Fight for Love (Elliott Yamin album)

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Fight for Love
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 5, 2009
Length45:56
Label
Producer
Elliott Yamin chronology
Elliott Yamin
(2007)
Fight for Love
(2009)
Gather 'Round
(2011)
Singles from Fight for Love
  1. "Fight for Love"
    Released: 2009
  2. "You Say[1]"
    Released: 2009
  3. "Can't Keep on Loving You (From a Distance)"
    Released: 2009

Fight for Love is the studio second album by American singer Elliott Yamin. It was first released on May 5, 2009, by the independent label Hickory Records and distributed through Sony BMG-owned RED Distribution. Yamin recorded 35 songs from which to choose the final track list and worked with various producers including Jermaine Dupri, Dave Tozer, Eman, Harvey Mason, Jr., Steve Russell and Stargate.[2] He described Fight for Love as more contemporary R&B pop than his debut with three or four more "radio-friendly" singles.[3][4] Yamin co-wrote the majority of songs for the album, including "Someday," a song about his feelings of loss following the death of his mother to which he dedicated Fight for Love.[3]

Several singles were issued in support of the album. The title track and lead single premiered on AOL Music on February 13, 2009. The song was released to online music services, including iTunes, and for adds at Top 40 and Rhythmic radio on March 10, 2009.[5] Yamin shot two music videos, for "Fight for Love" as well as for the song "You Say", which became the second single in Japan. They were shot on April 11 and 12, 2009, in Los Angeles, California.[6][7] The video for "Fight for Love" premiered on AOL Music on May 1, 2009.[8] The second US single, "Can't Keep on Loving You (From a Distance)", was released to Adult Contemporary radio on August 10, 2009.[9]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[10]
AllMusic[11]
Billboard(positive)[12]
People[13]
Slant[14]
US Magazine[15]

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated the album two and a half stars out of five. He found that "the problem for Yamin is that his husky voice bristles against the cold, sequenced rhythms that comprise Fight for Love, creating not tension but dissonance. Of course, it would help if he had compelling material, either songs or productions, but everything here feels written to convention instead of written to order. Yamin remains an ingratiating presence, possessed with a natural, almost accidental charm that's so endearing that it's hard not to wish that he was in warmer surroundings than these, or at least had a better collection of songs to sing."[11] People remarked that the "likable Yamin largely eschews the old-school soul of 2007's self-titled debut for a more contemporary sound. Cuts like the title-track single and the Stargate-produced "Don't Be Afraid" find him smoothly moving in on Ne-Yo. But the songs [...] are not quite in Ne-Yo's league, and the slow-to-midtempo grooves start to blend together after a while."[13]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Let Love Be"
3:32
2."Know Better"3:57
3."Fight for Love"
  • Thomas
  • Austin[b]
3:41
4."You"Stargate3:57
5."Can't Keep on Loving You (From a Distance)"
Salter3:14
6."Don't Be Afraid"
  • Jackson
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
Stargate4:03
7."You Say"Emanuel Kiriakou3:41
8."Apart from Me"
  • Yamin
  • Nugent
  • Risto
  • Russell
  • Torimiro
  • Midi Mafia
  • Russell[a]
3:42
9."Cold Heart"
  • Abraham
  • Oligee[b]
3:34
10."How Do I Know"
Kiriakou3:48
11."This Step Alone"
  • Abraham
  • Torimiro[b]
3:48
12."Someday"
Tozer5:16
Walmart bonus tracks[16][5][2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."The Bridge Is Burning"
  • Altman
  • Busbee
3:50
14."Don't Change"
  • Bjorklund
  • Lind
  • Geir Hvidsten
  • Jackson
Espionage3:26
iTunes bonus tracks[17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Doorway"3:47
14."Forever in You"
  • Yamin
  • Fauntleroy
  • Nugent
  • Torimiro
  • Risto
Midi Mafia3:37
Premium edition bonus tracks[18][19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Forever in You"
  • Yamin
  • Fauntleroy
  • Nugent
  • Torimiro
  • Risto
Midi Mafia3:37
14."When I'm Gone"
3:55
15."Don't Change"
  • Bjorklund
  • Lind
  • Hvidsten
  • Jackson
Espionage3:26
16."Good Outweigh the Bad"
  • Yamin
  • J. Almos
  • O. Goldstein
  • McKee
  • Ely Weisfeld
Abraham3:49
17."Always"
  • Oak
  • The Underdogs
3:38
18."Shelter"
  • Russell
  • Priya Jay
  • Anthony Renoir
  • Abraham
  • Russell[a]
3:58

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a vocal producer
  • ^[b] signifies a co-producer

Charts[edit]

Weekly chart performance
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon) 19
US Billboard 200[20] 26
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[21] 4

Sales[edit]

Sales for Fight for Love
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States 49,000[22]

Release history[edit]

Release dates and formats for Fight for Love
Region Date Edition(s) Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States May 5, 2009 Standard [17]
Japan May 20, 2009 Avex Trax [1]
October 21, 2009 Premium [18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Elliott Yamin Official Website (Japan) – Discography Archived 2008-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Mansfield, Brian (January 19, 2009). "Elliott Yamin has lots to choose from for new album". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Former 'Idol' finalist Elliott Yamin finding his own way in sophomore effort - Baltimore Sun - May 21, 2009[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Elliott Yamin Fights For Love; Parties in the Back - The Huffington Post - May 18, 2009
  5. ^ a b Elliott Yamin Vows to Fight for Love - Popeater
  6. ^ Croshal Entertainment Group
  7. ^ "Booked: Elliott Yamin "Fight For Love" & "You Say" - Kleiner Inc. - April 01, 2009". Archived from the original on May 7, 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
  8. ^ Elliott Yamin 'Fights' for His Love in New Video - PopEater
  9. ^ "07.28.09 New Single - Can't Keep Loving You - Official Elliott Yamin Website". Archived from the original on 2009-08-08. Retrieved 2009-08-01.
  10. ^ About.com review
  11. ^ a b Allmusic review
  12. ^ Billboard review
  13. ^ a b "Picks and Pans: Music Spotlight on: Kids & Baby CDs". People. May 11, 2009. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  14. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (May 10, 2009). "Review: Elliott Yamin, Fight for Love". Slant Magazine. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  15. ^ US Magazine review
  16. ^ "Fight For Love (Wal-Mart)". Walmart. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Fight For Love by Yamin Elliott". Apple Music. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Elliott Yamin / Fight for Love ~ Premium Edition ~". suruga-ya.com. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  19. ^ "iTunes - ミュージック - Elliott Yamin「FIGHT FOR LOVE」". Itunes.apple.com. May 20, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  20. ^ "Elliott Yamin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  21. ^ "Elliott Yamin Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  22. ^ Idol Chatter 03-04-2010