It's About Time (Christina Milian album) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search It's About Time Studio album by Christina Milian Released June 15, 2004 (Japan) July 13, 2004 (United States) Recorded 2003–2004 Genre R&B, pop, urban pop Length 47:26 Label Island Producer Bloodshy & Avant, Bradley & Stereo, Fontez Camp, Warryn Campbell, Bryan Michael Cox, Jasper Da Fatso, Rodney Jerkins, Poli Paul, Cory Rooney, Ez Tommy Professional reviews Allmusic [1] Rolling Stone [2] Slant Magazine [3] USA Today [4] Christina Milian chronology Christina Milian (2001) It's About Time (2004) So Amazin' (2006) It's About Time is the second studio album by American singer Christina Milian, released by Island Records on June 15, 2004 in Japan, and July 13, 2004 in the United States.[5] The album served as Milian's debut album in the U.S. partly in due to the September 11 attacks, which occurred just two weeks before the release date of her previous album. For the production of the album, Milian worked with Bloodshy & Avant, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Cory Rooney, Warryn Campbell, Bryan Cox and Poli Paul. The album peaked at number 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart and number 21 in the United Kingdom, selling a total of 382,000 and 63,708 copies respectively. The album achieved Silver certification in the UK, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album. The album's lead single, "Dip It Low", became Milian's most successful to date; peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number five on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. The second single "Whatever U Want" was less successful, peaking on the UK singles chart at number nine. The critical response to It's About Time was mixed. The club tracks, most notably "Dip It Low", were praised, however the ballads were said to be disappointing.[6][7] Contents [hide] 1 Production 2 Music and lyrics 3 Release and reception 4 Track listing 4.1 Japanese edition 5 Charts 6 References [edit] Production Milian's self-titled debut album was supposed to be released in the U.S. in 2001; however, the album was postponed partly because of the September 11 attacks, which occurred just two weeks before the release date.[8] After the international release of her debut album, Milian went back into the recording studio. Milian felt that music trends were changing so she stopped recording and toured overseas for a year and a half. When she returned to the U.S., she decided not to release her previous album domestically, and started working on a new album.[9] To record the album, Milian travelled the world, working with several producers and those who were "hot" at the time.[10] The album was produced primarily by Bloodshy & Avant,[1] with additional work from "Darkchild",[9] Cory Rooney, Warryn Campbell,[4] Bryan Cox and Poli Paul.[11] Milian received writing credit for seven songs on the album,[5] which she wrote like a diary.[10] When writing songs Milian had rules; she would write a hook, a verse, another verse similar to the first one, and the same melody all throughout the song.[12] Whenever she would experience something that she thought would be important, she would write it down for future reference. She felt that by writing down true experiences, her songs were like "captured emotion". For It's About Time, Milian wrote about things that had happened in her past, and later explained that she wrote what she thought other people would like, rather than writing for herself and what she liked.[10] The whole album took between six months and a year to produce,[12] and Milian so-titled the album because she said "it took so damn long" to complete.[9] When promoting the album, Milian said that she was excited about the album because she had matured since her last album, and it was "nice for people to see this change".[13] In August 2008, Milian sued the writer and producer of "Dip It Low", Poli Paul. Milian claimed that Paul "very definitively" assured her that "there were no samples whatsoever in […] 'Dip It Low'".[14] However, in February 2005, Thomas Turino, Larry Crook and Dan Dickey sued Milian over the song, claiming that it contained a sample from a track they released in 1983 called "La Sirena". The lawsuit claimed that Paul heard the album while in a record store, liked the tune and sampled 12 seconds of it for "Dip It Low". Milian claimed that she had to spend more than $300,000 defending herself in the case, which she settled in 2006, and wanted $300,000 plus damages from Paul and his associate, Spencer Cowlings Entertainment.[14][15] In November 2008, Paul countersued the Island Def Jam Music Group and its parent company, Universal Music Group. Paul alleged that Island Def Jam was "negligent in its obligation to obtain clearance and proper licensing for any copyrighted material" used on the album.[16] In February 2009, a superior court judge ruled that Paul's attorneys had failed to file a sworn declaration in the given period of time, but allowed them to file an amended complaint. Paul's lawyers are planning to amend the countersuit and add Milian as a defendant, saying that she was also negligent and that she should compensate him for money he spent in the copyright action.[16] [edit] Music and lyrics "My first single off my last album, 'AM to PM', was more of a kiddie kind of thing, very pop. [Dip It Low] is more R&B, kind of a club/party kind of vibe." — Milian on the change of genre between her lead singles.[13] Milian described the genre of It's About Time as "more R&B" compared to her "bubble-gum pop" debut album.[17] An issue Milian had with the album was that its music was not coherent, and it did not "[lead] down the whole way".[12] Several songs were urban and sexy, and yet others were pop, making it fun. However, she felt that "jumping around" was also "a little confus[ing]", and wanted a more consistent feel for her next album.[12] Milian danced in a bed of black paint for "Dip It Low"'s music video, a play off the track's title. Milian explained that body art was common in the 1960s: "they would dip in paint and they would roll around on a canvas and make art on the canvas. So I kind of 'dip' in the paint and do the same thing."[13] The song's lyrics are about putting an effort into the relationship as a female: "if you wanna be a little more sexy, you gotta dip it low".[13] Milian later said that "Dip It Low" and the whole album was mainly for shock value. She had to make her way back into the U.S. market, and by choosing a sexier image, she made a name for herself. "Dip It Low" was also meant to show that she was not the same eighteen year old girl in the "AM to PM" video.[10] The style and sound of the album was compared to that of Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Lopez by several critics.[1][4] Elysa Gardner of USA Today found that with Milian's "slight, sweet vocals and blithe, breezy pop-soul sensibility", the genre of the album was more pop than R&B.[4] Andy Kellman of Allmusic described "Dip It Low" as "a clever and ubiquitous slice of high-class raunch", and thought that the style was urban and dance-pop.[1] Eric R. Danton of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said "Dip It Low" had the "plinking of an unusual Far Eastern-sounding stringed instrument", and "Whatever U Want" "rolls on a bass-and-drum combo".[18] Danton found the rest of the album to be "simply bland padding, with plodding, canned beats and half-hearted hooks".[18] [edit] Release and reception It's About Time was released in the U.S. on July 13, 2004;[5] it debuted and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and sold a total of 394,000 copies.[19] Internationally, the album peaked at number 35 on the Swiss Albums Chart, 55 on the German Albums Chart, and 66 on the Dutch Albums Chart.[20] In the UK, the album peaked at number 21, selling a total of 63,708 copies,[21] and achieving Silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry.[22] The album received a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Contemporary R&B Album" in 2005.[23] To promote her album, Milian performed as an opening act on the Usher and Kanye West tour.[24] The album's first single, "Dip It Low", became Milian's biggest hit to date, reaching number two in the UK and number five in the U.S..[11][25] The single was certified Gold by the RIAA for digital sales,[26] and earned a Grammy Award nomination for "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration".[23] The album's second and final single, "Whatever U Want" featuring Joe Budden, reached the top ten in the UK.[27] "Christina Milian's second album suffers from the same problem afflicting most major-label albums dumped on the market by an industry desperate for quick cash — It's About Time features one hit single, a couple of lesser tracks and a lot of filler." — Eric Danton of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on the album.[18] The album received mixed reviews among critics. Jim Farber of Entertainment Weekly felt that the songs from It's About Time "sound like they fell off a Paula Abdul album".[28] Farber criticized the lyricists for writing "so many cliches", and said that Milian's voice "suggests a slightly more forceful version of Janet Jackson's pant".[28] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine said that while It's About Time was "certainly not the worst album of the year", it was "pretty damn crappy".[3] The reviewer enjoyed "Whatever U Want", "I'm Sorry" and "Get Loose", which he said "contribute some guilty pleasure ear candy".[3] Eric Danton of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, felt that that the only hit from It's About Time was "Dip It Low", while "Whatever U Want" and "L.O.V.E." were the album's lesser tracks. Danton praised Milian's vocal talent, but said that ultimately, "the lackluster material [...] rarely gives her a chance to shine".[18] Andy Kellman of Allmusic praised the club tracks, feeling that they "work best and easily outrank the slower songs".[1] Kellman called "Dip It Low" the biggest highlight of the album, but said that despite the album's "handful of bright spots", Milian "will need to be more convincing during the ballads next time out in order to be considered a true force."[1] Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times said that although "Dip It Low" was one of the summer's most popular songs, the album included an even better song, "I Need More". Sanneh explained that Milian "breathes a serpentine melody over a beat that consists of jagged snippets: some guitar chugging, a few handclaps, a couple of strategically placed beeps and, in the chorus, an unexpected nose-diving bass line."[29] Despite the views of other critics, Barry Walters of Rolling Stone said that although the ballads were "gooey", "the love songs work better than the dance tracks".[2] [edit] Track listing "Intro" (Christina Milian, Paul Poli) – 1:06 "Dip It Low" (featuring Fabolous) (Teedra, P. Poli) – 3:39 "I Need More" (Sean Garrett, H. Jonback, C. Karlsson, P. Winnberg) - 3:17 "Whatever U Want" (featuring Joe Budden) (J. Banks, K. Charles, A. Morton, B. Spalter, A. Simmons, L. Waldrip II) – 3:49 "Someday One Day" (G. Bruno, C. Milian, C. Rooney) – 4:32 "Highway" (C. Milian, W. Campbell) – 3:33 "I'm Sorry" (C. Milian, Ne-Yo, P. Poli) – 3:44 "Get Loose" (Rodney Jerkins, Daniel Nixon, Delisha Thomas) – 3:37 "L.O.V.E" (featuring Joe Budden) (Joseph Budden, J. Campbell, W. Campbell, H. Lilly) – 4:21 "Peanut Butter & Jelly" (featuring Joe Budden) (F. Camp, K. Harper, C. Milian, K. Pridgen, E. Tommy) – 3:46 "Miss You Like Crazy" (J. Cameron, C. Milian) – 4:49 "Oh Daddy" (M. Alston, Bryan Cox, A. Johnson, S. McFadden, C. Milian, J. Perry, J. Smith ) – 3:55 "I Can Be That Woman" [International bonus track] – 3:13 "Hands on Me" [UK bonus track] – 3:06 [edit] Japanese edition "Dip It Low" – 3:16 "L.O.V.E." – 3:45 "Down for You" – 3:39 "Someday One Day" – 4:31 "Highway" – 3:33 "I Can Be That Woman" – 3:13 "Peanut Butter & Jelly" – 3:46 "Hands on Me" – 3:06 "7 Days" – 4:17 "Oh Daddy" – 3:55 "Miss You Like Crazy" – 4:49 "Dip It Low" [Remix] (featuring S-Word) – 3:55 "Dip It Low" [Full Intension Dub] – 5:46 "You Snooze, You Lose" [Bonus track] – 3:31 [edit] Charts Chart Peak position[20][30] Dutch Albums Chart 66 French Albums Chart 83 German Albums Chart 55 Swiss Albums Chart 35 Ireland Albums Chart 74 UK Albums Chart 21 U.S. Billboard 200 14 [edit] References ^ a b c d e f Kellman, Andy. "It's About Time - Christina Milian". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:yt9hs34wa3pg. Retrieved on 2008-09-12. ^ a b Walters, Barry (July 8, 2004). "It's About Time (U.S. Version): Christina Milian: Review". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/6072868/review/6185229?utm_source=Rhapsody&utm_medium=CDreview. Retrieved on 2008-10-09. ^ a b c Cinquemani, Sal. "Slant Magazine Music Review: Christina Milian: It's About Time". Slant Magazine. http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=465. Retrieved on 2008-09-12. ^ a b c d Gardner, Elysa (2004-06-14). "Phish's Final Studio Effort Flounders". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2004-06-14-listen-up_x.htm. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. ^ a b c "Discography – Christina Milian – It's About Time". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=448971&aid=634921. Retrieved on 2008-10-04. ^ "New music reviews Life after Creed". San Antonio Express-News. August 20, 2004. ^ Capobianco, Ken (June 25, 2004). "Christina Milian — It's About Time". The Boston Globe. ^ Antlfinger, Carrie (2004-09-19). "Christina Milian has her eyes on a Grammy and an Oscar". Herald Mail. http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=89881&format=html. Retrieved on 2008-07-26. ^ a b c Lil' Kim (March 2005). "Christina Milian: a Singer who Needs no Lessons in Cool Talks to Hip-Hop's Queen Bee". FindArticles. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_2_35/ai_n11839374. Retrieved on 2008-07-24. ^ a b c d Rolls, Chris (2006-05-23). "Exclusive Interview with Christina Milian". MP3.com. http://www.mp3.com/features/stories/4636.html. Retrieved on 2008-03-18. ^ a b Cohen, Jonathan (2004-05-11). ""Time" Is Right For New Milian Album". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000508155. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. ^ a b c d "Christina Milian So Amazin' Album". Music Remedy. http://www.musicremedy.com/c/Christina_Milian/album/So_Amazin-2530.html. Retrieved on 2008-08-03. ^ a b c d Moss, Corey (2004-05-07). "Christina Milian's Sexy New Look Comes In Flat Or Semigloss". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1486894/20040507/milian_christina.jhtml. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (August 8, 2008). "Christina Milian Sues "Dip It Low" Producer For Dipping From Another Song". MTV. http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/08/08/christina-milian-sues-dip-it-low-producer-for-dipping-from-another-song/. Retrieved on 2008-10-03. ^ "Milian sues over "Dip It Low" controversy". Yahoo! News. August 9, 2008. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/wenn/20080809/ten-milian-sues-over-dip-it-low-controve-c60bd6d.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-03. ^ a b "Judge: No countersuit by songwriter against singer Christina Milian over "Dip It Low"". Contra Costa Times. February 20, 2009. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_11751584?nclick_check=1&forced=true. Retrieved on 2009-03-08. ^ Beale, Lewis (December 2003). "Christina Milian: Don't Worry, J. Lo. This Singing Actress has a Different Career Path in Mind". FindArticles. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_11_33/ai_111114514/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1. Retrieved on 2008-07-26. ^ a b c d Danton, Eric (November 3, 2004). "CD Review: Christina Milian's It's About Time". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=272033. Retrieved on 2008-09-14. ^ "Billboard Bits: Hot 97, Christina Milian, Modest Mouse". Billboard. 2006-04-28. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002425089. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. ^ a b "Christina Milian – It's About Time – Music Charts". aCharts.us. http://acharts.us/album/13423. Retrieved on 2008-08-22. ^ "Chili Peppers and Gnarls Barkley retain top positions". Music Week. 2006-05-22. http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=19806. Retrieved on 2008-09-12. ^ "Platinum Awards Content". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=31770. Retrieved on 2008-10-03. ^ a b "The Complete List: Grammy Nominees". The New York Times. December 7, 2004. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/07/arts/music/07GRAMMY-LIST.html?pagewanted=all&position=. Retrieved on 2008-11-16. ^ Bliss, Karen (2004-08-20). "Christina Milian Gets Cool". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/usher/articles/story/6437640/christina_milian_gets_cool. Retrieved on 2008-07-26. ^ Butler, Susan (2005-02-24). "Hit Milian Single At Center Of Suit". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000817155. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH. Retrieved on 2008-07-29. Type "Christina Milian" in the "Artist" field. ^ Sexton, Paul (2004-10-11). "Robbie, R.E.M. Overtake U.K. Charts". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000663541. Retrieved on 2008-07-25. ^ a b Farber, Jim. "It's About Time (2004)". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,649909,00.html. Retrieved on 2008-09-12. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (July 25, 2004). "Music: Playlist; The Best Rapper No One Knows". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E3DE113AF936A15754C0A9629C8B63. Retrieved on 2008-10-03. ^ "Christina Milian – It's About Time". Swiss Music Charts. http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Christina+Milian&titel=It%27s+About+Time&cat=a. Retrieved on 2008-08-22. [hide]v • d • eChristina Milian Studio albums Christina Milian · It's About Time · So Amazin' · Elope Other albums Best Of Singles "AM to PM" · "When You Look at Me" · "Get Away" · "Dip It Low" · "Whatever U Want" · "Say I" · "Us Against the World" Other singles "Between Me and You" · "It's All Gravy" Related articles Discography Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_About_Time_(Christina_Milian_album)" Categories: 2004 albums | Albums produced by Bloodshy & Avant | Albums produced by Darkchild | Christina Milian albums