Hazardous (album)

Hazardous is the fourth studio album by Vanessa Amorosi, released in Australia on 6 November 2009 to critical and commercial success, debuting at number 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart and Gold accreditation in Australia.[2][3] The album's lead single, "This Is Who I Am", became Amorosi's first and only number one-charting single, reaching number 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart in its first week of release.[4]

Hazardous
Studio album by Vanessa Amorosi
Released	6 November 2009[1]
Recorded	Fishhead Music Studios, Gothenburg, Sweden The Lab, Los Angeles
Genre	Pop rock, Electropop
Label	Universal Music Australia
Producer	MachoPsycho
Vanessa Amorosi chronology
Somewhere in the Real World (2008) Hazardous (2009) Back to Love (2019)
Singles from Hazardous
"This Is Who I Am" Released: 9 October 2009 "Hazardous" Released: 11 December 2009 "Mr. Mysterious" Released: 23 April 2010 "Off on My Kiss" Released: 24 May 2010 "Holiday" Released: 13 August 2010

Background

Hazardous was released in November 2009, less than 18 months after her previous studio album, Somewhere in the Real World. On working with songwriting team Machopsycho, she said: "It was literally pouring out of us. It's such a crazy thing when you have the right magic and chemistry going on – the songs tend to write themselves and really quickly."[5]

"This album is so raw and edgy and out-there... it might scare people who've bought my albums in the past," she said. "The whole album is all the stuff I've never wanted to talk about, and I've only now had the courage to put it out there. I had a lot to say with this album, that's why it came so quickly. I think a lot of people thought I'd take my time again, which I was nervous about. We were going to head to Europe with the last album, but then it would've been another two years, and people would've thought 'I'm tired of buying her records, she pisses off after each one'."[6]

Compared to the more soul and soft rock-influenced pop of Somewhere in the Real World, Hazardous features a more electropop and pop-rock sound. The album notably is Amorosi's first to feature a rap verse in one of her songs, that being Seany B's appearance in "Mr. Mysterious".

Singles

• "This Is Who I Am"

Released in October 2009, the song debuted at number 1 on the Australian Singles Chart, becoming Amorosi's first-ever number one single. It spent two weeks atop the chart, and has been certified 2× platinum for sales[7] in excess of 140,000 copies.

• "Hazardous"

Released in December 2009, the song peaked at number 29 on the Australian Singles Chart.

• "Mr. Mysterious"

"Mr. Mysterious" was released in April as the album's third single. It debuted at number 65, eventually rising up the charts. On 9 May 2010, "Mr. Mysterious" had peaked at the position of number 4 on the Australian Singles Chart.

• "Off on My Kiss"

Released as a digital single on 14 May 2010 in the UK.[8] It includes an additional remix; "Off on My Kiss" (Buzz Junkies Remix).[9]

• "Holiday"

"Holiday" was released in Australia on 13 August 2010.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]

Matthew Chisling of AllMusic lauded Hazardous, calling it "ruthless and exciting", and Amorosi's vocals "roof-raising". He also noted the album's mainstream sound, pointing out how the album was "even more radio accessible [than Somewhere in the Real World]", and said that "It's no surprise that any of the tracks could be as popular as the two first singles". Whilst he felt the album's upbeat sound "impedes on the presence of ballads as beautiful as Amorosi's previous number one single, "Perfect", he felt the album complemented Somewhere in the Real World as "two parts of a glorious release".[10]

Track listing

(Cat.No. 2724567)[1]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"This Is Who I Am"	Vanessa Amorosi, MachoPsycho (Robin Lynch & Niklas Olovson)	3:25
2.	"Mr. Mysterious" (featuring Seany B)	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	4:00
3.	"Holiday"	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	3:17
4.	"Hazardous"	Amorosi, Stefanie Ridel, Stuart Crichton, T James	3:26
5.	"Off on My Kiss"	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	3:31
6.	"Show Me How to Love"	Amorosi, Pam Reswick	4:04
7.	"Aliens and U.F.O.s"	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	3:15
8.	"Summer Nights"	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	2:53
9.	"Touch Me"	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	3:05
10.	"Baby's on Ice"	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	3:32
11.	"Sleep with That"	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	3:26
12.	"Higher Ground"	Amorosi, Reswick	3:50
13.	"Blow Me Away"	Amorosi, Matthew Gerrard, Steve Diamond	3:32
14.	"Snitch" (featuring Vince Colosimo)	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	3:27

Australian iTunes Store edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"This Is Who I Am" (MachoPsycho 'Euro Tech' Remix)	K Sebert, Dr. Luke, B. Blanco	4:02

English iTunes Store edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
16.	"Off on My Kiss" (Buzz Junkies Remix)	Amorosi, MachoPsycho	3:30

Personnel

• Produced by MachoPsycho. Recorded at Fishhead studios, Gothenburg, Sweden
• Track 11 and 13 produced by Matthew Gerrard. Recorded at The Lab, Los Angeles
• Vocals on track 6 and 12 recorded by Pam Reswick
• Mixed by Chris Lord Alge at Mix L.A. studios, Los Angeles
• Mastered by Tom Sterling at Sterling sound, New York City
• A&R: Ralph Carr
• Executive producers: Ralph Carr and Vanessa Amorosi
• Management: Ralph Carr for RCM
• Photography and art: Pierre Baroni

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009/10)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11]	7

Year-End charts

Chart (2009)	Position
Australian Albums Chart[12]	78
Australian Artist Albums Chart[13]	22
Chart (2010)	Position
Australian Albums Chart[14]	70
Australian Artist Albums Chart[15]	20

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[16]	Gold	35,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label	Catalogue
Australia	6 November 2009	Digital download, CD album	Universal	2724567
Germany	13 July 2010[17]	Digital download
	23 July 2010[18]	CD album
United Kingdom	26 July 2010[19]	Digital download, CD album	Island[20]

References

1. "Hazardous". Vanessa Amorosi. Archived from the original on 28 January 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
2. "ARIA Top 100 Albums – Week Commencing 16th November 2009" (PDF). ARIA. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
3. ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2009 Albums
4. "Pandora Archive: ARIA Top 100 Singles - Week Commencing 19th October 2009" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Aria.com.au. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
5. McCabe, Kathy (26 December 2009). "Shining imperfections". Perth Now. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
6. Starobserver: Vanessa looking hazardous
7. "International Certification Award levels" (PDF). IFPI. March 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
8. iTunes: Off On My Kiss - Single by Vanessa Amorosi
9. "7digital: Vanessa Amorosi - Off on My Kiss MP3 Downloads". Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
10. Chisling, Matthew. "Review: Hazardous - Vanessa Amorosi Allmusic Review". Allmusic. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
11. "Australiancharts.com – Vanessa Amorosi – Hazardous". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
12. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2009". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
13. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top Australian Albums 2009". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
14. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2010". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
15. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top Australian Albums 2010". ARIA Charts. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
16. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
17. "UMusic: Vanessa Amorosi - Hazardous". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
18. Universal Music: Vanessa Amorosi - Hazardous - (CD)
19. Habbo Hotel - News - Meet Vanessa Amorosi in Habbo
20. Amazon.co.uk: Hazardous - Vanessa Amorosi