I Am... (Ayumi Hamasaki album)
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| I Am... | ||||||||||
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| Studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki | ||||||||||
| Released | January 1, 2002 | |||||||||
| Recorded | 2000-2001 | |||||||||
| Genre | J-pop, pop rock, alternative rock, soft rock | |||||||||
| Length | 70:53 | |||||||||
| Label | Avex Trax | |||||||||
| Producer | Max Matsuura, Ferry Corsten | |||||||||
| Ayumi Hamasaki chronology | ||||||||||
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I Am... is the fourth full-length studio album by Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released on January 1, 2002 in Japan. The album marked an evolution in Hamasaki's lyrical and musical style: Hamasaki began to move away from the themes of "loneliness and confusion" that had marked her previous albums and began to incorporate elements of rock music in her songs.
I Am... was a commercial success, both in Japan (selling over 2 million copies) and in other Asian countries. In Singapore, I Am... sold over 10,000 copies, unusual for a Japanese album.
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[edit] Influence
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Hamasaki had a "change of heart": although she had already been planning the album since early 2001, she dropped her original idea for the album after the attacks. Influenced by the events, Hamasaki departed from the themes of "loneliness and confusion" that had marked her previous releases and focused on more worldly themes, such as faith and peace.[1][2] The lyrics of "A Song Is Born," in particular, were directly influenced by the attacks. Hamasaki also revised the album artwork to fit in with her new themes: she portrayed herself on the album cover as a "peace muse," clad in vines and with a dove seated on her shoulder—with the dove representing peace. The liner notes also depicted Hamasaki thus, as did the television advertisement for the album.
The outlook inspired by the September 11 attacks extended beyond the album. Before I Am..., Hamasaki felt that she would not enter an Asian market; thus, she never performed outside Japan and did not use English in her lyrics. However, shortly after the release of the album, she performed at the 2002 MTV Asia Music Awards ceremony, her first performance held outside Japan.[3]
[edit] Composition and musical style
I Am... marked the beginning of Hamasaki's increased control over her music, as she began to compose herself, under the pseudonym "Crea".[4] The decision to compose her own songs came about when she was composing "M", the lead single of the album. None of the melodies composed by her staff fit her vision of the song, and she decided to compose herself. Finding that by composing herself, she produced songs closer to what she had in mind, she composed nearly all the songs on the album.
Many of the songs on the album shift keys; most shift to a relative key. "M" and "Still Alone" shift to the parallel key; "Evolution" and "Naturally" shift to the dominant and subdominant keys, respectively.[5] Hamasaki began to incorporate rock and electronica into her music.[4][6] The album uses a variety of instruments. "M" uses piano, strings, bells, and electric guitar; "A Song Is Born" used a synthesizer; and "Endless Sorrow" and "No More Words" used piano and orchestral strings.
The track "M" was also mistakenly called Maria, referring to the "Maria" in the song.
[edit] Track listing
All lyrics written by Ayumi Hamasaki.
| No. | Title | Music | Arranger(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Am..." | Crea | Tadashi Kikuchi + tasuku | 5:31 |
| 2. | "Opening Run" (instrumental) | CMJK | CMJK | 0:57 |
| 3. | "Connected" | Ferry Corsten (system F) | Ferry Corsten (system F) | 3:19 |
| 4. | "Unite!" | Crea | Hal | 4:59 |
| 5. | "Evolution" | Crea | Hal | 4:40 |
| 6. | "Naturally" | Crea | CMJK | 4:16 |
| 7. | "Never Ever" | Crea | Chokkaku | 4:40 |
| 8. | "Still Alone" | Crea | CMJK | 5:54 |
| 9. | "Daybreak" | Crea, D.A.I, Junichi Matsuda | Tasuku | 4:48 |
| 10. | "Taskinlude" (instrumental) | Tasuku | Tasuku | 4:26 |
| 11. | "M" | Crea | Hal | 4:26 |
| 12. | "A Song Is Born" (solo version by Hamasaki) | Tetsuya Komuro | Tetsuya Komuro | 6:16 |
| 13. | "Dearest" | Crea, D.A.I | Naoto Suzuki | 5:32 |
| 14. | "No More Words" | Crea, D.A.I | Naoto Suzuki, Tasuku | 5:41 |
| 15. | "Endless Sorrow" (Gone with the Wind Ver.) | Crea | CMJK | 5:12 |
| 16. | "Flower Garden" (secret track) | Crea, D.A.I | 2:38 |
[edit] Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Catalogue Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | January 1, 2001 | CD | AVCD-17037 |
| Taiwan | |||
| Hong Kong | |||
| China | 2001
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CD | AVTCD-95550
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| Cassette | |||
December 25, 2005
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CD |
[edit] Charts
- Oricon Chart (Japan)[7]
| Release | Chart | Peak position | First Week Sales | Sales total | Chart run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2002 | Oricon Daily Album Chart | 1 | |||
| Oricon Weekly Album Chart | 1 | 1,751,360 | 2,308,112 | 25 | |
| Oricon Monthly Album Chart | 1 | ||||
| Oricon Yearly Album Chart | 2 |
[edit] Singles
| Date | Title | Peak position | Weeks | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 13, 2000 | "M" | 1 | 18 weeks | 1,319,070 |
| January 31, 2001 | "Evolution" | 1 | 17 weeks | 955,250 |
| March 7, 2001 | "Never Ever" | 1 | 12 weeks | 756,980 |
| May 16, 2001 | "Endless Sorrow" | 1 | 11 weeks | 768,510 |
| July 11, 2001 | "Unite!" | 1 | 17 weeks | 571,110 |
| September 27, 2001 | "Dearest" | 1 | 16 weeks | 750,420 |
| December 12, 2001 | "A Song Is Born" | 1 | 10 weeks | 441,410 |
| March 6, 2002 | "Daybreak (re-cut single)" | 2 | 9 weeks | 197,140 |
- Total Single Sales: 5,759,890
- Total Album and Single Sales: 8,068,002
[edit] References
- ^ "Empress of Pop". Time. March 25, 2002. p. 5. http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover5.html. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
- ^ Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "I have very clear ideas of what I want". Time. p. 1. http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/int_ayumi.html. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
- ^ Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "The Many Faces of Ayu". Time. p. 7. http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/photoessay/7.html. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
- ^ a b Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "I have very clear ideas of what I want". Time. p. 2. http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/int_ayumi2.html. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
- ^ Ayumi Hamasaki - Piano Solo - New Piano Sounds Top 25. Volume 7. ISBN 978-4-89638-944-9
- ^ Kitazawa (April 8, 2008). "Hamasaki Ayumi against the Music". YesAsia. http://us.yesasia.com/en/mc/-/47S016957W/Emagazine/ArticlePage.aspx/articleId-163/. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
- ^ http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/music/464205/1/
{{Navbox Musical artist | background = solo_singer | name = Ayumi Hamasaki | title = Ayumi Hamasaki
| group1 = Studio albums | list1 = A Song for ×× · Loveppears · Duty · I Am... · Rainbow · My Story · (Miss)understood · Secret · Guilty · Next Level · Rock 'n' Roll Circus · Love Songs{{·w} Party queen
| group2 = EPs | list2 = Nothing from Nothing · Memorial Address · Five
| group3 = Compilations | list3 = A Best · A Ballads · A Best 2 (White · Black) · A Complete: All Singles
| group4 = Remixes | list4 = Ayu-mi-x · Ayu-ro Mix · Ayu-mi-x II Jpn · Ayu-mi-x II US+EU · Ayu-mi-x II Orch. · Ayu-mi-x II Mix · Ayu-mi-x III Mix · Ayu-mi-x III Orch. · Ayu-ro Mix 2 · Ayu Trance · Ayu-mi-x 4 Mix · Ayu-mi-x 4 Orch. · Ayu Trance 2 · Ayu-mi-x 5 Mix · Ayu Trance 3 · Ayu-ro Mix 3 · My Story Classical · Ayu-mi-x 6: Gold · Ayu-mi-x 6: Silver · Ayu-mi-x 7 Version House · Ayu-mi-x 7 Version Acoustic Orchestra · Ayu-mi-x 7 Presents Ayu Trance 4 · Ayu-mi-x 7 Presents Ayu-ro Mix 4 · Ayu-mi-x 7 Limited Complete Box Set
| group5 = Concert Tours | list5 = 2000 Tour (Vol.1 · Vol.2) · 2001 Dome Tour · 2002 Arena Tour · 2002 Statium Tour · Limited TA Live Tour · 2003-4 Arena Tour · My Story Tour · (Miss)understood Tour · Tour of Secret · 10th Aniversary Tour · Next Level Tour · Rock’n'Roll Circus Tour Final
| group6 = Countdown Lives | list6 = 2000-2001 A · 2001-2002 A · 2002-2003 A · 2004-2005 A · 2005-2006 A · 2006-2007 A · 2007-2008 Anniversary · Premium 2008-2009 A · 2009-2010 A: Future Classics · 2010-2011 A: Do It Again
| group7 = DVDs | list7 = A Film for ×× · A Clips · A Clips Vol.2 · Ayumi Hamasaki Complete Live Box A · Complete Clip Box · Distance Love · Tsuki ni Shizumu
| group8 = Filmography | list8 = Twins Teacher · Battle Spirits Ryūko no Ken · Sumomo mo Momo · Miseinen · Like Grains of Sand · Gakko II
| group9 = See also | list9 = Discography · Concerts · Awards and records · Ayu no Deji Deji Nikki
}}
