Moodring

For the color-changing ring, see Mood ring.

Moodring
Studio album by Mýa
Released	July 16, 2003 (2003-07-16) (see release history)
Recorded	2001–2003
Genre	R&B/Pop/Dance pop
Length	69:15
Label	Interscope/A&M
Producer	Mýa Harrison (also exec.), Bobby Ross Avila, CKB, Clue & Duro, Damon Elliott, Missy Elliott, Ron Fair, Loren Hill, Iz, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Knobody, Oman, Rockwilder, Rich Shelton, Tricky Stewart, Timbaland, Kevin Veney, Don Vito
Mýa chronology
Fear of Flying (2000) Moodring (2003) Liberation (2007)
Singles from Moodring
"My Love Is Like...Wo" Released: June 10, 2003 "Fallen" Released: November 11, 2003

Moodring is the third studio album by American recording artist Mýa, released July 22, 2003 on A&M and Interscope records. Recorded after the number one success of "Lady Marmalade" and her appearance in the box office hit Chicago, the album featured contributions from noteworthy hitmakers Ron Fair, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Rockwilder, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and Knobody among others. With this album, Harrison wrote "99.9%" of her own lyrics and co-produced many of the album's tracks.^[1]

Moodring spawned two singles; the international hit My Love Is Like...Wo and the elegant mid-tempo track and album's final release Fallen. The former reached the top forty in over five countries which included United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. The latter failed to reprise the same success of the album's first single however though reached the top forty on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Moodring debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 album chart on August 9, 2003 with first-week sales of 113,000 copies. Upon its initial release the album received generally positive reviews with Allmusic praising Mýa for coming up with her best and most varied set of songs yet.^[2] The album earned a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 25, 2003 and has sold 589,000 to date.^[3] In August 2005, after five years with Interscope Records, Harrison decided leave the company and her management.^[4] Moodring is the singer's last studio album in United States; following her departure from Interscope.

Album title

Originally titled Smoke & Mirrors, Mýa later stated in a 106 & Park interview with A.J. Calloway and Free she thought about calling the album Correction because music critics and her peers believe she could not sing, but ultimately she decided on Moodring.

Conception

G-funk, drag queens, reggae and a little bit of pop rock — Mýa has the blueprint for making an album, all she had to do was take her time. "Wrapping it up now," Mýa said last week in Los Angeles. "I haven't been really consistent [with recording]. I've been in and out of the studio, so shoot, I'm using some records I did maybe two years ago. I been in the studio every chance I get for the fun of it, and I realized, 'Hey, I need to start recording an album.' After that I pretty much realized I had 20 songs in my pocket. In real life the 22-year-old is a little peeved that some people still see her as a kid, but she said she's going to show her maturity on her forthcoming LP. "I've grown up and gone through some things, so I'm expressing what I feel," explained Mýa, who walked away with a Grammy for her part on "Lady Marmalade." "I'm a little bit more open than usual, and I've lived a life. I've had a career where I can live a comfortable life. I'm not Britney Spears, so I still have a life. I can go certain places without getting hounded by little 5-year-olds. So I'm very sane as a person. I've gone through relationships, gone through the normal things that a normal person would go through." Mýa said that despite the edginess of her project, people shouldn't be too shocked by her free spirited word play and music. "It's well balanced," she proclaimed. "I'm not saying, 'F--- you, kiss my ass.' I'm not cursing all over my album, but it's real. I know lots of females that can appreciate where I'm coming from, and men too."^[5]

Unlike Fear of Flying (2000), which addressed somewhat superficial relationship issues, the new stuff is real and personal, largely because Mýa's writing her own lyrics this time, said Elliott, who produced six songs on the disc. "It's like when Pink stepped out with her second record," she explained. "She got to express herself a little more than she did on her first album. Mýa's grown up, and the things she's talking about deal more with real issues. It's not like someone coming in with a song that's already written, where the lyrics and music are from another person's perspective. We co-wrote the stuff that we did. So it's more from her." Like Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, Mýa is dealing with more provocative subject matter these days. For example, one of two songs produced by Christopher "Tricky" Stewart is about fiery relationships on the road. Elliott said Mýa's lyrical development is not a shock tactic or an effort to keep up with her racy peers — it's more a sign of her own maturation and her interest in being honest and open.^[6]

"You keep it tight, hit me off how I like, every day, every night," she sings on the piano-powered "No Sleep," where she makes a 3 a.m. booty call to her man. "They say I'm shy, but you know that's a lie," she goes on to sing before further testifying about how good the love is with her mate. Mýa's words on "Anatomy One-on-One" might make you pat yourself on the forehead with a handkerchief, as she sings even steamier lyrics, vividly detailing a session of passion with her Mr. Do Right. "You found a position that turns me on," she gushes. "Temperature's hotter than fire/ And the heat has got me burning up/ Let's stop, drop and roll together." Unfortunately her flames are doused with a dose of reality that is as sobering as a cold shower on "Step." Here you can imagine the petite crooner getting set to put up her dukes as she complains about a girl who's trying to take her man. And you wouldn't believe it by Mýa's usually dainty behavior, but she can get down and dirty in a slugfest. She threatens to take off her heels and tells the jezebel that wants to break up her happy home, "I ain't got no time for the bullshhhh/ You should have a little respect 'cause if a girl is f---ing your man, you wouldn't like that." Mýa is "cold-blooded" after all, as she sings on the disco throwback "Sophisticated Lady," where she promises to make any man holla because she is the flyest of the fly.The playfully unabashed "Whatever Bitch" also steps outside the usual R&B soundscapes. That cut finds Mýa using house music to dismiss jealous girls who roll their eyes at her and want to spoil her partying. "They calling me a ho 'cause I'm trying to get my freak on," she scoffs. "But bitch, we're in a club, what the hell do you expect bitch?/ I worked too freaking hard to let a hata bring me down." But Mýa's biggest foe on Moodring may not be a woman — it could very well be the object of her affection. "Why You Gotta Look So Good?" tells the story of the songbird struggling to leave a bad relationship. G-Unit member Lloyd Banks guest stars on the track, rapping from the male perspective about the same woeful situation. "We both know if you put on some extra pounds I would have left a long time ago ..." Banks says. "I can't find good enough reason to try to hit the road .../ It's a shame how your female anatomy keeps grabbing me."^[7] "Mya can stand on her own," Elliott said. "Her album is gonna be off the chain. It's gonna be off the hook, man."^[6]

Musical content

The opening track and the album's first single is "My Love Is Like...Wo", written and produced by Missy Elliott. The single reached the top twenty in the United States and the top forty elsewhere in countries like United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. It took Mýa 365 days (a whole year) before she decided to record the track because of its lyrics. Second single "Fallen", an elegant mid-tempo track, was produced by One Up Entertainment. The single was less successful than Mýa's first single and was the album's final release. "Why You Gotta Look So Good?", the album's third track was written and produced by Rockwilder and Mýa and features G-Unit member and then-labelmate Lloyd Banks. The song itself tells the story of a woman struggling to leave a bad relationship. The Timbaland-produced "Step" is the album's fourth track and was written by Elliot, Timbaland, and Mýa. "Sophisticated Lady", the album's fifth track, was produced by Mýa, Don Vito, and Tricky Stewart. It incorporates elements of Rick James's 1983 song "Cold Blooded". The piano-powered "No Sleep Tonight" is the album's sixth track and was produced by Tricky Stewart and Mýa. The song itself tells the story of Mýa making a 3 a.m. booty call to her man. Track seven "Anatomy 1on 1" was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It is one of Mýa's favorite tracks on the album and is consider bubble bath music. Hurry Up, is the album's eighth and was produced by DJ Clue and features Mýa's artist Gunnz. The Jerome "Knobody" Foster-produced "Things Come & Go", is the album's ninth track and features reggae-dancehall musician Sean Paul. It incorporates elements of Shuggie Otis's "Aht Uh Mi Hed". "You", the album's first ballad and tenth track, was produced by One Up Entertainment. The song was considered as a single at one point by Mýa's record label Interscope. "After the Rain", the album's eleventh track, was produced by Jerome "Knobody" Foster. The song is a tribute to Aaliyah and Lisa Lopes. "Late", another Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced track, is the twelfth song on the album. The song tells the story of a woman who has not come on her period yet. "Whatever Bitch", is a drag queen anthem and the album's thirteenth track. Written and produced by Damon Elliott and Mýa, the song incorporates elements of techno music. "Taste This", the album's fourteenth track, was written by Mýa and produced by Jerome "Knobody" Foster. The song tells the story of a woman who is fed up with her lover half-stepping in their relationship and incorporates elements of quiet storm music. Track fifteen, "Take a Picture", was produced by Damon Elliott and written by pop rock singer Pink. The song was originally supposed to be featured on Pink's 2001 album Missundaztood but later was recorded by Mýa. "Free Fallin'" is a remake of the Tom Petty song from his 1989's album Full Moon Fever. "Real Compared to What" is the album's final track. It features then labelmate Common and was featured in Mýa's 2002 Coca-Cola commercial.

Reception

Commercial performance

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	(63/100)[8]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	2003
BBC	(favorable) 2003
Blender	2003
Entertainment Weekly	(B-) 2003
People	2003
PopMatters	(mixed) 2003
Rolling Stone	2003
Village Voice	(favorable) 2003

Moodring debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 album chart and Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart at number two with first-week sales of 113,000 units sold. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on September 25, 2003 and remained on Billboard 200 album chart for 18 non-consecutive weeks. Moodring has sold 589,000 copies in the United States alone, according Nielsen Soundscan.^[3] The album was the 157th best-selling album of 2003 in the United States. Outside the United States, the album debuted or peaked at number #197 in the United Kingdom, #25 in Canada, and #74 in Australia. Internationally, the album was not as successful as 2000's Fear of Flying.

Moodring debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 album chart, with first-week sales of 113,000 copies.^[9] In its second, the album dropped 6 spots to number 9, selling 59,700 copies.^[10] In its third week, the album dropped 4 spots to number 13, selling 39,690 copies.^[11] In its fourth week, the album dropped 10 spots to number 23, selling 34,638.^[12] In its fifth week, the album dropped to 17 spots to number 40, selling 25,891 copies.^[13] In its sixth week, the album dropped to 2 spots to number 42, selling 20,041.^[14] In its seventh week, the album moved up 3 spots to number 39, selling 22,197 copies.^[15] In its eighth week, the album dropped to number 64 and fell out of Billboard's Top 50. After ten weeks of its release, the album sat at number 85 and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 500,000 copies to retailers on September 25, 2003. On the Billboard 200 album chart, the album spent a total of 18 non-consecutive weeks.

Internationally, the album reached four countries. It debuted and peaked at number 74 on the Australian Albums Chart. It failed to move up on United Kingdom's Top 75 album chart, spending one week below the chart; peaking at number 197. It debuted and peaked at number 25 on the Canadian Albums Chart. It debuted and peaked at number 53 on the Japanese Albums Chart.

Singles

• The first single from the album, "My Love Is Like...Wo", peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and number seventeen on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The single was a commercial success due to its success on mainstream radio and became Mýa's fifth top forty hit (solo). It was a moderate success internationally, reaching the top forty in the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia.

• The second single "Fallen" peaked at number fifty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number thirty-five on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The single was a commercial failure due to poor radio airplay and lack of promotion.

Tracklisting

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"My Love Is Like...Wo"	Charles Bereal, Kenneth Bereal, Melissa Elliott	Missy Elliott, CKB	3:29
2.	"Fallen"	Richard Shelton, Kevin Veney, Loren Hill, Leonard Huggins, Luiz Bonfá, Maria Toledo	Rich Shelton, Loren Hill, Kevin Veney	3:34
3.	"Why You Gotta Look So Good?" (featuring Lloyd Banks)	Christopher Lloyd, Dana Stinson, Teron Beal, Mýa Harrison	Rockwilder, Mýa Harrison	4:39
4.	"Step"	M. Elliott, Harrison, Timothy Mosley	M. Elliott, Timbaland	3:15
5.	"Sophisticated Lady"	Harrison, Rudy Currence, James Johnson	Don Vito, Tricky Stewart, Harrison, Ron Fair	3:51
6.	"No Sleep Tonight"	Mark Sparks, Christopher Stewart, Rudy Currence	Stewart, Harrison, Fair	4:12
7.	"Anatomy 1 On 1"	Harrison, James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Bobby Ross Avila, Issiah J. Avila	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Bobby Ross Avila, Iz	4:35
8.	"Hurry Up" (featuring Gunz)	Kenneth Ifill, Harrison, Derek Cooper, Ernesto Shaw	Harrison, Clue & Duro	4:29
9.	"Things Come & Go" (featuring Sean Paul)	Harrison, Sean Paul Henriques, Shuggie Otis	Knobody, Harrison, Fair	3:57
10.	"You"	Shelton, Veney, Hill, Marthea Jackson	Shelton, Hill, Veney, Fair, Harrison	4:08
11.	"After the Rain"	Lamont Dozier, McKinley Jackson, Beal, Harrison, Thealodius Reddick	Shelton, Hill, Veney, Harrison	3:57
12.	"Late"	Harrison, Harris, Lewis, B. Avila, I. Avila, Eddie Cole	Jam & Lewis, Avila, Iz,	4:44
13.	"Whatever Bitch"	Harrison, Damon Elliott	Harrison, Damon Elliott	4:20
14.	"Taste This"	Sdyney Brown, Kris Ricat, James Czeiner, Harrison	Oman, Harrison	4:36
15.	"Take a Picture"	D. Elliott, Alecia Moore	D. Elliott, Fair, Harrison	3:29
16.	"Free Fallin'"	Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty	D. Elliott, Fair, Harrison	3:54

International Bonus Track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Moodring"	Harrison, D. Elliott, Melissa Wright	D. Elliott	3:31

Japanese Bonus Tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Moodring"			3:31
18.	"Extacy"	Harrison, D. Elliott	Harrison, D. Elliott	4:13
19.	"Little Too Much, Little Too Late"	Diane Warren		3:24
20.	"Real Compared to What" (featuring Common)			4:58

UK Bonus Tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Moodring"			3:31
18.	"Extacy"			4:13
19.	"Real Compared to What" (featuring Common)			4:58

U.S. Bonus Tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
17.	"Real Compared to What" (featuring Common)	Eugene McDaniels	Fair, Pino Palladino, James Poyser, Amir Thompson	3:58

Personnel

Musicians

Alex Al – bass Romeo Antonio – guitar Kyle Armbrust – viola Ravi Best – trumpet Sandra Billingslea – violin Krystyana Chelminski – violin Eddie Cole & His Gang – bass, guitar Luis Conte – percussion James Czeiner – violin, horn Earl Flemming – keyboard Steve Ferrone – drums Eileen Folson – viola, cello Clark Gayton – trombone G.A. Grant – horn Gary Grant – horn

Darryl Harper – keyboard O.J. Harper – keyboard Jerry Hey – horn Dan Higgins – horn Cecelia Hobbs Gardner – violin Jun Jensen – cello Natalie Leggett – violin, viola Jerry Ney – horn Joel Peskin – horn Bill Reichenbach Jr. – horn Kris Ricat – guitar, horn Maxine Roach – viola Derek Scott – guitar Carl "Butch" Small – percussion Michael Valerio – bass

Production

• Vocal production: Ron Fair, Mark Harrison
• Vocal assistance: Patrice Bowie, Sue Ann Carwell, Eric Dawkins, Laurie Evans, Katrina Willis
• Engineers: Mike Anzel, Dylan Dresdow, Bruce Buechner, Randy Bugnitz, Ian Cross, Jimmy Douglass, David Guerrero, Tal Herzberg, Troy Hightower, Pete Karam, Brian Summerville, Brian "B Luv" Thomas, Ryan West, Doug Wilson, Frank Wolf
• Assistant engineers: Matt Marrin
• Mixing: Dave Pensado
• Mixing assistance: Ethan Willoughby
• Mastering: Eddy Schreyer
• A&R: Kathryn Keller Moss
• Art Direction: Drew FitzGerald
• Photography: Marc Baptiste, Sheryl Nields

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position	Certification
Australian Albums Chart[16]	74	—
Canadian Albums Chart	25	—
Japanese Albums Chart[17]	53	—
UK Albums Chart[18]	197	—
U.S. Billboard 200[9]	3	Gold[19]

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)	Rank position
U.S. Billboard 200	157[20]
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	86[21]

Tour

Main article: House of Blues Tour (Mýa 2003 Tour)

Release history

Region	Date	Label
Japan[22]	July 16, 2003	Interscope
United Kingdom[23]	July 21, 2003
United States[24]	July 22, 2003
Australia	July 28, 2003
Germany[25]	September 8, 2003
Austria	October 29, 2003
Switzerland

References

1. ^ "The Grammys: Mya". Usatoday.Com. 2005-01-21. http://www.usatoday.com/community/chat/2002-02-20-mya.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-12. 
2. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r646311
3. ^ ^{a b} "Mya Gets Real On 'Liberation'". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/search/?keyword=Mya&x=15&y=11#/news/mya-gets-real-on-liberation-1003085453.story. Retrieved 2011-04-16. 
4. ^ Rodriguez, Jason (2006-09-21). "Mya Gives Up Grudges And Ego, Picks Up Relationship Wisdom On Liberation". MTV News. VH1. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1541356/20060920/mya.jhtml. Retrieved 2007-05-19. 
5. ^ "Mya Plans 'Lady Marmalade' Reunion on Third Album". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1456990/20020812/mya.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Wiederhorn, Jon (2002-10-31). "Mya Gets Real With Missy, Timbaland And Damon Elliott". MTV News. VH1. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1458429/20021030/mya.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-04-11. 
7. ^ "Mya Gets Like...Wo On New Album". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1472186/20030530/mya.jhtml. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
8. ^ "Critic Reviews for Moodring at Metacritic". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/music/moodring/critic-reviews. Retrieved 2011-06-26. 
9. ^ ^{a b} Wiederhorn, Jon (2003-07-30). "Bad Boys Ward Off All Comers On Albums Chart". MTV News. VH1. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1475022/20030730/mya.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-04-11. 
10. ^ "'Bad Boys' Continues Its Good Chart Run". AllBusiness. http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/miscellaneous-retail-retail-stores-not/4380588-1.html. Retrieved 2011-07-02. 
11. ^ "HITS Daily Double: Previous Album Sales Chart". Hits Daily Double. http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/archcht.cgi?cht856. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
12. ^ "HITS Daily Double: Previous Album Sales Chart". Hits Daily Double. http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/archcht.cgi?cht857. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
13. ^ "HITS Daily Double: Previous Album Sales Chart". Hits Daily Double. http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/archcht.cgi?cht858. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
14. ^ "HITS Daily Double: Previous Album Sales Chart". Hits Daily Double. http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/archcht.cgi?cht859. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
15. ^ "HITS Daily Double: Previous Album Sales Chart". Hits Daily Double. http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/archcht.cgi?cht861. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
16. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums - Week Commencing 8th September 2003". ARIA Charts. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
17. ^ "ORICON STYLE" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/503437/1/. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
18. ^ "Chart Log UK: M - My Vitriol". Zobbel.de. http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_M.HTM. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
19. ^ "Gold & Platinum Database". RIAA.com. Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=&artist=Mya&perPage=50. Retrieved 2010-03-28. 
20. ^ "2003 Year End Charts - Top Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2003/tlptitl.jsp. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
21. ^ "2003 Year End Charts - Top R&B/Hip-Hip Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2003/blptitl.jsp. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
22. ^ "UNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL". UNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL. http://www.universal-music.co.jp/u-pop/artist/mya/mya_disco/uica1013.html. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
23. ^ "Moodring: Mya: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moodring-Mya/dp/B0000A98ZS/ref=pd_sim_m_h__1. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
24. ^ "Amazon.com:Moodring: Mya: Music". Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Moodring-Mya/dp/B00009RDE7/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_1. Retrieved 2011-01-21. 
25. ^ "MYA - MOODRING - CD - musicline.de". Musicline.de. http://www.musicline.de/de/product/602498078921///2354215. Retrieved 2011-01-21.