Wikipedia

Make a Scene

This article is about the Sophie Ellis-Bextor album. For the music venue in Alaska, see Make-a-Scene!

Make a Scene is the fourth studio album by English singer and songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor, released in Russia on 18 April 2011 by Universal Music Group and in the United Kingdom on 13 June 2011 by Ellis-Bextor's own record label, EBGB's. It is her first studio album since Trip the Light Fantastic (2007).

Make a Scene
Studio album by
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Released18 April 2011 (2011-04-18)
Recorded2008–11
Genre
Length50:06
LabelEBGB's
Producer
Sophie Ellis-Bextor chronology
Sophie Ellis-Bextor: iTunes Live in London
(2009) 		Make a Scene
(2011) 		Wanderlust
(2014)
Singles from Make a Scene
  1. "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)"
    Released: 15 June 2009
  2. "Can't Fight This Feeling"
    Released: 22 February 2010
  3. "Bittersweet"
    Released: 3 May 2010
  4. "Not Giving Up on Love"
    Released: 20 August 2010
  5. "Off & On"
    Released: 11 April 2011 (Russian release)
  6. "Starlight"
    Released: 5 June 2011
  7. "Revolution"
    Released: 27 January 2012 (Italian release)[1]

Background edit

Make a Scene originated from recording sessions for a planned Greatest Hits compilation, which was proposed for release in Autumn 2008. However, the success of recording sessions led Ellis-Bextor and her record label at the time, Fascination Records, to change their plans and record a full studio album instead. The album's lead single, "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)", a collaboration with the Freemasons, was released in June 2009, before a second single, "Can't Fight This Feeling", a collaboration with Junior Caldera, was released in February 2010. The album's third single, "Bittersweet", was released in May 2010, and was the first single from the album to feature only Ellis-Bextor. The album's fourth single, "Not Giving Up on Love", a collaboration with Armin van Buuren, was released in August 2010. Following the release of these four singles, Ellis-Bextor parted ways with Fascination, leaving the future of the album hanging in the balance. However, Ellis-Bextor soon announced plans to release the album on her own label, EBGBs, which she had set up in 2002 with her father, Robin Bextor.

The album's title, Make a Scene, was announced in January 2011, despite rumours the album would be named Cut Straight to the Heart, after the final track on the album.[2] This was rather unexpected as Ellis-Bextor had previously criticised title tracks.[3] On 11 April 2011, "Off & On" was released as the album's fifth single overall, exclusively in Russia, before the album was released a week later on 18 April.[4] On 5 June, "Starlight" was released as the album's sixth single overall, exclusively in the United Kingdom, before the album was released a week later on 12 June.[5] In 2012 "Revolution" was released as the album's seventh and final single overall but, unlike the majority of the singles, it was an international release.[6]

Composition edit

Make a Scene features production by Fred Ball, Armin van Buuren, Junior Caldera, Julien Carret, Freemasons, Ed Harcourt, Calvin Harris, Greg Kurstin, Liam Howe, Metronomy, Richard Stannard, Dimitri Tikovoi, and Richard X. According to Clixie Music, on the opening track "Revolution", Ellis-Bextor has been said to utilise catchy repetition and deliver a sweet vocal with "commanding vocals".[7] It was described as "a heavily energetic and impressive opener that defines the overall mood." Following the opener is the third single "Bittersweet" and the electropop "Off & On", which Clixie elaborated on as having an early 1980s disco sound. It was written by Calvin Harris and Irish singer Róisín Murphy and was originally recorded with Murphy on vocals for Murphy's 2007 studio album Overpowered, but was omitted from the final track listing.[7][8] Both "Not Giving Up on Love" and "Can't Fight This Feeling" have been called anthems by Clixie Music, as well as "international smash singles".[7] "Starlight" was also said to feature a "soothing" vocal delivery by Ellis-Bextor, with a "very '80s-esque twist."[7] "Magic" is a dance music-driven track and was called "enjoyable" due to its employment of harmonic vocals. Finally, "Synchronised" and "Cut Straight to the Heart" were talked about as focussing on Sophie's vocals, and noted as being "a lot more relaxed" in comparison to the rest of the album.[7]

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic53/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [10]
BBC Musicnegative[11]
The Daily Telegraph     [12]
Digital Spy     [13]
The Guardian     [14]
The Mirror     [15]
NME2/10[16]
Yahoo! Music          [17]

Make a Scene received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 53, based on 7 reviews.[9] While reviewing some songs on the album, Robbie Daw from Idolator said that "after taking in small handful of singles, it sounds like there's even better material lying in wait on Make A Scene".[18] Daw called the Richard X productions "Starlight" and "Magic" are "amazing".[18] Lee Bradshaw from Clixie Music rated it eight stars out of ten, labeling it "her most dance-filled release" and praised Sophie for having "out-done herself on this one", stating that "she has definitely provided an album with great future potential."[7] Robert Copsey from Digital Spy was positive, rating it four stars out of five, opining that the "wistful pop-ballads 'Starlight' and 'Synchronised' proving that she is more than capable of handling the centre stage if she so chooses. It might be a scene of two halves, but there's no shortage of elegance, class and pop sensibilities throughout."[13]

Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian rated it two stars out of five and concluded that "The bulk of the record is shopping-mall pop that was probably expensive to make, but sounds depressingly cheap."[14] Matt Wilkinson from NME was negative, rating it two stars out of ten, commenting that "Make A Scene sees her straddle a multitude of different genres" Gavin Martin from The Mirror was positive, feeling that the album is a "jolly effective blend of high-bred hoofing, fun and sincerity."[15] James Lachno from The Daily Telegraph judged that "A legion of co-producers attempt to recreate the slick dance-pop for which she is famed, but too often her husky voice and arch delivery are given short shrift by bloated house beats and perfunctory hooks."[12] Alex Hall from The Tune was positive, saying that "Make A Scene is by no means a 'dark' record; however, Sophie Ellis-Bextor manages to prevent what would have been an unbearable 50 minutes had every song been a reproduction of 'Starlight' by applying to the crevasses all the insight she's gained in a decade."[19] Gay Times also gave a positive review, calling it "a proper pop album...easily head and shoulders above the offerings from her contemporaries in the last year".[20]

Commercial performance edit

Make a Scene entered the UK Albums Chart at number thirty-three with first-week sales of 6,143 copies, and by January 2014, it had sold 13,716 copies in the United Kingdom.[21] Within three months of release, the album received a gold certification in Russia, denoting sales in excess of 5,000 copies.[22] In spite of the album's lack of success, its singles became top 30 hits in the UK and Europe.

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Revolution"
Kurstin2:44
2."Bittersweet"
  • Freemasons
  • Stannard
3:27
3."Off & On"
Harris3:32
4."Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)" (Freemasons featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Wiltshire
  • Small
  • Stannard
  • Freemasons
  • Stannard
3:25
5."Not Giving Up on Love" (versus Armin van Buuren)
  • Buuren
  • Goeij
2:56
6."Can't Fight This Feeling" (Junior Caldera featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Julien Carret
  • Caldera
  • Caldera
  • Carret
3:35
7."Starlight"
Richard X4:20
8."Under Your Touch"
Howe3:53
9."Make a Scene"
3:50
10."Magic"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Richard X
  • Robinson
Richard X4:34
11."Dial My Number"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Howe
  • Robinson
Howe3:37
12."Homewrecker"
Kurstin3:25
13."Synchronised"
Ball3:12
14."Cut Straight to the Heart"
  • Harcourt
  • Tikovoi
3:37
UK iTunes Store edition bonus music videos[23]
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
15."Bittersweet"Chris Sweeney3:38
16."Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)"Chris Sweeney3:40
17."Not Giving Up on Love"Sophie Muller2:58
18."Can't Fight This Feeling"Jelle Posthuma3:38
19."Starlight"Robin Bextor3:30
Italian iTunes Store bonus track[24]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Starlight" (My Doctor Elvis Remix)
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Richard X
  • Robinson
Richard X5:52
2022 Deluxe Edition[25]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Sophia Loren" (B-side of "Bittersweet")
  • Chris Rojas
  • Dennis
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Rojas
4:16
16."Dear Jimmy" (Previously unreleased unmixed version)
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Matt Prime
  • Hannah Robinson
  • Prime
3:27

Personnel edit

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Make a Scene.[26]

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Russia (NFPF)[31] Gold 5,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history edit

Region Date Label Format(s)
Russia[32] 18 April 2011 Universal Music
Germany[33] 12 June 2011
  • EBGB's
  • Alive
 Digital download
United Kingdom[23] EBGB's
Poland[34] 13 June 2011 Mystic Production
  • CD
  • digital download
United Kingdom[35] EBGB's CD
Germany[36] 17 June 2011
  • EBGB's
  • Alive
Belgium[37] 24 June 2011 Armada Music
  • CD
  • digital download
Luxembourg[37]
Netherlands[37]
Australia[38] 30 September 2011 Shock Entertainment
Italy[24][39] 18 October 2011
  • EGO Music
  • Universal Music
 Digital download
25 October 2011 CD
United States[40] 16 October 2012 Essential Music Digital download
Mexico[41] 16 October 2012
  • Essential Music
  • +Mas Label
  • Universal Music
  • CD
  • digital download

References edit

  1. ^ "Ego Music Italy - Reveletion single". Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022.[user-generated source]
  3. ^ ShowBiz Ireland - Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Interview ShowBiz Ireland. Retrieved 16-02-2013.
  4. ^ "Universal Music Russia". Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  5. ^ "@SophieEB Starlight! Coming soon!!". Twitpic.com.
  6. ^ "ITunes - Music - Revolution - Single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". itunes.apple.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Bradshaw, Lee (7 May 2011). "Album Review: Sophie Ellis-Bextor – 'Make A Scene'| Clixie Music - News, Reviews and Interviews". Clixie Music. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  8. ^ "Calvin Harris Interview". Popjustice. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  9. ^ a b "Make a Scene – Sophie Ellis-Bextor". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Make a Scene Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  11. ^ "BBC - Music - Review of Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Make a Scene".
  12. ^ a b Lachno, James (9 June 2011). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Make a Scene, CD review". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  13. ^ a b "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: 'Make a Scene'". Digital Spy. 9 June 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Make a Scene – review". The Guardian. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  15. ^ a b Martin, Gavin (2 June 2011). "Album reviews: Sophie Ellis Bextor, White Denim, My Morning Jacket, Roy Harper". Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Album Review: Sophie Ellis-Bextor - 'Make A Scene'". Nme.com. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Make a Scene – Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Album Reviews". new.uk.music.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  18. ^ a b Daw, Robbie (18 April 2011). "Preview Sophie Ellis-Bextor's 'Make A Scene' LP". Idolator. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  19. ^ "The Tune Music review". Thetunemusic.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  20. ^ "Make a Scene". Gay Times (394). Millivres Prowler Group: 89. Summer 2011. ISSN 0950-6101.
  21. ^ Jones, Alan (27 January 2014). "Official Charts Analysis: Goulding reclaims No.1 album spot with 21,000 sales". Music Week. Retrieved 27 January 2014. (subscription required)
  22. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Universal Music Summer Party, Moscow". YouTube. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  23. ^ a b "Make a Scene by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store UK. Apple. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  24. ^ a b "Make a Scene (Bonus Track Version) by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store Italy. Apple. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  25. ^ "Make a Scene". Pop Plastic. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  26. ^ Make a Scene (CD liner notes). Sophie Ellis-Bextor. EBGB's. 2011. EBGBCD001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  27. ^ "Чудо живьем. Премьера от группы The Prodigy в российском музыкальном чарте". Lenta.ru (in Russian). 13 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  29. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  30. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Шансон года Что слушали россияне в 2011 году" (in Russian). Lenta.ru. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  32. ^ "Make A Scene" (in Russian). Universal Music Russia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  33. ^ "Make a Scene by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store Germany. Apple. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  34. ^ "SOPHIE ELLIS - BEXTOR: nowy album już w czerwcu!" (in Polish). Mystic Production. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  35. ^ "Make A Scene". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  36. ^ "Make A Scene" (in German). AL!VE AG. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  37. ^ a b c "Armada Music to release Sophie Ellis-Bextor single & album". Armada Music. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  38. ^ "Make A Scene". Sanity. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  39. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Make a Scene" (in Italian). Internet Bookshop Italia. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  40. ^ "Make a Scene by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store US. Apple. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  41. ^ "Make a Scene by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". iTunes Store MX. Apple. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
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