Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten

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

Name Credits Andrew Duckles Viola Andrew Frampton String Arrangements, Producer, Guitar, Vocal Arrangement, Keyboards, Programming, Mixing Andrew Southam Photography Brian Malouf Mixing Chris Brown Bass Chris Steffen Engineer Danielle Brisebois Producer, Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement Dave Catlin-Birch Bass David Channing Digital Editing David Low Cello David Treaheam Mixing Assistant, Assistant Engineer David Treahearn Assistant Gavyn Wright String Conductor Glenn Pittman Assistant, Assistant Engineer Greg Wells Guitar, Bass, Programming, Drums, Mixing, Piano, Producer Guy Chambers Keyboards, Producer, Guitar Herb Powers Mastering Ian Cuttler Design, Art Direction J. Curtis Guitar James Cruz Mastering Jared Robbins Mixing Assistant, Assistant Jessica Collins Vocals (Background) Joe Chiccarelli Engineer Joey Waronker Drums John Hill Mixing, Producer Josephina Vergara Violin Justin Clayton Bass Keith Andes Keyboards Keith Crouch Organ (Hammond) Keith Naftaly A&R Kieron Menzies Engineer Larry Corbett Cello Lee Groves Mixing Programmer Manny Marroquin Mixing Mark "Spike" Stent Mixing Michael Perfitt Engineer, Digital Editing Michael Tafaro Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Original Recording Producer Michele Richards Violin Michelle Holme Art Direction, Design Natasha Bedingfield Vocals (Background), Vocal Arrangement, Vocals Nathan Winkler Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Original Recording Producer Nick Ingman String Conductor, Conductor, String Arrangements Nick Lashley Producer, Guitar, Engineer, Keyboards Nikola Bedingfield Vocals (Background) Owen Skinner Mixing Assistant, Assistant Patrick Leonard Keyboards, Producer, Programming Paul Gordon Keyboards Paul Herman Vocal Arrangement, Guitar Paul Stanborough Guitar Paul Walton String Engineer Peter Wade Keusch Producer, Mixing Richard Flack Engineer, Drum Programming, Producer Rob Haggett Assistant, Assistant Engineer Rob Kinelski Mixing Assistant, Assistant Ryan Freeland Engineer Sam Miller Mixing Assistant, Assistant Simon Hill Drums Steve Kipner Producer, Vocal Arrangement Steve MacMillan Engineer Steve Mustarde Assistant, Assistant Engineer Suzie Katayama String Contractor Tim Pierce Guitar Tony Hodson Guitar Wayne Rodrigues Engineer, Keyboards, Producer, Drum Programming, Pro-Tools, Turntables, Digital Editing, Vocal Arrangement Wayne Wilkins Producer, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement, String Arrangements, Mixing, Programming, Piano, Engineer