Fresh! | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 4 March 1997 (US) | |||
Recorded | March 1995–January 1997 | |||
Genre | Dance-pop[1] | |||
Length | 49:42 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Steve Allen (executive) | |||
Gina G chronology | ||||
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Singles from Fresh! | ||||
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Fresh! is the debut album by Australian dance-pop singer-songwriter Gina G, released in 1997. The album includes the single "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit", which was the United Kingdom's entry in the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest. Following the contest, the single reached number one in the UK[2] and went on to become a worldwide hit.
The album was scheduled to be re-released in May 2024.[3]
Singles
[edit]The lead single "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit", written by Simon Tauber and Steve Rodway, was first released in March 1996 in the UK. It was selected as the UK's entry for the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Oslo, Norway. Despite placing eighth, the song went on to achieve worldwide success, peaking at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year. Too that date it was one of very few Eurovision entries to chart in the US market. The album features five additional singles, four of which were co-written by Gina G. "I Belong to You" and "Fresh!" (both peaked at No. 6 in the UK), "Ti Amo" (No. 11), "Gimme Some Love" (No. 25) and the final single "Every Time I Fall", the first ballad to be released from the album, (No. 52).[2]
Commercial performance
[edit]The album peaked at No. 12 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 27 on the US Billboard Heatseekers chart.[4][5] It was certified Silver (marking sales of 60,000) in the United Kingdom.[6]
Album artwork
[edit]The album artwork features Gina G covered in chocolate icing, and was shot by famed photographer David LaChapelle.
Critical reception
[edit]Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
The Advertiser | (favorable)[7] |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Blade | (favorable)[8] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Knoxville Sentinel | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
News of the World | (favorable)[11] |
The Baltimore Sun concluded: "As much as 'Ooh aah ... Just a Little Bit' or the title tune might seem to replay formulas the Stock/Aitken/Waterman team devised for Rick Astley and Bananarama, the fact is, they sound fresher in Gina G's hands than they did originally."[12]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Motiv8 Radio Edit) |
| Rodway | 3:23 |
2. | "Fresh!" |
| Metro | 3:45 |
3. | "Ti Amo" |
| Metro | 2:54 |
4. | "Every Time I Fall" |
|
| 4:02 |
5. | "Follow the Light" |
| Rodway | 4:17 |
6. | "Gimme Some Love" |
| Metro | 3:32 |
7. | "Rhythm of My Life" | Rodway | Rodway | 3:43 |
8. | "Missin' You Like Crazy" |
| Cutfather & Joe | 4:46 |
9. | "I Belong to You" (Radio Edit) |
| Metro | 3:21 |
10. | "Higher Than Love" |
| Rodway | 3:46 |
11. | "It Doesn't Mean Goodbye" | Rodway | Rodway | 5:27 |
12. | "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" (Motiv8 Vintage Honey Mix) |
| Rodway | 6:46 |
Total length: | 49:42 |
Charts
[edit]Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] | 53 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[14] | 40 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] | 13 |
UK Albums (OCC)[4] | 12 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[5] | 27 |
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] | Silver | 60,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue number |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 4 March 1997 | Eternal/Warner Bros. | CD | 9 46517-2 |
United Kingdom | 24 March 1997 | Eternal/Warner Music UK | CD | 0630-17840-2 |
Philippines | 4 March 1997 | Eternal/WEA | Cassette | 0630-17840-2 |
United Kingdom | 31 May 2024 | 90/9 Records | 2xCD+DVD, Purple Vinyl | QNTN3BOX005, QNTNLP005 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Fresh Gina G". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
From its self-consciously controversial cover art, featuring Gina smeared in chocolate, to its relentless barrage of bouncy, up-tempo dance-pop, Fresh is an homage to early Madonna...
- ^ a b "Gina G | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ "Gina G's classic Fresh! album set for reissue with new music". Retropop Magazine. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Gina G Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ a b "British album certifications – Gina G – Fresh!". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ McDonald, Patrick (10 April 1997). "Gina's Pop Takes the Cake". The Advertiser.
- ^ Paton, Richard (4 May 1997). "Sounds: Gina G – Fresh!". The Blade. p. 47. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
- ^ Sullivan, Caroline (28 March 1997). "Music: This week's pop CD releases". The Guardian.
- ^ Campbell, Chuck (21 March 1997). "Evolution process going well for L7". Knoxville Sentinel.
- ^ Connell, Claudia (23 March 1997). "Album Review; The Goss the Biz". News of the World.
- ^ Considine, J. D. (6 March 1997). "Gina G Fresh!". Features. The Baltimore Sun. p. 7.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 110.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Gina G – Fresh!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 April 2024.