Idina (album)

In late 2015, Menzel announced via Twitter and in interviews that she was working on a new studio album, set to be released in Fall 2016. On August 5, 2016 at midnight, Menzel appeared on Facebook Live from the Skylark Rooftop in New York City to announce that the album would be released on September 23, 2016, and gave a world premiere performance of her single "I See You".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igfqhxagH6A |title=World Premiere of "I See You" by Idina Menzel |via=YouTube |date=2016-04-18 |access-date=2016-11-28}}

The week after she announced the album, Menzel appeared on Facebook Live again from The Berkshires with her all-girl performing arts camp A Broader Way, where she gave another sneak preview of a song from the album titled "Queen of Swords" along with the campers. The song was released as a single several days later. Music videos for both "I See You" and "Queen of Swords" were posted to her YouTube channel.

Menzel shared her thoughts with People magazine about the inspiration behind the album, reflecting on how her personal and professional experiences shaped its creation: "This album in particular, I had so much that I wanted to say. I had been through so much over the last couple of years simultaneously —  going through a divorce, and all of the sadness and regret that that brought about, while experiencing this incredible professional success with Frozen and the Oscars and singing at the Super Bowl,” she adds. “It was such an interesting, complicated couple of years that I just knew that it was a really rich time for me to get in the studio and put all of that down in music."{{Cite web |last=Havens |first=Lyndsey |date=2016-10-10 |title=Idina Menzel Talks New Album, Being Vulnerable, and Giving a S— About What People Think |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/idina-menzel-interview-new-album-pop-star-7534374/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}

The album was supported the following year by a World Tour which played in over 50+ cities across North America, Europe, and Asia.{{cite web|title=Idina Menzel to Embark on 2017 World Tour!|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Idina-Menzel-to-Embark-on-2017-World-Tour-20170117|website=BroadwayWorld.com|publisher=BroadwayWorld|access-date=January 17, 2017}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev2 = Newsday

| rev2score = B+

}}

The album received fairly positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic awarded it 3.5 stars, saying she was able to "craft a sound that's expansive enough to resonate with fans of her stage work while adding a bit of a modern age," particularly drawing attention to "Queen of Swords", "Cake", and "I Do". The review also noted that the album was very personal and was a vast improvement on her last pop album, I Stand.{{cite web |last=Monger |first=Timothy |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/idina-mw0002970507 |title=idina. – Idina Menzel {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2016-11-28}} Newsday gave the album a B+, noting her "gorgeous voice" and mentioning "Queen of Swords", "I See You", and "Perfect Story" as stand-out tracks.{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/idina-review-idina-menzel-turns-her-attention-to-pop-1.12347941 |title='Idina.' review: Idina Menzel turns her attention to pop |work=Newsday |date=2016-09-21 |access-date=2016-11-28}}

Idina debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 15,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, including 14,000 pure sales. Additionally, the album peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.{{Cite web |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=2016-10-07 |title=Billboard 200 Chart Moves: Idina Menzel & Kristin Chenoweth’s ‘Wicked’ Reunion in the Top 40 |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/billboard-200-chart-moves-idina-menzel-kristin-chenoweths-wicked/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Idina Menzel {{!}} Biography, Music & News |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/idina-menzel/chart-history/hsi/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition{{cite web|url = https://music.apple.com/us/album/idina/1138515635|title = idina. by Idina Menzel on Apple Music|access-date = October 22, 2016|work = iTunes Store (US)}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 45:36

| title1 = Small World

| writer1 = {{flatlist|

• Ross Golan
• Greg Wells}}

| extra1 = Wells

| length1 = 3:35

| title2 = Like Lightning

| length2 = 3:39

| writer2 = {{flatlist|

• Idina Menzel
• Audra Mae
• Eric Rosse}}

| extra2 = Rosse

| title3 = Queen of Swords

| length3 = 4:20

| writer3 = {{flatlist|

• Menzel
• Ferras Alqaisi
• Sarah Hudson
• Wells}}

| extra3 = Wells

| title4 = I See You

| length4 = 3:39

| writer4 = {{flatlist|

• Andy Hollander
• Matt Morris}}

| extra4 = Rosse

| title5 = Everybody Knows

| length5 = 3:25

| writer5 = {{flatlist|

• Wells
• Stephen Wrabel}}

| extra5 = Wells

| title6 = Show Me

| length6 = 5:02

| writer6 = {{flatlist|

• Menzel
• James Abrahart
• Wells}}

| extra6 = Wells

| title7 = Last Time

| length7 = 3:57

| writer7 = {{flatlist|

• Menzel
• Rosse
• Sasha Sloan}}

| extra7 = Rosse

| title8 = I Do

| length8 = 3:29

| writer8 = {{flatlist|

• Menzel
• Rosse
• Sloan}}

| extra8 = Rosse

| title9 = Cake

| length9 = 2:54

| writer9 = {{flatlist|

• Menzel
• Shelly Peiken
• Wells}}

| extra9 = Wells

| title10 = Extraordinary

| length10 = 3:33

| writer10 = {{flatlist|

• Menzel
• Lindy Robbins
• Wells}}

| extra10 = Wells

| title11 = Perfect Story

| length11 = 3:39

| writer11 = {{flatlist|

• Menzel
• Wells
• Nina Woodford}}

| extra11 = Wells

| title12 = Nothin' in This World

| length12 = 4:24

| writer12 = {{flatlist|

• Menzel
• Connor Pledger
• Rosse}}

| extra12 = Rosse

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Target edition bonus tracks{{cite web|url = http://www.target.com/p/idina-menzel-idina-target-exclusive/-/A-51471235|title = Idina Menzel - idina. (Target Exclusive) : Target|access-date = October 22, 2016|date = September 23, 2016|work = Target}}

| total_length = 51:36

| title13 = Bitter Core

| writer13 = {{flatlist|

• Menzel
• Mae
• Rosse}}

| length13 = 3:05

| title14 = Stronger Than Hate

| writer14 = {{flatlist|

• Angela Lauer
• Butterfly Boucher
• Jamie Moore}}

| length14 = 2:46

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus track{{cite web|url=http://wmg.jp/artist/idinamenzel/WPCR000017517.html |title=Idina Menzel - idina. |access-date = December 2, 2016| work = Warner Music Japan}}

| total_length = 55:38

| title15 = Blind

| writer15 =

| length15 = 4:02

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Idina Menzel}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2016 albums

Category:Idina Menzel albums