Rainbow (Ayumi Hamasaki album)
Encyclopedia
Upon its release, the album received mixed reviews. Adam Greenberg of Allmusic stated, "[Rainbow] came after a string of high-charting albums, itself not reaching the same heights thanks to some interesting but uneven experimentation with her sound". He concluded by writing that even though the album didn't have as much refinement as much of Hamasaki's later albums, it showed the progression of her skills and vocal abilities.
Sputnikmusic gave a positive review saying, "Rainbow has a more Westernized feel to it that other J-pop albums, which could be a rub in the whole discovering Japanese music experience".
Released in December 2002, Rainbow entered the Japan Oricon Albums Chart at number one, with about 445,000 copies sold in its first day. In the weekly chart, the album reached the top position, selling over one million copies. The album also topped the monthly chart and reached number two on yearly chart, behind Utada Hikaru
's Deep River.
The album has sold about 1,857,870 copies in Japan and has been certified 2× Million by RIAJ. Since Loveppears
, "Rainbow" became Hamasaki's first studio album that did not break the two million mark. Worldwide, the album has sold about three million copies. A digipak
edition was also released featuring all four covers of the single to commemorate the sale of the millionth copy. Rainbow is the 89th best selling album in Japan of all times
", the lead single became Hamasaki's fourteenth number one single on the Oricon Weekly Charts. The track is said to be the result of a sudden inspiration Hamasaki and HAL had at an actual magazine photo shoot with Free & Easy magazine. The lyrics speak of "self-empowerment and freedom". Hamasaki said, "In Free & Easy, I wrote what I am feeling at the moment. In other words, I want to be a person who lives by taking responsibility for my own freedom, and I want to be a person for whom these words are perfectly applicable." The single also marked a dramatic change in the format of Hamasaki's singles. Singles after "Free and Easy" (with the exception of "No Way to Say
") cut the number of remixes on the CD down to two or three, unlike previous singles with up to six or seven remixes.
The second single from the album was a multiple-A-side single titled "H". It contained three tracks from the album - "Independent", "July 1st" and "Hanabi". The EP also reached number one position on Oricon charts and also became Hamasaki's sixth Million selling single and also made her the only artist to accomplish this feat. The single remains Hamasaki's last Million selling single to date. The lyrics of songs on "H" deal with different corners of life. Hanabi,a "reminiscent of the UK trip-hop/dub sound yet has a somewhat nostalgic feeling" deals with "a summer that ends in deep sadness". Independent is an anthem depicting "Independency" and July 1 is a "summer anthem", which featured guitarist Susumu Nishikawa.
The final single off the album was the Hamasaki and DAI penned "Voyage". The single had major classical influences with strings and violins. The song, like its predecessors, also topped the chart and also became one of Hamasaki's critically praised works. The single also garned the title of Hamasaki's longest charting single (with a total run of twenty-eight weeks). The single's music video became one of Hamasaki's two singles in which a short film was used in place of a regular music video
(the other one being 2007's "Glitter / Fated
"). The single was nominated for a Gold Disk Award.
Sputnikmusic gave a positive review saying, "Rainbow has a more Westernized feel to it that other J-pop albums, which could be a rub in the whole discovering Japanese music experience".
Release and chart performance
Initial pressings of the album had an extra track, "Rainbow", listed for track 00 and contained a password to a website. As a promotion for the album, the track was not included on the CD, but part of the instrumental version was released to the password-only website that was open for a limited time where fans could submit their own lyrics.Released in December 2002, Rainbow entered the Japan Oricon Albums Chart at number one, with about 445,000 copies sold in its first day. In the weekly chart, the album reached the top position, selling over one million copies. The album also topped the monthly chart and reached number two on yearly chart, behind Utada Hikaru
Utada Hikaru
, known by her stage name Utada in America and Europe, is a Japanese-American singer, song writer, arranger, and producer. Since the release of her Japanese debut album First Love, which went on to become the best-selling album in Oricon history, Utada has had three of her Japanese studio albums...
's Deep River.
The album has sold about 1,857,870 copies in Japan and has been certified 2× Million by RIAJ. Since Loveppears
LOVEppears
-CD1:#"Introduction" - 1:09Words: Ayumi HamasakiMusic: HALArrangement: HALKeyboards: HALGuitar: Naoyo AkimotoProgramming: HALMixed by Dave Way...
, "Rainbow" became Hamasaki's first studio album that did not break the two million mark. Worldwide, the album has sold about three million copies. A digipak
Digipak
Digipak is a patented style of CD, DVD or BD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI World Ltd., an Atlas Holdings company.-Features:...
edition was also released featuring all four covers of the single to commemorate the sale of the millionth copy. Rainbow is the 89th best selling album in Japan of all times
Singles
The album's release was preceded by three singles. "Free & EasyFree & Easy
"Free & Easy" is a song written by Ayumi Hamasaki and Dai Nagao for Hamasaki's album Rainbow. The song, the first single from Rainbow and Hamasaki's 26th total, was released in Japan on April 24, 2002....
", the lead single became Hamasaki's fourteenth number one single on the Oricon Weekly Charts. The track is said to be the result of a sudden inspiration Hamasaki and HAL had at an actual magazine photo shoot with Free & Easy magazine. The lyrics speak of "self-empowerment and freedom". Hamasaki said, "In Free & Easy, I wrote what I am feeling at the moment. In other words, I want to be a person who lives by taking responsibility for my own freedom, and I want to be a person for whom these words are perfectly applicable." The single also marked a dramatic change in the format of Hamasaki's singles. Singles after "Free and Easy" (with the exception of "No Way to Say
No Way to Say
"No Way to Say" is the thirty-first single released by Ayumi Hamasaki and her eighteenth number-one single. It came out November 6, 2003. The video won the award for "Best Pop Video" at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, and the single won the Japan Record Award at the 2003 Japan Record Awards...
") cut the number of remixes on the CD down to two or three, unlike previous singles with up to six or seven remixes.
The second single from the album was a multiple-A-side single titled "H". It contained three tracks from the album - "Independent", "July 1st" and "Hanabi". The EP also reached number one position on Oricon charts and also became Hamasaki's sixth Million selling single and also made her the only artist to accomplish this feat. The single remains Hamasaki's last Million selling single to date. The lyrics of songs on "H" deal with different corners of life. Hanabi,a "reminiscent of the UK trip-hop/dub sound yet has a somewhat nostalgic feeling" deals with "a summer that ends in deep sadness". Independent is an anthem depicting "Independency" and July 1 is a "summer anthem", which featured guitarist Susumu Nishikawa.
The final single off the album was the Hamasaki and DAI penned "Voyage". The single had major classical influences with strings and violins. The song, like its predecessors, also topped the chart and also became one of Hamasaki's critically praised works. The single also garned the title of Hamasaki's longest charting single (with a total run of twenty-eight weeks). The single's music video became one of Hamasaki's two singles in which a short film was used in place of a regular music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
(the other one being 2007's "Glitter / Fated
Glitter / Fated
"Glitter"/"Fated" is the forty-first single by Japanese pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released on July 18, 2007. "Glitter"/"Fated" was Hamasaki's first single of 2007 and first single in over a year, since the release of "Blue Bird" in June 2006.-History:...
"). The single was nominated for a Gold Disk Award.
Tracklisting
Charts
| Oricon Chart | Peak position |
First Week Sales | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Daily Album Chart | 1 | |||
| Oricon Weekly Album Chart | 1 | 1,016,482 | 1,857,870 | 22 |
| Oricon Monthly Album Charts | 1 |
Year End Charts
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Japan Oricon Charts | 2 |
Certifications
| Region | Provider | Certifications | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | RIAJ | 2× Million | 1,857,870 |
Singles
| Date | Title | Peak position | Weeks | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2002 | "Free & Easy Free & Easy "Free & Easy" is a song written by Ayumi Hamasaki and Dai Nagao for Hamasaki's album Rainbow. The song, the first single from Rainbow and Hamasaki's 26th total, was released in Japan on April 24, 2002.... " |
1 | 9 weeks | 486,520 |
| July 24, 2002 | "H" | 1 | 24 weeks | 1,012,544 |
| September 26, 2002 | "Voyage Voyage (song) "Voyage" is the 28th single released by Ayumi Hamasaki on September 26, 2002. "Voyage" debuted at #1 on the weekly charts with more than 319,020 copies sold in its first week and remained at the top position for 3 consecutive weeks out of a total 28 weeks on the chart, becoming her longest charting... " |
1 | 28 weeks | 679,463 |
- Total Single Sales: 2,181,983
- Total Album and Single Sales: 4,039,853