Footprints (Holly Valance album)

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start-date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other Template:Category handler Template:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=State of Mind2003studioFootprintsHolly_Valance_-_Footprints.pngHolly Valance Template:Start-date*Pop

dance-pop46:39London*Darran Bennett
Boo Dan
Cutfather & Joe
Fredro
Julian Gallagher
Jem Godfrey
Nellee Hooper
Anders Kallmark
Korpi & Blackcell
Bill Padley
Richard Stannard
Phil Thornalley
Steve Welton-Jaimesx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

Footprints is the debut studio album by Australian singer Holly Valance. It was released by London Records on 14 October 2002 in the United Kingdom. Valance worked with a variety of producers on the album, including Cutfather & Joe, Julian Gallagher, Jem Godfrey, Nellee Hooper, Bill Padley, Richard Stannard, and Phil Thornalley.

The album was a success in the United Kingdom, where the first single "Kiss Kiss" reached the top position on the singles chart. Footprints peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart, selling over 100,000 copies and being certified Gold. In Valance's home country of Australia, success was similar. Footprints reached the top fifteen, sold over 35,000 copies, and was later certified Gold. All three of its singles also reached the top 3 on the singles chart. Footprints was also successful in Japan, where the album reached number nineteen on the Oricon albums chart and sold 159,606 copies. It was later certified Gold.<ref name="RIAJ-jan2003">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings Allmusic rated the album three and a half stars out of five.<ref name="allmusic"/> Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian found that Valance's "Kylie impersonation lacks the self-deprecating charm of the original, without which this "project" feels like an ambitious soap starlet chancing her arm. Despite producer Nellee Hooper affixing a bit of acoustic gravitas to the likes of "Down Boy," Footprints quickly comes up against Valance's breathy mediocrity. That said, the burbling "Naughty Girl" makes it clear that Valance's primary purpose is to disturb impressionable men, making the album a triumph in that respect."<ref name="theguardian"/>

In 2020, the album was reappraised by Louis Hanson, writing for Pedestrian. Hanson praised the album's "nostalgic futurism" and "there was something so fresh about the album’s sound, particularly in the Australian music industry at the time." He continued: "To listen to Footprints in 2020 is to experience pure early-2000s pop in all its glory."<ref>Hanson, Louis (3 June 2020). A Loving Ode To Holly Valance’s ‘Footprints’, The Real MVP Of 2002 Aussie Pop Pedestrian. Retrieved on 2 February 2025</ref>

Singles

"Kiss Kiss" was the first single released by Valance. The single was released in April 2002 and went straight to No. 1 on the UK and Australian charts.

"Down Boy" was the second single.

"Naughty Girl" was the third and final single from the album, becoming a Top 3 hit in Australia and Top 20 single in the UK. A fourth and final single, "Tuck Your Shirt In", was scheduled for release in the UK on 10 March 2003;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> however, the single was cancelled.