We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.
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We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 12, 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2007–2008 | |||
Studio | Kensaltown Recording Studios (London, England) Little Big Sound Studio (Nashville, Tennessee) Casa Nova Studio (Oceanside, California) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 50:49 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Producer | Martin Terefe | |||
Jason Mraz chronology | ||||
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Singles from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. | ||||
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We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. is the third studio album by American musician Jason Mraz, released on May 12, 2008.[1] The album peaked at number three in the Billboard 200, making it Mraz's highest-peaking album at the time. Mraz took the name of the album from a work by the artist David Shrigley.[2]
On August 10, 2023, the album was certified 4x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America. [2]
Background and production
[edit]Progress of the recording of the album has been documented on the YouTube series "Crazy Man's Ju-ju" which contain clips from San Diego and London, where most of the album was made. "I'm Yours" was the first single from the album and was made available on iTunes, Zune Marketplace and Amazon.com on February 12, 2008. The album features collaborations with James Morrison on the track "Details in the Fabric" and with Colbie Caillat[3] on the track "Lucky".
The album was preceded by three EPs released at monthly intervals for a limited time. We Sing. was released on March 18. We Dance. was released on April 15. The third installment, We Steal Things., was released as part of a digital bundle through iTunes, JasonMraz.com and AtlanticRecords.com on the release of the album on May 13, 2008.[4] Up to March 17, 2010, the album had sold 1,491,736 copies in the US.[citation needed] In 2016, the album was certified three times Platinum by the RIAA.[5]
On November 18, 2008, the album was re-released with the name We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. Limited Edition. The re-released album is a three disc set that includes the original 12-track CD, the second disc includes the three EPs all on one disc, and the third DVD includes an unreleased full-band concert Live at the Highline Ballroom in New York, a 30-minute documentary titled "Here We Are" and a preview to Mraz's "a thousand things." Polaroid book. The packaging also includes a 20-page CD booklet with full lyrics and additional artwork.
In honor of the album's fifteenth birthday, a deluxe version of the album, entitled We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. Deluxe Edition. was released on September 22, 2023. The version contains 14 new-to-vinyl songs, including demos and a previously unreleased song.[6]
Critical reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 60/100[7] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blender | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[10] |
Entertainment.ie | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MSN Music (Consumer Guide) | ![]() |
PopMatters | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Yahoo! Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sputnikmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The album, overall, gained mixed to positive reviews. Commenting on the album's "pleasantly lightweight jams", "beachy guitars", "R&B horns" and "playful scat singing", Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B+.[10] In an overall positive review, Billboard said, "Mraz emerges even bolder than before on an album loaded with strings, horns, formidable grooves and a dozen songs dripping with mantra-like positivity."[17]
AllMusic wrote, "The nice thing about the soulful shimmer of We Sing is that it's so slick that it's easy to ignore the gibberish spilling out of Mraz's mouth and just enjoy the sunny, easy sound."[8]
PopMatters wrote that "the album sounds great, and Mraz knows what he is up to. Less clear, I think, is whether the razzle-dazzle wordsmith who loves his Eminem records is ready to truly enter the marketplace as a serious vocalist and a sober songwriter", giving the album a positive rating of seven out of ten overall.[13]
Giving the album two-and-a-half out of five stars, Blender concluded that whether "pondering his parents divorce or describing intricate and delicate sex acts, Mraz's tasty tenor remains a modestly classy pleasure. But he's lost crucial cool."[9]
Even less flattering, Uncut magazine said that "listening to [the album] is like being followed home by a puppy — initially cute and guilelessly affecting, but rapidly irritating".[18] Writing for The Big Issue, Lianne Steinberg stated that "listening to this album is akin to being woken from a comfortable deep sleep by a circus clown with a water pistol full of warm urine", singling out the "terrible lyrics and hamfisted rhymes" for their "hilarity".[19]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Make It Mine" | Jason Mraz | 3:08 |
2. | "I'm Yours" | Jason Mraz | 4:02 |
3. | "Lucky" (with Colbie Caillat) | Jason Mraz, Colbie Caillat, Timothy Fagan | 3:09 |
4. | "Butterfly" | Jason Mraz | 5:00 |
5. | "Live High" | Jason Mraz | 4:12 |
6. | "Love for a Child" | Jason Mraz, Martin Terefe, Sacha Skarbek | 4:05 |
7. | "Details in the Fabric" (featuring James Morrison) | Jason Mraz, Dan Wilson | 5:45 |
8. | "Coyotes" | Jason Mraz | 3:38 |
9. | "Only Human" | Jason Mraz, Sacha Skarbek | 4:02 |
10. | "The Dynamo of Volition" | Jason Mraz | 3:36 |
11. | "If It Kills Me" | Jason Mraz, Martin Terefe, Sacha Skarbek | 4:33 |
12. | "A Beautiful Mess" | Jason Mraz, Mona Tavakoli, Chaska Potter, Mai Bloomfield, Becky Gebhardt | 5:37 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "Make It Mine" (live: London Sessions) | Jason Mraz | 3:30 |
14. | "Life Is Wonderful" (live from Amsterdam) | Jason Mraz | 4:35 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Yours" (From the Casa Nova Sessions) | 4:47 | |
2. | "Live High" (From an Avocado Salad Session) | 4:03 | |
3. | "If It Kills Me" (From the Casa Nova Sessions) | 5:01 | |
4. | "A Beautiful Mess" (From a Raining Jane Session) | 5:15 | |
5. | "Make It Mine" (From the Casa Nova Sessions) | 3:24 | |
6. | "Butterfly" (From the Casa Nova Sessions) | 5:11 | |
7. | "Only Human" (From the Casa Nova Sessions) | 4:48 | |
8. | "The Dynamo of Volition" (From an All-Night Session) | 4:23 | |
9. | "Love for a Child" (From the Casa Nova Sessions) | 3:53 | |
10. | "Coyotes" (From a Girl in New York Sessions) | 4:19 | |
11. | "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" (From the Gospel Collection Sessions) | Bob Dylan | 4:18 |
12. | "Mudhouse/Gypsy MC" (Live from Amsterdam) | 7:00 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Plane" | |
2. | "Make It Mine" | |
3. | "Geek in the Pink" | |
4. | "Dramatica Mujer" | |
5. | "The Dynamo of Volition" | |
6. | "A Beautiful Mess" | |
7. | "If It Kills Me" | |
8. | "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" | |
9. | "1000 Things" | |
10. | "Live High" | |
11. | "Only Human" | |
12. | "Butterfly" | |
13. | "I'm Yours" | |
14. | "No Stopping Us" | |
15. | "Fall Through Glass" | |
16. | "Outro" | |
17. | "Here We Are" (A Mraz Documentary) | |
18. | "A Thousand Things" (Book Preview) |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "I'm Yours" (From the Casa Nova Sessions) | 4:47 | |
14. | "Mudhouse/Gypsy MC" (live in Amsterdam) | 7:00 | |
15. | "Man Gave Names to All the Animals" (From the Gospel Collection Sessions) | Bob Dylan | 4:18 |
16. | "Life Is Wonderful" (live in Amsterdam) | 4:35 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I'm Yours" (Recorded at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on July 9, 2007 by Fabchannel) | |
2. | "Here We Are (Documentary)" (a film by Jarrod Allen, Produced by Jason Mraz) |
The Latin American and Spanish re-release of the album includes a Spanish version of the song "Lucky" which was recorded by Mraz and the Mexican singer Ximena Sariñana.[20]
Personnel
[edit]- Jason Mraz – lead vocals on all tracks, guitar on all tracks
Additional personnel
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Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[64] | 2× Platinum | 140,000^ |
Belgium (BEA)[65] | Gold | 15,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[66] | 2× Platinum | 160,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[67] | 2× Platinum | 40,000‡ |
France (SNEP)[68] | 3× Platinum | 300,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[69] | Gold | 100,000^ |
Ireland (IRMA)[70] | Gold | 7,500^ |
Japan (RIAJ)[71] | Gold | 100,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[72] | Gold | 30,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[73] | Gold | 7,500^ |
Portugal (AFP)[74] | Gold | 10,000^ |
Singapore (RIAS)[75] | 2× Platinum | 20,000* |
Sweden (GLF)[76] | Gold | 20,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[77] | Gold | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[78] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[79] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI)[80] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
[edit]- ^ Jasonmraz.com – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things Jason Mraz Official Store Pre-Order Archived May 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Blair, Tom (November 2008). San Diego Magazine. CurtCo/SDM LLC. p. 46.
- ^ iTunesLive – iTunesLive London Sessions Archived February 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Via Atlantic Records – Jason Mraz releases/Tour talk!
- ^ "American album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
- ^ Iahn, Buddy. "Jason Mraz announces 'We Sing We Dance We Steal Things' deluxe edition". themusicuniverse.com. The Music Universe. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things by Jason Mraz". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Jason Mraz - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (May 20, 2008). "We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Blender. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009.
- ^ a b Wood, Mikael (May 9, 2008). "We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Murphy, Lauren (December 24, 2008). "Jason Mraz - We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things". Entertainment.ie. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (August 1, 2008). "Consumer Guide: August 2008". MSN Music. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ^ a b Layman, Will (May 28, 2008). "Jason Mraz: We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". PopMatters. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Gill, Jaime (January 9, 2009). "Jason Mraz - We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011.
- ^ Keefe, Jonathan (May 22, 2008). "Review: Jason Mraz, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Tyler (May 23, 2008). "Jason Mraz - We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Graff, Gary (May 24, 2008), "News". Billboard. (Retrieved January 13, 2009)
- ^ Byline unknown (July 2008), [1]. Uncut. :104 (accessed January 13, 2009)
- ^ Steinberg, Lianne. "Review: JASON MRAZ – We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things (Atlantic Records)". The Big Issue in the North (753, December 23–January 4, 2009). The Big Life Company: 25.
- ^ "Graba Ximena Sariñana video de la suerte". esmas. May 22, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
- ^ "Representando a la Industria Argentina de la Música". CAPIF. Archived from the original on July 1, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Jason Mraz Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2023. 39. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Jason Mraz". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Jason Mraz Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Jason Mraz Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 2008". austriancharts.at. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2008". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2008" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Årslista Album – År 2008" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2008". hitparade.ch. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "ARIA End of Year Albums Chart 2009". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Rapports Annuels 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2009". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2009" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2009". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 2009". Media Control. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 –2009". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2010". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2009". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Music Canada.
- ^ "Danish album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "French album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things" (PDF) (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Jason Mraz; 'We Sing. We Dance. We steal thin.')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "The Irish Charts - 2009 Certification Awards - Gold". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Japanese album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing. We Dance. We stea" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2015年11月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing We Dance We steal things" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved June 26, 2019. Enter We Sing We Dance We steal things in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2009 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing. We Dance. We steal thin". Recorded Music NZ.
- ^ "Portuguese album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing. We Dance. We steal thin" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on March 4, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
- ^ "Singapore album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things". Recording Industry Association Singapore. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2008" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('We Sing. We Dance. We steal thin.')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing We Dance We Steal Things". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – Jason Mraz – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2009". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
External links
[edit]- Jason Mraz's official YouTube channel's channel on YouTube – contains aforementioned "Crazy Man's Ju-ju" series