Christina Milian

Christina Milian
Information
Released	October 9, 2001 (Europe) January 15, 2002 (Japan) August 31, 2002 (Worldwide)
Recorded	2000–2001
Genre	Pop R&B
Length	47:53
Label	Def Soul

Christina Millian is Christina Millian's self-titled debut album that was released on October 9, 2001 by Def Soul Recordings.

Tracklisting

1. Get Away (featuring Ja Rule) 4:13
2. AM To PM 3:52
3. When You Look At Me 3:42
4. Spending Time (featuring Charli "Chuck" Baltimore) 4:32
5. It Hurts When... 4:02
6. You Make Me Laugh 3:37
7. A Girl Like Me (featuring Jermaine Dupri) 3:59
8. Twitch 4:01
9. Until I Get Over You 3:58
10. Satisfaction Guarenteed 3:44
11. Got To Have You 3:37
12. Thank You 4:29

Chart Performance

"Christina Millian" peaked at #23 on the UK Albums charts, selling a total of 101,986 copies and was certified Gold. Internationally, the album peaked at #36 in the Netherlands, #98 in Sweden, and #138 in France.

Two weeks before the album's release in the United States, the September 11 attacks occurred and the release date was postponed and was eventually released internationally on August 31, 2002.

Milian believed that the public expected "a certain thing" from her when she first appeared with Ja Rule, however she wanted to record the type of music she was signed to do. She said that "AM to PM" was a "cool record", but it was not what the public expected.

Milian felt that her record label was confused as to how they wanted her image to be portrayed; one second she was young and singing "AM to PM", and the next, she was a grown woman singing "Get Away". She realized that the change confused the audience, and "nobody was buying it."

To explain that she was serious about her musical career, Milian approached the executives at Island Def Jam, and "cussed them all out", telling them that they were not listening to her.

Promotion

To promote the album, Milian toured with NSYNC, serving as the opening act. Band member JC Chasez said, "she was like the cute, spunky kid sister. Not everyone could take Justin's practical jokes or my teasing."

Critical Reception

"Christina Millian" received mixed to generally positive reviews.

Imran Ahmed of the New Musical Express enjoyed "genius single 'AM to PM'" and praised the tracks "Got to Have You" and "When You Look at Me".

Ahmed guessed that "beneath the froth, there's a certain depth of soul" in Milian, and thought "Get Away" had similar excellent results to her previous collaboration with Ja Rule, "Between Me and You". The reviewer also commended the lyrics of "Twitch", which he thought was "remarkable for being what may be the first ever song about someone with a facial tic".

Ahmed was impressed that alongside the impressive production credit list, it was "still Milian's name that tops the list of executive producers", and predicted, "genius can't be more than a few albums away".

Andrew Lynch of entertainment.ie described the album as "relentlessly ordinary", and suggested that Milian needed original ideas. The reviewer felt that apart from "AM to PM" and "You Make Me Laugh" there was nothing above the average. Lynch said that if Milian "really wants to compete with the big girls, she badly needs to spice up her tired formula."

A reviewer for Dawn commended the album for being "full of danceable, likeable tracks, and even the occasional, successful ballad like 'Until I Get Over You'". The reviewer called the album to be "a refreshing change with its charming lyrics and teen outlook". "AM to PM" was said to hint at "quite a lot of talent", and was praised for its "slick lyrics, a fast pace, and a phat vibe". The reviewer also praised "When You Look at Me", "Get Away", and "Got to Have You".

Carmen Meyer of iafrica.com found the "smooth, groovy and refreshing" album to be filled "with light-hearted and catchy tracks, which can be enjoyed either in a club, your car or even when chilling at home." She commented on the album's tracks, which ranged from "melodic and heart-rending ballads to funky dance beats that are bound to keep you moving". Meyer praised the "infectious" "AM to PM", the "exciting" "A Girl Like Me", and "Till I Get Over You", which is "guaranteed to pull at your heartstrings and make you want to pull your loved ones closer."