RAYE - My 21st Century Blues

[Ty]

Rachel Agatha Keen, (born 24 October 1997) known professionally as RAYE, is a British singer and songwriter.

In 2016, she rose to prominence by featuring on the singles; "By Your Side" by Jonas Blue and "You Don't Know Me" by Jax Jones, the latter peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart and both being certified platinum or higher by the BPI. Raye was short-listed for the BBC Music Sound of... award for 2017 and was named in third place.

Her debut mini-album, Euphoric Sad Songs was released in November 2020 and spawned in the UK top-10 single "Secrets". In July 2021, Raye parted ways with her record label Polydor Records. Her debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues, will be released on 3 February 2023. The album was preceded by the single "Escapism", which peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart and became her first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

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First single: "Hard Out Here."



Second single: "Black Mascara."



Third single: "Escapism."

[HamedM1 💔]

Extremely excited for her debut album, all 4 songs she's released from the album have all been fantastic yet all standout from each other due to her exploring various sounds and genres.

[Ty]

Jan 16, 2023 23:08:31 GMT -5 HamedM1 💔 said:

Extremely excited for her debut album, all 4 songs she's released from the album have all been fantastic yet all standout from each other due to her exploring various sounds and genres.

I still feel weird to call this her debut album haha.

Euphoric Sad Songs is already a solid album in my opinion. But with this one she's taking it to the next level!

[SHOOTER]

For the physical fans, the vinyl is only $17.98 ($11.98 for CD) on Amazon with release-day delivery guaranteed.

[Ling-Ling]

Wait, is ESS not considered her debut album? Like how is it not?

*edit* I see on wiki it's being touted as a "mini-album." Gurl bye, it's an album.

[SHOOTER]

I respect Raye calling this her debut album since she’s made it clear that Polydor blocked any and all attempts she made to release a proper debut album because they wanted her to strictly make dance music.

[HamedM1 💔]

She's the cover of this month's issue of Cosmopolitan, plus they did an interview video either her as well!

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

OUT in the UK now

[rnb]

we might have to stream!

[HamedM1 💔]

Premiered Ice Cream Man. earlier today as BBC Radio 1's Hottest Record, gorgeous guy wrenching ballad. She also performed Escapism and a mashup cover of Central Cee's "Doja" + Eve & Gwen Stefani's "Let Me Blow Ya Mind".

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

I'm guessing there's no physical release for this and maybe they're waiting to see how it does on streaming first?

[Ling-Ling]

Feb 2, 2023 22:27:16 GMT -5 Devil Marlena Nylund said:

I'm guessing there's no physical release for this and maybe they're waiting to see how it does on streaming first?

There's physicals. Vinyl, CD and cassette.

[SHOOTER]

Feb 2, 2023 22:27:16 GMT -5 Devil Marlena Nylund said:

I'm guessing there's no physical release for this and maybe they're waiting to see how it does on streaming first?

Guess I'll block you back bitch!

Jan 17, 2023 3:22:58 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

For the physical fans, the vinyl is only $17.98 ($11.98 for CD) on Amazon with release-day delivery guaranteed.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

Feb 2, 2023 23:55:46 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

Feb 2, 2023 22:27:16 GMT -5 Devil Marlena Nylund said:

I'm guessing there's no physical release for this and maybe they're waiting to see how it does on streaming first?

Guess I'll block you back bitch!

Jan 17, 2023 3:22:58 GMT -5 SHOOTER said:

For the physical fans, the vinyl is only $17.98 ($11.98 for CD) on Amazon with release-day delivery guaranteed.

*dead*

I did a search on Amazon and nothing came up, hence my post lmao

Feb 2, 2023 19:19:15 GMT -5 Juan Carlos said:

Google is your friend. I guess you could find out there. 😉

Last time I take this advice!

(edit: I see it now <3)

[SHOOTER]

Flawless debut. She weaved together so many sounds and textures seamlessly with poignant lyricism on top. This is the album she needed to make and I’m glad she got the opportunity.

[Ty]

"Oscar Winning Tears", "Five Star Hotels" and "Buss It Down" are my instant favs upon first round of listen. Great debut!

[newpower]

This is excelent. No skip for me. Still trying to decide my favs. First great album of 2023.

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

[MyLastView]

This is one of the most cohesive and interesting albums I’ve heard in a long time. “Worth It” is probably my fav right now.

[andrebra]

This album is everything. Reminds me of Dirty Computer a bit!

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

#6 on Global Apple Music chart (#1 UK, Ireland, Norway; #12 Germany, #15 Australia, #41 US)

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

[Ty]

#1 or #2... it's poetic justice for her old label Polydor. We live for that! 😂

[Hurricane Lee]

My copy of the CD arrived today. Actual artwork and a booklet. We love to see it! Dropped down to 82 with 11 reviews due to allowing people wilh incorrect opinions chime in. Anyway, Raye is the first person I have heard that I can honestly say is the TRUE heir to Amy Winehouse. I went into this only doing a quick listen to some clips and I didn't remember any of the details, so this is a completely fresh, hot take. Wild that Oscar Winning Tears isn't even the THIRD best song on this album. Is it too late for her to get a BNA nom next year? I'm thinking no? This is also worthy of Album of the Year. Also, props to giving an album with FULL SONGS and not Tiktok clips. Not a weak song. I even loved the outro, LOL. A+

Ice Cream Man (not much I can say about this, but...wow.)
Black Mascara
Escapism
Five Star Hotels
Flip A Switch
Worth It (why do I feel like Beyonce was listening to this when Cuff It was conceived...)
The Thrill Is Gone
Mary Jane
Oscar Winning Tears
Buss It Down
Hard Out Here
Body Dysmorphia
Environmental Anxiety

[Ty]

I believe she's still eligible for BNA.

She's never nominated for a Grammy, plus "Escapism." was her first song to chart on the US Hot 100.

[Hurricane Lee]

Let's fucking GO then! I am obsesesd with this album and am most likely gonna pay more than I want to in order to see her in April in Austin. Kali is secondary. Plus, I am seeing Kali at Coachella the weekend prior anyway.

[Au$tin]

Yeah, I think there's a strong case for her getting a BNA nom next year. Hell, I wouldn't count out Escapism. for ROTY too. (Pop Collab seems more likely though.)

A pretty solid album. I don't love it, but there are some really awesome gems here.

Escapism.
Oscar Winning Tears.
Hard Out Here.
The Thrill Is Gone.
Black Mascara.

[Hurricane Lee]

I mean...the fact that you excluded the best song from the album, aka Ice Cream Man, is a choice, but glad you listened to the AOTY at least!

[HamedM1 💔]

Just powerful stuff...



Anyways a few interesting leaks have surfaced of hers, Flip A Switch was originally supposed to feature Normani and a demo version which basically sounds fully finished and the same as the version we got but with Normani on the 2nd verse and doing some harmonies.

Also 2017 version of The Thrill Is Gone has also surfaced and the song contains most of the same lyrics but is a dance-pop song instead with a sample of la la la melody from Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Outta My Head.

[𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤]

Flip A Switch debuts at #83 on the UK Singles chart, WOOOOOOOOOOOO HIT #2 HERE WE COME