Unlocked (Alexandra Stan album)

Unlocked
Studio album by Alexandra Stan
Released	November 25, 2014 (2014-11-25) (Romania) (see release history)
Recorded	September 2013 – November 2014
Genre	Progressive house dance-pop synthpop reggae fusion electropop europop downbeat eurodisco industrial gospel ballad
Length	57:30 (international edition) 53:30 (Japanese standard edition) 67:43 (Japanese deluxe edition)
Label	Fonogram Records, Roton, Ego Italy, Yeni Dünya Müzik, Victor Entertainment, Ultra, Blanco y Negro
Producer	Kyle Coleman, Chrishan Prince, Alexandru Cotoi, Mika Moupondo, Ionuț Adrian Radu, Erik Lidbom, Lukas Hällgren, Anton Kuhl, Șerban Cazan, Gabriel Huiban, Victor Bourosu, Sebastian Jacome, Fonogram Music Production, Hitfire Productions (see credits and personnel)
Alexandra Stan albums chronology
Cliche (Hush Hush) (2013) Unlocked (2014)
Singles from Unlocked
"Thanks For Leaving" Released: April 28, 2014 (2014-04-28)[1] "Cherry Pop" Released: May 28, 2014 (2014-05-28)[2] "Dance" Released: July 18, 2014 (2014-07-18)[3] "Give Me Your Everything" Released: August 20, 2014 (2014-08-20)[4] "Vanilla Chocolat (featuring Connect-R)" Released: December 5, 2014 (2014-12-05)
Alternative cover
Japanese standard edition cover

Unlocked is the sophomore studio album by Romanian dance/pop and eurodance vocalist Alexandra Stan. An album's standard edition for Japan was released on August 27, 2014 through Victor and Fonogram Records.^[5] The album spawns the five singles "Thanks For Leaving", "Cherry Pop", "Dance", "Give Me Your Everything" and "Vanilla Chocolat" featuring Romanian male singer Connect-R. It has an overall progressive house vibe, with it containing dance-pop, synthpop, reggae fusion and europop as well.

The Japanese standard edition contains the three bonus singles Zoom Zoom, Digital and Cherry Pop (Sonic-E & Woolhouse remix). The full-length work was released internationally on November 25, 2014 via digital outlets,^[6] containing three new tracks. It hitted the Japanese charts, where it reached in a time period of 2 hours the first position in the Japanese iTunes Dance albums chart, and the Oricon daily chart, where it was already sold in 3,859 shipments. A deluxe edition containing all eighteen tracks was released on December 24, 2014 to Japanese digital markets.^[7] Unlocked is avabile as of November 25, 2014 on worldwide stores of iTunes, Spotify, AmazonMusic,^[8] Google Play, Xbox Music, Rhapsody,^[9] Deezer, iHeartRadio and Zonga.^[10] The album became very popular in Asia, where it was strongly promoted through its lead singles Dance and Cherry Pop. Both reached the first position in the Japanese iTunes Download Chart and eventually positions in the Japan Billboard Top 100 Singles Chart

Background and development

In 2012, Stan started, after the launching of her debut studio album Saxobeats in 2011, working on her second studio album. The three singles "Lemonade", "Cliche (Hush Hush)" and "All My People" that followed were planned to be part of her second studio album's tracklist. The second album should’ve been released back in September 2013 but an unfortunate cycle of events postponed everything to fall 2014. Alexandra Stan was beaten by her ex fiancè and manager Marcel Prodan, and consequently hospitalized, and after these facts Stan decided to give herself a longer break to recover and think about her coming back a little bit more. The three singles were later released on a re-issue of her first album titled Cliche (Hush Hush), released only to Japanese digital markets.

In late 2013, Alexandra Stan continued the work on her second studio album with new producers such as Alex Cotoi or Erik Lidbom. The singer switched Prodan's own label Maan Records and signed a new deal with Fonogram Records. After it was decided that her three previous singles wouldn't make part of Unlocked, the first single to be included on the album was released on April 28, 2014, titled "Thanks For Leaving". It was produced by Alexandru Cotoi and Sebastian Jacome. In a time period of four months, Stan released four singles under Roton/Fonogram Records. The upcoming singles were all sent to international radio stations in Turkey, Japan, Europe and South America. Most of the songs were written with international songwriters at the writing-camp Fonocamp in Azuga, organised by Fonogram Records.

Recordings and composition

Stan started to record new material for her musical career's second studio album in late September 2013. She was involved in the writing process of many of the songs featured in the album. Alexandra particularly expressed in many interviews how the song "Thanks For Leaving" is a very personal song to her, as it refers to Marcel Prodan, who blackmailed and beat her in earlier 2013.

The album contains a variety of genres, including progressive house, dance-pop and reggae fusion. Lyrically the album’s songs almost all revolve around Stan's relationship with an unidentified man, and her ups and downs with him. It’s easy to assume there are parallels to reality. "Where the album truly „shines“ is the production. "Unlocked" sounds almost like an European album.", said the American review-website POP Schock. There are also Swedish EDM cutted in “Back To Life” and Bhangra-sampling sounds from “Kiss Me Goodbye”, and Spanish-flavoured track “Trumpet Blows” and Caucasus-inspired single “Give Me Your Everything”. There are still some clear Romanian influences that stay true to Alexandra Stan’s dance-pop roots. The single “Dance” is very much as “Romanian Club Scene” as it gets, and “Set Me Free" and “Celebrate” are certified German-rave anthems. The album’s electronic part comes in the way of French-English track "Vanilla Chocolat" (feat. Connect-R) and righteous power-ballad mid-tempo “Holding Aces”. Stan stated in an interview for Adevărul that this album is more of pop genre than her previous works.^[11]

Critical reception

The album received mixed reviews from the music critics, including positive words about the album's production and the singles' lyrics, and negative phrases about the fact, that she is moving too far away from her Saxobeats dance-roots. The American review website POP shock reviewed the album on November 30, 2014, describing it as a "revolution" from her previous works.

“

"This album is a very whole work. For example, the track "Holding Aces" included on this album could be in some alternative universe, a X Factor Winner’s Single. The singer has had to go through a lot of behind-the-scenes and personal issues that are well documented. It did appear at one point Alexandra wouldn’t be returning to the mainstream pop scene anytime soon, but this year saw a turnaround in her confidence and management. But where it would have been expected for Alexandra to return with a dark new sound, she and her team have identified there is a gigantic gap in the market for good old fashioned and sugary Europop. So here we are – this is Alexandra staying firmly in her element, mixing up infectious production with catchy absurd hooks and glossy vocals. The stunning, over-saturated packaging and visuals that accompany the album really do set the tone for the LP."[12]

”

The, also American, reviewer Robin Catling from everythingexpress.com reviewed the album on February 20, 2015 and gaved Stan's album a more negative review. He compares it with Britney Spears's album and worries about the hellium-lifted vocals in some tracks.

“

"Cearly influenced by – or slavishly imitating – the likes of Britney Spears, Rihanna and Sia, the production sound will make or break it for you. There’s plenty to like and plenty to dislike in this eclectic bunch of tunes shop-lifted from other artists and producers. There’s even a three-act narrative arc, of sorts. Opener "Little Lies" is entirely a Britney number from the Britney Jean album, complete with helium-lifted vocals and overwrought production, bouncy and up-tempo, and nowhere near as bad as the irritating "Cherry Pop", the verse let down by an horrific chorus and a truly nasty backing track. And the ‘bonus’ remix is even worse. "Dance" is a summery David Guetta-inspired Euro-dance number that rattles along. If only the quality of the song-writing were better; I don’t exactly expect a Shakespearean Sonnet, but even S-Club 7 had better material than this. "Back to Light" is half a decent song which leans toward Sia via Guetta or Calvin Harris, until it hits another car crash of a chorus. It feels like Act Two when we reach mid-tempo ballad "Give Me Your Everything"; a Rihanna sound-alike single which reminds us our Romanian pop-poppet can actually sing. Then we’re off around the world with Bangra-beats and samples mixed into "Kiss Me Goodbye"; fortunately copyright law isn’t all that strong in Romania, else Rihanna’s lawyers would be onto this one. Digital fizzes along, the perfect pop tune for teenage girls, bland and inoffensive, followed by "Zoom Zoom," ,fast and very West Coast, Katy Perry – or possibly Dragonette. "Set Me Free" is a mid-tempo Sia-sounding power ballad and possibly the best song on the album, with its’ Guetta/Harris Euro-dance sound. "Celebrate" goes all German disco, after Cascada’s identikit Eurovision style; sadly ruined by Pinky and Perky on backing vocals. "Happy" does what it says in the title, back to Britney before she got desperate to shock in search of a hit, a decent, restrained little construction that doesn’t try too hard. Then the album hits Act Three in the drama. "Thanks For Leaving" is the grown up, breaking up ballad that could score big ponts in a Eurovision Song Contest, in which our Alex goes for the big Kelly Clarkson sweeps. "Holding Aces" is the post-break up, I Will Survive number that carries itself well for the finale. The deluxe edition rounds off with a bunch of remixes of varying quality, a bit of a needless encore you should really skip, unless you want to be reminded of the glory days of Mr Saxobeat. Unlocked has some highlights amongst the derivative, magpie-collected sparkle of pilfered pop, you might just find it difficult to remember by the end."[13]

”

Singles

"Thanks For Leaving" was released as the first single in April 2014. The subject of the music video and the song is how complicated a relationship can be. The music video was shot in California, United States and pictures Stan in a tough relationship with a love interest.^[14]

"Cherry Pop" was released as the second single in May 2014. The music video features Stan in a variety of colorful backgrounds, while she dances surrounded by dancers. The single includes strong influences of Korean and Japanese pop. This is her first work to reach the Japanese Billboard since All My People and the second to reach #1 within few hours in the iTunes chart together with Mr. Saxobeat.^[15][16] A promotional single premiered few time after the released of Cherry Pop. It's called Set Me Free and it's a featuring with the Romanian disc jockey DJ Andi. It was the official song of the yearly event called "Liberty Parade" in Romania.

"Dance" was released as the third single in July 2014. The music video features Stan and dancers practicing different types of dance styles. The song was a massive radio hit in Japan. An official remix of the song was released on September 22, 2014 on her official YouTube account , called "Dance (Grano Remix)".^[17] The song performed well, reaching again the first position in the iTunes chart.

"Give Me Your Everything" was released as the fourth single in August 2014. The music video features Stan chasing a mysterious man in a dark landscape. The song charted only in Romania at low positions ^[18]

"Vanilla Chocolat" was released as fifth single in December 2014. It features Romanian rapper Connect-R. A selfie video was released in 2014 and sees Stan singing and performing on various live shows as well as shots of her and Connect-R at Roton Music.^[19] An official music video is set for release in 2015.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Little Lies"	Kyle Coleman Chrishan Prince Alexandru Cotoi Alexandra Stan Mika Moupondo Ionut Adrian Radu Jade Burges (vocal sample)	Coleman Prince Cotoi	3:41
2.	"Cherry Pop"	Erik Lidbom Stan Lukas Hällgren	Lidbom Hällgren (add.)	3:11
3.	"Dance"	Cotoi Stan Mika Moupondo Lee Anna McCollum Cosmin Basasteanu Lidbom	Cotoi Lidbom	3:41
4.	"Back to Light"	Nazarine Henderson McCollum Stan Anton Kuhl Cotoi	Kuhl Cotoi	3:34
5.	"Give Me Your Everything"	Serban Cazan Stan McCollum Henderson Andrei Mihai	Cazan	3:25
6.	"Kiss Me Goodbye"	Cotoi Mika Moupondo Stan	Cotoi	3:18
7.	"Vanilla Chocolat" (featuring Connect-R)	Cotoi Stan Stefan Mihalache Mika Moupondo Sava Constantin	Cotoi	3:17
8.	"Trumpet Blows"	Gabriel Huiban Karen Amanda Reifer Kerrie Thomas-Armstrong Thomas-Ray Armstrong	Huiban	2:52
9.	"Set Me Free" (featuring Grano)	Mika Moupondo Cotoi Radu	Cotoi Radu Moupondo	3:55
10.	"Celebrate"	Stan Radu McCollum Henderson Cotoi	Radu	3:27
11.	"Happy"	Victor Bourosu Stan McCollum Henderson	Bourosu	3:30
12.	"Thanks for Leaving"	McCollum Henderson Sebastian Jacome Cotoi	Cotoi Jacome	3:36
13.	"Holding Aces"	Angelica Vasilcov Prince Coleman Stan Cotoi Radu	Coleman Prince Cotoi Radu	3:23
14.	"Unlocked"	Cotoi Bourosu Stan Mika Moupondo	Cotoi Bourosu	8:14
15.	"Dance" (Grano Remix)	Cotoi Stan Mika Moupondo McCollum Basasteanu	Cotoi	4:18
Total length:				57:30

Japanese standard edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Little Lies"			3:42
2.	"Cherry Pop"			3:12
3.	"Dance"			3:42
4.	"Back to Light"			3:35
5.	"Give Me Your Everything"			3:26
6.	"Kiss Me Goodbye"			3:19
7.	"Digital"	Lidbom Claire Rodrigues Lee		3:50
8.	"Zoom Zoom"	Lidbom Anne Judith Wik Nermin Harambasic Ronny Svendsen		3:26
9.	"Set Me Free" (featuring Grano)			3:55
10.	"Celebrate"			3:28
11.	"Happy"			3:30
12.	"Thanks for Leaving"			3:37
13.	"Holding Aces"			3:24
14.	"Dance" (Grano Remix)			4:19
15.	"Cherry Pop" (Sonic-E & Woolhouse Remix)			3:05
Total length:				53:30

Japanese deluxe edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Little Lies"			3:42
2.	"Cherry Pop"			3:12
3.	"Dance"			3:42
4.	"Back to Light"			3:35
5.	"Give Me Your Everything"			3:26
6.	"Kiss Me Goodbye"			3:19
7.	"Digital"			3:50
8.	"Zoom Zoom"			3:26
9.	"Vanilla Chocolat" (featuring Connect-R)			3:18
10.	"Trumpet Blows"			2:54
11.	"Set Me Free" (featuring Grano)			3:54
12.	"Celebrate"			3:28
13.	"Happy"			3:30
14.	"Thanks for Leaving"			3:37
15.	"Holding Aces"			3:25
16.	"Unlocked"			8:14
17.	"Dance" (Grano Remix)			4:19
18.	"Cherry Pop" (Sonic-E & Woolhouse Remix)			3:05
Total length:				67:43

Japanese deluxe edition DVD
No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Cherry Pop" (music video)
2.	"Dance" (music video)
3.	"Give Me Your Everything" (music video)
4.	"Thanks for Leaving" (music video)

Spanish standard edition CD 1
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Little Lies"			3:42
2.	"Dance"			3:42
3.	"Cherry Pop"			3:12
4.	"Back to Light"			3:35
5.	"Give Me Your Everything"			3:26
6.	"Kiss Me Goodbye"			3:19
7.	"Vanilla Chocolat" (featuring Connect-R)			3:18
8.	"Trumpet Blows"			2:52
9.	"Set Me Free" (featuring Grano)			3:54
10.	"Celebrate"			3:28
11.	"Happy"			3:30
12.	"Thanks for Leaving"			3:37
13.	"Holding Aces"			3:25
14.	"Unlocked"			8:14
Total length:				53:12

Spanish standard edition CD 2
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Dance" (Geo Da Silva & Jack Mazzoni Radio Edit)			3:16
2.	"Dance" (CryDuom Radio Edit)			3:16
3.	"Dance" (DJ Kone & Marc Palacios Radio Edit)			3:43
4.	"Dance" (Grano Remix)			4:18
5.	"Cherry Pop" (DJ Kone & Marc Palacios Radio Edit)			3:33
6.	"Cherry Pop" (Geo Da Silva & Jack Mazzoni Radio Remix)			3:15
7.	"Cherry Pop" (CryDuom Remix Radio)			3:13
8.	"Dance" (Geo Da Silva & Jack Mazzoni Extended Remix)			4:03
9.	"Dance" (CryDuom Extended Remix)			4:19
10.	"Dance" (DJ Kone & Marc Palacios Extended Remix)			6:25
11.	"Cherry Pop" (DJ Kone & Marc Palacios Extended Remix)			6:24
12.	"Cherry Pop" (Geo Da Silva & Jack Mazzoni Extended Remix)			4:17
13.	"Cherry Pop" (Cry Duom Extended Remix)			4:02

Credits and personnel

Adapted from album liner notes^[20]

Vocal credits Alexandra Stan - lead vocals Connect-R - featured artist Grano - featured artist Jade Burges - vocal sample Recording locations Fongram Studios - location Perfect Sound Studios - location Outfit and image credits Alex Ifimov - Hair & Make-up Ema Băniță - Styling assistant Andra Moga - Styling Dimitri Caceaune - Photography

Managerial and creative credits, labels David Gal - Art & Design, Creative Director Griffon & Swans - Art & Design, Creative Diector Blanco y Negro - label (Spain) Fonogram Records - label (Romania) Roton - label (Romania), phonographic copyright (p) Kontor Records - label (Germany) Yeni Dünya Müzik - label (Turkey) Victor Entertainment - label (Japan) Ultra Records - label (United States) EGO Italy - label (Italy)

Tehnical credits

Kyle Coleman - songwriter, producer Chrishan Prince - songwriter, producer Alexandru Cotoi - songwriter, producer Alexandra Stan - songwriter Mika Moupondo - songwriter, producer Ionuț Adrian Radu - songwriter, producer Erik Lidbom - songwriter, producer, additional production Lukas Hällgren - songwriter, producer Lee Anna McCollum - songwriter Cosmin Basasteanu - songwriter Nazarine Henderson - songwriter Anton Kuhl - songwriter, producer Șerban Cazan - songwriter, producer Andrei Mihai - songwriter Ștefan Mihalache - songwriter Sava Constantin - songwriter Gabriel Huiban - songwriter, producer

Karen Huiban - songwriter Amanda Reifer - songwriter Kerrie Thomas-Amstrong - songwriter Thomas Ray Amstrong - songwriter Victor Bourosu - songwriter, producer Sebastian Jacome - songwriter, producer Angelica Vasilcov - songwriter Claire Rodrigues Lee - songwriter Anne Judith Wik - songwriter Nermin Haraubasic - songwriter Ronny Svendsen - songwriter Fonogram Music Production - additional production Hitfire Productions - additional sound production

Charts and sales

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position Japanese Albums (Oricon Weekly Albums Chart)[21] 21 Oricon sales Date Peak position Domestical sales September 02, 2014 21 3,859 September 09, 2014 33 2,697 September 16, 2014 39 1,853 September 23, 2014 49 1,540 September 30, 2014 83 1,030 October 07, 2014 78 753 October 14, 2014 93 753 October 22, 2014 101 637 October 29, 2014 155 497 November 12, 2014 177 432 November 26, 2014 285 247

Daily charts Charts (2014) Peak position Japanese Albums (Oricon Daily Albums Chart) 15

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Edition(s)
Japan[22][23]	August 27, 2014 (2014-08-27)	CD, digital download	Victor Entertainment	Standard
	December 24, 2014 (2014-12-24)			Deluxe
Turkey[24]	November 25, 2014 (2014-11-25)	digital download	Yeni Dünya Müzik	Standard
Romania[25]			Fonogram Records, Roton
Germany[26]			Kontor
France[27]			Fonogram Records
Russia[28]
Canada[29]
United Kingdom[30]			Roton
United States			Fonogram Records	Standard Deluxe
Italy[31]	January 5, 2015 (2015-01-05)		Ego Italy	Standard
Spain[32]	February 24, 2015 (2015-02-024)	CD, digital download	Blanco y Negro Music

References

Alexandra Stan Discography Studio Albums and Singles Saxobeats (2011) "Lollipop (Param Pam Pam)" "Mr. Saxobeat" "Get Back (ASAP)" "1.000.000" Cliché (Hush Hush) (reissue) (2013) "Lemonade" "Cliche (Hush Hush)" "All My People" Unlocked (2014) "Thanks for Leaving" "Cherry Pop" "Dance" "Give Me Your Everything" "Vanilla Chocolat" "Happy" Collaborations "Baby, It's OK!" Related articles Ultra Records Carlprit Connect-R