Wonder Woman (Namie Amuro song)
Encyclopedia
"Wonder Woman" is a song by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro
, featuring R&B singer and rapper Ai
as well as rock musician Anna Tsuchiya
. The song was the lead promotional single for Amuro's collaboration-compilation album, Checkmate!
, released in April 2011.
Namie Amuro had previously collaborated with Ai on the songs "Uh Uh,,,,,," (Suite Chic
, 2003), ""Do What U Gotta Do" feat. Ai, Namie Amuro & Mummy-D (Zeebra
, 2006) and Ai 2010 single "Fake
." Ai and Tsuchiya had previously collaborated on Ai's 2007 album Don't Stop Ai with "Butterfly" featuring Anna Tsuchiya, Anty the Kunoichi, Pushim
, as well as on Tsuchiya's 2008 single "Crazy World". Amuro and Tsuchiya have not previously collaborated.
The song was the most successful of the four new songs from the album, peaking at number five on the Recording Industry Association of Japan
's Digital Track Chart
, and being certified as a gold download to cellphones by the association.
song, sung in a vocal trio. The verses are sung alternatively by each singer, however the chorus is sung by all three. The verses are arranged sparsely, with a bass guitar and beats, however the chorus features a full band backing, with drums, bass guitar and guitar.
The lyrics are primarily sung in English, with occasional phrases in Japanese. The lyrics describe somebody trying to reassure someone, that they will be their "wonder woman" who will be there to help them in times of need. The person is someone who is always acting that they are strong, and the song's protagonist wants them to "tell [her] those SOS [moments]" so that they can help them.
The song was conceived when Amuro had an idea ofor a collaboration featuring a chorus of strong female vocalists. When thinking of such musicians in Japan, Ai and Anna Tsuchiya came to mind. Amuro felt a collaboration with Ai, as she had worked so many times in the past with her,
For "Wonder Woman," Amuro asked Ai and Tsuchiya to collaborate with her, as she wanted to crate a strong song with a chorus of female vocalists. Amuro felt that she had worked with Ai so many times in the past that a collaboration with her could not go wrong.
, the third of Amuro's songs to be used, after "Wild" (2009) and "Break It
" (2010). The commercial first aired on February 13, 2011. The commercial featured Amuro on a motorbike in the desert, racing several androids on bikes.
All three musicians billed in the song appeared on the cover of fashion magazine S Cawaii's April issue, in promotion of the single.
On June 25, 2011, all three musicians attended the 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan
award ceremony and performed the song.
The music video first aired on Space Shower, on February 18. The video is featured as a part of Checkmate!s DVD edition.
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...
, featuring R&B singer and rapper Ai
AI (singer)
Ai , born November 2, 1981 as , is a Japanese R&B singer and rapper. She is currently under EMI Music Japan.-Early life:...
as well as rock musician Anna Tsuchiya
Anna Tsuchiya
is a Japanese singer, lyricist, actress and semi-retired model.Tsuchiya was born to a Japanese mother and an American father of Polish-Irish descent from Buffalo, New York. In her earliest years, she spoke English and Japanese...
. The song was the lead promotional single for Amuro's collaboration-compilation album, Checkmate!
Checkmate! (Namie Amuro album)
Checkmate! is a compilation album by Japanese pop/R&B musician Namie Amuro, featuring a collection of her compilation songs with other musicians released between 2003 and 2011, as well as four unpublished collaboration songs...
, released in April 2011.
Namie Amuro had previously collaborated with Ai on the songs "Uh Uh,,,,,," (Suite Chic
SUITE CHIC
Suite Chic was a collaborative project between some of Japan's top and up-and-coming R&B and Hip-Hop artists, writers, and producers, which debuted on December 18, 2002....
, 2003), ""Do What U Gotta Do" feat. Ai, Namie Amuro & Mummy-D (Zeebra
Zeebra
, real name , is a Japanese hip hop artist, who made his first appearance in 1995. Zeebra is a former member of the hip-hop group King Giddra, which also included DJ Oasis and K Dub Shine, and the older brother of fellow hip-hop artist SPHERE of INFLUENCE...
, 2006) and Ai 2010 single "Fake
Fake (Ai song)
"Fake" is Japanese R&B singer Ai's 20th single, featuring pop/R&B musician Namie Amuro. It was released on March 31, 2010.-Background:...
." Ai and Tsuchiya had previously collaborated on Ai's 2007 album Don't Stop Ai with "Butterfly" featuring Anna Tsuchiya, Anty the Kunoichi, Pushim
Pushim
, born on November 26, 1975 is a Zainichi Korean reggae artist. She is signed to Sony Music Japan's Ki/oon Records division.She began performing in the Kansai reggae scene in 1995. In 1998, she contributed back-up vocals for the Refugee Camp's "It's Too Late", a Carroll King cover...
, as well as on Tsuchiya's 2008 single "Crazy World". Amuro and Tsuchiya have not previously collaborated.
The song was the most successful of the four new songs from the album, peaking at number five on the Recording Industry Association of Japan
Recording Industry Association of Japan
The Recording Industry Association of Japan is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved the music industry...
's Digital Track Chart
RIAJ Digital Track Chart
The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads ....
, and being certified as a gold download to cellphones by the association.
Composition and production
The song is an up-beat pop rockPop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
song, sung in a vocal trio. The verses are sung alternatively by each singer, however the chorus is sung by all three. The verses are arranged sparsely, with a bass guitar and beats, however the chorus features a full band backing, with drums, bass guitar and guitar.
The lyrics are primarily sung in English, with occasional phrases in Japanese. The lyrics describe somebody trying to reassure someone, that they will be their "wonder woman" who will be there to help them in times of need. The person is someone who is always acting that they are strong, and the song's protagonist wants them to "tell [her] those SOS [moments]" so that they can help them.
The song was conceived when Amuro had an idea ofor a collaboration featuring a chorus of strong female vocalists. When thinking of such musicians in Japan, Ai and Anna Tsuchiya came to mind. Amuro felt a collaboration with Ai, as she had worked so many times in the past with her,
For "Wonder Woman," Amuro asked Ai and Tsuchiya to collaborate with her, as she wanted to crate a strong song with a chorus of female vocalists. Amuro felt that she had worked with Ai so many times in the past that a collaboration with her could not go wrong.
Promotion
The song was featured in a high-profile marketing campaign for Coca-Cola ZeroCoca-Cola Zero
Coca-Cola Zero or Coke Zero is a product of the Coca-Cola Company. It is a low-calorie variation of Coca-Cola specifically marketed to males, who were shown to associate 'diet' drinks with women....
, the third of Amuro's songs to be used, after "Wild" (2009) and "Break It
Break It/Get Myself Back
"Break It" is the 35th single released by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released on July 28, 2010, through Avex Trax. Break It was used in a Coca-Cola Zero commercial. The song reached number three on Oricon's weekly chart...
" (2010). The commercial first aired on February 13, 2011. The commercial featured Amuro on a motorbike in the desert, racing several androids on bikes.
All three musicians billed in the song appeared on the cover of fashion magazine S Cawaii's April issue, in promotion of the single.
On June 25, 2011, all three musicians attended the 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan
2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan
The 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan were held in Chiba on June 25, 2011 at the Makuhari Messe. The VMAJ were the culmination of MTV Japan's Music of Hope campaign, the channel's multiplatform response to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami...
award ceremony and performed the song.
Music video
The music video was directed by Hideaki Sunaga, who had previously not worked with Amuro, Tsuchiya or Ai on a music video. The video features the three vocalists in a darkly lit, wet car-park. One musician performs the song while walking across a road, another in a white car, and another in a red elevator. Each vocalist switches roles, appearing in each of these separately. After one cycle of this, two vocalists are seen entering separate elevators, and the cycle repeats. Only in the final scene of the video do all three vocalists appear together in the red elevator.The music video first aired on Space Shower, on February 18. The video is featured as a part of Checkmate!s DVD edition.
Chart rankings
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Adult Contemporary Airplay |
2 |
| Billboard Japan Hot 100 Japan Hot 100 The Japan Hot 100 is a music singles chart in Japan. It is compiled by Billboard and Hanshin Contents Link ever since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at billboard-japan.com and every Thursday at billboard.com .... |
5 |
| RIAJ Digital Track Chart RIAJ Digital Track Chart The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads .... weekly top 100 |
5 |
Certification
| Chart | Amount |
|---|---|
| RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads | Gold (100,000+) |
Release history
| Region | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Ringtone | |
| Radio add date | ||
| Cellphone download | ||
| PC download |