Elevate (Big Time Rush album)

Elevate is the second studio album by American boy band Big Time Rush. It was released on November 21, 2011, by Columbia Records in association with Nickelodeon. The band worked with accomplished songwriters and producers for the album. These include those that assisted with the material from their debut album, such as Emanuel Kiriakou, Lindy Robbins, Nicholas Furlong, Damon Sharpe, Eric Sanicola and Lucas Secon, along with other notable songwriters and producers, such as JR Rotem, Christopher Stewart, The-Dream, Jay Sean, and Ryan Tedder. The production process of the album took place between nine months to a year, most of which was during their touring process.

Elevate
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 21, 2011 (2011-11-21)
Genre
Length40:46
Label
Producer
Big Time Rush chronology
BTR
(2010)
Elevate
(2011)
Big Time Movie Soundtrack
(2012)
Singles from Elevate
  1. "Music Sounds Better with U"
    Released: November 1, 2011
  2. "Windows Down"
    Released: June 25, 2012

Background

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The album acts as the soundtrack to the Nickelodeon television series Big Time Rush, which features songs that appeared in the series' second season and the television movie, Big Time Movie. Following the success of their first release, the band was inspired to be more involved in the writing process for this album, writing together or separately a total of eight songs. Elevate is mainly a pop-inspired dance-rock album, also showcasing soul-pop and alternative rock. The first single from Elevate, "Music Sounds Better with U", was released on November 1, 2011.

Promotion

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TeenNick hosted a listening party in support of the band's new album, premiering every song on the album along with playing episodes that contain songs from the album and playing the music video for the first single, "Music Sounds Better with U". Nickelodeon hosted a thirty-minute special called Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better With U in which scenes from the band's tour and studio recording sessions are compiled together for airing.[1] The scenes feature information about the recording and production of the album.[1]

Singles

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"Music Sounds Better With U", featuring Mann, was released as first single on November 1, 2011. The music video was released November 12, 2011 during their brand new special, Big Time Rush: Music Sounds Better With U. The second and last single was "Windows Down", released on June 25, 2012, from the re-released version.

Promotional singles

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"If I Ruled the World", featuring Iyaz, was released on July 22, 2011. The music video was released July 23, 2011 and features the guys traveling and performing for their fans. It was predicted as a Future Hit by This Must Be Pop Awards.[2] "Elevate" was released on June 1, 2012, as the second promotional single on Apple Music in the United Kingdom, containing "Blow Your Speakers" as the B-side.[3]

Better With U Tour

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A tour for the album was announced in early fall 2011, named Better with U Tour, taken from the album's first single. The tour began on February 17, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada and ended at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on March 9, 2012. JoJo and One Direction were the opening acts for the tour. While visiting the United Kingdom in 2012, the band revealed 4 alternate covers for the album exclusive to the country, each one featuring individual pictures of each of the members and an autograph. These Special Editions were released at the same time the regular UK edition did (February 6) and share the same track list. These special covers are presented in slipcase package.[4][5][6][7]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [8]
Common Sense Media     [9]

The album received mixed to positive reviews with music critics and fans, mostly praising the production and more mature sound. Matt Collar of AllMusic stated, "the album brings to mind a mix of Maroon 5's funky soul-pop and the yearning alt-rock of OneRepublic. This is slick, well-produced pop music that, while aimed at 'tween' fans of the band's Nickelodeon TV show, has enough smart songcraft and romantic passion to appeal to even more mature fans of radio-friendly pop music." He praised songs such as "Music Sounds Better With U", "No Idea" and "Time of Our Life" calling them, "positive-minded and joyful party tracks."[8] Jessica Dawson of Common Sense Media said, "The songs are crisper and more contemporary, letting them show off their boy-band harmonies with beats that are catchy but perhaps a bit too synthesized."[9]

Commercial performance

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Elevate platinum record after the album sold more than 2 million units worldwide

The album debuted at number one on the iTunes album chart as well as a number 12 debut on the Billboard 200 and stayed 22 weeks on chart.[10] In its first week, the album sold 70,000 copies.[11] As of 2012, the album has sold 208,000 copies in the United States.[12] The album received a Gold plaque by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for 500,000 units sales.[13]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Music Sounds Better with U" (featuring Mann)
  • Tedder
  • Zancanella
  • Kutzle
3:09
2."Show Me"
Secon2:51
3."All Over Again"
3:37
4."No Idea"
4:59
5."Cover Girl"Gad3:00
6."Love Me Love Me"
3:01
7."If I Ruled the World" (featuring Iyaz)Kiriakou3:00
8."Invisible"
Rotem3:20
9."Time of Our Life"
  • Infinity
  • Holmes
3:27
10."Superstar"
3:23
11."You're Not Alone"
  • Schmidt
  • Steven Batty
  • Carlos Batty
  • Rojas
Rojas3:53
12."Elevate"
  • Sharpe
  • Johnny Powers Severin
  • Sanicola
3:06
Total length:40:46
iTunes Store edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Blow Your Speakers"
Fraser T Smith3:12
United Kingdom edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Epic"
3:26
BTRBand.com pre-order edition bonus download
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Paralyzed"Squire3:11
2012 reissue bonus track[15]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Windows Down"
3:13

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for Elevate
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[13] Gold 500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Formats Label
Various November 18, 2011[32] CD, digital download[32] Sony Music Entertainment,[32] Nick,[32] Columbia[32]
United Kingdom February 6, 2012 CD, digital download Sony Music Entertainment, Nick, RCA
Japan January 6, 2012 Digital download Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Nick
Philippines March 17, 2012 CD Sony Music Entertainment, Nick, Columbia, Ivory Music & Video (distributor)
United States November 21, 2011 CD, digital download Nick, Columbia

References

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  1. ^ a b "Big Time Rush Reveals 'Better With U' Tour Dates". Pop Crush. Townsquare Media, LLC. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  2. ^ "This Must Be Pop brings you Future Pop! (Issue #05) « This Must Be Pop". Thismustbepop.com. 2011-11-07. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  3. ^ Big Time Rush (June 1, 2012). "Elevate - Single by Big Time Rush on Apple Music". music.apple.com.
  4. ^ "Elevate (UK) - Kendall Edition". Play.com.
  5. ^ "Elevate (UK) - Carlos Edition". Play.com.
  6. ^ "Elevate (UK) - James Edition". Play.com.
  7. ^ "Elevate (UK) - Logan Edition". Play.com.
  8. ^ a b Collar, Matt. Elevate - Big Time Rush | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic at AllMusic
  9. ^ a b Dawson, Jessica. "Elevate Music Review". commonsensemedia.org. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  10. ^ "Big Time Rush Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  11. ^ "BIG TIME RUSH DECLARE THEMSELVES 'BEST BOY BAND OF ALL TIME'". MTV. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015. Retrieved 2021-02-21.
  12. ^ "Exclusive: Listen To Big Time Rush's 'Big Time Movie' Soundtrack". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "American album certifications – Big Time Rush – Elevate". Recording Industry Association of America.
  14. ^ http://repertoire.bmi.com/title.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&keyID=13590731&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&querytype=WorkID [dead link]
  15. ^ "iTunes - Music - Elevate by Big Time Rush". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-07-10. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  16. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Big Time Rush – Elevate" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Big Time Rush – Elevate" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  18. ^ "TOP STRANIH - TJEDAN 10. 2015" (in Croatian). Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Big Time Rush – Elevate" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  20. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Big Time Rush". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Italiancharts.com – Big Time Rush – Elevate". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  22. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  24. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Big Time Rush – Elevate". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  25. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  26. ^ "Big Time Rush Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  27. ^ "Elevate (Soundtrack) Chart History | Billboard". Billboard.
  28. ^ "Big Time Rush Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  29. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End | Billboard". Billboard. 2012.
  30. ^ "Kid Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  31. ^ "Billboard Magazine USA - 22 December 2012" (PDF). Billboard. December 22, 2012. p. 68. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2021.
  32. ^ a b c d e Elevate Big Time Rush