Roulette (album)

Roulette
Studio album by Blue
Released 28 April 2013[1]
Recorded 2010-12;
Los Angeles, United States
New York, United States
London, United Kingdom
Genre Pop, R&B, dance
Label Island Records, Blueworld Records
Producer Jez Ashurst, Cufather & Joe, RedOne, TroyBoi, Lucas Secon, Hayleyz, DaBeatfreakz, Steve DuBerry, StarSign
Blue chronology
Guilty
(2003)
Roulette
(2013)
Colours
(2015)
Singles from Roulette
  1. "I Can"
    Released: 1 May 2011
  2. "Hurt Lovers"
    Released: 7 January 2013
  3. "Without You"
    Released: 16 May 2013
  4. "Break My Heart"
    Released: 5 August 2013
  5. "Broken / Ayo"
    Released: 2 February 2014

Roulette is the fourth studio album by English boy band Blue, released on 25 January 2013.[2] The album was preceded by the release of the lead single, "Hurt Lovers", on 4 January 2013, and also includes the band's Eurovision entry single, "I Can". The album was released in Germany and certain other European territories on 25 January. It was released in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2013.[1] The album was re-released on 4 November 2013 in the form of a deluxe tour edition, containing a bonus disc featuring a number of remixes of tracks from the album.[3]

Background

Blue began recording new material in July 2010. They revealed during in an interview in March 2011 that they had recorded a collaboration with American R&B superstar Bruno Mars for their upcoming, fourth studio album. Discussing the record with Digital Spy, Lee Ryan said: "We've been writing with Ne-Yo, and I've written at least a couple of songs on my own that will probably make the album. We've also been working with Bruno Mars on a song called 'Black & Blue' – he's sending his parts over from a demo we recorded a while ago. It's got some haunting notes on the chorus." They also revealed that three tracks on the album had been produced by RedOne, and that they felt that the material was "their best work to date".[4] During February 2012, the band embarked on a small tour across Manila, performing with fellow boyband A1 and Jeff Timmons in three special concerts, two of which included the Smart Araneta Coliseum on 25 February 2012, and the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 28 February. The tour was billed as "Boybands: The Greatest Hits Tour".[5]

On 22 June 2012, the band premiered their new single, "Hurt Lovers", during a concert in China. In an interview shortly after the concert, the band claimed that "Hurt Lovers" was one of the first tracks they recorded after re-uniting, and that it was an obvious choice for their comeback single. The track was co-written by the band, along with Jez Ashurst, David Jost, Martin Schmidt and Alexander Zuckowski.[6] It received positive reception across Asia, before being officially premiered in Germany on 6 October 2012. Thus, the creators of the film Schlussmacher approached the band, and asked if the song could be used as the official theme for the film. Thus, the track will receive an early release in Germany on 4 January 2013, before being released across the world later in the year. In promotion of the single, the band performed it live on Vocea României on 4 December 2012,[7] as well as embarking on an acoustic radio tour across six cities in Germany.[8] In October 2012, the group confirmed via their official Facebook page that the title of their fourth studio album would be Roulette. It was also revealed that the album will receive an early release in Germany, being made available from 25 January 2013. The band shot the album's artwork in a deserted casino in November 2012.[9]

Singles

"I Can" was released as the band's comeback single. The track was also used as the United Kingdom's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, which was held in Düsseldorf, Germany. The song came 11th in the contest, scoring 100 points.[10] The single was released on 1 May 2011 as a digital download, with the physical release the day after.[11] The track peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Blue's lowest-charting single in the United Kingdom to date.[12] The song was written by group members Duncan James and Lee Ryan with Ciaron Bell, Ben Collier, Ian Hope, Liam Keenan, and Norwegian production team StarSign. It was produced by Ronny Svendsen and Hallgeir Rustan, the latter who previously produced several of Blue's hit singles.

"Hurt Lovers" was released as the official lead single from the album on 4 January 2013, in Germany, three weeks prior to the release of the album in the country.[13] The track also serves as the official theme for the German film Schlussmacher. In an interview, the band claimed that "Hurt Lovers" was one of the first tracks they recorded after re-uniting, and that it was an obvious choice for the band's reunion single. The track was co-written by the band, along with Jez Ashurst, David Jost, Martin Schmidt and Alexander Zuckowski.[6] The band first premiered the song during a concert in China on 22 June 2012. It received positive reception across Asia, before being officially premiered in Germany on 6 October 2012. The creators of the film Schluss Macher approached the band, and asked if the song could be used as the official theme for the film. Thus, the track received an early release in Germany on 4 January 2013, before being released across the world later in the year. In promotion of the single, the band performed it live on The Voice of Romania, as well as embarking on an acoustic radio tour across six cities in Germany.[8]

"Without You" was released as the second single from the album on 16 May 2013 only in Germany, Swiss and Austria. The music video premiered the same day.

"Break My Heart" was released as the third single from the album on 29 June for radio premiere and 5 August 2013 for digital download. The single was released as official single only in Germany and promotional radio single on United Kingdom.[14] The music video was premiered on 18 August. The song was released as the third single in the United Kingdom as part of the 'Roulette Summer Edition EP' on 2 September 2013.[15]

"Broken" was released as the fourth single in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 2 February 2014, as double A-side single with "Ayo".[16] The music video for "Broken" premiered on 31 January 2013.[17]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Hurt Lovers"  Alexander Zuckowski, Martin "Fly" Fliegenschmidt, Jez Ashurst, David JostRobin Grubert, Alexander Zuckowski, Martin Fliegenschmidt (co.), Kiko Masbaum (co.) 3:56
2. "Without You"  Wayne Hector, Mich Hansen, Jason Gill, Daniel Davidsen, Lee Ryan, Duncan James, Anthony Costa, Simon WebbeCutfather, Jason Gill, Daniel Davidsen 3:27
3. "Break My Heart"  Novel Jannusi, Geo Slam, Ryan, James, Costa, WebbeBeatGeek, Julian Vasquez (co.) 4:06
4. "Ayo"  Saif Naqui, Troy Henry, Ryan, James, Costa, WebbeTroy Henry 3:50
5. "Risk It All"  Lucas Secon, HectorLucas Secon 3:42
6. "Heart on My Sleeve"  Hector, Hansen, Gill, DavidsenCutfather, Jason Gill, Daniel Davidsen 3:51
7. "We've Got Tonight"  Jannusi, Hector, Geo Slam, Pat Devine, Ryan, James, Costa, WebbeBeatGeek 3:39
8. "Paradise"  Jannusi, Geo Slam, Ryan, James, Costa, WebbeBeatGeek, Geo Slam (co.) 3:46
9. "Black Box"  Hector, Secon, Hansen, Jonas JebergCutfather, Jonas Jeberg 3:28
10. "Broken"  Pat Devine, Carl Haley, Greg Haley, Charlie Platt, Rafael Haley, Jake Isaacs, Ryan, James, Costa, WebbeThe Fives 3:56
11. "Break You Down"  Hi W. Jackson, Ryan, James, Costa, WebbeDa Beatfreakz, Steve DuBerry 3:38
12. "All I Need"  Steve DuBerry, Ryan, James, Costa, WebbeSteve DuBerry 3:27

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart[19] 30
German Albums Chart[20] 14
Irish Albums Chart[21] 90
Italian Albums Chart 32
Japanese Albums Chart[22] 192
Scottish Albums Chart[23] 21
Swiss Albums Chart[24] 31
UK Albums Chart[25] 13

Roulette Tour

Roulette Tour
Europe tour by Blue
Associated album Roulette
Start date 2 May 2013
End date 8 November 2013
Legs 2
Number of shows 36 in Europe
Blue concert chronology

The Roulette Tour is the fourth headlining concert tour by the English boy band Blue. On 27 March 2013, the group announced live on This Morning that they would be embarking on their first headlining tour after reuniting later on in the year. After one concert in London, the tour kicked off in Germany with nine dates and additional five dates one each in Austria, Switzerland, France and two in Italy all in late May and early June. The second leg will lead the tour through twenty-one dates in United Kingdom.

Setlist[26]

First Leg

Act 1

  1. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
  2. "Breathe Easy"
  3. "U Make Me Wanna"
  4. "Break My Heart"
  5. "I Can"
  6. "Best in Me"
  7. "Don't Treat Me Like a Fool"
  8. "Long Time"

Act 2

  1. "All Rise"
  2. "Too Close"
  3. "Fly by II"
  4. "Bubblin'"
  5. "We've Got Tonight"
  6. "Guilty"
  7. "If You Come Back"
  8. "Hurt Lovers"

Encores

  1. "Curtain Falls"
  2. "One Love"
  3. "Without You"
  4. "Sing for Me"

Second Leg

Act 1

  1. "We've Got Tonight" (Single Remix)
  2. "Bubblin"' (Single Remix)
  3. "Fly By II"
  4. "Too Close"
  5. "Ayo"
  6. "Black Box"
  7. "U Make Me Wanna"
  8. "Sing for Me" (Single Remix)

Act 2

  1. "Paradise"
  2. "Break My Heart"
  3. "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
  4. "If You Come Back"
  5. "Broken"
  6. "Without You"
  7. "Break You Down"
  8. "Heart on My Sleeve"
  9. "Hurt Lovers"
  10. "One Love"

Encores

  1. "Breathe Easy"
  2. "All Rise"

*The versions of "We've Got Tonight", "Bubblin'" and "Sing for Me" played on tour are different to the album versions. "We've Got Tonight" and "Bubblin'" include a new middle-eight rap from Simon. "Sing for Me" jumps into a club remix following the second chorus.

Tour dates[26]

Date City Country Venue
First leg
2 May 2013 London England Shepherds Bush Empire
21 May 2013 Cologne Germany Essigfabrik
22 May 2013 Recklinghausen Vestarena
24 May 2013 Leipzig Haus Auensee
26 May 2013 Berlin Columbia Club
28 May 2013 Hamburg Grunspan
29 May 2013 Osnabrück Rosenhof
31 May 2013 Hagen Stadthalle
2 June 2013 Mannheim Alte Seilerei
4 June 2013 Munich Theaterfabrik
5 June 2013 Vienna Austria Arena
7 June 2013 Bern Switzerland Bierhubeli
8 June 2013 Milan Italy Maggazzini Genrali
9 June 2013 Rome Palatlantico
11 June 2013 Paris France Maroquinerie
14 September 2013 Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Central Stadium
Second leg
13 October 2013 Nottingham England Rock City
14 October 2013 Norwich UEA, The Nick Rayns LCR
15 October 2013 Manchester
17 October 2013 Newcastle O2 Academy
18 October 2013 Leeds O2 Academy
19 October 2013 Glasgow Scotland O2 Academy
21 October 2013 Birmingham England
22 October 2013 London Hammersmith Apollo
23 October 2013 Bristol O2 Academy
25 October 2013 Oxford O2 Academy
26 October 2013 Sheffield O2 Academy
27 October 2013 Liverpool O2 Academy
29 October 2013 Bournemouth O2 Academy
30 October 2013 Cardiff Wales Great Hall
31 October 2013 Plymouth England Pavilion
2 November 2013 Portsmouth Guildhall
3 November 2013 Cambridge Corn Exchange
4 November 2013 Ipswich Regent Theatre
6 November 2013 Southend Cliff's Pavilion
7 November 2013 Birmingham Institute
8 November 2013 Brighton Centre
21 November 2013 Milan Italy Alcatraz
26 November 2013 Mannheim Germany Alte Seilerei
2 December 2013 Hamburg Docks Hamburg
3 December 2013 Köln Essigfabrik
4 December 2013 Bremen Aladin Music Hall

Release history

Regions Dates Format(s) Label(s)
Germany[27] 25 January 2013 CD, digital download Island Records, Universal
Italy 1 February 2013
South Africa 23 February 2013
United Kingdom[1] 28 April 2013 Island Records
Ireland[28]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Roulette - Blue". iTunes. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  2. BLUE | Blue werden am 25. Januar neues Album "Roulette" veröffentlichen | News
  3. "Roulette (Deluxe Edition) at Juno Records". Juno.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  4. "Blue confirm "haunting" Bruno Mars collab – Music News". Digital Spy. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  5. "THE ULTIMATE BOYBAND CONCERT: BLUE, A1 AND JEFF TIMMONS FROM 98 DEGREES". 25 January 2012.
  6. 1 2 Blue - Hurt-Lovers [OFFICIAL VIDEO - 'Schlussmacher' Version] - YouTube
  7. "VOCEA ROMÂNIEI. Grupul britanic Blue, invitat special în ediția de marți" (in Romanian). Realitatea TV. 3 December 2012.
  8. 1 2
  9. "Name of Blue's new album". 5 November 2012.
  10. "Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Final - Eurovision Song Contest - Düsseldorf 2011". Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  11. Copsey, Robert (11 March 2011). "Interview: Blue". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  12. "Official Top 40 Singles Chart". BBC. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  13. Roulette: Amazon.de: Musik
  14. "Blue - "Break My Heart"". 11 March 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  15. "iTunes - Music - Roulette Summer Edition EP (feat. Tracy Young) by Blue". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-09-02. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  16. "iTunes - Music - Broken / Ayo - Single by Blue". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  17. "Blue - Broken (Official Video)". YouTube. 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  18. iTunes - Musik – „Roulette (Special Version)" von Blue
  19. "Blue - Roulette - austriancharts.at". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  20. "Musicline.de - Chartverfolgung - Blue - Roulette". Media Control Charts (in German). PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  21. |url=http://irma.ie/aucharts.asp |date=20120511020134 |df=y Archive copy at the Wayback Machine
  22. http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/311005/products/
  23. http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20130505/40/
  24. "Blue - Roulette - hitparade.ch". Swiss Music Charts (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  25. "Chart Archive > 11 May 2013". Official Charts Company. 11 May 2013.
  26. 1 2 "Blue Germany: Roulette Tour 2013". Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  27. Hurt Lovers (2-Track): Amazon.de: Musik
  28. "Roulette -". iTunes. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
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