Chrysalis (Anggun album)

Chrysalis (English version) / Désirs contraires (French version) is the second international studio album by Anggun. The album was released by Columbia Records and Sony Music Entertainment in over 15 countries in Europe and Asia, with the English version being first released in Japan on 30 August 2000 and the French version premiering in France on 2 October 2000. A major departure to her debut album's world music composition, Chrysalis features electropop sounds with elements of R&B and ambient music. The album was again produced by Erick Benzi, but it featured some of Anggun's compositions. Anggun also co-wrote the entire material on the English version.

Chrysalis
English version artwork
Studio album by
Released30 August 2000
Recorded1999-2000
GenrePop, electronic, R&B
Length53:27 (English version)
52:01 (French version)
LabelColumbia, Sony Music
ProducerErick Benzi
Anggun chronology
Snow on the Sahara
(1997)
Chrysalis
(2000)
Open Hearts
(2002)
Désirs contraires
French version artwork
Singles from Chrysalis
  1. "Un geste d'amour"
    Released: May 1, 2000[1]
  2. "Still Reminds Me"
    Released: August 30, 2000[2]
  3. "Chrysalis"
    Released: 2000

Chrysalis debuted at number 66 on the Billboard's European Top 100 Albums chart. It became her second top-ten album in Italy, and was certified gold in a week after its release. In Indonesia, Chrysalis received quadruple Platinum certification. Désirs contraires peaked at number 48 on the French Albums Chart and has sold about 30,000 copies in France. The album received Platinum Export for its commercial success outside France. Singles released were "Still Reminds Me" and "Chrysalis" from Chrysalis, as well as "Un geste d'amour" and "Derrière la porte" from Désirs contraires. To promote the album, Anggun embarked on a tour across Asia and Europe, including her first ever concert in France at Le Bataclan on 1 February 2001.[3]

Composition

As the title suggests, Chrysalis shows Anggun's growth—both personally and musically—as prior to the release of the album, she divorced her husband of seven years, Michel Georgea. The divorce presumably inspired Anggun to write songs like "Still Reminds Me" and "Broken Dream," among others, on the album. The album also marked Anggun's artistic development, as a departure from Snow on the Sahara where she only co-wrote one song, on Chrysalis she co-wrote every song with Erick Benzi with exceptions of "Rain," "Tears of Sorrow," and "Non Angelical," (co-written with Cathy Grier and Erick Benzi) and "Comme un privilege" (co-written with Erick Benzi and Nicolas Mingot). Anggun's songwriting varies from heartbroken ("Still Reminds Me," "Broken Dream"), love-longing ("Breathing," "Signs of Destiny"), humanity ("Tears of Sorrow," "How the World...") even spirituality ("A Prayer") and a fan's obsession ("Want You to Want Me").

The music is also a departure from the highly ethnic-influenced Snow on the Sahara to more Euro-pop/electro sounds. This evident is clear on songs like "Rain" ("Les champs de peine"), "Signs of Destiny" ("Tout peut arriver") and "Forbidden Love." Meanwhile, her pop/world trademark can also be found on "How The World..." ("Une femme"). The album also features some acoustic ballads (accompanied with piano only), in songs like "Want You to Want Me" ("Tu nages") and "Broken Dream". "Tu nages" was later covered by Celine Dion for her French album 1 fille & 4 types (2003).

Another thing, the album has a lot simpler production compared to Snow on the Sahara, as the sounds are mainly based on synth and computer programming. Only two instruments were used: electric guitar and keyboards. Like her debut album, the music on the English version is the same as the French one, but this time around, the lyrics are different (on Chrysalis, Anggun wrote all the lyrics by herself except for four songs and on Désirs Contraires, Erick Benzi took a sole songwriting part). There are two songs in the French version which are not available on the English version ("Marcher sur la mer" and "Brume"). Instead, they are replaced with two original songs in English ("A Prayer" and "Forbidden Love").

Reception

Chrysalis debuted at number 66 on the European Top 100 Albums chart compiled by Music & Media and Billboard based on sales all over the continent.[4] It became Anggun's second top-ten album on the official albums chart by Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI) and was certified gold in Italy in just one week of release. It also became Anggun's best-selling international album in Indonesia to date, with four Platinum certification.[5][6] Critically, the album received positive response from music critics. Brittany Jerlinga in a review for Pulse! magazine called the album "brilliant" and wrote that its songs are "soulful, strong and heart-felt."[7]

Track listing

English version

All tracks are written by Anggun and Erick Benzi, except where noted.

Chrysalis – International standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Still Reminds Me" 3:50
2."Rain"Anggun, Cathy Grier, Benzi3:46
3."Breathing" 3:48
4."Chrysalis" 3:43
5."Tears of Sorrow"Anggun, Grier, Benzi4:16
6."Want You to Want Me" 3:15
7."How the World..." 3:52
8."A Prayer" 3:47
9."Non Angelical"Anggun, Grier, Benzi3:53
10."Look into Yourself" 4:06
11."Forbidden Love" 4:14
12."Signs of Destiny" 3:57
13."Comme un privilege"Anggun, Benzi, Nicolas Mingot3:45
14."Broken Dream" 3:15
Total length:53:27
Chrysalis – Indonesian / Malaysian edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleLength
15."Yang Aku Tunggu" 
Chrysalis – Japanese edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleLength
15."Marcher sur la mer" 
Chrysalis – Scandinavian special edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Rain (Here Without You)" (duet with Jonas Winge Leisner)Anggun, Jonas Winge Leisner 
16."Ocean Love"  
17."Still Reminds Me" (Jason Nevins Video Mix)  
18."Chrysalis" (Hex Hector Pop Mix)  
19."The Making of Chrysalis" (A video of Anggun recording the songs of Chrysalis)  
Chrysalis – Singaporean special edition (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Still Reminds Me" (Jason Nevins Mid Tempo Radio Edit)  
16."Chrysalis" (Hex Hector Pop Radio Edit)  
17."Snow on the Sahara" (Live Unplugged Version)Benzi, Nikki Matheson 

French version

Désirs contraires – French standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Derrière la porte"Benzi3:51
2."Les champs de peine" 3:44
3."Un geste d'amour"Benzi4:06
4."Un monde à l'endroit" 4:14
5."Chaque jour sans fièvre"Benzi3:48
6."Une femme" 3:54
7."Tu nages"Benzi3:01
8."Mes désirs contraires" 3:44
9."Marcher sur la mer" 3:49
10."Tu mens" 3:43
11."Brume"Benzi3:09
12."Tout peut arriver" 3:57
13."Mon privilège"Benzi, Mingot3:44
14."Broken Dream" 3:17
Total length:52:01

Singles

Chrysalis

  1. "Still Reminds Me"
  2. "Chrysalis"
  3. "Yang 'Ku Tunggu"
  4. "Tears of Sorrow"

Désirs contraires

  1. "Un geste d'amour"
  2. "Derrière la porte"
  3. "Tu mens"

Charts

Certifications

Country Certifications
France (Bureau Export) Platinum Export[6]
Indonesia (ASIRI) 4× Platinum[6]
Italy (FIMI) Gold[5]

Release history

Region Date Label Edition(s) Format(s)
Japan[11][12] 30 August 2000 Epic Japan Chrysalis (Japanese edition) CD, cassette
Taiwan[13] 1 September 2000 Sony Music Taiwan Chrysalis
Italy[14] 7 September 2000 Sony Music Italy Chrysalis
France[15] 2 October 2000 Columbia Records Désirs contraires
Germany[16] 30 October 2000 Sony Music Germany Chrysalis
Indonesia[17] 6 April 2002 Columbia Records | Sony Music Indonesia Désirs contraires

References

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