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Unwritten
Standard edition cover
Studio album by Natasha Bedingfield
Released	6 September 2004 (2004-09-06)
Recorded	2003–2004
Genre	Pop R&B
Length	47:01
Label	Phonogenic
Producer	Danielle Brisebois Guy Chambers Richard Flack Andrew Frampton Peter Wade Keusch Steve Kipner Nick Lashley Patrick Leonard Wayne Rodrigues Greg Wells Wayne Wilkins
Natasha Bedingfield chronology
Unwritten (2004) N.B. (2007)
Alternative cover
North American editions cover
Singles from Unwritten
"Single" Released: 3 May 2004 "These Words" Released: 16 August 2004 "Unwritten" Released: 29 November 2004 "I Bruise Easily" Released: 4 April 2005

Unwritten is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Natasha Bedingfield. It was released in Europe on 6 September 2004 through Phonogenic Records and in the United States on 2 August 2005 through Epic Records. A pop and R&B album, Unwritten was produced by a number of producers, including Danielle Brisebois, Guy Chambers, Peter Wade Keusch, Steve Kipner, Patrick Leonard and Greg Wells.

In the United Kingdom, Unwritten topped both the UK Albums Chart and the Scottish Albums Chart, receiving a triple platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry for sales of over a million copies in the United Kingdom. In North America, it peaked at number twenty-six on the US Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of over 500,000 copies in the United States. The album spawned four singles: "Single", "These Words", "Unwritten" and "I Bruise Easily" from the 2006 reissue. The song "Drop Me in the Middle" featured rapper Bizarre on the international editions of the album, and English rapper and singer Estelle on the US editions. In 2006, the album was re-released in North America with new cover artwork and a slightly altered track listing, including "The One That Got Away".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
BBC Music	(positive)
PopMatters
musicOMH	(positive)
Rolling Stone

The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Earning a 7 out of 10 from PopMatters, Adrien Begrand, who said the album was Bedingfield's "brand of clever, R&B infused pop." Though, he went on to admit that the album was "not without its pitfalls." David Hooper from the BBC gave the album another positive review, writing "there's no denying this is a finely-crafted number with bold, voluptuous harmonies. It's guaranteed to thrill, at least for the first 30 plays." Further, Hollow stated "Unwritten is a textbook quality pop album, lifted by Natasha's strong voice, immaculate production and some absolutely corking singles. Whether you like it or not, you won't be able to get those tunes out of your head."

UK-based music review website musicOMH critic David Welsh praised the album, compared Bedingfield's success to that of her brother, calling the album "a startlingly accomplished debut outing, letting the whole world know that Daniel is by no means the only talented Bedingfield out there." Welsh continued to add that Unwritten was "both musically note-worthy and lyrically substantial", concluding that there was "no shame in adding this to your collection."

Commercial performance

Unwritten peaked at number one on the Official Charts Company's UK Albums Chart. It sold over one million copies in the United Kingdom, being certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In the United States, it peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard 200 with first week sales of 34,000. Its currently certified gold from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In Australia, it peaked at number 89 on ARIA Albums Chart. It also peaked at number 26 in Austria, number 20 in Germany, number 33 in Mexico and number 23 in Switzerland, making smaller impact outside the United Kingdom and the United States.

Track listing

Notes

• Some versions of the album swap original versions of "Single", "These Words" and "The One That Got Away" for various remixes.

Personnel

• Natasha Bedingfield – primary artist, lead vocals, background vocals, songwriting, vocal arrangements
• Keith Andes – additional keyboards ("Drop Me in the Middle")
• Dave Catlin-Birch – bass ("Silent Movie")
• Guy Chambers – guitar, keyboards, producer
• Justin Clayton – bass ("Peace of Me")
• Larry Corbett – cello ("Peace of Me")
• Keith Crouch – Hammond B-3 organ ("Unwritten")
• Paul Gordon – keyboards ("We're All Mad")
• Nick Ingman – string arrangements, conductor
• Patrick Leonard – music programming, keyboards ("Peace of Me")
• David Low – cello ("Stumble")
• Tim Pierce – guitar ("Peace of Me")
• Robbie Campos – guitar, keyboards
• Michele Richards – violin ("Peace of Me")
• Josephina Vergara – violin ("Peace of Me")
• Greg Wells – bass, guitar, piano, drums
• Joey Waronker – drums ("Peace of Me")
• Danielle Brisebois – background vocals ("Unwritten"), producer, vocal arrangements
• Jessica Collins – background vocals ("Unwritten" and "Drop Me in the Middle")
• Nikola Bedingfield – background vocals ("Unwritten" and "Drop Me in the Middle")
• Ryan Collins – background vocals ("Unwritten")
• J. Curtis – guitar ("Size Matters")
• Nick Lashley – guitar, keyboards
• Wayne Wilkins – piano, keyboards
• Chris Brown – bass ("If You're Gonna...")
• Paul Herman – guitar ("I Bruise Easily")
• Wayne Rodrigues – keyboards, turntables
• Andrew Frampton – guitar, keyboards, programming, producer, vocal arrangements, string arrangements
• Simon Hill – drums ("If You're Gonna...")
• Andrew Duckles – viola ("Peace of Me")
• Tony Hodson – guitar ("Drop Me in the Middle")
• Paul Stanborough – additional guitars ("Silent Movie")
• Steve Kipner – producer, vocal arrangements
• Joe Chiccarelli – engineer
• John Hill – producer
• Nick Ingman – string arrangements, string conductor
• Patrick Leonard – programming, producer
• Steve MacMillan – engineer
• Herb Powers – mastering
• Greg Wells – programming, producer
• Gavyn Wright – string conductor
• Suzie Katayama – string contractor
• Nick Lashley – producer, engineer
• David Channing – digital editing
• Michael Perfitt – engineer, digital editing
• Ryan Freeland – engineer
• James Cruz – mastering
• Wayne Wilkins – programming, producer, engineer, vocal arrangements, string arrangements
• Ian Cuttler – art direction
• Richard Flack – producer, engineer, drum programming
• Robbie Campos – vocal arrangements, string arrangements
• Wayne Rodrigues – producer, engineer, digital editing, vocal arrangements, drum programming, Pro-Tools
• Michelle Holme – art direction
• Kieron Menzies – engineer
• Chris Steffen – engineer
• Peter Wade Keusch – producer
• Lee Groves – mixing programmer
• Michael Tafaro – producer, vocal arrangements
• Nathan Winkler – producer, vocal arrangements

Charts

Certifications

References

Notes

1. The cover was used outside North America. On pressings distributed outside the United Kingdom, a light yellow frame borders the image.
2. The 2006 reissue cover features the image used for the single cover for "Single".

Citations

1. ^ Begrand, Adrien (15 September 2005). "Natasha Bedingfield: Unwritten". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 26 October 2005. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
2. Gill, Andy (3 September 2004). "Album: Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten". The Independent. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
3. "AllMusic review".
4. ^ Hooper, David (6 September 2005). "BBC – Music – Review of Natasha Bedingfield Unwritten". BBC Music. Archived from the original on 11 November 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
5. ^ Welsh, David (6 September 2004). "Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten (BMG)". Archived from the original on 7 September 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
6. Hoard, Christian (25 August 2005). "Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
7. ^ "British album certifications – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". British Phonographic Industry.
8. "Hill's 'Fireflies' Lights up the Billboard 200". Billboard.
9. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 November 2004" (PDF). Australian Web Archive. 1 November 2004. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
10. "Austriancharts.at – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten" (in German). Hung Medien.
11. "Ultratop.be – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
12. "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. 25 August 2005. Archived from the original on 31 August 2005. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
14. "Hits of The World: Eurocharts". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 39. 25 September 2004. p. 67. Retrieved 8 September 2023 – via Google Books.
15. "Lescharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
17. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2024. 6. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ.
18. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 37, 2004". Chart-Track. IRMA.
19. "アンリトゥン" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
20. "Mexicancharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
21. "Charts.nz – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
22. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
23. "Swedishcharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
24. "Swisscharts.com – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Hung Medien.
25. "Natasha Bedingfield | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
26. "Natasha Bedingfield Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
27. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2004". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
28. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2005". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
29. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2005". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
30. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Natasha Bedingfield; 'Unwritten')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
31. Myers, Justin (1 July 2016). "One hit album wonders – huge albums that were hard acts to follow". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
32. "American album certifications – Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Peter Wade Music – Producer Peter Wade Keusch

• 2004 debut albums
• Albums produced by Greg Wells
• Albums produced by Patrick Leonard
• Natasha Bedingfield albums
• Phonogenic Records albums