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B*Witched (album)

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B*Witched
Studio album by
B*Witched
Released12 October 1998
Genre
Length38:44
LabelEpic, Glowworm
ProducerRay Hedges, Cutfather & Joe
B*Witched chronology
B*Witched
(1998) 		Awake and Breathe
(1999)
Singles from B*Witched
  1. "C'est la Vie"
    Released: 25 May 1998
  2. "Rollercoaster"
    Released: 21 September 1998
  3. "To You I Belong"
    Released: 7 December 1998
  4. "Blame It on the Weatherman"
    Released: 15 March 1999

B*Witched is the debut studio album by Irish girl group B*Witched. The album was released on 12 October 1998[1] under the Epic Records imprint Glowworm Records.

Despite only reaching number three on the UK Albums Chart, the four singles from the album all reached number one on the UK Singles Chart: "C'est la Vie", "Rollercoaster", "To You I Belong" and "Blame It on the Weatherman". The album was released with a limited edition remix album in Australia, and an exclusive bonus track, "Coming Around Again" for Japanese releases.

The album received mostly mixed reviews from critics, one of whom felt that B*Witched were a "junior Spice Girls".

Singles

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All four singles from the album performed exceptionally well, all peaking at number one on the UK Singles Chart, and had great success in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. "C'est la Vie" was also extremely successful in the United States, being released as a separate EP with a number of bonus tracks and remixes. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the song was a huge success for the band after it reached number one on the charts in various countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand. In the process, B*Witched became the youngest girl group ever to have a UK number one. In the United States, "C'est la Vie" reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1999, it was nominated for "Best Song Musically and Lyrically" in the Ivor Novello Awards. The accompanying music video for the song features the four girls dancing around a lush green field full of bright flowers with a puppy as they playfully tease a teenage boy.

"C'est la Vie" debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart on 31 May 1998 and remained at the top the following week. It also went to number one in the group's home country of Ireland, as well as in New Zealand. The song went to number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the week of 17 April 1999[2][3] and number six on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart. It went Platinum in Australia for sales of over 70,000 copies.[citation needed] By September 2017, over 927,000 copies of the single had been sold in the UK.[4] "C'est la Vie" has been featured in numerous films and television shows since its release in 1998, including Smart House (1999), Daria (1999), What Women Want (2000), and Life-Size (2000).

On 21 September 1998, the group released "Rollercoaster" as their second single from the album, following "C'est la Vie" four months earlier.[5][6] With first-week sales of 157,000,[7] the track debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart in October 1998 and stayed there for another week. It also reached number one in Australia and New Zealand in November 1998.

"To You I Belong" was released on 7 December 1998, as the third single from their eponymous debut album. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in December 1998.[8] It was their third UK chart-topping single.[8]

Like the other three singles from the album, "Blame It on the Weatherman" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. With this, B*Witched became the first act ever to have their first four singles all debut at number one in the UK (a record since equalled and bettered by fellow Irish band Westlife)[9] and today remain the only girl group to do so.[10] It slightly underperformed in Ireland, reaching number eight, and became the group's first single to miss the top 10 in New Zealand. The song was certified Silver in the UK with sales of 200,000.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Robert ChristgauC−[12]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[13]
Rolling Stone[14]

The album received mostly mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic's Michael Gallucci said the group were "like a junior Spice Girls" with their "bouncy beats, singalong tunes and chipper attitude". He did, however, say that the singles "C'est la Vie" and "Rollercoaster" "are still able to yield sugary pop morsels fit to chew on for a few minutes."[11] In a positive review, David Browne of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B+ rating: "With songs that weave in the occasional fiddle or tin whistle, B*witched sound like the Spice Girls' younger sisters aboard the Titanic. Still, it's hard to deny the music's appeal."[13]

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone said: "B*Witched is a cheerfully catchy summary of the state of the slumber party – the sound of nice girls acting tough, all in the name of pop." He concluded his review by giving the album three out of five stars.[14] In a negative review, Robert Christgau said that "despite the saucy bits in 'C'est la Vie' (first a 'You show me yours,' then an 'I'll blow you [away]'!), this bid to whiten the Spice Girls is so clean you'll be hard-pressed to remember it's there—unless, like me, you get sick to your stomach at Uilleann hooks, mid-Atlantic brogues, and Enya lite... The obligatory rhythmic recitation, yclept 'Freak Out' and declared 'too hot for hip hop,' has less bottom than Audrey Hepburn and is over in two minutes."[12]

Commercial performance

[edit]

B*Witched peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart on the week of release and was certified double platinum the same year. In other territories, the album was also significantly successful. In Australia, the album reached a successful number five, and even peaked at number one in New Zealand.

The album also peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart and sold enough to be certified platinum in December 1999. This success led B*Witched to record a follow-up, Awake and Breathe, but disappointing sales, coupled with the group being kicked off of Sony Music Entertainment's roster, resulted in B*Witched disbanding in 2002 and remaining inactive for over a decade.

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Let's Go (The B*Witched Jig)"Martin Brannigan, Ray HedgesHedges1:24
2."C'est la Vie"Brannigan, Hedges, Tracy Ackerman, Lynch, Lynch, O'Carroll, ArmaouHedges2:52
3."Rev It Up"Brannigan, Hedges, AckermanHedges3:58
4."To You I Belong"Brannigan, Hedges, Lynch, Lynch, O'Carroll, ArmaouHedges3:05
5."Rollercoaster"Brannigan, Hedges, Ackerman, Lynch, Lynch, O'Carroll, ArmaouHedges, Cutfather & Joe3:24
6."Blame It on the Weatherman"Brannigan, Hedges, AckermanHedges3:33
7."We Four Girls"Brannigan, HedgesHedges3:08
8."Castles in the Air"Brannigan, Hedges, Lynch, Lynch, O'Carroll, ArmaouHedges4:18
9."Freak Out"Brannigan, Hedges, AckermanHedges2:14
10."Like the Rose"Brannigan, HedgesHedges3:56
11."Never Giving Up"AckermanHedges3:36
12."Oh Mr. Postman"Brannigan, HedgesHedges3:27
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Coming Around Again"Brannigan, HedgesHedges3:34
Australian limited edition bonus remix disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."C'est la Vie" (K-Klass Epic Club Mix)Brannigan, Hedges, Ackerman, Lynch, Lynch, O'Carroll, ArmaouHedges, Ackerman7:29
2."Rollercoaster" (Silk Uplifting Extended Mix)Brannigan, Hedges, AckermanHedges, Ackerman7:06
3."To You I Belong" (Amen 12" Club Mix)Brannigan, HedgesHedges8:58
4."Blame It on the Weatherman" (Amen Club Mix)Brannigan, Hedges, AckermanHedges, Ackerman7:11
Asian bonus VCD
No.TitleLength
1."C'est la Vie" (video)2:52
2."To You I Belong" (video)3:05
3."Rollercoaster" (UK video)3:24
4."Rollercoaster" (US video)3:24
5."Blame It on the Weatherman" (video)3:33
Notes
  • ^a signifies remix and additional production

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from AllMusic[15] and B*Witched's liner notes

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[33] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[34] 2× Platinum 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] 2× Platinum 728,361[35][36]
United States (RIAA)[38] Platinum 1,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[39] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "B*Witched". The official B*Witched website. Archived from the original on 4 June 2000. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  2. ^ "B*Witched". Billboard.
  3. ^ "The Week of April 17, 1999". Billboard. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  4. ^ Copsey, Rob (19 September 2017). "The UK's Official Chart 'millionaires' revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  5. ^ "The Official B*Witched Website – Rollercoaster". Archived from the original on 25 June 2001. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  6. ^ "The Official B*Witched Website – C'est La Vie". Archived from the original on 25 June 2001. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  7. ^ Jones, Alan (3 October 1998). "Chart Commentary" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 10. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b Mickey (UK 7" Vinyl liner notes). Toni Basil. Radialchoice. 1982. TIC 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Westlife number one for Christmas". BBC News. 19 December 1999. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  10. ^ "B*Witched Biography". sing365. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  11. ^ a b AllMusic review
  12. ^ a b Robert Christgau review
  13. ^ a b Entertainment Weekly review
  14. ^ a b Rolling Stone review
  15. ^ "B*Witched – B*Witched". AllMusic. 3 November 1998. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  16. ^ "Australiancharts.com – B*Witched – B*Witched". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  17. ^ "B*Witched Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – B*Witched – B*Witched" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  19. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 44. 31 October 1998. p. 11. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 44. 31 October 1998. p. 12. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Charts.nz – B*Witched – B*Witched". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  24. ^ "B*Witched Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  25. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1998". Aria.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  26. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  27. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  28. ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 1999". Aria.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  29. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1999". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  30. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  31. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  32. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  33. ^ "Canadian album certifications – B*Witched – B*Witched". Music Canada. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  34. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – B*Witched – B*Witched". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  35. ^ "Najlepiej sprzedające się albumy w W.Brytanii w 1998r" (in Polish). Z archiwum...rocka. Archived from the original on 20 February 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  36. ^ "Najlepiej sprzedające się albumy w W.Brytanii w 1999r" (in Polish). Z archiwum...rocka. Archived from the original on 20 February 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  37. ^ "British album certifications – B*Witched – B*Witched". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  38. ^ "American album certifications – B*Witched – B*Witched". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  39. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
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