Group". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on September 14, 2008.
  17. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson Makes Radio History!". JenniferHudson.com. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
  18. ↑ "®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: Urban AC". Gfa.radioandrecords.com. June 2, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  19. ↑ Meet Jennifer Hudson on Tour!
  20. ↑ "Information Not Found". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson & Robin Thicke Announce Tour Dates". Rap-Up.com. February 18, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Tour Dates Re-Scheduled – Update | The Official Jennifer Hudson Site". Jenniferhudsononline.com. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson Announces Tour Dates". MTV. February 18, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
  24. 1 2 3 "Tour Dates Re-Scheduled – Update". JHudson. May 5, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  25. 1 2 Nero, Mark Edward. "Sassy & Sophisticated". About.cmom Guide. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  26. 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "Jennifer Hudson (2008) review". Allmusic. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  27. 1 2 "Jennifer Hudson review". Billboard (Reuters). October 4, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  28. 1 2 Rodman, Sarah (October 2, 2008). "She Is Telling You She's Here to Stay". Boston Herald. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  29. 1 2 Kot, Greg (September 30, 2008). "Jennifer Hudson's Brilliant Voice Victim of Dull Songs [...]". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  30. ↑ Levine, Nick (September 29, 2008). "Jennifer Hudson: Jennifer Hudson". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  31. 1 2 Willman, Chris (September 24, 2008). "Jennifer Hudson (2008)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  32. 1 2 Farber, Jim (September 30, 2008). "New Jennifer Hudson CD Is No Dreamgirls". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  33. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (September 27, 2008). "Jennifer Hudson". Slant Magazine. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson: Jennifer Hudson". London: The Times. September 27, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  35. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson by Jennifer Hudson". Metacritic. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  36. ↑ "10 Songwriters and Producer To Watch". Billboard (Google Books). April 10, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  37. ↑ Mandell, Zack (December 5, 2008). "Jennifer Hudson with Four Grammy Nominations". Yahoo! Voices. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  38. ↑ Roche, Jennifer. "Jennifer Hudson – Grammy Acceptance Speech 2009". About.cmom Guide. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  39. 1 2 Katie Hasty (October 8, 2008). T.I. Debuts Big Atop Billboard 200, Hot 100 Billboard. Accessed October 8, 2008.
  40. ↑ "Recording Industry Association of America". RIAA. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Jennifer Hudson to Drop 'Remember Me' Album Mar. 22". Billboard.com. January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  42. 1 2 3 4 Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson – Music Charts αCharts. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  43. ↑ "Music Week – Adele stays at top for albums". Musicweek.com. January 5, 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  44. ↑ Chartifacts week 41 ARIA. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  45. ↑ "Classifiche" (in Italian). FIMI – Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.
  46. ↑ Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson Billboard. Accessed October 7, 2008.
  47. ↑ "Charts – Year End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  48. ↑ "British album certifications – Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Jennifer Hudson in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  49. ↑ "American album certifications – Jennifer Hudson – Jennifer Hudson". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH

External links

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