A Public Affair
Encyclopedia
A Public Affair is the fifth studio album
by American
pop
singer Jessica Simpson
. The album was released on August 26, 2006 in the United States
by Epic Records
. The album is Simpson's first effort following her divorce from Nick Lachey
in early 2006.
The UK
version was released on February 12, 2007 and included the video for "A Public Affair" and the audio for "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" as UK bonus tracks. Ultimately, it was a commercial disappointment, and is the last pop album Simpson released before switching to country music. A Public Affair has sold 300,000 units in the US and 1 million copies worldwide to date.
describes the track entitled "Fired Up" as "Jessica's 'Dirrty
'". Simpson wrote "Fired Up" for her friend Cacee Cobb "since that's what she always says". The song, "B.O.Y." samples
the opening guitar riff of The Cars
' "Just What I Needed
" and showcased a sexier, more Europop
side of Simpson.
. The album was criticized for lack of originality, particularly its similarities to previous Top 40 pop and disco hits from the '70s and '80s, with few contemporary elements. The lead single "A Public Affair" was especially criticized for its similarities to Madonna
's "Holiday
", Diana Ross
' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough
" and Earth, Wind & Fire
's "Let's Groove
". Bill Lamb from About.com stated: "The final 5 songs of A Public Affair are worth hearing for Jessica Simpson fans. I just hope fans can maintain their interest long enough to get there."
, selling over 101,000 copies in its first week. Although Simpson first marked highest sales week of her career, the total sales of the album ended up being disappointing. A Public Affair shipped 500,000 units in the U.S. but has sold just 300,000 to date (according to Nielsen SoundScan) and was certified Gold by the RIAA
.
In Canada
the album debuted at #6, marking Simpson's highest position on the albums chart in Canada and was later certified Gold for 50,000 copies sold. A Public Affair also made the Top 40 in Japan
, Ireland
and Australia
, in the latter country peaking lower than In This Skin
which reached number 13 and was certified Platinum. Despite the title track becoming an international hit, the album has sold just 1 million copies to date, and is considered by and large a commercial failure compared to Simpson's previous work.
When the first official single was released, fans expected the official follow-up single to be club track "Fired Up". Weeks later, in an MTV
interview, Simpson stated that "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
" might be the second single from the album and that she would like to tour after three or four songs had been released from the record. However, on August 9, 2006, Simpson stated on her official website that she wanted her fans to choose the second single from the album; she provided five choices, which were: "If You Were Mine", "The Lover in Me", "I Belong to Me", "B.O.Y." and "I Don't Want to Care".
Simpson stated in a radio interview on August 23, 2006 that the second official single from the album would be "I Belong to Me". The album originally did not include the track "I Belong to Me"; Simpson stated that the track would only be included on a special version of the album sold exclusively in Wal-Mart
. The track is also included on the iTunes
version of the album. However, less than two weeks after the album's release, Simpson's record company decided to start shipping copies with "I Belong to Me" included; today, the album can be purchased anywhere with the bonus track included. Simpson mentioned that the album would feature a special code with which fans could download the song for free. Many fans wondered why "Fired Up" was not released as a single, as the song had a strong popularity and many plays on YouTube.
The Circuit City version of the album had a bonus track as track 14: "A Public Affair" (extended version).
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
. The album was released on August 26, 2006 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. The album is Simpson's first effort following her divorce from Nick Lachey
Nick Lachey
Nicholas Scott "Nick" Lachey is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and television personality. Lachey rose to fame as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees. He later starred in the reality television series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica with his then-wife, Jessica Simpson. He has released...
in early 2006.
The UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
version was released on February 12, 2007 and included the video for "A Public Affair" and the audio for "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" as UK bonus tracks. Ultimately, it was a commercial disappointment, and is the last pop album Simpson released before switching to country music. A Public Affair has sold 300,000 units in the US and 1 million copies worldwide to date.
Production
MTV first reported that Simpson's first album after her divorce would be released in late 2005. Scott StorchScott Storch
Scott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
describes the track entitled "Fired Up" as "Jessica's 'Dirrty
Dirrty
"Dirrty" is a song performed by American singer Christina Aguilera featuring rapper Reggie "Redman" Noble. The song was written by Aguilera and Redman along with Jasper Cameron, Balewa Muhammad, and Rockwilder for Aguilera's fourth studio album Stripped...
'". Simpson wrote "Fired Up" for her friend Cacee Cobb "since that's what she always says". The song, "B.O.Y." samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
the opening guitar riff of The Cars
The Cars
The Cars are an American rock band that emerged from the early New Wave music scene in the late 1970s. The band consisted of lead singer and rhythm guitarist Ric Ocasek, lead singer and bassist Benjamin Orr, guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes and drummer David Robinson...
' "Just What I Needed
Just What I Needed
-Cover versions:*Big Daddy - Big Daddy*Caleigh Peters – Sky High soundtrack*Sister Hazel – Lift*Poison – Poison'd*Bang Tango – Untied and live!*The Insyderz – Fight Of My Life and Paradise CD Single*Replicants – Replicants...
" and showcased a sexier, more Europop
Europop
Europop refers to a style of pop music that first developed in today's form in Europe, throughout the late 1970s. Europop topped the charts throughout the 1980s and ’90s...
side of Simpson.
Album cover
With only a month to go until the release of A Public Affair, Simpson switched the cover photo of the album. The first cover art for the album surfaced showing a sultry Simpson with her hair down, sporting a dress with the straps pulled down. However, it was ultimately decided to go with more of a girl-next-door look. Simpson's representative Rob Shuter told TMZ the final decision on a cover had not been made by the time one had to be provided to Simpson's record label, so the first cover option (of three choices they had) was given. That cover was ultimately not chosen, and Simpson went with the cover eventually released. The chosen album cover has a casual-looking Simpson "with nothing but a T-shirt on", her hair pulled back and wearing a ring on her right index finger.Critical reception
A Public Affair received mixed reviews in the press, including a two-star rating from Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
. The album was criticized for lack of originality, particularly its similarities to previous Top 40 pop and disco hits from the '70s and '80s, with few contemporary elements. The lead single "A Public Affair" was especially criticized for its similarities to Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's "Holiday
Holiday (Madonna song)
"Holiday" is a song by American singer Madonna from her self-titled debut album. Released on September 7, 1983 by Sire Records, it later appeared remixed on the 1987 remix compilation You Can Dance and the 1990 greatest hits compilation The Immaculate Collection, and in its original form on the...
", Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla Motown label. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes...
" and Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
's "Let's Groove
Let's Groove
"Let's Groove" is a 1981 song from the album Raise! by the R&B act Earth, Wind & Fire. The song peaked at #3 in the U.S. and in the UK. It also spent eight weeks at number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart in late-1981/early-1982 and was the second R&B song of 1982 on the year end charts...
". Bill Lamb from About.com stated: "The final 5 songs of A Public Affair are worth hearing for Jessica Simpson fans. I just hope fans can maintain their interest long enough to get there."
Chart performance
The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling over 101,000 copies in its first week. Although Simpson first marked highest sales week of her career, the total sales of the album ended up being disappointing. A Public Affair shipped 500,000 units in the U.S. but has sold just 300,000 to date (according to Nielsen SoundScan) and was certified Gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
the album debuted at #6, marking Simpson's highest position on the albums chart in Canada and was later certified Gold for 50,000 copies sold. A Public Affair also made the Top 40 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in the latter country peaking lower than In This Skin
In This Skin
In This Skin is the third studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 19, 2003 in the United States by Columbia Records...
which reached number 13 and was certified Platinum. Despite the title track becoming an international hit, the album has sold just 1 million copies to date, and is considered by and large a commercial failure compared to Simpson's previous work.
Singles
- "A Public AffairA Public Affair (song)"A Public Affair" is a song recorded by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. It was co-written by Simpson and produced by Lester Mendez, for Simpson's fourth studio album of the same title. It was released as the album's first single on June 29, 2006 by Epic Records. Musically, the song is a...
" - "I Belong to MeI Belong to Me"I Belong to Me" is a song written by Diane Warren on Jessica Simpson's fourth studio album, A Public Affair . The Stargate-produced song was the second and final single from the album, and it reached the lower half of the U.S...
" - "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"You Spin Me Round " is a song by British band Dead or Alive on their 1985 album Youthquake. The song was the first UK number-one hit by the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. Released in November 1984, the record reached number one in March 1985, taking seventeen weeks to get there...
" (promo only)
When the first official single was released, fans expected the official follow-up single to be club track "Fired Up". Weeks later, in an MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
interview, Simpson stated that "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
"You Spin Me Round " is a song by British band Dead or Alive on their 1985 album Youthquake. The song was the first UK number-one hit by the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. Released in November 1984, the record reached number one in March 1985, taking seventeen weeks to get there...
" might be the second single from the album and that she would like to tour after three or four songs had been released from the record. However, on August 9, 2006, Simpson stated on her official website that she wanted her fans to choose the second single from the album; she provided five choices, which were: "If You Were Mine", "The Lover in Me", "I Belong to Me", "B.O.Y." and "I Don't Want to Care".
Simpson stated in a radio interview on August 23, 2006 that the second official single from the album would be "I Belong to Me". The album originally did not include the track "I Belong to Me"; Simpson stated that the track would only be included on a special version of the album sold exclusively in Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
. The track is also included on the iTunes
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
version of the album. However, less than two weeks after the album's release, Simpson's record company decided to start shipping copies with "I Belong to Me" included; today, the album can be purchased anywhere with the bonus track included. Simpson mentioned that the album would feature a special code with which fans could download the song for free. Many fans wondered why "Fired Up" was not released as a single, as the song had a strong popularity and many plays on YouTube.
Track listing
- "A Public AffairA Public Affair (song)"A Public Affair" is a song recorded by American recording artist Jessica Simpson. It was co-written by Simpson and produced by Lester Mendez, for Simpson's fourth studio album of the same title. It was released as the album's first single on June 29, 2006 by Epic Records. Musically, the song is a...
" – 3:21 (Simpson, Austin, Kurstin, Watters, Biancaniello, Mendez, Ashford, Simpson) - "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"You Spin Me Round " is a song by British band Dead or Alive on their 1985 album Youthquake. The song was the first UK number-one hit by the Stock Aitken Waterman production trio. Released in November 1984, the record reached number one in March 1985, taking seventeen weeks to get there...
" – 3:49 (Percy, Burns, Coy, Lever) - "B.O.Y." – 3:22 (Driscoll, Gagel, Ocasek)
- "If You Were Mine" – 3:17 (Watters, Biancaniello, Kurstin, Gray, Sewell)
- "Walkin' 'Round in a Circle" – 4:40 (Simpson, Austin, Harris III, Lewis, Nicks)
- "The Lover in Me" – 3:41 (Simpson, Childress, Austin, Biancaniello, Watters, Gray)
- "Swing with Me" – 3:25 (Prima, Simpson, Rooney, Shea, Cobb, Alexander)
- "Push Your Tush" – 4:48 (Simpson, Harris III, Lewis, Tolbert, Bonner, Beck, Williams, Pierce, Jones, Middlebrooks, Satchell)
- "Back to You" – 4:11 (Simpson, Harris III, Lewis)
- "Between You & I" – 4:58 (Simpson, Rooney)
- "I Don't Want to Care" – 3:57 (Simpson, Eriksen, Hermansen, Riddick, LindEspen LindEspen Lind, , is a Norwegian songwriter, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is one half of the production team Espionage.- Solo records :...
, Bjorklund, Beite, Hvidsten) - "Fired Up" – 3:58 (Jessica Simpson, Scott StorchScott StorchScott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
, Penelope Magnet, Jeff Bowden) - "Let Him FlyLiving with GhostsLiving with Ghosts is Patty Griffin's debut album and was released on May 21, 1996. According to Billboard the album is Griffin's best seller and has sold 222,000 copies in the United States as of January 2010.-Track listing:...
" – 3:11 (Griffin) - "I Belong to MeI Belong to Me"I Belong to Me" is a song written by Diane Warren on Jessica Simpson's fourth studio album, A Public Affair . The Stargate-produced song was the second and final single from the album, and it reached the lower half of the U.S...
" – 3:40 (Warren) [Omitted on original release] - "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (UK bonus track) – 3:58 (Hazlewood)
- "A Public Affair" [enhanced video] (UK bonus track)
The Circuit City version of the album had a bonus track as track 14: "A Public Affair" (extended version).
Charts and certifications
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... Albums Chart |
33 |
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
6 |
| Irish Albums Chart | 32 |
| Japan International Albums Chart Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
72 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
65 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
5 |
| U.S. Top Internet Albums | 5 |
Certifications
| Country | Providers | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | CRIA Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada... |
Gold |
| U.S. | RIAA Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Gold |
Album credits
- Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums
- Andrew Rugg – engineer
- Barry Danielian – trumpet
- Bobby Ross Avila – bass
- Brett Ratner – photography
- Brian Warwick – assistant engineer
- Cacee Cobb – backing vocals
- Chris August – backing vocals
- Chris Megert – vocal arrangement
- Conrad Golding – engineer
- Cory Rooney – drum programming, keyboards, producer, vocal producer
- Dan Kurtz – bass
- Dan Shea – keyboards, producer
- Dave Pensado – mixing
- David Andrew Mann – tenor saxophone
- David E. Williams – guitar
- David Levita – guitar
- Dorian Holly – backing vocals
- Eric Rennaker – assistant engineer
- Espen Lind – keyboards
- Evan Lamberg – A&R
- Farra Mathews – A&R
- Gary Novak – drums
- Greg Kurstin – guitar, keyboards, producer, programming
- Ian Cross – engineer, mixing
- Jerry Brown – drums
- Jessica Paster – wardrobe
- Jessica Simpson – vocals, executive producer
- Jimmy Jam – keyboards, producer
- James "Big Jim" Wright – keyboards
- Joe Simpson – executive producer, management
- Joe Wohlmuth – engineer
- Joe Zook – mixing
- Justin KingJustin King (guitarist)Justin King is an American musician and artist from Eugene, Oregon, recognized as a pioneering guitarist for his percussive "tapping" playing style which consists of a variety of influences ranging from Flamenco to Celtic music...
– guitar - Keith Gretlein – assistant engineer
- Ken Paves – hair stylist
- Laurie Rosenwald – cover typeset
- Lester Mendez – arranger, beats, Moog synthesizer, piano, producer
- Louis Biancaniello – keyboards, mixing, producer, programming
- Lyle Workman – guitar
- Magnus Beite – keyboards
- Makeba Riddick – backing vocals
- Matt Marrin – engineer, mixing
- Mike TerryMike TerryMike Terry is a music producer, recording engineer, and mixer residing in Los Angeles, California. Terry grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Terry eventually moved west in the mid 90's and landed his first jobs at L.A.'s The Village, and Sound City recording studios as an assistant...
– engineer - Mikkel S. Eriksen – engineer, instrumentation, vocal producer
- Nikki Harris – backing vocals
- Orlando Calzada – engineer
- Ozzie Melendez – trombone
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
- Peter Wade – engineer
- Phil Tan – mixing
- Rafael Padilla – percussion
- Ravaughn Brown – backing vocals
- Reuben Rodriguez – bass
- Ron Allaire – engineer
- Sam Watters – mixing, producer
- Scott Storch – producer
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Sharlotte Gibson – backing vocals
- Sherree Ford Brown – backing vocals
- Siedah Garrett – backing vocals, vocal arrangement
- Steve Geuting – assistant engineer
- Tamyra Gray – backing vocals
- Terry Lewis – producer
- Tim Roberts – mixing assistant
- Tony Tolbert – backing vocals
- Valente Torrez – assistant engineer
- Vince Cherico – drums
- Vlado Meller – mastering
- Wally GagelWally GagelWalton Steven “Wally” Gagel is an American record producer, songwriter, engineer and musician. He came into prominence in 1996 for his work on the Billboard Top 40 hit Natural One by the band Folk Implosion....
– engineer, instrumentation, mixing, producer - Xandy Barry – producer
Release history
| Region | Date |
|---|---|
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
August 26, 2006 |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
August 29, 2006 |
| Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
September 27, 2006 |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
February 12, 2007 |
| Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
March 2, 2007 |