The Secret (Austin Mahone EP)

The Secret is the second extended play (EP) by American singer Austin Mahone. It was released on May 27, 2014[1] through Cash Money Records and features 6 songs. The Secret debuted and peaked at number 5 selling 46,000 copies in its opening week. The lead single, "What About Love", peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100. To promote the project, Mahone appeared in several televised performance, including a performance of "Mmm Yeah" at Capital FM and a tour.

The Secret
EP by
Austin Mahone
ReleasedMay 23, 2014
Recorded2013–14
Genre
Length26:59
Label
Producer
Austin Mahone chronology
Extended Play
(2013)		 The Secret
(2014)		 This Is Not The Album
(2015)
Singles from The Secret
  1. "What About Love"
    Released: June 10, 2013
  2. "Mmm Yeah"
    Released: January 26, 2014

Background

In an interview with Billboard on November 4, 2013, Mahone informed the magazine that the album would see an additional collaboration with Flo Rida and maybe one or two other to-be-determined guests. He added: "It's coming along amazing – I'm just trying to have every little detail and just make it absolutely perfect for my fans."[2] The direction of the EP reminisces a sound and themes of '90s pop music and has clear influences of Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. It was later announced that The Secret would be released on May 27, 2014.

Composition

The Secret contains a total of eleven songs, eight of which are in the standard edition, one song in the international edition and two songs in the Japanese edition. It is described by music critics as a pop and EDM project.[3][4][5] According to Mahone, the sound is a mixture of pop, R&B, electronic dance and 1990s Backstreet Boys.[6][7] When asked about the EP in an interview with MTV News, he said that the songs in his upcoming album would "sound like "What About Love" kind of like that EDM, like I said, old school/new school."[8] Writing for So So Gay, David Lim noted the EP's sound to be influenced by Swedish pop producer Max Martin, who created songs for late-1990s teen pop stars such as Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. Lim later went on to call the EP a "shout of neon-bright tunes" and said: "The catchy melodies and electronic beats suit Austin’s own clean-cut, all singing-and-dancing persona, but at times it puts a wall between him and the listener."[9]

The opening track, "Till I Find You", was cowritten by Mahone, RedOne (who also produced it).

"Mmm Yeah" is a dance-pop song which contains a "swirling" production, funk-influenced trumpets, a percussion-heavy four on the floor electropop beat, and influences of Chicago house, hip hop, and Latin music.[10][11][12][13] The track heavily samples Lidell Townsell's 1992 single "Nu Nu". Lyrically, the song speaks of being rejected by an attractive woman walking down a street: "We can do whatever/ Do whatever we want/ When she walked past me I said 'hey, hey, hey' So tell me where you from where you want to go/ She walked past me like I ain't say a word".[10] "All I Ever Need" is a "breezy" downtempo R&B and pop slow jam.[14][15]

Singles

"What About Love" was released as the lead single on June 10, 2013 though included only in the international version of the project. The song peaked at number 66 on the Billboard Hot 100[16] but peaked at number 18 on the US Mainstream Top 40 charts.

"Mmm Yeah" was released as the second and final single on January 26, 2014 and features rapper Pitbull.[17]

Promotional singles

"Till I Find You" was released as the first promotional single on April 18, 2014. "All I Ever Need" was released as the second promotional single on May 13, 2014. The music video was released on May 22, 2014. "Shadow" was released as the third promotional single on May 26, 2014 during a performance on the Today. Mahone released the official video through Vevo on May 29, 2014.[18][19][20] "Secret" was released as the fourth and final promotional single on September 24, 2014 along with the music video.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Billboard[4]
Rolling Stone[21]
USA Today[22]

In her review of the EP, Elysa Gardner of USA Today gave a mixed response, saying: "To call him "baby Bieber" wouldn't be fair; the generically catchy tunes hark back to N' Sync, Backstreet Boys and even New Kids. His creamy yearning should set young hearts aflutter."[22] Billboard gave the EP a three and a half out of five star rating, while Rolling Stone gave it a negative review of two out of five stars.

Commercial performance

The Secret debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 with sales of 46,000 copies in its opening week.[23] As of November 2014, The Secret has sold 100,000 copies in the United States.[24]

Track listing
Standard edition[25]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Till I Find You"
  • RedOne
  • Joker
3:00
2."Next to You"
  • Mahone
  • RedOne
  • Joker
  • Björn Djupstrom
  • RedOne
  • Joker
3:04
3."Mmm Yeah" (featuring Pitbull)
3:51
4."Secret"
  • Mahone
  • RedOne
  • Joker
  • Mika Guillory
  • Rivington Starchild
  • Junior
  • RedOne
  • Joker
3:18
5."Can't Fight This Love"
  • Mahone
  • RedOne
  • Aleena Gibson
  • Kevin Högdahl
  • Fredrik Thomander
  • RedOne
  • Thomander
2:46
6."All I Ever Need"
  • Mahone
  • Robert Villanueva
Mahone3:33
7."The One I've Waited For"
  • Mahone
  • RedOne
  • Tiny Island
  • AJ Junior
  • RedOne
  • Tiny Island
3:39
8."Shadow" (acoustic)
  • Mahone
  • Gibson
  • Roelants
  • RedOne
  • Thomander
3:48
Total length:26:59
International bonus track[26][27][28][29][30][31]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
9."What About Love"
  • RedOne
  • Joker
3:23
Total length:30:22
Japanese edition bonus tracks[32][33]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
10."U"
Maejor3:36
11."Mmm Yeah" (featuring Pitbull) (Jump Smokers Remix)
  • The Futuristics
  • Cook Classics
  • Schwartz[a]
  • Jump Smokers[b]
4:22
Total length:37:20
Japanese deluxe edition DVD[32]
No.TitleDirectorLength
1."Mmm Yeah" (featuring Pitbull) (music video)
 
2."What About Love" (music video)Colin Tilley 
3."Mmm Yeah" (featuring Pitbull) (lyric video)N/A 
4."Mmm Yeah" (featuring Pitbull) (live)N/A 
5."What About Love" (live)N/A 
6."Behind the Scenes in Japan"N/A 
Notes

Weekly charts
Chart (2014) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[34] 74
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[35] 60
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[36] 129
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[37] 11
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[38] 18
French Albums (SNEP)[39] 85
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[40] 42
Italian Albums (FIMI)[41] 12
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[42] 26
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[43] 11
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[44] 27
US Billboard 200[45] 5

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Australia May 23, 2014
Chase, Cash Money
United States[25] May 27, 2014
Japan[46] June 18, 2014

References
  1. "Teen Pop Star Austin Mahone Joins YMCMB". Rap-Up. 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  2. http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5778173/austin-mahone-banga-banga-mtv-ema-nomination
  3. Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "The Secret - Austin Mahone". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  4. Lipshutz, Jason. "Austin Mahone, 'The Secret' EP: Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  5. http://popdust.com/2014/05/28/all-8-tracks-on-austin-mahones-the-secret-reviewed/
  6. Stern, Bradley (May 27, 2014). "'The Secret' EP: Austin Mahone Provides a Nostalgic Pop Surprise". MuuMuse. MuuMuse Ltd. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  7. "Austin Mahone on Justin Bieber comparisons: 'It's kind of obnoxious'". Fox News. Fox Entertainment Group. June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  8. Vena, Jocelyn (June 11, 2013). "Austin Mahone Teases Debut Album With EDM… And Cash Money?". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
  9. Lim, David (June 15, 2014). "EP Review: Austin Mahone – The Secret". So So Gay. So So Gay Ltd. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  10. Vena, Jocelyn (January 24, 2014). "Austin Mahone Leaves Fans 'In Tears' With 'MMM Yeah:' Listen Here". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  11. Wass, Mike (January 24, 2014). "Austin Mahone Joins Forces With Pitbull On "Mmm Yeah": Listen". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  12. Benjamin, Jeff (January 24, 2014). "AUSTIN MAHONE IS SMOOTHER THAN EVER WITH "MMM YEAH" FT. PITBULL". Fuse. The Madison Square Garden Company. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  13. Lewis, Casey (January 24, 2014). "Austin Mahone's New Single, "MMM Yeah," Is His Coolest Song Yet". Teen Vogue. Condé Nast. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  14. Walker, John (May 15, 2014). "Austin Mahone's New Song 'All I Ever Need' Takes A Turn For The Usher". MTV News. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  15. Lipshutz, Jason (May 15, 2014). "Austin Mahone Drops Slow Jam 'All I Ever Need': Listen". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  16. "Austin Mahone – Chart History: The Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
  17. "Mmm Yeah by Austin Mahone - Single". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  18. "Austin Mahone Debuts 'Shadow' on 'Today'". Billboard. May 26, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  19. "Austin Mahone Performs at Billboard Twitter Real-Time Charts Launch Event". Billboard. May 27, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  20. "Shadow - Austin Mahone". Vevo. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  21. Catucci, Nick (May 27, 2014). "Austin Mahone 'The Secret'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media, LLC. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  22. Gardner, Elysa (May 26, 2014). "Listen Up: Other notable releases". USA Today. Larry Kramer. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  23. Keith Caulfield (June 5, 2014). "Coldplay Chills For Second Week At No. 1, Mariah Carey Debuts At No. 3". Billboard.
  24. Christman, Ed (19 August 2014). "EP to the Rescue! Short Albums Are a Rare Music Business Success Story". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  25. "The Secret by Austin Mahone - Album". iTunes. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  26. https://itunes.apple.com/no/album/the-secret/id865463771
  27. https://itunes.apple.com/nl/album/the-secret/id865463771
  28. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-secret/id865463771
  29. https://itunes.apple.com/vn/album/the-secret/id865463771?l=vi
  30. https://itunes.apple.com/ph/album/the-secret/id865463771
  31. https://itunes.apple.com/id/album/the-secret/id865463771
  32. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICU-9078
  33. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICU-1253
  34. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 2 June 2014" (PDF) (1266). Pandora Archive. June 20, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  35. "Ultratop.be – Austin Mahone – The Secret" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  36. "Ultratop.be – Austin Mahone – The Secret" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  37. "Austin Mahone Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  38. "Danishcharts.dk – Austine Mahone – The Secret". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  39. "Lescharts.com – Austine Mahone – The Secret". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  40. "Dutchcharts.nl – Austine Mahone – The Secret" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  41. "Artisti - Classifica settimanale WK 22 (dal 26-05-2014 al 01-06-2014)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  42. "Puesto #26 del #Top100MX del ..." (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Twitter. October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  43. "Norwegiancharts.com – Austine Mahone – The Secret". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  44. "Spanishcharts.com – Austine Mahone – The Secret". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  45. "Austin Mahone Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  46. "CDJapan: The Secret Deluxe Edition [w/ DVD, Limited Edition] Austin Mahone CD Album". CDJapan. April 18, 2014. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
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