The Dutchess

For other uses, see Dutchess (disambiguation), Duchess (disambiguation), and The Duchess (disambiguation).
The Dutchess
Standard edition cover; the background is colored black on the deluxe edition cover
Studio album by
Fergie
ReleasedSeptember 13, 2006 (2006-09-13)
Recorded2005–2006[1][2]
StudioThe Black Eyed Peas Tour Bus and Morningview Studio
Genre
Length58:00
Label
Producer
Fergie chronology
The Dutchess
(2006) 		Double Dutchess
(2017)
Singles from The Dutchess
  1. "London Bridge"
    Released: July 18, 2006
  2. "Fergalicious"
    Released: October 23, 2006
  3. "Glamorous"
    Released: January 23, 2007
  4. "Big Girls Don't Cry"
    Released: May 22, 2007
  5. "Clumsy"
    Released: September 25, 2007
  6. "Finally"
    Released: March 18, 2008

The Dutchess is the debut solo studio album by American singer and rapper Fergie. It was released on September 13, 2006, through A&M Records and the will.i.am Music Group as her first solo album. The album was recorded between The Black Eyed Peas' tour in 2005, and the songs were written throughout the last eight years that preceded its release. While developing the album, Fergie wanted to create an autobiographical album that would be more intimate between her and the listener. By doing so, the album experiments with different music genres, including pop, hip hop, R&B, reggae, punk rock and soul. Lyrically, The Dutchess has themes about love and critics, while also dealing with her drug abuse and addiction.

Upon its release, The Dutchess received mixed reviews from music critics, with many praising its production, calling it one of the most eclectic and adventurous albums of 2006, but some criticized the album's lyrical content and believed the material was not strong enough for her voice. It became a commercial success, reaching number two on the US Billboard 200 and spending ninety-four weeks inside the chart, while also topping the Australian Albums Chart and becoming a worldwide success, reaching platinum status in over eight countries. It has been certified 5× Platinum in the United States and has sold 12 million copies worldwide.[4]

The album produced five top five singles in the United States, including three number-one hits on the US Billboard Hot 100, "London Bridge", "Big Girls Don't Cry", and "Glamorous", as well as the number two single "Fergalicious" and the number five single "Clumsy". All five of the aforementioned singles have sold over two million digital downloads each in the United States, thus setting a new record in the digital era for the most multi-platinum singles from one album.[5] Fergie held this record until 2012, when Katy Perry achieved six multi-platinum singles with her album Teenage Dream (2010).[6]

  1. ^ "Black Eyed Peas Back In 'Business'". Billboard. 2005-06-11. Retrieved 2014-08-09.
  2. ^ Jane Stevenson (2005-06-05). "CANOE – JAM! - Interview with hip-hop diva Stacy Ferguson". Jam.canoe.ca. Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2014-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Perry, Kathryn (October 10, 2006). "Fergie – CD Reviews". The Boston Phoenix. Phoenix Media/Communications Group. Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2014.
  4. ^ "'The Duchess' Turns 13". PAPER. 2019-09-15. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  5. ^ "Week Ending April 19, 2009: She's The Youngest To Ever Do It – Chart Watch". New.music.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
  6. ^ "Week Ending February 12, 2012. Songs: Luv For Madonna – Chart Watch". New.music.yahoo.com. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-19.