Unwritten (album)

Unwritten is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. It was released in Europe on 6 September 2004 through Phonogenic Records and in the United States on 2 August 2005 through Epic Records. A pop and R&B album, Unwritten was produced by a number of producers, including Danielle Brisebois, Guy Chambers, Peter Wade Keusch, Steve Kipner, Patrick Leonard and Greg Wells.

Unwritten
Colour photograph of Natasha Bedingfield
Standard edition cover artwork, except for the United States. Some editions feature a light yellow frame on the cover artwork.
Studio album by
Natasha Bedingfield
Released6 September 2004 (2004-09-06)
Recorded2003–2004
Genre
Length47:01
Label
Producer
Natasha Bedingfield chronology
Unwritten
(2004)		 N.B.
(2007)
Singles from Unwritten
  1. "Single"
    Released: 3 May 2004
  2. "These Words"
    Released: 16 August 2004
  3. "Unwritten"
    Released: 29 November 2004
  4. "I Bruise Easily"
    Released: 4 April 2005

In the United Kingdom, Unwritten topped both the UK Albums Chart and the Scottish Albums Chart, receiving a triple platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry for sales of over a million copies in the United Kingdom. In North America, it peaked at number twenty-six on the US Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of over 500,000 copies in the United States. The album spawned four singles: "Single", "These Words", "Unwritten" and "I Bruise Easily" from the 2006 reissue. The song "Drop Me in the Middle" featured rapper Bizarre on the international editions of the album, and English rapper and singer Estelle on the US editions. In 2006, the album was re-released in North America with new cover artwork and a slightly altered track listing, including "The One That Got Away".

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
BBC Music(positive)[4]
PopMatters[1]
musicOMH(positive)[5]
Rolling Stone[6]

The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Earning a 7 out of 10 from PopMatters, Adrien Begrand, who said the album was Bedingfield's "brand of clever, R&B infused pop." Though, he went on to admit that the album was "not without its pitfalls."[1] David Hooper from the BBC gave the album another positive review, writing "there's no denying this is a finely-crafted number with bold, voluptuous harmonies. It's guaranteed to thrill, at least for the first 30 plays." Further, Hollow stated "Unwritten is a textbook quality pop album, lifted by Natasha's strong voice, immaculate production and some absolutely corking singles. Whether you like it or not, you won't be able to get those tunes out of your head."[4]

UK-based music review website musicOMH critic David Welsh praised the album, compared Bedingfield's success to that of her brother, calling the album "a startlingly accomplished debut outing, letting the whole world know that Daniel is by no means the only talented Bedingfield out there." Welsh continued to add that Unwritten was "both musically note-worthy and lyrically substantial", concluding that there was "no shame in adding this to your collection."[5]

Commercial performance

Unwritten peaked at number one on the Official Charts Company's UK Albums Chart. It sold over one million copies in the United Kingdom, being certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[7] In the United States, it peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard 200 with first week sales of 34,000.[8] Its currently certified gold from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In Australia, it peaked at number 89 on ARIA Albums Chart. It also peaked at number 26 in Austria, number 20 in Germany, number 33 in Mexico and number 23 in Switzerland, making smaller impact outside the United Kingdom and the United States.

Track listing
Unwritten — Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."These Words"
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:36
2."Single"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:57
3."I'm a Bomb"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:42
4."Unwritten"
  • Rodrigues
  • Brisebois
4:19
5."I Bruise Easily"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Paul Herman
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
4:14
6."If You're Gonna Jump"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:22
7."Silent Movie"
  • Chambers
  • Richard Flack
3:47
8."We're All Mad In Our Way"
  • Bedingfield
  • Brisebois
  • Nick Lashley
  • Rodrigues
  • Brisebois
  • Lashley
4:48
9."Frogs & Princes"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
3:45
10."Drop Me in the Middle" (featuring Bizarre from D12)
  • Rodrigues
  • Brisebois
4:16
11."Wild Horses"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
4:01
12."Sojourn" (hidden track)
 3:19
Unwritten — UK edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Size Matters"
  • Bedingfield
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
  • Kipner
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:25
13."Peace of Me"
Leonard3:45
14."Sojourn" (hidden track)
  • Bedingfield
  • O'Mahony
  • Keynes
  • Harwood
 3:19
Total length:54:16
Unwritten — Japanese edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleLength
12."Size Matters"3:25
13."Peace of Me"3:45
14."The One That Got Away"4:16
15."Sojourn" (hidden track)3:19
Total length:58:32
Unwritten — Japanese 2005 reissue edition
No.TitleLength
1."These Words"3:36
2."Single"3:55
3."Unwritten"4:15
4."Silent Movie"3:47
5."Stumble"3:36
6."Peace of Me"3:43
7."If You're Gonna..."3:21
8."Drop Me in the Middle" (featuring Estelle)3:44
9."We're All Mad"4:45
10."I Bruise Easily"4:13
11."The One That Got Away"4:06
12."Size Matters"3:26
13."Wild Horses"3:58
14."Sojourn" (hidden track)3:19
Total length:51:04
Unwritten — North American edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."These Words"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Wilkins
3:38
2."Single"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Wilkins
3:54
3."Unwritten"
  • Bedingfield
  • Brisebois
  • Rodrigues
4:18
4."Silent Movie"
  • Bedingfield
  • Chambers
3:45
5."Stumble"
3:36
6."Peace of Me"
  • Bedingfield
  • DioGuardi
  • Leonard
3:42
7."If You're Gonna ..."
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Wilkins
3:12
8."Drop Me in the Middle" (featuring Estelle)
4:14
9."We're All Mad"
  • Bedingfield
  • Brisebois
  • Lashley
4:46
10."I Bruise Easily"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Herman
  • Wilkins
4:12
11."The One That Got Away"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Michael Tafaro
  • Nathan Winkler
4:16
12."Size Matters"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Kipner
  • Wilkins
3:23
13."Wild Horses"
  • Bedingfield
  • Frampton
  • Wilkins
3:55
14."Sojourn" (hidden track)
  • Bedingfield
  • O'Mahony
  • Keynes
  • Harwood
3:19
Total length:51:03
Unwritten — North American and European DualDisc edition (bonus DVD)
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Entire Album in Enhanced Stereo"  
2."In the Studio Interview"  
3."These Words" (Music video) (US version)Chris Milk3:43
4."Making of These Words"  
5."Single" (Music video)Jake Nava3:30
6."I Bruise Easily" (Music video)Matthew Rolston3:46
Unwritten — North American 2006 reissue and South Asian digital edition
No.TitleLength
1."These Words" (Manny Marroquin Mix)3:36
2."Single" ('06 Mix) 
3."Unwritten"4:15
4."Silent Movie"3:47
5."I Bruise Easily"4:13
6."If You're Gonna..."3:20
7."Drop Me in the Middle" (featuring Estelle)3:43
8."Peace of Me"3:42
9."We're All Mad"4:44
10."Stumble"3:36
11."The One That Got Away" (Wamdue Pop Rocks Mix)4:56
12."Size Matters"3:25
13."Wild Horses"3:58
14."Sojourn" (hidden track)3:19
Total length:51:09

Notes

Personnel
  • Natasha Bedingfield – primary artist, lead vocals, background vocals, songwriting, vocal arrangements
  • Keith Andes – additional keyboards ("Drop Me in the Middle")
  • Dave Catlin-Birch – bass ("Silent Movie")
  • Guy Chambers – guitar, keyboards, producer
  • Justin Clayton – bass ("Peace of Me")
  • Larry Corbett – cello ("Peace of Me")
  • Keith Crouch – Hammond B-3 organ ("Unwritten")
  • Paul Gordon – keyboards ("We're All Mad")
  • Nick Ingman – string arrangements, conductor
  • Patrick Leonard – music programming, keyboards ("Peace of Me")
  • David Low – cello ("Stumble")
  • Tim Pierce – guitar ("Peace of Me")
  • Robbie Campos – guitar, keyboards
  • Michele Richards – violin ("Peace of Me")
  • Josephina Vergara – violin ("Peace of Me")
  • Greg Wells – bass, guitar, piano, drums
  • Joey Waronker - drums ("Peace of Me")
  • Danielle Brisebois – background vocals ("Unwritten"), producer, vocal arrangements
  • Jessica Collins – background vocals ("Unwritten" and "Drop Me in the Middle")
  • Nikola Bedingfield – background vocals ("Unwritten" and "Drop Me in the Middle")
  • Ryan Collins – background vocals ("Unwritten")
  • J. Curtis – guitar ("Size Matters")
  • Nick Lashley – guitar, keyboards
  • Wayne Wilkins – piano, keyboards
  • Chris Brown – bass ("If You're Gonna...")
  • Paul Herman – guitar ("I Bruise Easily")
  • Wayne Rodrigues – keyboards, turntables
  • Andrew Frampton – guitar, keyboards, programming, producer, vocal arrangements, string arrangements
  • Simon Hill – drums ("If You're Gonna...")
  • Andrew Duckles – viola ("Peace of Me")
  • Tony Hodson – guitar ("Drop Me in the Middle")
  • Paul Stanborough – additional guitars ("Silent Movie")
  • Steve Kipner – producer, vocal arrangements
  • Joe Chiccarelli – engineer
  • John Hill – producer
  • Nick Ingman – string arrangements, string conductor
  • Patrick Leonard – programming, producer
  • Steve MacMillan – engineer
  • Herb Powers – mastering
  • Greg Wells – programming, producer
  • Gavyn Wright – string conductor
  • Suzie Katayama – string contractor
  • Nick Lashley – producer, engineer
  • David Channing – digital editing
  • Michael Perfitt – engineer, digital editing
  • Ryan Freeland – engineer
  • James Cruz – mastering
  • Wayne Wilkins – programming, producer, engineer, vocal arrangements, string arrangements
  • Ian Cuttler – art direction
  • Richard Flack – producer, engineer, drum programming
  • Robbie Campos – vocal arrangements, string arrangements
  • Wayne Rodrigues – producer, engineer, digital editing, vocal arrangements, drum programming, Pro-Tools
  • Michelle Holme – art direction
  • Kieron Menzies – engineer
  • Chris Steffen – engineer
  • Peter Wade Keusch – producer
  • Lee Groves – mixing programmer
  • Michael Tafaro – producer, vocal arrangements
  • Nathan Winkler – producer, vocal arrangements

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7] 3× Platinum 1,000,000[29]
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Region Date Edition Format(s) Label(s) Catalog Ref.
Europe 6 September 2004 Standard CD
  • 82876637022 (United Kingdom)
  • 82876639992
Australia 11 October 2004 BMG 82876640002
Japan 20 October 2004
  • BVCP-27068
  • 82876640012
Canada 2 August 2005 82876715642
United States
  • Empire
  • Phonogenic
  • Epic
  • 82876775152 (CD)
  • EN94987 (CD+DVD)
Europe 30 September 2005 Reissue CD+DVD BMG 82876736772
Japan 7 December 2005 CD BVCP-21434
United States 6 June 2006
  • Phonogenic
  • Epic
 82876775152

References
  1. Begrand, Adrien (27 September 2005). "Natasha Bedingfield: Unwritten". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  2. Gill, Andy (3 September 2004). "Album: Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten". The Independent. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  3. "AllMusic review".
  4. Hollow, David (6 September 2005). "BBC – Music – Review of Natasha Bedingfield Unwritten". BBC Music. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  5. Welsh, David (6 September 2004). "Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". musicOMH. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  6. Hoard, Christian (25 August 2005). "Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2015.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Rolling Stone.
  7. "British album certifications – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". British Phonographic Industry.
  8. "Hill's 'Fireflies' Lights up the Billboard 200". Billboard.
  9. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 November 2004" (PDF). Australian Web Archive. 1 November 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  10. "Austriancharts.at – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten" (in German). Hung Medien.
  11. "Ultratop.be – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  12. "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. 25 August 2005. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  14. "Hits of The World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 39. 25 September 2004. p. 67. Retrieved 8 September 2023 – via Google Books.
  15. "Lescharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  17. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 37, 2004". Chart-Track. IRMA.
  18. "アンリトゥン" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  19. "Mexicancharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
  20. "Charts.nz – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
  21. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  22. "Swedishcharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
  23. "Swisscharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
  24. "Natasha Bedingfield | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  25. "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  26. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2004". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  27. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2005". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  28. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  29. Myers, Justin (1 July 2016). "One hit album wonders – huge albums that were hard acts to follow". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  30. "American album certifications – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Recording Industry Association of America.
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