For Bitter or Worse

For Bitter or Worse is Anouk's sixth studio album, released in 2009, and presents a more melodic and polished sound within her catalogue.

Written in the aftermath of Anouk's divorce from Remon Stotijn, the album carries a clear personal and emotional undercurrent. While still rooted in pop and rock, it also draws on elements of blues, soul and jazz, giving it a broader character than some of her earlier work.

Its lead single Three Days in a Row became Anouk's first number-one hit in the Netherlands. Across its twelve tracks, the record places greater emphasis on arrangement, atmosphere and vocal delivery, while maintaining a strong emotional core. A notable visual detail is that Anouk's name appears on the cover as an ambigram.

Before its official release, For Bitter or Worse briefly appeared online in the iTunes Store due to an administrative error, after which it was quickly removed again.

On 17 September 2009, shortly before the album's release, Anouk presented For Bitter or Worse during an intimate showcase at Paradiso in Amsterdam, focusing largely on songs from the new record, which she said felt especially nerve-racking in such a small setting.