Secret Symphony

Secret Symphony
Studio album by
Katie Melua
Released5 March 2012
Genre
Length37:32
LabelDramatico
ProducerMike Batt
Katie Melua chronology
The House
(2010) 		Secret Symphony
(2012) 		Ketevan
(2013)
Singles from Secret Symphony
  1. "Gold in them Hills"
    Released: 11 November 2011
  2. "The Bit That I Don't Get"
    Released: 10 February 2012
  3. "Better Than a Dream"
    Released: 9 March 2012
  4. "Moonshine"
    Released: 4 June 2012
  5. "The Walls of the World"
    Released: 17 September 2012
  6. "Forgetting All My Troubles"
    Released: 3 December 2012

Secret Symphony is the fifth studio album by British singer Katie Melua. It was released by Dramatico on 5 March 2012. Recorded at Air Studios in London and produced in collaboration with longtime musical partner Mike Batt, the album marked a departure from Melua's previous releases by focusing primarily on interpretations of songs written by other artists. Described by Melua as her "singer's album", it features orchestral arrangements of compositions by songwriters including Ron Sexsmith, alongside more familiar songs, while also incorporating two original compositions written by Melua and Batt.

The album received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Melua's vocal performances and several individual tracks but criticized its cautious approach and orchestral arrangements, with many viewing it as a retreat from the experimentation of The House (2010). Commercially, Secret Symphony reached number one in Poland and peaked within the top ten in numerous countries. The album earned Gold certifications in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Denmark, Platinum certification in Poland, and received a Diamond Award from IMPALA for European sales exceeding 200,000 copies.

Background

Secret Symphony served as the follow-up to Melua's 2010 album The House, which reached number four on the UK Albums Chart. The album was recorded at Air Studios in London and produced in collaboration with orchestrator and conductor Mike Batt, who had worked extensively with Melua throughout her career. Conceived primarily as an album of interpretations, Secret Symphony marked a departure from Melua's previous releases by focusing largely on material written by other songwriters. Melua described the project as her "singer's album", explaining that performing songs written by others allowed her to explore different vocal approaches and artistic perspectives. Although the album predominantly consists of cover versions, Melua and Batt also contributed two newly written compositions.[1] The track list includes interpretations of songs by acclaimed songwriters such as Ron Sexsmith's "Gold in Them Hills" and "Too Long at the Fair", originally recorded by Bonnie Raitt, alongside more widely known songs including "Keeping the Dream Alive". The recordings are characterized by their orchestral arrangements, performed by a symphony orchestra under Batt's direction.[1]

Promotion

The lead single, "Better Than a Dream", and the track "Walls of the World" were both originally recorded by Melua's longtime collaborator Mike Batt, for the British animated television series The Dreamstone and his 1977 solo album Schizophonia, respectively.[2] "The Bit That I Don't Get" music video was filmed at several locations in Farnham, Surrey including the Lion and Lamb Yard, Guitar Village and 101 Collectors' Records. Farnham being the location for Mike Batt's studio where they made demo recordings.[3][4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[5]
The Arts DeskStarStarStar[6]
Daily ExpressStarStarStar[7]
Evening StandardStarStar[8]
The IndependentStarStar[9]
The PressStarStarStarStar[10]

Ian Sime of The Press praised Secret Symphony as "technically the best crafted album of the year to date," highlighting Batt's orchestral arrangements for creating a sound that was both "understated and lush". While noting that the album's reliance on cover versions meant it lacked the original songwriting of the Melua–Batt partnership, he commended the song selection, describing the album as "a welcome return to form".[10] BBC Music critic Adrian Edwards described the album as "a fine fifth album” that successfully balances cover versions with original compositions. He argued that Melua "embraces songs old and new, cleverly chosen and winningly sung," praising her ability to make each cover seem as though it had been written specifically for her. Edwards also credited producer and songwriter Mike Batt, noting that his "long experience as a songwriter and producer is evident."[11]

Jon O'Brien of AllMusic gave Secret Symphony a mixed review, calling it a "disappointing and frustrating retreat back to safety" after the experimentation of The House. While praising Melua's vocals and several individual tracks, he felt the album's arrangements were "overly polite and ultimately anodyne", concluding that it was "a clear step backwards" for the singer.[5] Reviewing the album for The Arts Desk, Kieron Tyler similarly described the album as "lovely but cautious", arguing that it represented a return to Melua's comfort zone after the more adventurous The House.[6] Evening Standard editor John Aizlewood gave Secret Symphony a negative review, describing it as a "crushing and chastening disappointment". He argued that Melua had abandoned the artistic progress of The House in favour of a "saccharine-engulfed orchestral album" weighed down by "syrupy, overbearing arrangements", though he singled out her version of Ron Sexsmith's "Gold in Them Hills" as a highlight.[8] Writing for The Independent, Andy Gill criticized Secret Symphony for being emotionally restrained, arguing that Melua "seems emotionally constrained, stifling the songs in politesse". While he felt her subdued style worked on tracks such as "Gold in Them Hills" and "The Bit That I Don't Get", he found other performances overly proper and lacking in naturalness.[9]

Commercial performance

Secret Symphony achieved moderate commercial success across Europe. The album debuted at number eight on the UK Albums Chart with first week sales of 19,071 copies,[12] becoming Melua's fifth consecutive top-ten album in the United Kingdom.[13] It also reached the top five in several European markets, peaking at number two in Germany and Switzerland,[14][15] number three in Austria,[16] number four in Belgium and Denmark,[17][18] and number one in Poland.[19] Elsewhere, the album charted at number six in Finland, Netherlands and Norway,[20][21][22] number seven in France, and number 23 in Ireland.[23][24]

The album was certified Platinum by the Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry (ZPAV) for sales figures of over 20,000 units.[25] It was also awarded Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the United Kingdom,[26] the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) in Germany,[27] and IFPI Denmark, the Danish branch of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).[28] In France, Secret Symphony sold approximately 40,000 copies.[29] In 2012, Secret Symphony was awarded a diamond certification from the Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA) which indicated sales of at least 200,000 copies throughout Europe.[30]

Track listing

Standard listing[31]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Gold in Them Hills"Ron Sexsmith3:31
2."Better Than a Dream"Mike Batt3:10
3."The Bit That I Don't Get"Batt3:12
4."Moonshine"Francis Healy2:41
5."Forgetting All My Troubles"Melua3:22
6."All Over the World"Françoise Hardy2:56
7."Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"Jimmy Cox4:33
8."The Cry of the Lone Wolf"
  • Melua
  • Batt
3:59
9."Heartstrings"
  • Melua
  • Batt
2:53
10."The Walls of the World"Batt3:25
11."Secret Symphony"Batt3:51
Special Bonus Edition[32]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Gold in them Hills"Ron Sexsmith3:31
2."Better Than a Dream"Mike Batt3:10
3."The Bit That I Don't Get"Batt3:12
4."Moonshine"Francis Healy2:41
5."Forgetting All My Troubles"Melua3:22
6."All Over the World"Françoise Hardy2:56
7."Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"Jimmy Cox4:33
8."The Cry of the Lone Wolf"
  • Melua
  • Batt
3:59
9."Heartstrings"
  • Melua
  • Batt
2:53
10."The Walls of the World"Batt3:25
11."Secret Symphony"Batt3:51
12."Feels Like Home (The Secret Sessions)"Randy Newman4:50
13."Too Long At The Fair (The Secret Sessions)"Joel Zoss3:06
14."Love Me Tender (The Secret Sessions)"
3:14
15."It's Over (The Secret Sessions)"
3:20

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Secret Symphony
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[28] Gold 10,000^
Germany (BVMI)[27] Gold 100,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[25] Platinum 20,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] Gold 100,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b "Katie Melua stretched vocal talents on new album". Elle Canada. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  2. ^ Dave Sleger. "Schizophonia - Mike Batt | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  3. ^ Thomas, David (2004-02-05). "Georgia, and jazz, on her mind". Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  4. ^ "Katie Melua on finding her soulmate, her Redhill upbringing and BRIT School". Surrey. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  5. ^ a b O'Brien, Jon. "Secret Symphony". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  6. ^ a b Tyler, Kieron (1 March 2012). "CD: Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". The Arts Desk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  7. ^ Gage, Simon (2 March 2012). "Review: Katie Melua: Secret Symphony". Daily Express. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  8. ^ a b Aizlewood, John (2 March 2012). "CDs of the week". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  9. ^ a b Gill, Andy (2 March 2012). "Album: Katie Melua, Secret Symphony (Dramatico)". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  10. ^ a b Sime, Ian (23 March 2012). "Katie Melua, Secret Symphony (Dramatico) ****; Heather Nova, 300 Days At Sea (Salt Water Music) ***". The Press. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  11. ^ Edwards, Adrian (2012). "Katie Melua, Secret – Symphony Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  12. ^ "Official Chart Analysis: Springsteen album sells 74k, Gotye single shifts another 81k | News | Music Week". Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.
  13. ^ a b "Official Albums Chart on 11/3/2012 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  14. ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  15. ^ a b "Swisscharts.com – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  16. ^ a b "Austriancharts.at – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  17. ^ a b "Ultratop.be – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  18. ^ a b "Danishcharts.dk – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  19. ^ a b "Official Retail Sales Chart - sales for the period 05.03.2012 - 11.03.2012". OLiS. Retrieved 2013-09-20.
  20. ^ a b "Katie Melua: Secret Symphony" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  21. ^ a b "Dutchcharts.nl – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  22. ^ a b "Norwegiancharts.com – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  23. ^ a b "Lescharts.com – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  24. ^ a b "Secret Symphony by Katie Melua - Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  25. ^ a b "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2012 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 2024-11-10. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  26. ^ a b "British album certifications – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 March 2025. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Secret Symphony Katie Melua in the "Search:" field.
  27. ^ a b "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Katie Melua; 'Secret Symphony')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  28. ^ a b "Danish album certifications – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". IFPI Danmark. Scroll through the page-list below to obtain certification.
  29. ^ Hamard, Jonathan (14 September 2013). "Katie Melua dévoile le titre "Love Is a Silent Thief", son hommage à Sergei Parajanov". Charts in France. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  30. ^ "Aktuelles VUT: VUT - Verband unabhängiger Musikunternehmer*innen e. V." Vut.de. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Secret Symphony: Katie Melua: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
  32. ^ "Secret Symphony (Special Bonus Edition): Katie Melua: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-03-09.
  33. ^ "Ultratop.be – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  34. ^ "CANOE - JAM! Music - SoundScan Charts". canoe.com. 2015-04-21. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  35. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 11/3/2012 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  37. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  38. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Katie Melua – Secret Symphony". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  39. ^ "玫瑰大眾購物網". G-music.com.tw. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  40. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 11/3/2012 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  41. ^ Steffen Hung. "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  42. ^ a b "Ultratop Belgian Charts". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  43. ^ Steffen Hung. "Dutch Charts". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  44. ^ "VIVA Jahrescharts 2012 Album - Charts - VIVA". Viva.tv. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  45. ^ Steffen Hung. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2012". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2016-07-29.

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