Let Yourself Be Loved is the fifth studio album by Germansoul singer Joy Denalane. It was released by Nesola, the label of Denalane and her husband Max Herre, in association with Vertigo Berlin and Motown Records on September 4, 2020.[1] Produced by Roberto Di Gioia, it marked the first project by a German artist to be released by Motown as well as Denalane's third English language album following Born & Raised (2006) and the reissue of Maureen (2011). Let Yourself Be Loved debuted and peaked at number five on the German Albums Chart.[2]
Sven Kabelitz from Laut.de noted that "stories about the different facets of [love] connect the songs. She authentically resurrects the Motown era in all its different orientations, but incorporates enough Denalane everywhere so that it doesn't fail as a copy."[3] Similarly, Musikexpress editor Thomas Winkler called Let Yourself Be Loved a "very monothematic album" and concluded: "A retro record, yes, but not a boring copy."[4]Rolling Stone critic Markus Schneider wrote: "The best thing about these completely successful eleven songs is how artistically decisive, cohesive and self-confident they sound here."[6]
Let Yourself Be Loved debuted and peaked at number five on the German Albums Chart in the week of September 11, 2023. It became her highest-charting album since Born & Raised (2006) and marked Denalane's fifth consecutive top ten album in Germany.[2] Elsewhere, it peaked at number 22 on the Swiss Albums Chart.[7]Let Yourself Be Loved failed to chart in Austria.[7]
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