Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship

Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
Studio album by India.Arie
Released June 26, 2006 (UK)
June 27, 2006 (U.S.)
Recorded 2005–2006
Genre
Length 59:48
Label Motown
Producer
  • India. Arie (also exec.)
  • Shannon Sanders
  • Mark Batson
  • Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius"
  • Branden Burch
  • Dru Castro
  • Jimmy "J Rok" English
  • Jared Gosselin
  • John Howard III
  • Frank Macek
  • Sarah Thomas
  • Phillip White
India.Arie chronology
Voyage to India
(2002)Voyage to India2002		 Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
(2006)		 Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
(2009)Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics2009
Alternative cover
UK cover

Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship is the third studio album by American singer India.Arie. It was released in the United States on June 27, 2006 on Motown Records. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 161,000 copies in its first week; it is her only album to top the Billboard charts.

CD information

The album was released on June 27, 2006 (see 2006 in music) and sold 161,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release. It debuted and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, The album fell to number 3 on the following week on the Billboard 200 with sales of 69,000 copies. It is Arie's first number one on the Billboard 200 and second on the R&B chart. The album has sold 689,000 copies in the United States up to December 2008.[1]

In 2007, it was nominated for three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song for I Am Not My Hair, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for I Am Not My Hair.

In 2008 Beautiful Flower was nominated for Best R&B Song .

In 2009 she was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo/Group w/ Vocals for Words, her duet with Anthony David.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(53/100)[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Blender[2]
Entertainment WeeklyB[4]
The Guardian[5]
NME(4/10)[2]
PopMatters(6/10)[6]
Rolling Stone[2]
Spin(4/10)[2]
USA Today[7]
Vibe[2]

The album so far has a score of 53 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "mixed or average reviews".[2] Some reviews are positive, like Billboard, for example, which gave the album a positive review and called it "An ambitious, aurally rich suite of storytelling songs."[8] Hartford Courant gave it a positive review and said, "Of all today's self-actualizing soul singers, India.Arie represents the purest version of the concept. How much you'll like her brand of R&B depends in part on whether the word "nurturing" gives you the warm fuzzies or makes your skin crawl."[9] On the other hand, Mojo gave it two stars out of five and said, "Lacking the wit and lyrical dexterity of a Jill Scott or the raw power of Angie Stone, the songs can feel airless and unengaged."[2] Q also gave it two stars out of five and said that Arie's "sauntering melodies struggle under the weight of their worthy load."[2]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Intro: Loving" (India. Arie, Shannon Sanders)1:30
2."These Eyes" (Arie, Mark Batson, "Simpson")4:31
3."The Heart of the Matter" (Don Henley, Mike Campbell, J.D. Souther)5:15
4."Good Morning" (Arie, Sanders, Drew Ramsey)5:27
5."Private Party" (Arie, Branden Burch, John Howard III, Richard Johnson, S. Wonder)3:52
6."There's Hope" (Arie, Burch, Tony Harrington)3:56
7."Interlude: Living" (Arie, Sanders)1:23
8."India'Song" (Arie)5:26
9."Wings of Forgiveness" (Arie, Jared Gosselin, Frank "Blame" Macek, Phillip White)4:59
10."Summer" (Arie, Ramsey, Cindy Morgan; featuring Rascal Flatts)3:14
11."I Am Not My Hair" (Arie, Sanders, Ramsey, A. Thaim)3:49
12."Skit: Great Grandmother"0:34
13."Better People" (Arie, Sanders, Ramsey, Macek, Jimmy "J-Rok" English)3:43
14."Outro: Learning" (Arie, Sanders)1:32
15."I Choose" (Arie, Andrew Catro; featuring Bonnie Raitt)4:45
16."This Too Shall Pass" (hidden track)5:52

UK edition

No.TitleLength
16."I Am Not My Hair" (Urban A/C Mix)4:20
17."This Too Shall Pass" (hidden track)5:52

iTunes exclusive edition

No.TitleLength
16."I Am Not My Hair" (Yoruba Soul Remix) 
17."This Too Shall Pass"5:52

Target exclusive edition

No.TitleLength
16."Just for Today (Embrace the Mystery)"4:31
17."This Too Shall Pass" (hidden track)5:52

Circuit City exclusive edition

No.TitleLength
16."Simple Yes"4:48
17."This Too Shall Pass" (hidden track)5:52

Singles

"I Am Not My Hair"

"There's Hope"

  • Released: June 26, 2006 (U.S. urban AC radio)[10]
  • Writers: India Arie Simpson, Branden Burch, Tony Harrington
  • Producers: Branden Burch, Tony Harrington
  • Director: —
  • Chart positions: #33 U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,[11] #28 U.S. Hot Gospel Songs,[12] #95 U.S. Pop 100[11]

"The Heart of the Matter"

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
Canadian Albums Chart 29
French Albums Chart 141
Swiss Albums Chart 25
UK Albums Chart 103
UK Urban Albums Chart 35
U.S. Billboard 200 1
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1

Sales and certifications

Territory Certifier Certification Sales
United States RIAA Gold 500,000

References

  1. ↑ Cohen, Jonathan (2008-12-29). "India. Arie Readies Next 'Testimony'". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Critic reviews at Metacritic
  3. ↑ Allmusic review
  4. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  5. ↑ The Guardian review
  6. ↑ PopMatters review
  7. ↑ USA Today review
  8. ↑ "Billboard review". Archived from the original on June 13, 2008. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  9. ↑ Hartford Courant review Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ "Urban AC – Week Of: June 26, 2006". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  11. 1 2 "Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  12. ↑ "Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
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