Make a Scene

Make a Scene originated from recording sessions for a planned Greatest Hits compilation, which was proposed for release in Autumn 2008. However, the success of recording sessions led Ellis-Bextor and her record label at the time, Fascination Records, to change their plans and record a full studio album instead. The album's lead single, "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)", a collaboration with the Freemasons, was released in June 2009, before a second single, "Can't Fight This Feeling", a collaboration with Junior Caldera, was released in February 2010. The album's third single, "Bittersweet", was released in May 2010, and was the first single from the album to feature only Ellis-Bextor. The album's fourth single, "Not Giving Up on Love", a collaboration with Armin van Buuren, was released in August 2010 and was also included on Buuren's album, Mirage.{{Cite web |title=Armada Music to release Sophie Ellis-Bextor single & album |url=http://www.armadamusic.com/news/2011/05/armada-music-to-release-sophie-ellis-bextor-single-album/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20160304025534/http://www.armadamusic.com/news/2011/05/armada-music-to-release-sophie-ellis-bextor-single-album/ |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=Armada Music |language=EN}} Following the release of these four singles, Ellis-Bextor parted ways with Fascination, leaving the future of the album hanging in the balance. However, Ellis-Bextor soon announced plans to release the album on her own label, EBGBs, which she had set up in 2002 with her father, Robin Bextor.

The album's title, Make a Scene, was announced in January 2011, despite rumours the album would be named Cut Straight to the Heart, after the final track on the album.{{cite web | url-access=limited |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/6434097627/172767802760573 |archive-date = 2022-04-30| url = https://www.facebook.com/SophieEllisBextor/posts/172767802760573 |title = Sophie Ellis-Bextor on Facebook |website=Facebook}}{{cbignore}}{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}} This was rather unexpected as Ellis-Bextor had previously criticised title tracks.[http://www.showbiz.ie/news/april02/29-bextor02.shtml ShowBiz Ireland - Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Interview] ShowBiz Ireland. Retrieved 16-02-2013. Later on, "Off & On" had received airplay on NRJ and Europe Plus exclusively in Russia.{{cite web|url=http://www.universalmusic.ru/ru/artists/201/news/1388/ |title=Universal Music Russia |access-date=2014-03-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111175218/http://www.universalmusic.ru/ru/artists/201/news/1388/ |archive-date=11 January 2014 }} On 5 June, "Starlight" was released as the album's sixth single overall, exclusively in the United Kingdom, before the album was released a week later on 12 June.{{cite web | url=http://twitpic.com/4k04gx | title=@SophieEB Starlight! Coming soon!!|website=Twitpic.com }} In 2012 "Revolution" was released as the album's seventh and final single overall but, unlike the majority of the singles, it was an international release.{{cite web |title=Revolution - Single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/revolution-single/id499232779 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228233833/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/revolution-single/id499232779 |archive-date=28 February 2014 |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=iTunes}}

Make a Scene features production by Fred Ball, Armin van Buuren, Junior Caldera, Julien Carret, Freemasons, Ed Harcourt, Calvin Harris, Greg Kurstin, Liam Howe, Metronomy, Richard Stannard, Dimitri Tikovoi, and Richard X. According to Clixie Music, on the opening track "Revolution", Ellis-Bextor has been said to utilise catchy repetition and deliver a sweet vocal with "commanding vocals".{{cite web|last=Bradshaw|first=Lee|title=Album Review: Sophie Ellis-Bextor – 'Make A Scene'{{!}} Clixie Music - News, Reviews and Interviews|url=http://www.clixie.co.uk/album-review-sophie-ellis-bextor-make-a-scene/|access-date=26 May 2011|publisher=Clixie Music|date=7 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525234239/http://www.clixie.co.uk/album-review-sophie-ellis-bextor-make-a-scene/|archive-date=25 May 2011|url-status=dead}} It was described as "a heavily energetic and impressive opener that defines the overall mood." Following the opener is the third single "Bittersweet" and the electropop "Off & On", which Clixie elaborated on as having an early 1980s disco sound. It was written by Calvin Harris and Irish singer Róisín Murphy and was originally recorded with Murphy on vocals for Murphy's 2007 studio album Overpowered, but was omitted from the final track listing.{{cite web |url=http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=937&Itemid=266 |title=Calvin Harris Interview |publisher=Popjustice |date=18 May 2007 |access-date=11 February 2009}} Both "Not Giving Up on Love" and "Can't Fight This Feeling" have been called anthems by Clixie Music, as well as "international smash singles". "Starlight" was also said to feature a "soothing" vocal delivery by Ellis-Bextor, with a "very '80s-esque twist." "Magic" is a dance music-driven track and was called "enjoyable" due to its employment of harmonic vocals. Finally, "Synchronised" and "Cut Straight to the Heart" were talked about as focussing on Sophie's vocals, and noted as being "a lot more relaxed" in comparison to the rest of the album.

{{Music ratings

| MC = 53/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/make-a-scene-mw0002143557|title=Sophie Ellis-Bextor Make a Scene Album Reviews, Songs & More |access-date=23 May 2022|website=AllMusic}}

| rev2 = BBC Music

| rev2Score = negative{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/2h28|title = BBC - Music - Review of Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Make a Scene}}

| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev3Score = {{Rating|2|5}}

| rev4 = Digital Spy

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5Score = {{Rating|2|5}}

| rev6 = The Mirror

| rev6Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7Score = 2/10{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-sophie-ellis-bextor-12116-313646|title=Album Review: Sophie Ellis-Bextor - 'Make A Scene'|website=Nme.com|date=3 June 2011|access-date=23 May 2022}}

| rev8 = Yahoo! Music

| rev8Score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web |url=http://new.uk.music.yahoo.com/blogs/albumreviewsuk/6122/make-a-scenesophie-ellis-bextor |title=Make a Scene – Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Album Reviews |website=new.uk.music.yahoo.com |access-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624023236/http://new.uk.music.yahoo.com/blogs/albumreviewsuk/6122/make-a-scenesophie-ellis-bextor |archive-date=24 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}

}}

Make a Scene received mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 53, based on 7 reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/make-a-scene/sophie-ellis-bextor |title=Make a Scene – Sophie Ellis-Bextor |publisher=Metacritic. CBS Interactive |access-date=2 September 2013}} While reviewing some songs on the album, Robbie Daw from Idolator said that "after taking in small handful of singles, it sounds like there's even better material lying in wait on Make A Scene".{{cite web|last=Daw|first=Robbie|title=Preview Sophie Ellis-Bextor's 'Make A Scene' LP|url=http://idolator.com/5827721/sophie-ellis-bextor-make-a-scene-lp|access-date=26 May 2011|publisher=Idolator|date=18 April 2011}} Daw called the Richard X productions "Starlight" and "Magic" are "amazing". Lee Bradshaw from [http://www.clixie.co.uk Clixie Music] rated it eight stars out of ten, labeling it "her most dance-filled release" and praised Sophie for having "out-done herself on this one", stating that "she has definitely provided an album with great future potential." Robert Copsey from Digital Spy was positive, rating it four stars out of five, opining that the "wistful pop-ballads 'Starlight' and 'Synchronised' proving that she is more than capable of handling the centre stage if she so chooses. It might be a scene of two halves, but there's no shortage of elegance, class and pop sensibilities throughout."{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/albumreviews/a324054/sophie-ellis-bextor-make-a-scene.html|title = Sophie Ellis-Bextor: 'Make a Scene'|website = Digital Spy|date = 9 June 2011}}

Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian rated it two stars out of five and concluded that "The bulk of the record is shopping-mall pop that was probably expensive to make, but sounds depressingly cheap."{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/02/sophie-ellis-bextor-make-a-scene-review|title=Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Make a Scene – review|date=2 June 2011|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=23 May 2022}} Matt Wilkinson from NME was negative, rating it two stars out of ten, commenting that "Make A Scene sees her straddle a multitude of different genres" Gavin Martin from The Mirror was positive, feeling that the album is a "jolly effective blend of high-bred hoofing, fun and sincerity."{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/going-out/music/album-reviews-sophie-ellis-bextor-132458|title=Album reviews: Sophie Ellis Bextor, White Denim, My Morning Jacket, Roy Harper|first=Gavin|last=Martin|date=2 June 2011|website=Mirror.co.uk|access-date=23 May 2022}} James Lachno from The Daily Telegraph judged that "A legion of co-producers attempt to recreate the slick dance-pop for which she is famed, but too often her husky voice and arch delivery are given short shrift by bloated house beats and perfunctory hooks."{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/8566344/Sophie-Ellis-Bextor-Make-a-Scene-CD-review.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=James | last=Lachno | title=Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Make a Scene, CD review | date=9 June 2011}} Alex Hall from The Tune was positive, saying that "Make A Scene is by no means a 'dark' record; however, Sophie Ellis-Bextor manages to prevent what would have been an unbearable 50 minutes had every song been a reproduction of 'Starlight' by applying to the crevasses all the insight she's gained in a decade."{{Cite web|url=http://www.thetunemusic.com/2011/06/sophie-ellis-bextor-make-scene-2011.html|title=The Tune Music review|website=Thetunemusic.com|access-date=23 May 2022}} Gay Times also gave a positive review, calling it "a proper pop album...easily head and shoulders above the offerings from her contemporaries in the last year".{{cite journal

|journal=Gay Times

|issue=394

|date=Summer 2011

|page=89

|title=Make a Scene

|publisher=Millivres Prowler Group

|issn=0950-6101

}}

Make a Scene entered the UK Albums Chart at number thirty-three with first-week sales of 6,143 copies, and by January 2014, it had sold 13,716 copies in the United Kingdom.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/businessanalysis/read/official-charts-analysis-goulding-reclaims-no-1-album-spot-with-21-000-sales/057410 |title=Official Charts Analysis: Goulding reclaims No.1 album spot with 21,000 sales |work=Music Week |date=27 January 2014 |access-date=27 January 2014}} {{Subscription required}} Within three months of release, the album received a gold certification in Russia, denoting sales in excess of 5,000 copies.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZEHbaLnj8M |title=Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Universal Music Summer Party, Moscow |publisher=YouTube |date=29 July 2011 |access-date=6 September 2013}} In spite of the album's lack of success, its singles became top 30 hits in the UK and Europe.

{{Track listing

| headline = Make a Scene {{nobold|– Standard edition}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Revolution

| writer1 = {{hlist|Sophie Ellis-Bextor|Greg Kurstin|Cathy Dennis}}

| extra1 = Kurstin

| length1 = 2:44

| title2 = Bittersweet

| writer2 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Hannah Robinson|Russell Small|Richard Stannard|James Wiltshire}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Freemasons|Stannard}}

| length2 = 3:27

| title3 = Off & On

| writer3 = {{hlist|Calvin Harris|Dennis|Róisín Murphy}}

| extra3 = Harris

| length3 = 3:32

| title4 = Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)

| note4 = Freemasons featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor

| writer4 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Wiltshire|Small|Stannard}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Freemasons|Stannard}}

| length4 = 3:25

| title5 = Not Giving Up on Love

| note5 = versus Armin van Buuren

| writer5 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|van Buuren|Benno de Goeij|Olivia Nervo|Miriam Nervo}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Buuren|Goeij}}

| length5 = 2:56

| title6 = Can't Fight This Feeling

| note6 = Junior Caldera featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor

| writer6 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Julien Carret|Caldera}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Caldera|Carret}}

| length6 = 3:35

| title7 = Starlight

| writer7 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Richard X|Robinson}}

| extra7 = Richard X

| length7 = 4:20

| title8 = Under Your Touch

| writer8 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Liam Howe|Robinson}}

| extra8 = Howe

| length8 = 3:53

| title9 = Make a Scene

| writer9 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Joseph Mount}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Future Cut|Metronomy}}

| length9 = 3:50

| title10 = Magic

| writer10 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Richard X|Robinson}}

| extra10 = Richard X

| length10 = 4:34

| title11 = Dial My Number

| writer11 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Howe|Robinson}}

| extra11 = Howe

| length11 = 3:37

| title12 = Homewrecker

| writer12 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Kurstin|Lindy Robbins}}

| extra12 = Kurstin

| length12 = 3:25

| title13 = Synchronised

| writer13 = {{hlist|Fred Ball|Ina Wroldsen}}

| extra13 = Ball

| length13 = 3:12

| title14 = Cut Straight to the Heart

| writer14 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Ed Harcourt|Dimitri Tikovoi}}

| extra14 = {{hlist|Harcourt|Tikovoi}}

| length14 = 3:37

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Make a Scene {{nobold|– Italian iTunes Store bonus track}}{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/it/album/make-scene-bonus-track-version/id473666598?l=en |title=Make a Scene (Bonus Track Version) by Sophie Ellis-Bextor |publisher=iTunes Store Italy. Apple |access-date=2 September 2013}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title15 = Starlight

| note15 = My Doctor Elvis Remix

| writer15 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Richard X|Robinson}}

| extra15 = Richard X

| length15 = 5:52

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Make a Scene {{nobold|– reissue edition}}{{cite web |url=https://www.plasticpop.co.uk/make-a-scene-cd|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250117150830/https://plasticpop.store/products/make-a-scene|archive-date=17 January 2025|title=Make a Scene |publisher=Plastic Pop |access-date=31 October 2022}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title15 = Sophia Loren

| note15 =

| writer15 = {{hlist|Chris Rojas|Dennis|Ellis-Bextor}}

| extra15 = {{hlist|Rojas}}

| length15 = 4:16

| title16 = Dear Jimmy

| note16 = unmixed version

| writer16 = {{hlist|Ellis-Bextor|Matt Prime|Hannah Robinson}}

| extra16 = {{hlist|Prime}}

| length16 = 3:27

}}

Notes

• The iTunes store version includes the music videos to "Bittersweet", "Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer)", "Not Giving Up on Love", "Can't Fight This Feeling" and "Starlight".{{cite web |date=12 June 2011 |title=Make a Scene by Sophie Ellis-Bextor |url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/make-a-scene/id476074417 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024085804/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/make-a-scene/id476074417 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 October 2013 |access-date=2 September 2013 |publisher=iTunes Store UK. Apple}}

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Make a Scene.{{cite AV media notes |title=Make a Scene |type=CD liner notes |others=Sophie Ellis-Bextor |publisher=EBGB's |year=2011 |id=EBGBCD001}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Sophie Ellis-Bextor – vocals
• Fred Ball – keyboards, production, programming {{small|(track 13)}}
• Andy Bradfield – mixing {{small|(track 14)}}
• Armin van Buuren – production {{small|(track 5)}}
• Junior Caldera – instruments, mixing, production {{small|(track 6)}}
• Julien Carret – mixing, production {{small|(track 6)}}
• Cathy Dennis – backing vocals, vocal production {{small|(track 3)}}
• Richard Edgeler – assistant mixing {{small|(track 13)}}
• Ben Epstein – guitar {{small|(track 13)}}
• Steve Fitzmaurice – mixing {{small|(track 9)}}
• Future Cut – production {{small|(track 9)}}
• Benno de Goeij – production {{small|(track 5)}}
• Ed Harcourt – piano, production, string arrangement, string conducting, synths {{small|(track 14)}}
• Calvin Harris – arrangement, instruments, production {{small|(track 3)}}
• Marianne Haynes – violin {{small|(track 14)}}
• Pete Hofmann – mixing {{small|(tracks 7, 10)}}
• Louise Hogan – viola {{small|(track 14)}}
• Liam Howe – production {{small|(tracks 8, 11)}}; mixing {{small|(track 11)}}
• Ash Howes – mixing {{small|(tracks 2, 3)}}; additional engineering {{small|(track 4)}}
• Jordan Jay – A&R {{small|(track 5)}}
• Greg Kurstin – keyboards, production, programming {{small|(tracks 1, 12)}}; engineering, guitar, mixing {{small|(track 12)}}
• George Lambert – mastering {{small|(track 4)}}
• Amy Langley – cello {{small|(track 14)}}
• Gita Langley – violin {{small|(track 14)}}

{{col-2}}

• Rosie Langley – violin {{small|(track 14)}}
• Mike Marsh – mastering
• Metronomy – production {{small|(track 9)}}
• Joseph Mount – producer {{small|(track 9)}}
• Miriam Nervo – backing vocals, vocal production {{small|(track 5)}}
• Olivia Nervo – backing vocals, vocal production {{small|(track 5)}}
• Emile Ogoo – bass guitar {{small|(track 13)}}
• Rob Orton – mixing {{small|(track 8)}}
• Richard X – production {{small|(tracks 7, 10)}}
• Hannah Robinson – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 2, 7, 8, 10, 11)}}
• Russell Small – production {{small|(tracks 2, 4)}}; keyboards, programming {{small|(track 2)}}; mixing, percussion {{small|(track 4)}}
• Amy Stanford – viola {{small|(track 14)}}
• Ellie Stanford – violin {{small|(track 14)}}
• Richard "Biff" Stannard – production {{small|(tracks 2, 4)}}; keyboards, programming {{small|(track 2)}}; additional programming {{small|(track 4)}}
• Brio Taliaferro – additional programming {{small|(track 13)}}
• Dimitri Tikovoi – production {{small|(track 14)}}
• Jeremy Wheatley – mixing {{small|(track 13)}}
• Richard Wilkinson – engineering {{small|(tracks 8, 11)}}
• Harriet Wiltshire – cello {{small|(track 14)}}
• James Wiltshire – keyboards, production, programming {{small|(tracks 2, 4)}}; mixing {{small|(track 4)}}
• Jeremy Yeremian – mixing {{small|(track 6)}}
• Chris Young – vocal engineering {{small|(track 5)}}

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Russia|artist=Sophie Ellis-Bextor|title=Make a Scene|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2011|certyear=2011|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true}}

{{reflist}}

{{Sophie Ellis-Bextor}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Make A Scene}}

Category:2011 albums

Category:Albums produced by Calvin Harris

Category:Albums produced by Greg Kurstin

Category:Albums produced by Richard X

Category:Sophie Ellis-Bextor albums

Category:Albums produced by Dimitri Tikovoi

Category:Nu-disco albums

Category:Synth-pop albums by English artists

Category:Albums produced by Richard Stannard (songwriter)