Released August 8, 2006 Length 53:00 The Makeover
(2006) Super Hits Live
(2007) | Genre Dance, house, pop Label Avitone | |
Producer King Britt, Chris Brann, DJ Spinna, 4hero | ||
The Makeover is singer Jody Watley's ninth studio album. Watley recruited a diverse group of contemporary dance and electronica producers for the project, among them King Britt, 4hero and DJ Spinna. The album's vintage aesthetic, which saw her take the old and remake it as new, was likely foretold in Watley's updating of her signature classic, "Looking for a New Love", in 2005. As per the title, The Makeover contained newly recorded (and remixed) versions of some of Watley's signature classics like "Don't You Want Me" and "Friends" (re-dubbed "Friendz"), as well as new material. Additionally, Watley paid tribute to musical influences like Diana Ross, Chic and Karen Carpenter on the covers "Love Hangover", "I Want Your Love" and a medley of the Carpenters' songs, respectively.
Contents
Themes
The Makeover, from its title to its photo media, was a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the ever-growing makeover culture now commonplace in contemporary society. Indeed, the album's photography (contained in the liner notes) showed Watley theatrically made-up to resemble a cosmetic surgery recipient. These photos caused a bit of a controversy, however, as they were apparently leaked, after which various online gossip columns (most notably the New York Post's "Page Six"), had falsely reported that Watley had undergone actual cosmetic surgery. Watley jokingly discussed the controversy in the September 11, 2006 issue of the National Enquirer.
Track listing
- "Intro"
- "Don't You Want Me" (King Britt Scuba Mix)
- "Waiting in Vain"
- "A Beautiful Life"
- "Bed of Roses" featuring 4hero
- "I Want Your Love"
- "Love Hangover"
- "Borderline"
- "Carpenters Medley"
- "Friendz" featuring Voshaun Gotti
- "The Makeover Superstar"
- "Midnight Lounge" (Mark De Clive-Lowe Makeover Mix)
- "A Beautiful Life (A Beautiful Dub)"
Singles
The first single to be released from The Makeover was a downtempo cover of "Borderline", written by Reggie Lucas and an originally a hit for Madonna in 1984. Upon the single's UK release in October 2009, Watley told noted R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning 'Blues & Soul': "'Borderline' is a song I've always liked. Because - even though the way it was originally recorded was very poppy - for me the song always had a melancholy side to it, which I think my version taps into."
The album's second single was "I Want Your Love", a cover of the Chic classic. The Watley cover was produced by DJ Spinna and featured Chic's own Nile Rodgers on guitar. Supported by dance mixes, the track peaked at #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart for the week of June 16, 2007.