Tattoo (Jordin Sparks song)

"Tattoo"
Single by Jordin Sparks
from the album Jordin Sparks
ReleasedAugust 27, 2007 (2007-08-27)
Genre
Length3:52
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stargate
Jordin Sparks singles chronology
"This Is My Now"
(2007) 		"Tattoo"
(2007) 		"No Air"
(2008)
Jordin Sparks European singles chronology
"No Air"
(2008) 		"Tattoo"
(2008) 		"One Step at a Time"
(2009)

"Tattoo" is a song by American recording artist Jordin Sparks, taken from her self-titled debut album. Written by Amanda Ghost, Ian Dench and Stargate, with the latter also producing the song, "Tattoo" was released on August 27, 2007, as the lead single from the album.

"Tattoo" received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who noted its similarities to Beyoncé's 2006 hit, "Irreplaceable", which was also co-written and produced by Stargate. The song peaked at number three in Canada, number five in Australia, and number eight in the United States. It has since been certified platinum in all three countries. The song's music video premiered on Yahoo! Music on November 2, 2007. It was directed by Matthew Rolston and features a cameo appearance from sixth season American Idol runner-up, Blake Lewis. A second music video for "Tattoo" was directed by Scott Speer and released only in European countries in September 2008, due to the song failing to make an impact on the singles charts there.

Background and release

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"Tattoo" was written by British songwriters Amanda Ghost, Ian Dench and Norwegian production team Stargate, with the latter also producing the track. According to Sparks, she loved the song the first time she heard it and immediately wanted to record it.[1] In an interview with Digital Spy, she spoke of the song saying:

"Tattoo's a song that can go so many different ways. Some people think of it as a break-up song, but, for me, it's about somebody who comes into your life and really touches you - be they a friend, a family member or someone you're in a relationship with. You know, with that kind of person, you can't just erase them from your memory if things go wrong. They're stuck there like a tattoo."[2]

Sparks also described "Tattoo" as being very "Beyoncé-ish."[3] The song premiered on AOL on August 24, 2007.[4] The single was sent to U.S. Top 40/Mainstream radio on September 25, 2007.[5] Prior to this, it was released for digital download in the United States, Australia and New Zealand on August 27, 2007.[6][7][8] An extended play featuring additional remixes of the song, was made available for download in Australia and New Zealand on March 8, 2008.[9][10] "Tattoo" was released in the United Kingdom in April 2008, but failed to impact the singles chart, where it peaked at number fifty. However, due to the commercial success of "No Air" there, her record company decided to re-release "Tattoo" in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2008[11] with a new music video.[12][13]

Critical reception

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"Tattoo"
A sample of the song, which has been noted for its similarities to Beyoncé's 2006 hit, "Irreplaceable", which was also co-written and produced by Stargate.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Daniel Wolfe of About.com awarded the song 3½ stars, complimenting Sparks' "powerful, bittersweet vocals" and wrote, "America’s favorite 17-year-old balladeer plays to her strengths, releasing a strong down tempo number while channeling early Mariah Carey."[14] Nick Levine of Digital Spy awarded the song three out of five stars and said it was "a welcome reminder of why she won American Idol in the first place."[12] Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly said the song had a "pretty little melody" that reminded him of Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable".[15] This was echoed by Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times, who said "it sounds like a cousin of Beyoncé’s "Irreplaceable".[16] Editors from Popjustice said the song is "amazing" and felt it was a "cross between Rihanna's "Umbrella" and JoJo's "Too Little Too Late".[17]

Chart performance

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In the United States, "Tattoo" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number fifty-eight on the week dated October 13, 2007.[18] After weeks of climbing the chart, the song reached a peak of number eight on December 29, 2007, becoming Sparks' first top ten hit.[19] It also peaked at number five on the Pop Songs airplay chart.[19] "Tattoo" has since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and has sold 2,085,000 copies in the United States.[20][21] In Australia, the song debuted on the ARIA Singles Chart at number twenty-nine and rose to its peak position of number five in its fifth week on the chart.[22] It certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for shipments of 70,000 units.[23]

"Tattoo" was a slightly greater success in Canada, where it reached number three on the Canadian Hot 100.[19] In the United Kingdom, "Tattoo" debuted at number ninety on the UK Singles Chart on the week dated March 29, 2008. After weeks of ascending and descending the chart, the song reached its peak position of number twenty-four on November 1, 2008.[24] In New Zealand, the song peaked at number twelve, where it spent a total of thirteen weeks on the chart.[25]

Music video

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First music video

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The song's music video was directed by Matthew Rolston[26] and premiered on Yahoo Music on November 2, 2007.[27] In the video, a guy that Sparks likes begins following her, as she leads him to a merry go round. Sparks appears alone on the merry go round throughout the video. It also shows scenes of her and the guy on the merry go round having a good time. The video is shown in both color and black and white close face shots of Sparks intercut into it. It features a cameo appearance from Blake Lewis, the runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol, who appears briefly with Sparks on the merry go round at the end of the video.

Second music video

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A European version of the music video was directed by Scott Speer[28] and was filmed to coincide with the song's re-release in Europe, due to the lack of interest of the original. The video was released in September 2008.[13] It features Sparks in a room with several other people, at what appears to be a college gathering. As she begins to sing, Sparks is shown with a "love" tattoo on her upper arm, as vines draw themselves down her arm. Following this, the ink begins to appear on the others and the floors of the room, creating tattoos in the process. Some of the people in the room are couples, and the tattoos seem to bring them closer. The created tattoos depict images and words, such as a heart or the words "free" and "peace." Sparks is also shown by herself in an empty room, with a mirror covering the wall throughout. During one point, Sparks self-consciously looks in the mirror, coinciding with the song lyric "when I looked in the mirror, didn't deliver." There are also recurring shots of Sparks in another room against a green wall.

Track listing

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Charts and certifications

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Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Tattoo"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States September 25, 2007 Contemporary hit radio Jive [5]
Germany October 17, 2008 CD single Sony BMG [54][55]

References

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  1. ^ "Jordin Sparks hopes to live up to 'Idol' title". Today. Today.com. August 23, 2007.
  2. ^ Levine, Nick (February 15, 2008). "Interview - Jordin Sparks". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  3. ^ Saldaña, Hector (July 16, 2007). "'American Idol' singers get ready for performance". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  4. ^ "Song Premiere: Jordin Sparks, 'Tattoo' - PopEater Music Blog". Archived from the original on October 16, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Abitron Ratings, Music News and more!". FMQB. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report Inc. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Tattoo - Jordin Sparks - United States". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. August 27, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  7. ^ "Tattoo - Single - Australia". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. August 27, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  8. ^ "Tattoo - Single - New Zealand". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. August 27, 2007. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Tattoo - EP - Australia". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. March 7, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Tattoo - EP - New Zealand". iTunes Store. Apple Inc. March 7, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  11. ^ "Tattoo: Jordin Sparks". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Levine, Nick (October 20, 2008). "Music - Singles Review - Jordin Sparks: 'Tattoo'". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  13. ^ a b "New Video: Jordin Sparks, 'Tattoo' (Version 2)". MTV Buzzworthy. MTV Networks. September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  14. ^ Wolfe, Daniel. "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". About.com. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  15. ^ Slezak, Michael (August 24, 2007). "Snap judgment: Jordin Sparks' 'Tattoo'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  16. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (November 26, 2007). "New CDs". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  17. ^ "Jordin Sparks - 'Tattoo'". Popjustice. Popjustice Ltd. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  18. ^ "Hot 100 - Week of October 13, 2007". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tattoo - Jordin Sparks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved January 19, 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - Jordin Sparks". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  21. ^ "'Idol' track sales: Adam Lambert, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood". USA Today. September 22, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  22. ^ a b "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  23. ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2008 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  24. ^ a b "The Official Charts Company - Jordin Sparks". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  25. ^ a b "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  26. ^ "Tattoo | Jordin Sparks". MTV. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  27. ^ "'Tattoo' Video Premiere on Yahoo! Music". Jordin Sparks Official Site. November 2, 2007. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  28. ^ "Tattoo (Version 2) | Jordin Sparks". MTV. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  29. ^ "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  30. ^ "Jordin Sparks – Tattoo" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  31. ^ "Jordin Sparks Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  32. ^ "Jordin Sparks Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  33. ^ "Jordin Sparks Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  34. ^ "Jordin Sparks – Tattoo" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  35. ^ "Jordin Sparks – Global Dance Songs". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  36. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Jordin Sparks". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  37. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 7, 2009" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  38. ^ "Jordin Sparks – Tattoo" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  39. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 200852 into search.
  40. ^ "Jordin Sparks - Tattoo". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  41. ^ "Jordin Sparks Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  42. ^ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2008". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  43. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  44. ^ "2008 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). UK Chart Plus. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  45. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  46. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  47. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  48. ^ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  49. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2008 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  50. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Jordin Sparks – Tattoo". Music Canada.
  51. ^ "Canadian ringtone certifications – Jordin Sparks – Tattoo". Music Canada. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  52. ^ "British single certifications – Jordin Sparks – Tattoo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  53. ^ "American single certifications – Jordin Sparks – Tattoo". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  54. ^ "Tattoo/Basic". Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Amazon.
  55. ^ "Tattoo / Maxi Premium". Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Amazon.
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