So Real is the debut studio album by American singer Mandy Moore. The album was released on December 7, 1999, in the United States by Epic Records.[1] The album was released at a critical turning point in pop music - known as the teen pop revival - which saw other teen artists such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson release their debut albums that same year to commercial and critical success. Conceptually, the album addresses themes such as teenage love, romance and heartbreak, all of which were common subjects in teen pop music at the time.
So Real | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | December 7, 1999 (1999-12-07) | |||
Recorded | 1999 | |||
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Length | 44:30 | |||
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Mandy Moore chronology | ||||
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Singles from So Real | ||||
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So Real became a moderate hit in the United States, reaching a peak of 31 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, as well as being certified Platinum by the RIAA, for shipments of over 1 million. The album spawned a top 50 hit with "Candy" and went gold within three months in the RIAA.[2]
Five months following the release of So Real, it was reissued as I Wanna Be with You, which also served as Moore's debut album internationally.[3][4]
"Candy" was released as Moore' debut single on August 17, 1999.[5] The song received generally favorable critical reviews from critics, mostly praising its composition. It performed moderately well on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking just outside the top 40 at #41. It entered the chart on #88 and reached its peak in its eighth week on the chart.[6] It received more success abroad, peaking at #6 in the UK and #2 in Australia. The music video, which was directed by Chris Robinson, had a cameo by the girl group PYT. [7]
"Walk Me Home" was released on December 6, 1999 as the second single in the US; the song failed to chart when it was first released. In October 2000, the song was re-released to promote I Wanna Be with You and peaked at #38 on the Billboard Pop 100 chart.[8][9]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | C−[11] |
Reviews among music critics were generally mixed. Said William Ruhlmann of AllMusic, "fifteen-year-old Mandy Moore's debut album sounded like it was inspired almost entirely by listening to recent hit albums by 'N Sync, the Backstreet Boys, and Britney Spears," citing stylistic similarities between album tracks "So Real" and "Let Me Be the One" to the Backstreet Boys' "Backstreet's Back", and saying that Moore's "occasional growls" were similar to Spears' "...Baby One More Time". Ruhlmann stated that Moore could "carry a tune", but "with no particular distinction", saying that aside from her singing, the music was "mediocre".[12]
Initially, the album debuted at number 71 on the Billboard 200, significantly lower than expected by Epic Records. The first single from the album was not a major hit, as it peaked just outside the top 40 at #41 on the Hot 100. The album reached No. 31, being the highest, and sold 950,000 in United States and was certified Platinum by the RIAA, for shipments of over 1 million.[13][14]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "So Real" | Tony Battaglia, Shaun Fisher | The Wasabees | 3:51 |
2. | "Candy" | Tony Battaglia, Dave Katz, Jive Jones, Denise Rich | Jones, The Wasabees | 3:56 |
3. | "What You Want" | Tony Battaglia, Shaun Fisher, Skip Masland | The Wasabees | 3:42 |
4. | "Walk Me Home" | Tony Battaglia, Shaun Fisher | Tony Moran | 4:23 |
5. | "Lock Me in Your Heart" | Tony Battaglia, Shaun Fisher | The Wasabees | 3:31 |
6. | "Telephone (Interlude)" | 0:15 | ||
7. | "Quit Breaking My Heart" | Tony Battaglia, Shaun Fisher | The Wasabees | 3:53 |
8. | "Let Me Be the One" (Five Star cover) | Ian Foster | The Wasabees | 3:50 |
9. | "Not Too Young" | Tony Battaglia, Obie Morant | The Wasabees | 3:52 |
10. | "Love Shot" | Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers | Sturken, Rogers | 4:24 |
11. | "I Like It" | Howie Dorough, Mike Lorello, Tony Moran, Denise Rich | Tony Moran | 4:26 |
12. | "Love You for Always" | Tony Battaglia, Shaun Fisher | The Wasabees | 3:22 |
13. | "Quit Breaking My Heart (Reprise)" | Tony Battaglia, Shaun Fisher | The Wasabees | 1:01 |
Total length: | 44:27 |
Credits for So Real adapted from Allmusic.[15]
Chart (1999-2000) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200[16] | 31 |
Chart (2000) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200[17] | 116 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[18] | Platinum | 950,000[19] |
Taken from the Epic/550 release I Wanna Be With You
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