My Paper Heart (album)

My Paper Heart
Studio album by
Francesca Battistelli
ReleasedJuly 22, 2008
GenreCCM, pop rock, jazz, soul[1]
Length38:02[2]
LabelFervent, Curb
ProducerIan Eskelin[3]
Francesca Battistelli chronology
Just a Breath
(2004) 		My Paper Heart
(2008) 		Hundred More Years
(2011)
Alternative artwork
Deluxe edition artwork
Singles from My Paper Heart
  1. "I'm Letting Go"
    Released: July 15, 2008
  2. "Free to Be Me"
    Released: January 2009
  3. "It's Your Life"
    Released: August 2009
  4. "Lead Me to the Cross"
    Released: January 19, 2010
  5. "Beautiful, Beautiful"
    Released: February 2010
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Christian Music Review8.3/10[5]
Christianity Today[6]
Jesus Freak Hideout[7]

My Paper Heart is the major label debut album from American Christian pop rock singer Francesca Battistelli, released on July 22, 2008.[8] The album hit No. 182 on the Billboard 200 in March 2009 and peaked at No. 35 in August 2010; it has sold over 1,000,000 copies on United States.[8] The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on July 13, 2012.[9]

Singles

"I'm Letting Go", was released as the lead single from the album before it released in mid-2008, and was the 16th most-played song on Christian radio of 2008.[10]

"Free to Be Me", was released as the second single in the beginning of January 2009, and stayed at No. 1 on Christian contemporary hit radio charts for seven consecutive weeks.[11]

"It's Your Life", was released as the third single, and peaked at No. 12 on the Hot Christian Songs chart.[12] It was also included in the 2011 film, Soul Surfer.[13]

"Lead Me to the Cross" was released as the fourth single from the deluxe edition of the album[14] on iTunes on January 19, 2010.[15] It was never released to radio stations.

"Beautiful, Beautiful" was released in February 2010 as the fifth and final single from the album.[citation needed]

Track listing

Standard edition[16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Free to Be Me"Francesca Battistelli3:28
2."I'm Letting Go"Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, Tony Wood2:53
3."Unpredictable"Battistelli, Jeff Pardo2:58
4."My Paper Heart"Battistelli, Eskelin, Wood3:27
5."Beautiful, Beautiful"Battistelli, Eskelin, Andrew Fromm3:16
6."Blue Sky"Battistelli, Sam Mizell3:55
7."Forever Love"Battistelli3:52
8."Someday Soon"Battistelli3:49
9."Behind the Scenes"Battistelli, Jeremy Bose4:09
10."It's Your Life"Battistelli, Eskelin2:52
11."Time in Between"Battistelli3:24
Total length:38:03
Deluxe edition[17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Lead Me to the Cross"Brooke Fraser4:33
13."Keeping Me Guessing" (Acoustic)Francesca Battistelli, Ben Glover3:43
14."Free to Be Me" (Dented Fender Sessions)Francesca Battistelli3:27
15."I'm Letting Go" (Dented Fender Sessions)Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, Tony Wood3:01
16."Beautiful, Beautiful" (Dented Fender Sessions)Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, Andrew Fromm2:51
17."It's Your Life" (Dented Fender Sessions)Francesca Battistelli, Ian Eskelin2:46
Total length:57:04
Dented Fender Sessions[18]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Free to Be Me"Francesca Battistelli3:27
2."I'm Letting Go"Battistelli, Ian Eskelin, Tony Wood3:00
3."Beautiful, Beautiful"Battistelli, Eskelin, Andrew Fromm2:50
4."It's Your Life"Battistelli, Eskelin2:45
5."Free to Be Me" (Music Video) 3:32
6."Beautiful, Beautiful" (Music Video) 3:25
Total length:18:19

Personnel

  • Francesca Battistelli – lead and backing vocals
  • Tim Lauer – keyboards, string arrangements (5, 7)
  • Aaron Shannon – additional programming
  • Mike Payne – guitars
  • Tony Lucido – bass
  • Scott Williamson – drums (1, 3, 5-7, 10)
  • Ben Phillips – drums (2, 4, 8, 9, 11)
  • David Angell – strings (5, 7)
  • David Davidson – strings (5, 7)
  • Kristin Wilkinson – strings (5, 7)
  • Kathleen Carnalli – additional backing vocals (3, 10)

Production

  • Josh Bailey – executive producer
  • Ian Eskelin – producer
  • Barry Weeks – vocal producer, vocal recording
  • Aaron Shannon – recording
  • Matthew Barrett – recording assistant
  • Mark Lacuesta – string recording (5, 7)
  • J.R. McNeely – mixing
  • Steve Blackmon – mix assistant
  • Ben Phillips – additional drum editing
  • Dan Shike – mastering
  • Jason Jenkins – A&R
  • Katherine Petillo – creative director
  • Ray Roper – design
  • Jeremy Cowart – photography
  • Robin Geary – hair stylist, makeup
  • Samantha Roe – wardrobe
  • Proper Management – management

Studios

  • Recorded at Quad Studios (Nashville, Tennessee) and The Holiday Ian (Franklin, Tennessee).
  • Additional drum editing at Bletchley Park (Nashville, Tennessee).
  • Mixed at Elm South Studio (Franklin, Tennessee).
  • Mastered at Tone and Volume Mastering (Nashville, Tennessee).

Awards

The album was nominated for a Dove Award for Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year at the 40th GMA Dove Awards. The song "I'm Letting Go" was also nominated for Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year.[19]

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[20] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Francesca Battistelli". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  2. ^ Matthew Watson & Lauren Summerford (July 5, 2008). "Francesca Battistelli, "My Paper Heart" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
  3. ^ Andree Farias. "Francesca Battistelli - My Paper Heart". Christian Music Today. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
  4. ^ Farias, Andree (July 22, 2008). "Allmusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  5. ^ "Christian Music Review review". Christianmusicreview.org. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  6. ^ "Christianity Today review". Christianitytoday.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  7. ^ "Jesus Freak Hideout review". Jesusfreakhideout.com. July 22, 2008. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Francesca Battistelli - My Paper Heart". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2009. [dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Recording Industry Association of America - Search Database - Francesca Battistelli - Certifications". Recording Industry Association of America. July 13, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  10. ^ "2008 Year End Charts - Top Christian CHR Songs". R&R. Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
  11. ^ "Christian CHR National Airplay". R&R. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
  12. ^ "Christian Songs". Billboard.com. August 25, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  13. ^ "Soul Surfer: Music From The Motion Picture". amazon.com.
  14. ^ "FamilyChristian". www.familychristian.com.
  15. ^ "iTunes - Music - Lead Me to the Cross - Single by Francesca Battistelli". Itunes.apple.com. January 19, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  16. ^ "iTunes (U.S.) - Music - Francesca Battistelli - My Paper Heart". iTunes (U.S.). July 22, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  17. ^ "My Paper Heart: Francesca Battistelli: FamilyChristian.com". FamilyChristian.com. July 22, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  18. ^ "iTunes (U.S.) - Music - Francesca Battistelli - My Paper Heart (Dented Fender Sessions) - EP". iTunes (U.S.). March 2, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  19. ^ Nominations Announced for 40th GMA Dove Awards at CBN.com
  20. ^ "American album certifications – Francesca Battistelli – My Paper Heart". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 4, 2023.