Fergie is re-releasing her album The Dutchess and for what reason I really couldn't tell you why. The album to date has sold more than six million copies worldwide and has spawned 5 top 5 hits. I would be more than justified in saying that this album was extremely successful. The album was released in the U.S. on September 19, 2006 which is getting close to almost two years now. That's about the length of time a lot of artist tend to wait to release a new album, so why are there talks about re-releasing an album that has already stood its test of time?

"That's what everyone's doing nowadays, I hear," says Fergie. "The label came to me and said this would be a good idea, and I thought, 'Well, OK, if this is another way for me to put out these songs that I've been wanting people to hear, then great.' The music business is changing, and this repackage thing is a new way for people to put out songs that they want people to hear, so I'm cool with it."

The funny thing is, there is a lot of truth to what she says but many times when I see an album being re-released, it's not because people just want to share some extra songs, it's because the album tanked and they try to revive it without doing a whole new album. What since does this make for Fergie?



The U.S. version of the re-released album will host five new tracks including the song "Party People" feat. Nelly. That track will also show up on his album (which I might add was set to tank so they tried to revive its appeal with some new stuff). If you're going to do five new songs, why not just wait a few more months and do a completely new album with all new material. Why do people have to be subjected to buying half of the same album they already bought before? Just sell them as iTunes singles if the point is just to put out a few new songs.

Granted this could prove to be a very successful idea, but I think most consumers are smarter than that and unless Fergie is one of your top favorite artist, I couldn't justify buying the same album with five new songs. Kelly Rowland was smart in releasing her well deservingly tanked album Ms. Kelly with a new version Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe which featured five new songs as a digital release. I might add, the digital release album puts the full length album to shame!

The Dutchess Deluxe Edition will be available May 27th.



Aaron Fields writes for KSTW-TV in Seattle. All opinions expressed in this column are his.