Stacie Orrico - Stacie Orrico

A sixteen year old Stacie Orrico first burst on to the music scene with the hit single 'Stuck' in the Summer of 2003. I remember seeing the video on MTV and thinking that with a voice that powerful and a song that brilliant I really should know who this unfamiliar artist was. I even had a conversation whilst on holiday with the girlies when the song came on the TV in a bar one night about how much we loved the song, yet none of us had a clue who ...
...It therefore speaks volumes that Stacie was not only able to do this with her first single but she could then follow up the success with her second.

After the triumph of debut singles "Stuck" and "More To Life" it wasn't long before Stacie released her debut album, entitled simply "Stacie Orrico". This album is best categorised as a mix of RnB. Whilst some of the tracks lean towards upbeat powerful pop, ... more

A sixteen year old Stacie Orrico first burst on to the music scene with the hit single 'Stuck' in the Summer of 2003. I remember seeing the video on MTV and thinking that with a voice that powerful and a song that brilliant I really should know who this unfamiliar artist was. I even had a conversation whilst on holiday with the girlies when the song came on the TV in a bar one night about how much we loved the song, yet none of us had a clue who this Stacie Orrico was.

With the rise of reality TV and the emergence of the TV-to-pop-star transition (think Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Kylie Minogue) it seems that most popstars nowadays have already built up a fan base before they have even released their first single. It therefore says a lot about the talent of an artist and the virtue of a song when the singer can come from nowhere with no prior fame or background story and still get in the top five of the UK chart. It therefore speaks volumes that Stacie was not only able to do this with her first single but she could then follow up the success with her second.

After the triumph of debut singles "Stuck" and "More To Life" it wasn't long before Stacie released her debut album, entitled simply "Stacie Orrico". This album is best categorised as a mix of RnB. Whilst some of the tracks lean towards upbeat powerful pop, others have clear R&B overtures and, unfortunately, several other tracks are just a little too cheesy with an immature over-enthusiastic pop sound. Stacie said at the time of the singles that she was influenced by soulful musicians and you can hear this in her voice.

What is most unusual about this album, however, is the lyrics. Most pop albums that I have listened to (and there have been many) revolve around love and relationships, yet Stacie's lyrics cut a little deeper.

When people think of Christias perhaps "glamorous", "sexy" or "cool" are not words that spring to mind. Unless you have chosen an unusual "alternative religion" such as scientology or kabalah, which are now easily accepted due to the likes of Madonna, there seems to be a certain stigma attached to being religious. There is also something of a "me me me" attitude when it comes to celebs, and popstars can often find it hard to keep their feet on the ground, getting wrapped up in their world of money, fame and power. It is therefore refreshing when someone like Beyonce or Jessica Simpson comes along, someone who can reverse this negative ideology and who can stay true to themselves and say, this is me, I have faith, this is who I am. What I found nice on this album is that Stacie has stayed true to her roots and her faith and has taken one brave step further. Amongst the songs such as 'Stuck' that reflect on love and relationships, Stacie also ponders the state of the world and empathises with those of less fortunate and also includes songs that focus on her religious background and her love of God. Stacie said that her aim is to sing about things that she is dealing with in life and she tackles more topics on her album than a lot of singers dare to cover.

Anyway, after admiring Stacie's honesty and lyrics, hearing her amazing talent and loving her first two singles, I decided to buy this album immediately, eager to listen to what seemed to be a very promising album…

STUCK is the first track on the album and was also Stacie's debut single in the UK. This song stormed in to the charts and gave Stacie a triumphant number one, a brilliant accomplishment for a previously unknown artist. The song, which features Stacie mourning the end of a relationship, is pure pop with a catchy upbeat chorus that demonstrates Stacie's strong vocal talent. It is an instant hit which does not lose its appeal even after countless listens and is undoubtedly my favourite track on the album. In fact, if I were to make a list of my top five songs of all time then this one would definitely make the list. 10/10

(THERE'S GOTTA BE) MORE TO LIFE, Stacie's second single, is another favourite and continues in the powerful, vocal-led pop style that made 'Stuck' such a success. Stacie is lamenting on the shallowness and emptiness of life at the top, a lifestyle that revolves simply around money and fame - "I've got it all, but I feel so deprived/I go up, I come down and I'm emptier inside/Tell me what is this thing that I feel like I'm missing/And why can't I let it go". Stacie's lyrics are powerful and heartfelt and the chorus is unbelievably catchy. 10/10

BOUNCE BACK is a bit disappointing after the brilliant first tracks on the album. It is aiming at a more R&B sound but just sounds a bit try-hard to me. It doesn't make the most of Stacie's voice and the lyrics are not very creative ("Bounce, bounce back/Shake it off, get right on track/I'm moving on, gotta put it in the past/Bounce, bounce back/Snap my fingers and just like that/I let it go, gotta let it fade to black"). It is very forgettable with Stacie's voice as the only redeeming feature. 5/10

I PROMISE, Stacie's third single, is a ballad which starts off with a gentle verse that drifts in to a nice chorus. It is not particularly powerful, misses the dramatic, soaring chorus that most ballads are famous for and the music accompaniment is nothing special but it is a nice, heartfelt track that showcases Stacie's beautiful and powerful vocals and which makes me feel all nice and warm inside. A listenable, sweet ballad. 8/10

SECURITY is not really "single material" but is a nice enough pop/R&B song. It is a Christian based song reflecting on Stacie's relationship with God - "I need You so close to me/ Cause You're the only one that makes my life complete/ Oh Lord, I know it took so long to see/ That You're my security". The lyrics are meaningful but unfortunately the music is a bit too repetitive and bland and does not carry off the lyrics or vocals that well. 6/10

I am very glad that INSTEAD is placed at this point on the album as I was beginning to feel a bit despondent after the disappointing efforts that followed Stacie's first brilliant singles. I breathed a sigh of relief at the commencement of what is now my joint favourite track on the album. 'Instead' was an instant hit with me and is a very powerful song, vocally, musically and lyrically. This track is very unique and the lyrics are thoughtful and interesting with Stacie putting herself in the shoes of various other less fortunate characters - "I saw him shaking his change in a coffee cup/Asked for a dollar but I told the man to give it up… I turned my back on him and began to walk away/ But then I heard a little voice inside me say/What if it's really true what if he's hungry/What if its not for him, does he have a family… Wonder what I'd do if it were me". I like the music at the beginning which begins in a minor key and is quite intriguing and catchy from the start, leading up to Stacie's brilliant vocals accompanied by a strong beat and unusual backing track. The track launches in to a really powerful chorus which carries off the lyrics perfectly. This is a great pop track and it's nice to hear a popstar reflecting on something else besides them and their own "troubles" for once. 10/10

HESITATION is probably the most R&B influenced track, it is quite a laid back track with R&B type beats in the background and a repetitive sound. It is a good, middle-of-the-road track that makes for a good, if not very memorable, listen. The lyrics are again thoughtful and heartfelt about choosing to follow God - "Your heart will never be the same/ Giving up drama's days/ Letting go uneasy way/ When will you ever realize/ Letting go all your lies/ All the pain will subside". 8/10

I really like STRONG ENOUGH. It is another religious track and is very heartfelt, reflecting on Stacie's troubles and pain - "Will my weakness for an hour make me suffer for a lifetime, is there any way to be made whole again? If I'm healed, renewed and find forgiveness, find the strength I've never had, will my scars ruin all God's plans?" Stacie sounds amazing and you can tell that she means every word. It is a beautiful, gentle ballad and is really moving. 9/10

I COULD BE THE ONE was Stacie's fourth single and I'm not sure why she chose this one, it's not the strongest track on the album. It is an OK sound but a little too upbeat and bubbly, I found it a little bit annoying even though I like the lyrics. I think it is a bit of a filler to be honest and not an obvious single choice for me. 6/10

MAYBE I WON'T LOOK BACK is another middle-of-the-road pop/R&B track, again with thoughtful and meaningful lyrics about respecting other people, but again the music doesn't really back it up and it remains as a listenable, yet forgettable, track. 6/10

TIGHT is very R&B in style and an unusual track. It is an OK laid back track until it gets to a change of key towards the end when it suddenly switches to a rap-type interlude which jut sounds weird and doesn't go with the rest of the track. It is a strange track but isn't bad. 5/10

THAT'S WHAT LOVE'S ABOUT begins with the sound of rain and violins before Stacie starts singing. It is an R&B/pop ballad with pretty vocals and a gentle, laid back chorus. The lyrics are again about loving and respecting others - "When he is down you should help your brother/When it comes around we should help one another/Help build him up when he's down and out… That's what love's about". This is a sweet and gentle track that brings the album to a nice close, with a pretty pop sound and an admirable ending message. 8/10

TRACKS-
1. STUCK
2. (THERE'S GOTTA BE) MORE TO LIFE
3. BOUNCE BACK
4. I PROMISE
5. SECURITY
6. INSTEAD
7. HESITATION
8. STRONG ENOUGH
9. I COULD BE THE ONE
10. MAYBE I WON'T LOOK BACK
11. TIGHT
12. THAT'S WHAT LOVE'S ABOUT

UK SINGLES FEATURED ON ALBUM-
STUCK
(THERE'S GOTTA BE) MORE TO LIFE
I PROMISE
I COULD BE THE ONE

TRACKS WRITTEN BY STACIE- (8 out of 12)
STUCK
SECURITY
INSTEAD
HESITATION
STRONG ENOUGH
I COULD BE THE ONE
MAYBE I WON'T LOOK BACK
THAT'S WHAT LOVE'S ABOUT

BEST TRACK- Stuck and Instead

WORST TRACK- Tight

ALBUM UNIQUE SELLING POINT- Stacie's voice - it is really soulful and beautiful - and the thought-provoking lyrics. Plus Stacie seems like a really nice girl.

ALBUM SUMMARISED IN ONE WORD- Varied

SOUNDS MOST SIMILAR TO- Early Christina. Stacie has a powerful voice like Christina and her sound is very pop, similar to Christina's early sound. It is a good album but you can tell that Stacie hasn't really found her sound yet, similar to Christina in her early days.

ARTIST POTENTIAL- Stacie has great talent, popstar looks and a lovely personality. She has gained many fans including Destiny's Child who asked her to tour with them back in the day. Unfortunately, however, this does not always guarantee success. We will just have to wait and see…

SCORE OUT OF 10 FOR…
VOCALS- 10
LYRICS- 10
MUSIC/BACKING TRACKS- 7
VARIATION IN TRACKS- 8
OVERALL ALBUM- 7

RECOMMENDED-Yes. There are a disappointing amount of fillers that do not quite match up to the standard of Stacie's singles but every song is listenable and there are also a lot of brilliant tracks too. 

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