Hello My Name Is... is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Bridgit Mendler. The album was released on October 15, 2012, through Hollywood Records. Mendler began planning the project in 2011 and co-wrote all sixteen of its tracks, including four bonus tracks. Hello My Name Is... is a pop and R&B album, incorporating elements of hip hop and electropop. Mendler worked alongside producers Andrew Goldstein, Dreamlab, Emanuel Kiriakou, Jai Marlon and Freddy Wexler.
Upon release, Hello My Name Is... received largely positive reviews from music critics, who praised Mendler’s vocals and songwriting skills, but criticized the songs for sounding too alike and lacking direction. Commercially, the album debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 Albums chart, selling 35,000 copies. Mendler released her sophomore album, Timeless, on July 10, 2015.
Background and release[]
Mendler described the album as authorial and pop, with R&B, jazz and funk influences. In June 2022, she announced that her debut single, "Ready or Not", would premiere on Radio Disney on August 3, 2012 and be available to purchase on August 7, 2012. The song impacted US pop radio stations on August 21, 2012. The release date of the album was announced as being October 15, 2012. The track listing and album cover were announced on August 20, 2012.
The expanded version of the album, released exclusively in Japan, features an alternative album cover and an exclusive bonus track, and was released on February 10, 2014. To commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the album, in October 2022, Hollywood Records issued two vinyl LP variants and four 7-inch records, each of which represented one single or promotional single released in support of the album and also featured one of four bonus tracks not included on the standard vinyl LP release.
Promotion[]
Tours[]
Singles[]
"Ready or Not" was released as Mendler’s debut single and as the lead single from Hello My Name Is... on August 7, 2012. The song premiered on Radio Disney four days prior to release and was written by Mendler, alongside Emanuel "Eman" Kiriakou and Evan "Kidd" Bogart. The song received positive reviews from music critics, praising the song’s unique sound and Mendler’s vocals. Commercially, "Ready or Not" debuted at number 75 and peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart. Mendler promoted the song through numerous performances, such as on Good Morning America and The X Factor. In 2013, the track won Best Crush Song and Best Acoustic Performance at the 2013 Radio Disney Music Awards.
"Hurricane" was serviced to US pop radio stations as the second single from Hello My Name Is... on February 12, 2013. The song was previously released as a promotional single one week prior to the album’s release on October 8, 2012 and peaked at number one on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. To promote the single in April 2013, Mendler recorded a series of four videos which were released to Vevo and YouTube entitled The Hurricane Sessions, which consisted of acoustic performances of "Hurricane" and "Forgot to Laugh", as well as two covers. On April 27, 2013, Mendler performed "Hurricane" at the 2013 Radio Disney Music Awards, marking her first performance at an award show. The single opened at number 98 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and eventually peaked at number 27, also reaching number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart. In 2023, the song gained popularity on social media, and ultimately reached number six on the US Billboard TikTok Top 50 chart.
"Forgot to Laugh" was released as the album’s third single on July 2, 2013. The song received rave reviews from critics, with Sam Lansky of Idolator describing the track as "a shiny, guitar-driven pop-rock anthem, loaded with witty metaphors that would give Taylor Swift a run for her money" and dubbing it a highlight from the album. Mendler performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on September 12, 2013 and also performed the song regularly as part of her Live in Concert and Summer Tour setlist, throughout 2012 and 2013. Commercially, the song debuted at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at number 45. On the US Mainstream Top 40 chart, "Forgot to Laugh" reached number 13 and became Mendler’s third consecutive top twenty entry on the chart.
Promotional singles[]
"Top of the World" was released as a promotional single on October 1, 2012. Mendler performed the track in Griffith Park, in Los Angeles, and released the performance to YouTube and VEVO on November 16, 2013, as a music video. The song was featured on the twelfth season of American Idol, during the episode "Charlotte Auditions", and gained prominence in 2021 on TikTok, later being certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for selling over 500,000 units in the country.
Commercial performance[]
Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ready or Not" |
|
|
3:21 |
| 2. | "Forgot to Laugh" |
|
|
3:09 |
| 3. | "Top of the World" |
|
|
3:28 |
| 4. | "Hurricane" |
|
|
4:03 |
| 5. | "City Lights" |
|
|
4:00 |
| 6. | "All I See Is Gold" |
|
|
2:53 |
| 7. | "The Fall Song" |
|
|
3:39 |
| 8. | "Love Will Tell Us Where to Go" |
|
|
3:22 |
| 9. | "Blonde" |
|
|
3:08 |
| 10. | "Rocks at My Window" |
|
|
3:12 |
| 11. | "5:15" |
|
|
3:55 |
| 12. | "Hold On for Dear Love" |
|
|
3:59 |
| Total length: | 42:09 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Ready or Not" (DJ Mike D Remix Extended Mixshow) |
|
|
3:35 |
| Total length: | 45:44 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Borrowed Time" |
|
|
3:35 |
| Total length: | 49:19 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Ready or Not (Acoustic)" |
|
|
3:30 |
| Total length: | 45:39 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "We’re Dancing" |
|
|
3:10 |
| 14. | "Postcard" |
|
|
3:25 |
| 15. | "Quicksand" |
|
|
3:21 |
| Total length: | 52:05 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Animal" (Live at Madison Square Garden / December 7, 2012) (Neon Trees cover) |
|
3:44 |
| Total length: | 45:55 | ||