Past Future Explained

Past
Type:studio
Artist:Namie Amuro
Cover:Pastfuture album cover cd.jpg
Caption:Original standard edition
Recorded:2008–2009
Length:49:07
Label:Avex Trax
Prev Title:Best Fiction
Prev Year:2008
Next Title:Checkmate!
Next Year:2011

Past 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 features a more electropop and synth-pop sound that was prevalent in the western music charts at the time.

Past 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 both of Taiwan's G-Music's J-pop Chart and Combo Chart. It also reached number one on South Korea's Hanteo weekly and monthly albums charts. Past 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 by embarking on the namie amuro PASThall tour, which ran from April to December 2010.

Background

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 as a "fresh start" following the highly successful Best Fiction.[15]

Composition

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, who Amuro previously collaborated with on the song "Black Diamond" a year prior.[17] "Steal my Night" was written by urban-pop producer Jeff Miyahara.[17]

The album begins with R&B track "Fast Car,". "Copy That" is an upbeat song that features a "James Bond theme"-style intro.[20] "Love Game" is a dance-pop song with lyrics comparing love to boxing.[20] "Bad Habit" is a club track with heavy bass.[20] "Steal my Night" is a song with a bhangra beat that was also used in 2005's "Want Me, Want Me."[20] "First Timer" is a techno-pop song that includes a rap feature from Doberman Inc.[20]

"Wild" is an uptempo electropop song that incorporates synthesizers and keyboards.[21] 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.[22] As a result, they desired to write lyrics that conveyed an important social message while also attempting to "have fun" and "get wild."[22] "Dr." is an R&B and opera-inspired dance-pop song which samples an orchestral section from "Boléro", composed by French conductor Maurice Ravel.[20] [23] [24] "Shut Up" is a song with bass and rock elements, which is further enhanced by the vocal effects.[20] "My Love" is a US-style R&B song that uses synth sounds and autotune. "The Meaning Of Us" is a piano-driven pop ballad.[20] The album's closing number "Defend Love" is a futuristic club track.[20]

Release and formats

Past 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

Singles and other songs

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.[25] 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.[26] [27] Both "Wild" and "Dr." served as advertising jingles for Coca-Cola Zero and Vidal Sassoon respectively.[28] [29] 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.[30] "My Love" would later make its radio premiere on J-Wave's Groove Line on October 27.[31] 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.[32]

Music videos

The music video for "Fast Car" was directed by Shigeaki Kubo.[33] It has an Elizabethan theme, but is primarily a dance video. The music video for "Love Game" was also directed by Shigeaki Kubo;[34] 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,[35] which features a futuristic space theme and costumes.

The music video for "The Meaning Of Us," which was directed by Shigeaki Kubo,[36] 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.[37] Tanakazoo directed the music video for "Defend Love."[38] 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.[39] 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.[40]

Live performances

To promote the album, Amuro embarked on the hall tour namie amuro PASTTokyo 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.[41] The concert tour lasted for 8 months and drew in about 210,000 spectators.[42] The live DVD namie amuro PASTTokyo leg of the tour, also topped the music DVD rankings for the second consecutive year and the fourth time in total.[43]

Critical reception

Past received positive responses from music critics. Takurō Ueno rated the album four and a half out of five stars on Rolling Stone Japan. 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."

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."[20]

Chart performance

Past debuted at number one on the daily Oricon Albums Chart, with a first day sales tally of around 112,000 copies.[44] At the end of its first week of release, the album went on to top the weekly Oricon Albums Chart, selling 330,742 copies.[45] 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.[46] Past 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.[47]

The album dropped to number three on the chart on its second week, logging sales of 87,210 copies.[48] It stayed at number three on its third week, shifting 79,187 copies.[49] Past stayed in the top ten one last week on its fourth week, ranking at number nine and selling 15,488 copies.[50] The album stayed in the top 300 chart for a total of forty-two weeks.[51] Past was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in December 2009 for selling over 500,000 copies.[52]

According to Oricon, Amuro's album Past 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.[53] 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.[53] In December 2010, Past 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.[54] According to Oricon Style, Past is Amuro's eighth best-selling album overall.[55]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2009–2010)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)1
Taiwanese Albums (G-Music)[56] 1
Taiwanese J-pop Albums (G-Music)[57] 1

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. Best Fiction. Namie Amuro. Namie. Amuro. 2008. CD album; Liner notes. Avex Trax. AVCD-23651. Japan.
  2. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 11, 2008. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . August 11, 2008. April 3, 2016. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014910/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/080811a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  3. Web site: http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/080819/gnj0808190433001-n1.htm . ja:安室、史上初３年代ミリオンアルバム達成！ . Sanspo . August 19, 2008 . August 19, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080822022201/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/080819/gnj0808190433001-n1.htm . August 22, 2008 . ja . dead .
  4. Web site: http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20080819-OHT1T00048.htm . ja:安室しか出来ない！史上初３年代ミリオン！ . . August 19, 2008. August 19, 2008. ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080821002123/http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20080819-OHT1T00048.htm . August 21, 2008.
  5. Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/57997/. ja: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. Oricon Style. September 9, 2008. September 9, 2008. ja.
  6. Web site: 2008 Yearly Album Rankings. Oricon Style. December 11, 2008. December 11, 2008. ja. November 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111129213950/http://contents.oricon.co.jp/music/special/081211_01_03.html. dead.
  7. Web site: 2008年、「iTunes Store」で最もダウンロードされた楽曲が発表. Barks. December 3, 2008. December 3, 2008. ja.
  8. Web site: http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20081201-OHT1T00302.htm . ja:安室奈美恵がレコ大最優秀アルバム賞 . Sports Hochi . December 1, 2008 . December 3, 2008 . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081204063840/http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20081201-OHT1T00302.htm . December 4, 2008.
  9. Web site: namie amuro BEST FICTION TOUR 2008–2009. Namie Style. August 26, 2018. ja.
  10. Web site: 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. Barks. August 31, 2009. May 10, 2024. ja.
  11. Namie Amuro Best Fiction Tour 2008–2009. Namie Amuro. 2009. Live DVD. AVBD-91736.
  12. Web site: アムロ３変化☆「ヴィダルサスーン」新ＣＭ . . 2009-09-25 . 2009-12-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091201124510/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/090925/gnj0909250506010-n1.htm . December 1, 2009 .
  13. Web site: 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. 2009-10-22.
  14. Web site: 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!. 2009-11-26.
  15. Web site: 安室奈美恵NEWアルバムのタイトル・収録曲が決定!!. 2009-11-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927011115/http://www.visionfactory.jp/news/news_archives/0911180000_amuro.html. 2011-09-27. dead.
  16. Play. Namie Amuro. 2007. CD liner notes. Avex Trax. AVCD-23343.
  17. Citations regarding the physical formats of Past:
  18. Web site: DSign Music AS.
  19. Web site: 安室奈美恵 "MY LOVE". 2009-11-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20091129005537/http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/hiro777com/diary/200909300000. 2009-11-29. dead.
  20. Web site: CD Journal Staff . December 16, 2009 . Namie Amuro – Past＜Future [CD] ]. March 3, 2024 . CD Journal . ja.
  21. Web site: Namie Amuro – Wild/Dr. . Selective Hearing . March 28, 2009.
  22. 「『WILD』の歌詞、裏テーマは"少子化対策"なんです（笑）」 . . Japan . Japanese . March 17, 2009 . March 31, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090321020241/http://magazine.music.yahoo.co.jp/pow/20090317_001/interview_001 . March 21, 2009.
  23. Web site: Namie Amuro: Wild . MuuMuse . February 5, 2009.
  24. Web site: Namie Amuro – Wild/Dr.. Selective Hearing. March 18, 2009. December 13, 2017.
  25. Web site: WILD/Dr. 安室奈美恵. Oricon. June 8, 2024.
  26. Web site: 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' . ja . . subscription . May 21, 2014.
  27. Web site: ゴールド等認定作品認定　2009年3月. Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Japanese. June 8, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20090417045533/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200903.html. April 17, 2009.
  28. Web site: コカ・コーラ・ゼロ新CMで安室が汗だくWILDダンス. 2024-04-03. ja.
  29. Web site: Vidal Sassoon Commercial featuring Namie Amuro . https://web.archive.org/web/20090410081436/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/090121/gnj0901210503008-n1.htm . April 10, 2009.
  30. Web site: 安室が宇宙でリボーン！ヴィダルサスーン新CM公開.
  31. Web site: 新曲「MY LOVE」をラジオ初オンエア！〜. 2009-11-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20110606052544/http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro/info.html#info_091026. 2011-06-06. dead.
  32. Web site: ～待望のオリジナルアルバム発売決定!!!～. 2009-11-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20110606052544/http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro/info.html. 2011-06-06. dead.
  33. Web site: Fast Car: ミュージックビデオサーチ . https://web.archive.org/web/20120314010944/http://www.spaceshowertv.com/search/detail.cgi?mu=0077445&ch=0 . March 14, 2012.
  34. Web site: Love Game: ミュージックビデオサーチ . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714112501/http://www.spaceshowertv.com/search/detail.cgi?mu=0077610&ch=0 . July 14, 2014.
  35. Web site: Wild: ミュージックビデオサーチ . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153225/http://www.spaceshowertv.com/search/detail.cgi?mu=0072394&ch=0 . July 14, 2014.
  36. Web site: The Meaning of Us: ミュージックビデオサーチ . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714181449/http://www.spaceshowertv.com/search/detail.cgi?mu=0077444&ch=0 . July 14, 2014.
  37. Web site: Dr.: ミュージックビデオサーチ . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714133948/http://www.spaceshowertv.com/search/detail.cgi?mu=0072538&ch=0 . July 14, 2014.
  38. Web site: Defend Love: ミュージックビデオサーチ . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144359/http://www.spaceshowertv.com/search/detail.cgi?mu=0077846&ch=0 . July 14, 2014.
  39. Web site: June 11, 2010 . 安室奈美恵がタツノコキャラに　コラボ企画スタート . May 31, 2024 . animeanime.jp . ja.
  40. Web site: December 15, 2009 . 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! . May 31, 2024 . tower.jp . ja.
  41. Web site: 安室奈美恵、声帯炎回復せず本日もツアー東京公演延期. Natalie. October 15, 2010. April 14, 2024. ja.
  42. Web site: 安室奈美恵、自身最多80本の超ロングツアー笑顔で完走. Natalie. December 16, 2010. August 24, 2018. ja.
  43. News: 安室奈美恵、最新ライヴDVDが堂々の1位獲得！. 2010-12-22. ja.
  44. Web site: http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/71709/. ja: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. 2009-12-17. Japanese. Oricon. 2010-09-11.
  45. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week December 28, 2009. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . December 28, 2009. April 3, 2016. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014843/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/091228a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  46. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/71830/full/. ja: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. 2009-12-22. Japanese. Oricon. 2024-05-31.
  47. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/72798/full/. ja: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. 2010-01-27. Japanese. Oricon. 2024-05-31.
  48. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 4, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . January 4, 2010. April 3, 2016. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014842/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100104a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  49. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 18, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . January 18, 2010. April 3, 2016. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014842/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100118a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  50. Web site: Oricon Style Staff. Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week January 25, 2010. Oricon
    published through Yahoo! GeoCities
    . January 25, 2010. April 3, 2016. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014842/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/100125a.html. November 6, 2018. dead.
  51. Web site: PAST＜FUTURE 安室奈美恵. Oricon. February 23, 2018.
  52. Web site: ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年12月. Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Japanese. June 8, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20100128213211/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200912.html. January 28, 2010.
  53. Web site: 安室奈美恵、デビュー以来初の上半期アルバム1位. 2010-06-24. Oricon. 2010-09-11.
  54. Web site: Tokyo Hive Staff. Oricon Yearly Album Ranking for 2010 is out! . Tokyohive.com . December 19, 2010 . 2024-07-07.
  55. Web site: ja:安室奈美恵のアルバム売上TOP20作品 . Namie Amuro's Top 20 Albums Sales . June 8, 2024 . Oricon News . ja.
  56. http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard0.aspx G-Music Combo
  57. http://www.g-music.com.tw/GMusicBillboard3.aspx G-Music J-Pop
  58. Web site: 2010年　アルバム年間TOP100. March 3, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20190331111606/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/2010a.html. March 31, 2019. dead.

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