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| This article is about the album. To see alternate articles, check out the song with the same name. |
The Family Jewels is the debut studio album by Marina Diamandis, released under her previous stage name 'Marina and the Diamonds'. It was officially released on February 15, 2010, through 679 Recordings and Atlantic Records, being the only album not released on a Friday.
Background[]
After the release of Mermaid vs Sailor in November 2007, Marina regularly released demos and songs on her MySpace, after getting the attention of Derek Davies of Neon Gold Marina was signed in October 2008[1], a process that took "four months" to work out.[2]
The first song after the release of Mermaid vs Sailor was Happy Meal, played in December 2007 along with a demo of Obsessions,[3] a song that made it onto the album. It is not known what Marina wanted to do next, if she was happy releasing stand alone songs on her MySpace as she went or was working towards an album or another EP.
Name[]
Marina knew she wanted to name the album "The Family Jewels" after she wrote the song in January 2009,[4] in an interview she said picked the name for three reasons:[5]
❝ The Family Jewels is obviously great it being connected with diamonds, it's also great because it ties in thematically with the album which was very much inspired by my family members and relationships, and the third reason I picked it was because I like to put humour into my records and in the UK it means something else. ❞
Composition[]
Marina described the album as:[6]
❝ A really diverse album stylistically speaking because I'm such a flexible writer, so there's a lot of pop on it, but there's kind of a lot of leftfield experimental stuff as well. It's basically an album about what not to be. ❞
With lyrical themes she identifies as "the seduction of commercialism, modern social values, family and female sexuality."[7] She also described the album as "part autobiography / part fairytale".[8] Diamandis told ClashMusic the album was about "dealing with your own things and being a self-obsessed twat," and it was mainly about how she'd changed in the last two years from being "anti-social and weird."[9]
Writing[]
She called the writing process "quite straight forward", being written over two years, most of it before being signed.[10] On co-writing she said:[11]
❝ I hate [co-writing] so I do it because it's so challenging for me. As soon as I do it I am really pleased that I have. I've had the pleasure of working with three great people. ❞
Marina said that she wrote Hermit the Frog first followed by Seventeen, Obsessions, Are You Satisfied?, Mowgli's Road, I Am Not a Robot, The Outsider, with the last ones being Numb then Oh No![12]
Production[]
Initially Diamandis wanted to work with one producer, but because of her writing process realised it wasn't possible, and collaborated with more producers.[10] Liam Howe was likely the producer she had in mind, as he was credited on her MySpace in June 2008.[13] Howe produced most of the album, with only three tracks, Hollywood, Oh No!, Guilty, with no production credited to him.
Marina and Liam Howe in the studio
Marina initially self-produced many album tracks herself, Are You Satisfied?, I Am Not a Robot, Obsessions, Seventeen and Hermit the Frog's home demos were all posted to her MySpace. However, she only received a production credit on The Outsider, and an additional production credit on Hermit the Frog.
A decade later, Marina expressed her dissatisfaction about her lack of producing credits:[14]
❝ On the first record I got no production credits because I didn’t even think to ask for them, but the fact is that I helped shape every record and I was precious about getting each song to the shape that I wanted it. If I hadn't been in the room, these records would've sounded very different. ❞
Marina expanded on this in 2022:[15][16]
❝ My demos are the prototype that I record and write on my own, before I take them to a studio to work with a producer on. I think early production ideas are really important. [..] I'm self taught, I think what I do is extremely simple, and sometime a very crass version of the end product but it helps me to communicate what I'm hearing in my head. [..] One other thing I want to talk about "what constitutes as production?" I think this is such a grey area for artists, producers, songwriters alike. This is what my version of it is, and why I think somebody should ask for a production credit:
- If you have used a part, or several parts, from my demos and they end up in the final version of the song. That constitutes, at minimum, an additional production credit. If you have replicated parts from my demos, and made them sound more finessed or polished, but the core idea is the same as the demo, that also constitutes as additional production. At minimum. If I'm in the room, and I am contributing to the direction of the production and coming up with ideas that will significantly alter the final product compared to if I wasn't there, then that's co-production to me.
The joy of working with a producer is that they can elevate my own very simple ideas, that they have put in years to understand how to make something sound good. ❞
Release and Promotion[]
On December 1, 2009, Marina revealed the tracklist:[17]
❝ I am really proud to finally release my debut album, 'The Family Jewels'. It is a body of work largely inspired by the seduction of commercialism, modern social values, family and female sexuality. Each song was intricately produced and written by myself and my only hope is for it to be enjoyed and consumed as a story and theory that encourages people to question themselves. ❞
Noticeably, Oh No! is missing from the tracklist. This was as the track was written on a trip to Los Angeles, a week after The Family Jewels was mastered.[18]
Singles[]
- For more information on the singles go to their respective pages linked below, to see any charting information click here.
Obsessions
Mowgli's Road
Hollywood
I Am Not a Robot
Oh No!
Shampain
Scrapped Repackage[]
In December 2009, Marina said in response to an interviewer:[19]
[As we chat, you're about to catch a flight to LA. Why are you heading over here?]
❝ Basically I'm going over to write with [TV On The Radio guitarist] Dave Sitek and Benny Blanco. It's not for the album, because the album's already finished, but it's just a really great opportunity for me as a songwriter. Me, Dave Sitek and Benny Blanco* is such a weird threesome - it's a combination of super pop and really indie! It should be genius. ❞
[What will happen to the songs you write?]
❝ You know, I think what Lady GaGa's done - a kind of second release as an extension of her album - is really clever. I hate the whole 'record your album, do your promo campaign, have a year off to write another album' pattern. As an artist, you should keep creating as much as you possibly can. ❞
Dave Sitek and Benny Blanco wrote and produced Like the Other Girls. Later in October 2010, Marina said she wrote "zilch" in the two days they had together.[20] In 2021, Marina revealed she wrote one line in five hours, then cried in the toilet before going home.[21]
In January 2010, Marina further expanded on her future releasing schedule: "[and then] every year, instead of doing the album format, I'll just do a six-track EP. So I'll have a constant flow of music and I'm never over-exposed because I don't spend all my time doing photo shoots and interviews."[22]
However, in August 2010, Marina said in a blogpost:
❝ A note for the Diamonds.
I have read here and there that I will be 'apparently' releasing an extended version of 'The Family Jewels' at some point, with 'new songs'. This is bull. Over, closed & moved on from. I am not enamored by the idea of rehashing current works or adding songs to some 'deluxe' package or whatever. I am working on a new, seperate work which you will hear in 2011. ❞
It is unknown when Marina decided to scrap the repackage exactly. However, in February 2010, she spoke to Wales Online about her 'second album'[23] about 'Greek Mythology' (later in July said it would be her third album).[12]
Re-Release[]
On November 5, 2021, the album was re-released globally on Spotify,[24] featuring every album track (meaning there are no longer regional tracks) and five remixes. Marina has yet to comment on why this is. Some time around the 11th, the album was changed back to the international release date of February 15, 2010.
For an unknown reason, the release date for the standard album has changed to July 15, 2009 on Spotify.[25]
Tour[]
- Main Article: The Family Jewels Tour
The album was promoted by Marina's first headlining tour, The Family Jewels Tour, which visited Australia, Europe, and North America. Marina played 135 shows in total from January 2010 through December 2011. Marina also served as an opening act for Katy Perry on her California Dreams Tour in Summer 2011 and for Coldplay on their Mylo Xyloto Tour in December 2011.
Artwork[]
|
Photoshoot  Untagged Media ![[1] Alt. edit](/wiki/File:The_Family_Jewels_album_artwork_-_scrapped_design.jpg "The Family Jewels album artwork - scrapped design.jpg (181 KB)") [1] Alt. edit  Tracklist ![[2] Scrapped artwork](/wiki/File:The_Family_Jewels_scrapped_album_artwork_003.jpg "The Family Jewels scrapped album artwork 003.jpg (1.88 MB)") [2] Scrapped artwork  Scrapped artwork  Scrapped artwork ![[3] Scrapped artwork](/wiki/File:The_Family_Jewels_scrapped_album_artwork_001.jpg "The Family Jewels scrapped album artwork 001.jpg (61 KB)") [3] Scrapped artwork |
| [1]: Accidentally tweeted by Marina. [2]: Used as a Tour backdrop. [3]:Posted on Instagram by Mat Maitland. |
The majority of the artwork designed for The Family Jewels was shot by Rankin and designed by Mat Maitland. Though the purple diamond Obsessions cover (and promotional rainbow diamond Mowgli's Road cover) was designed by Mogollon[26]. The Mowgli's Road cover designed by Mat features a photo by Mari Sarai.
Marina said in an interview that she was very involved in the visual side, she wanted the album "to look a little bit like old interview magazine type spreads" and also wanted it "to look like a family portrait because of the inspiration behind the album and the name" and she had "about 8" drafts.[27]
In 2017, Mat Maitland revealed [about the second image above]:[28]
- "Hey all, this image was one of a few different album cover designs Marina and I discussed at the time but I can't recall whether if it was ever seriously in the running. It might have been as it has the same background but the actual album cover you know quickly became the fav. All of these images were black and white originally and coloured manually using different layers of colour underneath...the series was homage to the work of Richard Bernstein who created covers for Warhol's Interview mag in the 70s & 80s."
Scrapped Concepts[]
![2008 [1]](/wiki/File:Marina_2008_scrapped_logo.jpeg "Marina 2008 scrapped logo.jpeg (32 KB)"){kind=logo}
![[2]](/wiki/File:MATD_diamond.jpg "MATD diamond.jpg (29 KB)")
![Apr 2009 [3]](/wiki/File:MATD_(18_Apr_2009).jpg "MATD (18 Apr 2009).jpg (106 KB)")
![Jun 2009 [4]](/wiki/File:MATD_Oasis_(04_Jun_2009)_-_Cropped.jpg "MATD Oasis (04 Jun 2009) - Cropped.jpg (50 KB)")
![Jul 2009 [5]](/wiki/File:MATD_Neon_Gold_Beat_Company_(16_Jul_2009).jpg "MATD Neon Gold Beat Company (16 Jul 2009).jpg (98 KB)")
- [1] Found in Marina's Photobucket leak with the file name "diamondlogofinishedlowres"
- [2] Found in Marina's Photobucket leak [3] A promotional flyer
- [4][5] using the same logo as Obsessions
Tracklist[]
- Main Article: The Family Jewels physical and digital editions
| International Edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Co-Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 1. | Are You Satisfied? | N/A | Liam Howe • Richard "Biff" Stannard • Ash Howes | 3:21 |
| 2. | Shampain | L. Howe • Pascal Gabriel | Gabriel • L. Howe • Stannard [a] • A. Howes [a] | 3:11 |
| 3. | I Am Not a Robot | N/A | L. Howe | 3:35 |
| 4. | Girls | L. Howe • Gabriel | Gabriel • L. Howe | 3:28 |
| 5. | Mowgli's Road | L. Howe [a] | L. Howe | 3:12 |
| 6. | Obsessions | N/A | L. Howe | 3:30 |
| 7. | Hollywood | N/A | Stannard • A. Howes • Starsmith [b] | 3:50 |
| 8. | The Outsider | N/A | L. Howe • Diamandis | 3:17 |
| 9. | Hermit the Frog | N/A | L. Howe • Diamandis [a] | 3:35 |
| 10. | Oh No! | Greg Kurstin | Kurstin | 3:02 |
| 11. | Rootless | L. Howe • Gabriel | Gabriel • L. Howe | 3:28 |
| 12. | Numb | N/A | L. Howe | 4:16 |
| 13. | Guilty | Stannard • A. Howes | Stannard • A. Howes | 3:40 |
| Total length: | 45:35 | |||
| UK iTunes Edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Co-Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 14. | The Family Jewels | N/A | Diamandis | 4:05 |
| Total length: | 49:40 | |||
| Japan Edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Co-Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 15. | Seventeen | N/A | L. Howe | 3:05 |
| 16. | Mowgli's Road (video) | 3:02 | ||
| 17. | Hollywood (video) | 3:25 | ||
| Total length: | 59:12 | |||
Outtakes[]
| This is an abridged version of events, for more (sourced) information, visit each song page. |
In July of 2009, the music review website Planet Music reported that Marina's debut album, titled The Family Jewels would be released in January of 2010. The reviewer wrote that Marina "already [had] 40 songs for the album" and was in the process of recording an upcoming single, which was a "new song".[29] Later, in an interview with Click Music, published around August of 2009, Marina stated:[30]
❝ I've probably got, like, I've chosen out of thirty-five songs, fifteen to record. I think twelve are done now and I'm gonna do four more and finish it in October and it will be released in January. ❞
Excluding songs that were evidently written after the publication date of this interview, such as Oh No! from December 2009, there are fourteen released album tracks on The Family Jewels. It's unclear if Marina's numbering was precisely accurate, although this suggests that there are at least twenty album outtakes; which could include some of her early MySpace demos.
Jealousy: Marina told CLASH Magazine the song would be featured on the album.[9]
Simplify: Released on The Crown Jewels, along with two other album tracks.
Bad Kidz: Released as Hollywood's B-side.
Starlight: Posted to her MySpace around June 7, 2008.[13][31][32]
Sinful: Unreleased and intended to be a bonus track.[33]
Diamond Garden: Mentioned by Marina in a track-by-track interview. Potentially an alternate title for Where Diamonds Grow.
Home Demos[]
Happy Meal: Played as a "new song" in December 2007, along with "We've Got Obsessions", shortly after the release of Mermaid vs. Sailor.[3]
Blindfold Me: Posted to MySpace around January 27, 2008.[31][32]
Supermodel's Legs: Originally leaked on Tumblr in April 2012.[34] The original file's metadata gives a date of 2008, and was encoded with iTunes 7.6.[35] This version of iTunes was released on January 15, 2008,[36] meaning the song was exported no earlier than January 2008.
Dirty Sheets: Exact recording date unknown, although the title was discovered by fans via registration website ASCAP in February 2010.[37][32]
Repackage[]
Like the Other Girls: Recorded sometime between December 2009 — January 2010 and was specifically intended for an album repackage. However, Marina had trouble completing the song.
Dedication[]
Thank you to
Mum, Lafina and Yiayla - for supporting me unconditionally.
Nick Worthington and Mike Sault for taking a risk, Dan Stacey, Sam Stubbings, Kieran Jay, Alex Bean, Kat Simons, Alan Parks, Neon Gold Records, Briana Dougherty, Flash Taylor, Rankin, Mat Maitlan, Karen and Holly and Radar Maker and everyone at Atlantic/Warner Record for their care and work they put into the project.
Derek MacKiliop, My manager for never taking no for an answer! You have been fantastic all the way. I look forward to many more years of us working together. Greg Kurtin & the Brite Crawler Worms, Andrew Luftman for his love and support from early on, Jennifer Ivory- so lucky to have you, Gaby Cawthorne for providing fun & laughter on promo! Christian Tattersfield, John Reid, Max Lousada, Katie Crisp, Deirdre, Moran, Phil Youngman, Damian Christian, Craig Kallman, Julie Greenwald, Livia Tortella, Alex Patsavas, Chris Stang, Brandon Frankel, Scotty Brothman, Christina Kosamanidis and everyone else who put in the legwork at Atlantic US, Chop Shop and Warner International.
Liam Howe for his patience, imagination and toilet-humour, Pascal for the trips to the Chateau, Biffy and Honey The Dog for being pop geniuses and all round wonderful beings (WOOF")
Derek Davies at Neon Gold Records - I'm honoured to have youa s a friend. I'm gonna perform on that 'World Stage' one day. (Mouseyyyyyyy, mouseyyy!!!! (YM) )
To Cara Dattani, Tom Penn - for coming to all the dive gigs in dive bars.
I would life to dedicate this album to my father, Demos Diamandis. I give thanks to you and Mum for being an inspiration to us all.
Marina xx
References[]
- ↑ Powerful Peanuts TV Published: bef. Jun 2009 (Powerful Peanuts)
- ↑ PopJustice Published: 26 Dec 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 InvisibleDragon blog Published: Jan 2008
- ↑ 4TheRecord Published: Late 2008
- ↑ Privated Video
- ↑ CLASH Magazine Published: 26 Jan 2010
- ↑ NME Magazine Published: 01 Feb 2009
- ↑ https://diymag.com/archive/marina-the-diamonds-confirms-debut-album-release
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 CLASH Magazine Published: 27 Oct 2009
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Brightest Young Things Published: 06 Sept 2010
- ↑ https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/marina-and-the-diamonds/id360980220Podcasts
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 LAist Published: 06 Jul 2010
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 MarinaAndTheDiamonds MySpace WARNING: strobe/flashing background
- ↑ Vogue Published: 18 Nov 2020
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CYesFoCJnjT/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CYetPxzpQpI/
- ↑ DigitalSpy Published: 01 Dec 2009
- ↑ Atlantic Records
- ↑ Digital Spy Published: 26 Dec 2009
- ↑ Officially A Yuppie Published: 10 Oct 2010
- ↑ NME: In Conversation Published: 21 Jun 2021 (Transcript)
- ↑ BBC Sound Published: 07 Jan 2010
- ↑ WalesOnline Published: 06 Feb 2010
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/3vcPZf2pYrjqrHNVkPTDVL?si=PXzD3lmATWKZuVSEIYUmqw
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/1CtDa7pVfLF4u2ZadRTWz7
- ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Marina-The-Diamonds-Obsessions/release/1664130
- ↑ BBC: The Beat Published: 19 Feb 2010 (Transcript)
- ↑ MarinaUpdates Tumblr ((Archive)
- ↑ PlanetMusic Published: 21 Jul 2009
- ↑ ClickMusic Published: 05 Aug 2009
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 http://web.archive.org/web/20150331204714/http://www.last.fm/group/Marina+&+the+diamonds/forum/124764/_/539836/1
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20110502060729/rockabilly.net/marina/discog/songs.shtml
- ↑ Propellerhead Published: July 2010
- ↑ https://archive.is/bLECl
- ↑ run https://a.tumblr.com/tumblr_m38rjtMztv1rpqmfko1.mp3 through https://www.metadata2go.com
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_iTunes#iTunes_7
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150331204717/http://www.last.fm/group/Marina+&+the+diamonds/forum/124764/_/539836/2
