Joy

Fefe Dobson (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 30, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B003EQN6US
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,504 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ghost

2. Thanks For Nothing

3. Stuttering

4. Can't Breathe

5. You Bitch

6. Didn't See You Coming

7. Watch Me Move

8. I Want You

9. I'm A Lady

10. In Your Touch

11. Set Me Free

12. Joy

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

For her second Island Def Jam album, the aptly named Joy, the young, 24-year-old industry veteran Felicia "Fefe" Dobson is finally embracing her roots, with a no-holds-barred collection of full-throttle rock & roll that spotlights her skills as a singer, songwriter and performer.

From the cheeky, nursery rhyme playground anthem and first single, "I Want You," the tribal percussion of "Can't Breathe," produced by rock legend Bob Ezrin (KISS, Pink Floyd's The Wall, Lou Reed), and the sassy retort of "You Bitch," produced by Howard Benson (All-American Rejects, My Chemical Romance, Daughtry, Hawthorne Heights, Gavin DeGraw, Papa Roach), to the dance-floor thump of the tongue-in-chic "Paranoia" and the arena, flick-your-Bic torch song, "In Your Touch," Fefe has finally found the sweet spot in her mix of rock and club beats.

"I grew up with Michael and Janet Jackson, but my older sister was listening to Guns N' Roses and Nirvana, so I was right in the middle of it," says Dobson, a native of Scarborough, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto, where she was brought up by a single mom, a mix of native Canadian and English, with a Jamaican father she just recently reconnected with. "I like that combination, especially when I heard Janet's `Black Cat,' with its rock guitar riff. That's what this album reflects. I tried to isolate myself from the radio and TV while I was making it. I listened to a lot of old records, like Stevie Nicks, the Doors and Led Zeppelin, real dramatic, emotional music."

Joy reflects that passion, both musical and personal, with Fefe's sensuality oozing out of songs like the speeded-up punk of "Watch Me Move" ("I'm a firecracker/Better tell your mother... W-w-w-w-watch me move"), the Pretenders-like ballad "Shame" and the pure ecstasy of the title track ("I got joy in the bedroom/When it's just you and I/I got joy when you satisfy me").

Dobson bust onto the music scene as a precocious 18-year-old, releasing her debut album in 2003, which spawned four singles, including "Bye Bye Boyfriend," "Take Me Away," "Everything" and "Don't Go (Girls and Boys)." She appeared as Tina Turner in the NBC series, American Dreams, opened for Justin Timberlake's European tour, and was featured in a Tommy Hilfiger commercial that included "Don't Go (Girls and Boys)." The album also earned her two Juno Award nominations for Pop Album of the Year and New Artist of the Year.

By 2006, Dobson returned to the studio to work on her never-released album, Sunday Love, which featured collaborations with such artists as Billy Steinberg, Matthew Wilder, Cyndi Lauper, Courtney Love, Joan Jett, Nina Gordon and Rancid's Tim Armstrong. In the interim, several of her songs were covered, including "Start All Over," a song which was recorded for Sunday Love, but never made the album, by Miley Cyrus, "Don't Let It Go to Your Head," the first single, by American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, and "As a Blonde," which was covered by Selena Gomez.

Four years later, Fefe is back, with an album that is a clear indication that she will be doing things her way, or not at all.

"I had to go and find myself musically," she says about the break between releases, crediting manager Chris Smith's confidence in her ability for the breakthrough. "I needed time to do that. Luckily, I was allowed to do it on my own, without any interference. Otherwise, I would never have been able to make this album."

Working with producers David Lichens, Jon Levine, Howard Benson and Bob Ezrin on Joy, Dobson lives up to the portraits of her heroes she first hung during the recording of her first album--Kurt Cobain, Judy Garland, Coldplay, the Vines and Jeff Buckley. She co-wrote most of the songs on the album, usually composing on guitar, her choice of instrument.

"I play the few chords that I know," she says. "I try to write melodies off the same chords. `Joy' is written with about three chords, and an extra one in the bridge."

Songs like "I Want You," which has been heard in the TV series The Vampire Diaries, as well as in promos for the film Whip It and The Sims 3: World Adventures computer game, come straight from experience.

"I'm a sucker for love," admits Fefe. "When I was in junior high, I would carry around this huge volume of Shakespeare. I just like the romantic vibe. I write about it because I fall in and out of love quite a bit. I was always pulling on my mother's heartstrings to get more love."

"Shame" is a torch song underlined with jungle rhythms that is a confessional in which she does the breaking up. "When I went to demo the song, I had to go see an ex-boyfriend," says Fefe. "I felt I betrayed him, so I wanted to clear the air. I could not sing it until I did. This reflects that relationship. As humans, we're not perfect. We sometimes hurt people and break hearts, but it's OK to apologize."

In "Can't Breathe" and "Watch Me Move," Fefe is confident in showing off her raw sexuality.

"I am woman, hear me roar," she laughs. "Aren't we all animals at the end of the day? I like to show that side of me, but in a respectful way. I'm just expressing myself. It's all about feeling good and confident about yourself, and not letting anyone else tell you what you can or can't do."

At her young age, Fefe Dobson is more than ready to tackle expectations for her upcoming release.

"People expect you to bring it by the third album," she says. "But I'm not letting the pressure get to me because that's when the fun disappears. I want to laugh and enjoy myself because, at the end of the day, I didn't do this just to do it but because I love to perform and make music. At the end of the day, I want to be rocking like Tina Turner when I'm her age."

With Joy, Fefe Dobson is on her way to achieving that goal.

"I don't regret a thing," she says. "I keep moving forward and not looking back. I couldn't ask for anything better. I'm a girl from suburban Canada who never thought I'd be able to do what I've accomplished. And I'm not done yet."

In fact, Fefe Dobson is just getting started.

Product Description

JOY follows-up Fefe Dobson, her self-titled debut, which generated JUNO Award nominations for Best Pop Album and Best New Artist. Fefe Dobson has been picked for VH1's You Oughta Know program.

"I Want You" was heard in the trailers for Drew Barrymore's roller derby directorial debut, Whip It, and is currently being heard on STARZ promos over the next three months. "I Want You" has also been heard on television in The Vampire Diaries, and in promos for VH1's Megan Wants a Millionaire. The song was also included - in Simlish version, of course - on EA's 6-million selling SIMS 3 World Adventures videogame. Another song from JOY, "Watch Me Move" was recently featured on American Idol's final 24 episode, heard on promos for CW's America's Next Top Model, the theme of VH1's The Cho Show (starring Margaret Cho), and NBC's Lipstick Jungle.

The videos for "I Want You" and "Watch Me Move" - as well as Fefe's mashup mix of "I Want You To Watch Me Move" - were all added last year on MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV.com, VH1.com, The N Network, and Logo.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Joy' is no 'Sunday Love,' but it's still good none-the-less., December 1, 2010

By 

Know-it-All (The STL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joy (Audio CD)

'Sunday Love' is FeFe Dobson's original sophomore record, but unfortunately, her label Island dropped her before they released it, meaning that it was shelved. It was very post-grunge, and she collaborated with music legends Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper, and Courtney Love. Unfortunately, since it was shelved, Island had the rights to those songs, and they sold them to very tween-pop singers. But amazingly, they weren't bastardized! They still worked. None of this seemed to affect FeFe, and she continued to do her own thing. She went back to the sound of her self-titled debut, but incorporated a lot more indie, jazz, and blues elements to the new songs she was crafting. These songs became the second half of 'Joy,' and they deserve that position. They are truly the best part about this record, and they form a FANTASTIC euphoric climax. The first half of 'Joy' are the songs that she wrote after being resigned to Island (Which I personally feel was a mistake. The indie\jazz\blues elements were completely left out of these new tracks, and Island postponed the release of the record for 2 more years.), and they very much reflect the tween-popstars that covered some of her 'Sunday Love' songs. There is definitely a disconnect. 'Joy' is essentially two EPs from two different labels stitched together to form one LP. But it works. It show's FeFe's diversity, and the newer, more produced songs, are SUPER catchy.

So while this may not be the record that I would have liked to have seen released (I really wish 'Sunday Love' was released, and that 'Joy' stayed true to it's indie roots), it's still a good record none-the-less, and I recommend it to any music-lover. Even music-snobs will find something to enJOY about 'Joy!'

NOTE: 'Sunday Love' was completely finished, produced, and mastered. There is an official track listing, including a bonustrack. There were two different kinds of sample CDs released (for reviews), but neither included all of the songs. However, all of the 'Sunday Love' songs have been leaked onto the internet, and FeFe even stated in an interview that she hopes her fans can find a way of getting them. If you know how to do that, then I recommend following her advice. ;]

NOTE 2: iTunes has a "Deluxe Edition" of 'Joy' which contains 4 additional bonustracks. If you don't feel the need to own the hardcopy, then I STRONGLY urge you to buy the 'Joy (Deluxe Edition)' off of iTunes. It is WELL worth it!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Children of the 90s Rejoice, November 30, 2010

By 

Madeline (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joy (MP3 Download)

Don't judge me, but as a child of the 90s--this album just brings back so many memories which is kind of odd seeing as this album was released in 2010. But the sound is that fun punk rock feel reminiscent of Blink-182, Lillix, or even Letters to Cleo, yet it's more mature and as an adult now I feel no shame in blasting Fefe with the windows down. This album is fun, upbeat and doesn't take itself too seriously.

"Stuttering" is an immediate standout though I might add the chorus sounds slightly too much like "Behind These Hazel Eyes" by Kelly Clarkson for my taste. "Ghost" which was the first official single is also a great track and shows the direction that Fefe went with musically. It's power pop/punk infused with an underlying dance vibe. It's sort of in the middle of a Good Charlotte and The Veronicas album.

I love this album already and if you enjoy pop/punk and or happy exciting music, then this album is for you too.

**note, my definition of punk is more along the lines of Third Eye Blind, American Hi-Fi etc... and not The Sex Pistols or The Clash. If that's what you're into-then this album is not for you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I got Joy for this album!, June 25, 2011

By 

Monique Jenkins "do what you want, be what yo... (Denver, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Joy (Audio CD)

I love Fefe Dobson's album Joy it's fun pop rock, just as good as her first album. The lyrics are great and love the nice melodies too. My favorite songs are: Ghost, Stuttering, I'm a lady, You bitch, Set me free, & Can't breathe. I like the whole album anyway it's rocks!!!