Queen of Hip-Pop
Encyclopedia
Queen of Hip-Pop is Namie Amuro
's seventh original studio album. It was released on July 13, 2005 after four singles and was her most commercially successful effort in five years before Play
was released.
songs and only one pop
ballad
. The term "Hip-Pop" has been coined to the describe the music on the album because of her image as a pop music icon and her transition to R&B/Hip-Hop
music.
"All for You" was the theme song of the popular Japanese drama "Kimi Ga Omoide Ni Naru Mae Ni"
"No" was later used to promote the "Space of Hip-Hop Tour" DVD
In the Hindi film 'Darling', in the song 'Aa Khushi Se Khud Khushi Kar Le', the first few opening lines are from the song 'Want me, want me'. It also has the same sitar sample.
Before the announcement of the album, the title track, "Queen of Hip-Pop" was used as a commercial jingle for Chevrolet
Suzuki
Cruze automobiles.
Four months later she released "All for You", her first ballad since "I Will" in 2002. The single was a great success and became the first of three consecuitve singles to sell over 100,000 copies. She performed the song at the MTV Buzz Asia Concert.
In October, the double A-side single "Girl Talk/The Speed Star" was released. However only "Girl Talk" was included on the album. Both songs were major hits. Amuro performed "Girl Talk" at the MTV Asia Aid Concert in February 2005.
The last single of the album, "Want Me, Want Me", was her first single of 2005. The song was performed at the 2005 Kobe Collection before its release. "Want Me, Want Me" is an up-tempo track similar to reggaeton
music and it's her first song to feature sexually aggressive lyrics. Despite this, the single was a smash hit and opened at #2 with her largest first week sales since "Say the Word
". Two months later she performed the song at the 2005 MTV Video Awards Japan.
Another track off the album, "WoWa" was released as a video and radio single but was not retailed.
In the second quarter of 2006, Avex reported that Queen of Hip-Pop sold 494,000 copies in Japan.
and
clocks in at about 2:35.
Singles - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
Total Single Sales: 371,880
Total Album and Single Sales: 827,308
Namie Amuro
is a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
's seventh original studio album. It was released on July 13, 2005 after four singles and was her most commercially successful effort in five years before Play
Play (Namie Amuro album)
Play is the eighth studio album by Japanese pop singer Namie Amuro, released on June 27, 2007 in Japan. The follow-up to her successful 2005 album Queen of Hip-Pop, Play showcases her new hip-pop genre. This also marks her first album to be released in both the CD and CD+DVD formats. PLAY is her...
was released.
Origin of the title
While planning the album, Amuro decided she wanted to create music that would have its most profound effect live. The result is an album that is her most uptempo containing 11 hip hopHip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
songs and only one pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
. The term "Hip-Pop" has been coined to the describe the music on the album because of her image as a pop music icon and her transition to R&B/Hip-Hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
music.
Packaging and design
The album art theme is that of the Pink Panther. Amuro happened to be a big fan of the Pink Panther cartoon character and wanted to include its image. A licensing deal was struck with MGM studios allowing Amuro to freely use the character in her album artwork and promotion. A special character "Namie Panther" based on Amuro herself was also created as a counterpart to the Pink Panther. Because of the Pink Panther deal, all of the material released for the album has been pink. (Amuro had stated in an interview years before that she did not like pink.) First pressing packaging of the album included Pink Panther stickers and a Pink Panther styled newspaper containing lyrics for the album.Tie-ups and theme songs
"Alarm", "Girl Talk", and "WoWa" were used in TV commercials for the Lucido-L hair products. Amuro appeared in the three ad campaigns."All for You" was the theme song of the popular Japanese drama "Kimi Ga Omoide Ni Naru Mae Ni"
"No" was later used to promote the "Space of Hip-Hop Tour" DVD
In the Hindi film 'Darling', in the song 'Aa Khushi Se Khud Khushi Kar Le', the first few opening lines are from the song 'Want me, want me'. It also has the same sitar sample.
Before the announcement of the album, the title track, "Queen of Hip-Pop" was used as a commercial jingle for Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
Cruze automobiles.
Singles
Four singles were released before Queen of Hip-Hop. The first, "Alarm", released in early 2004, is her first (and to date, only) single to miss the top ten. Despite the low sales, "Alarm" became a popular hit in Japan and she performed the song at the 2004 MTV Video Awards Japan.Four months later she released "All for You", her first ballad since "I Will" in 2002. The single was a great success and became the first of three consecuitve singles to sell over 100,000 copies. She performed the song at the MTV Buzz Asia Concert.
In October, the double A-side single "Girl Talk/The Speed Star" was released. However only "Girl Talk" was included on the album. Both songs were major hits. Amuro performed "Girl Talk" at the MTV Asia Aid Concert in February 2005.
The last single of the album, "Want Me, Want Me", was her first single of 2005. The song was performed at the 2005 Kobe Collection before its release. "Want Me, Want Me" is an up-tempo track similar to reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
music and it's her first song to feature sexually aggressive lyrics. Despite this, the single was a smash hit and opened at #2 with her largest first week sales since "Say the Word
Say the word
"Say the Word" is Namie Amuro's 19th solo single under the Avex Trax label. It is her first single after the termination of her working relationship with longtime producer, Tetsuya Komuro...
". Two months later she performed the song at the 2005 MTV Video Awards Japan.
Another track off the album, "WoWa" was released as a video and radio single but was not retailed.
Sales
Upon release, the album charted at number one in Japan for two days ultimately debuting at number two for the week. It has sold over 475,600 copies and is the 27th best selling album of 2005. Queen of Hip-Pop debuted at #1 on the Taiwanese J-Pop chart and #2 on the Combo Chart.In the second quarter of 2006, Avex reported that Queen of Hip-Pop sold 494,000 copies in Japan.
Album information
After "No",there is a hidden track which has no official title but is known to fans as "No Pt.2" or "Yes". At 4:06,the listener begins to hear the subtle sounds of the hidden track beginning. The song is a slower version of "No" with new lyrics and vocals. It also features lyrics from her song "WoWa" with variations of:
I'ma make ya mine.
and
The version posted on sites such as Imeem
I'ma read ya mind.
Imeem
The online service imeem was a social media web site where users interacted with each other by streaming, uploading and sharing music and music videos...
clocks in at about 2:35.
Track listing
Secret TrackCredits and personnel
- Queen of Hip-Pop
- Produced by Nao'ymt
- All instruments performed by Nao'ymt
- Mixed by D.O.I.
- WANT ME, WANT ME
- Produced by SUGI-V
- Co-Produced by Michico
- Vocal Produced by Michico
- All instruments performed by SUGI-V
- Mixed by D.O.I.
- WoWa
- Produced by Nao'ymt
- All instruments performed by Nao'ymt
- Mixed by D.O.I.
- I Wanna Show You My Love
- Produced by T.Kura
- Vocal Produced by Michico
- All instruments performed by T.Kura
- Mixed by T.Kura
- GIRL TALK
- Produced by T.Kura
- Vocal Produced by Michico
- All instruments performed by T.Kura
- Mixed by T.Kura
- Free
- Produced by Nao'ymt
- All instruments performed by Nao'ymt
- Mixed by Yoshiaki Onishi
- My Darling
- Produced by T.Kura
- Vocal Produced by Michico
- Additional Vocals by L.L.BROTHERS
- All instruments performed by T.Kura
- Mixed by T.Kura
- Ups & Downs duet with Nao'ymt
- Produced by Nao'ymt
- All instruments performed by Nao'ymt
- Mixed by Yoshiaki Onishi
- I Love You
- Produced by C."Tricky" Stewart
- Japanese Lyrics by Shoko Fujibayashi
- All instruments performed by C."Tricky" Stewart
- Track Recorded by Brian"B-Luv"Thomas
- Mixed by Carlton Lynn
- ALL FOR YOU
- Arranged by Jun Abe & Ryoki Matsumoto
- Chorus arranged by Ryoki Matsumoto
- Programmed by Jun Abe
- Chorus: Ryoki Matsumoto
- Piano & Keyboard: Jun Abe
- Guitar: Kenji Suzuki
- Strings: Rush by Takashi Katou
- Mixed by Junya Endo
- ALARM
- All instruments performed by MONK
- Mixed by Yoshiaki Onishi
- No
- Produced by Nao'ymt
- All instruments performed by Nao'ymt
- Mixed by D.O.I.
- Lead and Background Vocals directed by Nao'ymt(#1,8,12), Michico(#2,4,5,7), Daisuke Imai(#3,6,9), Kenji Sano(#11)
- Recorded by Toshihiro Wako, except #3 (by Yusuke Abe) and #10 (by Toshihiro Wako & Eiji Kameda)
- Mastered by Tom Coyne
Production
- Producers - T.Kura, Michico, Nao'ymt, C. "Tricky" Stewart, SUGI-V
- Vocal Producers - Michico
- Vocal Direction - Daisuke Imai, Michico, Nao'ymt, Kenji Sano
- Chorus Arrangement - Ryoki Matsumoto
- Mixing - D.O.I, Junya Endo, T.Kura, Carlton Lynn, Yoshiaki Onishi
- Photography - Shoji Uchida
- Art Direction - Hidekazu Sato
Sales total
Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)| Release | Chart | Peak Position | First Week Sales | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 July 2005 | Oricon Daily Charts | 1 | |||
| Oricon Weekly Charts | 2 | 220,000 | 455,428 | 69 week | |
| Oricon Monthly Charts | 2 | ||||
| Oricon Yearly Charts | 27 |
Singles - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
| Release | Single | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 March 2004 | "Alarm" | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | 6 |
| Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 11 | ||
| 22 July 2004 | "All for You" | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | 4 |
| Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 6 | ||
| 14 October 2004 | "Girl Talk / The Speed Star" | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | 1 |
| Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 2 | ||
| 6 April 2005 | "Want Me, Want Me" | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | 2 |
| Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 2 |
Total Single Sales: 371,880
Total Album and Single Sales: 827,308