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Past Future

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For Past Future, a rock-classical album with Göteborgs Symfoniker, see Magnus Rosén.
The correct title of this article is Past<Future. The substitution of any brackets is due to technical restrictions.
Past<Future
Original standard edition
Studio album by
Namie Amuro
ReleasedDecember 16, 2009 (2009-12-16)
Recorded2008–2009
Genre
Length49:07
LabelAvex Trax
Producer
Namie Amuro chronology
Best Fiction
(2008) 		Past<Future
(2009) 		Checkmate!
(2011)
Alternative cover
CD+DVD edition and digital download artwork
Singles from Past<Future
  1. "Wild/Dr."
    Released: March 18, 2009

Past<Future is the ninth studio album by Japanese pop singer Namie Amuro. It was released on December 16, 2009, through Avex Trax. This was her first original album to be released in two and a half years. The record came after the release of her blockbuster greatest hits album Best Fiction (2008), which sold over a million copies. Unlike her previous studio albums, Queen of Hip-Pop (2005) and Play (2007), Past<Future features a more electropop and synth-pop sound that was prevalent in the Western music charts at the time.

Past<Future received positive reviews from music critics, with praise being directed towards its production values and sound. Commercially, the album was a success in Japan, hitting the top spot on the Oricon Albums Chart, and has since been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for over 500,000 copies sold nationwide. The album reached number one on Taiwan's G-Music's J-pop Chart. It also reached number one on South Korea's Hanteo weekly and monthly albums charts. Past<Future was Amuro's best-selling original album since Genius 2000 (2000), which sold over 800,000 copies.

The only physical single to be released from the album is the double A-side single "Wild/Dr.." The single was a commercial success, becoming Amuro's eleventh chart-topper on the Oricon Singles Chart, as well as "Wild" being her second chart-topper on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. The album additionally features the promotional singles "Fast Car," "My Love" and "Copy That," with the latter two appearing in "Premium Vidal Sassoon" commercials in which she starred in. Amuro promoted Past<Future by embarking on the Namie Amuro Past Future Tour 2010 hall tour, which ran from April to December 2010.

Background

[edit]

In July 2008, Amuro released the greatest hits album Best Fiction.[1] The album was extremely successful, selling 681,187 copies in the first week and debuting at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart.[2] Within its third week, Best Fiction sold over one million units, making her the first artist to have a million-selling album in three consecutive life generations (Sweet 19 Blues at age 18, 181920 at age 20 and Best Fiction at age 30).[3][4] Best Fiction spent six consecutive weeks at the number-one position, becoming the first album to do so in more than 14 years since Dreams Come True's 1993 album Magic.[5] By the end of 2008, Best Fiction became the year's second best-selling album right behind Exile's Exile Love.[6] In addition, it became the second best selling digital-format album by a Japanese artist behind Hikaru Utada's Heart Station.[7] Best Fiction was awarded the Album of the Year award at the 50th Japan Record Awards (analogous to Album of the Year from the Grammy Awards).[8] To promote the album, Amuro embarked on the Best Fiction Tour, which ran from October 25, 2008, to July 12, 2009.[9] It was estimated that she played to an audience as high as 500,000, potentially the largest audience of her career to that point.[10] The Live DVD and Blu-ray of the tour were released on September 9, 2009.[11]

Amuro first revealed in the March 2009 issue of S Cawaii that she was preparing a new album which she would begin recording during her Best Fiction Tour. In the interview, she also confirmed that the direction of the album would be different from her previous album. Confirmation of the impending release of Amuro's ninth studio album occurred several months later when media outlets began to report new commercials with new songs by the singer would appear not in a new single, but a new album in the near future.[12] On October 22, 2009, it was announced that Amuro would have a new album coming out by the end of the year, with its title being undecided at the time.[13] On November 26, 2009, the album title was revealed along with its cover art.[14] Amuro stated that she saw Past<Future as a "fresh start" following the highly successful Best Fiction.[15]

Composition

[edit]
Dsign Music, one of Amuro's collaborators on the album

Unlike Play (2007), which was produced solely by Michico and T.Kura of Giant Swing Productions and Nao'ymt,[16] Amuro sought other writers and producers for this project.[17] Dsign Music, a Scandinavian production team was the first to reveal that they had written new material for Amuro on their official website on June 12, 2009.[18] In a blog entry, songwriter/producer, Hiro, who has written for other artists including Kumi Koda and J Soul Brothers, confirmed that he produced "My Love."[19] The lyrics to "Love Game" were written by R&B artist Double,[17] who Amuro previously collaborated with on the song "Black Diamond" a year prior.[20] "Steal My Night" was written by urban-pop producer Jeff Miyahara.[17]

The album begins with R&B track "Fast Car."[21] "Copy That" is an upbeat song that features a "James Bond theme"-style intro.[21] "Love Game" is a dance-pop song with lyrics comparing love to boxing.[21] The song "Bad Habit" is a club track with a heavy bassline.[21] "Steal my Night" is a song with a reggaeton beat that was also used in 2005's "Want Me, Want Me."[21] "First Timer" is a techno-pop song that includes a rap feature from Doberman Inc.[21]

"Wild" is an up-tempo electropop song that incorporates synthesizers and keyboards.[22] Although the sound was created with a dance-oriented rhythm, Michico and T. Kura revealed that the lyrics had a deeper meaning that reflected Japan's freefalling childbirth rate.[23] As a result, they desired to write lyrics that conveyed an important social message while also attempting to "have fun" and "get wild."[23] "Dr." is an R&B and opera-inspired dance-pop song which samples an orchestral section from "Boléro", composed by French conductor Maurice Ravel.[21][24][25] "Shut Up" is a song with rock elements, which is further enhanced by the vocal effects.[21] "My Love" is a US-style R&B song that uses synth sounds and autotune.[21] "The Meaning Of Us" is a piano-driven pop ballad.[21] The album's closing number "Defend Love" is a futuristic club track.[21]

Release and formats

[edit]

Past<Future was released on December 16, 2009, her ninth studio album overall.[17] It was released in two versions: a CD+DVD edition and a CD only edition.[17] The first press of both versions came housed in a digipak, and pre-orders came with an original poster. The album contains 12 songs totaling nearly 50 minutes in length. Six music videos were included on the CD+DVD format: "Fast Car," "Love Game," "Wild," "The Meaning of Us," "Dr." and "Defend Love."[17] Shoji Uchida shot the album artwork and photoshoot, with both editions depicting Amuro ripping up the cover of Best Fiction.[17] The album's art direction was handled by Kazoo Sato and Katsuhiro Shimizu, creative direction handled by Sato and its booklet was designed by Shimizu.[17]

Promotion

[edit]

Singles and other songs

[edit]
Amuro's image promoting her song Wild on a Coca-Cola vending machine in October 2009

The only physical single to be released from this album is the double A-side single "Wild/Dr." The single was a success, becoming her eleventh number one on the Oricon Singles Chart.[26] "Wild" became her second number one on the Japan Hot 100, according to Billboard Japan.[27] The single sold over 119,000 units in Japan, her seventh highest selling single in the 2000s decade, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for exceeding shipments of 100,000 units.[28][29] Both "Wild" and "Dr." served as advertising jingles for Coca-Cola Zero and Vidal Sassoon respectively.[30][31] After the release of the single "Wild/Dr.," the first songs to be promoted from the album were "My Love" and "Copy That," which appeared in new commercials for Vidal Sassoon. They premiered on the web first and later on television in October 2009.[32] "My Love" would later make its radio premiere on J-Wave's Groove Line on October 27.[33] Both "My Love" and "Copy That" were released as ringtones online on November 18. Two more songs from the album, "Fast Car" and "The Meaning Of Us" also made their radio premieres on November 23 and 24.[34]

Music videos

[edit]

The music video for "Fast Car" was directed by Shigeaki Kubo.[35] It has an Elizabethan theme, but is primarily a dance video. The music video for "Love Game" was also directed by Shigeaki Kubo;[36] it depicts Amuro and her dancers having various dance battles on digital stages, with the teams distinguished by the color of their outfits (black or white). The music video for "Wild" was directed by Caviar,[37] which features a futuristic space theme and costumes.

The music video for "The Meaning Of Us," which was directed by Shigeaki Kubo,[38] features Amuro alone in a house during several timelines and the video alternates between these scenes. The music video for "Dr." is entirely animated and is Amuro's first fully animated music video. It was animated by Kamikaze Douga, and directed by Mizusaki Junpei.[39] Tanakazoo directed the music video for "Defend Love."[40] The "Defend Love" music video was a collaboration with Sunrise Animation, featuring Namie Amuro as an animated character interacting with Amuro Ray of Mobile Suit Gundam.[41] Part of the video re-creates the encounter between Amuro Ray and Lalah Sune in the Ghost of Solomon event, with Namie Amuro in place of Lalah piloting a pink Elmeth.[42]

Live performances

[edit]

To promote the album, Amuro embarked on the hall tour Namie Amuro Past Future Tour 2010 from April to November 2010, with added dates in December 2010. In all, the tour spanned 85 dates across Japan. The December 1st and 7th dates at the Tokyo International Forum, Hall A were originally scheduled for October 14, 2010, and October 15, 2010, but due to inflammation of the vocal cords, these dates were postponed and later added with additional performances at that venue.[43] The concert tour lasted for 8 months and drew in about 210,000 spectators.[44] The live DVD Namie Amuro Past Future Tour 2010, which included the Tokyo leg of the tour, also topped the music DVD rankings for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in total.[45]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rolling Stone Japan[46]
CD Journal(positive)[21]

Past<Future received positive responses from music critics. Takurō Ueno rated the album four and a half out of five stars on Rolling Stone Japan.[46] He gave the album a glowing review, stating: "Amuro's vocals are perfectly integrated with the sound in songs that range from futuristic to rock, such as "First Timer" and the already released single "Wild/Dr.." This ambitious work is unstoppable."[46]

A mini-review from CD Journal stated that: "the majority of the songs are mixed to compete with the beat-enhanced backing, and the efforts of her delicate voice are quite stimulating."[21]

Chart performance

[edit]
Past<Future became the first album by a female soloist to top the first half of the year ranking with an album since 2004, having previously been set by Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1 by Hikaru Utada (pictured).

Past<Future debuted at number one on the daily Oricon Albums Chart, with a first day sales tally of around 112,000 copies.[47] At the end of its first week of release, the album went on to top the weekly Oricon Albums Chart, selling 330,742 copies.[48] With the number one position of this album, she became the first solo artist to have an original album top the charts in each age group from her debut as a teenager through her 20s and into her 30s.[49] Past<Future also topped the charts in five Asian countries and regions, with Japan included, thus becoming the first Japanese female artist in history to achieve this record.[50]

The album dropped to number three on the chart on its second week, logging sales of 87,210 copies.[51] It stayed at number three on its third week, shifting 79,187 copies.[52] Past<Future stayed in the top ten one last week on its fourth week, ranking at number nine and selling 15,488 copies.[53] The album stayed in the top 300 chart for a total of forty-two weeks.[54] Past<Future was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in December 2009 for selling over 500,000 copies.[55]

According to Oricon, Amuro's album Past<Future was the number one album of 2010 for the first six months of the fiscal year; making it the first time since her debut in 1992 that she topped the first half year album ranking.[56] This was also the first time in six years since Hikaru Utada's Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1 in 2004 that a female soloist topped the first half of the year ranking with an album.[56] In December 2010, Past<Future was named the sixth best-selling album of 2010 in Japan with 574,525 copies sold, and was also the year's second best-selling album by a female soloist behind Kana Nishino's To Love.[57] According to Oricon Style, Past<Future is Amuro's eighth best-selling album overall.[58]

Track listing

[edit]
CD
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."Fast Car"TigerAnne Judith Wik, Ronny Svendsen, Robin Jenssen, Nermin Harambasic, Chris YoungDsign Music3:20
2."Copy That"MichicoT.Kura, MichicoT.Kura for Giant Swing Productions4:25
3."Love Game"DoubleAnthony Anderson, Joleen Belle, Jaden Michaels, Steve SmithAnthony Anderson & Steve Smith for SA TrackWorks Productions3:39
4."Bad Habit"TigerHugo Lira, Thomas Gustafsson, Negin, lan-Paolo LiraH.Lira, T.Gustafsson, I-P Lira for Random Music3:10
5."Steal My Night"Jeff Miyahara, Kanata OkajimaJeff MiyaharaJeff Miyahara3:32
6."First Timer" (featuring Doberman Inc)Michico, Doberman IncT.Kura, Michico, Doberman IncT.Kura for Giant Swing Productions5:24
7."Wild"MichicoT.Kura, MichicoT.Kura for Giant Swing Productions3:18
8."Dr."Nao'ymtNao'ymtNao'ymt5:41
9."Shut Up"Nao'ymtNao'ymtNao'ymt4:08
10."My Love"HiroHiroHiro for Digz, Inc.4:04
11."The Meaning of Us"Momo "Mocha" N.Momo "Mocha" N., U-key ZoneU-Key Zone4:28
12."Defend Love"Nao'ymtNao'ymtNao'ymt4:03
Total length:49:07
DVD
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Fast Car" (Music video)Shigeaki Kubo3:25
2."Love Game" (Music video)Shigeaki Kubo3:56
3."Wild" (Music video)Caviar3:22
4."The Meaning of Us" (Music video)Shigeaki Kubo4:35
5."Dr." (Music video)Junpei Mizusaki (Kamikaze Douga), Shuichi Sato, Yasuhiko Shimizu5:54
6."Defend Love" (Music video)Tanakazoo & Yusuke Tanaka4:26

Charts

[edit]

Sales and certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[63] 2× Platinum 575,763[62]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Amuro, Namie (2008). Best Fiction (CD album; Liner notes). Namie Amuro. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-23651.
  2. ^ Oricon Style Staff (August 11, 2008). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 11, 2008". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  3. ^ 安室、史上初３年代ミリオンアルバム達成！ (in Japanese). Sanspo. August 19, 2008. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  4. ^ 安室しか出来ない！史上初３年代ミリオン！ (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. August 19, 2008. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  5. ^ 安室奈美恵の勢い衰えず！ドリカム以来14年8か月ぶりの6週連続首位 (in Japanese). Oricon Style. September 9, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2008.
  6. ^ "2008 Yearly Album Rankings" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. December 11, 2008. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
  7. ^ "2008年、「iTunes Store」で最もダウンロードされた楽曲が発表" (in Japanese). Barks. December 3, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
  8. ^ 安室奈美恵がレコ大最優秀アルバム賞 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
  9. ^ "namie amuro BEST FICTION TOUR 2008–2009" (in Japanese). Namie Style. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  10. ^ "安室奈美恵、50万人動員ライヴのDVDスペシャルサイトを開設" (in Japanese). Barks. August 31, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  11. ^ Namie Amuro Best Fiction Tour 2008–2009 (Live DVD). Namie Amuro. 2009. AVBD-91736.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "アムロ３変化☆「ヴィダルサスーン」新ＣＭ". Sankei Sports. 2009-09-25. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  13. ^ "安室奈美恵、2年半ぶりのオリジナルアルバムのリリースが決定". 22 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  14. ^ "安室奈美恵、過去の自分をみずから打ち破る! ニュー・アルバム『PAST < FUTURE』の斬新なジャケット写真がついに公開!". Retrieved 2009-11-26.
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  16. ^ Play (CD liner notes). Namie Amuro. Avex Trax. 2007. AVCD-23343.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h Citations regarding the physical formats of Past<Future:
  18. ^ "DSign Music AS". Archived from the original on 2009-10-01.
  19. ^ "安室奈美恵 "MY LOVE"". Archived from the original on 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
  20. ^ "DOUBLEのコラボレーション・ベスト・アルバム『THE BEST COLLABORATIONS』に安室奈美恵が参加!". Retrieved August 21, 2024.
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  22. ^ "Namie Amuro – Wild/Dr". Selective Hearing. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  23. ^ a b "「『WILD』の歌詞、裏テーマは"少子化対策"なんです（笑）」". Yahoo! (in Japanese). Japan. March 17, 2009. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  24. ^ "Namie Amuro: Wild". MuuMuse. February 5, 2009.
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  26. ^ "WILD/Dr. 安室奈美恵". Oricon. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
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  28. ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  29. ^ "ゴールド等認定作品認定 2009年3月" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  30. ^ "コカ・コーラ・ゼロ新CMで安室が汗だくWILDダンス" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  31. ^ "Vidal Sassoon Commercial featuring Namie Amuro". Archived from the original on April 10, 2009.
  32. ^ "安室が宇宙でリボーン！ヴィダルサスーン新CM公開".
  33. ^ "新曲「MY LOVE」をラジオ初オンエア！〜". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  34. ^ "～待望のオリジナルアルバム発売決定!!!～". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  35. ^ "Fast Car: ミュージックビデオサーチ". Archived from the original on March 14, 2012.
  36. ^ "Love Game: ミュージックビデオサーチ". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  37. ^ "Wild: ミュージックビデオサーチ". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  38. ^ "The Meaning of Us: ミュージックビデオサーチ". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  39. ^ "Dr.: ミュージックビデオサーチ". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  40. ^ "Defend Love: ミュージックビデオサーチ". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014.
  41. ^ "安室奈美恵がタツノコキャラに コラボ企画スタート". animeanime.jp (in Japanese). June 11, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  42. ^ "安室奈美恵がアムロ・レイと対決!? 新曲"Defend Love"のPVで「機動戦士ガンダム」との世紀のコラボレーションが実現!". tower.jp (in Japanese). December 15, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  43. ^ "安室奈美恵、声帯炎回復せず本日もツアー東京公演延期" (in Japanese). Natalie. October 15, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  44. ^ "安室奈美恵、自身最多80本の超ロングツアー笑顔で完走" (in Japanese). Natalie. December 16, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  45. ^ "安室奈美恵、最新ライヴDVDが堂々の1位獲得！" (in Japanese). 2010-12-22.
  46. ^ a b c 安室奈美恵『PAST < FUTURE』 (in Japanese). Rolling Stone Japan. December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
  47. ^ 安室奈美恵、2年半ぶりのオリジナルアルバムが1位スタート (in Japanese). Oricon. 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  48. ^ Oricon Style Staff (December 28, 2009). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week December 28, 2009". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  49. ^ 30代でもアルバム1位、安室奈美恵が女性初10～30代首位制覇 (in Japanese). Oricon. 2009-12-22. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  50. ^ 安室奈美恵、アジア5ヶ国・地域でアルバムNo.1 日本人女性アーティスト初の快挙 (in Japanese). Oricon. 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  51. ^ Oricon Style Staff (January 4, 2010). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 4, 2010". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  52. ^ Oricon Style Staff (January 18, 2010). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 18, 2010". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  53. ^ Oricon Style Staff (January 25, 2010). "Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 25, 2010". Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  54. ^ a b "PAST＜FUTURE 安室奈美恵". Oricon. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  55. ^ "ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2009年12月" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  56. ^ a b "安室奈美恵、デビュー以来初の上半期アルバム1位". Oricon. 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
  57. ^ Tokyo Hive Staff (December 19, 2010). "Oricon Yearly Album Ranking for 2010 is out!". Tokyohive.com. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
  58. ^ 安室奈美恵のアルバム売上TOP20作品 [Namie Amuro's Top 20 Albums Sales]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  59. ^ "Combo Chart". G-Music. December 25, 2009. Archived from the original on December 25, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  60. ^ "J-Pop Chart". December 31, 2009. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010.
  61. ^ "2010年 アルバム年間TOP100". Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  62. ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  63. ^ "Japanese album certifications – 安室奈美恵 – PAST＜FUTURE" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved January 31, 2021. Select 2009年12月 on the drop-down menu
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