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| You are reading the page dedicated to the album. You may have been wanting to read about the film or the hidden track of the same name. |
"Sorrowland" is the third major label-record studio album by Melanie Martinez. It was released by Atlantic Records on October 21st, 2022 mainly through digital download, CD, cassette and vinyl. The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 album chart with 49,000 total copies sold in it is first week.
Melanie began working on the album's plot and tracks in 2020 and finished it in mid-2021. The album also features guest appearances of Lana Del Rey, Megan Gage, and Grimes.
Melanie embarked on the Sorrowland Tour at the beginning of February of 2023 in support of the album. The Sorrowland Tour Part Two began in May of 2023 and ended in July of 2023. The third leg, titled the Sorrowland Fall Tour, began in September of 2023 and ended in October of 2023.
Background and Development[]
Concept[]
Melanie started conceptualizing the album's theme in mid-2019 after releasing her second studio album, K-12 and in the following year when her fourth extended play (EP), After School, was about to be released soon, she also started writing some songs for the album and reflect about the film visuals being inspired by the art of Mark Ryden, Roby Dwi Antono, Marion Peck, Stephen Mackey and the work of American video artist Cecelia Condit. In 2021, she finished the script for the film and started focusing on the album that would accompany it.
According to Melanie, she lost half of the recordings of the album due to a computer error, and hastily re-recording the songs that had been lost, as she needed to deliver the album within the deadline that Atlantic Records would have stipulated, but in the end, everything would have worked out. Melanie also said that she received a lot of support from her label about the budget of the film, but ended up deciding the film would have more dialogues than songs, as she wanted everything in the film to be well explained but still leave loose ends for her next films.
Recording[]
Melanie worked again with some producers on this album who had helped her with the production of her debut studio album, Cry Baby, but still working with new producers either. Melanie said she wanted to bring a more experimental musical genre to this album, having the opportunity to work with Canadian singer Grimes on the tracks Bee-Having and Sorrowland also sharing vocals with Melanie in Raised By The Sword and Saccharose Fluids. The two ended up becoming friends, which led Grimes to help Melanie in the production of the film, as well in which she makes a cameo by playing the character Silver.
The American singer Lana Del Rey also worked with Melanie on the track Summertime Embodiment sharing vocals with Melanie in Itsy Bitchy Spider. The two met after Summertime Embodiment, a song originally recorded by Lana Del Rey for her seventh studio album, Chemtrails Over The Country Club, was cut from the final tracklist and months later offered to Melanie, who ended up recording the song. The two then kept in touch and worked again on new tracks, which also led Lana to play the character Miss Araia in the film.
Melanie's friend, Megan Gage, who also plays the character Celeste, appearing both in the previous film, K-12 and in this film, also appears in the track Mirror Mirror sharing vocals with Melanie.
Melanie later confirmed through her Twitter account that the album was finished on July 18th, 2021 and that from there on she would focus on the preparations for the film recording that took place in October, November, and December, at the end totaling 31 days of recording just like the previous movie.
Film Shooting and Promotion[]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the recordings of the film had to follow the security protocols against the virus, which ended up reducing the number of actors in the film and many of them being replaced by computer graphics. The film was recorded in different parts of the Gemenc forest located in the city of Szekszárd in Hungary. After being recorded, the film was edited and received the finishing touches at the beginning of 2022 and was finished in April.
On May 11th, 2022, a teaser trailer for the film was released, revealing that the film's official title was "Sorrowland". She revealed the new layout of her website revealing the era's aesthetic and also released a merch line inspired by the album.
On May 25th, 2022, a second teaser trailer for the film was released. A third teaser was released along with the album and film's release date on May 30th, 2022.
Singles[]
On June 3rd, 2022 the album's debut single Giggles the Clown was released just a few hours after it was announced on Melanie's social media accounts.
On June 18th, 2022, a preview featuring clips of the movie and a snippet of a new song, later revealed to be An Unwelcoming Land, was premiered at the MTV Movie Awards. Different from her previous album, Melanie stated that she would not promote the album with assignments this time, but instead of it, she would release the rest of the singles on a special platform dedicated to the album entitled "The Sorrowland Radio", whose subscribers could listen to songs hours before they were officially released on the other streaming platforms, participate in chats with Melanie and other fans, view unreleased footage from the official music videos and discounts on the purchase of the album when it would be released, besides having also in the merchandise that would accompany it.
Then, on June 8th, 2022 the album's second single Bee-Having was released worldwide a few hours after debuting on "The Sorrowland Radio" platform.
On August 11th, 2022 the album's third single Raised By The Sword featuring Grimes was released worldwide a few hours after it debuted on "The Sorrowland Radio" platform.
On September 22nd, 2022 the album's fourth and final single Mirror Mirror featuring Megan Gage was released worldwide a few days after debuting on "The Sorrowland Radio" platform.
Release[]
On July 22th, 2022, the film's official trailer was released, along with the album tracklist and pre-order.
On October 21st, the album was officially released along with a deluxe edition and a target exclusive edition mainly through digital download, CD, cassette, and vinyl. The feature film also premiered on the same date.
Merchandise[]
On August 25th, 2022 the album's themed perfume titled "The Lost Souls Fragrance" was released along with new merchandise like a jewelry box, sweaters, rings, and other things.
On November 10th, a book entitled "Shooting Stars: Faded Constellations" was announced to be released on February 8th along with an ambient extended play (EP) titled "Graveyard (Chilling Music To Temper To)" (which also would have the title track Sorrowland featured on it) both available for pre-order. The book also contains the background stories of the Shooting Stars former members.
Tour[]
The Sorrowland Tour was officially announced on November 23th, 2022. Fans who pre-ordered the book until December 4th gained early access to tickets. Melanie embarked at the beginning of February 2023 and ended up in March 2023.
The second leg was officially announced on January 5th, 2022 which Melanie embarked on at the beginning of May 2023 and ended in July 2023.
The third and final leg titled the Sorrowland Fall Tour was officially announced on May 17th, 2023 which Melanie embarked on at the beginning of September 2023 and ended in October 2023.
Documentary[]
A special documentary titled "'The Sorrowland Documentary" was announced on March 21th, 2023, and was released in a collaboration with YouTube Music on April 28th, 2023 in celebration of Melanie's 28th birthday. The documentary almost half an hour, tells the whole process of creating the album and the film from 2020 to 2021, also having testimonials from people who worked on this project.
Story[]
The album is set in an unsetting, mystical, and limbo-like city called Sorrowland that Cry Baby, Ben, and Celeste were sent by Lilith. Known as "the home of the spiteful", Lilith informs them that Sorrowland is the destination of those who died and haven't able to forgive someone and that Kelly would end up trapped there if not rescued in time. Then, Cry Baby and her friends enter the city, having the opportunity to change their own lives and many others inshore.
Characters[]
Unlike Melanie's former albums, Sorrowland featured much more characters on screen. Some of them are characters who have debuted and been identified but hold no significant or recurring roles. Not everyone has a significant appearance on the recurring tracks.
Bold: Characters that was featured in the film, but in no track.
Primary Characters[]
- Cry Baby (featured in all tracks except for "Georgy Porgy" and "Pinocchio's Nose")
- Giggles (featured in "Giggles the Clown")
- Security Guard (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land" prelude)
- Celeste (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land", "Mirror Mirror", "Pinocchio's Nose" and "End of the World")
- Ben (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land", "Pinocchio's Nose" and "End of the World")
- Lilith
- Mr. Butch (The Principal) (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land")
- Leo (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land")
- Mr. Harris (featured in "Giggles the Clown" and "Georgy Porgy")
- Silver (featured in "Raised By The Sword", "Giggles the Clown" and "End of the World")
- Choke-Choke
- Dominick
- Dorothea
- Miss Araia (featured in "Giggles the Clown", "Itsy Bitchy Spider" and "Georgy Porgy")
- Kelly (featured in "Bee-Having" and "End of the World")
Secondary Characters[]
- Cricket King (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land" and in "Blutschwur" prelude)
- Cricket Chick (featured in "Blutschwur" prelude)
- Bunny Boy (featured in "Blutschwur" prelude)
- Eye Guy (featured in "Blutschwur" prelude)
- Fleur
- Magnolia
- Wally (Sad Clown) (featured in Raised By The Sword's prelude)
- Unnamed Guards (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land" and in "Small Shock" prelude)
- Unnamed Habitants (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land")
- Unnamed Audience People (featured in "Giggles the Clown")
- Unnamed Workers from Throat-Ripper Circus (featured in "Giggles the Clown")
- Unnamed Lamentations Valley People (featured in "Bee-Having" prelude)
Locations[]
- Lilith's Conservatory
- Sorrowland
- Mournington
- Docking Plaza (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land")
- Meeting & Elections Stage
- Prison Tower (featured in "Small Shock (If That's Want You Want)")
- Cricket King's Hideaway (featured in "Blutschwur" prelude)
- Train Station (featured in "Raised By The Sword" prelude)
- Cryptic Cove (featured in "Raised By The Sword", "Giggles the Clown" and "Mirror Mirror")
- Troath-Ripper Circus (featured in "Raised By The Sword")
- Main Presentation Arena (featured in "Giggles the Clown")
- Shooting Stars's Containment Area (featured in "Raised By The Sword")
- Circus Basement (featured in "Itsy Bitchy Spider")
- Mirror House (featured in "Mirror Mirror")
- Troath-Ripper Circus (featured in "Raised By The Sword")
- Town Hall's Palace (featured in "Pinocchio's Nose" prelude)
- Throne Hall
- Trial Hall (featured in "Pinocchio's Nose")
- Docking Plaza (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land")
- Lamentations Valley (featured in "Bee-Having")
- Desolace Heights (featured in "An Unwelcoming Land" prelude and "End of the World")
- Mournington
Singles[]
- "Giggles the Clown" was released to digital and physical retailers through Atlantic Records on June 3rd, 2022, and served as the album's debut single. Melanie wrote the song with Emily Warren and CJ Baran, and it was produced by Baran.
- "Bee-Having" was released as the album's second single on July 8th, 2022. Melanie wrote the song with Emily Warren and Grimes, and it was produced by Grimes.
- "Raised By The Sword" was released as the album's third single on August 11th, 2022. Melanie wrote the song with Grimes, and it was produced by Grimes and Michael Keenan.
- "Mirror Mirror" was released as the album's fourth and final single on September 22nd, 2022. Melanie wrote the song with Megan Gage, and it was produced by Johnny K.
Tracklist[]
- "*" = a song that has both explicit and clean versions.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "An Unwelcoming Land" | Melanie Martinez, Michael Keenan | Keenan | 2:29 |
| 2. | "Small Shock (If That's What You Want)" | Martinez, Kinetics & One Love | One Love | 3:42 |
| 3. | "Blutschwur" | Martinez, Kinetics & One Love | One Love | 2:56 |
| 4. | "Raised By The Sword" (featuring Grimes) | Martinez, Grimes, Keenan | Grimes, Keenan | 3:14 |
| 5. | "Giggles the Clown" | Martinez, Emily Warren, CJ Baran | Baran | 3:08 |
| 6. | "Itsy Bitchy Spider" (featuring Lana Del Rey) | Martinez, Lana Del Rey, Chris Braide | Braide | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Georgy Porgy" | Martinez | Braide | 3:06 |
| 8. | "Pinocchio's Nose" | Martinez, Chloe Angelides, Keenan | Keenan | 3:59 |
| 9. | "Mirror Mirror" (featuring Megan Gage) | Martinez, Megan Gage Harkov, Johnny K | Johnny K | 3:52 |
| 10. | "Bee-Having" | Martinez, Warren, Grimes | Grimes | 3:12 |
| 11. | "End of the World" | Martinez, SmarterChild | SmarterChild | 5:46 |
| Total length: | 38:55 | |||
| Deluxe Edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 12. | "Broken Spirit" | Martinez, Kinetics & One Love | One Love | 3:38 |
| 13. | "Saccharose Fluids" (featuring Grimes) | Martinez, Keenan, Grimes | Grimes, Keenan | 4:14 |
| 14. | "Wilted Flowers" | Martinez, Keenan | Keenan | 3:11 |
| 15. | "Chamomile Scars" | Martinez, SmarterChild | SmarterChild | 2:33 |
| 16. | "Summertime Embodiment" | Martinez, Del Rey, Braide | Braide | 4:36 |
| Total length: | 53:29 | |||
| Target Exclusive Edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 12. | "Mirror Mirror" (Voice memo) | — | — | 3:29 |
| 13. | "Park Bench" | Martinez, Kinetics & One Love | Kinetics | 2:48 |
| Total length: | 45:12 | |||
| Sorrowland's CD Exclusive Edition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 17. | "Sorrowland" | — | Grimes | 3:41 |
| Total length: | 57:04 | |||
Cut Songs[]
It is currently unknown how many songs were recorded for this album, but it is highly speculated that it would be around 40 or more.
- "Fountain of Death"
- "Grave Avenue"
- "Gold & Ribbons"
- "Lorem Ipsum"
- "Porcelain Tears"
- "Sleeping Beauty"
- "Venus Flytrap"
Critical Reception[]
Controversies[]
- On November 29th, 2022, Titanic Sinclair accused Melanie Martinez of plagiarism and a copyright infringement of his song Broken Boy, allegedly copied in "Raised By The Sword", from Sorrowland.
- On December 2nd, 2022, Melanie hit back at the allegations with a declaration posted on her Twitter and Instagram. Titanic's ex-girlfriend and former collaborator, Poppy, went to Melanie's defense, liking the post and writing a comment of support to her, which Melanie also liked. A week later, they both started to follow each other accounts.
- As soon as the film was released, fans were quick to notice the absence of the character Angelita, played by Elita Harkov, who was part of the main cast of the previous film. Some fans started speculating that Melanie and she had ended their friendship, as a few weeks earlier, the two stopped following each other on social media. When asked about it, Melanie confirmed the rumors by saying that she and Elita ended their friendship and decided to split up their ways.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This is Melanie's third visual album.
- Melanie’s vocal range spans mainly E3-F#6 on the album.
- Melanie's favorite song on the album is "Giggles the Clown".
- Grimes's favorite song in the album is "Mirror Mirror".
- In an interview with V Magazine, Lana del Rey's said that her favorite song from Sorrowland is "Georgy Porgy". This contradicts the claim that "Itsy Bitchy Spider" was her favorite track, early made in Sorrowland's-featured documentary.
- Although "Georgy Porgy" and "An Unwelcoming Land" contains profanity and both have clean versions, both tracks are not officially listed as explicit on the standard version of the album.
- "End of the World" is the longest song in this album, with the song length at 5 minutes and 46 seconds, and "An Unwelcoming Land" is the shortest song on the album, lasting for 2 minutes and 29 seconds.
- The album's title is a satirical parody of the word "Wonderland" for obvious reasons.
External Credits[]
- K-12 (Album) - Melanie Martinez Wiki.[1]
Special Thanks[]
- Millivedder08 (previously as Jmoschino08)
- EclipsedCherub
- SnoeLeopard
Inspirations[]
- BlunderLand (previously as Beyond The Town) by Millivedder08 (previously as Jmoschino08).
References[]
[]
v • e  | |
|---|---|
| Featured Tracks | An Unwelcoming Land • Small Shock (If That's What You Want) • Blutschwur • Raised By The Sword (ft. Grimes) • Giggles the Clown • Itsy Bitchy Spider (ft. Lana Del Rey) • Georgy Porgy • Pinocchio's Nose • Mirror Mirror (ft. Megan Gage) • Bee-Having • End of the World |
| Bonus Tracks | Broken Spirit • Saccharose Fluids (ft. Grimes) • Wilted Flowers • Chamomile Scars • Summertime Embodiment • Mirror Mirror (voice memo) • Park Bench • Sorrowland |
| Cut Songs | Fountain of Death • Grave Avenue • Gold & Ribbons • Lorem Ipsum • Porcelain Tears • Sleeping Beauty • Venus Flytrap |
| Related | Sorrowland • Tour • Merchandise |