Jump to content

I Don't Want You Back

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I Don't Want You Back
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 17, 2004 (2004-02-17)
Recorded2003
Studio
(New York City)
GenreR&B[1]
Length48:55
LabelJive
Producer
Eamon chronology
I Don't Want You Back
(2004)
Love & Pain
(2006)
Singles from I Don't Want You Back
  1. "Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)"
    Released: November 24, 2003
  2. "I Love Them Ho's (Ho-Wop)"
    Released: April 26, 2004

I Don't Want You Back is the debut album by American R&B singer Eamon, released in the United States on February 17, 2004. Produced by Milk Dee and Roy "Royalty" Hamilton, the album spawned two singles which combined modern hip hop with classic doo wop: "Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)" and "I Love Them Ho's (Ho-Wop)". The album garnered a mixed reception from critics who found the production too predictable and the repeated profanity wearing. The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 106,000 copies. It was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 copies.

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Blender[3]
Entertainment.ie[4]
The Guardian[5]
People[6]
Q[7]
Robert Christgau(dud)[8]
Rolling Stone[1]
Slant Magazine[9]
USA Today[10]

I Don't Want You Back received generally mixed reviews from music critics who found the production by-the-numbers and felt that his potty-mouth gimmick wore thin. Johnny Loftus of AllMusic found a lot of filler in the album but said that it is "still quite promising, especially with such a statement-making single."[2] Entertainment.ie was mixed about the album's tracks with their depiction of women, concluding that "Eamon certainly has plenty of attitude and his album is undeniably good fun. But he also has a bit of growing up to do."[4] Rob Kemp of Rolling Stone said he saw promise in Eamon through the album's competent R&B production and the track "I Love Them Ho's (Ho-Wop)," concluding that "you wonder if this modestly gifted kid has something special inside him that perhaps Kanye West or R. Kelly could coax out."[1]

Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine found Eamon's talent on the album limited, saying that the tracks that don't mix his dirty mouth with Motown and doo-wop melodies aren't "clever or well-constructed enough to transcend the misogyny and double-standards put on whorish display."[9] Despite praising Eamon's vocals, the album's beats and guest rap appearances, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian found the swearing crooner gimmick throughout the album wearing thin before it even ended.[5] Robert Christgau graded the album as a "dud",[8] indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought."[11] Elysa Gardner of USA Today criticized the album for its lack of humor or irony throughout the tracklist, saying that "Eamon makes Eminem look like a standard-bearer for feminists."[10]

Commercial performance

[edit]

The album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 106,000 copies.[12] It dropped to number nine in its second week with sales dropping 31% to 73,000 copies.[13] It was certified Gold by the RIAA and sold 591,000 copies as of June 2006.[14]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro" (featuring Al Trautwig)
M. Passy0:15
2."I Love Them Ho's (Ho-Wop)"
2:27
3."Somethin' Strange" (featuring Rap Legend Milk Dee)
  • E. Doyle
  • K. Robinson
  • Milk Dee
  • M. Passy
3:04
4."On & On"
  • E. Doyle
  • K. Robinson
  • Yared Williams
  • Milk Dee
  • Y. Williams
3:27
5."Fuck It (I Don't Want You Back)"
  • E. Doyle
  • K. Robinson
  • M. Passy
Milk Dee3:45
6."Get off My Dick!" (featuring Rap Legend Milk Dee)
  • E. Doyle
  • K. Robinson
  • Y. Williams
Milk Dee3:42
7."Girl Act Right"
R. Hamilton3:05
8."My Baby's Lost"
  • E. Doyle
  • K. Robinson
  • Y. Williams
  • Milk Dee
  • Eamon*
2:59
9."I Want You So Bad"
  • E. Doyle
  • K. Robinson
  • M. Passy
  • Milk Dee
  • M. Passy
3:30
10."4 the Rest of Your Life"
  • E. Doyle
  • K. Robinson
  • Y. Williams
  • Milk Dee
  • Y. Williams
4:06
11."All Over Love"
  • Y. Williams
  • A. Brito
  • Y. Williams
  • Milk Dee*
3:16
12."Controversy"
  • E. Doyle
  • Y. Williams
  • Y. Williams
  • Milk Dee*
3:54
13."Lo Rida" (featuring N.O.R.E.)
Y. Williams4:00
14."I'd Rather Fuck with You"R. Hamilton3:25
15."Finally"
  • E. Doyle
  • V. Jeffrey Smith
  • Milk Dee
  • V. Jeffrey Smith
4:00
  • (*) Denotes co-producer.
Sample credits
  • "I Love Them Ho's (Ho-Wop)", samples "I Only Have Eyes For You" performed by The Flamingos, and written by Al Dubin and Harry Warren.
  • "My Baby's Lost", samples "Top Billin'" performed by Audio Two, and written by Kirk Robinson.
  • "I'd Rather Fuck with You", samples "I'd Rather Be With You" performed by Bootsy Collins, and written by Bootsy Collins, George Clinton Jr. and Gary Cooper and "I'd Rather Fuck You" performed by N.W.A., and written by Eazy-E.

Personnel

[edit]

Adapted from the I Don't Want You Back liner notes.[15]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[40] Gold 591,000[14]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Kemp, Rob (March 10, 2004). "I Don't Want You Back : Eamon : Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Loftus, Johnny. "I Don't Want You Back - Eamon". AllMusic. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  3. ^ Weiner, John (May 2004). "Eamon: I Don't Want You Back". Blender. p. 122.
  4. ^ a b "Music Review | Eamon - I Don't Want You Back". Entertainment.ie. May 12, 2004. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Sullivan, Caroline (April 30, 2004). "CD: Eamon, I Don't Want You Back". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  6. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: I Don't Want You Back". People. Time Inc. March 8, 2004. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "Eamon Rap - I Don't Want You Back CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "CG: Eamon". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  9. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (March 3, 2004). "Eamon: I Don't Want You Back | Album Review". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Gardner, Elysa (March 1, 2004). "Cee-Lo's 'Green' is gold; Black's 'Time' is well spent". USA Today. Gannett. Archived from the original on April 5, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  11. ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Key to Icons". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  12. ^ Martens, Todd (February 25, 2004). "Jones Remains At 'Home' At No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  13. ^ Martens, Todd (March 3, 2004). "Norah Makes Comfy 'Home' At No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Eamon Sharing 'Pain' On Sophomore Album". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. March 13, 2006. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  15. ^ I Don't Want You Back (booklet). Eamon. Jive. 2004. 82876-58370-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". Hung Medien.
  17. ^ "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 2nd August 2004" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association (753): 16. August 2, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Pandora Archive.
  18. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  21. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  22. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  23. ^ "Lescharts.com – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  24. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  25. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Eamon". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  26. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  27. ^ "Charts.nz – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  28. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  29. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  30. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  31. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  32. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  33. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  34. ^ "Eamon Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  35. ^ "Eamon Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  36. ^ "UK Year-End Chart 2004" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  37. ^ "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  38. ^ "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2004". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  39. ^ "British album certifications – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  40. ^ "American album certifications – Eamon – I Don't Want You Back". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 7, 2015.