Rouge (Yuna album)

Rouge is the fourth international studio album by Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna. The album, which saw her collaborate with many international acts, was released on July 12, 2019, by labels Verve Forecast Records and Universal Music Group.[1] Five songs in the album were released as singles. Rouge, Yuna's seventh album overall, was recorded between 2017 and 2019.[2][3][4]

Rouge
Studio album by
Yuna
ReleasedJuly 12, 2019 (2019-07-12)
Recorded2017–2019
Studio
  • Chalice Studios
  • Red Bull Studios
  • 10603 Studios
  • Arketek Studios
  • Sonic Element Studios
Genre
Length41:30
Label
Producer
Yuna chronology
Chapters
(2016)		 Rouge
(2019)
Singles from Rouge
  1. "Forevermore"
    Released: April 5, 2019
  2. "Blank Marquee"
    Released: May 16, 2019
  3. "Pink Youth"
    Released: June 30, 2019
  4. "(Not) The Love of My Life"
    Released: August 22, 2019
  5. "Castaway"
    Released: October 16, 2019

Background

The album took two years to complete.[5] According to Yuna in an exclusive interview with the Malaysian tabloid newspaper, Kosmo!: "It took me two years to produce this album. That's true, it took a while to produce a studio album. But that is because I work with different producers".[5]

On May 17, 2019, Yuna announced the official release of Rouge on her personal Instagram account, the album cover depicts Yuna in a red dress and a bunny cross on her head. In an interview, she disclosed that the album title was French for "red" which signifies love, spirit and strength.[6] Yuna choose the title to reflect the bolder she is.[7] In an interview with Billboard, she said: "I’ve always felt like red is such a bold colour and I felt like, ‘Oh, maybe it’s not for me.’ Even the colour, the lipstick colour is maybe not for me. That's always been the person that I am".[8] The cover photography was captured by Steven Taylor.[9]

Tour

To promote Rouge, Yuna embark her US tour, which took place in Chicago on 14 July followed by Washington, New York City, Boston dan Los Angeles and the last stop in Oakland on 2 August.[10][11]

Singles

The first single to be released in the album is "Forevermore" on April 5, 2019.[12] Its music video, directed by Yuna's husband, Adam Sinclair, in which revolves around her ode to Malaysia, where she was born and raised as well as showcasing the beauty of Malaysia.[13] On May 16, the second single "Blank Marquee", featuring G-Eazy was released, with music video filmed in Kuala Lumpur, featuring actor Amerul Affendi and US-based Malaysian supermodel, Atikah Karim. The video, also directed by Sinclair.[14] The third single, "Pink Youth" features English rapper Little Simz was released on June 30, with futuristic-themed music video directed by Esteban Valdez (who also wrote and edited the video), while its story and concept by Yuna and Sinclair.[15][16] "(Not) The Love of My Life", the fourth single from the album, was released on August 22, with Bollywood-themed music video was directed by Yuna herself.[17] The fifth and last single from the album, "Castaway", featuring Tyler, the Creator was released on October 16.[18]

Critical reception

Rouge received generally positive reviews from critics. Chris Malone from Forbes wrote that "Rouge serves as Yuna's most dynamic record to date, and should excite fans both new and old about what to expect from her next" and felt that most of the album tracklist is "filled with after-hours R&B that Yuna has become known for on her previous projects".[19] Adriane Pontecorvo from PopMatters said, “Rouge is, in some ways, a redefinition of what it means to be a worldwide star. The same factors that make it unique, also make it the epitome of successful pop music; it's easy to listen to and deliberately engaging of audiences everywhere."[20] Kayleigh O'Malley from Eleven PDX called the album as "a summer album for the brokenhearted".[21] Skylar de Paul from The Daily Californian described the album as "full of energy, war, strength, determination, passion, and basically every other characteristic tied to the connotations”.[22] Symphreona Clark from YR noted that the album "combines pop with a modern-day take on disco, creating a luminescent piece that is both coherent and fun".[23] Rouge got a 6.8 from Pitchfork review.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Castaway" (featuring Tyler, the Creator)
4:29
2."Blank Marquee" (featuring G-Eazy)
3:40
3."(Not) The Love of My Life"
3:37
4."Teenage Heartbreak" (with Miyavi)
4:16
5."Pink Youth" (with Little Simz)
4:00
6."Forget About You"
  • Yuna
  • Govere
  • Hannibal
4:28
7."Likes" (with Kyle)
3:35
8."Amy" (with Masego)
3:21
9."Does She" (with Jay Park)
3:22
10."Forevermore"
  • Yuna
  • Govere
  • Hannibal
3:53
11."Tiada Akhir" (Malay; "No End")
  • Yuna
  • Hannibal
2:44
Total length:41:30
Rouge – Japanese edition (bonus track)[24]
No.TitleLength
12."Lessons" 
Total length:44:29

Credits and personnel

Credits taken from the album's liner notes.[25]

Personnel
  • Yuna - vocals
  • Tyler, the Creator - vocals
  • G-Eazy - vocals
  • Little Simz - vocals
  • Kyle - vocals
  • Jay Park - vocals
  • Miyavi - guitar
  • Masego - background vocals, saxophone
  • Robin Hannibal - background vocals, keyboards, organ, synthesizers, bass, guitar, kalimba, drums, percussion
  • Brooke de la Rosa - background vocals
  • Cardiak - piano, drums
  • August Rosenbaum - piano
  • Julian-Quan Viet Le - keyboards
  • Joel van Dijk - guitars
  • Danny McKinnon - guitars
  • Isaac Wriston - bass
  • Thomas Drayton - bass
  • Todd Simon - trumpet
  • Ibrahim Maalouf - trumpet
  • Simon Huber - cello
  • Ginny Luke - violin
Technicals
  • Arrangements by Robin Hannibal
    • Additional arrangements by August Rosenbaum (track 11)
  • Vocals recorded by Davey Donaldson at Independently Popular and Robin Hannibal at Hannibal's House
    • Additional recording by Joshua Sellers, Josh Flores and Thomas Cullison at Chalice Studios (track 10)
    • Additional recording by Fisticuffs and Christian Plata (track 8)
  • Instrumentation recorded at Hannibal's Room
    • Additional instrumentation recorded by J.LBS at 10603 Studios (track 4)
    • Additional piano recorded by Chris Tabron at Red Bull Studios (track 11)
  • Vocal production by Robin Hannibal
    • Additional vocal production by Rex Rideout (tracks 1, 3 & 4-8)
    • Additional vocal production by Robert Castillo (tracks 2 & 3)
  • Mixed by Stan Greene at Arketek Studios (tracks 1, 3-8 & 11) and Eric Madrid at Sonic Element Studios (tracks 2, 9 & 10)
  • Assistant mixed by William Binderup
  • Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound, New York
  • All tracks produced by Robin Hannibal except "Likes" co-produced by Cardiak, "Teenage Heartbreak" produced by J.LBS and "Amy" by Fisticuffs.
  • Robbin Hannibal & Benjamin Willis - executive producer
  • Indie-Pop - management
  • Dahlia Ambach-Chaplin & Benjamin Willis - A&R
  • Natalie Weber - A&R manager
  • Melody Ewing & Femi Onafowokan - A&R administration
  • Adam Lekach - marketing
  • Tom Arndt - production
  • Julie Johantgen - release coordination
  • Yunalis Zara'ai & KyleDidThis - creative direction
  • Steven Taylor - photography
  • Jacob Lerman - design

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[26] 18

Release history
Country Release date Format Label
Worldwide July 12, 2019 CD,[27] LP,[28] Digital download[29] Verve Forecast, UMG

References
  1. "Yuna's New LP ROUGE Is Out Today via Verve Forecast". Broadway World. July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  2. Joseph, George (May 16, 2019). "Yuna duet dengan G-Eazy". Harian Metro (in Malay). Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  3. Mohan, Chris (October 29, 2018). "Yuna on her brand, a fourth album and her love for music festivals". Malay Mail. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  4. Ken Hamm (May 17, 2019). "Yuna To Go 'Rouge' On New Album & Shakes Off The Clout Chasers With G-Eazy On 'Blank Marquee'". SoulBounce. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  5. "Tinta muzik Yuna". Kosmo!. July 20, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  6. Isabelle Leong (May 18, 2019). "Kreativiti tahap maksima! Yuna gayakan sanggul lintang pada kulit album 'Rouge'". Astro Awani (in Malay). Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  7. Gordon Kho (July 16, 2019). "A bolder Yuna goes 'Rouge'". The Star Online. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  8. Tamar Herman (July 12, 2019). "Yuna on New 'Rouge' Album, Working With Collaborators & Representation". Billboard. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
  9. Yuna Rouge album artwork Dayreps. Retrieved on July 24, 2019.
  10. Jennifer Velez (May 23, 2019). "Yuna Announces U.S. Headlining Tour In Support Of 'Rouge'". Grammy. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  11. Chloe Gilke (May 23, 2019). "Yuna Announced A North American Tour Ahead Of Her New Album 'Rouge'". UPROXX. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  12. Milica P. (April 7, 2019). "Yuna Retreats To Her Malaysian Roots On "Forevermore"". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  13. Michael Chiang (April 5, 2019). "Yuna sings an ode to Malaysia in new single 'Forevermore'". Star2. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  14. Tahir Alhamzah (May 16, 2019). "#Showbiz: Yuna, G-Eazy team up for 'Blank Marquee'". New Straits Times. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  15. Milica P. (June 30, 2019). "Little Simz Joins Yuna On "Pink Youth"". Hotnewhiphop. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  16. Asyraf Roslan (June 30, 2019). "'Pink Youth' buah tangan terbaharu Yuna, kolaborasi bersama Little Simz". Astro Awani. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  17. Shaad D’Souza (August 22, 2019). Watch Yuna's gorgeous, self-directed video for "(Not) The Love of My Life" The Fader. Retrieved on August 23, 2019.
  18. Feleg Tesema (15 Oktober 2019). Yuna & Tyler, the Creator release melancholic visuals for "Castaway" video Highs Nobiety. Dicapai pada 18 Oktober 2019.
  19. Chris Malone (July 12, 2019). "Yuna's 'Rouge' Album Is Her Most Dynamic Piece Of Work Yet". Forbes. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  20. Adriane Pontecorvo (July 12, 2019). "Yuna Embraces Her Global Pop Superstar Status on 'Rouge'". PopMatters. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  21. Kayleigh O'Malley (July 7, 2019). "Album review: Yuna - Rouge". Eleven PDX. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  22. Skylar de Paul (July 19, 2019). "Yuna's 'Rouge' is sophisticated story of empowerment, reflection, class". The Daily Californian. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  23. Symphreona Clark (July 25, 2019). "5 new albums to listen this week". YR. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  24. "CDJapan: Rouge Yuna CD Album". Cdjapan.co.jp. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  25. Rouge (liner notes). Yuna. Verve Forecast Records. 2019.CS1 maint: others (link)
  26. "Yuna Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  27. "Rouge CD + Digital Album". Merchbar. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  28. "Rouge LP + Digital Album". Yuna Music. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  29. "Rouge". iTunes. May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
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