Sweet Kisses
Studio album by
Jessica Simpson
ReleasedNovember 23, 1999 (1999-11-23)
Recorded1998–1999
Genre
Length44:28
LabelColumbia
Producer
Jessica Simpson chronology
Sweet Kisses
(1999)		 Irresistible
(2001)
Singles from Sweet Kisses
  1. "I Wanna Love You Forever"
    Released: August 30, 1999
  2. "Where You Are"
    Released: February 21, 2000
  3. "I Think I'm in Love with You"
    Released: February 23, 2000

Sweet Kisses is the debut studio album by American singer Jessica Simpson, released in the United States on November 23, 1999, by Columbia Records. Its lyrical and visual representations carry the common theme of virginal innocence, a continuation of the late-1990s teen-pop revival. It was produced to capitalize on the success of teen artists Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, who both debuted earlier that year. Sweet Kisses was a hit in the US, peaking at number 25 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of over two million copies. As of February 2009, it has sold 1.9 million copies in the US.

Sweet Kisses spawned three singles, including Simpson's debut single: "I Wanna Love You Forever", which is her biggest hit in the US. The second single was a duet: "Where You Are" with future husband Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees. The third single was a dance track: "I Think I'm in Love With You", which samples "Jack & Diane" by John Cougar Mellencamp.

Background

Simpson first developed and nurtured her talent in her local Baptist church, where her father also worked as the congregation's youth minister. At age twelve, she unsuccessfully auditioned for The Mickey Mouse Club.[1] While attending a church camp, at the age of 13, Simpson sang Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" and an arrangement of "Amazing Grace". One of the camp's visitors was launching a Gospel music record label and saw great promise and profits in her voice. It was during this time, while attending J. J. Pearce High School, Simpson signed to Proclaim Records, a minor Gospel music record label. She recorded an album, Jessica, but Proclaim went bankrupt and the album was never officially released except for a small pressing funded by her grandmother. This small pressing gained her minor attention which led her to performing at concerts with other gospel legendary acts such as Kirk Franklin, God's Property, and CeCe Winans. When she was seventeen years old, Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola heard Jessica, he was impressed with Simpson's musical talent and skill. Mottola instantly thought Simpson sounded like Mariah Carey. Simpson was immediately signed to the label. She dropped out of high school but later earned her GED.[2][3]

Simpson also collaborated with Sam Watters for the album. Watters produced the singles "I Wanna Love You Forever" and "Where You Are", as well as "Heart of Innocence". Watters also co-wrote the track "I Wanna Love You Forever", along with Louis Biancaniello. Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers also produced the tracks "I've Got My Eyes On You" and "Betcha She Don't Love You" together, though neither track was released as a single. Simpson's label wanted Sweet Kisses to be different from that of Aguilera's and Spears' debut albums, in that they were sexually risque, especially the lead singles from both albums. For Sweet Kisses, the label decided they wanted Simpson to be the "anti-sex appeal", to which Simpson would sing about love and romance rather than sexual themes. Simpson's "virgin" image was thought of as a great idea by the label, who felt that it would draw in listeners by making a girl whom they could relate to. Simpson also announced in an interview that she would be abstinent until marriage, which helped listeners give her the appearance the label was hoping for.[4]

Release and promotion

Sweet Kisses was released on 23 November 1999 through Columbia Records in United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. Following year, it was released in Japan, on 19 January 2000 through Sony Music Entertainment.[5][6] The album was released in the United Kingdom on 24 April 2000.[7]

Singles

"I Wanna Love You Forever" was the first single released from the album in September 1999. The song became Simpson's highest-charting single in the United States, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Its commercial sales were particularly strong, landing atop the Hot 100 Singles Sales for six weeks; the song later received a platinum certification. It was also a top ten hit in Canada. Worldwide, the single was also successful. It peaked within the top ten in most European nations and Australia, which reached the top ten in Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belgium and Australia.

"Where You Are" was released as the second single from the album. The single failed to reach even the top fifty of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at sixty-two. The song did, however, become a relative Adult Contemporary hit. The song became a hit on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales reaching number four. Internationally, the song was not released in major music markets excluding Canada.

"I Think I'm In Love With You" was the third and final single released from the album and became a moderate hit, reaching number twenty-one on the US Billboard Hot 100 largely on the strength of its radio airplay; it reached the top five on Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream and achieved success on the Adult Contemporary and Rhythmic Top 40 charts. Worldwide, it was a moderate hit, peaking at number ten on Australian ARIA Singles Chart, and reached the top twenty in Canada, United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[8]
Entertainment WeeklyC−[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[10]
The Village VoiceD[11]

The album received mostly mixed reviews. Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars, quoting, "She delves into the frothy dance-pop that's teen pop's stock-in-trade, but the heart of her album lies in adult contemporary ballads like her breakout hit "I Wanna Love You Forever," which gives her a chance to show off the richness of her voice. She doesn't over-sing, like Aguilera occasionally does, even if she has moments where she pushes the envelope slightly — just like her idol Dion. However, there are already indications that she's developing her own voice, since she is equally capable of delivering danceable urban R&B ("Final Heartbreak," "I've Got My Eyes on You," the Destiny's Child duet "Woman in Me") as she is mature balladry ("Faith in Me," the Nick Lachey duet "Where You Are"). Like most teen-pop albums, Sweet Kisses suffers from inconsistent material, yet the filler is well-produced and performed, making the record every bit as listenable as Aguilera's fine debut."[8] People Magazine was less critical of the album, quoting "Blonde, pouty-lipped and impossibly cute, Jessica Simpson is as tough to pick out of a lineup of lookalike teenage songbirds as her breathless hit "I Wanna Love You Forever" is difficult to differentiate from the rest of Top 40 radio. So far, Simpson's debut album hasn't scored the same success as those of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. But rest assured there are more cookies like "I Wanna" in Simpson's cutter. One ditty, titled "Where Are You," is a duet with 98° boy-toy Nick Lachey, Simpson's real-life squeeze. Unlike her peers the 19-year-old Simpson is not a former member of Disney's Mickey Mouse Club. She auditioned for the show at age 12 but didn't make the cut. Also setting her apart from the teen pop pack is Simpson's track record as a performer on the Christian music circuit. Here, she sounds downright worldly singing "Heart of Innocence"—a devotional tune she wrote extolling the virtues of premarital abstinence—in a low, sexy croon. Bottom Line: Teen yearnings set to a watery R&B beat."[12] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine praised Sweet Kisses as a hopeful debut when comparing her next album negatively to it.[13]

Entertainment Weekly gave the album a C−, stating "Jessica Simpson, a melodramatic 19, chirps cheeky Mariah Carey-isms on Sweet Kisses, a subpar portfolio, missing the soulful target almost every time. 'Do you wanna see the woman in me?/Let me show you,' she lasciviously hisses in one laughable instance, backed by a doo-wopping Destiny's Child. Uh, thanks, but no, kid. Been there, done that. Mom's waiting for you outside in the station wagon."[9] Robert Christgau wrote in The Village Voice: "Simpson is a blonde who got out of cheerleading early to prepare herself for whatever show business offered--game-show sidekick, R-rated remake of Debbie Does Dallas, bond trader seeking trophy wife. What she got was a John Cougar Mellencamp sample and the hard-earned ability to carry a tune. We know teenpop is rarely as vapid, prefab, and faux-wholesome as gatekeepers who've barely listened to it claim. So let's not tell them about this 'refreshing blend of pop, R&B and [note copywriter getting desperate] gospel-flavored sounds.'"[11]

Commercial performance

Initially, the album debuted at number sixty-five on the US Billboard 200, selling 65,000 copies in its first week,[14][15] significantly lower than expected by Columbia Records, as the first single from the album was a hit, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The following week, Sweet Kisses had dropped to number seventy, and continuing down the following weeks. To boost record sales, the label released the second single "Where You Are", but could not reach the success of its predecessor "I Wanna Love You Forever". While Sweet Kisses was kept in the top sixty for several weeks, the label decided to make one last attempt to launch the third single from the album. "I Think I'm in Love With You" was released in May 2000, instantly became a hit on radio stations that helped to rise from posts and the album reached the peak of twenty-five in August 2000.[16] In total, the album stayed on the chart for sixty-two weeks.[16] The album was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA.[17] As of February 2009, the album has sold 1.9 million copies in the United States.[18] In territories outside of the United States, the album had a similar chart effect. In Canada, Sweet Kisses peaked at number thirty-four on the Canadian Albums Chart. The album stayed on the chart for 37 weeks.[19] Later it was certified Platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA; now Music Canada).

In Europe, the album performed better on the charts, peaking at number four in Norway and was certified Gold for sales 15,000 copies in that territory.[20] and number five in Switzerland and remains Simpson's only top five album in that territory. It also peaked at number fifty-five in Sweden. In Japan, the album debuted at number sixteen on the Oricon albums chart, making it her only album to date to chart within the top twenty in Japan. In the United Kingdom, where the singles were met with a great commercial performance, the album debuted at number thirty-six. This makes Sweet Kisses Simpson's highest-charting album in the United Kingdom, tied with her third studio album In This Skin (2003). In Australia, the album debuted at number fifty-two, surprising the label as the album had spawned two top ten hits in the country. In total, Sweet Kisses has sold four million copies worldwide.[21][22]

Track listing

Sweet Kisses — Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I Wanna Love You Forever"
  • Watters
  • Biancaniello
4:24
2."I Think I'm in Love with You"
  • Rooney
  • Shea
3:18
3."Where You Are" (featuring Nick Lachey)
  • Watters
  • Biancaniello
  • Adamantia Stamatopoulou
  • Lachey
  • Biancaniello
  • Watters
4:32
4."Final Heartbreak"Eric Foster WhiteWhite3:40
5."Woman in Me" (featuring Destiny's Child)
Robbie Nevil3:51
6."I've Got My Eyes on You"
  • Paul Rein
  • Johan Åberg
3:34
7."Betcha She Don't Love You"
  • Sturken
  • Rogers
  • Sturken
  • Rogers
4:13
8."My Wonderful"
  • London Jones
  • Dwight Sills
Jones4:13
9."Sweet Kisses"
  • Andy Goldmark
  • Jamie Houston
  • J. D. Hicks
  • Goldmark
  • Houston
3:23
10."Your Faith in Me"
  • Dane DeViller
  • Sean Hosein
  • Ty Lacy
  • DeViller
  • Hosein
4:24
11."Heart of Innocence"
  • Simpson
  • Gary Baker
  • Frank Joseph Meyers
  • Paula Carpenter
  • Biancaniello
  • Watters
4:55
Sweet Kisses — Australian and Asian edition (bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Did You Ever Love Somebody"
  • Marsha Malamet
  • Liz Vidal
  • Sturken
  • Rogers
3:54
Sweet Kisses — European edition (bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."You Don't Know What Love Is"
  • Sturken
  • Rogers
  • Sturken
  • Rogers
4:21


Sample credits

Personnel

  • Jessica Simpson - Lead vocals, background vocals
  • Anas Allaf - guitar
  • Louis Biancaniello - keyboard
  • Chris Camozzi - guitar
  • Graeme Coleman - piano, conductor
  • Destiny's Child - background vocals
  • Dave Deviller - acoustic guitar
  • Sherree Ford-Payne - background vocals
  • Andy Goldmark - keyboard
  • Tania Hancheroff - background vocals
  • Tim Hientz - keyboard
  • Simon Isherwood - conductor
  • London Jones - keyboard, background vocals
  • Nick Lachey - vocals
  • Gordon Maxwell - background vocals
  • Robbie Nevil - guitar
  • Notre Dame Gospel Choir
  • Dan Petty - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
  • Evan Rogers - background vocals
  • Jill Seifers - background vocals
  • Dwight Sills - guitar
  • Beverley Staunton - background vocals
  • Carl Sturken - multiple instruments
  • Michael Thompson - guitar
  • Sam Watters - background vocals
  • Eric Foster White - keyboard

Production

  • Producers: Louis Biancaniello, Dave Deviller, Andy Goldmark, Dan Shea, Jamie Houston, London Jones, Robbie Nevil, Evan Rogers, Corey Rooney, Carl Sturken, Sam Watters, Eric Foster White
  • Engineers: Steve George, Andy Goldmark, Scott Gutierrez, Al Hemberger, Ben Holt, Martin Horenburg, Hank Linderman, Glen Marchese, Tim "Flash" Mariner, Michael "Wolf" Reaves, Steve Smith, Paul Wagner, Eric Foster White, Rob Williams
  • Assistant engineers: Jeff Gregory, Matt Martiensson, Ronnie Rivera, Jose Sanchez, Manelich Sotolong
  • Mixing: Mick Guzauski, Tony Maserati
  • Mixing assistants: Tom Bender, Jeff Gregory, Ben Holt, Ethan Schofer
  • Editing: Jack Kugell
  • Production coordination: Kim Gorham, Collen Reynolds
  • Production coordination assistant: Andrea Derby
  • Programming: Louis Biancaniello, Dan Shea, Dave Deviller, London Jones, Eric Foster White
  • Drum programming: Iki Levy
  • Arranger: Dave Deviller
  • String arrangements: Graeme Coleman
  • Art direction: Ron Jaramillo
  • Design: Ron Jaramillo
  • Photography: Alberto Tolot
  • Stylist: Rachel Zoe
  • Hair stylist: Ken Paves
  • Make-up: Francesca Tolot

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[42] Platinum 100,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[43] Gold 100,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[44] Gold 25,000*
United States (RIAA)[45] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^
Summaries
Worldwide — 4,000,000[46][47][22]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label Catalog Ref.
Australia November 23, 1999 CD, cassette Sony Music 4953642 [48]
Canada CK 69096 [49]
Europe 4949332 [6]
United States Columbia CK 69096 [50]
Japan January 19, 2000 Sony Music SRCS 2126 [5][51]

References

  1. ↑ "Jessica Simpson Biography". People. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  2. ↑ "Jessica Simpson | Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics". MTV. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  3. ↑ "Jessica Simpson Biography". foxnews.com. 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  4. ↑ "Fashion Takes a Vow of Chastity". Fox News. October 21, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Jessica Simpson - Sweet Kisses (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. November 23, 1999. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Jessica Simpson - Sweet Kisses (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. November 23, 1999. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  7. ↑ "New Releases – For Week Starting April 24, 2000: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. April 22, 2000. p. 26. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Allmusic review
  9. 1 2 Entertainment Weekly review
  10. ↑ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 739. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  11. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (November 28, 2000). "Turkey Shoot: Where the Action Isn't". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Picks and Pans Review: Sweet Kisses". People. February 7, 2000. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  13. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (14 June 2001). "Review: Jessica Simpson, Irresistible". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  14. ↑ "Staind Fends Off Radiohead, St. Lunatics At No. 1". Billboard. June 14, 2001. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Billboard 200 - December 11, 1999". Billboard. December 11, 1999. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  16. 1 2 "Jessica Simpson – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Jessica Simpson
  17. ↑ "Gold & Platinum: Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses". Recording Industry Association of America. November 15, 2000. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  18. ↑ Trust, Gary (February 20, 2009). "Ask Billboard - A Little Bit Country". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Albums : Top 200". Jam!. 19 August 2000. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  20. ↑ International Federation of the Phonographic Industry — Norway (2000). "Norwegian Certification". Archived from the original on June 26, 2006. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  21. ↑ Sun, Rebecca (2009-04-14). "Jessica Simpson Signs With UTA (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  22. 1 2 "Jessica Simpson's huge fortune you never knew about". The New Zealand Herald. The New Zealand Herald. 4 October 2020.
  23. ↑ Taylor, Chuck (2000-05-27). "Reviews & Previews – I Think I'm in Love with You (Jessica Simpson)". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 22. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
  24. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 254.
  25. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9752". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Euro Chart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 2000-04-22. p. 19. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  30. ↑ "Jessica Simpson: Sweet Kisses" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  32. ↑ "スイート・キッシーズ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  33. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 08, 2019.
  35. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Jessica Simpson Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000". Jam!. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Topp 40 Album Vår 2000" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  41. ↑ "The Year in Music 2000: The Billboard 200". Billboard. 2000-12-30. p. YE-38. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  42. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses". Music Canada. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  43. ↑ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年4月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. April 2000 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 485: 8. April 10, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Norwegian album certifications – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  45. ↑ "American album certifications – Jessica Simpson – Sweet Kisses". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  46. ↑ Sun, Rebecca (2009-04-14). "Jessica Simpson Signs With UTA (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  47. ↑ "Jessica Simpson Signs With UTA". Billboard. 2014-03-12.
  48. ↑ "Jessica Simpson - Sweet Kisses (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. November 23, 1999. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  49. ↑ "Jessica Simpson - Sweet Kisses (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. November 23, 1999. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  50. ↑ "Jessica Simpson - Sweet Kisses (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. November 23, 1999. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  51. ↑ "Jessica Simpson - Sweet Kisses (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. January 19, 2000. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
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