Soulmate (song)

"Soulmate"
Single by Natasha Bedingfield
from the album N.B. and Pocketful of Sunshine
B-side "Chasing Cars"
Released 2 July 2007 (UK)
3 August 2007 (Germany)
6 August 2007 (Australia)
Format CD single, digital download
Recorded 2006
Genre Pop rock
Length 3:32
Label Phonogenic, Epic (US)
Writer(s) Natasha Bedingfield, Mads Hauge, David Tench
Producer Bedingfield, Patrick Leonard
Natasha Bedingfield European singles chronology
"I Wanna Have Your Babies"
(2007)
"Soulmate"
(2007)
"Say It Again"
(2007)
Natasha Bedingfield U.S. singles chronology
"Angel"
(2008)
"Soulmate"
(2008)
"Touch"
(2010)
Music video
"Soulmate" on YouTube

"Soulmate" is a pop song written and produced by Natasha Bedingfield, Mads Hauge and David Tench for Bedingfield's second album, N.B. (2007). The song is written in the key of E-flat minor and set in 4/4 time. Bedingfield's vocals range from F#3 to B4. The lyrics discuss if there is a soulmate for everyone and if Bedingfield will ever find the right partner.[1] The song was released as the album's second single in July 2007. It was a commercial success, and the most successful single from N.B, reaching number seven in the United Kingdom and the top forty in the majority of the charts it entered. "Soulmate" is the fourth single released for the US version of N.B., Pocketful of Sunshine.

The song gained much popularity in the U.S after it was played in an episode of the highly rated MTV program The Hills. Promotion for the single started months after its release, in April 2009. She performed it on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, 15 April[2] and Dancing With The Stars on 21 April.[3] The song was also used throughout the final episode of season 5 of the TV series "Medium" and the finale of The Bachelorette (season 4) following Jesse Csincsak's proposal to DeAnna Pappas.

Contents

Critical reception

The song received negative reviews from critics in the UK. Paul Taylor of the Manchester Evening News called the song "impassioned",[4] but IndieLondon.co.uk called the track "far too sentimental" and rated it two out of five stars.[5] In a review for the BBC, Lizzie Ennever named the song one of the "obviously 'not-so-great' tracks" from N.B., comparing it to Australian singer Tina Arena.[6]

Music video

The music video was directed by Mark Pellington and was filmed in Los Angeles, California on 10 May and 11 May 2007.[7] The video begins with a close-up of Bedingfield in a dark room. As the video proceeds, the camera slowly zooms out, revealing the room which contains a sofa and a mirror. Shots of Bedingfield in a Gray dress in front of a light background, people kissing and skyscrapers are intercut throughout the video. It premiered 6 June 2007 on Yahoo! UK.[8]

Chart performance

"Soulmate" debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number seventy on 17 June 2007, three weeks later the song climbed to the peak position of number seven.[9] In Ireland, "Soulmate" debuted at number thirty-nine on 5 July 2007.[10] It peaked at number twenty-eight a week later.[11]

The single had moderate success in Europe. In Switzerland, "Soulmate" reached number seven and remained on the singles chart for a total of eighteen weeks.[12] Elsewhere, it reached the top ten in Norway and the top twenty in Austria, Finland, Germany, Poland and Spain.[12]

In the US, before even being released, it charted at #70 on Hot Digital Songs and #74 on the Pop 100, as well as Bubbling Under the Hot 100 at #3 (equivalent to #103). Airplay has increased and the single has reached #14 on the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks. "Soulmate" also debuted on the US Hot 100 at #96.

In Germany, the single was certified Gold in year 2009, two years after the release.[13] It is her first certificate in that country.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Soulmate".

UK CD single
(88697111992; Released 2 July 2007)

  1. "Soulmate"
  2. "Chasing Cars" (Live at BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge)

Australian CD single
(88697125472; Released 6 August 2007)

  1. "Soulmate"
  2. "Chasing Cars" (Live at BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge)
  3. "I Wanna Have Your Babies" (Kardinal Beats Remix)
  4. "Soulmate" music video

Digital download
(Released 5 June 2007)

  1. "Soulmate"
  2. "Chasing Cars" (Live at BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge)

iTunes digital download
(Released 2 July 2007)

  1. "Soulmate" (Live acoustic session with AOL)

Official remixes[14]

  1. "Soulmate" (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit)
  2. "Soulmate" (Bimbo Jones Club Mix)

Charts and certifications

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[15] 7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 67
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 13
Germany (Media Control AG)[18] 12
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 28
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 24
Norway (VG-lista)[21] 8
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 7
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company)[23] 7
Chart (2008) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 79
US Billboard Hot 100[25] 96
US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)[26] 14
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[27] 74

Year-end charts

Chart (2007) Rank
German Singles Chart[28] 44

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Germany (BVMI)[13] Gold 150,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Personnel

The following people contributed to "Soulmate":[29]

Notes

  1. ^ "Soulmate" CD single. HMV.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  2. ^ http://www.musicistheheartofoursoul.com/2009/04/natasha-bedingfield-soulmate-live.html
  3. ^ http://www.blazingswarm.com/2009/04/natasha-bedingfield-soulmate-live-on.html
  4. ^ Paul Taylor. "Natasha Bedingfield - NB (Sony BMG)". Manchester Evening News. 20 April 2007. 25 November 2007.
  5. ^ "Music - Singles of the Week - Monday, 2 July". IndieLondon.co.uk. 25 November 2007.
  6. ^ Lizzie Ennever. "Pop/Chart Review: Natasha Bedingfield - N.B.". BBC. 25 November 2007.
  7. ^ "Music Video News: 20 May 2007 – 26 May 2007". VideoStatic.com. Retrieved 30 May 2007.
  8. ^ "Soulmate Video Clip". NatashaBedingfield.com. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  9. ^ "UK Singles Chart (8 July 2007)". aCharts.us. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
  10. ^ "Irish Singles Chart (5 July 2007)". acharts.us. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
  11. ^ "Irish Singles Chart (12 July 2007)". acharts.us. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
  12. ^ a b "World Single Positions". aCharts.us. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
  13. ^ a b "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Natasha Bedingfield; 'Soulmate')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Soulmate&strInterpret=Natasha+Bedingfield&strTtArt=single&strAwards=checked. 
  14. ^ "Bimbo Jones Mixes UK Promo CD-R(ecordable) (46163)". Eil.com. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  15. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield – Soulmate – Austriancharts.at" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Hung Medien.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Natasha Bedingfield – Soulmate" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch.
  17. ^ "Finnishcharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – Soulmate". Suomen virallinen lista. Hung Medien.
  18. ^ "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
  19. ^ ACharts.us Natasha Bedingfield - I Wanna Have Your Babies
  20. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Natasha Bedingfield search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Stichting Nederlandse Top 40.
  21. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – {{{song}}}". VG-lista. Hung Medien.
  22. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield – Soulmate – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
  23. ^ UK Singles Chart Archive
  24. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for Natasha Bedingfield. Prometheus Global Media.
  25. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for Natasha Bedingfield. Prometheus Global Media.
  26. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Natasha Bedingfield. Prometheus Global Media.
  27. ^ "Natasha Bedingfield Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Pop Songs for Natasha Bedingfield. Prometheus Global Media.
  28. ^ http://www.mtv.de/charts/Single_Jahrescharts_2007
  29. ^ "Soulmate" (CD single liner notes). Sony BMG. July2007.

External links