So Real (album)

"Candy" was released as Moore' debut single on August 17, 1999.[5] The song received generally favorable critical reviews from critics, mostly praising its composition. It performed moderately well on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking just outside the top 40 at #41. It entered the chart on #88 and reached its peak in its eighth week on the chart.[6] It received more success abroad, peaking at #6 in the UK and #2 in Australia. The music video, which was directed by Chris Robinson, had a cameo by the girl group PYT.[7]

"Walk Me Home" was released on December 4, 1999, as the second single in the US; the song failed to chart when it was first released. On October 14, 2000, the song was re-released to promote I Wanna Be with You and peaked at #38 on the Billboard Pop 100 chart.[8][9]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
Entertainment Weekly	C-[11]

Reviews among music critics were generally mixed. William Ruhlmann of AllMusic said, "Fifteen-year-old Mandy Moore's debut album sounded like it was inspired almost entirely by listening to recent hit albums by 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys, and Britney Spears", citing stylistic similarities between album tracks "So Real" and "Let Me Be the One" to the Backstreet Boys' "Backstreet's Back", and saying that Moore's "occasional growls" were similar to Spears' "...Baby One More Time". Ruhlmann stated that Moore could "carry a tune", but "with no particular distinction", saying that aside from her singing, the music was "mediocre".[12] Stephanie Mcgrath from the Canadian publication Jam! compared the album to the work of Spears and Jessica Simpson; she also labeled the material as "a mediocre collection that could fade quickly unless "Candy" continues to catch on with young pop fanatics".[13] Overall, she stated, "If female pop is what you crave, opt for Jessica Simpson or Britney Spears".[13]

In the United States, So Real had moderate success. The album debuted at number 71 on the US Billboard 200 and later peaked at number 31.[14] The album spent a total of 23 weeks on the US Billboard 200 chart.[15] It ranked at 116 on the 1999 Billboard 200 year-end chart.[16] So Real was certified RIAA Platinum in the US after four months with 1 million copies sold.[17][18]

Credits for So Real adapted from Allmusic.[19]

• Mandy Moore – primary artist
• Tony Battaglia – composer
• Dakari – guest artist
• Shaun Fisher – composer
• Jive – guest artist
• Billy Lawrence – guest artist
• T. Moran – composer
• David Rice – composer
• Mark Stevens – composer