My Happy Place is the fourth studio album by British singer Emma Bunton. It was released on 12 April 2019 by BMG Rights Management. The album consists of ten tracks; eight are cover versions of some of Bunton's favourite songs and two are original songs co-written by the singer.
Background and development
In January 2010, Bunton stated that she had no plans to record a new album. She stated that while she loves singing, in her view it takes a lot of time and work to promote an album, and said that she would rather focus her time on her son Beau, who was born in 2007. In February 2018, it was reported that Bunton was secretly recording new music. Bunton officially acknowledged the fact that she was recording new music on This Morning in June 2018. In November 2018, Bunton revealed that she had signed a record deal with BMG Rights Management and would be releasing a new album in 2019. The album was officially announced on 25 February 2019. Explaining the album's title, Bunton said: "The reason I called the album My Happy Place is because my happy place is with my family, with my friends, listening to music and being in the studio. All those things came together on this album. While recording it my kids came to the studio, my friends came down, my mum listened to every song over and over again. Being in the studio I just feel so happy".
Singles
"Baby Please Don't Stop" was released as the lead single from the album on 27 February 2019. It has been described as a "smooth slice of sixties-styled pop". On 8 March 2019, the second original track "Too Many Teardrops" was released as a single. The track was described as "a resilient breakup anthem that sees her moving on from a failed relationship". A cover of the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell song "You're All I Need to Get By" was released as the album's third and final single from the album on 29 March 2019. An accompanying music video starring Bunton's partner Jade Jones who duets on the song with her, was released on 13 May 2019.
Critical reception
My Happy Place received mixed reviews upon release. Some critics praised the cheerfulness and maturity of the album, whilst others criticised that it lacked in personality. Quentin Harrison of Albumism gave the album four out of five stars, writing it "sources its infectious feel-good spirit from Bunton’s own enthusiasm that is readily expressed in the content of the album. It is a welcome return for the pop vocalist even with it breaking no new ground in the process", and referred to the original songs, "I Only Want to Be with You" and "Don’t Call Me Baby" as the standout tracks. The Irish News gave the album a 6/10 rating, naming "You're All I Need to Get By" the "strongest offering" on the record and referred to the rendition of "Here Comes the Sun" as "adorable", and concluding saying: "Some of her covers get lost in translation but mostly this is sweetly inoffensive". Florian Buechting of flyctory.com gave the album three out of five stars, writing that it is "not all bad, but definitely not a must-buy as well. But listening to it the second and third time makes it feel better and better". The Herald Standard gave the album a positive review. Mathias Frank of Gaeliste commented that the songs are "charmingly reinterpreted without destroying anything", praising the original tracks as well as the album's version of "2 Become 1". Nina Mende of Tempelores wrote that "with a warm and soft voice, is singing each song, comforting you so you will gently sway along". Chris Strieder of Darkstars awarded the album 7.5 out of 10 stars, calling its content "great and well-produced radio pop". The Leader called My Happy Place "a sweetly inoffensive body of work that shows off tuneful, easy-on-the-ears vocal and loveable personality". Metro gave My Happy Place a negative review, awarding it two out of five stars. The review praised the first three songs, but added that the rest "is a series of covers that seem to exist for no benefit other than Bunton’s. Given how well it started and how swiftly it palls thereafter, you’ll just wish you could love Bunton’s Happy Place more". Thiago Nolla of Cinepop gave it two and a half stars out of five, criticising it for lacking in personality and uniqueness and felt that Bunton lost herself "in the midst of so many unnecessary emulations" and seemed "stagnant in a remote past". However, he praised "Too Many Teardrops" and "Baby Please Don't Stop", noting the latter has her "best vocals and creates a engaging, sexy and breathtaking atmosphere". Aimee Cliff of The Guardian gave the album 2 out of five stars, concluding the review by writing: "It’s heartwarming to hear someone who has been through the mill of pop megastardom emerge so blatantly, straightforwardly happy. Unfortunately, with no drama or risks, it’s also incredibly dull". AllMusic gave the album 2.5 out of five stars, praising the originals songs, as well as the covers of "I Wish I Could Have Loved You More" and "Don't Call Me Baby", but felt that the album as a whole was "a mixed bag".
