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List Price: $17.98 | | Label: Interscope Records
Salesrank: 253778
Released: October 31, 2000 |
| Our Price: $0.30 |
| Used Price: $0.01 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Gotta Tell You Track Listing:
1. Gotta Tell You
2. Baby, Come Over (This Is Our Night)
3. Boy [Remix] - Samantha Mumba,
4. Don't Need You to Tell Me I'm Pretty
5. Always Come Back to Your Love
6. Feelin' Is Right
7. Body II Body
8. What's It Gonna Be
9. Never Meant to Be
10. Isn't It Strange
11. Lately
12. 'Til Night Becomes Day
Editorial Review:
Irish pop-R&B singer Samantha Mumba has tried to distance herself in interviews from the likes of her teenage peers Britney and 'N Sync. Unfortunately, her resistance to embrace that side of music has led to an album without a strong theme or voice to distinguish Samantha from the rest of the pack. Her voice is lovely, and songs like "Gotta Tell You," "Believe in Me," and the odd, Bowie-sampling "Body II Body" are frothy enough to pack the dance floor, while "Lately" swoons perfectly and "Isn't It Strange?" has a fantastic, swirling atmosphere reminiscent of a carnival. The rest is filler that always sounds vaguely like some other better-known song. Given stronger songs and production, Mumba (with her exotic looks and strong-but-not-showy vocals) will be a U.S. superstar. Until then, she'll just have to settle for being promising. --Ally Kearney
Gotta Tell You Reviews:
Relatively Good Debut 
2001-03-20 - Samantha Mumba's debut CD actually has some really good tracks on it. Gotta Tell You is the mainstream hit that almost everybody has heard by now, Baby Come On Over is the unbelievably catchy highlight and Body II Body is horrible the first time, but quickly grows on you until you love it. True, The Boy is very repetitive and Lately is boring, but for the most part this album is not to be missed, especially if you like Top 40 pop. I cannot wait until the next album!
Gotta Tell You that it's great! 
2001-03-20 - I've only heard this album from a friend- I don't actually have it. All the songs stand out on it. Samantha has a great voice, unlike any of the Britneys and Christinas. She's got a talent for writing songs, too. I hope she comes out with a follow-up just as good as this one!
Definite Europop from a promising new artist...
2001-01-27 - A newcomer who's already a big hit in Europe, Samantha Mumba's debut album brings us dance pop that's edgy and more R&B than Britney and the gang. While a good CD, its only drawback is its lack of standouts. `Gotta Tell You' was the most obvious radio single...the rest are nice, but sound a bit similar to each other. This comes from a few of the songs, while being upbeat and catchy, lacking more creative themes and lyrics (how many times can you rhyme "tonight" and "right," anyway?) This is an enjoyable listen, though as with any singer, there's always room for improvement.
Some Hits and Misses:
1. Gotta Tell You - her first single, and the best song on the album. It hit #4 on the charts with its catchy beats and hooks, and it's one of the few songs on the air right now that actually seems to have a point to it: "Don't wanna love you if you don't love me/Don't wanna need you if you won't need me too..." (5/5)
2. Body II Body - a hit in Europe, but as far as I'm aware has not been released in the US... *Kimmie pauses to read other reviews* ...a David Bowie remake? ...*pauses to check the CD case*...why, yes it is. What do you know, Amazon.com reviews teach you something new everyday. :-D
Anyway. The song itself isn't bad, if a bit stereotypical in its message...it's your average party song. (4/5)
5. Lately - I never liked this song when it was first released by Divine (personal preference, feel free to disagree), so my opinion is biased here. Suffice to say that I agree with the other reviewers that it was too early to do a remix of this song. (2/5)
7. Always Come Back to Your Love - There's just something likable about this song. I think it's the heavy beat compared to the softer vocals. With its relatively simple lyrics, this is one of those "filler" songs that you wish every singer had. (5/5)
8. The Boy - track eight seems not to have fared well on either sides of the Atlantic. On the US release it is called "The Boy," and is way too repetitive and senseless for my tastes. (1/5)
9. Feelin' is right - one of the better dance songs, this one might do well as a single if it was just a tad more creative. (4.5/5)
10. Never Meant to Be - The lone ballad...I don't count "Lately." ^_^ But an excellent addition to the album that features her voice well. (5/5)
If you like standard pop, I recommend this album. Though it would be wise to use `Body II Body' as your measuring stick rather than `Gotta Tell You,' because that's the sound the album follows (Europop) and if you like that, you'll like the album. The CD has gotten fairly good magazine reviews, if you like to judge by that angle...and Samantha herself co-writes seven of the songs, if you value that. If you're a fan of pop music or female vocalists, you'll probably like this album...just place the emphasis on pop. Otherwise...well, to sound like a stodgy schoolmarm, "Samantha is not living up to her potential." While she does has the potential to be a "baby diva," as she refers to herself in one of her songs, cross your fingers that she expands on her sophomore release. If so, that's when she'll be the full-fledged diva, and I'll be first in line for the album.
I Give Her Effort...but... 
2001-01-25 - No, no, no, no! I mean, I give her credit for trying to pursue her dream, but why pursue it if you sing like a retarded cow and look like one too? She looks like one of those starving children on those commercials with a good hairdo. Besides that, her vocals are weak and blank sounding.
Samantha Mumba is one of the Best New Artists of 2001
2001-01-21 - On budding teen pop/R&B diva Samantha Mumba's debut album, "Gotta Tell You" the newcomer displays the seasoned professionalism of such "veterans" as Monica, Christina Aguilera and even Britney Spears. Mumba's energetic, danceable hit single, "Gotta Tell You" leads off the album and really shows off Mumba's voice and sexy lower register, reminiscent of the divine Toni Braxton. The remainder of the album however is mostly filler pop tunes with some of the songs standing out from the pack. Songs ranging from the bubblegum pop extreme of "Always Come Back To Your Love" and "Believe In Me" to the addictive hooks of dancefloor ditties like "Body II Body" and "The Boy" show off Mumba's range as a pop/dance artist. But the lack of solid material also hinders the release, "Til Night Becomes Day", "Feelin' Is Right" and the unnecessary remake of R&B group Divine's #1 hit "Lately", all seem like retreads from early 90's era music from Cathy Dennis or Paula Abdul. Samantha however overcomes her at times weak material with a style all her own, which is quite an accomplishment in today's cookie- cutter driven pop market. Her career will most definently go places if she could get pass the juvenile songs and become a full fledged pop diva a la Janet Jackson.
