Following her string of sold out comeback dates last year, 90s pop princess Louise confirmed on her website on Friday that she has signed a new record deal with Warner Music, and is releasing her first full studio album since 'Elbow Beach' in 2000 later this year: http://louiseredknappofficial.co.uk/louise-signs-worldwide-record-deal-with-warner-music-uk/
They've also been reissuing all her old singles on Spotify and Apple Music in the last few weeks - all the 'Naked' and 'Woman In Me' era singles are available for streaming now.
First Emma Bunton, then Louise having new material. It's quite exciting having grown up listening to and buying her singles to get some new stuff having long presumed that she'd called time on it all! Be interesting to see what style she comes back with.
Just whilst we're here as well: '2 Faced', 'Arms Around The World', 'Beautiful Inside' and 'In Walked Love' were all great songs.
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Feb 17 2019, 07:19 PM
I can see her album going top 10 but after that in not sure.
Posted by: Bjork Feb 17 2019, 07:29 PM
my favourite of hers was Undivided Love what did she do for the last 20 years?
Posted by: ThePensmith Feb 17 2019, 08:12 PM
QUOTE(Bjork @ Feb 17 2019, 07:29 PM)
my favourite of hers was Undivided Love what did she do for the last 20 years?
Well her greatest hits 'Changing Faces' came out in 2001. She released her single 'Pandora's Kiss' in 2003 and that went top 5, but she fell pregnant with her first son not long after - and it was quite well documented she had a lot of difficulty starting a family - so she stepped away from music and focussed on TV presenting and being a mum. She returned to the stage first and then music after she did Strictly in 2016!
Posted by: dannjohn Feb 17 2019, 10:35 PM
Is there even a want for this?
Posted by: Spiceboy Feb 17 2019, 10:37 PM
Stuck in the middle (although a cover) is my fave Louise song, bloody love that one! My friend was convinced it was a Victoria Beckham song for some reason lol.
Posted by: ThePensmith Feb 17 2019, 11:14 PM
QUOTE(dannjohn @ Feb 17 2019, 10:35 PM)
Is there even a want for this?
We've two weeks removed from Claire Richards having had a top 10 solo album. Not to do the former Ms. Redknapp down but you'd be surprised given the low sales climate!
Posted by: ThePensmith Feb 17 2019, 11:14 PM
QUOTE(Spiceboy @ Feb 17 2019, 10:37 PM)
Stuck in the middle (although a cover) is my fave Louise song, bloody love that one! My friend was convinced it was a Victoria Beckham song for some reason lol.
Oh me too! I always get an internal eye roll from 'REAL MUSIC YAH' bores when I say I love her cover but it's aces. Cool video too!
Posted by: ___∆___ Feb 17 2019, 11:20 PM
Not sure even who her market would be in 2019?!
Posted by: diamondtooth Feb 18 2019, 10:10 AM
Well I was a huge Eternal and Louise fan and I still listen to their music lots on Spotify. If her shows sold out last year there must be some demand for her. I think she still has a certain celebrity power. At least enough to get a top 20 album given the low sales climate. Looking forward to hear what she comes back with. She has my support anyway!
Posted by: Jordan Lee Feb 18 2019, 08:37 PM
Probably do about as well as Alexandra Burke’s third album did or Claire from Steps.
But it’s about 12 years too late.
Posted by: ___∆___ Feb 18 2019, 08:48 PM
QUOTE(Jordan Lee @ Feb 18 2019, 08:37 PM)
Probably do about as well as Alexandra Burke’s third album did or Claire from Steps.
But it’s about 12 years too late.
Claire was helped by the Steps comeback - I think this will do a Alexandra Burke or Martine McCutcheon. Fair play to her for getting signed to a major in 2019 though, they were probably banking on the fact she would be riding high with the 9 to 5 show when negotiations started.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 18 2019, 09:12 PM
Louise was one of the first popstars I ever got into! I'm happy she's coming back, really looking forward to the album. It's crazy to think it's been 19 years since her last album! This news has got me listening to her music again, I hadn't really listened much for the past few years.
It's interesting that her singles back catalogue is being made available digitally. There's probably such a niche number of people who'll be listening to Louise B Sides and Remixes, but I'm glad they're going to the effort anyway! I wish more of my faves from pre-digital era had all their stuff available. It's the first time I've heard these B Sides - enjoyed Keep the Lovin In and Better Next Time.
Light of My Life (8th Feb), In Walked Love (11th Feb), Naked (14th Feb) and Undivided Love (18th Feb) have been added to Spotify so far. I hope they have the rights to add Pandora's Kiss!
Posted by: SamJudd Feb 23 2019, 10:47 PM
This sounds interesting, but think she's left it way too long and late to make any impact chartwise in this era, the album could do okay, top 20 or even top 10 if lucky. I used to love her back in the day and still own her 2nd album 'Woman In Me', which was brilliant and packed with so many gems ('Arms Around The World', 'I Pray', 'Shut Up And Kiss Me', 'Reminds Me Of You', 'Running Back For More' & the title track) which along with 'Shut Up and Kiss Me' should have been singles and such a shame the album only had 3 singles as there was at least 5 or 6 potential tracks on there.
'Naked' was and still my favourite single by her and in fact I love most of her singles. Remember being gutted when she quit her music career and was looking forward to her next album, the lead 'Pandora's Kiss' was fantastic and a very interesting new direction for her and the planned follow up 'Bounce Back' was also great and would have definitely done well back in early 2004...shame it got cancelled along with the album, which was rumoured to be titled 'Lil' Lou' (some of which have leaked online), and interesting enough it would have included her first collaboration 'Don't Ever Change' with American boy band 3rd Wish. The others that leaked were 'Slam' (another potential hit, and could have followed 'BB'), 'Download', 'Lil' Lou', 'What's Gonna Go Down', 'Too Late', 'Let Go' & 'Don't Give Up' (double a-side with 'PK'). These sound really good and showed a definite progression and mature direction for her to take, and back in 2004 I reckon this album could have done well and kept her pop career going for a couple of more years.
Her 3rd album 'Elbow Beach' was also fantastic, the 2 singles '2 Faced' & 'Beautiful Inside' were amazing and the latter deserved better than its mere #13 peak and because of this no more songs were released, 'For Your Eyes Only' was planned as the next release and was remixed with Chic's 'Le Freak' for its release but was scrapped at the last minute, which was such a shame as this could have easily been another hit and turn things around for the album.
Also just for fun I've posted clips of 'Bounce Back' & 'Slam'. 2 lost potential hits in my opinion, what do you guys think...
Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 20 2019, 01:01 PM
All of Louise’s old singles are now available digitally/to stream, including Pandora’s Kiss / Don’t Give Up for the first time ever! Unfortunately it is currently showing up on a different Louise’s page, rather than her own - hopefully that’s fixed soon.
Unlike the previous singles which have been released by Parlophone/Warner, Pandora’s Kiss is released under “Lil Lou Records” which suggests that Louise now has the rights for those two songs. It also has brand new artwork!
Posted by: diamondtooth Mar 21 2019, 11:54 AM
Oh that's nice. I always like Pandoras Kiss. I have added it to some of my Spotify playlists now :-)
Posted by: ThePensmith Mar 25 2019, 08:10 AM
New album is called 'Heavy Love', out 18th October. First single is called 'Stretch' and gets its first play shortly on Radio 2 with Zoe Ball:
Why the hell is she waiting to release this in October?
Either they're confident she has a cross-over smash on her hands or they're being stupid. She'd be better off releasing it in June/July when sales are low...
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Mar 25 2019, 10:52 AM
Crikey. That'll be almost two years since I saw her at the comeback gig in London (Scala), where I was thinking a new album would be with us in a few months at the latest.
Posted by: Spiceboy Mar 25 2019, 11:28 AM
Love the album cover she looks amazing!
Posted by: Neil Mar 25 2019, 11:39 AM
Q4 release? Are her team brave or stupid...
Posted by: diamondtooth Mar 25 2019, 12:22 PM
Wahoo, I can't wait. I really never thought she would release anything again. Think I will pre-order the CD now! Looking forward to hear Stretch too. I have been streaming Pandoras Kiss on Spotify a lot since it was added last week.
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Mar 25 2019, 12:25 PM
This could easily get list in a q4 release unless she has strong promo lined up. I'd say she will get a strictly performance.
Posted by: ThePensmith Mar 25 2019, 12:44 PM
Instinct tells me that they'll either bring it forward for a Q3 release or it'll get pushed back until Q1 in early 2020. One of the two, but it does seem foolhardy to unleash a new album from an artist who's not been active albums wise for at least 18 years in one of the busiest sales periods of the year.
Posted by: Euphorique Mar 25 2019, 01:18 PM
Posted by: tommie Mar 25 2019, 04:42 PM
QUOTE(ThePensmith @ Mar 25 2019, 01:44 PM)
Instinct tells me that they'll either bring it forward for a Q3 release or it'll get pushed back until Q1 in early 2020. One of the two, but it does seem foolhardy to unleash a new album from an artist who's not been active albums wise for at least 18 years in one of the busiest sales periods of the year.
It's not just that she's releasing in Q4, it's that she's releasing at least two singles before the album which seems fairly pointless since she's unlikely to do well on streaming.
The only reason I can see for doing that is if they truly believe they have a chart hit on their hands. Or they're delusional.
Posted by: ___∆___ Mar 25 2019, 05:27 PM
QUOTE(tommie @ Mar 25 2019, 04:42 PM)
It's not just that she's releasing in Q4, it's that she's releasing at least two singles before the album which seems fairly pointless since she's unlikely to do well on streaming.
The only reason I can see for doing that is if they truly believe they have a chart hit on their hands. Or they're delusional.
I think they know they really need to try and embed Louise into the public conscious again as a singer - if they just went with the album it’d be a 16-87-out affair and I guess they at least want to try and make something of it?!
Posted by: Moses Mar 25 2019, 05:32 PM
Perhaps they’re testing strategies and ideas in this now streaming-dominated era. There are still relative unknowns and what they learn from campaigns like this could help market other artists in the future, from areas that haven’t been selling/streaming much.
Posted by: tommie Mar 25 2019, 05:33 PM
Maybe, but I could easily see that strategy backfiring - all initial curiosity about her comeback will be gone by single two and the album won't be able to take advantage of that. I don't see the album selling well regardless...
Posted by: tommie Mar 25 2019, 05:34 PM
QUOTE(Moses @ Mar 25 2019, 06:32 PM)
Perhaps they’re testing strategies and ideas in this now streaming-dominated era. There are still relative unknowns and what they learn from campaigns like this could help market other artists in the future, from areas that haven’t been selling/streaming much.
True, they might see her as a low-risk artist to try new strategies on since I doubt the album was expensive to make.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 25 2019, 07:18 PM
7 months of pre-orders !
I like the artwork and that she's using her logo from Elbow Beach!
When it's released, it'll have been 19 years and 3 months since her last studio album Elbow Beach. I wonder how many pop artists have had longer gaps between studio albums?
I was thinking to myself earlier that it's been so long since she released an album, that Elbow Beach was released at a time when cassettes were a completely standard format, and now Heavy Love will be released on cassette when it's considered as being a retro format lol.
Intrigued to hear the new single. Official Charts describes it as a cross between Little Mix's Strip and Cheryl's Love Made Me Do It.
QUOTE
Louise has worked with some big names on the record, including Eg White (Adele, Dua Lipa, Sam Smith), Clean Bandit and rising singer-songwriter Raye - an artist in her own right plus songwriter for John Legend and Little Mix.
"Making this album has been a real emotional and honest process for me," Louise said. "It’s been 18 years since I went into a recording studio, and with no expectations I’ve come out with a body of work which I am so proud of. I can’t wait for you all to hear it!"
We've had an early listen of Stretch ahead of its release and it picks up neatly where she left her solo career, albeit with a 2019 twist: In terms of sound and musical style, it lands somewhere between Cheryl's Love Made Me Do It and Little Mix's Strip. Sparse beats and a pulsing bass build over the course of the song, eventually boiling over into a slinky and seductive chorus on which she whispers: "I'm gonna make you work out, to work my body... stretch".
Why the hell is she waiting to release this in October?
Either they're confident she has a cross-over smash on her hands or they're being stupid. She'd be better off releasing it in June/July when sales are low...
That'll be a Strictly performance in the bag then.
Posted by: .MIKE. Mar 25 2019, 10:07 PM
To be fair, she’s starring in the west end until June so won’t be all that available for promo until after then.. the other thing is that she’ll gather many many more pre-orders (hopefully) and so there’s maybe more chance of a higher peak because of that?
Posted by: ThePensmith Mar 26 2019, 09:06 AM
Hmmm. Sounds a bit like a Holly Valance cast off c. 2002. Also that single artwork looks awkward as hell.
Posted by: diamondtooth Mar 26 2019, 09:53 AM
Oh I really like this. I tuned in to Radio 2 this morning to hear the first play and I liked the song from very first listen. Its catchy.
Posted by: Euphorique Mar 26 2019, 11:57 AM
Judging by the snippet, sounds exactly like the Louise bop I need
Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 26 2019, 02:13 PM
I’m really liking this on first listen! Slinky & sexy R&B-ish pop, very Louise. *.*
Posted by: Alex! Mar 26 2019, 02:13 PM
This is actually a bit of a BOP.
Posted by: vibe Mar 26 2019, 02:45 PM
I don’t like this at all and can’t see any radio station playing it . Single artwork is horrid .
Posted by: tommie Mar 26 2019, 04:12 PM
YouTube link:
Posted by: Jordan Lee Mar 26 2019, 05:57 PM
I actually like this track.
I can see why OCC described it as being like Little Mix’s Strip.
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Mar 26 2019, 08:34 PM
It's verrrrry 2004 sounding isn't it? Almost like she's picking up where she left off before.
I can't imagine it's something I'll go back to much, but I suppose it's fun. But then, in a way I'm pleasantly surprised because I imagined a Louise comeback after all this time might end up just being a Mother's Day covers album or something.
Posted by: ___∆___ Mar 26 2019, 11:28 PM
Never going to be a hit but it’s unoffensive pop - all the daytime TV will be all over her being in to perform and as has been said she could have easily returned with a musicals cover album!
Posted by: Euphorique Mar 26 2019, 11:54 PM
I'm glad it doesnt sound anything like 2019's pop music. On the other hand, it doesnt sound dated, it sounds quite current too
Posted by: Moses Mar 27 2019, 06:51 AM
The comparisons to "Love Made Me Do It" and "Strip" are bizarre
Actually quite enjoyed this on first listen!
Posted by: diamondtooth Mar 27 2019, 07:30 AM
Keep streaming it people! I love it! Actually I cannot believe in 2019 I am listening to a new Louise single. Who would have thought that when Eternal launched with Stay all those years ago that Louise would still be releasing in 2019. Right now I am on a Spotify binge of all the Eternal and Louise singles.
Posted by: tommie Mar 27 2019, 11:19 AM
QUOTE(Tawdry Hepburn @ Mar 26 2019, 09:34 PM)
I can't imagine it's something I'll go back to much, but I suppose it's fun. But then, in a way I'm pleasantly surprised because I imagined a Louise comeback after all this time might end up just being a Mother's Day covers album or something.
I think most people honestly expected her to just come out with a chintzy Mother's Day album, so I guess this is a nice surprise.
It reminds me of the stuff Dannii Minogue worked on for her follow-up for Neon Nights that ended up on Unleashed.
Posted by: Moses Mar 28 2019, 08:18 PM
I actually really like this, and there I was laughing about the concept of a Louise comeback being any sort of deal
Posted by: Juranamo Mar 29 2019, 08:45 AM
Please don’t tell me I’m the only one who thinks this sounds like Muse’s ‘Madness’?
Posted by: Mikee1981 Mar 29 2019, 09:12 AM
Apparently be 4 singles before the album , all with videos according to twitter and someone who met her and asked... shes also touring the UK... Louise always seemed to release lots of singles before an album
Posted by: Mark. Mar 29 2019, 09:13 AM
Posted by: diamondtooth Mar 29 2019, 01:05 PM
Good video. Louise looks great in it! I think this is the best song of her career!
Posted by: Euphorique Mar 29 2019, 01:49 PM
Damn she still looks so freakin good!
Good video too!
Posted by: vibe Mar 29 2019, 05:37 PM
This has really grown on me .
Posted by: tommie Mar 30 2019, 06:01 AM
QUOTE(Mikee1981 @ Mar 29 2019, 10:12 AM)
Apparently be 4 singles before the album , all with videos according to twitter and someone who met her and asked... shes also touring the UK... Louise always seemed to release lots of singles before an album
That would be a single every 2 months. Interesting strategy considering she'll be lucky to even get a charting single out of this.
Assuming they'll go
Stretch (Late March / April) Single #2 (June) Single #3 (August) Single #4 (October)
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Mar 30 2019, 01:00 PM
Could never really get into her old stuff except 2 Faced but I’m really liking the sound of Stretch!
Posted by: Jack Mar 31 2019, 10:35 AM
This is such a pleasant surprise!! I absolutely love the song and she looks fantastic. I really respect that she hasn't played it safe with boring MOR stuff that would've probably done better for her.
Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 1 2019, 02:34 PM
It's catchy enough, sounds like she has continued from where she left off. I'm not a fan of her wet hair in the video though, it just looks greasy lol.
Posted by: Blond 2.0 Apr 1 2019, 02:57 PM
In love with the song and the video
Posted by: Euphorique Apr 2 2019, 08:09 PM
Obsessed with Stretch
Posted by: Jay ☆ Apr 3 2019, 01:30 AM
Louise’s Heavy Love March 2020 tour presale starts at 10am!
https://louise.tmstor.es/?page=splash2&splash=5c9cbf5d28d48 (To get the code) https://myticket.seetickets.com/tour/louise?pre=louiseartpre&offercode=louiseartist&direct=true&src=louiseartist
I’ll bide my time and see if I feel like getting a ticket nearer the time / after I’ve heard the album, but I hope she sells well!
Posted by: diamondtooth Apr 3 2019, 11:05 AM
I pre-ordered the album yesterday! Looking forward to the next singles in the meantime. I just ordered the deluxe CD. Don't need the cassette or vinyl versions. Would be nice if Stretch got some more exposure through playlists or a TV performance some time soon.
Posted by: Simon. Apr 3 2019, 06:29 PM
It reminds me of Hands To Myself by Selena Gomez
Posted by: ___∆___ Apr 3 2019, 08:28 PM
QUOTE(diamondtooth @ Apr 3 2019, 11:05 AM)
I pre-ordered the album yesterday! Looking forward to the next singles in the meantime. I just ordered the deluxe CD. Don't need the cassette or vinyl versions. Would be nice if Stretch got some more exposure through playlists or a TV performance some time soon.
Yep I know they are clearly in this campaign for the long haul and she’s busy with 9 to 5 etc., but she should be all over daytime TV etc., with this, she totally needs to re-establish herself as a singer again.
I know ‘Pandora’s Kiss’ went Top 5 but I’m guessing most people wouldn’t remember that so her last proper/big hit was in 2001 so she has a lot of work to do to sell this album.
Posted by: Jordan Lee Apr 4 2019, 01:37 AM
QUOTE(Simon. @ Apr 3 2019, 07:29 PM)
It reminds me of Hands To Myself by Selena Gomez
I didn’t think of that at the time but it definitely sounds similar now you’ve mentioned it.
Posted by: tommie Apr 4 2019, 06:26 AM
B-listed on Capital Radio 2.
Posted by: diamondtooth Apr 4 2019, 10:40 AM
QUOTE(tommie @ Apr 4 2019, 06:26 AM)
B-listed on Capital Radio 2.
Oh that's good news! Glad it will get some more exposure there!
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Apr 12 2019, 10:14 AM
Stretch has become my favourite pop song so far this year.
Posted by: ThePensmith Apr 12 2019, 08:13 PM
I saw Kelle Bryan - her old Eternal bandmate who's now in Hollyoaks - on Loose Women today saying she texted her to say she loves the single. That's sweet they're still friends even after all these years!
Posted by: tommie Apr 12 2019, 08:44 PM
QUOTE(ThePensmith @ Apr 12 2019, 08:13 PM)
I saw Kelle Bryan - her old Eternal bandmate who's now in Hollyoaks - on Loose Women today saying she texted her to say she loves the single. That's sweet they're still friends even after all these years!
I'm sure they can connect about how much they hate Vernie and Easther.
Posted by: vibe Apr 12 2019, 10:01 PM
Kelle is in Hollyoaks , is she good ?
Posted by: ___∆___ Apr 13 2019, 10:44 PM
Actually can’t stop listening to Stretch atm - she needs to do something/anything to promote it though
Posted by: Moses Apr 13 2019, 11:13 PM
Louise is not getting a hit in 2019 no matter what she does, let's be realistic
Am pretty obsessed with "Stretch" at the moment, I do actually really like it
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Apr 14 2019, 12:23 AM
Such a good pop song
Posted by: ___∆___ Apr 14 2019, 08:57 AM
QUOTE(Moses @ Apr 14 2019, 12:13 AM)
Louise is not getting a hit in 2019 no matter what she does, let's be realistic
Am pretty obsessed with "Stretch" at the moment, I do actually really like it
Of course she won’t get a hit but she needs to promote to let the GP know she’s back making music if she wants to sell the album
Posted by: bluesunstorm Apr 14 2019, 06:32 PM
QUOTE(Jordan Lee @ Apr 3 2019, 06:37 PM)
I didn’t think of that at the time but it definitely sounds similar now you’ve mentioned it.
That's what I thought to, but "Stretch" is even poppier.
Posted by: ___∆___ Apr 25 2019, 11:03 PM
Initial Talk Remix out now of ‘Stretch’ and it’s a BOP
Posted by: diamondtooth Apr 26 2019, 09:44 AM
Yes I like the Initial Talk remix! Hopefully it brings some new attention and fans on board!
Posted by: tommie Apr 26 2019, 03:19 PM
Posted by: Spiceboy Apr 26 2019, 04:34 PM
I love the Initial Talk Remix, much prefer it to the original version!
Posted by: Prettylittlebry May 16 2019, 02:30 PM
iTunes shows a track called Small Talk. This will be released Friday I’m assuming? 3:03 in length
Posted by: tommie May 16 2019, 04:47 PM
QUOTE(Prettylittlebry @ May 16 2019, 02:30 PM)
iTunes shows a track called Small Talk. This will be released Friday I’m assuming? 3:03 in length
Guess it's the next single.
Posted by: Prettylittlebry May 23 2019, 11:03 PM
Small Talk is out now! Nice little bop
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn May 25 2019, 09:48 AM
It sounds a lot more modern/current than 'Stretch'.
Posted by: Euphorique Jun 15 2019, 11:49 AM
Small Talk is another great song. 2/2 so far
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Jun 25 2019, 11:12 AM
Track no.2 is called Lead Me On
Assuming this will be the next single
Posted by: ___∆___ Jun 26 2019, 12:50 PM
I really like the songs so far but I’m still struggling to see who Louise’s fan base is in 2019? I hope the album does well but it really feels like it’s going to be an 18-out event?
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Jun 26 2019, 01:00 PM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jun 26 2019, 01:50 PM)
I really like the songs so far but I’m still struggling to see who Louise’s fan base is in 2019? I hope the album does well but it really feels like it’s going to be an 18-out event?
I don't think anyone's realistically expecting more than that, to be honest.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jun 26 2019, 01:14 PM
I would assume her fan base (in terms of music) is predominantly gay men who were old enough to remember her at any point between 1993 to 2003! Having said that there's a few members on Popjustice forum who are definitely too young to remember her the first time around who really loved Stretch.
I don't really have any expectations for her album in the commercial sense. She has a lot of physical formats (including a signed CD) & 7 months of pre-order, which could build up a few thousand perhaps. In October she'll probably need to do 4k to get Top 20.
I'm just looking forward to more music, both Stretch & Small Talk are fantastic
Posted by: ___∆___ Jun 26 2019, 02:11 PM
QUOTE(Tawdry Hepburn @ Jun 26 2019, 02:00 PM)
I don't think anyone's realistically expecting more than that, to be honest.
Maybe - just seems like a huge effort from her label (Mutiple formats, promo videos etc.,) for minimal return? Makes me think they are wanting/expecting more from this?
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Jun 26 2019, 04:45 PM
Well, I’m a new fan so there’s 1 sale 😂
Posted by: diamondtooth Jun 26 2019, 07:10 PM
I have ordered the album too and I can't wait for it! I just cannot believe that after all this time we will have a Louise album in 2019! But I do also wonder what they are expecting from this. How can she expect much return if she has not done much to promote Stretch or Small Talk. Has she performed anywhere on TV? In my mind they are waiting to make some sort of impression with the Clean Bandit song. I think I saw on Twitter recently that she was in Portugal for a new music video.
Posted by: tommie Jun 26 2019, 10:54 PM
QUOTE(diamondtooth @ Jun 26 2019, 07:10 PM)
In my mind they are waiting to make some sort of impression with the Clean Bandit song. I think I saw on Twitter recently that she was in Portugal for a new music video.
Are you confusing Louise with Louisa?
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jun 27 2019, 12:05 AM
Louise has actually worked with Clean Bandit!
QUOTE
Louise announces her first new music in 16 years, a brand new album 'Heavy Love' released via ADA/Warners on 18th October 2019. Recorded in Sweden, London and LA, 'Heavy Love' is Louise's first album in 18 years. She has worked on the album with a sensational collection of music luminaries including Clean Bandit, RAYE, Eg White, Sinead Harnett and Karen Poole.
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Jul 2 2019, 04:05 PM
Lead Me On is the Clean Bandit collab and is out on Thursday.
Posted by: Cqmerqn Jul 2 2019, 05:42 PM
OMG it’ll flop even more than Mama
Posted by: Jack Jul 2 2019, 09:22 PM
'Stretch' was a bop so I'm here for it!
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Jul 3 2019, 09:14 PM
I'm guessing it's her single produced by them, rather than a Clean Bandit single featuring her?
Posted by: vibe Jul 4 2019, 05:57 AM
Clean bandit are not attaching their name to it it seems .
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Jul 4 2019, 10:27 AM
Quite like the new track, very summery!
Posted by: ___∆___ Jul 4 2019, 10:57 AM
I really like it - just a shame CB are not being associated with it though, obviously happy to give her a track but not to have her as a feature
Posted by: Medellíam Jul 4 2019, 03:40 PM
Whoever her photographer and stylist are need to be sacked. The artwork has been horrendous.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jul 4 2019, 06:59 PM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jul 4 2019, 11:57 AM)
I really like it - just a shame CB are not being associated with it though, obviously happy to give her a track but not to have her as a feature
I really doubt it's deliberate shade, after all Clean Bandit's name is still being thrown around in association with the song anyway, in all the articles/promotion. At the end of the day it's a song for Louise's comeback album, it's not her providing vocals for a Clean Bandit single (I doubt they're ready to start a new era yet).
Posted by: Cqmerqn Jul 4 2019, 07:11 PM
Not a fan
Posted by: vibe Jul 4 2019, 07:57 PM
I quite like it
Posted by: tommie Jul 5 2019, 06:02 PM
Burn up my eyes and tell me lies
This is a bop for us older than 30.
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Jul 5 2019, 06:26 PM
I've listened to this twice and it kind of just washes over me.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jul 5 2019, 07:00 PM
I really like it! It's very summery/breezy & the "Oh - I wanna know - what makes you feel that you're allowed to treat me so unkindly" melody is very catchy!
Posted by: Jordan Lee Jul 5 2019, 07:17 PM
i so wish the track was labelled as Clean Bandit feat Louise as it could actually chart to be fair had that been the case.
Posted by: Monzo Jul 6 2019, 05:33 PM
I'm sad that comeback singles 2 & 3 only peaked at 100-something at iTunes. That worries me for her whole album.
Louise's comeback makes me listen to her music again. I got all albums, enjoyed many singles, but there's one song I loved through the years: "Don't Be Shy". Does anybody remember this track from her second album?
Posted by: ___∆___ Jul 7 2019, 01:42 PM
QUOTE(Monzo @ Jul 6 2019, 06:33 PM)
I'm sad that comeback singles 2 & 3 only peaked at 100-something at iTunes. That worries me for her whole album.
This is what I’ve said all along - I’m not sure who Louise’s market is in 2019? She doesn’t seem to have a huge gay following, the GP have mostly long forgotten her music career.
By the time the album arrives in October we could have had 4/5 singles released from it!
Posted by: diamondtooth Jul 7 2019, 02:25 PM
But I think from the beginning it has always been the plan to release 4-5 singles before the album. I just want to see some promotion from her! Some live tv performances or something! But what are the promotion opportunists for some like Louise in 2019? Appear on Loose Women, do album signings (but Will Young for example cancelled his), some Radio 2 support...
Posted by: Monzo Jul 7 2019, 04:48 PM
Whoever greenlighted a whole Louise album most have a lot of faith or is just a big fan. I'm thankful to that person because it's really nice getting new Louise music. Anyway, I hope that person won't lose his / her job if Louise albums flops.
Posted by: lewistgreen Jul 7 2019, 05:55 PM
Lead Me On is fabulous
Posted by: Jack Jul 7 2019, 08:09 PM
'Stretch' was a one off imo, this and 'Small Talk' are both .... not it. This gives me second hand cringe.
Posted by: dannjohn Jul 8 2019, 04:47 AM
QUOTE(Monzo @ Jul 7 2019, 05:48 PM)
Whoever greenlighted a whole Louise album most have a lot of faith or is just a big fan. I'm thankful to that person because it's really nice getting new Louise music. Anyway, I hope that person won't lose his / her job if Louise albums flops.
You got it in one
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jul 8 2019, 07:03 AM
I'm really enjoying Louise's comeback! I'm still pleasantly surprised that she's put effort in and recorded new material, rather than phoning it in with a covers album (which would possibly have been a safer & cheaper route to take). I'd consider her 3 songs released so far to be up there with her best 90s/00s hits... just really good, straightforward pop. I'd even say that she's improved as a vocalist in comparison to her heyday!
I'm not particularly concerned about how the album will perform commercially. I'm really just here to enjoy her comeback for however long it lasts... I'm already fully prepared for this to be a one-off moment anyway!
I hope there'll be an opportunity for her to perform at some point. I hope it's the case that promotion is being saved for nearer the album release. Does Strictly It Takes Two ever have performers? If so, I could see her doing that show. Hopefully This Morning and Loose Women too.
How I'd rank the songs so far:
1. Stretch 2. Small Talk 3. Lead Me On
The only aspect of this comeback I'm not loving is her artwork... I struggle to believe the pictures used so far are really the very best they had. That's really just a minor niggle though.
Posted by: tommie Jul 17 2019, 07:19 PM
Lead Me On is now A-listed on Radio 2!
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Jul 18 2019, 08:42 AM
I kind of don't understand why this is still 3 months away.
Posted by: tommie Jul 18 2019, 08:48 AM
QUOTE(Tawdry Hepburn @ Jul 18 2019, 08:42 AM)
I kind of don't understand why this is still 3 months away.
According to someone who claims they spoke to Louise they are going to release 4-5 singles before the album. I assume Lead Me On is counted as single #3 (Small Talk being a "buzz" release).
I think they're kind of using her and Westlife as experiments with how to handle single releases with older type of acts that doesn't do strongly in streaming.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jul 19 2019, 07:34 PM
She has promo coming up next week on Sunday Brunch and Build - to be honest neither will help the single, they should just get the album out and hit every promo slot available.
Posted by: Jordan Lee Jul 19 2019, 07:45 PM
She posted a photo of herself with the Vinyl today.
Crazy how it’s not out. With the previous post about Westlife they had a huge fanbase and there was more of a want for a comeback for them.
With Louise she’s more niche market maybes? Like Westlife appeal to mums which is a huge market for Q4 Louise won’t appeal to that market.
It would’ve been better to release at a time like this when sales are lower as a top ten position on paper would look great. By the time the albums out it’s sales will probably see it chart at like #20 something.
Is the pre order doing well?
Posted by: lewistgreen Jul 20 2019, 10:02 AM
QUOTE(Jordan Lee @ Jul 19 2019, 08:45 PM)
Is the pre order doing well?
#31 on iTunes pre-order chart
Posted by: diamondtooth Jul 21 2019, 08:18 AM
Maybe this is a stupid question but are the streams for Stretch, Small Talk and Lead Me On counted towards the albums first week sales when it is released in October? Ok her streams are small but every little helps!
Posted by: lewistgreen Jul 21 2019, 08:29 AM
QUOTE(diamondtooth @ Jul 21 2019, 09:18 AM)
Maybe this is a stupid question but are the streams for Stretch, Small Talk and Lead Me On counted towards the albums first week sales when it is released in October? Ok her streams are small but every little helps!
They are not counted.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jul 21 2019, 06:11 PM
She performed 2 songs live on R2 today - all this promo feels like a bit of a waste tbh? I don’t think it’s helping to build awareness that Louise is back nor is it helping her single.
Posted by: tommie Jul 21 2019, 06:39 PM
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jul 23 2019, 11:03 AM
Promo schedule! Glad that we're getting TV performances!
Posted by: tommie Jul 23 2019, 11:04 AM
Good to see that they're pushing this after not doing anything for Stretch really. Maybe they're hopeful this'll somehow cross over into the mainstream, but at least it should help with pre-orders.
Posted by: tommie Jul 26 2019, 09:06 PM
Live performance on The One Show:
Posted by: kye Jul 27 2019, 11:34 AM
i’m really liking this song but that performance was so lifeless.. why didn’t she sing most of the chorus?! the backing vocals were so low that it lost any momentum at the biggest point of the song. i guess she was nervous!
Posted by: ___∆___ Jul 27 2019, 12:03 PM
Has this responded to the performance? I couldn’t see it on a quick iTunes scroll?
Posted by: tommie Jul 27 2019, 12:04 PM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jul 27 2019, 12:03 PM)
Has this responded to the performance? I couldn’t see it on a quick iTunes scroll?
There is a version in the 200s and a version in the 400s last I checked.
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Jul 31 2019, 06:58 PM
She has a song called Wonder Woman on the album that JoJo wrote and recorded a little while back!
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Aug 2 2019, 09:31 AM
Tracklist for standard:
1. Stretch 2. Lead Me On 3. Breaking Back Together 4. Not The Same 5. Small Talk 6. Hurt 7. Hammer 8. Just A Minute 9. Wonder Woman 10. Hands on the Sink 11. Straight to my Heart 12. Wrong
Deluxe tracks being revealed at a later date.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Aug 2 2019, 08:47 PM
Deluxe now revealed!
1. Stretch 2. Lead Me On 3. Breaking Back Together 4. Not The Same 5. Small Talk 6. Hurt 7. Hammer 8. Just A Minute 9. Wonder Woman 10. Hands on the Sink 11. Give You Up 12. Straight to my Heart 13. Villain 14. Settle for Nothing 15. Wrong
Posted by: lewistgreen Aug 4 2019, 10:30 AM
Today’s performance on The Sara Cox Show
Posted by: Lukuzz Aug 4 2019, 10:40 AM
She also did Let's Go Round Again
Posted by: Andrew. Aug 4 2019, 04:33 PM
Who knew Louise Redknapp was coming to save pop music in 2019 *.*
Posted by: ___∆___ Aug 5 2019, 09:50 PM
QUOTE(lewistgreen @ Aug 4 2019, 11:30 AM)
Today’s performance on The Sara Cox Show
This has really grown on me - shame it’s doing nothing on iTunes, hopefully people are seeking out the album pre-order instead?
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Aug 29 2019, 04:24 PM
Breaking Back Together is the next song to be released and is 3:08 long
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Sep 4 2019, 07:06 AM
Album has been pushed back to January 17th
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Sep 4 2019, 08:14 AM
Oh Lorde.
I feel like I'm one of the few people who's keeping up with this, and even I've pretty much lost interest.
Posted by: Lukuzz Sep 4 2019, 08:28 AM
What a mess
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Sep 4 2019, 10:17 AM
Seems similar to what happened with Claire Richards’ album
Posted by: tommie Sep 4 2019, 10:45 AM
QUOTE(Prettylittlebry @ Sep 4 2019, 07:06 AM)
Album has been pushed back to January 17th
It wasn't ever a good idea to release a Louise album in Q4 and my assumption was that they either must've had a lot of confidence in the material OR just didn't care where it ended up peaking, but considering the length of the promo you'd have to wonder why they didn't just release it in August? It's not like she's suddenly going to score a hit single
Posted by: Jordan Lee Sep 4 2019, 02:32 PM
It would’ve made more sense to push it forward than move it back since she’s not recording anything new for it.
January’s also a pretty busy time to release as well.
Posted by: diamondtooth Sep 4 2019, 04:57 PM
Oh what a pain. I pre-ordered this ages ago. I don’t really get this strategy. I will be bored of Stretch, Small Talk and Lead Me On by the time the album comes out.
Posted by: vibe Sep 4 2019, 05:02 PM
It’s probably because it’s likely to sell terribly .
January the market is at its lowest.
Posted by: dannjohn Sep 4 2019, 07:20 PM
Like i dont know anyone who cares about louise. Ever. She has about 50 fans. Tops.
Posted by: Euphorique Sep 4 2019, 08:58 PM
Disappointing. 3 great singles and yet we have to wait half a year to get the album still
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Sep 4 2019, 09:39 PM
Was pushed back because of her schedule for her appearance in 9 to 5. She wants to give the album her all when it’s released.
Posted by: JosephStyles Sep 4 2019, 09:42 PM
QUOTE(vibe @ Sep 4 2019, 06:02 PM)
It’s probably because it’s likely to sell terribly .
January the market is at its lowest.
Except it isn't - summer is worse! Pulling it forward would have been better if they wanted a higher peak.
Posted by: Jordan Lee Sep 4 2019, 10:02 PM
I’d have understood the decision to pull back if she was still recording but I don’t think she is!
The album seems like it’s been good to go for a while now the pre orders been up since the end of March.
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Sep 6 2019, 12:16 AM
Let's hope its not one of those albums that never gets released.
Posted by: diamondtooth Sep 7 2019, 08:12 AM
The 4th song released from the album was released yesterday! Its called 'Breaking Back Together' and its really nice. Probably my second favourite song from Heavy Love, after Stretch.
Posted by: ___∆___ Sep 7 2019, 06:51 PM
Mess tbh - she’s released 4 songs from the album already and there is still another 5 months until its released. Pre-orders which have been up for 6 months must have been horrendous and as has been said it was never a good idea to release in Q4.
I’ve said it before and this decision kind of backs it up - I’m really not sure who is here for Louise in 2019.
She’s doing a charity gig at O’Merea for Nordoff Robbins in September - the venue is tiny (320 capacity), tickets are £10 and after a month on sale the show is still not sold out, there seems to be lack of interest in her tour too - wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t end up going ahead tbh if she’s struggling to sell 300 tickets to a show for £10.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Sep 10 2019, 02:56 AM
I think Heavy Love should have come out in the summer, when sales are at their lowest! It will be interesting to see what else Louise does over the next 4 months to try and encourage more pre-orders.
She's releasing on 17th January 2020, so the album will chart on 24th January. Here are the sales from 1 year earlier, 25th January 2019:
Here are the sales from 26th October 2018 (to compare the possible sales levels had she stuck with the 18th October 2019 release date, i.e. would have charted on 25th October 2019):
January is not a great time to launch a new album - January sales, albums recovering from the Christmas market, Brit Awards announcement etc.,
Surely she’ll be able to shift 4.5k though to go Top 15? To push the album back 5 months makes me think that they probably didn’t hit 1k in pre-orders.
Posted by: tommie Sep 10 2019, 04:13 PM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Sep 10 2019, 02:31 PM)
January is not a great time to launch a new album - January sales, albums recovering from the Christmas market, Brit Awards announcement etc.,
Surely she’ll be able to shift 4.5k though to go Top 15? To push the album back 5 months makes me think that they probably didn’t hit 1k in pre-orders.
I think it's more the fact that they know at this point that nothing is really taking off from the album, so they'll put everything into getting decent first week sales and then they'll abandon it like with the Claire Richards album.
Posted by: ___∆___ Sep 15 2019, 12:00 PM
Have to hand it to her team - they are pushing this album as much as they can. A new pre-order has been added to her website (Deluxe version with signed postcards and alternative sleeve) - not sure it’s going to make much difference but they are trying.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Sep 16 2019, 02:14 AM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Sep 15 2019, 01:00 PM)
A new pre-order has been added to her website (Deluxe version with signed postcards and alternative sleeve) - not sure it’s going to make much difference but they are trying.
Unfortunately it's not a new pre-order, it's just this version: https://louise.tmstor.es/cart/product.php?id=42723 (which was available to pre-order at the same time as all the other formats). I think this is the first time that we've seen what the postcards are set to look like though!
Posted by: ___∆___ Sep 16 2019, 07:09 AM
QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Sep 16 2019, 03:14 AM)
Unfortunately it's not a new pre-order, it's just this version: https://louise.tmstor.es/cart/product.php?id=42723 (which was available to pre-order at the same time as all the other formats). I think this is the first time that we've seen what the postcards are set to look like though!
Ah cool - as I said I’m not sure it’ll do much to help the cause regardless.
In terms of promo I’m not sure what more is left for her by the time the album comes out - lots of places don’t repeat their acts and she’s already done The One Show, Sunday Brunch etc., - apart from some radio and daytime TV there is really not a lot more for her to do when the album is released.
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Sep 20 2019, 08:18 AM
Not the Same seems to be the next song to be released as they’ve put the song length on iTunes. Thought they’d spread the release out a bit considering the delay 🤔
Posted by: sajjadali Sep 21 2019, 07:49 AM
Probably wise delaying to January as it'll get lost in the Q4 madness...Although fans have been waiting ages for this!
Posted by: ___∆___ Sep 21 2019, 03:08 PM
QUOTE(Prettylittlebry @ Sep 20 2019, 09:18 AM)
Not the Same seems to be the next song to be released as they’ve put the song length on iTunes. Thought they’d spread the release out a bit considering the delay 🤔
The whole album is going to be available by the time we get it
Posted by: ___∆___ Sep 26 2019, 03:03 PM
Not selling as well as they hoped then - there is now 20% off tour tickets with the code LOU9TO5 at http://www.myticket.co.uk/artists/louise
Posted by: tommie Oct 11 2019, 04:45 AM
Seems like "Not The Same" might be the next single as they've bovvered to make a lyric video:
Posted by: diamondtooth Oct 11 2019, 07:46 AM
I like this song too. Heavy Love is shaping up to be a good album.
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Oct 11 2019, 09:04 AM
How many is that now? I've actually lost count. Assuming we'll probably get two more before the album eventually arrives too.
I think my interest waned around the time of 'Lead Me On' tbh.
Posted by: tommie Oct 11 2019, 09:11 AM
QUOTE(Tawdry Hepburn @ Oct 11 2019, 09:04 AM)
How many is that now? I've actually lost count. Assuming we'll probably get two more before the album eventually arrives too.
Stretch Small Talk Lead Me On Breaking Back Together Not The Same
One more track and she'll have put out half the standard edition album
I wonder how this'll work out with streaming "sales" though. How many tracks from the album needs to be streamed for it to count as a sale?
Posted by: Jack Oct 11 2019, 10:26 AM
'Not The Same' is the best I've heard of her since 'Stretch' I think.
Posted by: Euphorique Oct 13 2019, 10:03 PM
Easily the weakest single so far
Posted by: vibe Oct 14 2019, 07:59 AM
The may as well put the album out. I mean they know their is absolutely no interest.
Posted by: ___∆___ Oct 14 2019, 10:13 PM
QUOTE(vibe @ Oct 14 2019, 08:59 AM)
The may as well put the album out. I mean they know their is absolutely no interest.
This and it’s tiresome Louise plugging it daily on her socials. I feel sorry for her but she must know as well as her management and label that interest is minimal - none of the singles have done anything on airplay or iTunes tbh, ticket sales must be poor for them to be offering 20% off deals and the album pushed back to 2020.
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Oct 14 2019, 11:17 PM
Will they actually go ahead and release it or will it be download only.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Oct 15 2019, 12:38 AM
^ Last week they changed Amazon's vinyl listing to be a signed vinyl, so as things stand they're going ahead with physicals. Apparently the physicals are already printed?
I'm not overly concerned about how her pre-orders are performing or how she does on iTunes with each song. I wish some of her fans would relax about that. Focus on whether you actually like the songs, rather than fretting over it being #842 on iTunes or whatever. It's almost like they're letting the lack of public interest and lack of chart success colour how they feel about the songs & even Louise herself, which seems a shame to me.
Yes, a high chart position & healthy sales = more of a chance that her music career will continue, but honestly if Heavy Love ends up being her final album then I'll be content with that. I'm looking no further ahead. This album era represents such an unexpected extension of her music career. I never thought we'd see the day that we'd have new Louise material, but here we are with 5 new songs already and there's more still to come! I'm appreciating the moment and glad that I'm enjoying the new tracks (Stretch in particular was such a serve). To me, that seems more productive as a fan, rather than looking ahead with dread re: charts & sales. It strikes me as odd to be concerned about her commercial performance & the possible repercussions it'll have on her ability to continue her music career, while seemingly not particularly appreciating that she's actually releasing songs right now!
Posted by: diamondtooth Oct 15 2019, 12:05 PM
Yes I don't really understand why there would be any big expectation of success for Louise. Its just so long since she released her last album, the market has completely changed. And she was never a really hugely successful act back in the day anyway. For me I am happy that the good songs keep coming, Louise gets some opportunity to promote (like she how she performed 'Lead Me On' on the One Show), and that the tour is enjoyable.
Regarding the charts, I would really love if the album went Top 20. And I am not going to panic about its second week performance, I know it will plummet after week one.
Its hard for me to assess how good/bad her streaming number are as she is not in a comparable situation to anyone else.
I'm not sure what kind of promotion she would have around release week. But hopefully something will be arranged. Maybe she should go on 'I'm a Celebrity' or something!
And after this album is done, I'm ready for an Eternal reunion!
Posted by: vibe Oct 15 2019, 12:49 PM
Louise first two albums sold very well !!
Posted by: pippa Oct 15 2019, 02:03 PM
It is likely this is her last studio album. The album, as we have known was never going to be a huge selling album, it is largely for Louise and her fanbase as she is not going to win over new fans. It is a slight musical career extension that should result in Louise achieving a 5th Top 20 album to her solo credits. Future budget releases of various Greatest Hits will come further down. A full Eternal reunion would be welcomed after this solo venture and Eternal could do a new Greatest hits release and tour.
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Nov 29 2019, 08:52 AM
Hammer is the next song to be released.
Posted by: ___∆___ Nov 29 2019, 11:14 AM
QUOTE(Prettylittlebry @ Nov 29 2019, 08:52 AM)
Hammer is the next song to be released.
6 tracks released before the album
Posted by: Jay ☆ Nov 30 2019, 06:47 AM
For me that's not a problem. Lauv currently has 7 tracks out for an album that isn't released in full until March. It's just the modern way of things!
As things stand there'll be 9 new tracks to hear when Louise's album is out, still plenty to look forward to.
Posted by: tommie Dec 5 2019, 02:13 PM
"Hammer" video premiering tomorrow, so I guess it's a proper single:
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Dec 5 2019, 02:18 PM
I actually like the cover artwork for this one
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Dec 6 2019, 12:04 AM
So... Hammer has just been released but according to iTunes, looks like we will be getting the track Hurt before release as well..
Posted by: tommie Dec 6 2019, 01:17 AM
QUOTE(Prettylittlebry @ Dec 6 2019, 01:04 AM)
So... Hammer has just been released but according to iTunes, looks like we will be getting the track Hurt before release as well..
LOL. I wonder why as it looks like Hammer is the official single since it's getting a video and all - it's less than a month and a half until it's out anyway.
Then again, I did bring this up earlier - is this a strategy to increase streaming "sales"? How many tracks from an album needs to be streamed for it to count as a sale? What happens with these pre-released tracks that are suddenly turned into an album on streaming sites - do they end up baking those pre-release streams as "sales" for the album?
Posted by: tommie Dec 6 2019, 10:00 AM
OK, Hammer is clearly sampling someone or blatantly copying a song as it reminds me of something.
Honestly, considering this is just basically a brief extension of her career it's really impressive how well-produced this album is. I thought at best she was going to release a naff Mother's Day album covers album like Emma Bunton.
Posted by: diamondtooth Dec 6 2019, 06:30 PM
QUOTE(tommie @ Dec 6 2019, 11:00 AM)
OK, Hammer is clearly sampling someone or blatantly copying a song as it reminds me of something. Honestly, considering this is just basically a brief extension of her career it's really impressive how well-produced this album is. I thought at best she was going to release a naff Mother's Day album covers album like Emma Bunton.
Yes I really feel Louise is throwing everything at this album. For her style of music and her singing ability (!), I am really really impressed with the quality of her new songs. I actually like all 6 of the tracks released so far and I stream them regularly. I actually think her comeback should be getting more attention. Best of luck to her!
Posted by: slowdown73 Dec 7 2019, 10:00 AM
I notice the deluxe edition on iTunes has 16 tracks but only 12 tracks on CD. Is there a deluxe edition on CD available to preorder from anywhere?
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Dec 7 2019, 10:49 AM
QUOTE(slowdown73 @ Dec 7 2019, 10:00 AM)
I notice the deluxe edition on iTunes has 16 tracks but only 12 tracks on CD. Is there a deluxe edition on CD available to preorder from anywhere?
Her webstore I believe
Posted by: Jay ☆ Dec 7 2019, 01:07 PM
I'm liking this, it's very funky!
QUOTE(tommie @ Dec 6 2019, 10:00 AM)
OK, Hammer is clearly sampling someone or blatantly copying a song as it reminds me of something.
It's a cover!
Posted by: ___∆___ Dec 7 2019, 06:55 PM
She’s doing an album launch show in Kingston at a small venue - tickets are £11 or CD/Ticket bundle is £15. She’s is really doing anything she can to make this a success tbh.
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Jan 1 2020, 09:17 AM
Hurt was released today. Probably my favourite of the album tracks released so far!
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 1 2020, 10:04 PM
HMV signings announced for London & Liverpool - really hope against the odds with the effort she’s put in that this does well on week 1.
Posted by: diamondtooth Jan 1 2020, 10:39 PM
Yes fingers crossed. Ok this is a basic question but if I buy the album from her web store but I live outside the U.K., the sale is NOT counted for the U.K. charts is it?
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 2 2020, 01:34 AM
I’m loving Hurt! The album is shaping up to be really strong.
Unfortunately your sale won’t count, diamondtooth!
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 2 2020, 03:11 PM
QUOTE(diamondtooth @ Jan 1 2020, 10:39 PM)
Yes fingers crossed. Ok this is a basic question but if I buy the album from her web store but I live outside the U.K., the sale is NOT counted for the U.K. charts is it?
No it won’t count I hate the fact that international orders are lost sales that don’t get counted anywhere (Either in the country their purchased from or the country they are going to!).
Posted by: dachiki Jan 3 2020, 04:32 PM
What is the difference between the album version and the single version of "Hurt"?
Posted by: lewistgreen Jan 3 2020, 07:54 PM
QUOTE(dachiki @ Jan 3 2020, 04:32 PM)
What is the difference between the album version and the single version of "Hurt"?
The production is ever so slightly different. There’s more of a beat/drums in the single version.
Posted by: diamondtooth Jan 3 2020, 09:34 PM
Why are her Spotify streams SO low :-( She is not included on any playlists! So annoying!
Posted by: dachiki Jan 3 2020, 09:46 PM
QUOTE(lewistgreen @ Jan 3 2020, 08:54 PM)
The production is ever so slightly different. There’s more of a beat/drums in the single version.
The YouTube version is the single version ?
Posted by: lewistgreen Jan 3 2020, 10:00 PM
QUOTE(dachiki @ Jan 3 2020, 09:46 PM)
The YouTube version is the single version ?
It is. There’s a preview of the album version on iTunes.
Posted by: dachiki Jan 3 2020, 10:23 PM
I have the album version through her store. but I see no difference between the 2 versions
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jan 4 2020, 12:28 PM
This album is all about a 1 week wonder as we all knew, I wonder can she manage to make top 10 though.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 4 2020, 03:12 PM
QUOTE(Feel_The_Fever @ Jan 4 2020, 12:28 PM)
This album is all about a 1 week wonder as we all knew, I wonder can she manage to make top 10 though.
Will be interesting to see her week 1 sales they have done so much so far to try and boost pre-orders -
*Signed CD & Vinyl on Amazon *Multiple signed versions on her website including her 2020 calendar *HMV album signings for release week *Banquet Records Show/ticket bundle for release week
Guessing she will need between 6-7k at that time of year to go Top 10?!
Posted by: Monzo Jan 4 2020, 06:08 PM
QUOTE(Feel_The_Fever @ Jan 4 2020, 01:28 PM)
This album is all about a 1 week wonder as we all knew, I wonder can she manage to make top 10 though.
It's funny how different our predictions and hopes are. I hope Louise will go top 40, but wouldn't be surprised if the album fails to enter top 75.
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jan 4 2020, 07:03 PM
I'd be totally shocked if it misses the top 40.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 4 2020, 07:31 PM
QUOTE(Monzo @ Jan 4 2020, 06:08 PM)
It's funny how different our predictions and hopes are. I hope Louise will go top 40, but wouldn't be surprised if the album fails to enter top 75.
She would need to sell around 1,200-400 to go Top 75 - I’d be surprised if she didn’t manage that after almost a year on pre-order and the number of formats and bundles.
I think it will go Top 20 and be a 17-out release.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 4 2020, 11:07 PM
Hard to tell what she’ll need to sell in her release week! These are the current sales levels, but her week might be a bit lower with the New Years sales effect over:
No it won’t count I hate the fact that international orders are lost sales that don’t get counted anywhere (Either in the country their purchased from or the country they are going to!).
That’s so annoying! Anyone want to give me a UK address I can post some albums to! Is the sale based on the delivery address country or the credit card address.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 5 2020, 01:07 PM
QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Jan 4 2020, 11:07 PM)
Hard to tell what she’ll need to sell in her release week! These are the current sales levels, but her week might be a bit lower with the New Years sales effect over:
Album sales look so tragic when listed like that Surely she’s done enough to go Top 20 though with so many formats, a year on pre-order and the signings etc., coming up - will be interesting to see how many people are here for a Louise album in 2020!
Posted by: tommie Jan 5 2020, 01:57 PM
Honestly, with all the effort she and her label have put into this anything but top ten would be a tad disappointing. It would still have a disasterous fall, but they've really thrown everything and the iamspamspamamisink at an attempt to at least have a decent debut, so you can't fault them for that.
Posted by: dachiki Jan 5 2020, 05:33 PM
I live in France. I have delivered all versions of her new album from her web store to an english friend. I hope my purchases are counted for the UK charts. - CD album (deluxe) - 2 cassettes (silver & white) - LP (white edition)
I bought a LP (normal edition) & a ticket for her release show. I don't know if it will count for a sale for the uk charts. I'll buy the album at the HMV Westfield to have the chance to meet her during the signing session the next day. 5 or 6 sales from me.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 5 2020, 05:39 PM
QUOTE(dachiki @ Jan 5 2020, 05:33 PM)
I live in France. I have delivered all versions of her new album from her web store to an english friend. I hope my purchases are counted for the UK charts. - CD album (deluxe) - 2 cassettes (silver & white) - LP (white edition)
I bought a LP (normal edition) & a ticket for her release show. I don't know if it will count for a sale for the uk charts. I'll buy the album at the HMV Westfield to have the chance to meet her during the signing session the next day. 5 or 6 sales from me.
If they are being sent to a UK address then they will count towards the UK charts
The ticket bundle also counts towards the charts too.
Posted by: lewistgreen Jan 8 2020, 07:05 PM
This is going as album of the week on Monday on Radio 2 meaning tracks from the album will be played before release each day on Ken Bruce and OJ Borg's shows.
Louise will also be performing live on Zoe Ball’s show on Friday 17th.
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Jan 8 2020, 07:14 PM
At least that pretty much confirms it will actually be released.
Posted by: diamondtooth Jan 8 2020, 09:18 PM
Radio 2 is being really good to her lately. Hurt is on their A List at the moment. I’m really pleased with that. Pity Spotify don’t add her on some even smaller playlists.
Posted by: tommie Jan 9 2020, 04:33 PM
QUOTE(lewistgreen @ Jan 8 2020, 08:05 PM)
This is going as album of the week on Monday on Radio 2 meaning tracks from the album will be played before release each day on Ken Bruce and OJ Borg's shows.
Louise will also be performing live on Zoe Ball’s show on Friday 17th.
Honestly, Louise and her team are really pulling out all the stops with this album. Even if it ends up selling badly, you can't fault the promotion she had.
Posted by: myxxd Jan 11 2020, 10:14 AM
Love the tracks Hurt and Not the Same should have been the ones promoted the most not Lead Me On for me
Will be interesting to see what she sells after such a long pre-order / numerous formats. According to someone on Popjustice, they "know for a fact that they're happy with the preorders and happy with the tour sales so far".
Posted by: Jordan Lee Jan 12 2020, 07:48 PM
I think this will go top ten but then drop out the top 100 the following week?
It’s had that much amount of pre orders apparently and she does have some form of a fanbase.
I’m gonna predict #9 but she’ll probably be higher on sales only maybe #5-6 sales only but streaming pushing her down to #9,
Posted by: isanka Jan 13 2020, 09:50 AM
Love her Single right now.
Posted by: Monzo Jan 13 2020, 03:42 PM
Hurt is a great radio song. Small Talk is my favorite so far, followed by Stretch.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 13 2020, 09:44 PM
Radio 2 album of the week!
Posted by: lewistgreen Jan 13 2020, 09:47 PM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jan 13 2020, 09:44 PM)
Radio 2 album of the week!
Already mentioned it though they proceeded to play Stretch and Lead Me On today
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Jan 13 2020, 10:01 PM
You can preview the rest of the tracks on her store.
Posted by: slowdown73 Jan 15 2020, 07:08 PM
I’ve preordered the album from her store but £18 is a lot for the deluxe which is not available elsewhere!
Posted by: lewistgreen Jan 15 2020, 11:40 PM
Radio 2 have managed to play Breaking Back Together and that’s it so far this week, everything else played has been a single
EDIT: Ignore me that has also been a single
Posted by: dachiki Jan 16 2020, 12:39 PM
I received my concert ticket for tomorrow. It's weird to do a concert in a church.
Posted by: ThePensmith Jan 16 2020, 07:21 PM
QUOTE(dachiki @ Jan 16 2020, 12:39 PM)
I received my concert ticket for tomorrow. It's weird to do a concert in a church.
I saw Una Healy launch her album at the Old Church in St Pancras about three years ago. Alas the style of music she was doing suited the venue a bit more.
I've not really investigated any of the other singles that have come from this album since 'Stretch', which is still a disappointment a year on. I'd be very surprised if this was top 10. I suspect it will be a front loaded jobby at the beginning of the week but settle on top 20 by week's end.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 17 2020, 01:35 AM
QUOTE(ThePensmith @ Jan 16 2020, 07:21 PM)
I've not really investigated any of the other singles that have come from this album since 'Stretch', which is still a disappointment a year on. I'd be very surprised if this was top 10. I suspect it will be a front loaded jobby at the beginning of the week but settle on top 20 by week's end.
The six songs released since are very varied, none of them sound like ‘Stretch’ (which is still fantastic a year on, tssk!). Louise has been serving up some great music for the past year and I’d be very surprised if none of the other songs appealed to you as a pop music lover. Try ‘Hurt’, I really think you’d like that one if ‘Stretch’ wasn’t your thing. Also ‘Breaking Back Together’, which is very heartfelt and soulful.
For me, based on the 7 songs I’ve heard, she’s already topped her previous three albums before I even hear the remaining new songs. I’ve read some high praise about ‘Wrong’, I’m most intrigued by that one.
Posted by: Jonjo Jan 17 2020, 02:34 AM
I hate that I love 'Stretch' so much. It's ridiculously basic and quite "thin" in it's sound, but there's something very hypnotic and addicting to it!
I feel like it could've been a UK Eurovision entry (had they cut it down ofc) and I feel like it'd have probably been a middling hit for us, there.
I received my concert ticket for tomorrow. It's weird to do a concert in a church.
It’s a great intimate venue, just a shame it hasn’t sold out yet - Banquet Records also use a local nightclub for album launches but the capacity is bigger there.
Great start I know sales are probably low on iTunes but I wasn’t expecting to see her get much activity across Europe.
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Jan 17 2020, 01:34 PM
It's a nice enough collection of songs, but totally unremarkable.
Welcome back regardless!
Posted by: diamondtooth Jan 17 2020, 01:44 PM
QUOTE(Tawdry Hepburn @ Jan 17 2020, 02:34 PM)
It's a nice enough collection of songs, but totally unremarkable.
Welcome back regardless!
I understand the opinion that it might be unremarkable. But in my view it just lacks gimmicks. I think it has strong production and lyrics and vocals. The collaborators here are strong: Raye, Karen Poole, Clean Bandit, Jojo, Sinead Harnett. It flows as a full album and I am loving it. Such a stronger comeback album that the half baked last albums from Emma Bunton, Alexandra Burke, Martine McCutcheon and others!
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Jan 17 2020, 01:49 PM
QUOTE(diamondtooth @ Jan 17 2020, 01:44 PM)
I understand the opinion that it might be unremarkable. But in my view it just lacks gimmicks. I think it has strong production and lyrics and vocals. The collaborators here are strong: Raye, Karen Poole, Clean Bandit, Jojo, Sinead Harnett. It flows as a full album and I am loving it. Such a stronger comeback album that the half baked last albums from Emma Bunton, Alexandra Burke, Martine McCutcheon and others!
I am definitely so happy she didn't come back with a Broadway covers album or something.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 17 2020, 01:51 PM
Plenty of promo etc., lined up this week - let’s just enjoy the album and hopefully a decent chart position because I doubt we will be seeing a follow up anytime soon!
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 17 2020, 02:04 PM
I feel the exact opposite to unremarkable! I’m really impressed. It’s a strong set of well-written/produced pop songs, exactly what I was hoping for... she’s far exceeded my initial expectations. Louise could have so easily gone down the Emma Bunton or Alexandra Burke route (covers / MOR) [Edit: just seen that diamondtooth mentioned them as well, ha], but she’s gone above and beyond their laziness. It’s clear (to me, at least) that a lot of effort and passion went into the making of Heavy Love.
Of the songs I hadn’t heard pre-album release, Straight to My Heart is my top pick! Really feel-good & although it clearly has modern production, it has a vibe to it that means it could comfortably sit alongside Let’s Go Round Again from 1997. Hurt is shaping up to be my favourite overall though, it’s glorious!
I’m impressed by her vocal performance on the album too, she’s improved since her hey day! There’s an emotional quality to her vocals on some of these tracks that wasn’t as present on her prior albums.
Posted by: slowdown73 Jan 18 2020, 12:42 AM
Well received my deluxe CD from online store today. Very impressed with service!
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Jan 18 2020, 07:53 AM
Need to listen to the album tracks a few more times to make an impression on me. I do however love Wrong (always a sucker for a piano ballad)
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 18 2020, 01:11 PM
Not streamed the album in full yet - 15 songs in 2020 on an album feels faaaaar too many.
Posted by: JosephStyles Jan 18 2020, 01:39 PM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jan 18 2020, 01:11 PM)
Not streamed the album in full yet - 15 songs in 2020 on an album feels faaaaar too many.
This is a bit of an odd statement - it's only 50:41 in total. Chris Brown's Indigo, released last June, clocks in at 30 tracks, lasting a total of 1:53:25....! And that's not including three bonus tracks, or an extra ten on the re-issue D-Block Europe's PTSD, which charted as high as #4 in the UK after its release last September, is 28 tracks and 1:28:29 in length. Heck, Sam Fender's album, which you love, has only two less songs and clocks in at 48:20 - just two minutes shorter than Louise's album! 15 songs is just fine, and I say this also without hearing it in full. I'd understand the suggestion if you'd heard it all and thought it could be a tighter project with a few less songs, I think this about loads of albums, but otherwise I don't really get where you're coming from.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 18 2020, 02:03 PM
The album definitely didn’t feel like a time consuming listen to me! I would have been a bit disappointed with less tracks/shorter time lengths, given that it’s been so long since her last music. I think she hit a sweet spot with 15 tracks for a deluxe. I don’t think 50 minutes really comes close to reaching “outstays its welcome” territory.
It really depends on the album I suppose... like Taylor’s Lover is 18 tracks & an hour long and I find that more than manageable. But on the other hand Ellie Goulding’s 25 track / 1 hour 30 minute long opus Delirium was pretty overwhelming.
Posted by: Liаm Jan 18 2020, 02:04 PM
To be fair, her fans have waited 20 years so I think 15 tracks is welcomed
Posted by: Jonjo Jan 18 2020, 06:37 PM
This is actually a cute little album when we played it at work earlier!
I shall definitely be checking it out in my own time at some point, so I'll give my faves then, but from what I heard, a lot of it was solid, little pop songs. Her lyrics leave a bit more to the imagination than people would probably want/expect, but I can ignore cringe lyrics for the most part.
Posted by: slowdown73 Jan 18 2020, 06:45 PM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jan 18 2020, 01:11 PM)
Not streamed the album in full yet - 15 songs in 2020 on an album feels faaaaar too many.
15 songs is probably close to average for the number of tracks on a deluxe album. Celine Dixon’s latest album is 20 tracks.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 18 2020, 08:37 PM
QUOTE(JosephStyles @ Jan 18 2020, 01:39 PM)
This is a bit of an odd statement - it's only 50:41 in total. Chris Brown's Indigo, released last June, clocks in at 30 tracks, lasting a total of 1:53:25....! And that's not including three bonus tracks, or an extra ten on the re-issue D-Block Europe's PTSD, which charted as high as #4 in the UK after its release last September, is 28 tracks and 1:28:29 in length. Heck, Sam Fender's album, which you love, has only two less songs and clocks in at 48:20 - just two minutes shorter than Louise's album! 15 songs is just fine, and I say this also without hearing it in full. I'd understand the suggestion if you'd heard it all and thought it could be a tighter project with a few less songs, I think this about loads of albums, but otherwise I don't really get where you're coming from.
Not really an odd statement? I found the album too long for me or maybe it just wasn’t engaging enough? Either way I’ve still yet to listen to it in full.
Posted by: JosephStyles Jan 18 2020, 10:32 PM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jan 18 2020, 08:37 PM)
Not really an odd statement? I found the album too long for me or maybe it just wasn’t engaging enough? Either way I’ve still yet to listen to it in full.
How can you say the album is too long when you've not listened in full though? Your comment wasn't specifically about this album either, I was simply pointing out that 15 tracks being considered too long is an unusual take.
Posted by: lewistgreen Jan 19 2020, 01:37 PM
This is a nice enough album, but I can't see myself returning to it again anytime soon after my initial listen-through today. Lead Me On and Hurt are my highlights.
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Jan 19 2020, 05:11 PM
QUOTE(lewistgreen @ Jan 19 2020, 01:37 PM)
This is a nice enough album, but I can't see myself returning to it again anytime soon after my initial listen-through today. Lead Me On and Hurt are my highlights.
I think that's roughly what I was trying to say earlier when I used the term "unremarkable", it's not a bad album at all and I can tell she has put a lot of effort into making it - it's just there's not a lot here that will compel me to return for future listening.
'Hammer' is fairly good though! That proved to be a highlight.
Posted by: Jack Jan 19 2020, 05:16 PM
It's a nice listen and I really love her as a person but that's it, it's nice. It's good as background music and there are a few standouts, but I can't see myself returning it to also.
'Stretch' remains one of the best things she has ever done, if Little Mix had recorded it, I'm sure it would've been a hit!
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 19 2020, 06:19 PM
My Top 5:
1. Stretch 2. Hurt 3. Straight to My Heart 4. Lead Me On 5. Not the Same
Posted by: JosephStyles Jan 19 2020, 08:12 PM
Surprised at the lukewarm response, I was surprised at just how strong the album was when I listened earlier!! Stretch remains as brilliant as it was when it first came out, and other favourites right now are Hurt, Lead Me On and Straight to My Heart, but I think there's going to be some growers too.
Would love a top 10 album but I don't really care either way because I'm just pleased we got this album in the first place!
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 19 2020, 08:14 PM
I'm really pleased you enjoyed it Joseph, and we share the same favourites
According to Popjustice members, Heavy Love was midweek #4 on https://forum.popjustice.com/threads/louise-heavy-love-2019-album.38538/page-171#post-7268164 and midweek #5 https://forum.popjustice.com/threads/louise-heavy-love-2019-album.38538/page-173#post-7269494 ("300 [sales] behind Halsey").
A positive start! I hope she'll do enough to hold onto the Top 10 by Friday. Louise has a record signing in hmv Liverpool tomorrow, not sure what other promo there'll be though.
Posted by: Mikee1981 Jan 20 2020, 10:38 AM
I'm really enjoying the album, glad to finally have a new Louise one after 20 years as Ive always been a big fan of her and Eternal they was the soundtrack to my teen years.
'Wrong' is a highlight for me , still love Stretch and other faves are Villain, Give You Up, Hurt and Breaking Back Together but its a good poppy album
Posted by: tommie Jan 20 2020, 11:39 AM
Signings should definitively help her as I imagine that it'll be close in the top 15.
Though the fall next week will be nightmarish.
Posted by: dachiki Jan 20 2020, 02:06 PM
Great show last Friday in Kingston. The church was 80% to 90% full. I was in front of the stage in the 3rd row. I was at the signing session the next day at the hmv of city white, she signed all the CDs and tapes for me.
Posted by: pippa Jan 20 2020, 02:24 PM
The signing will give the sales boost it needs to hold its position in the next chart update. Top 5 in the early part of the week is positive if it can retain Top 10 i think its the best result that Louise, her team and fans can hope for.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 20 2020, 03:15 PM
Midweek #7 today (4,574 sales), but it seems she could end up at #12 on Friday. She's projected to sell 5.5k. It's a bit frustrating considering that last week's #10 sold 4,688 copies, and 5.5k would have been enough to be comfortably #8.
Posted by: vibe Jan 20 2020, 03:19 PM
That’s all that anyone could have expected.
Posted by: pippa Jan 20 2020, 05:14 PM
Number 7 today does indicate the chances of Top 10 are slim. The signing may be enough to sway the album to stay Top 10.
Posted by: tommie Jan 20 2020, 05:25 PM
Time to go old school and pull out a horse Louise...
Posted by: Jordan Lee Jan 20 2020, 05:34 PM
I had her down as debuting at #9.
I’m going to give the album a listen though. I’ve always personally liked her and her solo material prior to this was actually quite good and she does have a good voice.
Stretch was a lot better than what I was expecting it to be when I heard that last year but I didn’t really follow the rest of the campaign. Intrigued to hear it in full though.
Her last proper album Elbow Beach debuted at #12 though so this should at least match that.
Posted by: pippa Jan 20 2020, 07:16 PM
Number 9 is where i had originally thought it would peak but i have my doubts now. The signing aside, has Louise any more promotion lined up for this week.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 20 2020, 09:01 PM
They have got to be a bit disappointed with 4.5k opening sales?
Amazon signed vinyl Amazon signed CD Webstore - 2x Cassettes, 2x CDs, 2 x Vinyl and various bundles Album launch show - ticket/CD bundle HMV signing
Don’t get me wrong it’s a good start but it’s been on pre-order for 8+ months and they have thrown a lot at it so a 5.5k opening week with it dropping out the following week has got to sting?
Posted by: JosephStyles Jan 20 2020, 09:13 PM
Let's be real, what were you expecting?
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jan 21 2020, 12:29 AM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jan 20 2020, 09:01 PM)
They have got to be a bit disappointed with 4.5k opening sales?
Amazon signed vinyl Amazon signed CD Webstore - 2x Cassettes, 2x CDs, 2 x Vinyl and various bundles Album launch show - ticket/CD bundle HMV signing
Have to agree, 10k will be a struggle. Don’t get me wrong it’s a good start but it’s been on pre-order for 8+ months and they have thrown a lot at it so a 5.5k opening week with it dropping out the following week has got to sting?
Have to agree, 10k will be a struggle.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 21 2020, 03:16 PM
Still midweek #7 today, but the projected final position/sales has improved to #11 and 5.9k. #11 would hurt a bit
Her official store is now selling the standard CD for £5 with free postage! Alongside the chance of winning a signed print. If this sways anyone into wanting to buy it, here’s the link: https://louise.tmstor.es/cart/product.php?id=42722
Edit: Signed CD is now £4.99 on Amazon! https://amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07Q12WYPS
Posted by: tommie Jan 21 2020, 05:34 PM
She should upload pictures of her ex husband on Dudes With iPhones, then go on a promo tour including on Loose Women where she's horrified how her phone was hacked and her privacy invaded (#BuyHeavyLoveOutNow)
Posted by: diamondtooth Jan 21 2020, 09:21 PM
Another album signing is announced for Thursday evening in Lakeside Shopping Center, Essex! Go Louise, keep promoting!
Posted by: tommie Jan 21 2020, 09:28 PM
QUOTE(diamondtooth @ Jan 21 2020, 10:21 PM)
Another album signing is announced for Thursday evening in Lakeside Shopping Center, Essex! Go Louise, keep promoting!
I guess with it selling the physical OCC can't screw her on this one.
But really, she should've done signings all days of the week
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 21 2020, 09:56 PM
QUOTE(JosephStyles @ Jan 20 2020, 09:13 PM)
Let's be real, what were you expecting?
I wasn’t talking about what I was expecting?! I said ‘they’ meaning the record company/management must have been expecting more - for the effort they’ve put in they have got to be disappointed? (And not due to lack of effort on Louise’s part).
Posted by: pippa Jan 21 2020, 10:04 PM
I hope the extra signing will keep her Top 10 placement.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 21 2020, 11:00 PM
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jan 21 2020, 09:56 PM)
I wasn’t talking about what I was expecting?! I said ‘they’ meaning the record company/management must have been expecting more - for the effort they’ve put in they have got to be disappointed? (And not due to lack of effort on Louise’s part).
Doesn't seem so, a week ago someone on Popjustice said that they "know for a fact that they're happy with the preorders and happy with the tour sales so far". Hopefully their expectations were reasonable and they knew she wasn't likely to sell tens of thousands.
The signed CD has experienced a decent boost on Amazon, currently #14! For most of the week it's been hovering in the low 20s/30s area.
Side note: I'm pretty surprised to see that her Changing Faces Greatest Hits CD is in stock in HMV's store!
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jan 21 2020, 11:10 PM
I'm sure with her back in the limelight musically her greatest hits will have picked up a few sales.
Posted by: tommie Jan 21 2020, 11:23 PM
QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Jan 22 2020, 12:00 AM)
Side note: I'm pretty surprised to see that her Changing Faces Greatest Hits CD is in stock in HMV's store!
I'm not that surprised to be honest - before she embarked on this comeback they made sure to get her music on streaming services, so it wouldn't surprise me if her management made contact with EMI to get it back into the stores (which surely is in their best interest too either way). There's really nothing to complain about how they've handled this comeback for a fairly low-key former pop star - Dannii Minogue next please.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 21 2020, 11:31 PM
It's really great that her full back catalogue is on streaming, certainly going above and beyond what most artists have online. I wish more artists had all their CD single track lists available to stream!
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jan 21 2020, 11:35 PM
Ya its good its available, more need to follow suit
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 22 2020, 12:01 AM
Signed CD is up to #7 on Amazon
The unsigned version has also climbed to #124, which is the highest it has been in quite a long time. Pretty sure it was only in the 700s area earlier today.
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 22 2020, 01:04 PM
^^ I hope the record company rush copies to Amazon as it says on mine it won’t ship until Saturday so will miss the cut off for the charts this week
Posted by: pippa Jan 22 2020, 06:41 PM
If it misses the Top 10 it wont be down to the lack of effort. They are pushing the album as much as they can and are working for that Top 10 placement.
Posted by: pippa Jan 22 2020, 09:19 PM
Number 8 in the midweek information for today.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 23 2020, 03:03 AM
I really hope Louise can hold on to the Top 10, but I have a feeling that #11 is the best she'll manage, or maybe #12. Definitely no lower than #12 though.
When Eminem unexpectedly released his album on Friday, I wrote in a group chat on Facebook "I'm preparing myself for Louise to be #11 i.e. would have scraped Top 10 without Eminem surprise release (watch her actually end up at #19 or something x)", so I'm rather that #11 might actually come true after all. If only she had released a week earlier!
As of Wednesday's midweeks she had sold 5,225 (an increase of 254 copies from Tuesday's mids). This is already enough copies for her to have made it to #8 last week, and there's still two more sales days to go.
Sales of #8 - #12 last week:
08. 5,101 - Sheku Kanneh-Mason, London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Simon Rattle 09. 4,714 - Post Malone 10. 4,688 - Rod Stewart 11. 4,624 - Tom Walker 12. 4,255 - Coldplay
... typical! Louise had already sold 4,338 copies in her first 2 days on sale, more than Coldplay sold in 7 whole days to place at #12 last week, yet that's where Louise may end up herself on Friday.
It's kind of hard to predict Louise's final sales figure. I'm hoping that Thursday's mids shows healthier sales thanks to the album's price cut. Then she has the HMV signing, and also an appearance on Good Morning Britain. There's also the possibility that some sales from her store haven't been registered in the mids yet, because her deluxe CD and the white cassette were not in stock for a few days (an order I made on Monday was only dispatched on Wednesday evening, but I've heard from a couple of other fans that they ordered earlier than that and have only had their items dispatched yesterday too). Maybe she can push it to ~6,000 as a final figure?
6k would still be too far behind what this week's #10 is on track to sell - Harry Styles is on course to claim that position, with possibly as many as 6,800 sales (I estimate that 5,300 of that figure will be from streaming units). 6k is possibly enough to keep Louise ahead of DigDat (who is looking to approach 6k sales too, with almost all of that being thanks to streaming...)
Here's Louise's Heavy Love sales split, up to Wednesday's midweeks:
I feel like she's been a bit let down by the cassettes. Both the standard & deluxe cassettes cost £8 each (or £10.50 with postage), which has probably put some people off finding them a worthwhile purchase? It also highlights that not many people have been swayed into buying the expensive bundles, given that cassettes are included in all the bundles. I think no more than £5 each would have been a more appealing price point, or £8 for both. Selena Gomez's Rare album had a bundle of 3 cassettes on sale for £10.50 and a signed art card, and that clearly enticed people given that she sold 5,122 cassettes.
Nevertheless, Louise currently has the 2nd best selling cassette album of the week! She also has the 3rd best selling CD, 3rd best selling vinyl and the 8th best selling download. It seems like she'll reach #4 in the Albums Sales Chart and #3 in the Physical Albums Chart.
Sadly but predictably she is only the 184th most streamed album out of the 200 albums that feature in the mids. Relatively strong pure sales just isn't enough to keep up with albums that are generating thousands of units from streaming, not when she's probably only going to get ~160 sales via streaming for the whole week (at a push). It doesn't seem fair or comparable to me that DigDat's album's streams will end up being roughly the sales equivalent of Louise selling all those pure copies... but oh well, that's the situation.
By the way, her original release date of 18th October 2019 (i.e. charting on 25th October 2019)... the #10 album in that week sold 5,341. I know we can't say for sure that Louise would have sold as strongly in that week as she has this week, given that she would have had 12 weeks less of pre-orders. Although having said that, I have a suspicion that her pre-orders would have been quite weak in November/December. Perhaps if she had stuck to October & did the same level of promotion as she's done this week, she would have ultimately sold roughly the same anyway. We'll never know!
Sorry for the essay, but hopefully some of you find the information interesting!
Posted by: vibe Jan 23 2020, 03:57 PM
Thanks for the info
Posted by: Jordan Lee Jan 23 2020, 04:05 PM
Albums with release dates where there’s a lot of other albums out the same week often get unlucky!
Like a weeks difference can often mean something could be #8 one week but #12 the next.
To be fair I think she’s still done well. Streaming is obviously what’s playing a part in her official peak being lower because those who’ll overtake will have better streaming but the fact she actually released an album what had original material on it and is on course to at least chart top 15 I think is impressive!
I do hope she can get that top ten placing though.
Posted by: pippa Jan 23 2020, 04:21 PM
Yes, on other weeks with her existing sales it is more than enough to secure a Top 10 placement. This week is just that bit tougher. The signing tonight should really help her sell some extra copies although is 500 sales realistic for a signing?
Posted by: vibe Jan 23 2020, 05:21 PM
She has outsold Emma Bunton hasn’t she which is a surprise ?
Posted by: LMLou Jan 23 2020, 05:22 PM
Still #8 in the mids today, she could hold on to the top 10?
Posted by: ___∆___ Jan 23 2020, 07:55 PM
Totally agree on the bit above regarding cassette prices - they are a novelty item, cheap to produce and can boost sales significantly. They should definitely be around the £4.99 price point or bundled together, artists are starting to push them as full priced formats which is never going to work long term in the same way that vinyl has taken off. They are pure novelty/hardcore fan collector items and will remain that way.
Posted by: pippa Jan 23 2020, 08:15 PM
Cassettes are purchased by only hardcore fans of an artists and i would think most are never actually played.
Posted by: vibe Jan 23 2020, 09:24 PM
Didn’t Kylie sell hers for one pound ?
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jan 24 2020, 01:08 AM
I dont remember kylie doing that, hope louise can hold into a top 10 debut
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 24 2020, 02:02 AM
QUOTE(vibe @ Jan 23 2020, 05:21 PM)
She has outsold Emma Bunton hasn’t she which is a surprise ?
Not quite, but fairly close - Emma sold 6,674 copies to reach #11. A week earlier that was enough for #9, a week later she would have managed #8. So annoying!
QUOTE(LMLou @ Jan 23 2020, 05:22 PM)
Still #8 in the mids today, she could hold on to the top 10?
I have my doubts She's still on course to sell 6,000, but Mac Miller, Harry Styles and Billie Eilish are very close behind her and will have 2 days of streaming to be added.
QUOTE(___∆___ @ Jan 23 2020, 07:55 PM)
Totally agree on the bit above regarding cassette prices - they are a novelty item, cheap to produce and can boost sales significantly. They should definitely be around the £4.99 price point or bundled together, artists are starting to push them as full priced formats which is never going to work long term in the same way that vinyl has taken off. They are pure novelty/hardcore fan collector items and will remain that way.
I really wish they'd gone with that sort of price, I'm sure that would have attracted many more impulse purchases. Having it for over a tenner once you factor in postage is a price that would make a hardcore stan question whether they can justify buying it lol.
I feel like having the deluxe CD as a store exclusive might have been a mistake too? I would have had the deluxe CD available in HMV/Amazon, but without the signed post cards and slip case. Post cards and slip case could have been kept as the 'store exclusive' element.
QUOTE(vibe @ Jan 23 2020, 09:24 PM)
Didn’t Kylie sell hers for one pound ?
The lowest I remember was £5 + £2.50 postage for her original Golden cassette!
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 24 2020, 05:30 AM
Just noticed that the unsigned version has climbed to #8 on Amazon!
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 24 2020, 05:51 PM
Officially in at #11!
Even though I expected it, I am still a little gutted because #11 is an extremely frustrating position to land at. Regardless, I think she's done really well, and I'm so happy with the quality of the album - and that's the main thing for me.
Other positions:
#2 - Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 #3 - Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100 #3 - Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 #4 - Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100 #6 - Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100 #9 - Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100
Posted by: Jordan Lee Jan 24 2020, 06:06 PM
4 on sales is fantastic!
Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn Jan 24 2020, 06:08 PM
Oh, that is SO annoying she just missed out!
Posted by: ThePensmith Jan 24 2020, 06:58 PM
QUOTE(ThePensmith @ Jan 16 2020, 07:21 PM)
I'd be very surprised if this was top 10. I suspect it will be a front loaded jobby at the beginning of the week but settle on top 20 by week's end.
Now I don't like to boast, and it was probably as clear as crystal that it would happen but... I'm just gonna enjoy my moment of being right and smug
Posted by: JosephStyles Jan 24 2020, 07:04 PM
QUOTE(ThePensmith @ Jan 24 2020, 06:58 PM)
Now I don't like to boast, and it was probably as clear as crystal that it would happen but... I'm just gonna enjoy my moment of being right and smug
I mean, this is a pretty arrogant post when she was really quite close to top 10, you made it out to be a long shot...
#11 is SO frustrating but I'm so pleased she had a healthy sales total
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 24 2020, 07:08 PM
QUOTE(ThePensmith @ Jan 24 2020, 06:58 PM)
Now I don't like to boast, and it was probably as clear as crystal that it would happen but... I'm just gonna enjoy my moment of being right and smug
It's a bit that your two contributions to this thread this week is 1) to say Stretch is disappointing and that you've not bothered to hear anything else, and 2) that you enjoy to be proven right that she's missed the Top 10. A bit mean-spirited, but go off I guess?
Posted by: Jack Jan 24 2020, 07:16 PM
The album has grown on me over the course of the week when I've listened, there's a few duds, but it's an enjoyable album! So frustrating that she only just missed out .
Posted by: Euphorique Jan 24 2020, 07:34 PM
So sad for her!
Posted by: pippa Jan 24 2020, 08:39 PM
Close but no cigar for Louise.
Posted by: Spiceboy Jan 24 2020, 08:57 PM
Poor Louise, #11 is so frustrating it has to be the most frustrating chart position out there! Bloody Eminem releasing a surprise album this week
Posted by: pippa Jan 24 2020, 09:04 PM
I think number 11 and 41 are the worst peaks to get.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Jan 24 2020, 10:53 PM
Posted by: Jack Jan 24 2020, 10:58 PM
I'm glad she's celebrating her success! I would find it hard to not be bitter by a #11 peak
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Jan 24 2020, 11:18 PM
has she just confirmed another album? aha
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jan 24 2020, 11:25 PM
Shame she didn't make top 10 in the end.
Posted by: Mack. Jan 25 2020, 04:01 PM
Apparently she is locked in a legal battle with Peppa Pig for their similar sound to 'Naked'.
Posted by: tommie Jan 25 2020, 04:08 PM
QUOTE(Mack. @ Jan 25 2020, 05:01 PM)
Apparently she is suing Peppa Pig for their similar sound to 'Naked'.
Louise didn't write Naked, so it's not her place to sue.
Posted by: Monzo Jan 25 2020, 05:55 PM
I wish they would have mentioned Louise in this week sales report with more than just one sentence.
Posted by: dachiki Jan 26 2020, 01:02 AM
I hope she will integrate dancers for her tour
Posted by: Jonjo Jan 27 2020, 04:22 PM
The more I listen to this album, the more I think a lot of the tracks could be Eurovision smashes tbh.
Posted by: slowdown73 Jan 27 2020, 06:36 PM
Louise no72 in midweeks today.
Posted by: pippa Jan 27 2020, 07:04 PM
If she could stay in the Top 100 this week it would be good.
Posted by: tommie Jan 27 2020, 08:12 PM
QUOTE(pippa @ Jan 27 2020, 08:04 PM)
If she could stay in the Top 100 this week it would be good.
It's a sad low bar to set, but yes, that would be nice. Streaming will push her out though by the end of the week and I don't think she's promoting this week.
Posted by: pippa Jan 27 2020, 08:35 PM
I never expected the album to be on the chart for more than 1 week. I know it is a low bar, but a 2nd week with any Top 100 position would be a bonus. A signing this week would have helped her achieve that. I cant see any further promo coming for the album.
Posted by: tommie Jan 27 2020, 08:46 PM
I could see them attempting to send out another radio single if Radio 2 is willing to support it during the tour, but that's about it.
Posted by: Feel_The_Fever Jan 28 2020, 12:18 PM
It's very much emma burton and claire Richards all over again and looks like a forever 10k selling album.
Posted by: dachiki Jan 29 2020, 04:55 AM
The meet and greet of the London concert is sold out. I bought the meet and greet for the Cambridge concert and a normal ticket for London.
Posted by: slowdown73 Jan 31 2020, 07:54 PM
Album has dropped out of T100 after one week.
Posted by: pippa Jan 31 2020, 08:14 PM
It is not a surprise this was the result. That is not to say its not disappointing.
Posted by: tommie Jan 31 2020, 09:34 PM
Incidentally, if it had been released this week it would've made it to #10.
Posted by: Spiceboy Feb 2 2020, 11:07 PM
QUOTE(tommie @ Jan 31 2020, 09:34 PM)
Incidentally, if it had been released this week it would've made it to #10.
Poor Louise. It's like Emma's all over again if she had released the week before or after she would have had a top 10 album quite comfortably.
Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 3 2020, 12:46 AM
^ So typical
Funnily enough Louise’s second week position is #121, the same 2nd week position that Emma’s My Happy Place achieved!
Posted by: tommie Feb 3 2020, 04:56 AM
QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Feb 3 2020, 01:46 AM)
^ So typical
Funnily enough Louise’s second week position is #121, the same 2nd week position that Emma’s My Happy Place achieved!
It's like these albums have a small but very dedicated fanbase
Posted by: diamondtooth Feb 3 2020, 12:39 PM
I see Louise is headlining the Hull Pride in July this year. Glad she is continuing to perform after her solo tour and 9to5 stint in the west end. I actually like the fact that more new people are continuing to hear her music. Maybe she will continue to add to her small group of fans!
Posted by: dachiki Feb 4 2020, 05:39 AM
Is the tour selling well? none of her meet & greet are sold out except London.
Posted by: dachiki Feb 5 2020, 10:44 PM
all louise concert dates are 35% off on the groupon site. hurry to book because it sells quickly
Posted by: Jay ☆ Feb 10 2020, 08:52 AM
It won't come as a surprise but the album is out of the Top 200; 11-121-out
Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100: 4-30-75... Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100: 3-28-69...
Unfortunately I don't know Louise's sales this week, but we can roughly guess based on this information:
David Bowie - Legacy is #76 in the sales chart and he sold 441 pure copies, therefore Louise sold a bit more than that last week. Elton John - Diamonds is #70 in the physical chart with 410 physicals, and Dermot Kennedy - Without Fear at #67 sold 435.
Louise's streaming sales in week 1 was 157, and week 2 was 81. Can't really guess what week 3 would be, maybe it would have held up to a similar level as week 2 or fallen further.
I think ultimately at best Louise might have done around 500 units last week? Would lift her total sales to around ~7,600.
Oh well, she did well to get a position as high as #11, and this album was always going to be a one week wonder. She had a lot stacked against her... almost 20 years of inactivity, releasing independently and having quite minimal support from the industry.
Posted by: ___∆___ Feb 28 2020, 12:35 PM
Just got an email from Ticketmaster - all tickets 50% off for Louise’s upcoming shows until March 2nd *.*
Posted by: Dexton Feb 29 2020, 03:46 PM
Omg she released an album?
edit: I thought this said Louisa lmao
Posted by: tommie Feb 29 2020, 03:59 PM
QUOTE(Dexton @ Feb 29 2020, 04:46 PM)
Omg she released an album?
edit: I thought this said Louisa lmao
Posted by: Prettylittlebry Mar 4 2020, 11:30 AM
Stretch and Wrong are amazing bookends to the album.
Wrong is probably my favourite (unfortunately relatable for me) but it’s just so simple and raw. Which is what I like in my music 💙
Posted by: ___∆___ Mar 8 2020, 03:55 PM
All tickets for the tour are now £14.50 on Groupon - https://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/gl-louise-redknapp-heavy-love-tour
Posted by: Jay ☆ Mar 17 2020, 02:59 PM
Unfortunately but sensibly, Louise has cancelled/postponed the rest of her tour:
Cancelled or postponed dates: 18/03 - Nottingham 19/03 - Manchester 21/03 - Leeds 22/03 - Glasgow 23/03 - Newcastle 25/03 - Cambridge 26/03 - London
(She did 4 shows before cancellation - 12/03 Southampton, 14/03 Cardiff, 15/03 Bristol, 16/03 Birmingham)
Posted by: bpdbryan Jun 10 2022, 08:31 AM
Louise has announced that new music is coming soon!
!
*.*
I hate the fact that international orders are lost sales that don’t get counted anywhere (Either in the country their purchased from or the country they are going to!).
though they proceeded to play Stretch and Lead Me On today 
