Awaken (mixtape)
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Awaken is the debut mixtape by American singer-songwriter Keke Palmer. It was officially released on March 18, 2011 for downloads on mixtape-downloading websites. The only single "The One You Call" was released digitally on December 7, 2010, and was sent to Urban radio on January 8, 2011.[1] A music video was also released for the song. It premiered on Palmer's official YouTube channel and iTunes.
| Awaken | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Mixtape by | ||||
| Released | March 18, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2006–2010 | |||
| Length | 40:01 | |||
| Label | Independent | |||
| Keke Palmer chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Awaken | ||||
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Background
Palmer released Awaken as a teaser of her upcoming new music, expected to be released in 2012. Palmer hoped that the mixtape would boost interest in her upcoming music.[2] Three tracks from the mixtape appeared on her debut album, So Uncool: "The Game Song", "Bottoms Up" and "Keep it Movin'", each was released in 2007.
Promotion
Palmer sang her song "Top of the World" at the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the Build-a-Bear Workshop float.[3][4] Many of the songs were also leaked by Palmer on her official YouTube channel before the release of the mixtape.
Critical reception
The reviews for Awaken are mostly positive, many complimenting Palmer's vocals, but questioning its ability to chart.
Peggy Oliver from The Urban Music Scene said "Palmer’s crystal voice is pleasing and soulful. As for the music on the Awaken Mixtape, the production is clean yet there are several auto tune spots and just so-so background vocals in certain places, which seem par for the course in today’s urban market. Thus, the question is not whether Palmer has very good vocal capabilities. It is a matter of whether her music at this point can stand toe to toe with the more prolific urban vocal talent hitting the charts today."[5]
TerrellVanity.com also gave it a positive review saying that the tracks "SuperJerkin", "Keke’s Love", "Hard To Breathe", and "The One you Call" were their favorite tracks. They also said that they could see "Get Out My Head" being played on the radio.[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Top of the World" |
| 3:19 |
| 2. | "Edit (You Out My Life)" |
| 3:50 |
| 3. | "New Boyfriend" |
| 3:06 |
| 4. | "Super Jerking" |
| 3:14 |
| 5. | "Keke's Love" |
| 4:24 |
| 6. | "Hard to Breathe" | 3:18 | |
| 7. | "Get Out My Head" |
| 4:18 |
| 8. | "The One You Call" |
| 3:06 |
| 9. | "Shut Up, Stop Lying" (bonus track) |
| 4:00 |
| 10. | "Change It Up" (theme song from True Jackson, VP) (bonus track) |
| 2:35 |
The One You Call
| "The One You Call" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Keke Palmer | ||||
| from the album Awaken | ||||
| Released | December 7, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2010 | |||
| Length | 3:06 | |||
| Label | Interscope Records | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Neff-U | |||
| Keke Palmer singles chronology | ||||
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"The One You Call" is the only single released from Keke Palmer's first mixtape Awaken. The song was released December 7, 2010. On January 27, 2011 the song was sent to urban radio. The official music video was released November 23, 2010. Due to lack of promotion and radio airplay, the song failed to chart anywhere, unlike her previous single, which charted on the "Portugal Singles Top 50" chart at number 30.[7] It was only played 272 times on the US radio, during 2010.[8]
Music video
The official music video was released November 23, 2010. It was directed by Gabe Evans and Ryan Parma.[9] The video shows the singer hanging out with her friends while Palmer's love interest starts calling and texting her on her phone. However, she knows that he just broke up with his girlfriend and now he's going through his phone to see who will pick up.
Scratch That DJ Contest
On February 20, 2011 Palmer started a contest called the "Scratch That DJ Contest". Palmer started the contest to find a DJ that could travel with her for her upcoming tour.[10] To enter the contest the DJ must create a new version of Palmer's single "The One You Call". On March 6, 2011 Palmer released an acapella version of the song on her official YouTube channel.[11]
Awaken Reloaded
| Awaken Reloaded | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixtape (reissue) by | ||||
| Released | August 22, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2009–2011 | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 62:22 | |||
| Label | Interscope | |||
| Producers |
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| Keke Palmer chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Awaken Reloaded | ||||
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Awaken Reloaded is the reissue of American singer Keke Palmer's debut mixtape Awaken (2011). The maturity of the songs on the mixtape shows how Keke has grown.[12] It was released on August 22, 2011.[13]
"The Greatest" was released on July 12, 2011 as the first single from the mixtape.[14] A preview for the song was premiered via Palmer's YouTube channel on June 28, 2011.[15] The song was also appears on the premiere of the eleventh season of Degrassi.[16]
The solo version of "Walls Come Down" was released as second single for streaming on July 11, 2011 and was later released to iTunes on July 12, 2011.[17]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Melody for Cheaters" |
| 3:41 |
| 2. | "Slow Dance" |
| 3:51 |
| 3. | "Parachute" |
| 3:32 |
| 4. | "Get Out My Head" |
| 3:52 |
| 5. | "It’s a Wrap" |
| 3:30 |
| 6. | "Shut Up, Stop Lyin" |
| 4:00 |
| 7. | "The One You Call" |
| 3:06 |
| 8. | "Keke's Love" |
| 4:24 |
| 9. | "New Boyfriend" |
| 3:06 |
| 10. | "Facebook Stalker" |
| 3:19 |
| 11. | "Edit (You Out of My Life)" |
| 3:50 |
| 12. | "Hologram" |
| 4:32 |
| 13. | "Nothin’ on You" (featuring Mishon) |
| 1:17 |
| 14. | "I’m Gone / Mini Mogul / Biology" |
| 4:23 |
| 15. | "Walls Come Down" | 3:54 | |
| 16. | "The Greatest" |
| 3:54 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | "Walls Come Down" (featuring Bruno Mars) | 3:54 |