Operation: Wake Up is the fourth studio album by American singer Mike Posner, released on December 18, 2020. It is a concept album, rapped from the first-person perspective of a fictionalized version of himself. The album features a singular guest appearance from Jessie J.
| Operation: Wake Up | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 18, 2020 | |||
| Genre | Rap opera[1] | |||
| Length | 36:10 | |||
| Label | Monster Mountain | |||
| Mike Posner chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Operation: Wake Up | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| American Songwriter |    [2] |
| Rolling Stone | [3] |
Recording and release
editOperation: Wake Up was recorded and written in the basement of Posner's parents' house in Detroit, where he was staying following his father's cancer diagnosis and treatment.[1] His father succumbed to the disease in 2017.[4] The album was released as a surprise album.[5]
Content
editOperation: Wake Up shows the mental breakdown experienced by a fictionalized Mike Posner over a 48-hour period, with Posner playing every character.[1] Posner described the album as "a fictional story that blurs the line between reality and performance art." [6] Following the introduction, where Posner insists the album be listened to in a single sitting and encourages those with mental health issues not to listen,[2] the album begins with him staying in a rented mansion in Los Angeles, with the goal of writing songs for "other, more famous artists". He then goes to audition material for Jessie J in the studio, and plays part of an already written song for her, pretending that he just made it up. This is followed by "Weaponry", which features Jessie J. Afterwards he goes to dinner with Blackbear, who throws a party at Posner's rented mansion.[3]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Introduction" | 1:55 |
| 2. | "Shave It All Off" | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Once in a While (Mike Meets Jessie J)" | 3:58 |
| 4. | "Weaponry" (with Jessie J) | 3:12 |
| 5. | "Mike Meets Blackbear at Joe's Falafel" | 3:58 |
| 6. | "Let's Have a Party" | 2:39 |
| 7. | "Tracy Calls Noelle (Mike's Ex)" | 3:39 |
| 8. | "Blackbear Throws a Rager in LA" | 2:27 |
| 9. | "High & Low (On LSD)" | 5:43 |
| 10. | "Alone in a Mansion" | 4:40 |
| Total length: | 36:10 | |
References
edit- ^ a b c "Mike Posner Releases Album, 'Operation: Wake Up'". Orca Sound. December 19, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ a b Zimmerman, Lee (December 22, 2020). "Posner Delivers An Interesting, Self-Indulgent 'Operation: Wake Up'". American Songwriter. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ a b Dolan, Jon (December 18, 2020). "Mike Posner's 'Operation: Wake Up' is a Concept Album About Being a Depressed Songwriter for Hire". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
- ^ Bilicki, Brian (December 18, 2020). "Mike Posner releases surprise "rap-opera," 'Operation: Wake Up'". abcnewsradioonline.com. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ King, Ariel (December 17, 2020). "Mike Posner Surprise Releases New Album Operation: Wake Up". mxdwn Music. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ Mike Posner [@Mikeposner] (December 18, 2020). "DISCLAIMER: OPERATION: WAKE UP is a fictional story that blurs the line between reality and performance art. All characters and events in this album, even those based on real people, are entirely made up" (Tweet) – via Twitter.