Nirvana is the fifth studio album by Romanian singer Inna. It was released on 11 December 2017 by Global Records and UMG in a partnership with supermarket chain Lidl. For this record, she collaborated with multiple producers, including Marcel Botezan, Sebastian Barac, Thomas Troelsen, Alex Cotoi and Vlad Lucan. It was entirely recorded at the studios of Global Records in Bucharest, Romania. Nirvana has been described as a pop album, with influences varying from electronic dance music (EDM), reggaeton and R&B to Latin, club and tropical music.

Nirvana
Shot of Inna wearing a red jacket. Green, blue and violet stripes are superimposed on her.
Studio album by
Released11 December 2017
GenrePop
Length37:42
Language
  • English
  • Romanian
  • Spanish
Label
Inna chronology
Inna
(2015)
Nirvana
(2017)
Yo
(2019)
Singles from Nirvana
  1. "Gimme Gimme"
    Released: 1 February 2017[1]
  2. "Ruleta"
    Released: 21 June 2017[2]
  3. "Nirvana"
    Released: 28 November 2017[3]

Upon its release, the album received positive reviews from music critics, who commended that Inna showcased her versatility as an artist, but noted the songs lacked innovation and were similar to her past material. To promote Nirvana, three singles, "Gimme Gimme", "Ruleta", and "Nirvana", preceded the record in 2017, to commercial success in some European countries. "Ruleta" notably reached number three in Romania. The album itself failed to impact any country's charts.

Background and release

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In April 2017, it was announced that Inna was working with Spanish disc jockey Sak Noel, who had previously remixed her single "Gimme Gimme".[4] Publications also reported that the singer was working on an upcoming fifth studio album with producer David Ciente and Romanian singer and songwriter Irina Rimes, respectively.[5][6] On 23 November 2017, the record's title and its cover were unveiled during an Instagram post on Inna's account.[7] During a post on her blog, Inna explained the record's name: "Nirvana for me has a very simple meaning. It means 'cool', cause my new album is reeeeally cool! [...] My Nirvana is my family and my team, [...] when I perform on the stage and I see your happy faces, [...] [and] music and making people happy. My hope for this album is to help you find joy and peace of mind in this chaos called life. Even if just a little bit! That is Nirvana!"[8]

Producers on Nirvana include Marcel Botezan, Sebastian Barac, Thomas Troelsen, Alex Cotoi and Vlad Lucan; it was entirely recorded in the studios of Global Records in Bucharest, Romania.[9][10] The tracklist of the album was revealed via Facebook on 27 November 2017.[11] Nirvana was released in Romania on 11 December 2017 by Global Records and UMG, in a partnership with supermarket chain Lidl.[9][12] The album's Japanese release followed in September 2018, also containing Inna's collaboration with Alexandra Stan and Daddy Yankee on "We Wanna" (2015).[13] Three years after the album's release, Inna uploaded a deluxe edition to her SoundCloud on 10 December 2020, further containing the previously unincluded singles "Heaven" (2016) and "No Help" (2018), as well as the promotional single "Say It With Your Body" (2016).[14]

Composition

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Nirvana is a pop album;[3] it opens with Inna's collaboration with Romanian singer Erik on "Ruleta", which is an English and Spanish language EDM and reggaeton-influenced song with touches of Indian and Caribbean music.[15][16] The second track "Gimme Gimme" is a Bollywood, Indian and Gypsy-inspired pop track.[17][18][19] A sample of British group Touch and Go's "Would You...?" (1998) is used during "My Dreams".[20] "Tropical", Nirvana's fourth track, features a trumpet in its instrumentation along with uncredited male reggae vocals; Jonathan Currinn of CelebMix identified the song as one of the album's highlights.[21]

Parts of tropical pop song "Hands Up" showcase Inna's falsetto voice, and its love-themed lyrics contain various metaphors,[22][23] while "Nirvana" is a Latin-inspired club recording, featuring a portion of rap delivered in Spanish during its drop.[24][25][26] R&B-influenced "Don't Mind" features lyrics in both English and Spanish language,[27][28] and is followed by "Lights", which is influenced by African music.[29] Currinn wrote that the song allowed Inna to showcase her versatility as an artist. He compared "Lights" to Romanian recording artist Alexandra Stan's "La Fuega" from her third studio album Alesta (2016), writing: "[it] is going to be a Marmite track; some people will love it, some people are going to hate it."[29] Raluca Chirilă from InfoMusic considered the track for a standalone single release.[30] Nirvana ends with tropical pop song "Dream About the Ocean", which "has an oceanic wave style to it" and whose lyrics deal with self confidence,[23][28][31] and Romanian language ballads "Nota de plată", "Cum ar fi?" and "Tu și eu".[20][28]

Reception

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Music critics were positive to mixed towards the album. Currinn of CelebMix gave a positive review of Nirvana, and thought that "each track is amazing but different in itself". He went on comparing album track "Hands Up" to "Endless" (2011), "Nirvana" to "Bop Bop" (2015) and "Heaven" (2016), "Don't Mind" to material from Barbadian singer Rihanna' catalog, and "Dream About the Ocean" to Inna's "Walking on the Sun" from her 2015 eponymous studio album. Currinn praised the majority of the record's material as highlights, concluding: "This whole album is a great collection of tracks, that truly show off Inna's versatility as an artist. She truly stuns everyone."[28] An editor of French website Just Focus praised the album's singles and selected tracks, although criticizing the lack of originality of other songs. They wrote: "The rest is truly the recycled Inna dance sound without any originality. This is the time to evolve, as most artists do now, including Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Kesha etc... Inna's music will always be welcome but the use of the same formula is not enough, especially in a current period in which artists are focusing more on innovation."[23]

Promotion

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Three singles preceded Nirvana in 2017 ("Gimme Gimme", "Ruleta", and "Nirvana") to commercial success in Europe including Romania and Turkey. "Ruleta" notably peaked at number three in her native country,[32] at number one in Lithuania,[33] and at number five in Turkey.[34] Both "Gimme Gimme" and "Nirvana" reached the top 20 in Romania,[35][36] and the top ten in Turkey.[37][38] Inna has further been featured on the 2017 tracks "Tu și eu" by Carla's Dreams,[39] and "Nota de plată" by The Motans,[40] which are also included on Nirvana,[3] alongside 2016 promotional single "Cum ar fi?".[41] The aforementioned releases all reached the top 60 in Romania.[42][43][44] The songs "Don't Mind", "Tropical", "Hands Up", "My Dreams, "Dream About the Ocean" and "Lights" were made available for digital download as promotional singles in December 2017.[45]

Track listing

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Nirvana – Standard version[20]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Ruleta" (featuring Erik)3:18
2."Gimme Gimme"
  • Apostoleanu
  • Isaac
  • Elena Luminița Vasile
  • Barac
  • Botezan
  • Ciente
2:57
3."My Dreams"
  • Vlad-Octavian Lucan
  • James Neil Lynch
  • Martin
  • Alexander Graham
  • Patrick Wills Fleming
  • Thomas Troelsen
  • David Lowe
  • Tamposi
3:11
4."Tropical"
  • Rico Greene
  • Anouk Hendriks
  • Mo Alitou
  • Joel MacDonald
3:14
5."Hands Up"
3:04
6."Nirvana"
  • Apostoleanu
  • Troelsen
  • Barac
  • Botezan
  • Ciente
  • Lucan
  • Troelsen
3:14
7."Don't Mind"
  • Apostoleanu
  • Isaac
  • Barac
  • Botezan
  • Ciente
3:14
8."Lights"
  • Ciente
  • Barac
  • Botezan
2:33
9."Dream About the Ocean"
  • Apostoleanu
  • Luisa-Ionela Luca
  • Costantin Bodea
  • Alexandru Cotoi
  • Luca
3:12
10."Nota de plată" (The Motans featuring Inna)
  • Rimes
  • Roables
  • Damian Rusu
  • Cotoi
  • Bodea
3:15
11."Cum ar fi?"
  • Apostoleanu
  • Rimes
3:19
12."Tu și eu" (Carla's Dreams featuring Inna)
  • Carla's Dreams
  • Cotoi
  • Carla's Dreams
  • Cotoi
3:11
Japanese bonus tracks[13]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
10."We Wanna" (with Alexandra Stan featuring Daddy Yankee)
  • Schuller
  • Troelsen
3:53
11."Ruleta" (Depierro Remix)  3:20
12."Nirvana" (Asher Remix)  3:39
Deluxe edition bonus tracks[14]
No.TitleLength
13."Heaven"3:28
14."Say It With Your Body"3:02
15."No Help"3:03

Sample credits[20]

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
Romania[3][12] 11 December 2017 CD Global/
UMG
Various[46] Digital download Global
Japan[13] 26 September 2018

References

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  1. ^ "Gimme Gimme – Single by Inna on Apple Music". iTunes Store. February 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Ruleta (feat. Erick) – Single by Inna on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Dragusin, Alina (24 November 2017). "Aşteptarea a luat sfârşit! Inna prezintă albumul "Nirvana"" [The waiting took an end! Inna presents the album Nirvana] (in Romanian). Cancan. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  4. ^ Currinn, Jonathan (5 April 2017). "Watch: Inna Performs Her New Song "Me Gusta" Live On Radio ZU". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Inna pregătește primul său album în română împreună cu Irina Rimes" [Inna works on her first Romanian language album with Irina Rimes] (in Romanian). Top Românesc. 17 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Inna – Interview at Emol TV Chile (18/04/17)". 18 April 2017. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ "Inna on Instagram". Instagram. 23 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Inna | What's Your Nirvana?". Inna Official. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. ^ a b Chirilă, Rluca (24 November 2017). "Inna lanseaza in decembrie albumul "Nirvana"" [Inna releases the album "Nirvana" in December] (in Romanian). InfoMusic. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  10. ^ Cizmaru, Monica (27 November 2017). "Cum a ajuns Inna în Nirvana" [How Inna reached Nirvana] (in Romanian). Unica. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Inna on Facebook". Facebook. 27 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Album Inna Nirvana – la Lidl România" (in Romanian). Lidl România. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  13. ^ a b c "Nirvana by Inna on iTunes". iTunes Store (in Japanese). 26 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Inna – Nirvana (Deluxe) [Full Stream]". SoundCloud. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  15. ^ Apaza, Kevin (21 June 2017). "Inna's 2017 Summer Single Is Here, Stream The Infectious "Ruleta" Now!". Direct Lyrics. Archived from the original on 24 June 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  16. ^ Cheroiu, Alexandra (22 June 2017). "Inna a lansat "Ruleta", o noua piesa compusa de ea, in colabolare cu Erick" [Inna has released "Ruleta", a new single composed by her along with Erick]. Adevărul (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  17. ^ Tanasă, Raluca (1 February 2017). "Inna — Gimme Gimme" (in Romanian). InfoMusic. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  18. ^ Hilton, Perez (29 May 2017). "Listen To This: Body Body Go Crazy Crazy!". PerezHilton.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  19. ^ Micula, Alexandra Aida (1 February 2017). "Inna — Gimme Gimme (single nou si videoclip)" [Inna — Gimme Gimme (new single and video)] (in Romanian). YaBB Music. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  20. ^ a b c d Nirvana (Liner notes/ CD booklet). Inna. Romania: Global Records/UMG. (Barcode: 602567283379). 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  21. ^ Currinn, Jonathan (6 December 2017). "Inna Releases Second Promotional Single "Tropical" From New Album "Nirvana"". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  22. ^ Currinn, Jonathan (6 December 2017). ""Hands Up" Is The Third Promotional Single From Inna's New Album "Nirvana"". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  23. ^ a b c "" Nirvana " et la musique dansante de Inna" ["Nirvana" and the danceable music of Inna] (in French). Just Focus. 20 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  24. ^ Chirilă, Raluca (28 November 2017). "Videoclip: Inna – Nirvana" (in Romanian). InfoMusic. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  25. ^ Apaza, Kevin (28 November 2017). "Inna Make Us Reach "Nirvana" With Her New Single". Direct Lyrics. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  26. ^ Concalves, Julien (3 December 2017). ""Nirvana" : Inna gagnée par la fièvre sous les néons avant son nouvel album" ["Nirvanna" : Inna in neon lights before the release of her new album] (in French). Pure Charts. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  27. ^ Currinn, Jonathan (5 December 2017). "Inna Releases Promotional Single "Don't Mind" From Upcoming Album "Nirvana"". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  28. ^ a b c d Currinn, Jonathan (21 December 2017). "Track-By-Track Album Review: Inna – Nirvana". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  29. ^ a b Currinn, Jonathan (8 December 2017). "Inna Drops "Lights" The Last Unheard Track From New Album "Nirvana"". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  30. ^ Chirilă, Raluca (11 December 2017). "Inna a lansat piesa "Lights"" [Inna has released the song "Lights"] (in Romanian). InfoMusic. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  31. ^ Currinn, Jonathan (8 December 2017). "Inna Drops "Dream About The Ocean" Her Fifth Promotional Single From New Album "Nirvana"". CelebMix. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  32. ^ "Airplay 100 – 27 august 2017". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 27 August 2017. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  33. ^ "Lithuanian Airplay Chart". Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  34. ^ "Top 40 – Number1 FM/TV" (in Turkish). Number One. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  35. ^ "Airplay 100 – 9 aprilie 2017". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  36. ^ "Airplay 100 – 4 martie 2018". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  37. ^ "Top 40 – Number1 FM/TV" (in Turkish). Number One. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  38. ^ "Top 40 – Number1 FM/TV" (in Turkish). Number One. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  39. ^ Constanda, Alexandra (25 April 2017). "Inna si Carla's Dreams au lansat o noua piesa impreuna, prima din ultimii patru ani" [Inna and Carlas' Dreams have released a new single in four years]. Adevărul (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  40. ^ Tanasă, Raluca (27 September 2017). "Videoclip oficial: The Motans feat. Inna – Nota de plată" (in Romanian). InfoMusic. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  41. ^ "Inna lanseaza single-ul "Cum ar fi?", cadou de ziua ei pentru fani" [Inna releases the single "Cum ar fi?", which serves as her birthday's gift for her fans] (in Romanian). Pro TV. 18 October 2016. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  42. ^ "Airplay 100 – 25 iunie 2017". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 25 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  43. ^ "Airplay 100 – 12 noiembrie 2017". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 12 November 2017. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  44. ^ "Airplay 100 – 15 ianuarie 2017". Media Forest (in Romanian). Kiss FM. 15 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  45. ^ Inna released various promotional singles for the album:
  46. ^ Citations regarding various releases of Nirvana: