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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Namie Amuro ?? ???| image =| caption = ESPRIQUE Promotion 2012| background = solo_singer| birth_name = ?? ??? (Amuro Namie)| birth_date = Birth date and age|1977|9|20| origin = Okinawa , Japan| instrument = Vocals | genre = Contemporary R& B|R& B , Hip hop music|hip-hop , Pop music|pop , House Music|house | occupation = Singer , actress , dancer | years_active = 1992–present| label = Toshiba-EMI (1992–1995) Avex Trax (1995–present) | associated_acts = Super Monkey's , Suite Chic , MAX (band)|MAX | website = http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro/index.html Official Website| Spouse = Sam (TRF)|SAM (m. 1997-2002)| Children = Haruto (b. 1998)| current_members =| past_members =| notable_instruments =nihongo| Namie Amuro |?? ???|Amuro Namie|born September 20, 1977 is a Japanese people|Japanese R& B and Pop music|pop singer , entertainer , and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title " Honorific nicknames in popular music|Queen of Japanese Pop Music ".cite journal | title=Japan's Stardom School; Pop Phenoms Get Their Start in an Okinawa Mall | journal= The Washington Post | last=Herskovitz |first=Jon | date=January 17, 1998 | pages=B.08 | url= http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/25425479.html? dids=25425479:25425479& FMT=ABS& FMTS=ABS:FT& date=JAN+17%2C+1998& author=Jon+Herskovitz& pub=The+Washington+Post& desc=Japan%27s+Stardom+School%3B+Pop+Phenoms+Get+Their+Start+in+an+Okinawa+Mall& pqatl=google | accessdate=2008-09-05 Born in Naha , Okinawa , Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an Japanese Idol|idol in the girl group Super Monkey's . Though mostly unsuccessful, the group gained popularity during their final year together with the single " Try Me (Watashi o Shinjite) " (1995). Amuro left Toshiba-EMI after releasing two more solo singles; she continued her music career as a solo singer with the then-small independent label Avex Trax . Under the guidance of producer Tetsuya Komuro , Amuro quickly became a commercial success, producing several million-selling records and starting several fashion trends. Her single " Can You Celebrate? " (1997) became Japan's best selling single by a solo female artist. However, in late 1997, Amuro put her career on hold to focus on her pregnancy and marriage.She returned to music in 1998 with the number-one single, " I Have Never Seen ", but faced slowly declining sales. After unofficially severing ties with Tetsuya Komuro in 2001, Amuro joined Suite Chic , which would transform her from a pop idol to a Contemporary R& B|R& B artist. Since reinventing herself, Amuro has achieved newfound interest. Her seventh studio album , Play (Namie Amuro album)|Play (2007) debuted at the top of the charts and was followed by " 60s 70s 80s " (2008).
Over a decade since her musical debut, Amuro has remained one of the longest surviving popular female acts in Japan. She also continues to successfully combat social stigma as a divorced, working, single mother.cite news|url= http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article506773.ece|title=Comeback queen of J-pop|publisher=Times Online|date=2005-01-26|accessdate=2008-08-09 | location=London | first=Leo | last=Lewis On July 30, 2008, Amuro released her first greatest hits album, Best Fiction , since transitioning to R& B music. It spent six consecutive weeks at the number-one position on Japan's Oricon weekly charts,ja iconcite web|url= http://sankei.jp.msn.com/entertainments/entertainers/080911/tnr0809110837003-n1.htm|title=??????·CD????6?????|publisher= Sankei Shimbun |date=2008-09-11|accessdate=2008-12-03Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot and was elected as "the best album of the year" at the 50th Japan Record Awards .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/60687/|title=???????????????????|publisher= Oricon |date=2008-12-01|accessdate=2008-12-03 From 2008 to 2009, she toured Japan to promote the album. It was estimated that she played to an audience as large as 400,000 people, potentially the largest audience of her career.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2008/05/27/06.html |title=??????????!40?????|publisher=Sponichi|date=2008-05-27|accessdate=2008-06-28 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080531013924/ http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2008/05/27/06.html |archivedate = 2008-05-31 http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/77484/full/ According to an update list made by Music Station in 2010, she has sold over 30 million copies in Japan alone, making her one of the best selling Japanese artists of all time.Citation needed|reason=please state source of this statement by Music Station.|date=July 2011
Biography
Early life and career
Namie Amuro was born in Naha , Okinawa , raised solely by her mother, Emiko Taira, as she had divorced when Amuro was 4 years old.cite web | url= http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/eng/19990320.html | publisher= Okinawa Times | title=Tragedy; mom of Amuro slain | date=1999-03-20 | accessdate=2008-06-28 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20010419014141/ http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/eng/19990320.html |archivedate = 2001-04-19 Internet Archive copy. Taira worked as a nursery school employee and bar hostess to support her four children.cite web|url= http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn19990317a1.html|title=Amuro's mother slain; brother-in-law suspected|publisher= The Japan Times |date=1999-03-17|accessdate=2008-06-28 Through her mother's side, Amuro is one quarter Italian.cite news | url= http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/2000/0724/japan.okinawa_sb1.html | publisher= Time (magazine)|TIME Asia | title=The Songbird Who Made Okinawa Cool | accessdate=2006-09-30 | date=2000-07-24 | author=Tim Larimer While she did not have ambitions to become a performer early in life—dreaming instead of becoming a flight attendant —she was discovered at age 12, while visiting a friend, by Masayuki Makino, the owner of Okinawa Actors School , a performing arts school. Amuro eventually joined the school; after only two years of study, Makino placed her in an Japanese idol|idol group called Super Monkey'ssic with five other girls. A year after its September 1992 debut on Toshiba-EMI , the group relocated to Tokyo despite Emiko Taira's disapproval.
The Super Monkey's were largely unsuccessful and constantly changed members. They changed their group name to "Namie Amuro with Super Monkeys" in 1994 to reflect Amuro's individual rising popularity. Aside from group activities, she had bit parts in television dramas and small films. "Try Me: Watashi o Shinjite", produced by Italian eurobeat producer Dave Rodgers ja iconcite web|url= http://www.avexnet.or.jp/avexdb/dave/|title=Dave Rodgers|publisher= avex |accessdate=2008-10-31 and Max Matsuura ,ja iconcite web|url= http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/d1995.htm|title=?37?????????|publisher= Japan Record Award |accessdate=2008-10-31 was released on January 25, 1995, peaking at the number-eight position and charting for 25 weeks on the Oricon chart.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/271617/1/|title=TRY ME~?????~/?????|publisher= oricon |accessdate=2008-10-31 The other four members of the Super Monkey's formed their own group, MAX (band)|MAX , under the Avex Trax label.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/p-et-tp0-20081028-423486.html|title=???MAX???????4?????|publisher= Nikkan Sports |date=2008-10-28|accessdate=2008-11-01 Amuro released two more solo singles under Toshiba-EMI before moving to Avex Trax herself.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/309170062|title=100 Japanese pops Artists - No.53|publisher= HMV Japan|date=2003-10-09|accessdate=2008-10-28
1995-1997: Commercial success, marriage, and pregnancy
Amuro's debut single under Avex, " Body Feels Exit ", was released in October 1995 after she switched record labels.ja iconcite web|url= http://music.mu-mo.net/album/? distribution_id=ABS1-20107|title=Body Feels EXIT|publisher=mu-mo|accessdate=2008-10-28 The single was the first produced from her working relationship with producer Tetsuya Komuro . A second Komuro-produced single, " Chase the Chance " was released two months later. It became her first number-one,ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/051109_04.html|title=????????PV?????????!?|publisher=oricon|date=2005-11-09|accessdate=2008-10-31 million-selling single.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/million_list/1995.html|title=???????????? 1995?|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=2008-10-31 She won the Golden Arrow Award 1995.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/item/artist/view_a.zhtml? artid=A049647|title=Namie Amuro Profile|publisher= Tsutaya (video store)|Tsutaya |accessdate=2008-08-10
In the first half of 1996, Amuro accumulated million-selling singles - " Don't Wanna Cry " and " You're My Sunshine ".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/million_list/1996.html|title=???????????? 1996?|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=2008-10-29 Her studio album Sweet 19 Blues , released on July 22, 1996, was a commercial success, selling over three million units.ja iconcite web|url= http://music.mu-mo.net/album/? id=8668|title=SWEET 19 BLUES|publisher=mu-mo|accessdate=2008-10-28 Amuro's popularity increased as well: she became a fashion icon, starting a trend called Amuraa characterized by tanned skin, dyed hair, miniskirts and boots.cite web | url= http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/cool/97-4-6/fashion.html | title=Baggy Socks (Schoolgirl Fashion) | accessdate=2006-09-30 | date=1997-04-06 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060927015333/ http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/cool/97-4-6/fashion.html |archivedate = 2006-09-27cite news | url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995345,00.html | title=Cracking the code of Tokyo's teens | accessdate=2006-09-30 | date=2004-10-11 | author=Jim Frederick | publisher= Time (magazine)|TIME On November 27, 1996, she released the single " A Walk in the Park ",ja iconcite web|url= http://music.goo.ne.jp/cd/CDDORID46044-1/index.html|title=????? a walk in the park|publisher= goo (search engine)|goo |accessdate=2008-10-31 which also sold over a million copies. At the end of 1996, Amuro won the Grand Prix Award, the highest honor at the Japan Record Awards , for her song "Don't Wanna Cry", making her the youngest artist to have won the award.cite web | url= http://starbulletin.com/2000/03/31/features/story3.html | title=Singing sensation plans Hawaii concert | accessdate=2006-09-30 | publisher=Honolulu Star Bulletin | date=2000-03-31 She made Okinawa more popular in Japan and many people from Okinawa such as Speed (band)|Speed followed her.ja iconcite web|url= http://beauty.oricon.co.jp/news/44544/|title=????????????????|publisher=eltha ( oricon )|date=2007-05-22|accessdate=2008-11-04 The members of Speed said that the Okinawa Actors School was changed by her influence.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.fujitv.co.jp/TKMC/VOL44/factorytalk.html|title=FACTORY TALK Vol.44|publisher= Fuji Television |date=1996-09-11|accessdate=2008-11-15
Amuro's first single of 1997, " Can You Celebrate? ", eventually sold 2.29 million copies, making it the best-selling single by a solo female artist in Japan.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/ss/270/special/top.html|title=???????????BEST30|publisher= TV Asahi |date=2007-12-08|accessdate=2008-08-10 That year, after the release of another single, " How to Be a Girl ", and a second album, Concentration 20 , Amuro toured Japan's four domes in the summer. On August 3 of that year, the sales of Amuro's records reached 20 million.
On the 22nd October 1997, Amuro announced at a press conference that she had married Masaharu Maruyama (better known as "Sam" of the band TRF (band)|TRF ) while three months pregnant; she has since been credited for popularizing shotgun wedding s in Japan. http://www.prb.org/Articles/2002/ShotgunWeddingsaSignoftheTimesinJapan.aspx "Shotgun Weddings a Sign of the Times in Japan". Population Reference Bureau . July 2002. Retrieved February 20, 2011.cite web | url= http://www.pathfinder.com/Asiaweek/97/1107/feat5.html | title=Lightning Strikes Once | accessdate=2006-09-30 | author=Alexandra A. Seno | date=1997-11-07 | publisher=AsiaWeekDead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot At the end of the year, she won the Grand Prix Award at the Japan Record Awards again for "Can You Celebrate? "ja iconcite web|url= http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/d1997.htm|title=?39?????????|publisher= Japan Record Award |accessdate=2008-10-28 and made her final appearance on Kouhaku Uta Gassen before beginning her one-year hiatus from the music industry.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.nikkansports.com/news2/entert2/2001kouhaku/history-48.html|title=?48??????|publisher= Nikkan Sports |accessdate=2008-10-28
1998–2001: Personal joy and professional struggles
In May 1998, Amuro gave birth to her son, Haruto. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fd20020804pb.html "Can you celebrate? Not yet, Amuro-chan". The Japan Times Online . August 4, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2011. She returned to the music industry with the release of " I Have Never Seen " (December 1998). She made her first televised appearance on Kouhaku Uta Gassen days later, performing a tearful rendition of her hit "Can You Celebrate? ".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.nikkansports.com/news2/entert2/2001kouhaku/history-49.html|title=?49??????|publisher= Nikkan Sports |accessdate=2008-10-29 On the Oricon Weekly Chart, the new single debuted at the top position.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=1999& month=1& week=2& submit4.x=16& submit4.y=17|title=Oricon Weekly Single Charts for the second week of January 1999|publisher=oricon|accessdate=2008-10-28 However, at that time new singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada was revolutionizing the Japanese music industry, and Amuro began to re-focus her career.ja iconcite web|url= http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/special/20080904/1018394/? P=6|title=?????·????????????|publisher= Nikkei Business Publications |date=2008-09-25|accessdate=2008-11-05 Amuro's following single, " Respect the Power of Love ", was released on March 17, 1999; on the same day, news broke out that her mother had been murdered in Okinawa. Upon hearing the news, Amuro canceled her promotional schedule and flew back to Okinawa in order to identify her mother's body. A week later, the single debuted at the number-two position, being beaten out by " Dango 3 Kyodai ".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=1999& month=3& week=5& submit4.x=24& submit4.y=10|title=Oricon Weekly Single Charts for the first week of April 1999|publisher=oricon|accessdate=2008-10-28 A third comeback single, " Toi et Moi ", was used for the Japanese animation movie Pokémon: The Movie 2000 .
The following single " Something 'bout the Kiss " featured production by American Hip hop music|Hip-hop / R& B producer Dallas Austin .cite web|url= http://www.discogs.com/release/1172059|title=Namie Amuro - Something 'Bout The Kiss|publisher= Discogs |accessdate=2008-10-30 Austin, along with longtime producer Tetsuya Komuro, produced her first album since her hiatus, Genius 2000 , released in January 2000. The album still debuted at the number-one position on the Oricon weekly chart.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=ja& types=rnk& year=2000& month=2& week=1& submit5.x=5& submit5.y=9|title=Oricon Weekly Album Charts for the first week of February 2000|publisher=oricon|accessdate=2008-10-28 She spent the first half of 2000 touring in support of the Genius 2000 album. After the tour, she released a single, " Never End (song)|Never End ", in July. The single was used as part of the 26th G8 summit|G8 summit taking place in Okinawa, Japan that year.cite news|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2000/jul/24/4|title=Okinawa diary|publisher= guardian.co.uk |date=2000-07-24|accessdate=2008-10-31 | location=London | first=Jonathan | last=Watts It was commissioned by late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi , who asked Tetsuya Komuro to write a song conveying "a vision of harmony and interaction in the world in the 21st century".cite web | url= http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2000/outline/eng/pdfs/reception.pdf |format=PDF| title=Kyushu-Okinawa Summit 2000 Reference Materials | accessdate=2007-01-16 Obuchi later asked Amuro to perform the single at the summit.cite news | url= http://cgi.cnn.com/ASIANOW/time/features/interviews/2000/07/18/int.amuro0718.html | publisher= Time ASIA | title='There Were Times I Nearly Gave Up' Japanese pop diva Namie Amuro grows up | accessdate=2007-01-16 | date=2000-07-18 | author=Tim Larimer, Hiroko Tashiro
After separating from Masaharu in January 2000, Amuro filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences alongside difficulty with Masaharu's relatives, and the two were officially divorced by July 2002.Haruna Kashiwase, "Shotgun Weddings a Sign of the Times in Japan," Population Today , July 2002 http://www.prb.org/Articles/2002/ShotgunWeddingsaSignoftheTimesinJapan.aspx http://www.japan-zone.com/modern/amuro_namie.shtml "Modern Japanese - Famous Biographies: Amuro Namie". JapanZone . Retrieved January 3, 2011.
Amuro's next studio album Break the Rules , released on December 20, 2000, was not able to top the Oricon weekly charts, peaking at the number-two position.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/410317/1/|title=break the rules/?????|publisher=oricon|accessdate=2008-11-08 Starting in March, 2001, Amuro toured Japan in support of Break the Rules ;ja iconcite web|url= http://www.vibe-net.com/news/? news=0002088|title=????? ???·????·????&?????·??????|publisher=vibe-net.com|date=2000-12-05|accessdate=2008-10-28 the tour ended in May.ja iconcite web|url= http://music.goo.ne.jp/cd/DVDORID524902-1/index.html|title=namie amuro tour 2001 break the rules|publisher= goo (search engine)|goo |accessdate=2008-10-28 In August, Amuro released the single " Say the Word ". For the first time, she wrote the lyrics herself.ja iconcite web|url= http://tvstation.jp/special/artist/old/amuro03.html|title=?????~2003|publisher=TV Station|accessdate=2008-11-05 The single also unofficially marked an end to the working relationship between her and longtime producer Tetsuya Komuro.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/interview/080730_01.html|title=??????????????????????????????!?|publisher=oricon|date=2008-07-30|accessdate=2008-10-29 However, in December she worked with Komuro for the last time on a " lovin' it|Lovin' It ", a single released as part of Avex's Song+Nation charity project. The single featured hip-hop artist Verbal (rapper)|Verbal of the group M-Flo .cite web|url= http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fm20020123sm.html|title=Forgiven but not forgotten|publisher= The Japan Times |date=2002-01-23|accessdate=2008-10-28
2002–2006: Decline in sales and popularity
On March 13, 2002, she released her new greatest hits album Love Enhanced Single Collection ,ja iconcite web|url= http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/271722|title=Love Enhanced -Single Collection|publisher= HMV Japan|accessdate=2008-10-30 but the songs were re-arranged from those original versions.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.bounce.com/interview/article.php/3528/3/|title=10???? ??1|publisher=bounce.com|date=2007-07-05|accessdate=2008-10-30 In July 2002, Amuro was divorced from Maruyama.cite web|url= http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp? page=story_19-7-2002_pg9_2|title=Pop idol Namie Amuro divorces|publisher= Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times |date=2002-07-19|accessdate=2008-10-28 On September 11, 2002, " Wishing on the Same Star ", written by Diane Warren , was released,cite web|url= http://www.discogs.com/release/605297|title=Namie Amuro - Wishing On The Same Star|publisher= Discogs |accessdate=2008-10-30 peaking at the number-two position on the oricon weekly chart.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=2002& month=9& week=4& submit4.x=18& submit4.y=15|title=Oricon Weekly Single Charts for the fourth week of September 2002|publisher=oricon|accessdate=2008-10-30 The song was originally sung by Keedy in 1991.ja iconcite web|url= http://music.goo.ne.jp/cd/CDDORID486185-1/index.html|title=Wishing On The Same Star|publisher=goo|accessdate=2008-11-25
From December 2002, fully immersed into the Japanese R& B scene releasing music in the musical project Suite Chic , she collaborated with several of Japan's popular hip hop and R& B artists such as Verbal (rapper)|Verbal , Zeebra , Dabo and DJ Muro .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.bounce.com/article/article.php/608/ALL/|title=SUITE CHIC|publisher=bounce.com|date=2003-02-20|accessdate=2008-08-10 They released two singles, an original album and one remix album before ending the project in 2003. She later said that after the project she had begun to do what she had wanted to do.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.bounce.com/interview/article.php/4458/ALL/|title=?????|publisher=bounce.com|date=2008-07-31|accessdate=2008-10-29
Amuro returned to solo activities on her own with the single " Shine More ", released on March 6, 2003.cite web|url= http://www.discogs.com/release/1171885|title=Namie Amuro - Shine More|publisher= Discogs |accessdate=2008-10-30 The subsequent single " Put 'Em Up ", released on July 16, 2003, was produced by Dallas Austin.cite web|url= http://www.discogs.com/release/1171857|title=Namie Amuro - Put 'Em Up|publisher= Discogs |accessdate=2008-10-30 On October 16, 2003, the double a-side single " So Crazy / Come " was released. "So Crazy" was written by American R& B producers Full Force .cite web|url= http://www.discogs.com/release/605052|title=Namie Amuro - So Crazy / Come|publisher= Discogs |accessdate=2008-10-30 "Come", used for the Japanese anime InuYasha ,cite web|url= http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002L4DK0/ |title=The Best of Inuyasha, Vol. 2|publisher= Amazon.com |accessdate=2008-10-29 was a re-arranged song from Sophie Monk .cite web|url= http://www.bigtakeover.com/top-ten/Steve-Holtje-070204|title=Steve Holtje’s Top Ten — February 4|publisher= The Big Takeover |date=2007-02-04|accessdate=2008-10-30 At the end of the year, she released her first original studio album in three years, Style (Namie Amuro album)|Style .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/item/music/view_m.zhtml? pdid=20168931|title=STYLE|publisher= Tsutaya (video store)|Tsutaya |accessdate=2008-10-29 From November 29, 2003ja iconcite web|url= http://www.barks.jp/news/? id=52328379|title=?????????·???????R&B! ????????|publisher=BARKS News|date=2003-10-08|accessdate=2008-10-29 to April 11, 2004,ja iconcite web|url= http://www.nikkansports.com/ns/entertainment/f-et-tp0-040411-0018.html|title=????????????????|publisher=Nikkan Sports|date=2004-04-11|accessdate=2008-10-29|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20040413004553/ http://www.nikkansports.com/ns/entertainment/f-et-tp0-040411-0018.html|archivedate=2004-04-13 she performed on the Namie Amuro So Crazy Tour Featuring Best Singles 2003-2004 .ja iconcite web|url= http://info.hmv.co.jp/p/t/1854/106.html|title=Namie Amuro So Crazy Tour Featuring Best Singles 2003-2004|publisher= HMV Japan|accessdate=2008-10-29 In May, she also toured Taipei , Taiwan ja iconcite web|url= http://tvstation.jp/special/artist/old/amuro05.html|title=?????~2005|publisher=TV Station|accessdate=2008-10-29 and Seoul , South Korea .ja iconcite web|url= http://contents.innolife.net/culture/cu_event.php? cs_id=5& cu_id=1722|title=J-POP?????????????????|publisher=innolife|month=April | year=2004|accessdate=2008-10-29 Shortly after the tour, she released the ballad " All for You (Namie Amuro song)|All for You "; this was followed by the double A-side single " Girl Talk / The Speed Star ", released on October 14, 2004. The single debuted at the top position on the Oricon daily chartja iconcite web|url= http://contents.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/5017/|title=???????6??????????|publisher=oricon|date=2004-10-14|accessdate=2008-08-09 and reached the number-two position for the week, making it her first Top 3 single in two years.ja iconcite web|url= http://contents.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/5014/|title=???????2????TOP3!|publisher=oricon|date=2004-10-19|accessdate=2008-08-09 Amuro chose not to appear on Kohaku Uta Gassen though she had been invited to perform at the event.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/kiji/2004/11/25/06.html|title=????????!????????|publisher= sponichi |date=2004-11-25|accessdate=2008-10-31|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20041127023210/ http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/kiji/2004/11/25/06.html|archivedate=2004-11-27 She had previously attended the coveted event nine years in a row.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.asahi.com/culture/update/1124/006.html|title=SMAP?? ?????????|publisher= Asahi Shimbun |date=2004-11-24|accessdate=2008-10-30|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20041210215240/ http://www.asahi.com/culture/update/1124/006.html|archivedate=2004-12-10 Amuro explained that while she wished to regain popularity, she did not want to "force" herself on the public anymore.
Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake disaster in Southeast Asia, Amuro participated as the only Japanese representative at MTV Asia Aid in February 2005.cite web|url= http://www.unicef.org/emerg/disasterinasia/index_25024.html|title=MTV Asia Aid a huge success|publisher= unicef |date=2005-02-03|accessdate=2008-08-09cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4233781.stm|title=Global stars play Asia Aid show|publisher= BBC |date=2005-02-03|accessdate=2008-08-09cite web|url= http://www.warnermusic.ca/news/? page=25& id=newsarticle18700036|title=Simple Plan Travel to Thailand to Help Tsunami Victims and Families|publisher=WMC News|date=2005-01-24|accessdate=2008-08-09 She donated Japanese yen|Ą 10 million (approximately USD $90,000) to UNICEF for children who were affected by the disaster.cite web|url= http://archive.japantoday.com/jp/news/330503|title=Namie Amuro donates Y10 million to child victims in Sumatra|publisher= Japan Today |date=2005-03-12|accessdate=2008-08-09
On April 6, 2005, she released the single " Want Me, Want Me ". The song was a well-received hit at home debuting at the number-two position.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=2005& month=4& week=3& submit4.x=26& submit4.y=12|title=Oricon Weekly Single Charts for the third week of April 2005|publisher=oricon|accessdate=2008-10-29 In May 2005, following a three year split from her former husband Sam, it was reported that she would take back full custody of their child, Haruto.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.nikkansports.com/ns/entertainment/p-et-tp0-050512-0005.html|title=????????????? SAM???|publisher=Nikkan Sports|date=2005-05-12|accessdate=2008-10-29|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20050514022402/ http://www.nikkansports.com/ns/entertainment/p-et-tp0-050512-0005.html|archivedate=2005-05-14 In August, it was reported that she officially did that.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200508/gt2005082311.html|title=???SAM??????????????|publisher=Sanspo|date=2005-08-23|accessdate=2008-10-29|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20060218131940/ http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200508/gt2005082311.html|archivedate=2006-02-18 On May 29, she performed at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan for the fourth consecutive year in a row. She received two awards, "Best R& B Video" and "Most Impressive Performing Asian Artist", making the first artist to receive awards four years in a row at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200505/gt2005053004.html|title=??4?????!????????3?-MTV VMA|publisher= sanspo |date=2005-05-30|accessdate=2008-08-10|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20050530232336/ http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200505/gt2005053004.html|archivedate=2005-05-30 She took home the "Inspiration Award Japan" in 2002, "Best Collaboration" in 2003, "Best R& B Video" for 2004, and 2005 as well as "Most Impressive Performing Asian Artist" in 2005.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/hochi/geinou/may/o20050529_10.htm |title=??2? 4?????|publisher= Sports Hochi |date=2005-05-29|accessdate=2008-08-10 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20050601034545/ http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/hochi/geinou/may/o20050529_10.htm |archivedate = 2005-06-01 Internet Archive copy.
On July 13, 2005, she released her sixth original studio album, Queen of Hip-Pop . In collaboration with MGM Studios , Amuro used the Pink Panther character in the album; a female panther counterpart was created for the album as well.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/hochi/geinou/jul/o20050705_10.htm |title=????!???!!???????|publisher= Sports Hochi |date=2005-07-06|accessdate=2008-11-05 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20050831002715/ http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/hochi/geinou/jul/o20050705_10.htm |archivedate = 2005-08-31 Internet Archive copy. When the album was completed, Amuro said that she had not been able to sing the songs very well yet.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/interview/050713_01.html|title=????? Special Interview|publisher=oricon|date=2005-07-13|accessdate=2008-08-10
In September 2005, Amuro held her seventh national tour, Space of Hip-Pop . Shortly after the start of her tour, she announced that she would contribute to the Japanese theaterical release of Sin City (film)|Sin City . After viewing the movie, Amuro made an offer to the Japanese distribution company to sing its theme song; the company, feeling that her image fit the movie, accepted her offer.ja iconcite web | url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/5217/ | title=????????????????????& #33; | publisher= Oricon | date=September 9, 2005 | accessdate=2008-09-05ja iconcite web | url= http://www.rbbtoday.com/news/20050930/25942.html | title=OnGen???????Violet Sauce??????~??·????????????? | publisher=RBB Today | date=September 30, 2005 | accessdate=2008-09-05 Director Robert Rodriguez was impressed by the song and asked to be a part of it; he can be heard saying "Welcome to Sin City" towards the end of the song.ja iconcite web | url= http://www.ongen.net/serial/cinema/sincity/index.php | title=??·????????????!?OnGen:?????????????????? | publisher= Ongen | accessdate=2008-09-05Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot The theme song, "Violet Sauce", was later released as part of a double A-side single, " White Light / Violet Sauce ", on November 16, 2005. Shortly after the single, she released Filmography 2001-2005 a compilation of twelve of her music videos from 2001 to 2005.cite web|url= http://www.discogs.com/release/1256507|title=Namie Amuro - Filmography 2001-2005|publisher= Discogs |accessdate=2008-10-30
Amuro collaborated with Zeebra , AI (singer)|AI , and Mummy-D on Zeebra's album The New Beginning , released on February 15, 2006, in a song called "Do What U Gotta Do".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.barks.jp/news/? id=1000017334|title=ZEEBRA?AI???????Mummy-D?????????????????|publisher=BARKS News|date=2006-01-13|accessdate=2008-10-31 On May 17, she released the double A-side single " Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick/Ningyo ", which debuted at the number-two position on the oricon weekly chart.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=2006& month=5& week=5& submit4.x=31& submit4.y=5|title=Oricon Weekly Single Charts for the first week of June 2006|publisher=oricon|accessdate=2008-10-29 In August 2006, she began her tour Namie Amuro Best Tour "Live Style 2006" . On September 17, she performed to an audience of 12,000 at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.ja iconcite web | url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/35022/ | title=??????????????? (Amuro sings enthusiastically at a national tour performance in Tokyo) | publisher= oricon | date=2006-09-18 | accessdate=2008-08-09 She stated that she would do the performance greater than ever before in 2007.ja iconcite news|url= http://news.ameba.jp/domestic/2006/11/1804.html|title="????"?????15????????????|publisher=Cyber Agent|date=2006-11-18|accessdate=2008-06-19 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080423031900/ http://news.ameba.jp/domestic/2006/11/1804.html |archivedate = 2008-04-23
2007–2009: Revived popularity
Amuro's next single, " Baby Don't Cry (Namie Amuro song)|Baby Don't Cry ", released on January 24, 2007, was used as the theme song of a Japanese Drama Himitsu no Hanazono .ja iconcite web|url= http://music.goo.ne.jp/cd/CDDORID693317-1/index.html|title=????? Baby Don't Cry|publisher=goo|accessdate=2008-10-31 On the oricon weekly chart, "Baby Don't Cry" debuted at the number-three position and she achieved a Top 10 single each year for 13 consecutive years, breaking the solo female artist's record in Japan by Kyoko Koizumi and Shizuka Kudo .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/41627/|title=Amuro Namie, Kyon Kyon, Shizuka Kudo& #33; #1 Female Successive Top 10 Placing|publisher=Oricon|accessdate=2008-10-29 It sold over a million ringtone digital downloadsja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w070620_3.html|title=???????? 5??????????|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=2008-08-18 and was ranked at number seven on the Recording Industry Association of Japan|RIAJ 2007 yearly ringtone sales charts.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/release/2008/chart2007_1.html|title=2007???????????(??:???????)(????(R)?)|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=2008-11-29 Amuro's 32nd single, " Funky Town (Namie Amuro song)|Funky Town ", was released on April 4, 2007. She was also featured on M-Flo 's album, Cosmicolor , in a song titled "Luvotomy".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2001445647/|title=COSMICOLOR|publisher= HMV Japan|accessdate=2008-10-29
Her seventh studio album, Play (Namie Amuro album)|Play , was released on June 27, 2007. The album includes 12 songs, four of which are single tracks. The album was said to reflect Amuro's new style, and featured a rock number, and a chic slow song.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/704270096|title=???Play????????!|publisher= HMV Japan|date=2007-06-05|accessdate=2008-08-09 One of her new songs, "Top Secret" was used as the theme song of the drama series Prison Break Season 2 in Japan.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.foxjapan.com/dvd-video/tv/prisonbreak/season2/pastnews/|title=????·????|publisher= Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX Japan|accessdate=2008-10-10 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080430084906/ http://www.foxjapan.com/dvd-video/tv/prisonbreak/season2/pastnews/ |archivedate = 2008-04-30 Play took the number-one spot on the Oricon Weekly Chart Rankings, becoming her first number-one album in more than 7 years, with her last number-one occurring in 2000 with her album, Genius 2000 .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/46029/|title=??????7?5???????????|publisher=oricon|date=2007-07-03|accessdate=2008-10-09 It is also her fourth studio album to reach the number-one position. Play spent two consecutive weeks at the number-one position.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/46204/|title=??&GReeeeN??!????1??2?????????!|publisher=oricon|date=2007-07-10|accessdate=2008-10-10 From August 18, 2007, to February 27, 2008, she performed her concert tour in Japan Namie Amuro "Play" Tour 2007–2008| Namie Amuro Play Tour 2007-2008 ja iconcite web|url= http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro/tour07.html|title=namie amuro PLAY tour 2007?SCHEDULE?|publisher= Avex Group|Avex |accessdate=2008-12-03 which consisted initially of 53 performancesja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/45213/|title=????????????????!? |publisher=oricon|date=2007-06-05|accessdate=2008-08-09 but was increased by 12 performances to 65 performances, making this her biggest tour in terms of number of performances by far.ja iconcite web|url= http://natalie.mu/news/show/id/4679|title=??????????????????DVD?|publisher=natalie|date=2007-12-20|accessdate=2008-08-10
Amuro's first single of 2008, released on March 12, was an image song for the new Vidal Sassoon marketing campaign Fashion x Music x VS .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/cute/cute_news/20080118_02.html|title=?????????????????|language=Japanese|publisher=oricon|date=2008-01-18|accessdate=2008-10-30 The title of her new single was confirmed to be " 60s 70s 80s ", and contained three songs - "New Look", "Rock Steady", and "What A Feeling". These songs have a modern twist from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. The single debuted at the number-two position on the oricon weekly charts with over 114,000 copies sold.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=2008& month=3& week=4& submit4.x=24& submit4.y=10|title=Oricon Weekly Single Charts for the fourth week of March 2008|publisher= oricon |accessdate=2008-10-28 In the second week the single gained the number-one spot for that week, making it her first number-one single after 9 years and 3 months since " I Have Never Seen ".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.daily.co.jp/gossip/2008/03/25/0000889160.shtml|title=??9?3?????????1???|publisher=Sports Daily Online|date=2008-03-25|accessdate=2008-08-07 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080409222726/ http://www.daily.co.jp/gossip/2008/03/25/0000889160.shtml |archivedate = 2008-04-09 According to Oricon, "60s 70s 80s" sold nearly 300,000 copies.ja iconcite web|url= http://contents.oricon.co.jp/music/special/081211_01_01.html|title=2008 Yearly Singles Rankings|publisher=Oricon|date=2008-12-11|accessdate=2008-12-11
On March 25, 2008, Amuro has won the prize for "Best Female Video" for " Hide and Seek (Namie Amuro song)|Hide and Seek " at Space Shower TV music video awards 08.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.barks.jp/news/? id=1000038613|title=SPACE SHOWER TV : ?BUMP OF CHICKEN?????3?|publisher=BARKS News|date=2008-03-16|accessdate=2008-08-10 "Hide & Seek" also won the prize for "Best R& B Video" at the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2008 which was conducted at the Saitama Super Arena on May 31.ja iconcite web|url= http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3674232/|title=??????????????MTV VMAJ08???|publisher= livedoor |date=2008-06-02|accessdate=2008-08-07 In May 2008, Amuro also recorded a collaboration with Double (singer)|Double in a song called "Black Diamond".cite web | url= http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fm20080516a1.html | title=R& B queen Double adds jewel to crown | publisher= The Japan Times|The Japan Times Online | date=May 16, 2008 | accessdate=July 1, 2008 | first=Robert Michael | last=Poole On the ringtone download sales chart, it earned double-platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w080820_3.html|title=???????? 7??????????|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=2008-11-07 On July 26, about 25,000 people attended the a-nation '08 and saw her performance.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/p-et-tp0-20080727-388647.html|title=?????a-nation???2?5000???|publisher= Nikkan Sports |date=2008-07-27|accessdate=2008-08-07 This was the first time she was invited to perform on it in seven years.ja iconcite web|url= http://music.jp.msn.com/news/5678.htm|title=???????????a-nation??????????|publisher= MSN |date=2008-07-30|accessdate=2008-08-09Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot On July 31, she took part in Double's concert.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/56903/full/|title=DOUBLE?6??????????????????|publisher=oricon|date=2008-08-01|accessdate=2008-11-05
Amuro released her third greatest hits album Best Fiction on July 30, 2008. It featured all her singles from 2002's "Wishing on the Same Star" to the recently released "60s 70s 80s". It also featured two new songs, "Sexy Girl" and "Do Me More". "Sexy Girl" was the theme song for NHK drama Otome no Punch that aired on June 19, and the other called "Do Me More" was the campaign song for Vidal Sassoon.cite web|url= http://natalie.mu/en/news/show/id/7315|title=Namie Amuro releases new masterpiece collection|publisher=natalie|date=2008-05-27|accessdate=2008-10-30 Best Fiction sold 681,000 copies on the first week and debuted at the number-one position on the oricon weekly charts.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/56981/full/|title=????????????????68.1?????????7?????|publisher= oricon |date=2008-08-05|accessdate=2008-12-04 Within its third week, Best Fiction outsold a million copies, and Amuro became the only artist who produced million-selling albums in the oricon chart for three decades of her teens, 20s, and 30s.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/080819/gnj0808190433001-n1.htm|title=??????3????????????!|publisher=sanspo|date=2008-08-19|accessdate=2008-08-19 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080822022201/ http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/080819/gnj0808190433001-n1.htm |archivedate = 2008-08-22ja iconcite web|url= http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20080819-OHT1T00048.htm|title=????????!???3??????!|publisher= Sports Hochi |date=2008-08-19|accessdate=2008-08-19Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot Best Fiction eventually spent six consecutive weeks at the number-one position, becoming the first album to do so in more than 14 years since the Dreams Come True (band)|Dreams Come True 's 1993 album Magic .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/57997/|title=???????????!??????14?8?????6?????|publisher= oricon |date=2008-09-09|accessdate=2008-09-09 Best Fiction became the second best-selling album behind Exile (Japanese band)|Exile 's Exile Love on the Oricon 2008 yearly album charts.ja iconcite web|url= http://contents.oricon.co.jp/music/special/081211_01_03.html|title=2008 Yearly Album Rankings|publisher= Oricon |date=2008-12-11|accessdate=2008-12-11 In addition, it became the second best selling digital-format album by Japanese artists behind Hikaru Utada 's Heart Station (album)|Heart Station on the iTunes Store|iTunes yearly album charts in Japan.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.barks.jp/news/? id=1000045376|title=2008???iTunes Store??????????????????|publisher=Barks|date=2008-12-03|accessdate=2008-12-03 Best Fiction won the award for "the best album of the year" at the 50th Japan Record Awards .ja iconcite web|url= http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/news/20081201-OHT1T00302.htm|title=?????????????????|publisher= Sports Hochi |date=2008-12-01|accessdate=2008-12-03Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot
On October 25, 2008, Amuro also started a tour called Namie Amuro Best Fiction tour 2008-2009 at the Makuhari Messe .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.visionfactory.jp/news/news_archives/0808190500_amuro.html|title=?????:????????????????????|publisher=Vision Factory|date=2008-08-19|accessdate=2008-10-28ja iconcite web|url= http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3762352/|title=????????????????|publisher= livedoor |date=2008-08-05|accessdate=2008-10-28 NHK invited her to the 59th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen , but Amuro declined.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/2008/11/26/0001584896.shtml|title=??????…????NHK|publisher=Daily Sports|date=2008-11-26|accessdate=2008-12-15Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot
On January 20, 2009, Sanspo officially announced a new Vidal Sassoon CM featuring Amuro, featuring a song from her entitled, "Dr." http://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/090121/gnj0901210503008-n1.htm Her 34th solo single, " Wild/Dr. ," was announced on January 21, which was a double A-side single released March 18, 2009. http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro/info.html Wild/Dr.|Wild was used in a commercial starring Amuro for Coke Zero entitled "Wild Health". On release, it became her 11th #1 single and second consecutive after 60s 70s 80s . http://namienewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2009/03/wilddr-week-1-sales.html She also broke her own record of having all of her singles debut in the Top 10 (on the daily charts) for the last 15 years. Amuro collaborated with ravex on a song for their album trax (album)|trax . The song is called ROCK U feat. ????? and was released as a radio single. As of June 2009, rumor has begun about the releasing of a summer single with ties to McDonald's . A commercial has been shot for the Quarter Pounder with the tag line being "Big Mouth". http://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/quarter-pounder/cm_bara.html On October 1, 2009, hairstyling company Vidal Sassoon released new commercials featuring Amuro and two tracks from her expected album, " My Love (Namie Amuro song)|My Love " and "Copy That." http://www.bounce.com/news/daily.php/20722/headlineclick
Namie released her ninth studio album, Past Future|Past < Future , on December 16, 2009.ja iconcite web |title=??????????????12?16????? - OOPS& #33; |url= http://oops-music.com/info/view_news.html? nid=51154 |accessdate=2009-11-12ja iconcite web |title=?????:2??????????????????!??12?16?????? @ ~NAMIE ????? AMURO~ ????~ :: Xuite?? |url= http://blog.xuite.net/sunnymisaki/namieamuro/27912866 |accessdate=2009-11-12 Released in CD and CD+DVD format,ja iconcite web |title=????? - ??????2????????????????? |url= http://touch.natalie.mu/news/show/id/22747 |accessdate=2009-11-12 it contained her latest single " Wild/Dr. ",ja iconcite web |title=??????????????12???????? - goo ?? |url= http://music.goo.ne.jp/contents/news/NML28160/index.html |accessdate=2009-11-12 and was supported by airplay and video clips of several of the new songs on the album. The album became her sixth number-one original studio album and in terms of sales, surpassed her last studio album, Play. In April, Amuro launched a large-scale, 9-month-long nationwide tour in support of her album, touring 26 cities.
2010–present: Checkmate! and Live Style 2011
On May 18, 2010, Amuro attended the World Music Awards on Monaco , receiving an award for "Best Artist From Asia", making her the First Asian Female Artist and second Japanese artist after Chage and Aska to do so , and performed her hit single "Hide and Seek" . Afterwards , it was announced that a new single was going to be released soon , and on July 28 her 35th single " Break It/Get Myself Back " was released (during her PAST The live DVD "namie amuro PASTcite web |title=Amuro Namie’s LIVE DVD ranks 1st place in Music DVD rankings |url= http://www.tokyofever.com/2010/12/amuro-namies-live-dvd-ranks-1st-place-in-music-dvd-rankings/ |accessdate=2010-12-22
2010 ended on yet another success with "PAST Namie Amuro is set to release her second collaboration album (first under her own name) on April 27, 2011. Titled Checkmate! , the album features nine collaboration songs released from 2003 to 2011, including Do What U Gotta Do, Luvotomy, BLACK DIAMOND, ROCK U and her 2010 collaboration single with AI (singer)|AI , FAKE, along with four new songs: "Wonder Woman" featuring AI (singer)|AI and Anna Tsuchiya, "Make It Happen" with After School (band)|AFTERSCHOOL , "Unusual" with ex- NEWS member Yamashita Tomohisa and "#1" featuring CHEMISTRY 's Kawabata Kaname.cite news |title = Amuro Namie’s 2011 Collaboration Album |url = http://www.tokyofever.com/2011/02/namie-amuro-to-collaborate-with-multiple-artists-for-new-album-checkmate/ |publisher = Tokyofever |accessdate = 2011-02-18 The album release was delayed (the original release date was March 23) due to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Meanwhile, Namie recorded the new theme song of "One Piece". Titled "Fight Together", a 2:30 minutes edit of the song started airing on April 10 as the opening theme of the long running Japanese Anime. "Fight Together" was released as a download to cellphones and got the number 1 position in a whole week.
The 1st six months of 2011 was indeed, another achievement for Namie, according to Oricon, her album Checkmate& #33; (Namie Amuro album)|Checkmate! is currently the 3rd best selling album in Oricon's 2011 Half Year Ranking Charts for Album,ja iconcite news |title = 2011??????????????? |url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2011/musicrank0622/index03.html |accessdate = 2011-06-26 while her DVD Pastja iconcite news |title = 2011??????????????? |url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2011/musicrank0622/index07.html |accessdate = 2011-06-26 she's also the Japan's Best Selling Solo Artist (Male or Female) for 2011 according to Oricon's 2011 Half Year Sales of Artist (which includes all of Albums, Singles and DVDs) with an estimate sales of 2.7 Billion Yen.ja iconcite news |title = ??????????????????1??26?? K-POP????? |url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/89091/full/ |accessdate = 2011-06-26 according to "Amazon.co.jp", her Album Checkmate! top their Half Year Ranking in Music.ja iconcite news |title = Best of 2011 ??? ????? > ?????? |url = http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/feature.html? ie=UTF8& plgroup=1& docId=3077079916 |accessdate = 2011-06-13 And at the end of July, she is going to start her arena tour entitled "LIVE STYLE 2011" to commemorate her 20th anniversary in the Japanese Music Industry.
On early July , her official website announced her 36th single entitled "NAKED/Fight Together/Tempest". "NAKED" was used in her CM Campaign for KOSE ESPRIQUE, while "Tempest" is going to be used in a NHK drama series with the same title. The single landed on the Top 2 of Oricon Weekly Charts, extending her record as the only female Japanese artist to have a top 10 single each year for 17 consecutive years. Since the release of the single , it has sold more than 100,000 copies.
During her "LIVE STYLE 2011" tour, two new songs were added to the set list. The songs are "Higher" and "arigatou ." "Higher" was going to be used as song for her new CM for Coke Zero , but never aired on TV and "arigatou < thank the world for LOVE... gift song for 2011>" was used as song for her new KOSE ESPRIQUE CM Campaign in an acapella version.
Once again, Namie will release her 2nd single and last for 2011 after "NAKED/Fight Together/Tempest" released on July 27. Her 37th single entitled "Sit!Stay!Wait!Down!/Love Story" goes on sale on December 7, 2011. And it seems that Namie also included two new songs to the single entitled "Higher" and "arigatou " which both were sung at her Concert, recently.
Her official website announced her new live DVD/Blu-ray entitled "namie amuro LIVE STYLE 2011" and its release date is on December 21, 2011. On November 30 the covers for her DVD/Blu-ray were revealed. Also they announced on November 16, the official Namie Amuro Youtube Channel and since then, the site has gained a lot of attention from her fans all over the world.
Namie Amuro’s New Single ‘Sit!Stay!Wait!Down/Love Story’, which both are the theme song for the Japanese Drama Series: " Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu", became the first Double A-Side single to occupy the 1st and 2nd position in the Weekly Ranking of Recochoku since the day of release. Making Namie Amuro the first artist to do so. Besides that, "Love story" got the 1st position and Sit!Stay!Wait!Down got the 5th position for its Montly chart.
On November 27, Namie filmed her TV ver. of Love Story for the Japanese Drama Series "Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu" and her cameo is set to air on December 12.
On December 7, along with the release of her single, Namie launched her Official Facebook Page, the page also includes a free download of the song 'arigatou ' which is one of the b-sides from her 'Sit!Stay!Wait!Down!/Love Story' single.
On December 12 , MTV Japan and Space Shower TV aired the Live performances of "make it happen" and "UNUSUAL" which will be included in her "namie amuro LIVE STYLE 2011" DVD.
on January 21, Namie recorded a new song entitled "Go Round".cite web|url= http://www.facebook.com/NamieAmuroOfficial/posts/258923587509718|title=To kick off 2012, Namie hit the studio to record her new song!& #33; It's called "Go Round". Can't wait for you guys to hear it!|publisher=Namie Amuro (Official) - Facebook|date=2012-01-21|accessdate=2012-01-26 However, there is no announcement if the song will be included in a new album or a new single.
Influence
Early in her career, Amuro's music consisted of mostly dance-pop songs, typical of her then-producer Tetsuya Komuro .cite web | url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p228307/biography|pure_url=yes | first=David | last=Hickey | title=Namie Amuro biography at Allmusic | accessdate=July 1, 2008 | publisher= Allmusic In later years, however, Amuro began incorporating elements of R& B and hip-hop; producer Dallas Austin cite web|url= http://www.arabnews.com/? page=9& section=0& article=84863& d=8& m=7& y=2006|title=Producer Austin Pardoned After Conviction|publisher= ArabNews |date=2006-07-05|accessdate=2008-10-30 as well as Amuro's involvement in Avex's Suite Chic project were pivotal in her musical evolution. By her albums Style and Queen of Hip-Pop , Amuro had moved away from dance music and focused mainly on hip-hop and R& B tunes.
At the height of her popularity, Amuro was known as a fashion leader in Japan; her style, which included mini-skirts and platform boots started the "Amuraa" craze in Japan, in which girls across Japan copied aspects of Amuro's look, including her clothes, tanned skin, hair, and "pencil thin eyebrows".cite news | url= http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/2000/0724/japan.okinawa_sb1.html | title=The Songbird Who Made Okinawa Cool | first=Tim | last=Larimer | date=July 24, 2000 | publisher= Time (magazine)|Time.com | accessdate=July 1, 2008 Also among the fads that Amuro popularized were body wire (nylon accessories that resemble tattoos), baggy socks, and skin-baring clothes.cite web | url= http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/cool/99-04-06/bodywire.html | title=Nylon Tattoos | publisher=Web Japan | accessdate=July 1, 2008cite web | url= http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/archives/cool/97-4-6/fashion.html | title=Baggy Socks | publisher=Web Japan | accessdate=July 1, 2008cite web | url= http://web-japan.org/trends/fashion/fas060913.html | title=Showing Some Skin | publisher=Web Japan | accessdate=July 1, 2008 Additionally, Amuro is often credited with starting the Ganguro trend, as it has its roots in "Amuraa".cite web | url= http://www.intcul.tohoku.ac.jp/~holden/MediatedSociety/Readings/2003_04/Mediated_Globalities.htm | title=Japan’s Mediated ‘Global’ Identities | accessdate=2006-09-30 | author=Todd Joseph Miles Holden Amuro's "idol" status contributed to her prominence in the media in the mid-nineties; at one point, Amuro hosted her own television show in addition to promoting various products through television advertisement|commercials as well as appearing on a television show "almost every night".cite web | url= http://www.iht.com/articles/1996/12/10/idol.t.php | title=New Teen Queen Reigns in Japan | publisher= International Herald Tribune | date=December 10, 1996 | first=David | last=Tracey | accessdate=July 1, 2008 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080531062917/ http://www.iht.com/articles/1996/12/10/idol.t.php |archivedate = May 31, 2008
Namie AmuroNamie Amuro singlesSuper Monkey's Persondata|NAME = Amuro, Namie |SHORT DESCRIPTION = Japanese singer |DATE OF BIRTH = September 20, 1977 |PLACE OF BIRTH = Okinawa , Japan |DATE OF DEATH = |PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Amuro, Namie Category:Namie Amuro| Category:Japanese female singers Category:Japanese dancers Category:Japanese people of Italian descent Category:Japanese pop singers Category:Japanese rhythm and blues singers Category:Japanese idols Category:Avex Trax artists Category:People from Naha, Okinawa Category:1977 births Category:Living people