Zendaya (album) explained

Zendaya
Type:studio
Artist:Zendaya
Cover:Zendaya - Zendaya (album cover).png
Recorded:December 2012 – May 2013
Length:42:30
Label:Hollywood
Prev Title:Made in Japan
Prev Year:2012

Zendaya is the eponymous debut studio album by American singer and actress Zendaya, released on September 17, 2013, by Hollywood Records. After acting in the Disney Channel series Shake It Up, Zendaya signed a recording contract with Hollywood Records, in which she began recording her debut in late 2012. Zendaya consists of 12 songs; musically, the album is an electropop album that incorporates renegade urban pop, R&B, and dubstep. Lyrically, the album discusses issues of heartbreak and love.

Upon its release, it was met with positive reviews from music critics, who praised the album's production. Commercially, the album debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 51, selling 7,000 copies in its first week.[1] The album's lead single "Replay" was released on July 16, 2013, and its music video premiered on August 15, 2013, on VEVO and Disney Channel. The single became Zendaya's highest-charting song at the time, charting within both the top forty of the US and New Zealand. To further promote the album, Zendaya performed on a variety of television shows and set out on a North American tour entitled the Swag It Out Tour.

Background

After starting her career as an actress, acting in shows including Shake It Up, she began featuring on soundtracks releasing the singles "Watch Me" and "Something To Dance For", Zendaya announced she has signed a record deal.On August 8, 2012, Zendaya announced she had signed a record deal with Hollywood Records, via her official Twitter account she commented on the signing writing; "epic moment in my life...it's official!!! HOLLYWOOD RECORDS!!!", the comment also included pictures of herself with the label executives signing a contract.[2] In May 2013, it was reported Coleman's debut album would be released in the fall of 2013 and the album's lead single would be released in June.[3] On August 13, 2013, Zendaya revealed that her debut album would be self-titled, along with unveiling the official artwork for the record.[4]

Music and lyrics

Zendaya consists of twelve tracks. The album is mainly rooted in urban electropop, that musically experiment with pop, R&B, trap and dubstep genres. The album's lyrical content tackles issues of love and heartbreak.[5] [6] After streaming the album to radio presenter Ryan Seacrest, he commented on the album's music calling is a "pop/R&B hybrid offering for the most part", he continued to comment saying the album contained "urban cuts"[7]

The album's opening track and lead single "Replay" is a "grittier club-ready pop track", that was produced by Mick Schultz.[5] "Replay" is an electro-R&B song with influences from glitch and dubstep.[8] [9] [10] The following song "Fireflies" is blend of pop and R&B genres, that contains a "heavy beat."[5]

"Scared" is an up-tempo pop song that lyrically speaks about "trying to save a relationship because she is scared of being alone". "Scared" was written by Tiffany Fred and Paul "Phamous" Shelton, and was described by Zendaya as having a "Kanye West type of vibe".[5] "Love You Forever" is an up-tempo "90s throwback" song that has been compared to the work of the late singer Aaliyah. Lyrically the song discusses Zendaya falling in love on the dance floor, the concept of the song is introduced with lyrics such as "We on that all night, get it right/ If you keep on moving like that, I might love you forever/ We on that first time love high/ Just keep on moving/ 'Cause I might love you Forever."[5]

Promotion

On September 19, 2013, Zendaya made her first national performance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, in which she sang the album's lead single.[11] On October 29, Zendaya was the New Artist of the Month on The Today Show, where she performed an acoustic version of "Replay".[12] On November 29, she performed "Replay" on BET's 106 & Park.[13] Zendaya further promoted the project by hosting events like "106 & park" special "106 & prom", in which she spoke about her upcoming music project.[14] In early 2012 Zendaya embarked on a North American tour entitled Swag It Out Tour, in order to promote her debut album and the Shake It Up soundtrack. The tour started on August 5, 2012, in Oakland and finished on December 17, 2013. The tour consisted of two legs over America and Canada with a total of twenty one shows.

Singles

"Replay" was released as the album's lead single on July 16, 2013.[15] The song was met with positive reviews from critics noting the single from breaking the musical "mould" and praised the song for its catchy lyrics.[16] "Replay" was a moderate success in the US, where it debuted at number 77 and reached a peak of 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making "Replay" her first Top 40 hit. The song also made appearances on the New Zealand chart and US Billboard Dance Club Play, by peaking at 18 and 3, respectively. It was however a top 10 hit in Australia where it peaked at 8. A remix of "My Baby", featuring American rappers Ty Dolla Sign, Iamsu! and Bobby Brackins, was released as a CD single but failed to chart. Music videos were created for both versions.

Critical reception

AllMusic praised the self-titled album, commending its production saying the album "delivers sleek pop thrills with fewer growing pains than some of her predecessors suffered on their early albums". AllMusic continued to compare the album to the debut of Cassie, overall saying the album "is a streamlined, self-assured first effort".[17]

Commercial performance

The album debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 51, selling 7,000 copies in its first week.[1] [18]

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Visuals

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, edition, and label
RegionDateEdition(s)Label
United StatesSeptember 17, 2013Hollywood Records
CanadaStandard
VariousApril 11, 2014Universal Music

Notes and References

  1. 21 Under 21s Next Class Poll: Vote For 2014's Best Bet. Billboard.
  2. Web site: Zendaya Coleman Signs Recording Contract with Hollywood Records. Teen.com. 2012-08-08. 2013-11-11. 2017-03-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20170323052947/http://www.teen.com/2012/08/08/news/celebrity-news/zendaya-coleman-hollywood-records/. dead.
  3. Web site: Zendaya Coleman Announces Debut Album and Talks Release Date. j-14. 2012-05-27.
  4. Web site: Zendaya Debut Album To Be Self-Titled!. Sweety High. 2013-08-13.
  5. Web site: Zendaya: Four Tracks You Have To Hear. https://web.archive.org/web/20130920005355/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1714227/zendaya-album-tracks.jhtml. dead. September 20, 2013. MTV News.
  6. Web site: Album Review: Zendaya – 'Zendaya' . May 30, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105435/http://rawmusicent.com/2013/09/17/album-review-zendaya-zendaya/ . May 31, 2014 .
  7. Web site: Zendaya Streams Debut Album Before Its Release: Listen. Ryan Seacrest. 2013-09-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150929031427/http://www.ryanseacrest.com/2013/09/13/zendaya-offers-fans-early-full-album-stream/ . 2015-09-29.
  8. Web site: Zendaya, "Replay": Disney's Newest Pop Princess Arrives With An Amazing Debut Single . Bradley . Stern . MuuMuse . July 12, 2013 . August 28, 2013 .
  9. Web site: Zendaya's Surprisingly Wicked Debut Single 'Replay' . Donovan . Homorazzi . July 13, 2012 . August 28, 2013 . September 28, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928000123/http://www.homorazzi.com/article/zendaya-replay-debut-single-zswaggers-fandom/ . dead .
  10. Web site: ZENDAYA, 'REPLAY' – SONG REVIEW . Jessica . Sager . PopCrush . . July 13, 2013 . August 28, 2013 .
  11. Web site: Zendaya Performs "Replay" On 'Ellen': Watch. Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 20 September 2013. 11 January 2014. 13 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231213222359/https://www.idolator.com/7485252/zendaya-performs-replay-on-ellen-watch. dead.
  12. Web site: THE TODAY SHOW: Elvis' 'Artist of the Month' Zendaya [WATCH] – Elvis Duran and the Morning Show]. Elvis Duran and the Morning Show.
  13. Web site: Get Down With Zendaya. 19 February 2014. BET.com.
  14. Web site: Zendaya Has It Going On!. https://web.archive.org/web/20130608124919/http://www.bet.com/video/106andpark/106guestrewind/zendaya-has-it-going-on-106-and-park-3194.html. dead. June 8, 2013. 24 May 2013. BET.com.
  15. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/replay-single/id669287015 iTunes – Music – Replay – Single by Zendaya
  16. Web site: Zendaya, 'Replay' – Song Review. PopCrush. 13 July 2013 .
  17. Web site: Zendaya – Zendaya – Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards – AllMusic. Heather Phares. AllMusic. March 15, 2018.
  18. Web site: Zendaya. billboard.com.