Tsunami of the Soul

"Tsunami of the Soul" is a song performed by British recording artist Alesha. It was released on May 19, 2008, by Ensemble Entertainment, as the lead single from her fifth studio album The Second Coming. The song was written and produced by singer-songwriter Shell Ruin, a recurring collaborator of Alesha's. Inspired by Ruin's third studio album The Dirty Is Done (2007), Alesha approached Ruin about working further on Alesha's album.

"Tsunami of the Soul" is an electronic "dance-punk" song that references the aftermath of "Power Power," a 2007 EP that became infamous for its controversy and commercial failure. With its wordy lyrical style, the song is considered a definitive example of the "Shellesha" sound popularized by Alesha and Ruin. Contemporary critics praised the experimental track. "Tsunami of the Soul" was a commercial success, charting at number two behind the Sleazy Sisters and receiving a platinum certification.

The song's accompanying music video was directed by Francis Lawrence and filmed on a soundstage in Los Angeles, California over three days. The video depicts Alesha as a Christlike figure in the wake of a tsunami destroying London, while four previous "incarnations" of Alesha are taken by the storm. Considered one of Alesha's signature songs, "Tsunami of the Soul" was performed by Alesha during many of her subsequent tours and concerts. Additionally, "Tsunami of the Soul" earned nominations for Best Single and Best Video at the 16th Urapopstar Awards.

Background and composition
"Tsunami of the Soul" was written by Shell Ruin, who had previously collaborated with Alesha on the 2007 single "Power Power". While Alesha had written for Shell Ruin's albums in the past, Ruin had never written for Alesha. Impressed by Ruin's third studio album The Dirty Is Done (2007), Alesha tapped Ruin to write and produce. Ruin contributed five tracks to the album. These albums led to a long history of songwriting collaborations between Alesha and Shell Ruin, famous for the "Shellesha" sound.

Musically, "Tsunami of the Soul" has been described as "bold, sassy, slightly loopy and unbelievably catchy." Purposefully cacophonous, Alesha and Ruin wanted to create a "chaotic" soundscape. The song draws influences from industrial and dance-punk. In June 2008, "Tsunami of the Soul" was released as the lead single from The Second Coming. B-sides included previously unheard rack "Time Takes Heart" and a cover of Ol' Dirty Bastard and Kelis' '90s hip-hop classic "Got Your Money" featuring guest vocals from London. The song was also remixed by Twisted Disco, charting at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs.

Critical reception
"Tsunami of the Soul" initially divided critics; some complimented the song's musical direction, and Alesha's aggressiveness, while others criticized the "noise pollution." The song proved popular with audiences, and it was nominated for Best Single at the 16th Urapopstar Awards. In more recent years, "Tsunami of the Soul" gained esteem with contemporary music critics who have noted the track as a definitive example of "the 'Shellesha' sound."

Amos Barshad writing for the New York magazine described "Tsunami of the Soul" as "kind of a monster — aggressive and intense and totally committed". He also called the song declarative and felt that as a lead single, it was "bluntly effective." Latifah Muhammad of AOL's The Boombox commented that "Tsunami of the Soul" took a different route for Aesha, stating that its message was "much more unapologetically aggressive" than that of [previous album] 'Alesha Is the Queen.'" Complimenting its beat, Muhammad wrote that Alesha remains "draped fittingly" beneath the song's insistent marching beat. Jenna Clarke of The Sydney Morning Herald called it an "infectious sounding track" having a catchy dance beat with empowering lyrics and added that the song showcases "a grittier sounding Alesha", yet still following the "power footsteps" of her other chart topping hits such as "Fashion Kills" and "The OH in Ohio" (2007). Jarett Wieselman of the New York Post considered "Tsunami of the Soul" to be one of the most exciting tracks Alesha has ever released.

"Tsunami of the Soul" also garnered mixed reviews from critics who, while commending Alesha for taking risks, agreed that the song was too divergent from her previous work. Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani wrote "[Alesha] misses the mark big time here" and called the song "plain daft".

Commercial response
The song debuted on the official singles chart at number two behind Sleazy Sisters, becoming Alesha’s fourth consecutive top-two hit. "Tsunami of the Soul" became the nineteenth best-selling single of 2008, shifting a total of 331,732 copies overall and receiving a platinum certification.

Music video
The music video for "Tsunami of the Soul" was directed by Francis Lawrence. Filming took place at a sound stage in Burbank, California. Special effects for the music video reportedly cost GBP £500,000. "Tsunami of the Soul" was nominated for Best Video at the 16th Urapopstar Awards.

The music video features four previous "incarnations" of Alesha from earlier studio albums who are all being beckoned by the current Alesha, standing atop a skyscraper as a storm brews. The four previous Aleshas head to the top of the building as furious waves begin to rise in the seas. As they reach the top of the skyscraper, a huge wave crashes into it. The skyscaper begins to crumble, and eventually submerges underwater. As the wave washes away, the current Alesha is the only one still standing. Lightning begins to strike around Alesha, who rises into the air and imitates the stance of Christ on the cross. A glowing light surrounds and eventually consumes her, while waters rise and waves destroy the city. A bolt of lightning strikes directly in the viewers' field of vision, ending the video with a flash of white light.

Live performances
"Tsunami of the Soul" was performed for the first time on 2008's Jesus Christ Supertour, which launched on August 1 in Dublin, Ireland. Preceded by "The OH in Ohio," "Tsunami of the Soul" closes the show's encore and therefore is the final song of the concert.

At the 16th Urapopstar Awards in 2009, Alesha performed the Best Single nominee as part of a medley with "Apocalypse City". A crowd of "fans" and photographers are at the end of the stage, reaching to touch Alesha. Alesha takes off her Gareth Pugh designed outfit to reveal a shimmering silver playsuit. A (staged) PETA protester attempts to throw red paint at Alesha, but ends up covering herself. Whip in tow, Alesha rises on a platform which, with glass LCD screens, gives the illusion of being a building. A heavy rain starts to take over the stage, and in an allusion to the song's video, Alesha remains the last one standing.

Alesha performed "Tsunami of the Soul" on 2009's Apocalypse City Live as the finale before the encore, while it was included in the first set of 2010's The Reckoning. "Tsunami of the Soul" was also featured prominently at 2010's Judgment Day, a televised greatest hits concert at Wembley Stadium. Alesha performed the song on 2011's Heathen Tour, despite failing to perform many early hits.

Track listing

 * CD1
 * 1) ”Tsunami of the Soul"
 * 2) ”Got Your Money" (featuring London)
 * CD2
 * 1) ”Tsunami of the Soul"
 * 2) "Time Takes Hearts"
 * 3) ”Tsunami of the Soul" (Indonesian Underwater Adventures MetroMix)
 * 4) ”Tsunami of the Soul" (Twisted Disco Mix)
 * 5) ”Tsunami of the Soul" (music video)


 * Digital remix EP
 * 1) ”Tsunami of the Soul"
 * 2) ”Tsunami of the Soul" (Indonesian Underwater Adventures MetroMix)
 * 3) ”Tsunami of the Soul" (Twisted Disco Mix)
 * 4) ”Tsunami of the Soul" (Tony Lamezma's Warm Front)
 * 5) ”Tsunami of the Soul" (Petra Nemcova Hanging Off a Tree in Thailand Remix)