When Idina Menzel's third album, "
I Stand" was released on January 29th, 2008, members of
SB rushed to stores and their mailboxes and unwrapped the 11 track CD and promptly loaded it into their CD players.
Little did they know how much of a treat they were in for as the album was filled with powerful ballads, contemporary pop tunes, and incredible and moving lyrics.
Fans watched with glee as WBR promoted the album in newspapers, magazines, radio stations, tv stations and signing events, but
SBers are a special breed of Idina fans. Many took it upon themselves to promote "
I Stand" in their local communities, in their circle of friends and family and to the larger public.
Below are examples of some of the things done by
SBers to promote "
I Stand"
~Made my friends watch a ton of videos of Idina on YouTube in order to convince them to buy the CD.
~Put the CD cover on the dashboard of my parents car so that when ever someone walked by the car (if we were parked in a large parking lot or something) they would notice the picture and stare at it.
Aleigha, Rochester, NY
~Set Google chat and AIM status telling everyone about “I Stand” with a picture of the CD.
~Played the CD in the office for 3 days straight.
~Suggested “Brave” in a Facebook group as a song that was helping me deal with the Northern Illinois University shooting (alma mater).
~Used the Idina tote bag at the library, going to work, and visiting family.
~Set “Brave” as my MySpace profile song.
Amanda G., Evanston, IL~Put notes everywhere at home to say that “I Stand” comes out on 29th January (e.g. on calendars, memo boards, computer desktop etc.)
~Ordered the "I Stand" special edition package as soon as I could.
~Advertised on my MySpace, Facebook, and MSN.
~Blasted "I Stand" constantly at home and in the car.
~Played different songs at birthday parties in hope that my friends get interested- they did!
~When Wicked came up in music class, I helped my teacher get the name “Idina Menzel” across to everyone and got people in my class to recognize this woman’s amazing talents.
~Had chats with friends about "I Stand" and Idina.
~Decorated my school planner with the lyrics of the song “I Stand”
~Managed to get my classmates to read the lyrics of their own accord (every one of them loving it!)
~Sang my favourite songs from “I Stand,” especially: “I Feel Everything,” “I Stand,” “Better To Have Loved,” “ Let Me Fall.”
~Played songs from ‘I Stand’ on the piano.
~Made my mom into a fan, causing her to talk about it to other people she knew.
~Requested “Brave” on radio stations (via the internet) - even though the stations are in America.
~Gave high ratings on a lot of websites.
~Took the tote bag that came with the CD package out shopping (although only once…)!
Amy C., Birmingham, UK
~Bought copies for friends and played the songs many times for them.
~Introduced a friend to Idina’s music by bringing her to the signing in Syosset.
~Wrote a review of the CD in my school newspaper.
~Requested songs from the CD on the radio.
~Moved the CD to the front of the rack in stores.
Ariel R., Eastchester, NY
~Bought a copy as a present for my sister.
~Played the album on several road trips with both family and friends.
~Played it around my flat to my flatmates.
Emma C., UK
~Used the tote bag since the day I got it in the mail as a bookbag, purse...everything!
~When at Walmart, Target, Borders, etc, I always check to see where "I Stand" is on the shelf, and then move the copies if they're at the back, or move them to a more obvious spot on the shelf.
~Made my best friend listen to the CD repeatedly...it was the only thing I listened to for a LONG time, both in my car and in my dorm room - as a result, I'm sure the people living next to me were introduced to Idina, too!
~Had a countdown (with visuals!) on my dorm room door counting down the days until the CD was released.
~Requested "Brave" on the local stations, as well as on 2 of the Sirius satellite radio stations.
~When I made a mix CD to play at the community center I did my internship at this semester, I made sure to include about half of the songs on "I Stand" on it, plus I brought it in for us to listen to during an activity.
~I've made MySpace layouts advertising Idina and "I Stand"
~Changed my display name on MySpace and status messages on Facebook to include something (to one extent or another) either counting down the days until the release of "I Stand" or saying something about Idina and the CD.
Erin B., Terre Haute, IN
~Bought 2 copies of "I Stand"
~Moved "I Stand" to the front of the shelves in numerous stores so that more people would see it.
~Wrote a speech about Idina and in it I told everyone they should go out and buy "I Stand"
~Made sure "I Stand" was playing in the car anytime I went anywhere.
Griselda V., Dalton,GA
~Made sure “I Stand” was playing in my car when I had passengers.
~Changed my wallpaper on my computer at work to a screenshot of the “Brave” music video.
~Contacted local radio stations asking them to play “Brave”
~Moved CD’s to more prominent locations on the shelves.
~Asked store employees if they carried “I Stand”, just so I would have an excuse to talk about it.
~Created an imeem playlist of my favorite songs for use on my MySpace page.
~Posted “Brave” music video on my MySpace page.
~With the help of several other fans, replayed “Brave” music video over and over on YouTube to get it on the “Most Watched” video list - It worked!
~Wrote reviews on multiple websites such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target, etc.
~Sent links to “Brave” video to my friends.
~Created a “Let Me Fall” ringtone and made sure my phone was set to ring, rather than on vibrate, as much as possible.
~When going through the drive thru I make sure something from “I Stand” is playing in my car. I've actually had two Starbucks baristas and an In-N-Out cashier ask me what I'm listening to.
Julie T., San Diego, CA
~Moved copies of "I Stand" to the Best Sellers and Grammy Winners sections of local record stores to bring attention to them.
~Helped to organise and run the IdinaMenzelFans youtube account.
~Added the promotional banners from IdinaMenzel.com to my blog entries.
~Continued constant promotion at the IdinaMenzel Livejournal Community.
~Wouldn't stop talking about the CD and forced almost everyone to listen to it.
~While working as an intern at MTV Canada, I made a point to create interest in booking Idina as a guest for Canadian promotions.
Kevin T., Toronto, Canada
~Wrote an “’I Stand’ Release Countdown” on the blackboards of my chorus and orchestra rooms.
~Bought extra copies for my friends.
~Brought my 4 friends to the Syosset Borders signing, who all bought the CD.
~Requested “Brave” on local radio stations.
~Reminded all of my friends and family of the release date.
Kristen L., Port Jefferson Station, NY
~Told everyone I knew that "I Stand" was being released on the 29th of January.
~Moved "I Stand" in front of other CDs so people would see it.
~Put copies that were out of place in their rightful spot.
~Have "I Feel Everything" as my ringtone so people will hear it when someone calls me.
Laura M., Sarasota, FL
~Made a mix CD for a party with Idina songs.
~Left her CD in the car I share with my roommates and took out all of the other CDs.
~Made IdinaMenzel.com the homepage for the computer at work.
Leah O., Pittsburgh, PA~Played “I Stand” CD in the theatre before tech, with a "I'm doing a speakers soundcheck" excuse.
~Did a transcription for "Brave" for a school assignment and got my lecturer interested in Idina's music.
~Did some free advertising for the CD on my blog.
~Set the album's front cover as my display picture on MSN and raved on about the album when someone notices it.
~Announced to the whole world when the CD was found in Singapore.
~Carried the CD around where ever I went just so I have it when I need to introduce it to a friend.
Lydia A., Singapore
~Paid for her the CD, which is a big deal in this techno-savvy society.
Mariana D., Fortaleza, Brazil
~I had a substitute in class, and she was talking about music she liked so I asked her if she knew Idina Menzel. She said yes she loved her so of course I told her about “I Stand”. The next week she found me and said “Thanks for telling me to get this CD. It’s amazing!”
~Each song has been my MySpace song at least once, and people have told me they loved the music.
~Got my one friend into “Brave,” and now all of the sudden all of my friends are obsessed with the song.
~Put “I Stand” in the front of Target stores and FYE!
~Practically ran around my school singing all of the songs. A lot of people are like “What’s that song, I like it.”
~Told everybody I know about the album and now almost every single one of my friends has most of “I Stand” on their ipods!
Melissa C., Toms River NJ
~Moved copies of “I Stand” to places of more prominence in several different Targets.
~Started a countdown on the dry erase board in my English class and educated my classmates about the upcoming release.
~Played the CD several times in my English class.
~Voted 500 times for Brave on the VH1 video countdown.
Meredith B., Opp, AL
~Gave my mom a copy of “I Stand” for Valentine's Day.
~Clandestinely moved “I Stand” to the front of the M section in various music stores.
Natalie A., Berkeley, CA
~Played it in the car with friends on long car rides (and short)
~E-mailed the link to “Brave” video on YouTube to friends to check out.
~Played it at my house when people were over and at family dinners.
~Put it in featured places of local CD stores.
~Called and e-mailed multiple Toronto-based radio stations to see if they had the song and could play it.
Natalie G., Burlington, Canada
~Bought “Brave” single as soon as it came on New Zealand itunes.
~Made parents, friends, new friends, and everyone listen to the CD.
~Play the CD with my door open so that people can hear it in the corridor.
Olivia M., New Zealand
~Told all my friends about the CD months before it even came out.
~Reviewed it (and gave it a good review!) in the local paper.
~Played the CD when my friends were around (and they really liked it too!)
Sierra F., Southampton, PA
~Told everyone I know about “I Stand” and about the wonderful artist who recorded it.
~Put links to the Official website and the “Brave” video up on my MySpace page and on my fanfiction.net profile.
~Moved the CD from it's location in the back of the music section up front where the bestseller and hot CDs were.
~Checked the music section at my local Barnes and Noble every time I visit to make sure they keep the CD in a highly visible location and move it if they don't.
~Requested “Brave” on my local radio station.
~Requested that my local library order a copy of “I Stand” so that more people have access to it.
~Told my niece in the Ukraine about you and told her to buy the CD if she sees it there and sent her links to the music video.
Yana R., West Hartford, CT
