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When the forlorn ballad "4 AM" started to gain airplay, in September 2011, it sounded like an answer record to any one of several songs in rotation. Here was the flip side to the boys' unapologetic pillage-and-plunder tales: the voice of a vulnerable, livid woman backed by pinging/pulsing percussion, including a brilliantly anachronistic drum'n'bass tease, with swells of synthesizers, strings, and electric guitar. The insidious effect of "4 AM" translated to a slow, steady rise; by the time The MF Life was released, in March 2012, it had finally slipped into the Top Ten of Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The song served a second purpose, as it was wholly contemporary -- quite possibly a move to airlift Melanie Fiona from the retro box. Mostly unnecessary vocal appearances from J. Cole, Nas, B.o.B, John Legend, and T-Pain suggest a marked effort to make Fiona appeal to a larger crowd, but otherwise, The MF Life has the singer refining the throwback approach of The Bridge with a couple diversions into soul-influenced adult contemporary rock. In addition to "4 AM," there's a six-track stretch, from the elegantly plain-spoken "I Been That Girl" (co-written by onetime bandmate Drake) through the vamping "Bones" (as in "Get all molecular and pass myself through you"), where each song either matches or surpasses the best of The Bridge. While Fiona clearly thrives most in settings that pull from late-'60s and early-'70s soul, she's remarkably versatile when it comes to modes of expression. Somewhere between Jazmine Sullivan and Kelis, her not-quite-husky, not-quite-scratchy voice is easily adaptable to a range of material that zeroes in on desperate longing, resentful rejection, and many points between. The more beneficial mix of songwriting and production collaborators, including Jack Splash, No ID, Rico Love, and Salaam Remi, helps make The MF Life superior to the debut in every way.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Johntá Austin, ComposerLyricist - Ernest Wilson, ComposerLyricist - J. Cole, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Randolph, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Wyreman, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - No ID, Producer, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Kinelski, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - K. Randolph, ComposerLyricist - Omar Loya, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - Bobby Brass, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Victor Mancusi, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jhonta Austin, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Pierre Medor, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Romano, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Earl Hood, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Robert Marks, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Vlado Meller, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sean McCoy, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rico Love, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jim Bottari, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Goudy II, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - Diego Avendano, Recording Engineer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Earl & E, Producer - Bobby Brass, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gennaro Schiano, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Michel, Producer, Executive Producer - Carmen Murray, Producer, Executive Producer
℗ 2011 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Johntá Austin, ComposerLyricist - Ernest Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Kevin Randolph, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Wyreman, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - No ID, Producer - Rob Kinelski, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - K. Randolph, ComposerLyricist - Omar Loya, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - Bobby Brass, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Victor Mancusi, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jhonta Austin, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
A. Graham, ComposerLyricist - James Wisner, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - T-Minus, Producer - Tyler Williams, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - Noah "40" Shebib, Producer - Victor Mancusi, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
James Wisner, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jack Splash, Producer, Writer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - G. Soule, ComposerLyricist - M. Hallim, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
P. HAMILTON, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - SALAAM REMI, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Vincent Henry, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nas, FeaturedArtist - N Jones, ComposerLyricist - SalaamRemi.com, Producer - M. Hallim, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - Gleyder "Gee" Disla, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
C. McKinney, ComposerLyricist - Alex Martin, ComposerLyricist - B.O.B, FeaturedArtist - Andrea Martin, Producer, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Naughton, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Hallim, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - Los Da Mystro, Producer - Victor Mancusi, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bryan Simmons, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Chuck Harmony, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Andrea Martin, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - Jay Fenix, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Bobby Brass, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Victor Mancusi, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
A. Merritt, ComposerLyricist - Jack Splash, Producer, Mixer, Writer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - P Faith, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Jordan Suecof, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Tony Reyes, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Kinelski, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Infinity, Producer - M. Hallim, ComposerLyricist - T. Reyes, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - A. Holmes, ComposerLyricist - Linda Fields, ComposerLyricist - J. Suecof, ComposerLyricist - Antario Holmes, Producer, Keyboards, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Victor Mancusi, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
E. Lind, ComposerLyricist - Amund Björklund, ComposerLyricist - Alex Martin, ComposerLyricist - Espionage, Producer, Writer, AssociatedPerformer - Francis Murray, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - Victor Mancusi, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Kevin Randolph, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - E. Wilson, ComposerLyricist - J. Stevens, ComposerLyricist - Steve Wyreman, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - No ID, Producer - Rob Kinelski, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Legend, FeaturedArtist - K. Randolph, ComposerLyricist - Omar Loya, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - M. Hallim, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - Victor Mancusi, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Don Cook, ComposerLyricist - J. Gordon, ComposerLyricist - Gary Barlow, ComposerLyricist - L. Allen, ComposerLyricist - Steve Robson, ComposerLyricist - Howard Donald, ComposerLyricist - M. Owen, ComposerLyricist - Jason Orange, ComposerLyricist - Greg Kurstin, ComposerLyricist - Fabian Marasciullo, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Elizabeth Gallardo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Javier Valverde, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - T-Pain, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Lily Allen, ComposerLyricist - F. Najm, ComposerLyricist - George Gumbs, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rico Love, ComposerLyricist - E. Goudy II, ComposerLyricist - E. Hood, ComposerLyricist - M. Hallim, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - T.M. Gordon, ComposerLyricist - Skye Griffin, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - SHAM, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - H. Hussein, ComposerLyricist - Denarius Motes, ComposerLyricist - E. Laus, ComposerLyricist - Ginette Claudette, ComposerLyricist - Map, ComposerLyricist - Bobby Brass, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sham & Motesart, Producer, Mixer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Andrea Martin, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Splash, Producer, Mixer, Writer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - M. Hallim, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Andrea Martin, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jack Splash, Producer, Mixer, Writer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - M. Hallim, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Dwayne Chin-Quee, ComposerLyricist - L. Boyd, ComposerLyricist - Stacy Barthe, ComposerLyricist - J. Gilbert, ComposerLyricist - M. Hallim, ComposerLyricist - Melanie Fiona, MainArtist - M. Chin, ComposerLyricist - Dwayne Richard Chin-Quee, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gary "G Major" Noble, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
Albumbeschreibung
When the forlorn ballad "4 AM" started to gain airplay, in September 2011, it sounded like an answer record to any one of several songs in rotation. Here was the flip side to the boys' unapologetic pillage-and-plunder tales: the voice of a vulnerable, livid woman backed by pinging/pulsing percussion, including a brilliantly anachronistic drum'n'bass tease, with swells of synthesizers, strings, and electric guitar. The insidious effect of "4 AM" translated to a slow, steady rise; by the time The MF Life was released, in March 2012, it had finally slipped into the Top Ten of Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The song served a second purpose, as it was wholly contemporary -- quite possibly a move to airlift Melanie Fiona from the retro box. Mostly unnecessary vocal appearances from J. Cole, Nas, B.o.B, John Legend, and T-Pain suggest a marked effort to make Fiona appeal to a larger crowd, but otherwise, The MF Life has the singer refining the throwback approach of The Bridge with a couple diversions into soul-influenced adult contemporary rock. In addition to "4 AM," there's a six-track stretch, from the elegantly plain-spoken "I Been That Girl" (co-written by onetime bandmate Drake) through the vamping "Bones" (as in "Get all molecular and pass myself through you"), where each song either matches or surpasses the best of The Bridge. While Fiona clearly thrives most in settings that pull from late-'60s and early-'70s soul, she's remarkably versatile when it comes to modes of expression. Somewhere between Jazmine Sullivan and Kelis, her not-quite-husky, not-quite-scratchy voice is easily adaptable to a range of material that zeroes in on desperate longing, resentful rejection, and many points between. The more beneficial mix of songwriting and production collaborators, including Jack Splash, No ID, Rico Love, and Salaam Remi, helps make The MF Life superior to the debut in every way.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:07:56
- Main artists: Melanie Fiona
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: SRC Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc. ℗ 2012 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. and SRC Records, Inc.
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