Style (Namie Amuro album)

Style is the sixth studio album by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro and her first in over three years. This album follows her crossover into R&B/Hip-Hop from the Suite Chic project. Although Amuro has always dabbled with R&B beats, this is her first solo album to predominantly feature the actual style. First editions of the album included two bonus tracks, "So Crazy (Mad Bear Mix)" and "Wishing on the Same Star (Movie Version)."

Style is also the first Amuro album not to be produced by Tetsuya Komuro since her Super Monkeys days, as well as her last collaboration with producer Dallas Austin to date.

Overview

The emphasis of the album is R&B/Hip-Hop but the album still features some pop songs. Amuro explained that the inclusion of certain styles of songs were for variety. The album also contains several cover songs. The song "Indy Lady" is a cover of American R&B artist, Toni Estes' "Independent Lady." Other songs previously recorded by other artists include "Come" (originally by Sophie Monk), "As Good As" (originally by WhatFor) and "Wishing on the Same Star" (originally by Keedy). The song "Put 'Em Up" which was released as the second single preceding the album is slightly edited from its original form. Instead of fading out, the song comes to an abrupt end. "Lovebite" is a collaboration with Takuro of the Japanese rock band Glay. Takuro and Amuro had previously spoken about collaborating years ago and they finally had an opportunity with this album. "Four Seasons" was used as the theme song to the third InuYasha motion picture, Swords of an Honorable Ruler. The song "Come" has also been used as the 7th ending theme for InuYasha.

Style is Amuro's lowest ranking and selling album. Before the release of the album, Amuro launched her largest tour at the time, Namie Amuro So Crazy Tour featuring Best Singles 2003-2004. Due to the nature of the tour, she only performed the singles from the new album. Ultimately, many of the songs from the album have never been performed to a public audience. She did tour the actual album for an exclusive fan club tour in 2004 that was not open to the public.

The album represents a major shift in Amuro's musical direction, and would set the tone for all of the singer's subsequent releases. AllMusic described the album as "marginally more gritty," taking Amuro "closer in sound to her musical idol, Janet Jackson."^[1]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arranger(s)	Length
1.	"Namie's Style"	T.Kura, Michico	T.Kura, Michico	T.Kura	4:03
2.	"Indy Lady" (featuring Zeebra)	Teddy Riley Japanese lyrics Yuji Toriumi, Zeebra	Teddy Riley	Teddy Riley	5:19
3.	"Put 'Em Up"	Dallas Austin, Jasper Cameron Japanese lyrics Michico	Dallas Austin	Dallas Austin	4:03
4.	"So Crazy"	Full Force, Jennifer "JJ" Johnson Japanese lyrics Michico Rap Tiger	Full Force, Jennifer "JJ" Johnson	Cobra Endo	4:34
5.	"Don't Lie to Me"	Jeff Lorber, Jeff Pescetto Japanese lyrics Yuji Toriumi	Jeff Lorber, Jeff Pescetto	Jeff Lorber, Jeff Pescetto	3:42
6.	"Lovebite"	Takuro	Takuro	Akira	3:09
7.	"Four Seasons"	Jusme	Monk	Monk	3:47
8.	"Fish" (featuring Verbal & Arkitec)	Jusme, Verbal	Monk	Monk	4:27
9.	"Gimme More"	Ivan Johnson, Sylvia Bennett Smith Japanese lyrics Namie Amuro	Ivan Johnson, Sylvia Bennett Smith	Cobra Endo	3:24
10.	"As Good As"	Nicolas Molinder, Joakim Persson, Pelle Anckarberg Japanese lyrics Kenko-p	Nicolas Molinder, Joakim Persson, Pelle Anckarberg	Cobra Endo	3:28
11.	"Shine More"	Scott Nickoley, Sandra Pires, Paul Taylor Japanese lyrics H.U.B.	Scott Nickoley, Sandra Pires, Paul Taylor	Cobra Endo	3:39
12.	"Come"	Kask, Mansson, Cunnah Japanese lyrics Yuriko Mori	Kask, Mansson, Cunnah	Cobra Endo	4:34
13.	"Wishing on the Same Star"	Diane Warren Japanese lyrics Kenko-p	Diane Warren	Masaki Iehara	4:58

Exclusive bonus tracks
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
14.	"So Crazy" (Mad Bear Mix)	Full Force, Jennifer "JJ" Johnson Japanese lyrics Michico Rap Tiger	Full Force, Jennifer "JJ" Johnson	4:26
15.	"Wishing on the Same Star" (Movie Version)	Diane Warren Japanese lyrics Kenko-p	Diane Warren	3:12

Personnel

Namie Amuro - vocals, background vocals
Arkitec - vocals
Verbal - vocals
Zeebra - vocals
Mr. Blistah - additional vocals
Clench - additional vocals
Coyass - additional vocals
Kareb James - background vocals
L.L. Brothers - background vocals
Yuko Kawai - background vocals
Michico - background vocals
Dave Cleveland - electric guitar
Cobra Endo - multiple instruments
Ron Harris - multiple instruments
Jeff Lorber - keyboard, guitar
Monk - multiple instruments
Murayama-Kishiyama Strings - strings (bonus track: Wishing On The Same Star [Movie Version])
Jeff Pescetto - guitar
Yasuharu Nakanishi - piano (bonus track: Wishing On The Same Star [Movie Version])

Production

Producers - Full Force, Dallas Austin, T.Kura, Michico, Teddy Riley
Arrangement - Akira, Dallas Austin, Cobra Endo, Masaki Iehara, T.Kura, Monk, Teddy Riley
String Arrangement - Tatsuya Murayama
Mixing - Rob Chiarelli, Kevin "KD" Davis, Junya Endo, T.Kura, Peter Mokran, Koji Morimoto, Yoshiaki Onishi, Teddy Riley, David Z.
Vocal Direction - Akira, Mayumi Harada, Daisuke Imai, T.Kura, Michico, Kenji Sano
Remixing - Mad Bear Sound System (bonus track: So Crazy[Mad Bear Mix])
Photography - Kazunali Tajima
Art Direction - Tyg

Charts

Album - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release	Chart	Peak Position	Sales Total	Chart Run
10 December 2003	Oricon Daily Albums Chart	3
	Oricon Weekly Albums Chart	4	221,874	23 weeks
	Oricon Yearly Albums Chart	67

Singles - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release	Single	Chart	Peak Position
11 September 2002	"Wishing on the Same Star"	Oricon Daily Singles Chart	2
11 September 2002	"Wishing on the Same Star"	Oricon Weekly Singles Chart	2
5 March 2003	"Shine More"	Oricon Daily Singles Chart	4
5 March 2003	"Shine More"	Oricon Weekly Singles Chart	8
16 July 2003	"Put 'Em Up"	Oricon Daily Singles Chart	7
16 July 2003	"Put 'Em Up"	Oricon Weekly Singles Chart	7
14 October 2003	"So Crazy"	Oricon Daily Singles Chart	3
14 October 2003	"So Crazy"	Oricon Weekly Singles Chart	8

Total Single Sales: 290,118

Total Album and Single Sales: 511,992

RIAJ certification

"Style" has been certified platinum for shipments of over 250,000 by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.^[2]

References

↑ "Namie Amuro - Biography - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 07-03-14. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2004年2月. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2004-03-10. Retrieved 2010-11-13.

Namie Amuro

Discography

Studio albums	Dance Tracks Vol.1 Sweet 19 Blues Concentration 20 Genius 2000 Break the Rules Style Queen of Hip-Pop Play Past<Future Uncontrolled Feel Genic

Compilations	Original Tracks Vol.1 181920 Love Enhanced Single Collection Best Fiction Checkmate! Ballada

DVDs	Filmography 2001–2005

Other related articles	Super Monkey's MAX Suite Chic Tetsuya Komuro

Namie Amuro songs

Sweet 19 Blues	"Body Feels Exit" "Chase the Chance" "Don't Wanna Cry" "Sweet 19 Blues" "You're My Sunshine"

Concentration 20	"A Walk in the Park" "Can You Celebrate?" "How to Be a Girl"

181920	"Dreaming I Was Dreaming"

Genius 2000	"I Have Never Seen" "Love 2000" "Respect the Power of Love" "Something 'bout the Kiss"

Break the Rules	"Never End" "No More Tears" "Please Smile Again" "Think of Me"

Love Enhanced Single Collection	"I Will" "Lovin' It" "Say the Word"

Style	"Come" "Put 'Em Up" "Shine More" "So Crazy" "Wishing on the Same Star"

Queen of Hip-Pop	"Alarm" "All for You" "Girl Talk" "Want Me, Want Me"

Play	"Baby Don't Cry" "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" "Funky Town" "Hide and Seek" "Violet Sauce"

Best Fiction	"New Look" "Rock Steady" "What a Feeling"

Past < Future	"Fast Car" "My Love" "Wild"

Checkmate!	"Wonder Woman"

Uncontrolled	"Break It" "Fight Together" "Get Myself Back" "Go Round" "Love Story" "Naked" "Sit! Stay! Wait! Down!" "Tempest" "Yeah-Oh!"

Feel	"Contrail" "Heaven"

Ballada	"Tsuki"

Genic	"Birthday" "What I Did for Love"

Other songs	"Brighter Day" "Fake" "The Speed Star" "Toi et Moi" "White Light" "Red Carpet" "Mint" "Hero" "Dear Diary" "Fighter"

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