Bittersweet World
Encyclopedia
Bittersweet World is the third studio album
by American recording artist Ashlee Simpson
. It was released in the United States
on April 22, 2008. Simpson worked on the album with producers Timbaland
, Chad Hugo
, and Kenna
. It has been described by Simpson as a "fun party album" with a "silly and quirky" side and some influence from 1980s music. She has also described it as having a more beat-oriented sound than her first two albums, Autobiography
and I Am Me
, although still retaining some of those albums' guitar-based sound.
It was first reported in March 2007 that the album was planned for release in October 2007. MTV subsequently reported on October 15 that the album's release had been delayed to the first quarter of 2008. On November 13, 2007, Simpson told MTV News at CosmoGIRL!
' s Born to Lead Awards that the album was completed (although she was continuing to write) and that it would be released in March 2008, with its first single, the Timbaland-produced "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)
", preceding it in January. The album was finally released on April 19, 2008 in Australia and on April 22 in North America.
said in early December 2006 that working on Simpson's next album would be "very tricky" because of press scrutiny and "prejudices", but that Geffen would work with her to overcome that, "because she deserves to be heard and she deserves a shot." MTV reported on March 6, 2007 that Simpson's next album would have "a more soulful sound", and Simpson said she was writing with many different people. On March 22, 2007, EW.com reported that her father and manager Joe Simpson revealed she had been writing with Kenna and Chad Hugo
. She also was said to be working with Timbaland
, Linda Perry
, Pharrell, will.i.am
, John Legend
, and Tim Rice-Oxley
. It was reported at that Simpson was working on a collaboration with The Cure's frontman, Robert Smith, although in July Smith said that he had not worked with her and did not think it was likely that he would do so in 2007; he did, however, give a positive appraisal of Simpson's 2006 performance in Chicago. In September, Simpson said that, although it would be "a dream" to work with Smith, it had never happened and she had been embarrassed by the rumor.
in Los Angeles
. The photoshoot took place while Simpson still had blonde hair; she subsequently dyed it red in January 2008. Simpson described the style of the photoshoot as "street-oriented" and referred to the importance of having the photoshoot reflect herself, the album, and what she experienced while recording it. Some of the shots were done in a studio, while others were done outside at Venice Beach
.
in June 2007 that her third album would have fun, dance songs, as well as break-up songs. She was also quoted as saying: "Who knows!? Maybe I'll fall in love on this record!" Simpson gave MTV a sneak peek of the album on September 8. It was described by Simpson as being based on beats more than guitars, unlike her previous albums. Among the songs was "Murder", featuring Travis McCoy. Simpson mentioned her work on Chicago as being one source of inspiration for the album, and she said that "there's a part of every girl and guy who wants to get out and get away with things", mentioning a kind of alter-ego on the album called "Vicky Valentine". Aside from "Murder", other songs mentioned by MTV were "Follow You Wherever You Go" (described as "jazzed-up"), "Rulebreaker", "Ay Ay Ay", and "Ragdoll". According to MTV, Simpson had recorded six songs with Timbaland and seven with Chad Hugo and Kenna. Later, in November, Simpson downplayed the "Vicky Valentine" alter-ego aspect of the album, saying that it "got a little blown out of proportion" and that it was "a joke for us making the record, and it's all lighthearted and all in good fun. It's me at the end of the day. We've all got different sides to us." In an interview with CosmoGIRL! for its December 2007/January 2008 issue (for which she was the cover girl), Simpson said that she did not feel that she needed to prove herself when making this album and that she had a "stronger vision" for it. She also said that she challenged herself by "working with new sounds and new people" and that, although there was an expectation that she would be influenced by her boyfriend Pete Wentz to move further in the direction of rock with this album, she chose the opposite course, describing the result as a "fun party album" with a "silly and quirky" side. According to Simpson, she trusted her instincts in making the album and "felt free to be fun and crazy and sexy".
In an interview with Billboard.com in early December, Simpson said that the album had some 1980s influences but was not entirely styled as an 1980s album. She said that there would still be a pop/rock aspect to the album, mentioning the songs "Rulebreaker" and "Never Dream Alone" in this respect. The album's title was still undecided at the time of the interview, and Simpson said that she intended to choose it during the Christmas holidays. She also said that she was planning on going on tour to support the album around February and that she wanted the initial phase to be a "smaller club tour". Simpson said in a January 2008 interview that the album celebrated her love of life and described how working with Timbaland, Hugo and Kenna was a change of pace; she also said that she wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album: "This is my art and it's personal. If someone else writes the song without my input, it doesn't feel honest." The lyrics on Bittersweet World are "more abstract" than on past albums, according to Simpson, but she was "still singing about things I've gone through or friends went through", calling the subject matter "diverse and universal". According to Simpson, having already achieved two number one albums caused her to feel less pressure in making Bittersweet World, and she felt she had more freedom to do what she wanted with the album. She said that the album was recorded over the course of about a year, concluding around January 2008. Much of the songwriting was done in the studio; Simpson sometimes went to the beach before going to the studio in order to clear her mind.
. You think you can take on the world and you want to color outside the lines and get a tattoo or mouth off to someone way bigger than you." She called "Never Dream Alone" "a sweet emotional song that has been stripped down to piano, strings and vocals" and said that it was her favorite from the album. Regarding "Hot Stuff", Simpson has said that it "is meant to be a fun song.... A lot of things on the record are laughing at situations, poking fun at things. With that, when you go somewhere and girls give you the mean eye. You're like, 'oh, wow – this is crazy.' 'Hot Stuff' makes fun of that. That song is meant to be a good time." According to Simpson, "Bittersweet World" is "about people coming together and not judging each other". Billboard described "Boys" as "The Cardigans
' 'Lovefool
' atop a Chic rhythm", while People
called it "the best Kylie Minogue
song that Kylie never did". One review described her delivery on the song as "alternately silly and sensual". "Ragdoll" was described by Billboard as having "a 'Beat It
' vibe"; Rolling Stone called it "reggae-bopping" and said that it "swipes Gwen Stefani
's formula", while the Houston Chronicle
said that it "features Casio-esque keyboard tinkling and driving guitars". Rolling Stone noted "What I've Become" as an "excellent coming-of-age anthem" and "a paparazzi kiss-off". People praised "Rule Breaker" as "deliciously bratty and catchy", and Billboard, in its album review, called it a "Pat Benatar
-like fist-pumper". "No Time for Tears" was described by Entertainment Weekly
as a "melancholy ballad". The Houston Chronicle said that "Bittersweet World" had "the snap-and-wink of a showtune". Billboards album review characterized "Murder" as having a "dark, hypnotic groove". In December 2008 Rolling Stone magazine named "Rule Breaker" as one of the 100 Best Singles of the year.
' s Born to Lead Awards that the album was completed (although she was continuing to write) and that it would be released in March 2008, with its first single, the Timbaland-produced "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)
", preceding it in January. She said that the video for the song would be filmed in December. Simpson's official website stated on November 21, 2007 that "Outta My Head" would be digitally released on December 11. The song was made available for listening on AOL Music beginning on November 30. In an interview on the Johnjay and Rich radio show in Arizona on January 30, 2008, Simpson said that the album would be released on April 15. The song "Boys" from the album was also played for the first time. On the KISS FM DreX Morning Show in Chicago on February 21, Simpson premiered another new song, "Little Miss Obsessive
", on which she sings with Tom Higgenson of Plain White T's
. The song is said to be more rock-oriented than "Outta My Head". On February 25, Simpson's website announced that "Little Miss Obsessive" would be the next single. Speaking on the radio station Q102 on March 3, Simpson said that the release date would be April 22.
Simpson began promoting the album with performances at clubs, accompanied by a DJ
and her guitar player, in late January. The first of these club performances was at the Myst nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona
on the night of January 30–31, where she performed three songs from Bittersweet World in addition to "L.O.V.E.". She performed the last of these four-song club shows in Miami, Florida
on the night of March 8–9. Following the club tour, she said that she planned to go on a House of Blues
tour with her band beginning in late April 2008.
In addition to her club tour and many radio interviews, Simpson has made in-store appearances at Wal-Mart
to meet with fans, and she has a number of television appearances planned for the weeks prior to and surrounding the album's release on April 22: on Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards on March 29, Total Request Live
on April 17 (where she gave an interview and performed "Little Miss Obsessive"), the Today show on April 18 (where she gave an interview and performed "Little Miss Obsessive", along with her older song "Pieces of Me
"), Dance on Sunset
on April 20 (performing "Little Miss Obsessive"), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 21 (where she performed "Little Miss Obsessive"), Dancing with the Stars
on April 22 (where she performed "Boys"), The Ellen DeGeneres Show
on April 24 (where she gave an interview and performed "Little Miss Obsessive"), and Jimmy Kimmel Live
on April 24 (where she performed "Little Miss Obsessive"). She subsequently went to Europe for more promotion, performing "Outta My Head" on television shows in the United Kingdom
and Germany
. In connection with the album release, the clothing retailer Wet Seal
launched a collection of tops
designed by Simpson on April 22. According to Simpson, her inspirations for Bittersweet World were reflected in the clothing line. Wet Seal also planned to sell Bittersweet World in its stores and on its website, and planned to hold a contest for which the grand prize was to include a trip to meet Simpson and attend one of the concerts on her planned tour. Simpson's 12 date summer tour was subsequently cancelled. OK! Magazine reported on May 31 that Simpson cancelled her summer tour due to her pregnancy. On July 4, Simpson was scheduled to perform for The TODAY Shows Summer Concert Series, but this performance was also cancelled.
" was released as the lead single off Bittersweet World. The song was well-received by critics and fans. An EP including the songs "Rule Breaker" and "Catch Me When I Fall" was released on February 2008 to support the release. Also a music video was released, and it was a hit on YouTube having more than six million views. The song didn't chart as high as her past lead singles, although it hit high positions in international charts.
On February 25, Simpson announced on her website that "Little Miss Obsessive
" was going to be released as the second single. The song features Plain White T's lead vocalist Tom Higgenson. On March 11, 2008 the song was released to mainstream radios. No music video was released to support the release, although it peaked higher than the lead single "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)".
, but it gave the album a positive review and a "B" rating, saying that the album was filled with "polished hooks and pretty melodies" and had a "giddy neon energy". Billboard said that on Bittersweet World, Simpson "just wants to have a good time", and, in an ambivalent appraisal, said that the album "is a party worth attending, but not much is missed if your invite got lost in the mail." According to The New York Times, the album features "songs with crisp beats, teen-seeking choruses and cheerfully obvious lyrics", and is both "calculated" and "catchy". The Houston Chronicle
gave the album a positive review and three out of four stars, emphasizing its '80s influence and saying that, "at its best, Bittersweet World plays like the solo record Gwen Stefani has been trying to make for years.". The Dallas Morning News
gave the album a B rating, describing it as "seductively inauthentic" but also saying that Simpson was "more listenable than ever". Digital Spy
called the album "Easily the best album made by a Simpson sister"
According to Newsday
, which gave the album a grade of C-, "Ashlee Simpson takes odd, anachronistic musical parts and makes a big mess." Rashod Ollison of The Baltimore Sun
wrote, "Simpson's colorless voice adds absolutely nothing to the admittedly catchy tracks, which recycle just about every trend heard on mainstream pop radio." Evan Davies of Now Magazine
wrote, "Bittersweet is another testament to the fact that Simpson has little to offer, this time taking the form of an edgeless, forgettable pop rock that desperately tries to hit the mark but almost always falls short." Allison Stewart of The Washington Post
wrote that "Bittersweet World feels reactive and very, very empty, as if it swung at every passing trend and missed." Dan Gennoe of Dotmusic
wrote that "she's got an album which for all its sing-along moments is neither catchy nor extreme enough to be exceptional." Elysa Gardner of USA Today
, giving the album two out of four stars, called it "a collection of bouncy, banal homages to the '80s" and wrote that Simpson, "aided by Timbaland, The Neptunes' Chad Hugo and others, channels Debbie Harry
, Madonna
and Toni Basil
about as well as any girl who could afford the help." IGN
wrote that Simpson seemed "confused, awry, and decidedly astray in terms of discovering her own unique personality and sound. Until she's able to establish her own distinct entity, Ashlee is destined to be another forgotten footnote on the fickle pop front." Andy Gill of The Independent
only gave the album one star and wrote, "Her voice is all attitude and no emotion, a textbook case of style over substance – and given the paucity of style, that's as insubstantial as it gets." Blender
critic Ryan Dombal wrote, "in the quest to make overly bronzed twentysomethings sweat, this endearing pseudo–rebel loses much of the little–sister angst that made her so appealing in the first place." Tom Young of Orange United Kingdom
described Simpson as an "enigma for the UK audience" and that Bittersweet World "does nothing to clear up her purpose."
(^) additional producer
Bonus tracks
, selling about 47,000 copies in its first week. This was a much weaker debut than those enjoyed by Autobiography (398,000 copies) and I Am Me (220,000 copies), both of which debuted at number one. In the U.S., Bittersweet World has sold 126,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan
.
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 recording artist Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Simpson
Ashlee Nicole Simpson is an American singer and actress. In 2004, she rose to prominence with the success of her number-one debut album Autobiography and the reality series, The Ashlee Simpson Show. In October 2005, following a North American concert tour and a film appearance, Simpson released...
. It was released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on April 22, 2008. Simpson worked on the album with producers Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, Chad Hugo
Chad Hugo
Charles Edward Hugo is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes and as a member of the funk/rock band N.E.R.D. He is a saxophonist, pianist and guitarist...
, and Kenna
Kenna
Kenna Zemedkun, known professionally as simply Kenna, is an Ethiopian-born American musician. His track "Say Goodbye To Love" was nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance in the 2009 Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
. It has been described by Simpson as a "fun party album" with a "silly and quirky" side and some influence from 1980s music. She has also described it as having a more beat-oriented sound than her first two albums, Autobiography
Autobiography (Ashlee Simpson album)
Autobiography is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Ashlee Simpson. Released in the United States by Geffen Records on July 20, 2004, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum in the U.S. Musically, it combines elements of rock and pop....
and I Am Me
I Am Me
I Am Me is the second studio album by singer Ashlee Simpson. The first single from the album was "Boyfriend", and the second single was "L.O.V.E." I Am Me was released in the United States on October 18, 2005 and debuted at number one in sales. The album produced two top 25 hits on the Billboard...
, although still retaining some of those albums' guitar-based sound.
It was first reported in March 2007 that the album was planned for release in October 2007. MTV subsequently reported on October 15 that the album's release had been delayed to the first quarter of 2008. On November 13, 2007, Simpson told MTV News at CosmoGIRL!
CosmoGIRL!
CosmoGirl was an American magazine based in New York City, published from 1999 until 2008. The teenage spin-off of Cosmopolitan magazine, it targeted teenage girls and featured fashion and celebrities. It was published ten times a year and reached approximately eight million readers before folding....
Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)
"Outta My Head " is a song recorded by American recording artist Ashlee Simpson. The song was written by Simpson, King Logan, Jerome Harmon, Santi White, Kenna, and produced by Timbaland, Logan, and Harmon for Simpson's third studio album, Bittersweet World.The song officially premiered on AOL...
", preceding it in January. The album was finally released on April 19, 2008 in Australia and on April 22 in North America.
Background
In November 2006, after completing her run as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago, Simpson said that she was going to meet with record executives soon and begin working on her third album. Geffen chairman Ron FairRon Fair
Ron Fair is a veteran A&R executive, record producer arranger, recording engineer and songwriter. In a career that has spanned over 30 years at major record labels he has produced and arranged hits for several artists, but he is best known as a "guru/mentor", guiding the careers of unknown artists...
said in early December 2006 that working on Simpson's next album would be "very tricky" because of press scrutiny and "prejudices", but that Geffen would work with her to overcome that, "because she deserves to be heard and she deserves a shot." MTV reported on March 6, 2007 that Simpson's next album would have "a more soulful sound", and Simpson said she was writing with many different people. On March 22, 2007, EW.com reported that her father and manager Joe Simpson revealed she had been writing with Kenna and Chad Hugo
Chad Hugo
Charles Edward Hugo is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as one half of the music production and writing duo The Neptunes and as a member of the funk/rock band N.E.R.D. He is a saxophonist, pianist and guitarist...
. She also was said to be working with Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, Linda Perry
Linda Perry
Linda Perry is an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer. Once best known as the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, Perry has founded two record labels and has become a major songwriter and producer...
, Pharrell, will.i.am
Will.i.am
William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
, John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
, and Tim Rice-Oxley
Tim Rice-Oxley
Timothy James Rice-Oxley , is an English multi-instrumentalist, best known as co-founder, the principal composer and pianist, backing vocalist of piano rock band Keane.-Life and career:...
. It was reported at that Simpson was working on a collaboration with The Cure's frontman, Robert Smith, although in July Smith said that he had not worked with her and did not think it was likely that he would do so in 2007; he did, however, give a positive appraisal of Simpson's 2006 performance in Chicago. In September, Simpson said that, although it would be "a dream" to work with Smith, it had never happened and she had been embarrassed by the rumor.
Concept and artwork
In an MTV interview with Simpson on December 18, 2007, Simpson said that the album's title would be Bittersweet World, also the name of one of the album's songs; she said that she had also considered the title Color Outside the Lines, a line from the song "Rule Breaker". She described the title Bittersweet World as reflecting how she "feel[s] about the world right now" and later said that the song "Bittersweet World" is "basically about how with the bad comes the good in pretty much every situation and vice versa. There are hard things, but you always have to find the positive." Simpson did the photoshoot for the album with photographer Ben WattsBen Watts
Benjamin Oliver Anthony "Ben" Watts is an English photographer based in New York, whose work has been seen in various international fashion magazines, such as Elle, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Condé Nast Traveller. He is the brother of actress Naomi Watts...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The photoshoot took place while Simpson still had blonde hair; she subsequently dyed it red in January 2008. Simpson described the style of the photoshoot as "street-oriented" and referred to the importance of having the photoshoot reflect herself, the album, and what she experienced while recording it. Some of the shots were done in a studio, while others were done outside at Venice Beach
Venice, Los Angeles, California
Venice is a beachfront district on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, United States. It is known for its canals, beaches and circus-like Ocean Front Walk, a two-and-a-half mile pedestrian-only promenade that features performers, fortune-tellers, artists, and vendors...
.
Themes and influences
In an April 2007 issue of US Magazine, Simpson was quoted as saying the album would have a more "mature" sound, yet still remain "rock". In the June 2007 issue of Cosmopolitan, she said that as she was becoming more mature, her music was changing, and that the new album would have less focus on relationship trouble and breakups. According to Simpson, the album was initially intended as a "singer-songwriter record", but she subsequently decided to change course and do something more "fun". Simpson revealed to E! NewsE! News
E! News, previously known as E! News Daily and E! News Live, is a nightly entertainment newsmagazine program airing on E!: Entertainment Television. The program debuted on September 1, 1991 and talks about Hollywood celebrities and gossip...
in June 2007 that her third album would have fun, dance songs, as well as break-up songs. She was also quoted as saying: "Who knows!? Maybe I'll fall in love on this record!" Simpson gave MTV a sneak peek of the album on September 8. It was described by Simpson as being based on beats more than guitars, unlike her previous albums. Among the songs was "Murder", featuring Travis McCoy. Simpson mentioned her work on Chicago as being one source of inspiration for the album, and she said that "there's a part of every girl and guy who wants to get out and get away with things", mentioning a kind of alter-ego on the album called "Vicky Valentine". Aside from "Murder", other songs mentioned by MTV were "Follow You Wherever You Go" (described as "jazzed-up"), "Rulebreaker", "Ay Ay Ay", and "Ragdoll". According to MTV, Simpson had recorded six songs with Timbaland and seven with Chad Hugo and Kenna. Later, in November, Simpson downplayed the "Vicky Valentine" alter-ego aspect of the album, saying that it "got a little blown out of proportion" and that it was "a joke for us making the record, and it's all lighthearted and all in good fun. It's me at the end of the day. We've all got different sides to us." In an interview with CosmoGIRL! for its December 2007/January 2008 issue (for which she was the cover girl), Simpson said that she did not feel that she needed to prove herself when making this album and that she had a "stronger vision" for it. She also said that she challenged herself by "working with new sounds and new people" and that, although there was an expectation that she would be influenced by her boyfriend Pete Wentz to move further in the direction of rock with this album, she chose the opposite course, describing the result as a "fun party album" with a "silly and quirky" side. According to Simpson, she trusted her instincts in making the album and "felt free to be fun and crazy and sexy".
In an interview with Billboard.com in early December, Simpson said that the album had some 1980s influences but was not entirely styled as an 1980s album. She said that there would still be a pop/rock aspect to the album, mentioning the songs "Rulebreaker" and "Never Dream Alone" in this respect. The album's title was still undecided at the time of the interview, and Simpson said that she intended to choose it during the Christmas holidays. She also said that she was planning on going on tour to support the album around February and that she wanted the initial phase to be a "smaller club tour". Simpson said in a January 2008 interview that the album celebrated her love of life and described how working with Timbaland, Hugo and Kenna was a change of pace; she also said that she wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album: "This is my art and it's personal. If someone else writes the song without my input, it doesn't feel honest." The lyrics on Bittersweet World are "more abstract" than on past albums, according to Simpson, but she was "still singing about things I've gone through or friends went through", calling the subject matter "diverse and universal". According to Simpson, having already achieved two number one albums caused her to feel less pressure in making Bittersweet World, and she felt she had more freedom to do what she wanted with the album. She said that the album was recorded over the course of about a year, concluding around January 2008. Much of the songwriting was done in the studio; Simpson sometimes went to the beach before going to the studio in order to clear her mind.
Composition
Simpson described "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)" as a "fun, dancey song" with "a little bit of an '80s feel" and said that it was about the people in her life: "too many voices, too many people having their own opinion". She said that "Murder" "isn't serious, based on a true story or a threat.... It's a metaphor about a girl who can get away with murder because of who she is" and said that "Rule Breaker" was an attempt to "capture that badass feeling you get sometimes after watching a movie like True RomanceTrue Romance
True Romance is a 1993 American romance crime film written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott. The film stars Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette with an ensemble cast consisting of Christopher Walken, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin...
. You think you can take on the world and you want to color outside the lines and get a tattoo or mouth off to someone way bigger than you." She called "Never Dream Alone" "a sweet emotional song that has been stripped down to piano, strings and vocals" and said that it was her favorite from the album. Regarding "Hot Stuff", Simpson has said that it "is meant to be a fun song.... A lot of things on the record are laughing at situations, poking fun at things. With that, when you go somewhere and girls give you the mean eye. You're like, 'oh, wow – this is crazy.' 'Hot Stuff' makes fun of that. That song is meant to be a good time." According to Simpson, "Bittersweet World" is "about people coming together and not judging each other". Billboard described "Boys" as "The Cardigans
The Cardigans
The Cardigans are a Swedish rock band formed in the town of Jönköping in October 1992.Their debut album Emmerdale gave them a solid base in their home country and enjoyed some success abroad, especially in Japan. It was not until their second album Life that an international reputation was secured...
' 'Lovefool
Lovefool
"Lovefool" is a pop rock song written by Peter Svensson and Nina Persson for The Cardigans' third studio album First Band on the Moon, released as a single on 14 September 1996, in the United Kingdom and internationally on 5 October 1996...
' atop a Chic rhythm", while People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
called it "the best Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
song that Kylie never did". One review described her delivery on the song as "alternately silly and sensual". "Ragdoll" was described by Billboard as having "a 'Beat It
Beat It
"Beat It" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Michael Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones . It is the third single from the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller . Eddie Van Halen was hired to add the song's distinctive overdriven guitar solo, but was prevented by his...
' vibe"; Rolling Stone called it "reggae-bopping" and said that it "swipes Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
's formula", while the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
said that it "features Casio-esque keyboard tinkling and driving guitars". Rolling Stone noted "What I've Become" as an "excellent coming-of-age anthem" and "a paparazzi kiss-off". People praised "Rule Breaker" as "deliciously bratty and catchy", and Billboard, in its album review, called it a "Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar
Pat Benatar is an American singer and four-time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States...
-like fist-pumper". "No Time for Tears" was described by Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
as a "melancholy ballad". The Houston Chronicle said that "Bittersweet World" had "the snap-and-wink of a showtune". Billboards album review characterized "Murder" as having a "dark, hypnotic groove". In December 2008 Rolling Stone magazine named "Rule Breaker" as one of the 100 Best Singles of the year.
Release and promotion
MTV reported in March 2007 that the album was planned for release in October 2007. MTV subsequently reported on October 15 that the album's release had been delayed to the first quarter of 2008. On November 13, 2007, Simpson told MTV News at CosmoGIRL!CosmoGIRL!
CosmoGirl was an American magazine based in New York City, published from 1999 until 2008. The teenage spin-off of Cosmopolitan magazine, it targeted teenage girls and featured fashion and celebrities. It was published ten times a year and reached approximately eight million readers before folding....
Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)
"Outta My Head " is a song recorded by American recording artist Ashlee Simpson. The song was written by Simpson, King Logan, Jerome Harmon, Santi White, Kenna, and produced by Timbaland, Logan, and Harmon for Simpson's third studio album, Bittersweet World.The song officially premiered on AOL...
", preceding it in January. She said that the video for the song would be filmed in December. Simpson's official website stated on November 21, 2007 that "Outta My Head" would be digitally released on December 11. The song was made available for listening on AOL Music beginning on November 30. In an interview on the Johnjay and Rich radio show in Arizona on January 30, 2008, Simpson said that the album would be released on April 15. The song "Boys" from the album was also played for the first time. On the KISS FM DreX Morning Show in Chicago on February 21, Simpson premiered another new song, "Little Miss Obsessive
Little Miss Obsessive
"Little Miss Obsessive" is the second and final single from Ashlee Simpson's third studio album, Bittersweet World. The song features the Plain White T's lead singer, Tom Higgenson, on vocals. Unlike much of Bittersweet World, it has a pop rock style and more characteristic of Simpson's previous...
", on which she sings with Tom Higgenson of Plain White T's
Plain White T's
Plain White T's is an American Pop rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Formed in 1997 by high school friends Tom Higgenson and Ken Fletcher, the group had a mostly underground following in Chicago basements, clubs, and bars in its early years, and underwent numerous personnel changes.The band is best...
. The song is said to be more rock-oriented than "Outta My Head". On February 25, Simpson's website announced that "Little Miss Obsessive" would be the next single. Speaking on the radio station Q102 on March 3, Simpson said that the release date would be April 22.
Simpson began promoting the album with performances at clubs, accompanied by a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and her guitar player, in late January. The first of these club performances was at the Myst nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
on the night of January 30–31, where she performed three songs from Bittersweet World in addition to "L.O.V.E.". She performed the last of these four-song club shows in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
on the night of March 8–9. Following the club tour, she said that she planned to go on a House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
tour with her band beginning in late April 2008.
In addition to her club tour and many radio interviews, Simpson has made in-store appearances at 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...
to meet with fans, and she has a number of television appearances planned for the weeks prior to and surrounding the album's release on April 22: on Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards on March 29, Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
on April 17 (where she gave an interview and performed "Little Miss Obsessive"), the Today show on April 18 (where she gave an interview and performed "Little Miss Obsessive", along with her older song "Pieces of Me
Pieces of Me
"Pieces of Me" is a song by American pop/rock singer Ashlee Simpson and the first single from her début album, Autobiography. The song, which was co-written by Simpson, Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks , is a blend of pop and rock with lyrics about finding comfort and happiness in a relationship with...
"), Dance on Sunset
Dance on Sunset
Dance on Sunset is a dance and music series hosted by Quddus on Nickelodeon that featured dance routines, called the "Fresh-Squeezed Dance", designed to be performed by its pre-teen and teen-age viewers. Choreographer Tony Testa and the show's dance troupe, the Nick 6, demonstrated each routine...
on April 20 (performing "Little Miss Obsessive"), The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 21 (where she performed "Little Miss Obsessive"), Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
on April 22 (where she performed "Boys"), The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
on April 24 (where she gave an interview and performed "Little Miss Obsessive"), and Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.The nightly hour-long show made its debut on January 26, 2003, following Super Bowl XXXVII. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is produced by Jackhole Productions in association with ABC Studios...
on April 24 (where she performed "Little Miss Obsessive"). She subsequently went to Europe for more promotion, performing "Outta My Head" on television shows in the 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...
and 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...
. In connection with the album release, the clothing retailer Wet Seal
Wet Seal
Wet Seal is a young women's clothing retailer headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California. It carries moderately priced brand name and company-designed apparel and accessories...
launched a collection of tops
Top (clothing)
A top is clothing that covers the upper human body from the neck to the waistline, especially that of women. Tops are sometimes as short as mid-torso, and as long as mid-thigh. Men's tops are generally paired with pants, and women's with pants or skirts...
designed by Simpson on April 22. According to Simpson, her inspirations for Bittersweet World were reflected in the clothing line. Wet Seal also planned to sell Bittersweet World in its stores and on its website, and planned to hold a contest for which the grand prize was to include a trip to meet Simpson and attend one of the concerts on her planned tour. Simpson's 12 date summer tour was subsequently cancelled. OK! Magazine reported on May 31 that Simpson cancelled her summer tour due to her pregnancy. On July 4, Simpson was scheduled to perform for The TODAY Shows Summer Concert Series, but this performance was also cancelled.
Singles
In early 2008 the song "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)
"Outta My Head " is a song recorded by American recording artist Ashlee Simpson. The song was written by Simpson, King Logan, Jerome Harmon, Santi White, Kenna, and produced by Timbaland, Logan, and Harmon for Simpson's third studio album, Bittersweet World.The song officially premiered on AOL...
" was released as the lead single off Bittersweet World. The song was well-received by critics and fans. An EP including the songs "Rule Breaker" and "Catch Me When I Fall" was released on February 2008 to support the release. Also a music video was released, and it was a hit on YouTube having more than six million views. The song didn't chart as high as her past lead singles, although it hit high positions in international charts.
On February 25, Simpson announced on her website that "Little Miss Obsessive
Little Miss Obsessive
"Little Miss Obsessive" is the second and final single from Ashlee Simpson's third studio album, Bittersweet World. The song features the Plain White T's lead singer, Tom Higgenson, on vocals. Unlike much of Bittersweet World, it has a pop rock style and more characteristic of Simpson's previous...
" was going to be released as the second single. The song features Plain White T's lead vocalist Tom Higgenson. On March 11, 2008 the song was released to mainstream radios. No music video was released to support the release, although it peaked higher than the lead single "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)".
Other notable songs
The song "Boys" received a lot of speculation as the third single off the album, due to being named as a single in many ads for her album. Although Simpson stated in a May 2008 interview on a fan club website that "Boys" and "Rule Breaker" would be released as singles, she later stated in an August 2008 interview that "Little Miss Obsessive" would be the last single. The song was performed by Simpson on many TV shows during the album release week and it reach the # 1 position in Billboard Bubbling Under Singles.Critical response
The album received received mixed reviews. Rolling Stone gave Bittersweet World three out of five stars in its review, saying that Simpson had "skillfully shift[ed] her crunchy, guitar-driven pop to Eighties-influenced electro-rock with the help of Timbaland and the Neptunes' Chad Hugo." People gave the album a very positive review, with three and a half out of four stars; it described Bittersweet World as "shockingly good" and as "sweet revenge on all [Simpson's] critics", and it noted the album's "dance-pop direction". Entertainment Weekly compared Simpson's "latest incarnation" to Gwen StefaniGwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
, but it gave the album a positive review and a "B" rating, saying that the album was filled with "polished hooks and pretty melodies" and had a "giddy neon energy". Billboard said that on Bittersweet World, Simpson "just wants to have a good time", and, in an ambivalent appraisal, said that the album "is a party worth attending, but not much is missed if your invite got lost in the mail." According to The New York Times, the album features "songs with crisp beats, teen-seeking choruses and cheerfully obvious lyrics", and is both "calculated" and "catchy". The Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
gave the album a positive review and three out of four stars, emphasizing its '80s influence and saying that, "at its best, Bittersweet World plays like the solo record Gwen Stefani has been trying to make for years.". The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas, Texas area, with a circulation of 264,459 subscribers, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported in September 2010...
gave the album a B rating, describing it as "seductively inauthentic" but also saying that Simpson was "more listenable than ever". Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
called the album "Easily the best album made by a Simpson sister"
According to Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
, which gave the album a grade of C-, "Ashlee Simpson takes odd, anachronistic musical parts and makes a big mess." Rashod Ollison of The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
wrote, "Simpson's colorless voice adds absolutely nothing to the admittedly catchy tracks, which recycle just about every trend heard on mainstream pop radio." Evan Davies of Now Magazine
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
wrote, "Bittersweet is another testament to the fact that Simpson has little to offer, this time taking the form of an edgeless, forgettable pop rock that desperately tries to hit the mark but almost always falls short." Allison Stewart of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
wrote that "Bittersweet World feels reactive and very, very empty, as if it swung at every passing trend and missed." Dan Gennoe of Dotmusic
Dotmusic
Dotmusic was a music website that existed as a standalone website from June 1995 to December 2003. Initially intended as the web complement to the UK music industry trade magazine Music Week, the site was relaunched in December 1998 as a website for music fans.In addition to music news, reviews,...
wrote that "she's got an album which for all its sing-along moments is neither catchy nor extreme enough to be exceptional." Elysa Gardner of USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, giving the album two out of four stars, called it "a collection of bouncy, banal homages to the '80s" and wrote that Simpson, "aided by Timbaland, The Neptunes' Chad Hugo and others, channels Debbie Harry
Debbie Harry
Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie. She has also had success as a solo artist, and in the mid-1990s she performed and recorded as part of The Jazz Passengers...
, 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...
and Toni Basil
Toni Basil
Antonia Christina Basilotta , better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, filmmaker, film director, choreographer, and dancer, best known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.-Early life:Basil was born Antonia Christina...
about as well as any girl who could afford the help." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
wrote that Simpson seemed "confused, awry, and decidedly astray in terms of discovering her own unique personality and sound. Until she's able to establish her own distinct entity, Ashlee is destined to be another forgotten footnote on the fickle pop front." Andy Gill of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
only gave the album one star and wrote, "Her voice is all attitude and no emotion, a textbook case of style over substance – and given the paucity of style, that's as insubstantial as it gets." Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
critic Ryan Dombal wrote, "in the quest to make overly bronzed twentysomethings sweat, this endearing pseudo–rebel loses much of the little–sister angst that made her so appealing in the first place." Tom Young of Orange United Kingdom
Orange United Kingdom
Orange is a mobile network operator and internet service provider in the United Kingdom, which launched in 1994. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was purchased by France Télécom in 2000, which then adopted the Orange brand for all its other mobile communications activities...
described Simpson as an "enigma for the UK audience" and that Bittersweet World "does nothing to clear up her purpose."
Track listing
(*) denotes co-producer(^) additional producer
Bonus tracks
- "I'm Out" (Wal-MartWal-MartWal-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...
bonus track) – 3:47 - "Can't Have It All" (Written by Nicholas Strunk) (f.y.e.F.y.e.F.Y.E., standing for "For Your Entertainment," is a chain of entertainment media stores in the United States. As one of many Trans World Entertainment brands, it began in 1993 and was expanded in 2001 after buying out and rebranding mall-based Camelot, Strawberries, Record Town and Coconuts stores...
pre-order only downloadable bonus track) – 3:53
Charts
Bittersweet World debuted at number four on the U.S. 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 about 47,000 copies in its first week. This was a much weaker debut than those enjoyed by Autobiography (398,000 copies) and I Am Me (220,000 copies), both of which debuted at number one. In the U.S., Bittersweet World has sold 126,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
.
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
41 |
| Austria Albums Chart | 55 |
| Oricon Albums Chart (Japan) | 41 |
| Germany Albums Chart | 88 |
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
16 |
| 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... |
57 |
| 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... |
4 |
External links
- Bittersweet World at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...