Strip Me

Strip Me / Strip Me Away
North American release cover
Studio album by Natasha Bedingfield
Released	7 December 2010
Recorded	2008–2010
Studio	Various Calabasas, California (Enemy Dojo) Denver, Colorado (Patriot Studios) Hollywood, California (Hensen Studios, Sage and Sound Studios) London, England (Sphere Studios) Los Angeles, California (John's Country Bunker, Hit and Run Studios) New York, New York (Avatar Studios, Rodeo Recording) North Hollywood, California (The Galt Line) Santa Monica, California (Sub Zero Studios) Topanga, California (Sweatbox Studio)
Genre	Pop[1] dance-pop[2] R&B[3]
Length	48:59 (Strip Me)
Label	Phonogenic
Producer	Marshall Altman, Natasha Bedingield (also exec.) Julian Bunetta, Andrew Frampton, John Hill, Steve Kipner, Kleerup, John Shanks, Ryan Tedder, Wayne Wilkins
Natasha Bedingfield chronology
N.B. / Pocketful of Sunshine (2007 / 08) Strip Me / Strip Me Away (2010 / 11)
Alternative cover
International release cover
Singles from Strip Me / Strip Me Away
"Touch" Released: 18 May 2010 "Strip Me" Released: 31 August 2010 "Pocketful of Sunshine" Released: 15 April 2011

Strip Me is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. Originally due for release on 9 November 2010, the album's release was pushed back to 7 December 2010 on Phonogenic Records. "Touch" was released as the first single from the album on 18 May 2010, while the title track title song was released as the second single on 31 August 2010.

Neither of the album's singles were particularly successful on the US Billboard charts, although the album's title song enjoyed some success on the adult contemporary format, where it peaked at number twenty-three. Critical response to the album was generally mixed, with critics praising Strip Me's polished production, but stating that Bedingfield failed to deliver anything different or outstanding. The album debuted at number 103 with 10,000 copies sold, a significant drop compared to her previous album, which debuted at number three, and sold five times as many copies.

In Europe, Strip Me was released in May 2011 under the title Strip Me Away, with more colorful artwork and an expanded list of tracks.

Background and production

Bedingfield finished recording the album in July 2010.^[4] The project's title was unveiled through Bedingfield's official Twitter page on 15 July 2010.^[5] She described the album as "be[ing] the next level from what I've already done....It's just more vibrant and exciting. And I can't wait for people to hear it."^[4] In an interview with Billboard, Bedingfield said:

"I've titled the album Strip Me because its about stripping down who we are as humans. We're united about our needs, our desires and our pain, all the different things we go through together. Strip Me felt like it explains what the songs are about more than any other title I could think of. So it has a double meaning, but I think people kind of know me enough to know what I mean by it.^[6]

The thirteen-track standard edition,^[7] the twenty-one track deluxe edition^[8] and pre-order bonus track editions^[9] of the album were complied from more than 50 songs which Bedingfield had written since touring. In an interview with PopEater she said "I've been touring for so many years now that I wrote with my live gigs in mind. I wanted to write anthems that people could sing along to – things that were still personal, but definitely trying to find the best way to connect with people."^[10] On the album she worked with Andreas Kleerup, John Hill, Wyclef Jean, Salaam Remi, Ryan Tedder, Jonas Myrin, Eg White and Sia Furler.^[11] None of the songs worked on with Jean, Remi or Furler made the final track listing, although all of the songs on the final track list were co-written by Bedingfield.^[7] Additionally Idolator revealed that Bedingfield had recorded a Ne-Yo-assisted duet titled "The Little Things", which was produced by StarGate, though it was not included on the final pressing either.^[12] Bedingfield told fans in December 2010, via a recorded video message, that the album could be released elsewhere in the world later on but for the near present she was focusing on America.^[13]

Promotion

Bedingfield's label, Epic Records, outlined plans for the artist to tour in the second half of 2010, in support of the album.^[14] However in September 2010, Billboard revealed that Bedingfield's tour plans were shifted back into 2011 though no dates were confirmed.^[6] Additionally, the singer announced "Touch" will be used in TV commercials for NIVEA skin care.^[15][16] Album track "Can't Fall Down" was exclusively streamed via Billboard's official website on 3 December 2010.^[6] Meanwhile another song from the album, "Weightless", was made available to stream on E! Online's website.^[17] Bedingfield promoted the album with performances of the album's title song on The Today Show on 7 December, LIVE! with Regis and Kelly on 8 December, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 9 December 2010 as well as appearances on Chelsea Lately and Rachel Ray.^[18] She was also announced on the line-up for Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve concert hosted by Ryan Seacrest.^[19] According to AOL online, Bedingfield also signed a promotion deal with Hotel Indigo which would see cross promotion of the hotel chain and album.^[20] In January 2011, Bedingfield was invited to the head offices of Rolling Stone magazine, where she performed "Pocketful of Sunshine", "Soulmate" and "Strip Me".^[21] To promote the album, Bedingfield announced her Less is More Tour, which began on 5 June and included 29 US cities.^[22] The deluxe version of Strip Me subsequently featured several audio and video recordings from the Less is More Tour dates.^[23][8]

Both "Strip Me" and "A Little Too Much" became official theme songs for recent films Morning Glory and Something Borrowed respectively, being featured in both the trailers and in the films' ending credits.^[24] "Neon Lights" was featured in the ending credits of the 2011 film What's Your Number?.

Singles

"Touch" was unveiled as the album's lead single. The up-tempo song was written by Bedingfield, Julien Bunetta and Steve Kipner, and produced by Bunetta and Kipner,^[14][15] It was released to the iTunes Store on 18 May 2010.^[25] Additionally it was sent to US Mainstream radio stations on 29 June 2010.^[26] The song peaked on the Canadian Hot 100 at number sixty.^[27] However, it was later declared a buzz single by Bedingfield's official website and the album's title track revealed as the replacement lead single.^[28] "Strip Me" was released to Mainstream radio stations on 31 August 2010^[26] and digital download on 21 September 2010.^[29] "Strip Me" was moderately more successful, reaching number sixty-five in Canada and number ninety-one on the Billboard Hot 100.^[30]

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	60/100[31]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
California Chronicle	[32]
Entertainment Weekly	(C)[33]
Rolling Stone	[34]
Slant Magazine	[1]

Strip Me received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 60, which indicates "mixed or average reviews", based on 4 reviews. Mikael Wood of Entertainment Weekly gave Strip Me a C rating and wrote that it "plays like one long, increasingly desperate pep talk. The only breather? 'Unexpected Hero,' a lovely late-Beatles-style ballad."^[33] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted the album for "retaining [the] same blend of well-manicured R&B and European sophistication" of Bedingfield's debut album and commented that she "plays it exceptionally safe, to the extent that she even tones down the self-empowerment of her first two records, preferring pristine blue-eyed soul and adult contemporary ballads, all tailored for an aspirational upscale lifestyle".^[3] Slant magazine's Jonathon Keefe found it "single-minded in its uplifting, inspirational tone", writing in conclusion that "Bedingfield uses her powerful voice to oversing most of her material, making Strip Me feel like even more of a sermon. It may not be the year's worst pop album, but it might just be the most exhausting and heavy-handed."^[1]

Chart performance

Strip Me was originally due to be released on 9 November 2010;^[35] however, it was pushed back to 7 December 2010.^[36] It is Bedingfield's third album to be released in the United States and Canada and the second release by Bedingfield to be released exclusively in these territories, following in the footsteps of 2008's Pocketful of Sunshine.^[37] On 16 December 2010, the album made its US Billboard 200 chart debut at number 103, having sold just under 10,000 copies. It was a significant decline compared to Pocketful of Sunshine (2008), which debuted at number three having sold 50,000 copies.^[38] It remained in the Top 200 for just its opening week;^[39] however, it re-appeared in 2011, on 15 January, at number 157.^[40]

Track listing

Strip Me

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Little Too Much"	Natasha Bedingfield John Hill Jonas Myrin	Hill	3:30
2.	"All I Need" (featuring Kevin Rudolf)	Bedingfield Danielle Brisebois John Shanks Rudolf	Shanks	3:45
3.	"Strip Me"	Bedingfield Ryan Tedder Wayne Wilkins	Wilkins Tedder Bedingfield	3:29
4.	"Neon Lights"	Bedingfield Tedder Wilkins	Wilkins Tedder Bedingfield	3:44
5.	"Weightless"	Bedingfield Steve Kipner Wilkins Andre Merritt	Wilkins Kipner Bedingfield	3:55
6.	"Can't Fall Down"	Bedingfield Kipner Andrew Frampton Wilkins	Wilkins Frampton Kipner Bedingfield	4:09
7.	"Try"	Bedingfield Brisebois Shanks	Shanks	3:16
8.	"Touch"	Bedingfield Kipner Julian Bunetta	Bunetta Kipner	3:47
9.	"Run-Run-Run"	Bedingfield Hill Myrin	Hill	3:06
10.	"Break Thru"	Bedingfield Andreas Kleerup Myrin	Kleerup Bedingfield (vocal)	4:07
11.	"No Mozart"	Bedingfield Kipner Frampton Wilkins	Wilkins Frampton Kipner Bedingfield	3:48
12.	"Recover"	Bedingfield Eg White	Marshall Altman	3:49
13.	"Weightless" (Less Is More Version)	Bedingfield Kipner Wilkins Merritt	Altman	4:31
Total length:				48:49

iTunes Store bonus track[9]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Easy" (with Rascal Flatts)	Katrina Elam Mike Mobley	Rascal Flats Dann Huff	3:39

iTunes Store pre-order bonus track[9][33][41]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Unexpected Hero"	Bedingfield Daniel Carey	Carey	3:22

Strip Me Away

In international territories, Strip Me was released under the title Strip Me Away, with an amended track listing.^[42]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Pocketful of Sunshine"	Bedingfield, Brisebois, Shanks	Shanks	3:23
2.	"Little Too Much"	Bedingfield, Hill, Myrin	Hill	3:30
3.	"All I Need" (featuring Kevin Rudolf)	Bedingfield, Brisebois, Rudolf, Shanks	Shanks	3:45
4.	"Strip Me"	Bedingfield, Tedder, Wilkins	Bedingfield, Tedder, Wilkins	3:29
5.	"Neon Lights"	Bedingfield, Tedder, Wilkins	Bedingfield, Tedder, Wilkins	3:44
6.	"Weightless"	Bedingfield, Kipner, Merritt, Wilkins	Bedingfield, Kipner, Wilkins	3:55
7.	"Can't Fall Down"	Bedingfield, Frampton, Kipner, Wilkins	Bedingfield, Kipner, Wilkins	4:09
8.	"Try"	Bedingfield, Brisebois, Shanks	Shanks	3:16
9.	"Touch"	Bedingfield, Bunetta, Kipner	Bunetta, Kipner	3:47
10.	"Run-Run-Run"	Bedingfield, Hill, Myrin	Hill	3:06
11.	"Break Thru"	Bedingfield, Kleerup, Myrin	Kleerup	4:07
12.	"No Mozart"	Bedingfield, Frampton, Kipner, Wilkins	Frampton, Kipner, Wilkins	3:48
13.	"Recover"	Bedingfield, White	Altman	3:49
14.	"Weightless" (Less Is More Version)	Bedingfield, Kipner, Merritt, Wilkins	Altman	4:31
15.	"Put Your Arms Around Me"	Bedingfield, Kipner, Frampton, Wilkins	Bedingfield, Kipner, Frampton, Wilkins	3:43
16.	"Unexpected Hero"	Bedingfield, Carey	Carey	3:22

German iTunes Store bonus tracks[43]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Piece of Your Heart"	Bedingfield, Jonathan Rotem, Brisebois	J. R. Rotem	3:47
18.	"Unwritten" (acoustic) (featuring Carney)
19.	"Pocketful of Sunshine" (music video)

Deluxe edition DVD (Disc 2)[42]
No.	Title	Note(s)	Length
1.	"Strip Me"	Less Is More performance video
2.	"Weightless"	Less Is More performance video
3.	"Can't Fall Down"	Less Is More performance video
4.	"Run-Run-Run"	Less Is More performance video
5.	"Pocketful of Sunshine"	music video
6.	"Strip Me"	music video

Sample credits

• "All I Need" contains samples and excerpts from "Let It Rock" by Kevin Rudolf.^[7]

Personnel

Taken from Barnes & Noble.^[44]

Performance credits

Natasha Bedingfield – primary artist Steve Kipner – percussion Vinnie Colaiuta – drums Nick Lashley – guitar John Shanks – bass, guitar, keyboards David Glass – guitar, percussion, ukulele Marshall Altman – percussion Curt Schneider – bass Wayne Wilkins – keyboards Michael Chaves – acoustic guitar, electric guitar Zac Rae – banjo, piano, keyboards, xylophone, Wurlitzer

Andrew Frampton – bass, guitar David Levita – acoustic guitar, electric guitar Ryan Tedder – guitar, keyboards Aaron Sterling – percussion, drums Jonas Myrin – keyboards Kleerup – guitar, keyboards, sounds John Hill – guitar Jess Collins – background vocals Charlie Judge – keyboards Eric Robinson – electric guitar

Technical credits

Steve Kipner – composer, producer Danielle Brisebois – composer Lars Fox – Pro-Tools John Shanks – composer, producer David Glass – engineer, vocal engineer Marshall Altman – arranger, programming, producer Wayne Wilkins – composer, programming, producer, engineer Noel Zancanella – engineer Eg White – composer Andrew Frampton – composer, producer Jeff Rothschild – programming, engineer, drum programming Björn Yttling – string arrangements Kevin Rudolf – composer

Ryan Tedder – composer, programming, producer Natasha Bedingfield – composer, producer, executive producer, vocal producer Julian Bunetta - composer, producer, instrumentation Andreas Kleerup – composer Jonas Myrin – composer Kleerup – producer, beats Andre Merritt – composer John Hill – composer, programming, producer, instrumentation Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering Eric Robinson – engineer Henrik Gustafsson – engineer Calle Bagge – string arrangements

Charts

2010 Chart (2010) Peak position US Billboard 200[39] 103

2011 Chart (2011) Peak position German Albums Chart[45] 45 Swiss Albums Chart[46] 42

Release history

List of release dates, record label and catalog number

Region	Date	Edition (format)	Label	Catalog
Canada	7 December 2010	Standard Edition (CD, digital download)[47]	Sony Music Entertainment	886977442222
		Deluxe Edition (digital download)[23]		886977442223
United States[9]		Standard Edition (CD, digital download)	Epic Records	886977442222
		Deluxe Edition (digital download)[8]		886977442223
Austria[48]	13 May 2011	Strip Me Away (CD, CD + DVD, digital download)	Sony Music Entertainment
Germany[43]
Switzerland

References

1. Keefe, Jonathan (12 December 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield: Strip Me | Music Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
2. Natasha Bedingfield 'Strips' Away Gimmicks on New Album, Gets Cheeky in Exclusive Interview
3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (9 November 2010). "Strip Me – Natasha Bedingfield". AllMusic (Macrovision / Rovicorp). Retrieved 19 December 2010.
4. McGonigle, Molly (16 July 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield on her new album: 'I've taken it to another place'". Wonderwall (MSN). Retrieved 18 July 2010.
5. Semigran, Aly (15 July 2010). "'Inception' Anticipation And Joe Jonas Films 'Cleveland' In Today's Tweet Dreams". Hollywoodcrush.mtv.com MTV Networks (Viacom). Retrieved 18 July 2010.
6. Concepcion, Mariel (14 September 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield Exclusive Song: "Can't Fall Down"". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). New York. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
7. Strip Me (Booklet). Natasha Bedingfield. Los Angeles, CA: Phonogenic, Epic Records (Cat no. 88697744222). 2010.
8. "Strip Me (Deluxe Version) by Natasha Bedingfield - Download Strip Me (Deluxe Version) on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
9. "Strip Me by Natasha Bedingfield – Preorder Strip Me on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
10. "Exclusive: Natasha Bedingfield Sets CD Release Date". PopEater.com. 7 September 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
11. Bain, Becky (21 May 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield Is Back And Ready To Dance With New Single "Touch"". Idolator. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
12. Bain, Becky (5 January 2011). "Natasha Bedingfield Celebrates "The Little Things" With Ne-Yo". Idolator.com (Buzz Media). Retrieved 10 January 2011.
13. "Natasha Bedingfield - New Album Message". YouTube. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
14. Epic Records (15 June 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield Releases First Single, 'Touch' Off Forthcoming New Album". New York: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
15. "Bedingfield releases new single on iTunes". UPI.com (United Press International). 25 June 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
16. Epic Records (25 June 2010). "Natasha Bedingfield and NIVEA to Spread Happiness Across the Country With Exclusive New Single, 'Touch'". Wilton, Connecticut: Prnewswire.com. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
17. "Listen Now: Natasha Bedingfield's New Song "Weightless"". E! Online (E! Entertainment Television). 1 December 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
18. Epic Records. "NATASHA BEDINGFIELD'S NEW ALBUM STRIP ME OUT NOW!". Epicrecords.com. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
19. "Willow Smith, Drake to Rock in the New Year". Rap-Up.com. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
20. Golden, Fran (16 July 2010). "Pop Star Launches Hotel Promo". Travel.aol.com AOL. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
21. Medeiros, Kavad (13 January 2011). "Natasha Bedingfield faz performance ao vivo para a revista Rolling Stone" (in Portuguese). Popline.mtv.uol (MTV). Retrieved 13 January 2011.
22. "NATASHA BEDINGFIELD ANNOUNCES "LESS IS MORE" SUMMER TOUR PRESENTED BY FRESCHETTA®" (Press release). Sony Music Entertainment. 19 April 2011. Archived from the original on 7 May 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
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24. Strip Me in Morning Glory Trailer Natasha Bedingfield.com Retrieved 2010-10-05
25. "Exclusive Natasha Bedingfield track "Touch" now available on iTunes U.S.". natashabegingfield.com. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
26. "CHR Available for Airplay Archive". FMBQ. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
27. "Natasha Bedingfield Billboard Chart History". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 1 February 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
28. "Official News (US)". Natasha Bedingfield. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
29. Latest activity 3 hours ago. "Strip Me: Natasha Bedingfield: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
30. "Natasha Bedingfield Charts & Awards". Allmusic. (Macrovision). Retrieved 1 February 2011.
31. "Natasha Bedingfield - Strip Me Reviews". CBS Interactive. Metacritic. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
32. "Bedingfield stays upbeat and on point". California Chronicle. News Sentinel / ProRequest LLC (YellowBrix Inc.). Retrieved 6 January 2010.
33. Wood, Mikael (1 December 2010). "Strip Me | Music". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
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35. Herrara, Monica; Lipshutz, Jason (14 September 2010). "Billboard Bits: M.I.A. Still Promises Free Show, Don Imus Preps 'Ranch Record'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 1 December 2010. "Pocketful of Sunshine" singer Natasha Bedingfield has revealed the details of her new album, "Strip Me," due out 9 November on Phonogenic/Epic Records.
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40. "Billboard Top 200 Albums: Date 15 January 2011". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
41. "Title Search: Unexpected Hero (Natasha Bedingfield) Work ID: 881917722". ASCAP. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
42. http://www.amazon.de/dp/tracks/B004W5MNLI
43. https://itunes.apple.com/de/preorder/strip-me-away/id432976290
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45. http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=Natasha+Bedingfield&title=Strip+Me+Away&country=de
46. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Natasha+Bedingfield&titel=Strip+Me+Away&cat=a
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48. https://itunes.apple.com/at/album/strip-me-away/id432737102