Rokstarr

Rokstarr
Studio album by Taio Cruz
Released 12 October 2009
Recorded 2009
Genre R&B, dance-pop
Length 44:00
Label Island, Mercury, Universal
Producer Taio Cruz, Fraser T Smith, Dr. Luke, The Arcade, Alan English, Benny Blanco, Sandy Vee
Taio Cruz chronology

Departure
(2008)
Rokstarr
(2009)
The Rokstarr Collection
(2010)
Singles from Rokstarr
  1. "Break Your Heart"
    Released: 13 September 2009
  2. "No Other One"
    Released: 30 November 2009
  3. "Dirty Picture"
    Released: 5 April 2010
  4. "Dynamite"
    Released: 30 May 2010
  5. "Higher"
    Released: 26 November 2010
  6. "Telling the World"
    Released: 20 March 2011
  7. "Falling in Love"
    Released: 15 April 2011

Rokstarr is the second studio album by English recording artist Taio Cruz. It was released on 12 October 2009 in the United Kingdom. On 11 June 2010, a revised version of the album was released in Europe and the United States, appearing as Cruz's debut album there. On 22 May 2011, a second revised version of the album was released in Brazil, other South American countries and Europe.[1] The album debuted at number 14 on the UK Albums Chart and number eight on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Background

Speaking to Pete Lewis of the Blues & Soul, Cruz explained the musical background behind the album: "This album shows quite a bit of scope. In that, while it's still got underlining hip hop, dance and R&B-type tones to it, it also has like rocky and indie rock elements. And lyrically, because essentially I come from a ballad place of listening to people like Boyz II Men and Babyface, many of the songs do tend to be about relationships in one way or another. But the difference this time is that, as well as the full-on love songs, I am having a little bit more FUN with it all!"[2]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200, with sales of 24,000 copies.[3][4] In its second week, the album made a huge tumble from number eight to #50, with sales of just 9,000 copies.[5] It later, dropped to #101, on its third week.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [6]
BBC (favourable)[7]
The Boston Globe (positive)[8]
Digital Spy [9]
Entertainment Weekly (B-)[10]
NME [11]
Rolling Stone (mixed)[12]
The Guardian [13]
The New York Times (favorable)[14]
Yahoo! Music [15]

The album has received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 61, based on 11 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[16] Mike Driver from BBC gave an extremely favorable review, saying that: "Rokstarr bounces to a beat that feels fresh and vibrant".[17] Ken Capobianco from The Boston Globe says that Rokstarr is "an agreeable, singles-going-steady kind of collection that should make for endless radio fodder."[18] The New York Times review states that "There are vapid lyrics to navigate ("Hit the floor cause that's my plans plans plans plans/I'm wearing all my favorite brands brands brands brands," on "Dynamite"), but they don't disrupt the mood, which is emphatic and rarely sensual: turns out Mr. Cruz has no off switch."[19] Entertainment Weekly opined that "The only song of equal caliber to "Break Your Heart" on his Stateside debut is the Ke$ha-assisted sexting number "Dirty Picture". The rest of the tracks are forgettable and include a cut for throwing hands in the air ("Dynamite") and one awkwardly placed effort to uplift ("I Can Be")."[20] The Rolling Stone review bluntly states "Cruz's singing lacks personality, and Rokstarr is ultimately a collection of decent, but generic, Eurodisco tracks without a star--"rok" or otherwise—to hold a listener's interest."[21] NME confess that "Although Cruz's downfall comes when he acts the player ('Break Your Heart', 'Dirty Picture'), it's obvious his real talent comes when he exchanges vocal manipulation for balladeering as on 'Falling In Love', and disregards romantic cynicism for a rather hopeful 'The 11th Hour'."[22] David Jeffres from Allmusic rated it 3 stars (out of 5) and concluded that: "The hooks are plentiful on Rokstarr and infectious as they come. while as a producer Cruz is the Akon-meets-will.i.am-meets- Xenomania package that radio and record labels have dreamed about. Sounds good, and the album does the whole way through, but lyrics are a sore point and when ballads appear to help round out the effort, just help emphasize how his words are trite. Still, when you let the clichés fade into the background this is a master class in what the mainstream wants for a soundtrack in 2010".[6]

Singles

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Break Your Heart"  Cruz, Fraser T SmithTaio Cruz, Fraser T Smith 3:22
2. "Dirty Picture" (featuring Ke$ha)Cruz, SmithTaio Cruz, Fraser T Smith 3:41
3. "No Other One"  Cruz, SmithTaio Cruz, Fraser T Smith 3:38
4. "Forever Love"  Taio CruzFraser T Smith 4:12
5. "Take Me Back" (with Tinchy Stryder) (Version A^)CruzFraser T. Smith 3:34
6. "Best Girl"  Cruz, The ArcadeTaio Cruz, The Arcade 4:09
7. "I'll Never Love Again"  CruzTaio Cruz 3:49
8. "Only You"  Cruz, SmithTaio Cruz, Fraser T Smith 3:42
9. "Falling in Love"  Cruz, Alan KasiryeTaio Cruz, Alan Nglish 3:31
10. "Keep Going"  Taio CruzSandy Vee, Taio Cruz 3:28
11. "Feel Again"  CruzTaio Cruz, Alan Nglish 3:40
12. "The 11th Hour"  CruzTaio Cruz 3:36
2010 Edition
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Dynamite"  Taio Cruz, Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Benjamin Levin, Bonnie McKeeDr. Luke, Benny Blanco 3:24
2. "Break Your Heart" (featuring Ludacris)Taio Cruz, Fraser T Smith, Christopher BridgesTaio Cruz, Fraser T Smith 3:06
3. "Dirty Picture" (featuring Ke$ha)Cruz, SmithTaio Cruz, Fraser T Smith 3:39
4. "Take Me Back" (Version C^^)Kwasi Danquah, Smith, CruzFraser T Smith 3:12
5. "I'll Never Love Again"  Taio CruzTaio Cruz 3:49
6. "I Can Be"  CruzTaio Cruz 3:47
7. "No Other One"  Cruz, SmithTaio Cruz, Fraser T Smith 3:37
8. "Come On Girl" (featuring Luciana)CruzTaio Cruz 3:33
9. "Falling in Love"  Cruz, Alan KasiryeTaio Cruz, Alan English 3:32
10. "Higher"  Cruz, Sandy VeeSandy Vee, Taio Cruz 3:08
11. "Feel Again"  CruzTaio Cruz, Alan English 3:39
2011 Edition[30]
No. Title Length
1. "Dynamite"   3:24
2. "Break Your Heart" (featuring Ludacris) 3:06
3. "Dirty Picture" (featuring Ke$ha) 3:39
4. "Take Me Back" (Version C^^) 3:12
5. "I'll Never Love Again"   3:49
6. "I Can Be"   3:47
7. "No Other One"   3:37
8. "Come On Girl" (featuring Luciana) 3:33
9. "Falling in Love"   3:32
10. "Higher" (featuring Kylie Minogue) 3:07
11. "Feel Again"   3:39
12. "She's Like a Star"   3:38
13. "I Just Wanna Know"   3:58
14. "Forever Love"   4:12
15. "Higher" (featuring Travie McCoy) 3:38
16. "Break Your Heart" (Agent X Remix) 5:42
17. "Dynamite" (Ralphi Rosario Radio Edit) 3:39
18. "Higher" (Club Junkies Radio Edit) 3:17
19. "Dirty Picture" (Redtop Radio Edit) 3:24
20. "Telling the World"   4:09

^ Version A is the main version of the song, which was released as a single, and included on Stryder's album Catch 22. It features three rap verses by Stryder and the hook and chorus by Cruz.
^^ Version C is a solo version of the song, which replaces Stryder's rap verses with sung verses by Cruz. This version does not feature any vocals from Stryder.

Charts

Chart (2009/2010) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[31] 14
Canadian Albums Chart[32] 3
Dutch Albums Chart[33] 95
French Albums Chart[34] 20
German Albums Chart[35] 31
German Newcomer Chart[36] 2
Greek Albums Chart[37] 45
Irish Albums Chart[34] 24
Mexican Albums Chart[38] 77
Swiss Albums Chart[39] 39
UK Albums Chart[40] 14
US Billboard 200[41] 8

Chart Certification
AUS Gold[42]
AUT Gold[43]
CAN Gold[44]

Release history

Region Release date Format Label
United Kingdom 12 October 2009[45] CD single, Digital download (Original Edition) Island Records
Poland 7 May 2010[46] Universal Music
United States 1 June 2010[47] CD single, Digital download (Revised Edition) Mercury Records
Canada Universal Music
Brazil 7 June 2010[48]
Australia 16 July 2010[49] Island Records
Europe 19 November 2010
Brazil 1 April 2011[30] CD single, Digital download (Second Revised Edition) Universal Music

References

  1. Published by: Andrew C (29 September 2009). "Interview: Taio Cruz Reveals a small taste of his Current Projects || TheNext2Shine.com (Exclusive RNB Music Download) The Next To Shine". Blog.thenext2shine.com. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  2. "Taio Cruz interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' October 2009". Bluesandsoul.com. 15 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  3. "Rokstarr - Taio Cruz". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  4. Taio Cruz interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' May 2010
  5. Thursday, 17 June 2010, 16:42 BST (17 June 2010). "Music - News - 'Glee' beats Aguilera to US No. 1". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
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  8. "Taio Cruz Rokstarr Album Review by Boston Globe". bostonglobe.com. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
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  10. "Taio Cruz Rokstarr Album Review by Entertainment Weekly". ew.com. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  11. "Taio Cruz - Album review: Taio Cruz - 'Rokstarr' - Album Reviews". Nme.Com. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  12. "Taio Cruz Rokstarr Album Review by Rolling Stone". rollingstone.com. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
  13. Caroline Sullivan (2009-10-15). "Taio Cruz: Rokstarr | CD review | Music". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
  14. Pareles, Jon (31 May 2010). "Taio Cruz Rokstarr Album Review by The New York Times". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
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  16. "Rokstarr by Taio Cruz". Metacritic. 1 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-25.
  17. "Music - Review of Taio Cruz - Rokstarr". BBC. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  18. "Taio Cruz, 'Rokstarr' - The Boston Globe". Boston.com. 31 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  19. "Critics’ Choice - New CD’s by Christina Aguilera and Lil Jon - Review". NYTimes.com. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  20. Brad Wete (26 May 2010). "Rokstarr | Music". EW.com. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  21. Jody Rosen. "Rokstarr by Taio Cruz | Rolling Stone Music | Music Reviews". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  22. "Taio Cruz - Album review: Taio Cruz - 'Rokstarr' - Album Reviews". NME.com. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
  23. "Music - News - Cole 'missed out on' Cruz chart-topper". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  24. R&R :: Going For Adds :: Rhythmic
  25. R&R :: Going For Adds :: CHR/Top 40
  26. FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!
  27. Taio Cruz - Falling In Love - YouTube on YouTube
  28. Rokstarr - Taio Cruz - Spotify
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  30. 30.0 30.1 "Rokstarr (Brazil Special Edition) - Taio Cruz". livrariacultura.com.br. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
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  32. 9 Jun 2010 Canadian Update. Retrieved 09-06-2010.
  33. dutchcharts.nl - Taio Cruz - TY.O
  34. 34.0 34.1 http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/monopage.xml?id=260584 disqueenfrance.com (SNEP)
  35. Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche - musicline.de
  36. Hurts reißen Newcomer-Führung an sich - media control
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  42. http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_album.asp?chart=1G50
  43. IFPI Austria - Verband der Österreichischen Musikwirtschaft
  44. Gold and Platinum Search
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  46. "Universal Music Polska". Universalmusic.pl. Retrieved 2010-04-07.
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