Loose (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Loose
Type = studio
Artist = Nelly Furtado


Released = June 9, 2006
Recorded = 2005—2006
The Hit Factory and Cubejam (Miami, Florida); The Chill Building (Santa Monica, California); Henson Studios and Capitol Studios (Hollywood, California); The Orange Lounge (Toronto, Canada);
Genre = Pop, dance-pop, hip hop, adult contemporary, R&B
Length = 55:13 (standard international edition)
33:39 (Tour Edition bonus disc)
Language = English, Spanish
Label = Geffen, MMG
Producer = Thom Panunzio (exec.), Timbaland (also exec.), Nelly Furtado (exec.), Danja, Nisan Stewart, Lester Mendez, Rick Nowels
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:qm5uak6kdm3b link]
* dotmusic Rating|4|5 [http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/060620/33/20bq5.html link]
* "The Guardian" Rating|4|5 [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,1792851,00.html link]
* "The Observer" Rating|4|5 [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,,1777083,00.html link]
* Okayplayer Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.okayplayer.com/reviews/index.php/weblog/more/loose/Add link]
* Pitchfork (6.4/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/36978/Nelly_Furtado_Loose link]
* PlayLouder Rating|4|5 [http://www.playlouder.com/review/+loose/ link]
* "Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/10519526/loose link]
* "Q" Rating|3|5 (#240, July 2006, p. 112)
* "Slant" rating|3.5|5 [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=871 link]
* "Stylus" Rating|4|5 [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/nelly-furtado/loose.htm link]
* "Vibe" Rating|3|5 [http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2006/05/nelly_furtado_loose_interscope/ link]
Last album = "Folklore"
(2003)
This album = "Loose"
(2006)
Next album =
Misc = Singles
Name = Loose
Type = studio
single 1 = No Hay Igual
single 1 date = April, 2006
single 2 = Promiscuous
single 2 date = April, 2006
single 3 = Maneater
single 3 date = June, 2006
single 4 = Te Busqué
single 4 date = July, 2006
single 5 = Say It Right
single 5 date = October, 2006
single 6 = All Good Things (Come to an End)
single 6 date = November, 2006
single 7 = In God's Hands
single 7 date = June, 2007
single 8 = Do It
single 8 date = July, 2007
single 9 = Somebody To Love
single 9 date = February, 2008

"Loose" is the third album by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, released by Geffen Records June 20, 2006 in North America (see 2006 in music). Timbaland and his then-protégé Danja produced the bulk of the album, which incorporates influences of dance, R&B and hip hop. The album explores the theme of female sexuality and has been described as introspective or even sad in parts. Its influence comes from some of the themes expressed in the material of artists such as Janet Jackson.

The album received criticism because of the sexual image Furtado adopted for the recording, with some feeling it was a ploy to sell more records. Further controversy rose over accusations of plagiarism on Timbalands part when recordings were leaked onto Youtube. The record was seen generally as critically and commercially successful. It reached high positions on charts across the world, and according to a November 2007 press release, it had sold more than seven million copies worldwide. [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-21-2007/0004710238&EDATE= "Nelly Furtado Performs Her Hits Live on 'Loose The Concert' DVD and CD Releasing Dec. 4 on Geffen Records"] . PR Newswire (November 21, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-08-26.]

The album was heavily promoted, released in several editions and was supported by the Get Loose Tour, which is the subject of the concert DVD "". Eight singles were released from the album, including the U.S. number-one singles "Promiscuous" and "Say It Right", which received Grammy Award nominations for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, respectively. [ [http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2007/grammys.htm 49th Grammy Awards - 2007] . Rock on the Net. Retrieved 2007-12-17.] [ [http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2008/grammys.htm 50th Grammy Awards - 2007] . Rock on the Net. Accessed 2007-12-17.] Other stand out singles include the UK number-one single "Maneater" and the successful song "All Good Things (Come to an End)".

tyle

Furtado said that with the release of her albums before "Loose", she had wanted to prove herself as a musician and earn respect from listeners through using many different instruments on an album, which most hip-hop musicians did not do. After she believed she had accomplished that, she felt she had freedom to make the type of music she "really love [d] ". Furtado said her previous problem with hip hop was that she did not think it was good enough to base one of her albums on, but that she then asked herself why she was being "pretentious". The album represents her separating from such notions and, in her words, "jumping in the deep end of the pool—'Ahh, screw it, this is fun!'". Furtado said she considers herself "all over the map" and promiscuous musically because she is not faithful to one style.

For the first time, Furtado worked with a variety of record producers and followed a more collaborative approach in creating the album. Produced primarily by Timbaland and Danja, "Loose" showcases Furtado experimenting with a more R&B-hip hop sound and, as she put it, the "surreal, theatrical elements of '80s music". [http://umusic.ca/nellyfurtado/ "Nelly Furtado :: Loose"] . Universal Music Canada. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] She has categorized the album's sound as "punk-hop", which she describes as Eurythmics-influenced "modern, poppy, spooky music" and stated that "there's a mysterious, after-midnight vibe to [it] that's extremely visceral". Furtado has described the album as "more urban, more American, more hip-hop, [and] more simplified" than her earlier work, which she said was more layered and textured because she "tend [s] to overthink things". In contrast, during her studio time with Timbaland, she said she was "in the VIP boys club of just letting go" and being more impulsive.

During the recording of "Loose", Furtado listened to several electro and rock musicians, including Bloc Party, System of a Down, Queens of the Stone Age, Metric and Death from Above 1979, some of whom influenced the "rock sound" present on the album and the "coughing, laughing, distorted bass lines" that were kept in the songs deliberately.cite web |first=Austin |last=Scaggs |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nellyfurtado/articles/story/10603268/qa_nelly_furtado |title=Why Is Nelly Furtado's New Album So Loud?
publisher="Rolling Stone" |date=June 19, 2008|accessdate=2008-05-05] According to her, music by such bands is "very loud and has a garage theme" to it, some of which she felt she captured on the album. Furtado has said rock music is "rhythmic again" and hip hop-influenced after it had become "so churning and boring."Anderson, Jason (June 20, 2006). [http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/furtado.html "Bustin' "Loose"] . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] Because the mixing engineers were aware of Timbaland and Furtado's rock influences, the songs were mixed on a mixing board in the studio instead of "the fancy mixer at the end". Furtado said she preferred the louder volume that process gave to the album because she wanted it to sound like her demo tapes, which she prefers to her finished albums. She said, "It didn't have that final wash over it; it didn't have the final pressing at the end, save for a couple sounds".

The "off-the-cuff" conclusion to production was one of the reasons the album was titled "Loose". According to Furtado, instead of "pristine stuff", the album features "really raw" elements such as distorted bass lines, laughter from studio outtakes and general "room for error"; it was named partly after the spontaneous decisions she made when creating the album.Lash, Jolie (February 16, 2006). [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9325140/nelly_furtado_brings_the_punkhop "Nelly Furtado Brings the Punk-Hop"] . "Rolling Stone". Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] The album is also called "Loose" because it is "the opposite of calculated" and came naturally to Furtado and Timbaland; she called him her "distant musical cousin because he was always pushing boundaries and always carving out his own path", which she believed she was doing with "Loose".cite web |first=David |last=Bauder |url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12175605 |title=Nelly Furtado lets 'Loose' on new album |publisher=Yahoo |date=July 20, 2008|accessdate=2008-05-05] "I think you have to keep surprising people as an artist, and I like that—I love doing that", she said.

Themes

"Loose" was also named partly for the R&B girl group TLC, who Furtado said she admires for "taking back their sexuality, showing they were complete women."Gardner, Elysa (July 14, 2006). [http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2006-07-13-female-singers_x.htm "Serious female singers harder to find on the charts"] . "USA Today". Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] She said she wanted the album to be "assertive and cool" and "sexy but fun", like TLC, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Janet Jackson, who inspired Furtado because, as she put it, she was "comfortable in her sexuality and womanhood" when her 1993 single "That's the Way Love Goes" was released. Furtado has said "Loose" is not as much about the lyrics, which are not included in the liner notes, as it is about "indulging in pleasures—whether it's dancing or lovemaking."cite web|url=http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20060828_132446_132446 |title="Nelly Furtado: 'I'm not Mother Teresa'"|last=Intini|first=John|date=August 25, 2006 |publisher=Maclean's|accessdate=2006-09-18] According to her, she wasn't trying to be sexy with the album—"I think I just am sexy now", she said. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13955827/ "Nelly Furtado lets 'Loose' on new album"] . Associated Press (July 20, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-05-07.]

The opening track, "Afraid" (featuring rapper Attitude), is a description of Furtado's fear of what people think of her, and she has said the chorus reminds her of "walking down the hall in high school ... because you live from the outside in. Now that I'm an adult, I care about the inside of me ... Before I said I didn't care about what people thought about me, but I really did."cite web |first=Kathy| last=Inadoli |url=http://allhiphop.com/stories/alternatives/archive/2006/09/03/18135592.aspx |title=Nelly Furtado: Wings of Change, Pt 1 |publisher=AllHipHop.com|date=September 3, 2007|accessdate=2008-05-07] She compared "Maneater" to how people become "hot on themselves" when dancing in their underwear in front of a mirror. "Promiscuous" (featuring Timbaland) was inspired by a flirting exchange Furtado had with Attitude, who co-wrote the songcite web |first=Julianne |last=Sheperd |url= http://www.mtv.com/bands/f/furtado_nelly/qa_feature_060706/|title=How Nelly Furtado Got Her Getto Pass|publisher=MTV News |date= July 7, 2007 |accessdate=2008-05-07] She has characterised the fifth track, "Showtime", as "a proper R&B slow jam".cite web |first= |last= |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9448129/spring_music_preview_2006 "Spring Music Preview 2006 |title=Spring Music Preview 2006 |publisher=Rolling Stone |date= March 10, 2007 |accessdate=2008-05-07] The album also features more introspective songs, and "The Sunday Times" wrote that it "has a surprising sadness to it." The seventh track, "Te Busqué", which features Latin singer Juanes, is about Furtado's experiences with depression, which she said she has had periodically since she was around seventeen years old.Cairns, Dan (May 21, 2006). [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2101-2184254,00.html "Whoa, here she comes again"] . "The Sunday Times". Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] Furtado said she was unsure what "Say It Right" is about, but that it encapsulates her feeling when she wrote it and "taps into this other sphere"; in an interview for "The Sunday Times", it was mentioned that it is about her breakup with DJ Jasper Gahunia, the father of her daughter. "In God's Hands", another song on the album, was also inspired by the end of their relationship.

Production history

Furtado began work on "Loose" by holding with emcee Jellystone what she referred to as a "hip-hop workshop", in which they would "write rhymes, dissect them, and try different flows over beats." The first producers she worked with were Track & Field—who co-produced her first two albums, "Whoa, Nelly!" (2000) and "Folklore" (2003)—and by May 2005, she had collaborated with Swollen Members and K'naan.McNeil, Jason (May 4, 2005). [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000910737 "Furtado At Work On Third Album"] . "Billboard". Retrieved on 2008-05-07 ] She worked with Nellee Hooper in London on reggae-oriented material and with Lester Mendez in Los Angeles on acoustic songs. One of the tracks Mendez helped to create is "Te Busqué", which is co-written by and features Juanes, who collaborated with Furtado on his 2002 song "Fotografía".Furtado, Nelly. "Loose" booklet.] Juanes. "Un Día Normal" booklet.] During her time in Los Angeles, she worked with Rick Nowels, who co-wrote and produced "In God's Hands" and "Somebody to Love".

In Miami, Florida, Furtado collaborated with Pharrell (who introduced her to reggaeton and who gave her a "shout-out" in his 2005 single "Can I Have It like That") and Scott Storch (with whom she recorded a "straight-up rap song") before entering the studio with Timbaland.Vineyard, Jennifer (June 20, 2006). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1534662/06202006/furtado_nelly.jhtml "Chris Martin Covers Jay-Z — And Other Scenes From Nelly Furtado's "Loose"] . MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] He and his protégé at the time, Danja, co-produced eight of the tracks, with another produced solely by Danja. For some of the beats on the songs, Timbaland finished work on ones already present in the studio that were half-developed or just "nucleuses"; the rest were completely reworked.

Furtado recorded around forty tracks for "Loose", deciding which she would include based on the s of the album—she called Timbaland "a sonic extraterrestrial" who came up with a sequence of songs that flowed, and said that the one she had devised was supposedly unsatisfactory. She recorded an unreleased collaboration with Justin Timberlake, "Crowd Control", which she described as "kind of sexy" and "a cute, clubby, upbeat, fun track".Vineyard, Jennifer (April 28, 2006). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1529686/20060427/furtado_nelly.jhtml "Nelly Furtado Hooks Up With 'Distant Cousin' Timberlake, Emerges With 'Sexy' Song"] . MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] Other songs considered for inclusion on the album include "Chill Boy", "Friend of Mine", "Go", "Hands in the Air", "Pretty Boy", "Vice" and "Weak".

Furtado said in her diary on her official website that she recorded a remix of "Maneater" with rapper Lil' Wayne; it was only released as part of a compilation album, Timbaland's Remix & Soundtrack Collection, she also used the instrumental of the song during many television performances of "Maneater".cite web |first=Farid |last=Benmbarek |url=http://www.statemagazine.nl/forum.php/article?data%5Barticleid%5D=1288 |title=Statemagazine - review - Nelly Furtado |publisher="Statemagazine" |date=June 23, 2006|accessdate=2008-05-07] A version of "All Good Things (Come to an End)" featuring vocals by Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, who co-wrote the song, was not released after a request from Martin's label, EMI. The song was released on the album, but only Furtado's vocals are featured.cite web |last=Adminn |url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/chris_martin_duet_too_rocky_0
title=Chris Martin duet "too rocky" |publisher=MTV |date=August 1, 2006|accessdate=2008-05-07]

Criticism and controversy

=Furtado's

Considerable attention was generated by the more sexual image of Furtado presented in promotion and publicity for the album, and in particular the music videos for "Promiscuous" and "Maneater", in which she dances around with her midriff exposed. According to "Maclean's" magazine, some said that Furtado's progression was a natural transformation of a pop singer; others believed that she had "sold out" in an effort to garner record sales, particularly after her second album was a commercial failure in comparison to her first.

"Maclean's" wrote that her makeover "seems a bit forced" and contrasted her with singers such as Madonna and Emily Haines of Metric: " [they] seem to be completely in control, even somewhat intimidating in their sexuality: they've made a calculated decision for commercial and feminist reasons. In contrast, Furtado's new, overt sexuality comes off as unoriginal — overdone by thousands of pouty pop stars with a quarter of Furtado's natural talent ... the revamping feels as if it's been imposed rather than chosen by the unique, articulate singer we've seen in the past." "Dose" magazine wrote that Furtado's new "highly sexualized" image was manufactured, and noted the involvement in the album's development of Geffen's Jimmy Iovine, who helped to develop the Pussycat Dolls, a girl group known for their sexually suggestive dance routines. The writer also criticised Furtado's discussion of her buttocks and apparent rejection of feminism in a "Blender" magazine interview, writing "Girls, do you hear that churning? Those are the ideas of Gloria Steinem turning in their grave."Clarke, Christine (July 14, 2006). [http://www.dose.ca/music/story.html?id=82b49482-6b2d-4e5e-a649-1ac12bd7d32f "What Happened to Nelly?"] . "Dose". Retrieved on 2008-05-07.]

A writer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said that cynics could attribute Furtado's commercial success with "Loose" to her "amped-up sex appeal". The writer added that, the failure of Janet Jackson's album "Damita Jo" (2004) indicated such a move was not infallible. That Furtado was "still demure compared to many of her competitors"—she avoided sporting lingerie or performing "Christina Aguilera-style gyrations or calisthenics" in the "Promiscuous" and "Maneater" videos. "Despite its dramatic arrival ... Furtado's new image doesn’t feel calculated", he said. " [She] seems to be thinking less and feeling more, to the benefit of her music."

Plagiarism allegations

In early 2007, a video hosted on YouTube led to reports that the song "Do It", and the Timbaland-produced ringtone "Block Party" that inspired it, used—without authorization—the melody from Finnish demoscene musician Janne "Tempest" Suni's song "Acidjazzed Evening", winner of the Assembly 2000 oldskool music competition.Rodriguez, Jayson (January 22, 2007). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1550506/20070122/timbaland.jhtml "YouTube Clip Claims Timbaland Got Furtado Track From Finnish Dude"] . MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-05-07] Timbaland used the record of C64 adaptation of the song written by Glenn Rune Gallefoss (GRG). Timbaland admitted sampling the song, but said that he had no time to research its intellectual owner.

In January 2008, Turkish newspapers reported that Kalan Müzik, the record label that released Turkish folk singer Muhlis Akarsu's album "Ya Dost Ya Dost", pressed charges against Furtado for the "Loose" track "Wait for You", which label officials said features the bağlama instrumental part of Akarsu's song "Allah Allah Desem Gelsem".cite web |url=http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=131301 |title=Furtado accused of stealing Turkish folk-song |publisher=Todayszaman |date=2008-01-10 |accessdate=2008-05-07]

On February 9, 2007, Timbaland commented on the issue in an MTV interview:

It makes me laugh. The part I don't understand, the dude istrying to act like I went to his house and took it from his computer. Idon't know him from a can of paint. I'm 15 years deep. That's how youattack a king? You attack moi? Come on, man. You got to come correct. Youthe laughing stock. People are like, 'You can't be serious.'cite web |first=Jayson |last=Rodriguez |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1552023/20070209/timbaland.jhtml |title=Timbaland in shock |publisher=MTV |date=February 9, 2007|accessdate=2008-05-07]

Hannu Sormunen, a Finnish representative of Universal which represents Nelly Furtado in Finland, commented the controversy as follows in the January 15, 2007 issue of "Iltalehti":

In case that the artist decides to pursue the matter further, it's on him to go to America and confront them with the local use of law. It will require a considerable amount of faith and, of course, money.cite web |first=Olli |last=Varis |url=http://www.iltalehti.fi/popstars/200701145593138_ps.shtml |title=Onko Nellyn hitti Suomesta?
publisher=Iltalehti |date=January 15, 2007|accessdate=2008-05-07 |language=Finnish]

Critical reception

"Loose" received positive reviews from critics, receiving a 71/100 rating on the review scores aggregate website Metacritic.cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/furtadonelly/loose|title=Loose by Nelly Furtado|work=Metacritic|accessdate=2008-08-16] musicOMH and Allmusic cited the "revitalising" effect of Timbaland on Furtado's music,cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/nelly-furtado-2_0606.htm|title=Nelly Furtado - Loose (Polydor)|work=MusicOMH|last=Murphy|first=John|accessdate=2006-08-16] cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:65rv284w05oa~T1|title=Loose Review|work=Allmusic|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|accessdate=2006-08-16] and "The Guardian" called it "slick, smart and surprising."cite web|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,1792851,00.html|title=Nelly Furtado, Loose|work=Guardian Unlimited Arts|last=Lynskey|first=Dorian|accessdate=2008-08-16] Allmusic wrote in its review, "It's on this final stretch of the album that the Furtado and Timbaland pairing seems like a genuine collaboration, staying true to the Nelly of her first two albums, but given an adventurous production that helps open her songs up ... Timbaland has revitalized Nelly Furtado both creatively and commercially with "Loose".She won her first BRIT Award—Best International Female—in 2007.cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_6360000/newsid_6363000/6363087.stm
title=In pictures: Brit Awards 2007 |publisher=BBC |date=February 15, 2007|accessdate=2008-05-05]

"Rolling Stone" had a mixed review of the album. While "Promiscuous" was criticized as "garish", it was noted that "Maneater" "bumps hard enough to qualify as a sequel [to the Hall and Oates song of the same name] , and that's high praise indeed".cite web |first=Rob |last=Sheffield |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/10519526/loose |title=Loose - review |publisher="Rollingstone" |date=2006-06-15|accessdate=2008-05-08] "Vibe" stated, "she loses herself in Gwen Stefani–like posturing, as on “Glow,” and ethnic fusions like “No Hay Igual” or “Te Busque."cite web |first=Kevin |last=Wong |url=http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2006/05/nelly_furtado_loose_interscope/ |title=Nelly Furtado - Loose (Interscope) |publisher="Vibe" |date=May 29, 2006|accessdate=2008-05-05]

Promotion and chart performance

"Loose" debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling more than 34,000 copies in its first week, at that time the year's strongest debut for a Canadian artist. [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/show/CTVShows/20060712/ctv_release_20060712/20060712 "Nelly Furtado Leads All-Star Guest Line-Up as Canadian Idol Top 10 Shows Begin July 17 on CTV"] . CTV (July 12, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-09-09.] Williams, John (June 28, 2006). [http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/F/Furtado_Nelly/2006/06/28/1657816-ca.html "Furtado gets 'Loose' on charts"] . JAM! Showbiz. Retrieved 2006-09-09.] In late July, after Furtado embarked on a short tour of Canada and made a guest appearance on the television show "Canadian Idol", the album returned to number one. [Williams, John (July 26, 2006). [http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/F/Furtado_Nelly/2006/07/26/1703331-ca.html "Furtado reclaims No. 1 in Canada"] . JAM! Showbiz. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.] It subsequently stayed near the top of the album chart until late January 2007, when it reached number one again for two weeks. [Williams, John. (January 24, 2007). [http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/F/Furtado_Nelly/2007/01/24/3438769-ca.html "Furtado, Bailey Rae make chart moves"] . JAM! Showbiz. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] It was the third best-selling album of 2006 in Canada, and the highest selling by a female solo artist, with 291,700 copies sold.cite web |url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2007/17/c6663.html
title=10% Growth in Overall Music Sales; Digital Track Sales Exceed 120% Growth |publisher=Newswire |date=January 17, 2007|accessdate=2008-05-07] The Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) certified "Loose" five times platinum in May 2007 for shipments of more than 500,000 copies. [http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Certification Results] Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] It stayed in the top twenty for fifty-seven weeks. [ [http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Charts/ALBUMS.html CRIA Search] Canoe, Inc. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.]

The album debuted at number one on the U.S. "Billboard" 200 with sales of 219,000; [Hasty, Kate (June 28, 2006). [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002763472 "Furtado Scores First Chart-Topping Album"] . "Billboard". Retrieved on 2006-09-09.] it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and ranked sixty-fourth on the "Billboard" 2006 year-end chart. [http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH Gold & Platinum Search] Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] [ [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums "Charts - Year-End Charts - The Billboard 200"] . "Billboard" (December 31, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] "Loose" exited the U.S. top ten in August 2006 but re-entered it in March 2007, [Cohen, Jonathan. (March 7, 2007) [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003554531 Daughtry Flip-Flops With Jones, Reclaims No. 1] . "Billboard". Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] and according to Nielsen SoundScan in October 2007, it had sold two million units. [Jurgensen, John (October 13, 2007). [http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119223062349357914-QOGMrRNJ85DCzeD3z8SIizSoQdw_20071112.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top "Life of Danja"] . "The Wall Street Journal". Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] The album ranked thirty-second on the "Billboard" 2007 year-end chart. [ [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/chart_display.jsp?f=The+Billboard+200&g=Year-end+Albums Billboard Charts - Year-end Albums - The Billboard 200] "Billboard". Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] In the United Kingdom, "Loose" entered the albums chart at number five;cite web |first= |last= |url=http://www.nme.com/news/muse/23431 |title=Muse score biggest ever hit
publisher=NME |date=2006-06-25|accessdate=2008-05-08] in its forty-third week, it reached number four, and it was certified double platinum for shipments to retailers of more than 600,000 copies. [http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=32898 "Certified Awards - Furtado Nelly, Loose, 2 x Platinum"] . British Phonographic Industry (March 23, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] As of July 2007, it had sold roughly 827,000 copies in the UK. [http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=29845&sectioncode=1 Chemical Brothers score fifth chart-topping album] . "Music Week" (July 9, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] The record was certified two times platinum in Australia for more than 140,000 units shipped; [http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2007Albums.htm "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2007 Albums"] . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] it reached number four there and was placed forty-fourth on the Australian Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) list of 2006 bestsellers. [ [http://www.aria.com.au/pages/ARIACHarts-EndofYearCharts-Top100Albums2006.htm "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2006"] . Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] The album entered the chart in Germany at number one, spent a record forty-nine weeks in the German top ten, [ [http://www.chartsurfer.de/albumdetails/5315/loose.html Loose album chart details] ChartSurfer.de. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] and was certified five times platinum. [http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank.html Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold/Platin-Datenbank] . Aberratio GmbH. Retrieved on 2008-05-07. ] "Loose" became the most successful album in Germany since the establishment of the Longplay charts in 1992. [ [http://www.chartsurfer.de/all-time-charts/longplay/de/top10/0/index.html "All Time Charts - Top 100"] . Chartsurfer.de. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] "Loose" reached number one on the European Top 100 Albums chart in early 2007,Sexton, Paul (January 19, 2007). [http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1248727.php/Nelly_Furtado_takes_The_Beatles_spot_at_No._1_on_Euro_charts "Nelly Furtado takes The Beatles' spot at No. 1 on Euro charts"] . VNU eMedia. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] spending ten non-consecutive weeks at number one. [Sexton, Paul (July 30, 2007). [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003618106 "Timbaland Unseats Rihanna On U.K. Singles Chart"] . "Billboard". Retrieved on 2008-05-07.]

By March 2007, it had been certified gold or platinum in twenty-five countries.Devlin, Mike (March 15, 2007). [http://www.canada.com/cityguides/victoria/story.html?id=08fac785-e941-4e65-8739-530e82ec1052&k=58259 "Nelly soars with 'what feels right'"] . "Times-Colonist" via Canada.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] According to a Geffen Records press release, "Loose" had sold more than seven million copies by November 2007.

ingles

In April 2006, a remix of "No Hay Igual" featuring Calle 13 was issued as a club single in the U.S. During the same period, "Promiscuous" (featuring Timbaland) was released for digital download in North America. It was Furtado's first single to top the U.S. Hot 100 and was released in Australia, where it reached the top five.cite web|url=http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/song/8479|title="Nelly Furtado and Timbaland - Promiscuous"|publisher=MusicSquare|accessdate=2006-09-23] cite web|url=http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nelly+Furtado+feat%2E+Timbaland&titel=Promiscuous&cat=s|title=NELLY FURTADO FEAT. TIMBALAND - PROMISCUOUS (SINGLE) |publisher=australian-charts.com|accessdate=2007-05-17] The lead single in Europe and Latin America, "Maneater", was released in late May to early June 2006. It became Furtado's first single to top the UK Singles Chart and made the top ten in other countries; it reached the top five in Germany and the top twenty in France and Latin America. [http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/song/10167 "Nelly Furtado - Maneater"] . MusicSquare. Retrieved on 2006-09-03.]

The second single in Europe, "Promiscuous", was released in late August to early September 2006 and performed less well than "Maneater". It peaked inside the top five in the UK and the top ten in other countries, including Germany, and it reached the top twenty in France. During the same period, "Maneater" began its run as the second single in North America; it was not as successful as "Promiscuous", reaching number twenty-two in Canada and the top twenty in the U.S., though it became a top five single on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Releases of the third North American single, "Say It Right", and the third Europe single, "All Good Things (Come to an End)", took place in November and December, and the third Latin American single, "Promiscuous", was released in January 2007. "Say It Right" went to number one in the U.S. and on the Nielsen BDS airplay chart in Canada (where it was not given a commercial release), and it reached the top five in Australia. [http://acharts.us/song/11440 "Nelly Furtado - Say It Right"] . aCharts.us. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.] "All Good Things (Come to an End)" reached number one on the pan-European singles chart and the top five in the UK, and it was the album's most successful single in Germany, where it topped the chart, and in France, where it became a top ten hit. After the release of "Say It Right" in Europe in March 2007, the single reached the top five in Germany and the top ten in the UK, where it was a download-only release. The video for "All Good Things (Come to an End)" was released in North America during this period. "All Good Things (Come to an End)" peaked in the top five in Canada and in the top twenty in Australia, though it only reached the lower half of the U.S. Hot 100. [http://acharts.us/song/11495 "Nelly Furtado - All good things"] . aCharts.us. Retrieved on 2007-05-11.]

The album's fifth UK single was "In God's Hands", and the fifth single in North America was "Do It". In May 2007, Furtado mentioned the possibility of a sixth or seventh single, mentioning the examples of Nickelback's "All the Right Reasons" and The Pussycat Dolls' "PCD" as albums that were being supported by seventh singles at the time. Furtado said she liked the possibility because she thought "Loose" was good and "want [ed] people to hear as much of it as possible" before she took time off.Graff, Gary (May 11, 2007). [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003584183 "Furtado Hoping To Rock With Timbaland"] . "Billboard". Retrieved on 2008-05-07.]

Two other songs, "Te Busqué" and "No Hay Igual", were released as singles in other regions of the world. "Te Busqué" was the lead single in Spain because of the limited success hip-hop/R&B-influenced songs in the style of "Promiscuous" and "Maneater" achieved in the country.Iglesias, Gustavo (July 18, 2006). [http://www.los40.com/articulo/entrevistas/considero/artista/latina/l40actn01/20060718l40l40ent_1/Tes/ "Yo también me considero una artista latina"] . Los 40 Principales. Retrieved on 2006-12-05.] It reached number one on the Los 40 Principales radio chart in December 2006. [ [http://www.los40.com/articulo/noticias/busque/primer/n/Principales/Nelly/Furtado/sexto/Juanes/l40actn01/20061204l40l40not_5/Tes/ "'Te busqué', primer nº 1 de Los 40 Principales para Nelly Furtado y sexto para Juanes"] . Los 40 Principales (December 4, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-05.] It was not released in the United States, but it was given airplay on Latin music radio stations and reached the top forty on "Billboard"'s Latin Pop Airplay chart. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jcfexqlkldae~T51 "Nelly Furtado - Billboard Singles"] . "Billboard" and Allmusic. Retrieved on 2006-11-14.] The "No Hay Igual" remix featuring Calle 13 was released in Latin America, and the music video debuted in September. [ [http://www.nellyfurtado.com/news/default.aspx/nid/8967/aid/417/?utm_source=rss&utm_campaign=rss&utm_medium=News&utm_content=nid_8967 "A Two for One Deal"] . Geffen (September 6, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-10-06.]

Performances and touring

During the promotion of "Loose", Furtado performed at major music festivals and award shows. In Europe, she appeared at Rock am Ring and Rock-im-Park in Germany and the Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands in June 2006. She performed in Canada at the Calgary Stampede, the Ottawa Bluesfest in July, and at the Ovation Music Festival in September. Shortly after her August 2006 performance at the Summer Sonic in Japan, she sang at the Teen Choice Awards. In November, she contributed to the entertainment during the World Music Awards, the American Music Awards and the 94th Grey Cup halftime show. She performed at the 2007 NRJ Music Awards, held in January 2007. [http://www.geffen.com/artist/dates/archive.aspx/aid/417/dt/01-01-2006 Nelly Furtado: Date Archive 2006] Geffen (January 1, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-05-07.] [http://www.geffen.com/artist/dates/archive.aspx/aid/417/dt/01-01-2007 Nelly Furtado: Date Archive 2007] . Geffen (January 1, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-07.]

Furtado embarked on a world concert tour, the Get Loose Tour, on February 16, 2007 in the UK, in support of the album; the tour included thirty-one dates in Europe and Canada, with additional shows in the U.S., Japan, Australia and Latin America. Furtado described the show as a "full sensory experience" with "a beginning, middle and end ... [it] takes you on a journey", also stressing the importance of crowd involvement and "spontaneity and rawness, because those are my roots, you know? I started by doing club shows, and that's the energy I love, the raw club energy of just feeling like you're rocking out." Though Furtado said choreographed dance routines were to be included in the show, she described it as "music-based ... Everything else is just to keep it sophisticated and sensual and fun."cite web |url=http://www.mtvasia.com/News/200704/24014242.html
title=Quick News On 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Eminem, Game, Nas, U2, Velvet Revolver & More |publisher=MTV |date=|accessdate=2008-05-05] Furtado said she hoped to have Chris Martin, Juanes, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and Calle 13 to guest on the tour, and have a "revolving door" of opening acts with Latin musicians opening in the U.S.Vineyard, Jennifer (November 27, 2006). [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1546489/20061122/furtado_nelly.jhtml "Furtado Lines Up Special Guests: Timbaland, Chris Martin, Justin?"] . MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-05-07. ]

Track listing

Certifications

Credits and personnel

* Nelly Furtado: vocals
* Attitude: vocals
* Rusty Anderson: acoustic guitar
* David Campbell: conductor
* Robert Cani: violin
* Luis Conte: percussion
* Larry Corbett: cello
* Maria DeLeon: violin
* Joel Derouin: violin
* Danja: drums, keyboard, piano
* Hilario Duran: piano
* Amen Garabedian: violin
* Gerado Hilera: violin
* Sharon Jackson: violin
* Dean Jarvis: bass guitar
* Juanes: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
* Suzie Katayama: cello
* Peter Kent: violin
* Greg Kurstin: keyboard
* Jamie Muhoberac: keyboard
* Rick Nowels: guitar, keyboard, piano
* Blake O: guitar
* Luis Orbego: percussion
* Stever Richards: cello
* Kevin Rudolph: guitar

* David Schommer: percussion
* Ramon Stagnaro: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
* Nisan Stewart: drums
* Daniel Stone: percussion
* Taku Hirano: percussion
* Timbaland: bass guitar, drums, keyboard, percussion
* Josefina Vergara: violin
* Dan Warner: guitar
* Joey Waronker: drums

Production

* Executive producers: Thom Panunzio, Timbaland, Nelly Furtado
* Producer: Timbaland, Danja, Nisan Stewart, Lester Mendez, Rick Nowels, Nelly Furtado
* Vocal producer: Jim Beanz
* Vocal assistance: Jim Beanz, Timbaland, The Horace Mann Middle School Choirs
* Engineers: Demacio Castellon, Vadim Chrislov, Ben Jost, Joao R. Názario, James Roach, Kobia Tetey, Joe Wohlmuth
* Assistant engineers: Jason Donkersgoed, Steve Genwick, Kieron Menzies, Dean Reid
* Mixing: Marcella Araica, Demacio Castellon, Bard Haehnal, Dave Pensado, Neal H. Pogue
* Mastering: Chris Gerhinger
* A&R: Thom Panunzio, D.J. Mormille
* A&R coordination: Evan Peters
* A&R administration: Jeanne Venton
* Art direction: JP Robinson, Gravillis Inc., Nevis
* Photography: Anthony Mandler
* Production manager: Cliff Feimann

ee also

*Number-one albums of 2006 (U.S.)

References