Tattoo (Jordin Sparks song)

"Tattoo"
Single by Jordin Sparks
from the album Jordin Sparks
Released August 27, 2007 (2007-08-27)
(see release history)
Format Digital download, CD single
Recorded 2007
Genre Pop, R&B[1]
Length 3:52
Label Jive
Writer(s) Amanda Ghost, Ian Dench, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen,
Producer(s) Stargate
Jordin Sparks singles chronology
"This Is My Now"
(2007)		 "Tattoo"
(2007)		 "No Air"
(2008)
Jordin Sparks European singles chronology
"No Air"
(2008)		 "Tattoo"
(2008)		 "One Step at a Time"
(2009)

"Tattoo" is a song by American recording artist Jordin Sparks, taken from her self-titled debut album. Written by Amanda Ghost, Ian Dench and Stargate, with the latter also producing the song, "Tattoo" was released on August 27, 2007 as the lead single from the album.

"Tattoo" received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who noted its similarities to Beyoncé's 2006 hit, "Irreplaceable", which was also co-written and produced by Stargate. The song peaked inside the top ten in the United States, Australia and Canada, and reached the top twenty in New Zealand and Germany. It has since been certified platinum in Australia and the United States. The song's music video premiered on Yahoo! Music on November 2, 2007. It was directed by Matthew Rolston and features a cameo appearance from sixth season American Idol runner-up, Blake Lewis. A second music video for "Tattoo" was directed by Scott Speer and released only in European countries in September 2008, due to the song failing to make an impact on the singles charts there.

Background and release

"Tattoo" was written by Amanda Ghost, Ian Dench and Norwegian production team StarGate, with the latter also producing the track. According to Sparks, she loved the song the first time she heard it and immediately wanted to record it.[2] In an interview with Digital Spy, she spoke of the song saying:

"Tattoo's a song that can go so many different ways. Some people think of it as a break-up song, but, for me, it's about somebody who comes into your life and really touches you - be they a friend, a family member or someone you're in a relationship with. You know, with that kind of person, you can't just erase them from your memory if things go wrong. They're stuck there like a tattoo."[3]

Sparks also described "Tattoo" as being very "Beyoncé-ish."[4] The single was sent to U.S. Top 40/Mainstream radio on September 25, 2007.[5] Prior to this, it was released for digital download in the United States, Australia and New Zealand on August 27, 2007.[6][7][8] An extended play featuring additional remixes of the song, was made available for download in Australia and New Zealand on March 8, 2008.[9][10] "Tattoo" was released in the United Kingdom in April 2008, but failed to impact the singles chart, where it peaked at number fifty. However, due to the commercial success of "No Air" there, her record company decided to re-release "Tattoo" in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2008[11] with a new music video.[12][13]

Critical reception

"Tattoo"
A sample of the song, which has been noted for its similarities to Beyoncé's 2006 hit, "Irreplaceable", which was also co-written and produced by Stargate.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Daniel Wolfe of About.com awarded the song 3½ stars, complimenting Sparks' "powerful, bittersweet vocals" and wrote, "America’s favorite 17-year-old balladeer plays to her strengths, releasing a strong down tempo number while channeling early Mariah Carey."[14] Nick Levine of Digital Spy awarded the song three out of five stars and said it was "a welcome reminder of why she won American Idol in the first place."[12] Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly said the song had a "pretty little melody" that reminded him of Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable".[15] This was echoed by Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times, who said "it sounds like a cousin of Beyoncé’s "Irreplaceable".[16] Editors from Popjustice said the song is "amazing" and felt it was a "cross between Rihanna's "Umbrella" and JoJo's "Too Little Too Late".[17]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Tattoo" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number fifty-eight on the week dated October 13, 2007.[18] After weeks of climbing the chart, the song reached a peak of number eight on December 29, 2007, becoming Sparks' first top ten hit.[19] It also peaked at number five on the Pop Songs airplay chart.[19] "Tattoo" has since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 2,085,000 copies in the United States.[20][21] In Australia, the song debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at number twenty-nine and rose to its peak position of number five in its fifth week on the chart.[22] It certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for shipments of 70,000 units.[23]

"Tattoo" was a slightly greater success in Canada, where it reached number three on the Canadian Hot 100.[19] In the United Kingdom, "Tattoo" debuted at number ninety on the UK Singles Chart on the week dated March 29, 2008. After weeks of ascending and descending the chart, the song reached its peak position of number twenty-four on November 1, 2008.[24] In New Zealand, the song peaked at number twelve, where it spent a total of thirteen weeks on the chart.[25]

Music video

The song's music video was directed by Matthew Rolston[26] and premiered on Yahoo Music on November 2, 2007.[27] In the video, a guy that Sparks likes begins following her, as she leads him to a merry go round. Sparks appears alone on the merry go round throughout the video. It also shows scenes of her and the guy on the merry go round having a good time. The video is shown in both color and black and white close face shots of Sparks intercut into it. It features a cameo appearance from Blake Lewis, the runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol, who appears briefly with Sparks on the merry go round at the end of the video.

A European version of the music video was directed by Scott Speer[28] and was filmed to coincide with the song's re-release in Europe, due to the lack of interest of the original. The video was released in September 2008.[13] It features Sparks in a room with several other people, at what appears to be a college gathering. As she begins to sing, Sparks is shown with a "love" tattoo on her upper arm, as vines draw themselves down her arm. Following this, the ink begins to appear on the others and the floors of the room, creating tattoos in the process. Some of the people in the room are couples, and the tattoos seem to bring them closer. The created tattoos depict images and words, such as a heart or the words "free" and "peace." Sparks is also shown by herself in an empty room, with a mirror covering the wall throughout. During one point, Sparks self-consciously looks in the mirror, coinciding with the song lyric "when I looked in the mirror, didn't deliver." There are also recurring shots of Sparks in another room against a green wall.

Track listing

Digital download[6]
  1. "Tattoo" - 3:52
Germany and UK digital download
  1. "Tattoo" - 3:52
  2. "Tattoo" (Jason Nevins Extended Remix) - 7:10
Australia and New Zealand digital EP[9][10]
  1. "Tattoo" - 3:52
  2. "Tattoo" (Jason Nevins Extended Remix) - 7:10
  3. "Tattoo" (Future Presidents Remix) - 5:03

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (2007-08) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[22] 5
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)[29] 45
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 3
Europe (European Hot 100)[19] 28
Germany (Media Control AG)[30] 19
Ireland (IRMA)[31] 48
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[32] 66
New Zealand (RIANZ)[25] 12
Romania (Romanian Top 100) 21
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[33] 25
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 26
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[24] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[19] 8
US Pop Songs (Billboard)[19] 5
US Adult Pop Songs (Billboard)[19] 12
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[19] 7

Year-end charts

Chart (2008) Position
Australian Singles Chart[35] 36
Canadian Hot 100[36] 27
UK Singles Chart[37] 112
US Billboard Hot 100[38] 30

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[39] Platinum 70,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[40] Platinum 40,000^
United States (RIAA)[41] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Radio add-dates

Region Date Format
United States[5] September 25, 2007 Mainstream

Purchasable release

Region Date Format Label
United States[6] August 27, 2007 Digital download Jive Records
Australia[7] Sony Music Entertainment
New Zealand[8]
Australia[9] March 8, 2008 Digital EP
New Zealand[10]
Canada[42] March 25, 2008 Maxi single
United Kingdom[11] October 13, 2008 Digital re-release
Germany[43][44] October 17, 2008 Digital download, CD single

References

  1. ↑ "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo Video". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  2. ↑ "Jordin Sparks hopes to live up to 'Idol' title". Today. msnbc.com. 2007-08-23.
  3. ↑ Levine, Nick (2008-02-15). "Interview - Jordin Sparks". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  4. ↑ Saldaña, Hector (2007-07-16). "'American Idol' singers get ready for performance". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  5. 1 2 "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Abitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  6. 1 2 3 "Tattoo - Jordin Sparks - United States". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  7. 1 2 "Tattoo - Single - Australia". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  8. 1 2 "Tattoo - Single - New Zealand". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  9. 1 2 3 "Tattoo - EP - Australia". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  10. 1 2 3 "Tattoo - EP - New Zealand". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  11. 1 2 "Tattoo: Jordin Sparks". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  12. 1 2 Levine, Nick (2008-10-20). "Music - Singles Review - Jordin Sparks: 'Tattoo'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  13. 1 2 "New Video: Jordin Sparks, 'Tattoo' (Version 2)". MTV Buzzworthy. MTV Networks. 2008-09-30. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  14. ↑ Wolfe, Daniel. "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". About.com. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  15. ↑ Slezak, Michael (2007-08-24). "Snap judgment: Jordin Sparks' 'Tattoo'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  16. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (2007-11-26). "New CDs". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  17. ↑ "Jordin Sparks - 'Tattoo'". Popjustice. Popjustice Ltd. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  18. ↑ "Hot 100 - Week of October 13, 2007". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Tattoo - Jordin Sparks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  20. ↑ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - Jordin Sparks". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  21. ↑ "'Idol' track sales: Adam Lambert, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood". USA Today. 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  22. 1 2 "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  23. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2008 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  24. 1 2 "Chart Stats - Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". Chart Stats. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  25. 1 2 "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  26. ↑ "Tattoo | Jordin Sparks". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  27. ↑ "'Tattoo' Video Premiere on Yahoo! Music". Jordin Sparks Official Site. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  28. ↑ "Tattoo (Version 2) | Jordin Sparks". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  29. ↑ "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  30. ↑ "Chartverfolgung / Jordin Sparks / Single" (in German). musicline.de PhonoNet. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  31. ↑ "Discography Jordin Sparks". irishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  32. ↑ "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  33. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200852 into search.
  34. ↑ "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  35. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  36. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 Year-End 2008". Retrieved 2012-05-22.
  37. ↑ "2008 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). UK Chart Plus. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  38. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100 Year-End 2008". Retrieved 2012-05-22.
  39. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  40. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Jordin Sparks – Tattoo". Music Canada.
  41. ↑ "American single certifications – Jordin Sparks – Tattoo". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 25, 2010. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  42. ↑ "Tattoo (Maxi Single): Jordin Sparks". Amazon.ca. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  43. ↑ "Tattoo: Jordin Sparks". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  44. ↑ "Tattoo/Basic: Jordin Sparks". Amazon.de. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
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