Vanilla Chocolat

"Vanilla Chocolat" is a song recorded by Romanian singer Alexandra Stan for her second studio album, Unlocked (2014). It features guest vocals provided by Romanian rapper Connect-R. The track was made available for digital download on 24 December 2014 as the album's fifth single. "Vanilla Chocolat" was written by Stan, Connect-R, Sava Constantin, Alexandru Cotoi and Mika Moupondo, while production was handled by Cotoi. A selfie music video for the song was directed by Stan and The Architect, and debuted on Stan's YouTube channel on 18 December 2014. After its release, music critics praised "Vanilla Chocolat" for Connect-R's "catchy rap" and French bits, while others pointed out the "easy-to-sing", but at the same time "nonsense" lyrics of the track. The song was performed during Stan's "Unlocked Tour" (2014), and together with "Cherry Pop" on Romanian show Vocea României.

"Vanilla Chocolat"
The cover shows Alexandra Stan's skin being colored in a vanilla-like skin tone; she has chocolate chips over her entire face and shoulders.
Single by Alexandra Stan featuring Connect-R
from the album Unlocked
Released24 December 2014
Recorded2014
Fonogram Studios
(Bucharest, Romania)
GenreDance-pop
Length3:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Alexandru Cotoi
Alexandra Stan singles chronology
"Give Me Your Everything"
(2014)		 "Vanilla Chocolat"
(2014)		 "We Wanna"
(2015)
Connect-R singles chronology
"Tren de Noapte"
(2014)		 "Vanilla Chocolat"
(2014)		 "Rece ca Decembrie"
(2014)
Music video
"Vanilla Chocolat" on YouTube

Background and recording

"Vanilla Chocolat" was written by Stan, Sava Constantin, Alexandru Cotoi, Stefan Mihalache and Mika Moupondo, while production was handled by Cotoi.[2] The track was recorded at Fonogram Studios in Bucharest, Romania,[3] and features lyrics written in both English and French. "Vanilla Chocolat" was composed during the song-writing Fonocamp-camp in Azuga, Romania, where the singer worked on new songs along with fellow Romanian and international artists.[4] Particularly, Stan felt that she was very "pleased with the collaboration, because [she] really wanted to work with Romanian artists, not just with Romanian producers like on [her] second studio album."[5] She talked about the choosing of Connect-R as the guest vocalist for "Vanilla Chocolat":

"I chose Connect-R because it seems that he can "deal" with every music genre, because he is flexible and he can continue even with every unexpected change or sound combination. Connect-R can also sing in every language without any problems, because he believes in his own work. We met at the Fonogram Studios, and we started 'half seriously and jokingly' to work on the song, along with Alex Cotoi. The result is 'sweet and fragrant'.[6]

Critical reception

The recording received generally positive reviews from music critics upon release. Pop Shock reviewed Stan's second studio album, Unlocked, in late 2014, where they commended that "Vanilla Chocolat" was one of the best songs of the album. They felt that "everything about this track is pure pop perfection – from the playful French bits, to the Bollywood-inspired chorus. It also sounds completely different to everything else in the charts right now."[1] Pop Shock were initially disappointed by the video being "Selfie cam", but they went on to say that "it holds up to multiple viewings and suits the joyous nature of the song".[1] German website Hitfire reported the video premiere of "Vanilla Chocolat" on 1 January 2015, where they praised the catchy dance-pop beat incorporated in the refrain of the song and its "easy-to-sing", but at the same time "nonsense" lyrics". They concluded, "It's very unlikely to become a worldwide hit, because it is too mediocre."[7]

Music video

I thought that it would be very nice to film a selfie video for our song. I thought to make a video in which my fans could find myself in very natural, but at the same time in artistic poses. They couldn't discover me in the bath or going shopping, but going to shows and interacting with journalists and radio people. It is a burst of energy.

—Stan talking about the selfie video for "Vanilla Chocolat".[5]

Stan performing at "Neata cu Razvan si Dani" in the selfie video for "Vanilla Chocolat"[8]

A selfie video, which also served as the official video for "Vanilla Chocolat", premiered on 18 December 2014 on Alexandra Stan's official YouTube channel.[9] It was directed by Stan during one single week.[10] She filmed herself on different TV shows, where she was invited to perform the track, including "Neata cu Razvan si Dani" and "La Maruță".[10] Stan additionally directed at the Fonogram Studios, Roton Studios, the rehearsal room of Emil Rengle and her own house, describing the video as being "full of energy" for featuring many public figures such as Mihai Morar, Răzvan și Dani or Adelina Pestrițu.[10] Few scenes of the video were not filmed by the singer alone, for which The Architect served as the cameraman.[11] Particularly, Dinu and Deea Maxer compared the selfie video for "Vanilla Chocolat" with their clip for "Selfie en Paris".[12][13]

Live performances

Stan's first live performance of "Vanilla Chocolat" was on 1 December 2014 on Neatza cu Razvan si Dani, which was followed by her lip-synced performance of the song on Wowbiz, to film some scenes for the single's accompanying selfie video.[8][14] Following the release of the clip, Stan performed a stripped-down version of "Vanilla Chocolat" on the Romanian radio station Pro FM on 2 December 2014, where she also sang Romania's national anthem backed with instruments played by Andrei Gheorghe, Greeg and Alexandru Cotoi.[15][16] Stan was subsequently invited to perform on the Romanian version of The Voice on 12 December 2014.[17] There, she lip-synced both "Cherry Pop" and "Vanilla Chocolat". Shortly after her act, juror Tudor Chirila expressed how he was very "disappointed" of Stan's appearance, as she didn't provide live vocals.[18] In an interview with Cancan, Stan confessed that "[her] conditions of appearance on Vocea României were already discussed with the show's producers, so no one should have been surprised about [her] playback-performance".[18]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Unlocked and The Collection[2][11]

Track listings
  • Spanish digital remix EP[19]
  1. "Vanilla Chocolat" (DJ Valdi Remix) – 3:22
  2. "Vanilla Chocolat" (DJ Valdi Remix Edit) – 4:20
  3. "Vanilla Chocolat" (CryDuom Remix) – 3:06
  4. "Vanilla Chocolat" (CryDuom Remix Edit) – 3:52
  • Japanese digital download[20]
  1. "Vanilla Chocolat" (feat. Connect-R)  – 3:18
  1. "Vanilla Chocolat" (feat. Connect-R)  – 3:17

Release history
Country Date Format Label
Japan 24 December 2014[20] Digital single Fonogram
Spain 24 February 2015[21] Blanco y Negro
22 May 2015[19] Digital remix EP
Turkey 6 April 2015[22] Digital single Yeni Dünya
Poland 19 May 2015[23] Magic

References
  1. Zasin, Dijei (19 December 2014). "Alexandra Stan – "Vanilla Chocolat (feat. Connect-R)"". The Pop Shock. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  2. Unlocked (Liner notes). Alexandra Stan. Bucharest, Romania: Roton (Barcode: 8693644012601). 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. Ioncea, Iulian (18 December 2014). "Alexandra Stan a lansat, alături de Connect-R, un selfie video pentru piesa "Vanilla chocolat"" [Alexandra Stan has launched a selfie video together with Connect-R for the song "Vanilla chocolat"] (in Romanian). Traieste Muzica. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  4. "Smiley, Delia, Mohombi si Alexandra Stan au fost impreuna in tabara. Vezi cine sunt cei care au reusit sa ii scoata din tabieturi lor si sa ii puna sa munceasca impreuna" [Smiley, Delia, Mohombi and Alexandra Stan were together at the writing camp. See who convinced them to work together.] (in Romanian). Wowbiz. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  5. Moisa, Raluca (10 December 2014). "Alexandra Stan: "Nu am primit niciodată nimic gratis"" [Alexandra Stan: "No one gave me something for free"]. Adevărul (in Romanian). Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  6. "Alexandra Stan lanseaza un video-selfie pentru piesa "Vanilla Chocolat"" [Alexandra Stan launches a selfie-video for her single "Vanilla Chocolat] (in Romanian). Euforia TV. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  7. "Videopremiere: Alexandra Stan feat. Connect-R mit "Vanilla Chocolat"" [Video premiere: Alexandra Stan feat. Connect-R with "Vanilla Chocolat"] (in German). Hitfire. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  8. "Alexandra Stan feat. Connect-R – "Vanilla chocolat"". YouTube. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  9. "Alexandra Stan (feat. Connect-R) – Vanilla Chocolat (Selfie Video)". YouTube. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  10. Ioncea, Iulian (19 December 2015). "Alexandra Stan şi Connect-R au lansat un video-selfie pentru piesa "Vanilla chocolat"" [Alexandra Stan and Connect-R have launched a selfie-video for the single "Vanilla chocolat"] (in Romanian). Eva.ro. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  11. The Collection (Liner notes). Alexandra Stan. Tokyo, Japan: Victor Entertainment (Barcode: 4988002698196). 2015.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. "Scandal de proportii între Dinu Maxer, Alexandra Stan şi Connect-R" [Scandal between Dinu Maxer, Alexandra Stan and Connect-R] (in Romanian). Romania TV. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  13. "Dinu Maxer: "Sunt extrem de fericit ca sunt sursa de inspiratie pentru artistii nostri de prima clasa!"" [Dinu Maxer: "I'm very happy to be a source of inspiration for such big artists!"] (in Romanian). Wowbiz. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  14. "Alexandra Stan la Wowbiz "Dorian Popa a fost primul meu iubit la 16 ani"" [Alexandra Stan on Wowbiz "Dorian Popa was my first lover when I was sixteen]. YouTube. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  15. Scris de Edi (2 December 2014). "Alexandra Stan canta imnul Romaniei live!" [Alexandra Stan sings Romania's anthem live!] (in Romanian). Urban.ro. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  16. "Alexandra Stan – Vanilla chocolat". YouTube. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  17. "Vocea Romaniei promite o semifinala de exceptie: 100% voce, 100% munca, 100% show" [The Voice of Romania promises an exceptional semifinal: 100% voice, 100% work, 100% show] (in Romanian). Pro TV. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  18. Manea, Alexandru (15 December 2014). "Cum raspunde Alexandra Stan la acuzatiile ca a facut playback la Vocea Romaniei" [How does Alexandra Stan respond at the accusations that she sang playback at Vocea României] (in Romanian). Agentia de Presa Mondena. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  19. "iTunes – Música – Vanilla Chocolat (Remixes) [featuring Connect-R] – EP de Alexandra Stan". iTunes Store. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  20. "iTunes – Vanilla Chocolat feat. Connect-R – Single アレクサンドラ・スタン". iTunes Store. 24 December 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  21. "iTunes – Música – Vanilla Chocolat (feat. Connect-R) – Single de Alexandra Stan". iTunes Store. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  22. "iTunes – Music – Vanilla Chocolat (feat. Connect-R) – Single by Alexandra Stan". iTunes Store. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  23. "iTunes – Music – Vanilla Chocolat (feat. Connect-R) – Single by Alexandra Stan". iTunes Store. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.

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