Genre Pop
R&B | Label Phonogenic | |
Released 6 September 2004 (2004-09-06) Recorded 2004
(New York City, New York, United States) Length 47:01
56:22 (UK)
56:55 (US) Producer Danielle Brisebois
Guy Chambers
Richard Flack
Andrew Frampton
Peter Wade Keusch
Steve Kipner
Nick Lashley
Patrick Leonard
Wayne Rodrigues
Greg Wells
Wayne Wilkins | ||
Unwritten is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. It was released in the United Kingdom on 6 September 2004, where it topped the UK Albums Chart, and in the United States on 2 August 2005, where it debuted at number twenty-six on US Billboard 200. It spawned five singles: "Single", "These Words", "Unwritten" (which later served as the theme song from MTV reality series The Hills), "I Bruise Easily" and "The One That Got Away" (which was only released in North America). The song "Drop Me in the Middle" featured rapper Bizarre of D12 on the international versions of the album, but the US version featured rapper and singer Estelle. In 2006, the album was re-released in North America with new album artwork and a slightly altered track listing. The album was replayed on November 29, 2007.
Contents
Critical reception
The album received generally positive reviews from most critics. Earning a 7 out of 10 from PopMatters, Adrien Begrand, who said the album was Bedingfield's "brand of clever, R&B infused pop." Though, he went on to admit that the album was "not without its pitfalls." David Hooper from BBC gave the album another positive review, writing "there's no denying this is a finely-crafted number with bold, voluptuous harmonies. It's guaranteed to thrill, at least for the first 30 plays." Further, Hollow stated "Unwritten is a textbook quality pop album, lifted by Natasha's strong voice, immaculate production and some absolutely corking singles. Whether you like it or not, you won't be able to get those tunes out of your head."
UK-based music review website musicOMH critic David Welsh praised the album, compared Bedingfield's success to that of her brother, calling the album "a startlingly accomplished debut outing, letting the whole world know that Daniel is by no means the only talented Bedingfield out there." Welsh continued to add that Unwritten was "both musically note-worthy and lyrically substantial", concluding that there was "no shame in adding this to your collection."
Commercial performance
Unwritten peaked at number one on Official Charts Company's UK Albums Chart. It sold over one million copies in United Kingdom, being certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In United States, it peaked at number twenty-six on the US Billboard 200. It sold over 500,000 copies in the United States and received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In Australia, it peaked at number eighty-nine on ARIA Albums Chart. It also peaked at number twenty-six in Austria, number twenty in Germany, number thirty-three in Mexico and number twenty-three in Switzerland, making smaller impact outside the United Kingdom and the United States.
Controversy
In November 2005, the Electronic Frontier Foundation identified Unwritten as one of the discs with Extended Copy Protection, a controversial invasive software. However, the DualDisc release does not contain such software.