Loveppears

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Loveppears
Ayumi Hamasaki shown topless from the upper waist up, looking into the camera, with flowing brown hair covering her chest.
Studio album by
Ayumi Hamasaki
ReleasedNovember 10, 1999 (1999-11-10)
RecordedJanuary–October 1999
StudioPrime Sound Studio, Studio Sound Dali, Onkio Haus (Tokyo); Soundtrack Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length70:47 (Disc 1)
34:06 (Disc 2)
LabelAvex Trax
ProducerMax Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
A Song for ××
(1999) 		Loveppears
(1999) 		Duty
(2000)
Singles from Loveppears
  1. "Whatever"
    Released: February 10, 1999
  2. "Love (Destiny)"
    Released: April 14, 1999
  3. "To Be"
    Released: May 12, 1999
  4. "Boys & Girls"
    Released: July 14, 1999
  5. "A"
    Released: August 11, 1999
  6. "Appears"
    Released: November 10, 1999
  7. "Kanariya"
    Released: December 8, 1999
  8. "Fly High"
    Released: February 9, 2000

Loveppears (stylized as LOVEppears) is the second studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released in Japan, Hong Kong and China on November 10, 1999, through Avex Trax and the China Record Corporation, and distributed worldwide on April 10, 2001, by Avex Entertainment Inc. It was entirely written by Hamasaki herself, while the production was handled by Japanese musician Max Matsuura. Musically, Loveppears is a dance album and lyrically focuses on themes of love, frustration of life, loneliness, and individualism.

Upon its release, Loveppears received favorable reviews from music critics. Many of those highlighted the singles as some of her best work, and complimented the transition from Hamasaki's previous

Oricon Style
's database, The album was nominated for the Asia Association Music Prize Awards.

To promote the album, Hamasaki released 11 singles. One of the singles, "

2000 Japan concert tour. "Loveppears" currently ranks as the 40th highest selling Japanese album of all time.[1]

Background and composition

After the success of Hamasaki's January 1999 studio album

Dai Nagao, and Kazuhito Kikuchi, amongst others.[6]

Avex Trax hired Japanese musician Max Matsuura to produce the entire record, along with Hamasaki and Japanese musician Naoto Suzuki's help, while Hamasaki wrote every song on the album.[6] Recording sessions were handled at Prime Sound Studio, Studio Sound Dali, and Onkio Haus in Tokyo and at Soundtrack Studios in New York City; the final material was then mixed at Studio Sound Dali and Conway Studios in Los Angeles, and mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Oasis Masterings.[6]

Loveppears was noted by critics as Hamasaki's first transition from her "cautious" pop rock style in A Song for ××.[5][7] The album includes two instrumental tracks: "Introduction", which was composed by HΛL, and the "Interlude" song that was composed by Naoto Suzuki.[6] Some of the singles on Loveppears had been remixed and re-composed, including "Fly High"; extended versions of "Whatever", "Too Late", "Appears"; and a revised version of "Love (Destiny)", which was re-written and titled "Love: Refrain".[6] The album also includes a hidden track on the song "Who...", which is the album version of "Kanariya".[6] Lyrically, the material on the album focuses on themes of love, frustration of life, loneliness, and individualism.[8]

Release and packaging

Loveppears was released in Japan, Hong Kong and China on November 10, 1999, through Avex Trax and the

New York City, New York.[6] The enhanced CD also includes five remixes; two non-stop mega mixes of Eurodance and house inspired music, the Millennium mix of "A Song for ××", an acoustic mix of "Powder Snow", and the Make Me Mad remix of "Friend II".[6] On April 10, 2001, the album was re-released worldwide by Avex Entertainment Inc. through digital outlets.[A]

The artwork for Loveppears was shot by Toru Kumazawa in New York City and

Los Angeles, California. The cover features Hamasaki topless with a light brown wig covering her breasts. Hamasaki believed that the material on the album influenced her decision in calling the album Loveappears, stating "While working on A Song for ××, during the sad times that I couldn't shake, I'd always be saying 'I'm very sad, I can't shake this.' Quietly crying, quietly wounded, quietly mourning. But with Loveppears, I express it with furious sounds, shouting out, screaming."[11]
During an interview with Japanese magazine Beatfreak in November 1999, Hamasaki explained that the title represented the visual aspects of a relationship (appears) and how people see love; she explained in full detail;

The title Loveppears has two meanings to it, ‘thing that seems like love’ and ‘discrepancy between what we see and what's really there.’ ...Before my trip to New York for the jacket photo shoot, I looked out the window from inside the car, and there was a couple that looked SO happy, but I personally was thinking, maybe they're in the middle of a serious crisis. Or maybe they're actually talking about separating. So I thought of the meaning "seems to be" for the word "appears" and stuck it on there. We give ourselves certain outward appearances and images, trying to make it look like things are good or bad, whatever we want to show people, but really things aren't as we're showing.[11]

Singles

"Boys & Girls" (1999)
Loveppears was characterized by dance tracks such as the million-selling "Boys & Girls".
Problems playing this file? See media help.

11 singles were released to promote Loveppears, including one

Oricon Style.[19][20] Each individual track from A were promoted through commercial endorsements in Japan.[21]

The next three singles; "

Armin Van Buuren, and distributed in 2001–2002 throughout North America and Europe.[24] "Kanariya" was released on December 8, 1999, and was her only limited edition single from the album to peak at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart.[14][25] It was her second single to have been released in North America, having been remixed by Jonathan Peters.[26] The album's final single was "Fly High", which was released in Japan on February 9, 2000, her first single inside of the 2000s decade.[27]

Avex Trax USA and Europe decided to release promotional

A-side single with "Appears" in Japan, as part of a promotion for her 2000 concert tour.[31][32]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[33]

Upon its release, Loveppears received positive reviews from most music critics. A staff member working for CD Journal enjoyed the album and labeled it "bold". The review also stated that the music on Loveppears was at "high quality", and praised the producers and composers work on the material.[34] The album brought Hamasaki several nominations and accolades, including a win at the Japan Gold Disc Awards for Best Pop Album of the Year, marking her second win after A Song for xx. Alongside this, her single A won the award for Song of the Year.[35]

Commercially, Loveppears was a success in Japan. The album debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, selling over 1.2 million units in its first week of sales.[36][37] The record became the 34th album with the highest first week sales, and is Hamasaki's third feat.[37] By the end of 1999, the album was ranked at number 14 on the Oricon Yearly Albums Chart with over 1,443,490 units sold; this made it the fourth highest selling album by a female artist, just behind Mariah Carey, Ami Suzuki and Hikaru Utada.[38] The album continued to chart in 2000, and effectively sold an additional 1,077,960 units by the end of that year, reaching number 14 on the annual chart.[39] The album stayed in the Oricon Top 200 chart for 64 weeks, becoming Hamasaki's longest spanning entry to date.[36]

It was certified double Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for physical shipments of two million units, and is Hamasaki's third highest selling album based on Oricon Style's database.[40][41] As of July 2016, Loveppears has sold over 2.5 million units in Japan, and is the 40th best selling album in Japan of all time; this marks it Hamasaki's second highest studio album behind Duty, and the 10th highest selling album by a female artist.[42]

Promotion

Hamasaki promoted the album with extensive commercial deals in Japan; according to Alexey Eremenko from AllMusic, he commented in his biography of Hamasaki, "its success boosted by ad contracts that Hamasaki has raked in ever since as a spokesman, beginning with the Asian cosmetics juggernaut Kose (later she also worked for the likes of Honda and Panasonic)."[43] She went onto promote several other products within Asia, including various food snacks, vehicles, and technology.[7] In retrospect of the commercial deals, although Hamasaki initially supported the exploitation of her popularity for commercial purposes, saying that it was "necessary that [she is] viewed as a product",[44] she eventually opposed Avex's decision to market her as a "product rather than a person".[45]

Several tracks from Loveppears were featured on remix compilations during 1999 and 2000. The first was her February 2000 Eurobeat compilation Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix.[46] A four album series were then released to support Loveppears; the first three were the Japanese remix album Ayu-mi-x II Version JPN,[47] the American and European remix album ayu-mi-x II Version US+EU[48] and the acoustic Ayu-mi-x II Version Acoustic Orchestra, all released on March 8, 2000.[49] The final album, Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix, reached number six and was certified platinum by RIAJ.[14][50]

Hamasaki then performed several tracks from Loveppears on concert tours, including Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 1, Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 2, Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A and Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2003–2004 A.[51][52] The music videos to "Whatever", "Love (Destiny)", "To Be", "Boys & Girls", "Appears", "Kanariya", "Fly High" and other album promotional footage were featured on her 2004 video box set Ayumi Hamasaki Complete Clip Box A.[53]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Ayumi Hamasaki

Monochrome" (Album Version)HΛL
  • Suzuki
  • Nagao
4:2114."Interlude"SuzukiSuzuki0:5515."Love (Refrain)" (Revised version of Love (Destiny))TsunkuSuzuki5:2116."Who..."KikuchiSuzuki5:3517."Kanariya" (Hidden track
)Yasuhiko HoshinoCPM-Marvin3:52
CD2[55]
No.TitleLength
1."Ayu's Euro Mega-Mix" (Y&Co. Mix)9:48
2."Ayu's House Mega-Mix" (N.S House Mix)9:58
3."A Song for ××" (Millennium Mix)4:46
4."Powder Snow" (Acoustic Orchestra Version)5:03
5."Friend II" (Make My Mad Mix)4:31
CD 3 (LOVEppears / appears -20th Anniversary Edition-)[56]
No.TitleLength
1."appears" (99 Greeting Mix) 
2."appears" (Scud Filter Mix) 
3."appears" (Dub's Eurotech Remix) 
4."WHATEVER" (Ferry 'System F' Corsten dub mix) 
5."appears" (JP's SoundFactory Mix) 
6."appears" (HAL's MIX) 
7."immature" (D-Z DUAL LUCIFER MIX) 
8."WHATEVER" (Ferry 'System F' Corsten vocal extended mix) 
9."appears" (Keith Litman's Mix of Truth) 
10."immature" (JT Original CM Version) 
11."appears" (99 Greeting Mix (Instrumental)) 
12."immature" (JT Original CM Version (Instrumental)) 
CD 4 (LOVEppears / appears -20th Anniversary 4CD+DVD Limited Edition-)[57]
No.TitleLength
1."appears" (HΛL‘s Progress) 
2."appears" (Acoustic version) 
3."appears" (Armin van Buuren’s remix) 
4."appears" (Junior‘s Appears On The Air) 
5."appears" (HW Club Mix) 
6."appears" (DJ-TURBO remix) 
7."appears" (Junior’s Club Mix) 
8."appears" (HW Tokyo Hard House Mix) 
9."appears" (Armin van Buuren‘s Sunset Dub) 
10."appears" (Aggressive Extended Mix) 
11."appears" (Melodic Extended Mix) 
12."appears" (Melodic Extended Mix) 
13."appears" (Inst melo version) 
DVD (LOVEppears / appears -20th Anniversary 4CD+DVD Limited Edition-)[57]
No.TitleLength
1."Fly high" 
2."Boys & Girls" 
3."TO BE" 
4."WHATEVER" 
5."appears" 
6."kanariya" 
7."LOVE ~Destiny~" 
8."Who... (Live Lyric Video)" 
9."Trauma (Choreography Video) (振り付け映像)" 

Additional notes

  • Dai Nagao is credited as the alias D.A.I. in the liner notes.[6]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the CD liner notes of Loveppears.[6]

Charts

Certification and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[58] 2× Million 2,680,000[19]

Release history

Region Date Format Catalogue number
Japan November 10, 1999 2CD (CD, Album + CD, Enhanced) AVCD-11740/B
Taiwan November 1999 2CD AVJCD-10035
Hong Kong November 1999 2CD AVTCD-95292
China 1999 CD AVTCD-95292/B
  • SCD-779
Japan November 10, 2019 20th Anniversary Edition (3CD) AVCD-96375～7
Japan November 10, 2019 20th Anniversary Edition (4CD+DVD) AVCD-96371～4/B

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The iTunes Store website has identified April 10, 2001, as the album's release date outside of Asia, but the store was not available until 2003-on wards.

References

  1. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20120103001458/http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-album.html
  2. ^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年3月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. March 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 474. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 9. May 10, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 22, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  3. ^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年2月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 473. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 9. April 10, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  4. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Ayu-mi-x (CD Remix Album; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11716~7.
  5. ^ a b Walters, Barry (March 5, 2002). "Turning (Japanese) Point". The Village Voice. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Loveppears (CD Album; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11740.
  7. ^ a b Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "Empress of Pop". Time. p. 3. Archived from the original on April 3, 2002. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  8. ^ "Loveppears". Beatfreak (in Japanese). 142. November 1999.
  9. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Loveppears (CD Album; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Hong Kong: Avex Trax. AVTCD-95292.
  10. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Loveppears (CD Album; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. China: Avex Trax, China Record Corporation. AVTCD-95292/B, SCD-779.
  11. ^ a b "Ayumi Hamasaki exclusive interview". Beatfreak. November 1999.
  12. ^ The list below are major formats released for "Whatever";
    • Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Whatever (Mini CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVDD-20291.
    • Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Whatever (CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-30216.
    • Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Whatever (12" Vinyl; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVJT-2365.
  13. ^ "Whatever – Single – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Japan). February 10, 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  14. ^
    Oricon Style. Archived from the original
    on June 28, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  15. ^ The list below are major formats released for "Love (Destiny)";
    • Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Love (Destiny) (Mini CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVDD-20309.
    • Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Love (Destiny) (CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-30217.
  16. ^ "Love: Destiny – Single – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Japan). April 14, 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  17. ^ The list below are major formats released for "Love (Destiny)";
    • Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). To Be (Mini CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVDD-20316.
    • Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). To Be (CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-30218.
  18. ^ "To Be – Single – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Japan). May 12, 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  19. ^ a b "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'] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  20. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Singles Ranking" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  21. ^ CD Journal Staff (August 11, 1999). "Ayumi Hamasaki – A [EP]". CD Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  22. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Appears (CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-30064.
  23. ^ "Appears – Single – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Japan). November 10, 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  24. ^ The list below are major formats released for "Appears";
    • Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Appears (12" Vinyl (Junior Vasquez); Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. North America: Avex Trax USA. AVA 12.
    • Hamasaki, Ayumi (2001–2002). Appears (12" Vinyl (Armin Van Buuren); Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Europe: Drizzly Records. DRIZ3005-1.
  25. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Kanariya (CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-30067.
  26. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Kanariya (12" Vinyl (Jonathan Peters); Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. North America: Avex Trax USA. AVA-2.
  27. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Fly High (CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-30066.
  28. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Monochrome (12" Vinyl; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. United Kingdom: Bob. BOB 2.
  29. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Monochrome (12" Vinyl; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. North America: Avex Trax USA. AVA-5.
  30. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Trauma (12" Vinyl; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. North America: Avex Trax USA. AVA-3.
  31. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Too Late (12" Vinyl; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. North America: Avex Trax USA. AVA-4.
  32. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Appears/Immature (12" Vinyl; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. NA.
  33. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Loveppears – Ayumi Hamasaki". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  34. ^ CD Journal Staff (November 10, 1999). "Loveppears – Ayumi Hamasaki". CD Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  35. ^ "The Japan Gold Disc Awards – 2000 Edition" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 2000. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  36. ^ a b c d "Oricon Albums Chart – Loveppears" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. November 10, 1999. Archived from the original on August 8, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  37. ^ a b "Best Selling Albums for First Week Sales in Japan of all Time" (in Japanese). Music TV Program Japan. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  38. ^ a b "Oricon Albums Chart – Annual 1999 Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  39. ^ a b "Oricon Albums Chart – Annual 2000 Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Archived from the original on November 24, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  40. ^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年11月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. November 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 482. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 9. January 10, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  41. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Albums Ranking" (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  42. ^ "Best Selling Albums in Japan of all Time" (in Japanese). Music TV Program Japan. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  43. ^ Eremenko, Alexey (2016). "Ayumi Hamasaki – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  44. ^ Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "I have very clear ideas of what I want". Time. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  45. NTV
    .
  46. ^ Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix (Remix compilation). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2000. AVCD-11793.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  47. ^ Ayu-Mi-x II Version JPN (Remix compilation). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2000. AVCD-11798.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  48. ^ Ayu-Mi-x II Version US+EU (Remix compilation). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2000. AVCD-11797.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  49. ^ Ayu-Mi-x II Version Acoustic Orchestral (Remix compilation). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2000. AVCD-11799.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  50. ^ Ayu-Mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix (Remix compilation). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2000. AVCD-11800.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  51. ^ Concert Tour 2000 A Vol. 1 (Live DVD; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2000. AVBD-91021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  52. ^ Concert Tour 2000 A Vol. 2 (Live DVD; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2000. AVBD-91020.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  53. ^ A Clips Complete Box A (DVD Box Set; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2004. AVBD-91181~3.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  54. ^ "Loveppears – Album – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Japan). November 10, 1999. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  55. ^ "Loveppears" (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 1999. 4-988064-117406.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  56. ^ "LOVEppears / appears -20th Anniversary Edition-– Album – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Brazil). November 8, 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  57. ^ a b "DISCOGRAPHY｜ayumi hamasaki（浜崎あゆみ）". avex. November 8, 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  58. ^ "Japanese single certifications – 浜崎 あゆみ – LOVEppears" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 2, 2021. Select 1999年11月 on the drop-down menu

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Loveppears&oldid=1199707383"