The Trouble with Being Myself

{{short description|2003 studio album by Macy Gray}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = The Trouble with Being Myself

| type = studio

| artist = Macy Gray

| cover = Macy Gray - The Trouble with Being Myself.png

| released = {{Start date|2003|4|28}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 49:00

| label = Epic

| producer = Macy Gray

| prev_title = The Id

| prev_year = 2001

| next_title = The Very Best of Macy Gray

| next_year = 2004

| misc = {{Singles

| name = The Trouble with Being Myself

| type = studio

| single1 = When I See You

| single1date = April 24, 2003

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 74/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-trouble-with-being-myself/macy-gray |title=Reviews for The Trouble With Being Myself by Macy Gray |website=Metacritic |access-date=July 26, 2015}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Bush |first=John |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-trouble-with-being-myself-mw0000024205 |title=The Trouble with Being Myself – Macy Gray |website=AllMusic |access-date=July 26, 2015}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = Mixed{{cite web |last=Thompson |first=Stephen |url=https://www.avclub.com/macy-gray-the-trouble-with-being-myself-1798198764 |title=Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself |work=The A.V. Club |date=August 5, 2003 |access-date=December 8, 2018}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = A−{{cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/07/18/trouble-being-myself/ |title=The Trouble With Being Myself |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=July 18, 2003 |access-date=July 26, 2015}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2003/apr/25/popandrock.artsfeatures4 |title=Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself |work=The Guardian |date=April 25, 2003 |access-date=July 26, 2015}}

| rev5 = PopMatters

| rev5score = Positive{{cite web |last=Fuchs |first=Cynthia |url=https://www.popmatters.com/graymacy-trouble-2495921619.html |title=Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself |website=PopMatters |date=August 1, 2003 |access-date=December 8, 2018}}

| rev6 = Rolling Stone

| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Thigpen |first=David |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/macygray/albums/album/318106/review/6067360/the_trouble_with_being_myself |title=Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 2, 2003 |access-date=February 2, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002122746/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/macygray/albums/album/318106/review/6067360/the_trouble_with_being_myself |archive-date=October 2, 2007}}

| rev7 = Spin

| rev7score = B+{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Keith |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N0HASap-qBoC&pg=PA108 |title=Reviews |work=Spin |volume=19 |issue=7 |date=July 2003 |page=108 |issn=0886-3032 |via=Google Books}}

| rev8 = Uncut

| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/macy_gray/reviews/5554 |title=Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself |work=Uncut |date=June 1, 2003 |access-date=October 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517214128/http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/macy_gray/reviews/5554 |archive-date=May 17, 2008}}

| rev9 = USA Today

| rev9score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Steve |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2003-07-21-listen-up_x.htm |title=Brooks & Dunn hit 'Road' to career recovery |work=USA Today |date=July 21, 2003 |access-date=July 26, 2015}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10Score = B+{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2003/07/29/shadows-in-the-cave/ |title=Shadows in the Cave |work=The Village Voice |date=July 29, 2003 |access-date=December 8, 2018}}

}}

The Trouble with Being Myself is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Macy Gray, released on April 28, 2003, by Epic Records. The album peaked at number 44 on the Billboard 200, and by February 2007, it had sold 134,000 copies in the United States.{{cite magazine |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/macy-rolls-with-william-justin-on-new-cd-1055390/ |title=Macy Rolls With will.i.am, Justin On New CD |magazine=Billboard |date=February 2, 2007 |access-date=July 21, 2022}} Despite not being a major commercial success, The Trouble with Being Myself received mostly positive reviews. The album spawned the single "When I See You".

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_lyrics = Macy Gray

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = When I See You

| music1 = {{hlist|Jeremy Ruzumna|Victor Indrizzo|Justin Meldal-Johnsen}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Gray|Dallas Austin{{ref|a|[a]}}|Dave Way{{ref|a|[a]}}|Darryl Swann{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length1 = 3:43

| title2 = It Ain't the Money

| note2 = featuring Pharoahe Monch

| music2 = {{hlist|Gray|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Meldal-Johnsen|Beck Hansen|Pharoahe Monch}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Gray|DJ Kiilu Grand{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length2 = 4:07

| title3 = She Ain't Right for You

| music3 = {{hlist|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Meldal-Johnsen}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Gray|Austin{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length3 = 4:12

| title4 = Things That Made Me Change

| music4 = {{hlist|Andre Harris|Vidal Davis}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Gray|Austin{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length4 = 4:29

| title5 = Come Together

| music5 = {{hlist|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Christopher Thomas}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Gray|Austin{{ref|a|[a]}}|Way{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length5 = 4:35

| title6 = She Don't Write Songs About You

| music6 = {{hlist|Gray|Swann|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Meldal-Johnsen}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Gray|Swann{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length6 = 4:39

| title7 = Jesus for a Day

| music7 = {{hlist|Gray|Ruzumna|Meldal-Johnsen|Bobby Ross Avila|Izzy Avila}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Gray|Austin{{ref|a|[a]}}|Swann{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length7 = 3:30

| title8 = My Fondest Childhood Memories

| music8 = {{hlist|Gray|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Meldal-Johnsen}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Gray|Austin{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length8 = 3:36

| title9 = Happiness

| music9 = {{hlist|Gray|Swann|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Meldal-Johnsen}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Gray|Swann{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length9 = 4:13

| title10 = Speechless

| music10 = {{hlist|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Meldal-Johnsen}}

| extra10 = Gray

| length10 = 4:06

| title11 = Screamin{{'-}}

| music11 = Gray

| extra11 = {{hlist|Gray|DJ Kiilu Grand{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length11 = 3:16

| title12 = Every Now and Then

| music12 = {{hlist|Gray|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Meldal-Johnsen}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Gray|Austin{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length12 = 4:34

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks

| title13 = Lie to Me

| writer13 = {{hlist|Gray|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Meldal-Johnsen}}

| length13 = 5:34

| title14 = It's Love

| writer14 = {{hlist|Gray|Ruzumna|Indrizzo|Meldal-Johnsen}}

| length14 = 5:40

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese reissue bonus track

| title15 = We Will Rock You

| writer15 = Brian May

| length15 = 3:03

}}

=Notes=

  • {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer
  • {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} signifies a vocal producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Trouble with Being Myself.{{cite AV media notes |title=The Trouble with Being Myself |type=liner notes |others=Macy Gray |publisher=Epic Records |year=2003 |id=EK 86535}}

=Musicians=

{{div col}}

  • Macy Gray – vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}; backing vocals {{small|(tracks 2, 6, 12)}}
  • Dallas AustinARP, guitar {{small|(track 1)}}; programming {{small|(tracks 3, 4)}}; backing vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
  • Scott Breadman – percussion {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 12)}}
  • DJ Kiilu Grand – programming {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 11)}}; turntables {{small|(tracks 2, 9)}}
  • Fanny Franklin – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 1, 3, 4)}}
  • Victor Indrizzo – drums {{small|(tracks 1–9, 11, 12)}}; guitar {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 9)}}; guitar loops {{small|(track 5)}}
  • Adam MacDougallMoog {{small|(tracks 1, 3)}}; Hammond {{small|(track 10)}}; piano {{small|(track 11)}}
  • Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass {{small|(tracks 1–4, 6–9, 12)}}; backing vocals {{small|(track 2)}}
  • Audra Cunningham Nishita – backing vocals {{small|(track 1)}}
  • Mark Ronson – guitar {{small|(tracks 1, 11)}}; programming, turntables {{small|(track 2)}}
  • Jeremy Ruzumna – Wurlitzer {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8–10, 12)}}; synthesizer {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 6, 9, 11)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 1, 8, 10)}}; turntables {{small|(track 2)}}; programming {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 10)}}; Moog {{small|(tracks 2, 6, 11)}}; Hammond {{small|(tracks 3, 5, 8)}}; clavinet {{small|(track 5)}}; Chamberlin {{small|(track 9)}}; organ {{small|(track 12)}}
  • Sy Smith – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 1, 4, 5, 11)}}; choir leader {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Beck – backing vocals, guitar {{small|(track 2)}}
  • Dawn Beckman – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 6, 11)}}; choir leader {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Pharoahe Monch – backing vocals {{small|(track 2)}}
  • Chino Smith – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 2, 3, 5, 8)}}
  • David Campbell – string arrangements {{small|(tracks 3, 7)}}
  • Jinsoo Lim – guitar {{small|(track 3)}}
  • Zac Rae – Rhodes {{small|(tracks 3, 4)}}; Chamberlin {{small|(tracks 3, 4, 8–10)}}; Farfisa {{small|(tracks 5, 8)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 5, 10)}}; clavinet, organ {{small|(track 7)}}; Wurlitzer {{small|(tracks 7, 9)}}; tack piano {{small|(track 8)}}; synthesizer {{small|(track 10)}}
  • Rick Shepherd – programming {{small|(tracks 3, 4, 6)}}
  • Printz Board – flugelhorn {{small|(track 4)}}; trumpet {{small|(tracks 4, 12)}}
  • Arik Marshall – guitar {{small|(tracks 4, 5, 7, 8, 10)}}
  • Tom "Tombone" Rawls – trombone {{small|(tracks 4, 12)}}
  • Danielle Thomas – backing vocals {{small|(tracks 4, 5, 8)}}
  • Tracy Wannomae – bass clarinet {{small|(track 4)}}; saxophone {{small|(track 12)}}
  • Marsha Ambrosius – backing vocals {{small|(track 5)}}; opera vocals {{small|(track 8)}}
  • Steve Baxter – trombone {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
  • Charles Green – saxophone {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
  • Mike Harris – trumpet {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
  • Natalie Stewart – backing vocals {{small|(track 5)}}
  • Chris Thomas – bass {{small|(track 5)}}
  • Darryl Swann – programming {{small|(tracks 6, 9)}}; guitar {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Bobby Ross Avila – backing vocals {{small|(track 7)}}; piano {{small|(tracks 7, 12)}}
  • Traci Nelson – backing vocals {{small|(track 7)}}
  • Dave Rolicke – saxophone, trombone {{small|(track 8)}}
  • Ericka Yancey – backing vocals {{small|(track 8)}}
  • Logan Duntzelman – kids choir {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Aanisah Hinds – kids choir {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Happy Hinds – kids choir {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Tahmel Hinds – kids choir {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Courtney Johnson – kids choir {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Joia Johnson – kids choir {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Chris Richardson – kids choir {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Sonny Swann – kids choir {{small|(track 9)}}
  • Marina Bambino – percussion {{small|(tracks 10, 12)}}; backing vocals {{small|(tracks 11, 12)}}
  • Herb Graham Jr. – drums {{small|(track 10)}}
  • Lukas Haas – acoustic guitar, backing vocals {{small|(track 10)}}
  • Dave Wilder – bass {{small|(track 10)}}
  • Rama Duke – backing vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
  • Mike Elizondo – bass {{small|(track 11)}}
  • Esthero – backing vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
  • Kam Talbert – backing vocals {{small|(track 11)}}
  • Israel Avila – programming {{small|(track 12)}}

{{div col end}}

=Technical=

{{div col}}

  • Dallas Austin – co-production {{small|(tracks 1, 3–5, 7, 8, 12)}}; executive production
  • Dave Way – co-production {{small|(tracks 1, 5)}}; recording, mixing, Pro Tools {{small|(all tracks)}}
  • Darryl Swann – vocal production {{small|(tracks 1, 7)}}; co-production {{small|(tracks 6, 9)}}
  • Thom Russo – additional mixing {{small|(track 1)}}; Pro Tools {{small|(all tracks)}}
  • DJ Kiilu Grand – co-production {{small|(tracks 2, 11)}}
  • Chris Wonzer – additional engineering {{small|(tracks 2, 11)}}; engineering assistance {{small|(all tracks)}}
  • Macy Gray – production
  • Mike Melnick – additional engineering
  • Neil Ward – additional engineering
  • Tim Lauber – engineering assistance
  • Christine Sirois – engineering assistance
  • Ted Jensen – mastering

{{div col end}}

=Artwork=

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for The Trouble with Being Myself

! scope="col"| Chart (2003)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|Australia|23|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
scope="row"| Australian Urban Albums (ARIA){{cite magazine |url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue690.pdf |title=ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 12th May 2003 |magazine=The ARIA Report |issue=690 |page=18 |date=May 12, 2003 |access-date=December 9, 2019 |via=National Library of Australia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222434/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030707-0000/Issue690.pdf |archive-date=22 February 2008}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

| 5

{{album chart|Austria|27|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
{{album chart|Flanders|12|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
{{album chart|Wallonia|22|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
scope="row"|Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan){{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/prev_080703_ALBUMS.html|title=Albums : Top 100|website=Jam!|date=August 7, 2003|access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040823011330/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/prev_080703_ALBUMS.html|archive-date=August 23, 2004}}

| 88

{{album chart|Denmark|34|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|18|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
scope="row"| European Albums (Music & Media){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/00s/03/MM-2003-05-17-OCR-Page-0007.pdf |title=European Top 100 Albums |magazine=Music & Media |volume=21 |issue=21 |date=May 17, 2003 |page=9 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 25

{{album chart|Finland|19|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=December 8, 2018}}
{{album chart|France|61|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
{{album chart|Germany4|46|id=4485|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=July 26, 2015}}
scope=row | Irish Albums (IRMA){{cite web |title=Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 1 May 2003 |url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2003&year=2003&week=18 |publisher=GfK Chart-Track |access-date=4 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502210853/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2003&year=2003&week=18 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 May 2018}}

| 40

{{album chart|Italy|20|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/506016/1/ |script-title=ja:ザ・トラブル・ウィズ・ビーイング・マイセルフ/メイシー・グレイ |trans-title=The Trouble With Being Myself / Macy Gray |language=ja |publisher=Oricon |access-date=October 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018070614/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/506016/1/ |archive-date=October 18, 2012}}

| 53

{{album chart|New Zealand|41|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
{{album chart|Poland|22|id=144|rowheader=true|access-date=June 21, 2010}}
{{album chart|Scotland|22|date=20030504|rowheader=true|access-date=July 26, 2015}}
{{album chart|Switzerland|10|artist=Macy Gray|album=The Trouble with Being Myself|rowheader=true|access-date=October 1, 2011}}
{{album chart|UK2|17|date=20030504|rowheader=true|access-date=December 8, 2018}}
{{album chart|UKR&B|5|date=20030504|rowheader=true|access-date=July 26, 2015}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|44|artist=Macy Gray|rowheader=true|access-date=December 8, 2018}}
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|29|artist=Macy Gray|rowheader=true|access-date=December 8, 2018}}

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for The Trouble with Being Myself}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Macy Gray|title=The Trouble with Being Myself|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2003|access-date=July 26, 2015}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Macy Gray|title=The Trouble with Being Myself|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2003|certyear=2013|id=11752-3649-2|date=July 22, 2013|access-date=July 21, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|nocert=yes|type=album|salesamount=134,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release history for The Trouble with Being Myself

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Edition

! scope="col"| Label

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"| United Kingdom

| April 28, 2003

| rowspan="3"| Standard

| Epic

| align="center"|

scope="row"| Japan

| May 2, 2003

| Sony

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/MacyGray/discography/EICP-198 |script-title=ja:ザ・トラブル・ウィズ・ビーイング・マイセルフ |trans-title=The Trouble With Being Myself |language=ja |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment Japan |access-date=July 26, 2015}}

scope="row"| United States

| July 15, 2003

| Epic

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Being-Myself-Macy-Gray/dp/B000089H9V |title=The Trouble With Being Myself: Macy Gray |website=Amazon |location=United States |access-date=December 8, 2018}}

scope="row"| Japan

| September 10, 2003

| Reissue

| Sony

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/MacyGray/discography/EICP-259 |script-title=ja:ザ・トラブル・ウィズ・ビーイング・マイセルフ+1 |trans-title=The Trouble With Being Myself +1 |language=ja |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment Japan |access-date=July 26, 2015}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Macy Gray}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trouble with Being Myself, The}}

Category:2003 albums

Category:Albums produced by Dallas Austin

Category:Epic Records albums

Category:Macy Gray albums