Dopamine (Normani album) explained

Dopamine
Type:studio
Artist:Normani
Cover:Normani - Dopamine.png
Border:yes
Alt:A scantily clad Normani riding a shiny black phallic rocket ship against a white backdrop.
Genre:
Length:41:28
Label:RCA
Producer:
Prev Title:Normani x Calvin Harris
Prev Year:2018

Dopamine is the debut solo studio album by American singer Normani. It was released on June 14, 2024, through RCA Records. The album features collaborations with Starrah, Gunna, James Blake and Cardi B, along with contributions from Brandy and Victoria Monét. Primarily a pop and R&B record, upon release it was met with generally favourable reviews. Dopamine was supported by the singles "1:59", "Candy Paint" and "All Yours", as well as the previously released "Wild Side" (2021), which reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album debuted at number 91 on the US Billboard 200.

Background and development

Normani first rose to fame as a member of girl group Fifth Harmony, formed during the second season of The X Factor in 2012.[3] Following the announcement of Fifth Harmony's indefinite hiatus in 2018, plans about Normani's debut studio album first emerged in July, when the singer announced that she had her album title ready. Between 2018 and 2022, she released eight singles, including "Motivation" (2019), which was going to serve as the lead single of her debut album, but did not make the final track listing.[4] [5]

On February 21, 2024, Normani announced the title of her debut studio album, Dopamine (an organic chemical), the album cover, and shared an audio snippet on her social media pages.[6] [7] Normani expressed that the album is "a representation of [her] evolution" and "everything [she had] gone through to get to this moment". She also touched on the expectations and pressure she dealt with while making the album, as well as having to struggle with both of her parents having cancer.[8] In an interview with Elle magazine, Normani said that the album title "represents the highs and the lows [she has] endured" and that she wanted a title that encompassed everything that she felt she went through in her journey to get to this point in her career.[9]

Release and promotion

On March 23, 2024, Normani announced the lead single from the album titled "1:59", featuring American rapper Gunna, which was released on April 26.[10] The album's release date was then announced during the song's release. Around the same time, Normani also started teasing the release of "Candy Paint", which had been previewed multiple times since 2022, and would share a pre-save link for the song on May 2. A teaser trailer for the album, subtitled "First Dose" was released on YouTube, as well as her social media platforms, on May 22. The trailer featured a guest appearance from Gunna for what was likely a preview of the "1:59" music video, as well as a new snippet of "Candy Paint".[11] "Candy Paint" was surprise-released as the album's second single on Normani's 28th birthday, May 31.[12] It was later reported "Wild Side" (2021) featuring Cardi B would appear on Dopamine.[13] "All Yours" was released as the third single from the album on June 13, a day before the album's release.On June 11, 2024, Normani teased the album's upcoming release with a promotional video directing fans to call her hotline number, "Hotline 1:59." When called, the voicemail previewed a snippet from the album each day, ending with Normani saying, "Hey, it's Normani, leave a message after the beep." On June 12, 2024, Normani revealed the tracklist to Dopamine on all social media platforms.[14]

Critical reception

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Dopamine received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 73 out of 100 from 11 critic scores.

Shahzaib Hussain of Clash described the album as "a debut that hits the programmed sweet spot, conversant with contemporary trends and greater R&B and soul traditions." Writing for NME, Nick Levine said that "it may have taken six years, but Dopamine sounds like the (damn) album Normani was meant to make all long." Pitchforks Heven Haile found Dopamine to be a "solid reintroduction to Normani's sultrier side," while also ambivalently comparing it to Dua Lipa's Future Nostalgia in that a "mysteriously cool it-girl persona is thrilling in three-minute doses, but after a couple of tracks with big hooks, you come across some filler."

Nicole Vassell of The Independent wrote that even though "the album will satisfy lovers of understated soul, [...] after so long a wait, you might hope for a bigger dopamine hit than this." The Guardian's Michael Cragg said that "Dopamine understandably strives hard for perfection, but it can feel strangely anonymous at times"; however, he also said that "when Normani fully lets loose, [...] there's a real sense of that superstar everyone hoped to see back in 2018 finally taking centre stage on her own damn album."

Commercial performance

In the United States, Dopamine debuted at number 91 on the Billboard 200, moving 12,000 album-equivalent units of which 2,000 were pure sales.[15]

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Normani 'Dopamine' Full Album Review and Breakdown . ELLE . June 14, 2024 . June 14, 2024.
  2. Web site: Normani: Dopamine review – pop's longest-awaited debut almost defeats the trolls . The Guardian . June 13, 2024 .
  3. Web site: Harp. Justin. Britain's Got Talent: Watch Fifth Harmony rock your world with a live semi-final performance. Digital Spy. June 22, 2017.
  4. Web site: Normani's Debut Album Dopamine: Everything We Know. Gonzalez. Erica. Elle. February 21, 2024. February 21, 2024.
  5. Web site: Normani Announces Long-Awaited Album Dopamine. Major. Michael. BroadwayWorld. February 21, 2024. February 21, 2024.
  6. Normani Announces Debut Album Dopamine. Mamo. Heran. Billboard. February 21, 2024. February 21, 2024.
  7. Web site: Instagram video by Normani. Instagram . February 21, 2024. February 22, 2024.
  8. Web site: Suliaman . Jasmine Fox . Normani's Moment is Now . Who What Wear UK . February 22, 2024 . 22 February 2024.
  9. Web site: Maude . Samuel . Normani is Dropping the Damn Album . ELLE . 26 April 2024.
  10. Mamo . Heran . Normani Announces '1:59' Single Featuring Gunna . . . April 25, 2024 . United States . 0006-2510 . 732913734 . March 23, 2024.
  11. Web site: Grow . Kory . Normani Answers 'Where's the Damn Album' With Hypersexual 'Dopamine' Trailer . Rolling Stone . 23 May 2024.
  12. Zemler. Emily. Normani Celebrates Her Houston Roots on Upbeat Summer Anthem 'Candy Paint'. Rolling Stone. May 31, 2024. May 31, 2024.
  13. Brathwaite. Lester Fabian. Normani on the pressure of finally releasing her debut album – and why 'Candy Paint' had to be on it. Entertainment Weekly. May 31, 2024. May 31, 2024.
  14. News: Madarang . Charisma . June 12, 2024 . Normani Unveils 'Dopamine' Track List, Featuring Cardi B, Gunna, James Blake . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240613040131/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/normani-dopamine-track-list-cardi-b-gunna-james-blake-1235039113/ . June 13, 2024 . June 18, 2024 . Rolling Stone.
  15. Web site: McIntyre . Hugh . Normani's Long-Awaited Debut Solo Album Disappoints On The Charts . 2024-08-08 . . en.