Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe

Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe
EP by Kelly Rowland
Released March 25, 2008 (2008-03-25)
Recorded 2006–2008
Genre
Length 27:14
Label
Producer
Kelly Rowland chronology
Ms. Kelly
(2007)		 Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe
(2008)		 Here I Am
(2011)
Singles from Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe
  1. "Daylight"
    Released: March 4, 2008

Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe (stylized as Ms. Kelly • Diva Deluxe) is the debut extended play (EP) by American recording artist Kelly Rowland. It was released on March 25, 2008 through Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Entertainment and Sony Music. A digital-only collection of new songs and previously unreleased remixes, it became available exclusively through major online digital music providers. Initially planned to be included on a re-release of Rowland's second solo album, Ms. Kelly (2007), she announced that the eight tracks would be included on a standalone release. A deluxe edition of the original album, entitled Ms. Kelly Deluxe, was released on May 27, 2008.

Background and development

Kelly Rowland's second solo album Ms. Kelly was released in June 2007. Not as successful as its predecessor Simply Deep (2002), the album produced the hit singles "Like This" and "Work".[1] Originally entitled My Story, the album's first version was actually scheduled for a June 2006 release, but the singer, her management and Columbia Records decided to shelve the album at the last minute to re-work a version with a different vibe as the singer considered the final track listing "too full of midtempos and ballads."[2][3] Rowland eventually consulted additional producers to collaborate on the album, renamed Ms. Kelly, including Billy Mann, Scott Storch, and Atlanta-based Polow da Don who contributed to "Like This", a collaboration with rapper Eve.[4] A moderate success around the globe, the song reached the top-ten in Ireland and the UK, and the top-twenty in Australia and New Zealand.[5][6] Upon its release, Ms. Kelly debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with moderately successful first week sales of 86,000 copies.[7] Outside the US, the album widely failed to reprise the success of Simply Deep, barely reaching the top-forty on the majority of all charts it appeared on, except for the UK, where it opened at number 37.[5]

In October 2007, Rowland collaborated with Travis McCoy from American rap rock group Gym Class Heroes on "Daylight", a cover version of Bobby Womack's 1976 single.[8] Actually recorded for the soundtrack for French film Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008), Rowland was so satisfied with the track, that she felt inspired to start work on a reissue of Ms. Kelly.[9] During the ecoStyle's Fundraising Gala held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in December 2007, Rowland confirmed that "Daylight" would serve as the first single from the re-release and commented on Ms. Kelly's commercial underperformance: "It was difficult at first, but then I realised that it wasn't my fault. The reason I say it wasn't my fault is that we live in a very different music industry right now. It's tough to sell records without having someone download it. Also, first time around, the label didn't see what I saw in the record. It took them a while to get it, but now everyone's on board and excited at the album, so I'm happy that everyone's on the same page this time around."[9] When asked why she decided to re-release the album and not record a new one instead, Rowland stated that despite its revamp it was simply because she felt the final track list consisted of too many midtempos and ballads, "I didn't realise it while I was recording it. After it was released [back in June] many fans said the songs would rock if they were more upbeat. I guess that might have been the cause of the poor acceptance to Ms. Kelly the first time around version."[8]

Recording and composition

Rowland felt she "wanted to give the album a second life, because it didn`t get the exposure that I wanted it to first time round."[10]

Following the original album's lukewarm sales and reception, Rowland re-entered recording studios to collect new songs for the reissue.[11] The first song to be recorded, Rowland found that "Daylight" set much of the tone for the EP.[8] One of her personal favorites on the Diva Deluxe, she stated that "with "Daylight," I remember listening to [it] and I was like, 'Oh my god, this feels like a great day. Got the wind in your hair, just feels good.' That's what I loved about it the most."[8] Commenting on her decision to work with Travis McCoy, she told Blues & Soul. "I figured me and Travis together would be an unusual tyepa duo. And I'm really happy I trusted my instincts. Because it turned out to be a really cool, different type of collaboration."[10] Produced by Norwegian production duo Stargate, Digital Spy felt that second track "Broken", was "a typically polished offering from the [producer's] hit factory".[12] A piano-driven mid-tempo cut, the song was co-penned by Lonny Bereal and Tariano Jackson.[13] Rowland described the ballads "Love Again" and "Unity" as songs "that are just really vulnerable, and I feel like those are also sides of me that I get a chance to showcase as well."[14] Not specifically recorded for Diva Deluxe, the former was originally included on the track listing of the soundtrack to Tyler Perry's 2008 film Meet the Browns.[15]

Producers and songwriters S*A*M & Sluggo, Jeff Dawson, brothers Charlie and Kenneth Bereal, Damon Sharpe, and Mark J. Feist also consulted on the album, the latter two of which contributed the EP's final track "No Man No Cry."[16] While she hoped "to collaborate with other great producers like Timbaland just to freshen up [her] sound a little more," further studio sessions failed to materialize.[8] Rowland was also expected to record with producer Danja, but deadline pressure prevented from happening. A new track by J. R. Rotem, on the other hand, did not make the final cut.[17]

Release and promotion

A collection of new songs and remixes, Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe was made available exclusively through all major online digital music providers on Tuesday, March 25, 2008.[18] Speaking on its digital-only release, Rowland stated, "That's where all my fans are. I think that it's important to be accommodating to them and they're not physically going to buy records as much as they would being in front of the computer and just purchasing it that way."[19] Regarding the title Diva Deluxe, Rowland said, "I felt like there was so much more to offer on this record as far as different sounds are concerned. I did dance mixes. I did songs on the album that the fans will probably never expect, so I had to put that diva stank on there."[14]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Daylight" (featuring Travis McCoy)
S*A*M & Sluggo3:30
2."Broken"  
Stargate3:24
3."Comeback" (Karmatronics Club Mix)
  • Storch
  • Pooh Bear[a]
  • Achilles Sparta[b]
  • Peter Krajezar[b]
6:20
4."Like This" (Redline Remix)
2:50
5."Love Again"  
  • Charlie Bereal
  • J. Bereal
  • Charmelle Cofield
  • Phil Thornton
  • Roy Battle
  • Cheyenne Jones
3:50
6."Unity"  
  • Jordan Thorsteinson
  • Troy Samson
  • Mike James
Jeff Dawson3:51
7."No Man No Cry"  
  • Feist
  • Sharpe
3:28
Total length:27:14
Notes

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.[13]

Instruments and performances
Managerial and production

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
United Kingdom March 25, 2008 Digital download
[18]
United States [20]
Austria September 22, 2008 [21]
Germany
Switzerland

References

  1. ↑ "Destiny's Child Diva – Kelly Rowland to perform at Posi+Ive Festival". Mercedes-Benzsa.co.za. Retrieved July 3, 2008.
  2. ↑ Moss, Corey (September 27, 2006). "Kelly Rowland Scraps Sappy Story, Picks Up Snoop". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  3. ↑ Tecson, Brandee J. (February 24, 2006). "Kelly Rowland Hooks Up With Beyonce's Sister Again For Solo LP". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Scott Storch Responds To Timbaland's Jabs". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved March 13, 2007.
  5. 1 2 "Kelly Rowland UK Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Kelly Rowland feat. Eve – Like This". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Ms. Kelly". SOHH. Archived from the original on August 13, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Interview: Kelly Rowland's All About Action". TeenMusic. TeenMusic.com. 2007-12-23. Retrieved 2008-01-17.
  9. 1 2 "Kelly Rowland Interview". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  10. 1 2 Lewis, Pete (2008-05-10). "Feature: Kelly Rowland, Fulfilling Her Destiny". Blues & Soul. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  11. ↑ Butta (August 14, 2007). "Kelly Rowland To Re-Release CD?". VIBE. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
  12. ↑ Levine, Nick (2008-05-10). "Kelly Rowland: 'Ms. Kelly Deluxe'". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  13. 1 2 Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe (CD liner). Kelly Rowland. Columbia Records. 2008.
  14. 1 2 "Kelly Rowland: The Good Diva". Rap-Up. Rap-Up.com. March 20, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Music from and Inspired by "Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns"". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Kelly Rowland Shouts-Out That Grape Juice". Young Voices. Archived from the original on March 11, 2008. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
  17. ↑ Frank, Aaron (August 19, 2007). "Interview: J.R. Rotem Part 1". HHN Live. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2008.
  18. 1 2 "Press Release: Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe Exclusively Online Today". MVRemix. March 25, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Interview: Kelly Rowland Goes Deluxe". TeenHollywood. March 19, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Kelly Rowland - Ms. Kelly Diva Deluxe (7×File, MP3, EP, 192)". Discogs.com. March 18, 2008. Retrieved October 2, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe". Musicload. September 22, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
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