Never Gonna Give You Up (Mai Kuraki song)

"Never Gonna Give You Up"
Kuraki posing from her right side.
Single by Mai Kuraki
from the album Delicious Way
B-side "Trying to Find My Way"
Released June 7, 2000 (2000-06-07)
Format
Recorded 1999–2000
Genre R&B
Length 4:01
Label
Writer(s)
  • Mai Kuraki
  • Michael Africk
Producer(s)
  • Kanonji
  • Africk
  • Miguel Sá Pessoa
  • Perry Geyer
Mai Kuraki singles chronology
"Secret of My Heart"
(2000)		 "Never Gonna Give You Up"
(2000)		 "Simply Wonderful"
(2000)

"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Mai Kuraki. It was released on June 7, 2000 in Japan as a CD single and as a 12" vinyl by Giza Studio, Giza Inc., and Tent House as the fourth and final single from her debut studio album, Delicious Way (2000). The track features lyrics in Japanese and English language, written by Kuraki and Michael Africk, respectively. He also served as the single's composer, backing singer and producer, alongside Kanonji, Miguel Sá Pessoa, and Perry Geyer. The CD release of the track included the B-side recording "Trying to Find My Way". Musically, "Never Gonna Give You Up" is an R&B and pop song whose lyrics delve on themes of love and relationships, a common trait on its parent album.

Upon its release, "Never Gonna Give You Up" received a positive review from Alexey Eremenko, who contributed in writing the biography of Kuraki on American website AllMusic; he selected the track among Kuraki's best works. Commercially, the single experienced commercial success in Japan, reaching number two on the Oricon Singles Chart and the Count Down TV chart hosted by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS). The recording was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for physical shipments of 400,000 units in that region. In order to promote the single, an accompanying music video was released, with it portraying both Kuraki and Africk in a recording studio. The visual was included on some of the singer's Japanese concert tours and greatest hits compilations.

Background and release

The track features lyrics in Japanese and English language, written by Kuraki and Michael Africk, respectively. He also served as the single's composer, backing singer and producer, alongside Kanonji, Miguel Sá Pessoa, and Perry Geyer.[1] "Never Gonna Give You Up" was one of three songs from Kuraki's debut studio album, Delicious Way (2000), to have not been entirely written by her, and was one of the first tracks recorded for the album. It was originally intended for the singer's debut in the American music market in 1999, but ended being scrapped; it was subsequently featured on the Kuraki's only English language album, Secret of My Heart (2002).[1][2] Musically, "Never Gonna Give You Up" is an R&B and pop song[3][4] whose lyrics discuss on themes of love and relationships, a common trait on Delicious Way.[5]

The recording was made available for consumption as the fourth and final single from the album on June 7, 2000 in Japan as a CD single through Giza Studio. The physical release included the original album track, its instrumental and a remix produced by Me-ya under his alias It's Tonight, alongside B-side track "Trying to Find My Way".[5] The instrumental of the remixed version was later featured on a 12" vinyl distributed by Tent House—a subsidiary label owned by Giza Studios—two days later.[6] On November 12, 2014, "Never Gonna Give You Up" was re-released digitally in Japan through Amazon and iTunes Store.[7][upper-alpha 1]

Reception

"Never Gonna Give You Up" received a positive review from Alexey Eremenko, who contributed in writing the biography of Kuraki on American website AllMusic; he selected the track among Kuraki's best works.[9] Commercially, the single experienced commercial success in Japan. It debuted at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart with first-week sales of 284,780 copies, being only stalled from the top position by Ayumi Hamasaki's "Seasons" (2000).[10] It spent seven weeks within the top 200.[10] Likewise, "Never Gonna Give You Up" made its opening at the sophomore position of the Count Down TV chart hosted by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), where it stayed for another consecutive week.[11] The recording was present in the chart for seven weeks.[12]

By the end of 2000, "Never Gonna Give You Up" was ranked at number 58 on Oricon's year-end chart, having brought total sales of 434,000 units as her fourth entry there.[13] Similarly, it reached number 59 on TBS' annual ranking chart.[14] The single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for physical shipments of 400,000 units in that region.[15] As of July 2016, it is Kuraki's seventh best-selling single in Japan based on Oricon's sales data base.[16]

Music video and promotion

In order to promote the single, an accompanying music video was released, with it featuring both Kuraki and Africk in a recording studio. The visual was included on Kuraki's video compilation First Cut (2002).[17] During 2000 and 2001, the song was used for Japanese television MFTV's music show I'm a Music Freak.[18] "Never Gonna Give You Up" has been performed on various concert tours conducted by Kuraki, including her 2001 Experience tour, her 2001 Loving You tour, her 5th Japan Anniversary tour, her 2007 Brilliant Cut tour, her 10th Anniversary tour, and her 2010 Happy Halloween tour in Japan.[19] The single has also been featured on several greatest hits compilation albums released by the singer, including Wish You the Best (2004),[20] All My Best (2009),[21] and Mai Kuraki: Best 151A (Love and Hope) (2014).[8]

Track listing

  1. "Never Gonna Give You Up" – 4:01
  2. "Trying to Find My Way" – 3:33
  3. "Never Gonna Give You Up" (It's Tonight remix) – 5:04
  4. "Never Gonna Give You Up" (Instrumental) – 4:01
  • Digital download[7]
  1. "Never Gonna Give You Up" – 4:01
  1. "Never Gonna Give You Up" – 4:01
  2. "Never Gonna Give You Up" (It's Tonight remix) – 5:04
  3. "Never Gonna Give You Up" (It's Tonight remix) [Instrumental] – 5:04

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the CD liner notes of "Never Gonna Give You Up".[5]

Recording
Credits

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2000) Peak
position
Japan (Count Down TV)[11] 2
Japan (Oricon)[10] 2

Yearly chart

Chart (2000) Peak
position
Japan (Count Down TV)[14] 58
Japan (Oricon)[13] 59

Certification

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Japan (RIAJ)[15] Platinum 434,250[22]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Japan[5] June 7, 2000 CD single
  • Giza Studio
  • Giza Inc.
June 9, 2000[6] 12" vinyl Tent House
November 12, 2014[7] Digital download
  • Giza Studio
  • Giza Inc.
  • Northern Music

Notes

  1. ↑ "Never Gonna Give You Up" was digitally re-released in 2014 in conjunction with her compilation album, Mai Kuraki: Best 151A (Love and Hope), which was made available for consumption in the same year.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 Kuraki, Mai (2000). Delicious Way (CD Album; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Giza Studio. GZCA-1039.
  2. ↑ Kuraki, Mai (2002). Secret of My Heart (CD Album; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. North America: Giza USA. 2200100012.
  3. ↑ CD Journal Staff (June 28, 2000). "Mai Kuraki – Delicious Way [CD]". CD Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ Tomoyuki, Mori (June 28, 2000). "Mai Kuraki – Delicious Way [CD]". Amazon Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Kuraki, Mai (2000). Never Gonna Give You Up (CD Single; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Giza Studio. GZCA-1034.
  6. 1 2 3 Kuraki, Mai (2000). Never Gonna Give You Up (12" Vinyl; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Trent House. TJR-003.
  7. 1 2 3 "Mai Kuraki – Never Gonna Give You Up". Amazon.com (in Japanese). November 12, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Kuraki, Mai (2014). Mai Kuraki: Best 151A (Love and Hope) (CD Compilation; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Giza Studio. B00P8UI5KY.
  9. ↑ Eremenko, Alexey (June 28, 2000). "Mai Kuraki – Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 "Mai Kuraki – Never Gonna Give You Up". Oricon Style (in Japanese). June 7, 2000. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  11. 1 2 "CDTV PowerWeb! Ranking Singles Chart". Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) (in Japanese). June 17, 2000. Archived from the original on June 19, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  12. ↑ "CDTV PowerWeb! Mai Kuraki – Never Gonna Give You Up". Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 24, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  13. 1 2 "Oricon Yearly Chart – Singles, Albums, and DVD Releases of 20000". Music TV Program Japan (in Japanese). December 2000. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  14. 1 2 "CDTV PowerWeb! 2000 Annual Singles Chart". Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) (in Japanese). 2000. Archived from the original on September 16, 2006. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  15. 1 2 "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年8月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. August 2000 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 489: 8. August 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Mai Kuraki's Single Rankings". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  17. ↑ Kuraki, Mai (2000). First Cut (Video Compilation; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Giza Studio. BMBD-7001.
  18. ↑ "Mai Kuraki – Never Gonna Give You Up". Amazon Japan (in Japanese). June 7, 2000. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  19. ↑ The list below includes the concert tours that featured "Never Gonna Give You Up";
    • Kuraki, Mai (2001). Experience First Live Tour 2001 (Live DVD; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Giza Studio. BMVR-7002.
    • Kuraki, Mai (2002). Loving You: Tour 2002 Final 2.27 Yokohama Arena (Live DVD; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Giza Studio. BMBD-7006.
    • Kuraki, Mai (2005). 5th Anniversary Edition Grow, Step by Step (Live DVD; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan. OMBD-7046.
    • Kuraki, Mai (2007). Brilliant Cut: Mai Kuraki Live & Document (Live DVD; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan. VNBM-7001/4.
    • Kuraki, Mai (2009). 10th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Tour (Live DVD; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan. VNBM-7006/9.
    • Kuraki, Mai (2009). Happy Happy Halloween Live 2010 (Live DVD; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan. VNBM-7010/11.
  20. ↑ Kuraki, Mai (2004). Wish You the Best (CD Compilation; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Giza Studio. GZCA-5047.
  21. ↑ Kuraki, Mai (2004). Wish You the Best (CD Compilation; Liner notes). Mai Kuraki. Japan: Giza Studio. VNCM-9009~10.
  22. ↑ "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']. Oricon. Retrieved August 26, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
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