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Slide (Madeline Merlo EP)

{{short description|2022 extended play by Madeline Merlo}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Slide

| type = EP

| artist = Madeline Merlo

| cover = Slide EP.webp

| alt =

| released = September 23, 2022

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Country pop

| length = 24:56

| label = Wheelhouse

| producer = {{hlist|Zach Crowell|Jerry Flowers (track 2)|Nathan Chapman (track 3)}}

| prev_title = Free Soul

| prev_year = 2016

| next_title = One House Down (from the Girl Next Door)

| next_year = 2024

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Slide

| type = EP

| single1 = Slide

| single1date = December 27, 2022

}}

}}

Slide is the second extended play by Canadian country artist Madeline Merlo. It was released on September 23, 2022, via Wheelhouse Records, and marks Merlo's debut release in the United States.{{cite web|url= https://popculture.com/country-music/amp/news/songland-winner-madeline-merlo-working-sam-hunt-slide-ep-amazing-phone-call-to-get-exclusive/|title=Songland' Winner Madeline Merlo on Working With Sam Hunt on New 'Slide' EP: 'It Was an Amazing Phone Call to Get' (Exclusive)|first=Stephen|last=Andrew|work=Popculture|date=September 25, 2022|access-date=September 26, 2022}} She co-wrote every song on the project.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/79xHTzUrCaeUntHK1XqRyU?si=8lHpjNWxQYe3i3wk_RxaEQ|title=Slide - EP by Madeline Merlo|work=Spotify|date=September 23, 2022|access-date=December 3, 2022}} The title track was released as a single to Canadian country radio.{{cite web|url=https://topcountry.ca/pick-of-the-week-madeline-merlo-slide/|title=Pick of the Week – Madeline Merlo “Slide”|date=January 27, 2023|work=Top Country|access-date=May 3, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://imprintent.org/madeline-merlo-slides-into-top-spot-with-radio-release-of-new-single/|title=Madeline Merlo Slides Into Top Spot With Radio Release of New Single|work=Imprint Entertainment|access-date=May 3, 2023}}

Background and promotion

Merlo signed with the BBR Music Group in 2020 and took extra time to write songs before releasing the extended play.{{cite web|url=https://countrynow.com/madeline-merlo-opens-new-chapter-of-creativity-with-latest-ep-slide-its-been-a-long-process/|title=Madeline Merlo Opens New Chapter Of Creativity With Latest EP, ‘Slide’: ‘It’s Been A Long Process’|date=October 6, 2022|work=Country Now|first=Madeleine|last=O'Connell|access-date=December 3, 2022}} She felt that she initially put too much pressure on herself, before refocusing with the help of her new producer Zach Crowell. She remarked that it "started to start to sound like me and this kind of next step and evolution that I was hoping for," after some time and that the title track "Slide" was the first song that "felt right". The songs are intended to be included on a full-length album, with Merlo remarking that she wanted to "tease what the rest of the album would be like".{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/madeline-merlos-road-to-nashville-leads-to-new-ep-slide/|title=Madeline Merlo’s Road to Nashville Leads to New EP, ‘Slide’|work=American Songwriter|first=Lisa|last=Konicki|date=November 26, 2022|access-date=December 3, 2022}} She was very thankful that her label gave her "the trust and time to pursue" the sound she wanted.{{cite web|url=https://musicrow.com/2022/09/madeline-merlo-slides-into-a-new-chapter-with-upcoming-ep/|title=Madeline Merlo ‘Slides’ Into A New Chapter With Upcoming EP|first=Lorie|last=Hollabaugh|date=September 13, 2022|access-date=December 3, 2022|work=Music Row Magazine}}

Merlo performed a live acoustic version of the title track on KTLA as part of their "Music Fest Friday" series on September 30, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://ktla.com/entertainment/music/music-fest-fridays-madeline-merlo-performs-slide-from-new-e-p/|title=Music Fest Fridays: Madeline Merlo performs ‘Slide’ from new E.P.|work=KTLA|date=September 30, 2022|access-date=December 3, 2022|first1=Pablo|last1=Chacon|first2=Tammy|last2=Chan|first3=Lu|last3=Parker|first4=Glen|last4=Walker}}

Content

The title track "Slide" was initially co-written by American country artist Sam Hunt alongside Crowell and Jerry Flowers. They had intended for the song to be for Hunt, but felt early on during the writing process that it was more of a feminine song, and Crowell asked Merlo if she was interested in joining them to finish the song. In regard to "YOUNG-ish," Merlo stated that she is "passionate about writing songs with strong female characters."{{cite web|url=https://themusicexpress.ca/madeline-merlo-rides-high-with-slide/|title=Madeline Merlo Rides High With ‘Slide’|first=Roman|last=Mitz|work=The Music Express|date=November 15, 2022|access-date=December 3, 2022}} "Girl Where He Grew Up" was not meant to be included on the EP, but after it received plenty of attention on TikTok earlier in the year, Merlo decided to ask her label to replace the original track four with it, which they agreed to do.{{cite web|url=https://frontporchmusic.ca/music/madeline-merlo-ep-slide/|title=Madeline Merlo Releases Brand New EP "Slide"|first=Jenna|last=Weishar|work=Front Porch Music|date=September 23, 2022|access-date=December 3, 2022}}

Critical reception

Erica Zisman of Country Swag reviewed the project favourably, saying Merlo "manages to showcase her songwriting chops and her killer vocals," adding that "each and every song is methodically placed," and that it was "the perfect introduction for new fans and audiences in American country music."{{cite web|url=https://countryswag.com/madeline-merlo-slide-ep-review/|title=Madeline Merlo: ‘Slide’ – EP Review|date=September 23, 2022|work=Country Swag|access-date=December 3, 2022|first=Erica|last=Zisman}} James Daykin of Entertainment Focus also gave a positive review of Slide, writing that Merlo "delivers powerful female stories, from budding romances to growing up to the lessons learned in-between."{{cite web|url=https://entertainment-focus.com/2022/09/27/madeline-merlo-releases-powerful-new-ep-slide-featuring-co-writers-like-sam-hunt-ashley-gorley/|title=Madeline Merlo Releases Powerful New EP ‘Slide’ Featuring Co-Writers Like Sam Hunt & Ashley Gorley|first=James|last=Daykin|date=September 27, 2022|access-date=December 3, 2022|work=Entertainment Focus}} Stephen Andrew of PopCulture stated that the four songs "are incredibly eclectic examples of pop-flavored country."

Track listing

{{tracklist

| headline = Slide

| total_length = 13:26

| title1 = Slide

| writer1 = Madeline Merlo, Jerry Flowers, Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell

| length1 = 3:34

| title2 = YOUNG-ish

| writer2 = Merlo, Flowers, Crowell, Josh Osborne

| length2 = 3:29

| title3 = Girl Where He Grew Up

| writer3 = Merlo, Jon Nite, Nathan Chapman

| length3 = 3:10

| title4 = I Need a Drink

| writer4 = Merlo, Crowell, Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey

| length4 = 3:10

}}

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/slide-mw0003817812/credits|title=Slide - Madeline Merlo, Credits|work=AllMusic|access-date=December 3, 2022}}

{{div col}}

{{div col end}}

Charts

=Singles=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Chart performance for singles from Slide

rowspan="2" style="width:2em;" | Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:4em;"| Single

! colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

style="font-size:smaller;"

! style="width:3em;"| CAN
Country
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/canada-country/2023-04-29|title=Canada Country chart for April 29, 2023|magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 25, 2023|url-access=subscription}}

2022

| align="left"| "Slide"

| 6

Release history

class="wikitable"

|+Release formats for Slide

! Country

! Date

! Format

! Label

! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

rowspan="2"| Various

| rowspan="2"| September 23, 2022

| Digital download

| rowspan="2"| Wheelhouse Records

| rowspan="2"| {{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/slide-ep/1643881685|title=Slide - EP by Madeline Merlo|work=Apple Music|date=September 23, 2022|accessdate=December 3, 2022}}

Streaming

References

{{reflist}}

{{Madeline Merlo}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Slide}}

Category:2022 EPs

Category:Madeline Merlo EPs

Category:BBR Music Group EPs

Category:Albums produced by Zach Crowell