NEVER END
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| "NEVER END" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Single by Namie Amuro | ||
| from the album break the rules | ||
| Released | July 12, 2000 | |
| Format | CD Single | |
| Recorded | The Hit Factory TRUE Kiss Disc Record One ajima studio ON AIR AZABU STUDIO Guillaume Tell Stanley House |
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| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 25:04 | |
| Label | avex trax | |
| Writer(s) | Tetsuya Komuro | |
| Producer(s) | Tetsuya Komuro | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Namie Amuro singles chronology | ||
| "LOVE 2000" (2000) |
"NEVER END" (2000) |
"PLEASE SMILE AGAIN" (2000) |
NEVER END is Namie Amuro's 16th single on the avex trax label. The single was made specifically for the G8 Summit that took place in Okinawa, Japan that year. Released in July, the song debuted at #2 becoming Amuro's 16th consecutive top 10 solo single.
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[edit] Overview
The song was commissioned by late Prime Minister of Japan, Keizo Obuchi, who personally asked Tetsuya Komuro to write it for the event. Obuchi stated to Komuro "I want you to write a song that will be loved by many people, a song that gives us a vision of harmony and interaction in the world in the 21st century" . Komuro agreed to do the song and began a process to get to know Okinawa and its music visiting the country time and time again.
In an interview with Time Asia, Amuro stated that she had been asked to sing at the summit by Obuchi at a party during November or December which had occurred after Komuro had already been asked to write the song. As the song itself, Amuro stated in the same interview that she felt the song had many meanings and that people would have their own interpretations of it.
[edit] G8 Summit
"NEVER END" was used as the theme song to the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit 2000. On July 22, 2000, Amuro and Komuro performed the song at a reception for the event in front of several world leaders including the 42nd president of the United States, Bill Clinton.
[edit] Humanitarianism
A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the single were donated to the Japanese chapter of UNICEF.
[edit] Accolades
- Millennium Award (33rd Nihon Yuusen Taishou)
- Special Prize (42nd Japan Record Awards)
[edit] Track listing
- "NEVER (Radio Edit)" (Tetsuya Komuro) – 6:26
- "NEVER (Original Mix)" (Tetsuya Komuro) – 6:26
- "NEVER (Chanpuru Mix)" (Tetsuya Komuro) – 6:08
- "NEVER (Acapella)" (Tetsuya Komuro) – 6:04
[edit] Personnel
- Namie Amuro – vocals
- Wurasoe Shonenshoko Gashodan – background vocals
- Andy Caine – background vocals
- Jennifer Carr – background vocals
- Juliet Roberts – background vocals
- Tetsuya Komuro – piano
- Sadao China – sanshin
- Keiko Higa – taiko
- Nenes – hayashi
[edit] Production
- Producer – Tetsuya Komuro
- Arranger – Tetsuya Komuro
- Mixing – Dave Ford, Tetsuya Komuro
- Mastering – Ian Cooper
- Programing – Akihisa Murakami, Toshihide Iwasa
- Engineering – Eishin Kitajima, Dave Ford, Toshihiro Wako
- Direction – Tetsuya Komuro, Kenji Sano, Kotaro Takada
- Art Direction & Design – Tycoon Graphics
- Photography – Shoji Uchida
- Styling – Kyoko Tsunoda
- Hair & Make-Up: Akemi Nakano
[edit] Charts
Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
| Release | Chart | Peak Position | First Week Sales | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 12, 2000 | Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 2 | 268,920 | 640,310 | 14 weeks |
Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
| Release | Chart | Position | Sales Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 12, 2000 | Oricon 2000 Year-End Chart | 32 | 640,310 |
[edit] TV performances
- December 31, 2000 – Kōhaku Uta Gassen
[edit] References
- ↑ Kyushu-Okinawa Summit 2000 Reference Materials
- ↑ There Were Times I Nearly Gave Up: Japanese pop diva Namie Amuro grows up
- ↑ NEVER END: Summit Theme Song's Singer and Producer pay Courtesy Call to G8 Chairman
