Best Of (Vanilla Ninja album)
Encyclopedia
Best Of is a best-of album by the Estonia
n girl band Vanilla Ninja
. The album was released in December 2005, and consisted of thirteen songs from their Traces of Sadness
and Blue Tattoo
albums. The album was released in several countries in Central Europe
, failing to make the Top 100 in Germany
and Austria
, and peaking at #70 in Switzerland
. The album also ended their run of three straight album chart number ones in Estonia, failing to chart there also.
Best Of was a controversial album because the group had left Bros Records
when it was released by the label
. The album was released without consulting the girls, who were unaware that the album existed until it was released. Best Of is generally considered as a money-making venture on the part of their former manager David Brandes
, who has been widely reported as now having an unpleasant relationship with the group. In interviews during the weeks around the album's release, Vanilla Ninja member Piret Järvis
asked fans to not buy the album, as it would be supporting the Bros label. Due to the high-profile nature of the interviews, especially in Estonia, the album's sales and chart positions were probably lowered due to this.
The album was, as the name suggests, essentially a greatest hits
album of the group's releases since from 2004 international breakthrough. The album contained no new material, with the tracks recorded between late 2003 and early 2005. Included on the album were most of their single releases, including "Tough Enough", "When The Indians Cry", "I Know" and their Eurovision Song Contest 2005
offering "Cool Vibes
".
No tracks from their self-titled debut album
were included, almost certainly because their debut album was released by TopTen, and not Bros Records. This meant that their debut single "Club Kung Fu" was missing. The album was generally criticised by critics, mostly because the girls had not had a long enough career to warrant a "Best Of" album.
Notably, the album cover for Best Of featured the original Vanilla Ninja line-up, with Maarja Kivi shown instead of Triinu Kivilaan
, despite her leaving the group in mid-2004. This was most likely because Kivi is signed to Bros as solo artist, with her inclusion on the cover helping to promote her then-upcoming single "Could You".
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n girl band Vanilla Ninja
Vanilla Ninja
Vanilla Ninja is a three-piece Estonian girl band which has enjoyed chart success in a number of countries across Europe, especially in Estonia, Germany and Austria....
. The album was released in December 2005, and consisted of thirteen songs from their Traces of Sadness
Traces of Sadness
Traces of Sadness is the second album by the Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja. Released in June 2004, the album included the hit singles "Tough Enough", "Liar" and "When the Indians Cry"...
and Blue Tattoo
Blue Tattoo (album)
Blue Tattoo is the third album by the Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja, and the last original Vanilla Ninja album released by Bros Records. Following up the successful 2004 album Traces of Sadness, Blue Tattoo looks to be the group's most successful album yet with the singles "Blue Tattoo" , "I...
albums. The album was released in several countries in Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
, failing to make the Top 100 in 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...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and peaking at #70 in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The album also ended their run of three straight album chart number ones in Estonia, failing to chart there also.
Best Of was a controversial album because the group had left Bros Records
Bros Records
Bros Music is a Central European record label owned by the major record company Sony Music Entertainment. The label is based in Germany and is the home to several successful chart acts, including E-Rotic, Marya Roxx, Bad Boys Blue, Gracia, Chris Norman and Virus Incorporation...
when it was released by the label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. The album was released without consulting the girls, who were unaware that the album existed until it was released. Best Of is generally considered as a money-making venture on the part of their former manager David Brandes
David Brandes
David Brandes is a Swiss-born German songwriter and producer. Brandes has written and produced for many artists, including E-Rotic, Bad Boys Blue, Chris Norman, Indiggo, Lemon Ice and Vanilla Ninja...
, who has been widely reported as now having an unpleasant relationship with the group. In interviews during the weeks around the album's release, Vanilla Ninja member Piret Järvis
Piret Järvis
Piret Järvis is an Estonian singer, guitarist and songwriter of the popular girl group Vanilla Ninja and an indiegroup Disko4000....
asked fans to not buy the album, as it would be supporting the Bros label. Due to the high-profile nature of the interviews, especially in Estonia, the album's sales and chart positions were probably lowered due to this.
The album was, as the name suggests, essentially a greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album of the group's releases since from 2004 international breakthrough. The album contained no new material, with the tracks recorded between late 2003 and early 2005. Included on the album were most of their single releases, including "Tough Enough", "When The Indians Cry", "I Know" and their Eurovision Song Contest 2005
Eurovision Song Contest 2005
The Eurovision Song Contest 2005 was the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, which was held at the Palace of Sports, Kiev, Ukraine. The winner was Greece's My Number One, written by Christos Dantis and Natalia Germanou and performed by Swedish-born Greek singer Elena Paparizou, who scored 230 points,...
offering "Cool Vibes
Cool Vibes
"Cool Vibes" was the Swiss entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, sung by Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja. The song was composed by David Brandes and "Jane Tempest" , and was written by Bernd Meinunger, under the pseudonym "John O'Flynn"....
".
No tracks from their self-titled debut album
Vanilla Ninja (album)
Vanilla Ninja is the self-titled debut album by the Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja. The album came out on May 30, 2003 and was only ever released in Estonia, despite the group's subsequent success in Germany, Austria and Switzerland...
were included, almost certainly because their debut album was released by TopTen, and not Bros Records. This meant that their debut single "Club Kung Fu" was missing. The album was generally criticised by critics, mostly because the girls had not had a long enough career to warrant a "Best Of" album.
Notably, the album cover for Best Of featured the original Vanilla Ninja line-up, with Maarja Kivi shown instead of Triinu Kivilaan
Triinu Kivilaan
Triinu Kivilaan is an Estonian vocalist and former model, best known as a former member of the popular girl group Vanilla Ninja. She had been modelling for several years when she replaced Maarja Kivi in the group in 2004, having met the other members of the group a year earlier...
, despite her leaving the group in mid-2004. This was most likely because Kivi is signed to Bros as solo artist, with her inclusion on the cover helping to promote her then-upcoming single "Could You".
Track listing
- "Tough Enough" – 3:22
- "Don't Go Too Fast" – 3:11
- "When the Indians Cry" – 3:31
- "Blue Tattoo" – 4:08
- "Cool VibesCool Vibes"Cool Vibes" was the Swiss entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2005, sung by Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja. The song was composed by David Brandes and "Jane Tempest" , and was written by Bernd Meinunger, under the pseudonym "John O'Flynn"....
" – 4:05 - "My Puzzle Of Dreams" – 3:22
- "Never Gotta Know" – 3:15
- "Traces of Sadness" – 3:21
- "Liar" – 3:36
- "Don't You Realize" – 3:49
- "I Know" – 3:17
- "Corner Of My Mind" – 3:37
- "Destroyed By You" – 3:51
- "Tough Enough" (Extended Version) – 6:24
- "Blue Tattoo" (Extended Version) – 9:20
- "Megamix" (Extended Version) – 6:29