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
"I Can" Released: 1 May 2011 "Hurt Lovers" Released: 7 January 2013 "Without You" Released: 16 May 2013 "Break My Heart" Released: 5 August 2013 "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.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Hurt Lovers"	Alexander Zuckowski, Martin "Fly" Fliegenschmidt, Jez Ashurst, David Jost	Robin 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 Webbe	Cutfather, Jason Gill, Daniel Davidsen	3:27
3.	"Break My Heart"	Novel Jannusi, Geo Slam, Ryan, James, Costa, Webbe	BeatGeek, Julian Vasquez (co.)	4:06
4.	"Ayo"	Saif Naqui, Troy Henry, Ryan, James, Costa, Webbe	Troy Henry	3:50
5.	"Risk It All"	Lucas Secon, Hector	Lucas Secon	3:42
6.	"Heart on My Sleeve"	Hector, Hansen, Gill, Davidsen	Cutfather, Jason Gill, Daniel Davidsen	3:51
7.	"We've Got Tonight"	Jannusi, Hector, Geo Slam, Pat Devine, Ryan, James, Costa, Webbe	BeatGeek	3:39
8.	"Paradise"	Jannusi, Geo Slam, Ryan, James, Costa, Webbe	BeatGeek, Geo Slam (co.)	3:46
9.	"Black Box"	Hector, Secon, Hansen, Jonas Jeberg	Cutfather, Jonas Jeberg	3:28
10.	"Broken"	Pat Devine, Carl Haley, Greg Haley, Charlie Platt, Rafael Haley, Jake Isaacs, Ryan, James, Costa, Webbe	The Fives	3:56
11.	"Break You Down"	Hi W. Jackson, Ryan, James, Costa, Webbe	Da Beatfreakz, Steve DuBerry	3:38
12.	"All I Need"	Steve DuBerry, Ryan, James, Costa, Webbe	Steve DuBerry	3:27

German bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
13.	"I Can"	James, Ryan, Ben Collier, Ciaron Bell, Ian Hope, Liam Keenan, StarSign	Ronny Svendsen, Hallgeir Rustan	3:01

International bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
13.	"Sing for Me"	Novel Jannusi, Teddy Sky		3:18

German iTunes Store deluxe edition bonus tracks[18]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Give Me a Shot"	Uche Ebele, Obi Ebele, Andres Gill, Zachary Maxey, Ryan, James, Costa, Webbe, Mario Bayliss	Da Beatfreakz, Steve DuBerry	3:32
15.	"Sing for Me"	Novel Jannusi, Teddy Sky		3:18

International iTunes Store deluxe edition bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Give Me a Shot"	Uche Ebele, Obi Ebele, Andres Gill, Zachary Maxey, Ryan, James, Costa, Webbe, Mario Bayliss	Da Beatfreakz, Steve DuBerry	3:32

Deluxe tour edition bonus remix disc
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Break My Heart" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Radio Mix - Dirty)
2.	"Break My Heart" (Radio Edit - No Rap)
3.	"Break My Heart" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Extended Dub Mix)
4.	"Break My Heart" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Extended Mix)
5.	"Break My Heart" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Radio Mix - Clean)
6.	"Break My Heart" (Radio Edit - With Rap)
7.	"Break My Heart" (Single Mix)
8.	"Hurt Lovers" (Radio Edit)
9.	"Hurt Lovers" (BootSlap's Club Mix)
10.	"Hurt Lovers" (TroyBoi Remix)
11.	"Hurt Lovers" (Acapella)
12.	"Sing for Me" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Radio Mix)
13.	"Sing for Me" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Extended Mix)
14.	"Paradise" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Radio Mix)
15.	"Paradise" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Extended Mix)
16.	"Ayo" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Radio Mix)
17.	"Ayo" (Tracy Young's Ferosh Extended Mix)

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 "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" "Breathe Easy" "U Make Me Wanna" "Break My Heart" "I Can" "Best in Me" "Don't Treat Me Like a Fool" "Long Time" Act 2 "All Rise" "Too Close" "Fly by II" "Bubblin'" "We've Got Tonight" "Guilty" "If You Come Back" "Hurt Lovers" Encores "Curtain Falls" "One Love" "Without You" "Sing for Me" Second Leg Act 1 "We've Got Tonight" (Single Remix) "Bubblin"' (Single Remix) "Fly By II" "Too Close" "Ayo" "Black Box" "U Make Me Wanna" "Sing for Me" (Single Remix) Act 2 "Paradise" "Break My Heart" "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" "If You Come Back" "Broken" "Without You" "Break You Down" "Heart on My Sleeve" "Hurt Lovers" "One Love" Encores "Breathe Easy" "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 "Roulette - Blue". iTunes. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2010. BLUE | Blue werden am 25. Januar neues Album "Roulette" veröffentlichen | News "Roulette (Deluxe Edition) at Juno Records". Juno.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-02-03. "Blue confirm "haunting" Bruno Mars collab – Music News". Digital Spy. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011. "THE ULTIMATE BOYBAND CONCERT: BLUE, A1 AND JEFF TIMMONS FROM 98 DEGREES". 25 January 2012. Blue - Hurt-Lovers [OFFICIAL VIDEO - 'Schlussmacher' Version] - YouTube "VOCEA ROMÂNIEI. Grupul britanic Blue, invitat special în ediția de marți" (in Romanian). Realitatea TV. 3 December 2012. "Name of Blue's new album". 5 November 2012. "Eurovision Song Contest 2011 Final - Eurovision Song Contest - Düsseldorf 2011". Retrieved 14 May 2011. Copsey, Robert (11 March 2011). "Interview: Blue". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 March 2011. "Official Top 40 Singles Chart". BBC. Retrieved 14 May 2011. Roulette: Amazon.de: Musik "Blue - "Break My Heart"". 11 March 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2011. "iTunes - Music - Roulette Summer Edition EP (feat. Tracy Young) by Blue". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-09-02. Retrieved 2014-02-03. "iTunes - Music - Broken / Ayo - Single by Blue". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2014-02-03. "Blue - Broken (Official Video)". YouTube. 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2014-02-03. iTunes - Musik – „Roulette (Special Version)" von Blue "Blue - Roulette - austriancharts.at". Ö3 Austria Top 40 (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2010. "Musicline.de - Chartverfolgung - Blue - Roulette". Media Control Charts (in German). PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved 19 October 2010. |url=http://irma.ie/aucharts.asp |date=20120511020134 |df=y Archive copy at the Wayback Machine http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/311005/products/ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20130505/40/ "Blue - Roulette - hitparade.ch". Swiss Music Charts (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2010. "Chart Archive > 11 May 2013". Official Charts Company. 11 May 2013. "Blue Germany: Roulette Tour 2013". Retrieved 2 June 2013. Hurt Lovers (2-Track): Amazon.de: Musik "Roulette -". iTunes. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2010.