Unwritten

by Natasha Bedingfield

Overview

In September 2004 Natasha Bedingfield debuted smashingly in the United Kingdom. Her first record, Unwritten, went to number one almost immediately and the glowing response established her as an instant pop star. Her ascent mirrored the sudden popularity of brother Daniel Bedingfield in 2001, when his bedroom production "Gotta Get Through This" rocketed similarly up the charts. For Natasha, it's "Single" and the near-perfect "These Words (I Love You, I Love You)" -- tracks that merge the rhythms and flavors of hip-hop and R&B with unique melodies and Bedingfield's vocal confidence -- "Single," for example, suggests Kelly Clarkson's 2003 single "Miss Independent." Bedingfield co-writes all but one song on Unwritten, working with songwriters like Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams), Andrew Frampton (S Club 7), and Danielle Brisebois. And she stays remarkably poised throughout, selling some of the album's weaker arrangements with the dusky grain at the top end of her vocal. "Silent Movie" and "Piece of Me" make moves typical of pop in the 21st century -- the former actually sounds like a Williams song, while the latter tries to energize its chorus with blaring guitars. But it's Bedingfield who does the energizing, intersecting Pink's knowing swagger with the confessional exuberance of youth (typified in the blurted "I love you I love you/I love you I love you!"'s of "These Words"). Even when Unwritten emulates the trends, its tendency to play out like a personal diary put to beats and keys saves it from the soundalike pile. The bubblingly positive title track is another highlight -- "Drench yourself in words unspoken! Live your life with arms wide open! Today is where your book begins!" -- as is the soulful hip-hop of "Drop Me in the Middle," which features London MC Estelle. "I Bruise Easily" is the late-album standout, a ballad that's as epically romantic as you'd expect (keening strings, Bedingfield's voice breaking on the line "Be gentle..."), but it doesn't get out of hand, retaining the tact that the majority of Unwritten has. It's a well-made pop album for the new millennium with star quality at its center. [The U.S. edition of Unwritten added "Stumble" and the quirky "Size Matters," as well as Estelle's appearance on "Middle."] ~ Johnny Loftus

Product Details

Release Date:	09/06/2024
Label:	Sony Legacy
UPC:	0196588377518
Rank:	116310

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Natasha Bedingfield   Primary Artist,Vocals,Lead Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Estelle   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Rap,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Bizarre   Primary Artist,Rap,Vocals
Greg Wells   Guitar,Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar (Bass)
Andrew Duckles   Viola
Ryan Collins   Vocals (Background)
Tim Pierce   Guitar
Josefina Vergara   Violin
Paul Stanborough   Guitar
Guy Chambers   Guitar,Keyboards,Multi Instruments
Larry Corbett   Cello
Keith Crouch   Organ (Hammond)
Nick Ingman   Conductor,String Conductor
Andrew Frampton   Bass,Guitar,Keyboards
Jessica Collins   Vocals (Background)
Jessi Collins   Vocals (Background)
Joey Waronker   Drums
Wayne Wilkins   Keyboards,Piano
Keith Andes   Keyboards
Danielle Brisebois   Vocals (Background)
Dave Catlin-Birch   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Gavyn Wright   String Conductor
Patrick Leonard   Keyboards
Paul Gordon   Keyboards
Paul Herman   Guitar
David Low   Cello
Suzie Katayama   Strings
Simon Hill   Drums
Nick Lashley   Guitar,Keyboards
Tony Hodson   Guitar
Michele Richards   Violin
Nikola Bedingfield   Vocals (Background)
J. Curtis   Guitar
Chris Brown   Bass,Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Wayne Rodrigues   Keyboards,Turntables
Justin Clayton   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Gavin Wright   Lead
Nick Ingram   Conductor
Dave Cattin-Birch   Bass

Technical Credits

Wayne Wilkins   Audio Production,Programming,Vocal Arrangement,String Arrangements,Additional Production,Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Andrew Frampton   Audio Production,Mixing,Composer,Producer,Programming,Vocal Arrangement,String Arrangements,Additional Production
Steve Kipner   Audio Production,Producer,Vocal Arrangement,Additional Production,Composer
Greg Wells   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Programming
Kieron Menzies   Engineer
Natasha Bedingfield   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Rob Kinelski   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Chris Steffen   Engineer
David Channing   Digital Editing
Manny Marroquin   Mixing
Paul Stanborough   Assistant Engineer
Guy Chambers   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Nick Ingman   String Arrangements
Joe Chiccarelli   Engineer
Paul "P-Dub" Walton   String Engineer
Steve MacMillan   Engineer
Michael Tafaro   Producer,Vocal Arrangement,Original Recording Producer,Composer
W. Wilkins   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Estelle Swaray   Composer
Herb Powers   Mastering
David Treahearn   Assistant,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Joe Lobato   Assistant Engineer
W. Rodrigues   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Andrew Southam   Photography
Steve Mustarde   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Ian Cuttler   Design,Art Direction
Keith Naftaly   A&R
Sam Miller   Assistant,Assistant,Mixing Assistant
John Hill   Mixing,Producer,Additional Production,Mixing,Additional Production
Ryan Freeland   Engineer
Mark "Spike" Stent   Mixing
Wayne Rodrigues   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Pro-Tools,Digital Editing,Drum Programming,Vocal Arrangement
Richard Flack   Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming
Kara DioGuardi   Composer
Jared Robbins   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Brian Malouf   Mixing
Danielle Brisebois   Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Patrick Leonard   Composer,Producer,Programming
Paul Herman   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Shelly Peiken   Composer
James Cruz   Mastering
Paul Walton   String Engineer
Suzie Katayama   Contractor,String Contractor
Chris Brann   Remixing,Additional Production
Lee Groves   Remix Programmer,Mixing Programmer
Nick Lashley   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Glenn Pittman   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Michael Perfitt   Engineer,Digital Editing
Rob Haggett   Assistant,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Nathan Winkler   Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement,Original Recording Producer
W. Amar "The Wizard" Wilkins   Composer
Owen Skinner   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Michelle Holme   Design,Art Direction
Peter Wade Keusch   Mixing,Producer,Additional Production
Gavin Wright   Leader
A. Frampton   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
P. Herman   Composer
Nick Ingram   String Arrangements