Ten years ago, the former teen star altered the course of Disney history by successfully transitioning from TV actress to triple-platinum pop singer. Meet the players who made her sophomore album a certified smash.
In today’s pop climate, you can’t turn on the radio without hearing a Disney Channel star-turned-pop act. Miley, Demi, Selena, the Jonas Brothers—they’ve all successfully made the jump from TV and film to music, releasing platinum albums, selling out tours and dominating pop culture.
But none of them would be where they are if it weren’t for Hilary Duff. What some may forget to realize is these mega-stars (and the music label that helped breed them, Hollywood Records) have one bright-eyed blonde to thank for mapping out the blueprint for transitioning from acting to music. And it’s all because of her 2003 sophomore album Metamorphosis.
The LP, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary on August 26, was in many ways by design: Duff’s team saw potential in the teen star, who made a name for herself as the star of Disney’s Lizzie McGuire. With a fanbase already in place, it only made sense to bring her into the music world. She had already proved capable of holding her own on the mic by contributing songs to a Disney Channel compilation and the Lizzie McGuire TV soundtrack. Her 2002 debut, the Christmas album Santa Claus Lane (Buena Vista), further hinted at double threat status.
Metamorphosis cemented that. After signing with Hollywood Records, big names were brought onboard to contribute to the album including Kara DioGuardi, the Matrix (arguably the hottest production team at the time), Charlie Midnight and John Shanks—plus her sister Haylie, to name a few.
A decade later, the major players involved with the album’s creation know that the project wouldn’t have been a success if it weren’t for Hilary. At 15 years old, Hilary was fresh to the music industry but quickly proved to be a natural. Her work ethic, talent and charisma drove the recording process for the album, which debuted at No. 2 on the charts with 203,000 copies, right behind Mary J. Blige. In its second week, it unseated MJB and took the throne, later selling almost four million copies and spawning two major hits, “So Yesterday” and “Come Clean.”
In honor of the album turning 10 years old, we spoke with the team that helped Metamorphosis make history.
Hilary Duff: The actress/singer best known for her breakout role on the hit Disney TV show Lizzie McGuire. After amassing a sizable tween/teen fanbase, Hilary transitioned into films such as The Lizzie McGuire Movie and Cheaper By the Dozen, as well as music. Her 2003 sophomore album, Metamorphosis, went triple platinum. The album was followed by 2004’s self-titled effort and 2007’s Dignity. She also had a clothing line, Stuff By Duff, and is now a wife and mother.
The Beginning:
Hilary Duff: I was working on my show Lizzie McGuire, and the idea of making a full record happened during the first season of filming. I liked the idea of being on stage and enjoyed singing, but it wasn’t totally where my focus was. So I recorded a song for a Disney compilation because I was on the channel and I had a big following. After the show was over was really when we decided to go out and get a full-blown record deal, and Metamorphosis started to come about.
Hilary Duff: I had a little bit of a relationship with [Hollywood Records]. I was originally with Buena Vista because I had done some songs for Disney compilations. I’d really never been in a studio before except to record these [Disney-released] songs and had to decide if I liked it or if I was any good at it and get a reaction from my fans. My feedback was all really great, and I really enjoyed being in the studio, so when we started shopping for a deal I thought, well, we’ll go with Hollywood Records because they’ve dealt with artists individually instead of soundtracks and stuff. It was an interesting thing because I was with Disney—that’s when my career started, that’s who you know to watch my show and know who Hilary Duff was. It kind of felt like a natural progression to go to Hollywood first.
The Sessions:
Hilary Duff: I think I was 14. I was really just into top 40 music. I loved pop music and I didn’t know how to make a record. I met with a lot of producers. I would sit down with them and tell them what I liked listening to and sometimes explain something that went on in my personal life, and I feel like I was really connected to the content. I always chose my music, but not really being an artist yet, I wasn’t a big writer. I didn’t have a ton of ideas going into it. I think I was really in touch with the subject matter and content. I would change things here or there. Everybody loves to say they just cranked me out like I was just a product or whatever, but if there was some song that one of the A&R guys loved but I didn’t love it, they didn’t make me record it.
The Songs:
Hilary Duff:I loved recording “Come Clean.” I really had a good time in the studio with John Shanks. He was really, really, really great about kind of wrapping his arms around me and making me feel comfortable. Kara DioGuardi co-wrote that song with him, and she was someone who really was key throughout the rest of my writing career. She really helped me find my voice.
[With the song’s placement as the opening theme to MTV’s Laguna Beach in 2004], I don’t even really remember a reality show before Laguna Beach. This was more geared toward my age range, so I really watched it. I had a great relationship with MTV, and I was really excited once it came out, and everyone was singing my song again, and maybe even stretched the demographic of people who listened to my music.
One of the funny things was, “So Yesterday” wasn’t one of my favorite songs at all. But I knew who The Matrix was, obviously. So meeting with them was very exciting, and they brought me “So Yesterday,” and I was like, “I don’t know, I don’t know.” But I recorded the song, and once the label heard it everybody started sort of freaking out. It definitely grew on me.
Hilary Duff: “Inner Strength” was an awesome experience. It was the first time Haylie and I really wrote together. It was a specific comfort place for me at the time because my life was changing so fast and so quickly, and it was kind of scary and a lot of times I felt alone or criticized.
The Outcome:
Hilary Duff:I honestly had a really great relationship with [Hollywood Records] and I think they learned a lot on me. I was kind of the model or the blueprint for other artists who are really great and have taken on wonderful careers in their own way. At the start, I think a lot of the basis started with me and what they learned on me, and yeah there were little disagreements here and there or times where they didn’t want me to wear this or that, but I never remember it being too crazy. In the beginning, I remember there was one video shoot where I wanted to wear this top that had all these holes in it and it, and they were like, “We don’t want to show your belly button, blah blah blah.” And I remember being like, “It doesn’t even show my belly button so I’m wearing it!”
The Reception:
The Outcome:
Hilary Duff:I honestly had a really great relationship with [Hollywood Records] and I think they learned a lot on me. I was kind of the model or the blueprint for other artists who are really great and have taken on wonderful careers in their own way. At the start, I think a lot of the basis started with me and what they learned on me, and yeah there were little disagreements here and there or times where they didn’t want me to wear this or that, but I never remember it being too crazy. In the beginning, I remember there was one video shoot where I wanted to wear this top that had all these holes in it and it, and they were like, “We don’t want to show your belly button, blah blah blah.” And I remember being like, “It doesn’t even show my belly button so I’m wearing it!”
The Reception:
Hilary Duff: I think a lot of people think, “Oh, Disney, that’s not cool,” but I think I’ve always been pretty grateful of where I came from because they created so many opportunities for me.
[Compared to former Disney stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera], the difference was I started at 13 on the Disney Channel and I didn’t go anywhere. When they started on Mickey Mouse Club, they were like nine or 10, and I feel like they kind of went away for a while and then broke again. So they came back with a whole new image and it was sexy and a little more provocative and age-appropriate. Whereas I stayed around and did the transition in public, but I never really tried to be super provocative. I think every transition I went through kind of happened organically. It wasn’t too shocking, I guess.
I remember being like 15 and moms would come up to me and being like, “Don’t ever change,” and I’d be like, “What the hell is that supposed to mean, don’t ever change?” I think I just tried to take it with a grain of salt and just be who I am and let changes come and accept them, and I never felt the need to just act out.
More at the source about Hilary breaking down the walls for Disney artists and lots more....
What is your favorite song from Metamorphosis? How old were you when the album was released?
![HilaryDuffComeClean]( "HilaryDuffComeClean")
What is your favorite song from Metamorphosis? How old were you when the album was released?
