In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings)
In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings) (stylized in all lowercase and originally titled In Defense of My Own Happiness (Vol. 1)) is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun. The ten-track album was released on July 17, 2020 through White Boy Records and re-released by Amigo Records and Verve Forecast Records under its current title on March 30, 2021.[3] It was promoted by eight singles. A sequel to the album, titled simply In Defense of My Own Happiness was released on June 4, 2021 and included "Sunday" and "Breathe Again" from volume one. A "complete edition" was released on July 9, 2021 collecting both volumes.
In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings) | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 17, 2020 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 32:24 | |||
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Producer |
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Joy Oladokun chronology | ||||
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Singles from In Defense of My Own Happiness (The Beginnings) | ||||
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Critical reception
Susan Hansen, writing for The Line of Best Fit, gave the album a score of eight out of ten, saying "Showing the way into new genre-blending territory, Joy Oladokun’s fertile, present day mix of pop, R&B and folk constitutes irresistibility and pertinence." and compared her "guitar lines, vocals and contemplative lyrics" to Tracy Chapman.[1]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Smoke" |
| Jeremy Lutito | 2:51 |
2. | "Sunday" | Oladokun | Robopop | 3:14 |
3. | "Bad Blood" | Oladokun | 3:08 | |
4. | "Unwelcoming" |
| Oladokun | 2:20 |
5. | "Lost" | Oladokun | Oladokun | 3:25 |
6. | "Who Do I Turn To?" |
| Oladokun | 3:10 |
7. | "Mercy" (featuring Tim Gent) |
| Oladokun | 3:37 |
8. | "Breathe Again" |
| Peter Groenwald | 3:49 |
9. | "Too High" | Oladokun | Oladokun | 3:16 |
10. | "Younger Days" | Oladokun |
| 3:34 |
Total length: | 32:24 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Smoke" (commentary) | 1:38 | ||
2. | "Smoke" |
| Lutito | 2:51 |
3. | "Sunday" (commentary) | 1:05 | ||
4. | "Sunday" | Oladokun | Robopop | 3:14 |
5. | "Bad Blood" (commentary) | 0:56 | ||
6. | "Bad Blood" | Oladokun | 3:08 | |
7. | "Unwelcoming" (commentary) | 1:16 | ||
8. | "Unwelcoming" |
| Oladokun | 2:20 |
9. | "Lost" (commentary) | 1:21 | ||
10. | "Lost" | Oladokun | Oladokun | 3:25 |
11. | "Who Do I Turn To?" (commentary) | 1:42 | ||
12. | "Who Do I Turn To?" |
| Oladokun | 3:10 |
13. | "Mercy" (commentary) | 1:25 | ||
14. | "Mercy" (featuring Tim Gent) |
| Oladokun | 3:37 |
15. | "Breathe Again" (commentary) | 1:15 | ||
16. | "Breathe Again" |
| Peter Groenwald | 3:49 |
17. | "Too High" (commentary) | 1:25 | ||
18. | "Too High" | Oladokun | Oladokun | 3:16 |
19. | "Younger Days" (commentary) | 1:41 | ||
20. | "Younger Days" | Oladokun |
| 3:34 |
Total length: | 46:11 |
- Notes
- All song titles stylized in all lowercase.
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label |
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Various | July 17, 2020 | White Boy | |
March 30, 2021 |
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References
- Hansen, Susan (August 7, 2020). "Joy Oladokun's eclectic pop reflections brim with judgement and aspiration". Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- Commander, Loundes (July 16, 2020). "ON HAPPINESS AND HUMANNESS: A CONVERSATION WITH JOY OLADOKUN". Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- "in defense of my own happiness (the beginnings) by Joy Oladokun on Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved June 8, 2021.