Say the word
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| "Say the word" | ||
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| Single by Namie Amuro | ||
| from the album LOVE ENHANCED ♥ single collection | ||
| B-side(s) | Let's not fight | |
| Released | August 8, 2001 (CD) September 12, 2001 (Vinyl) |
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| Format | CD Single, Vinyl | |
| Genre | Pop | |
| Length | 22:09 (CD) | |
| Label | avex trax (CD) Rhythm Republic (Vinyl) |
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| Writer(s) | Namie Amuro Ronald Malmberg Thomas Johansson |
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| Producer(s) | Ronald Malmberg Thomas Johansson |
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| Chart positions | ||
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| Namie Amuro singles chronology | ||
| "think of me / no more tears" (2001) |
"Say the word" (2001) |
"I WILL" (2002) |
"Say the word" is Namie Amuro's 19th solo single under the avex trax label. It is her first single after the termination of her working relationship with longtime producer, Tetsuya Komuro. Debuting in the top three after an all-time low chart debut by its predecessor, "think of me / no more tears" (2001), "Say the word" was her last single to sell over 100,000 copies until her 26th single, "ALL FOR YOU" (2004).
Contents |
[edit] Overview
"Say the word" was released in early August after a one month delay. Early promotion for the single touted it as her first as a singer-songwriter. It was also released as a vinyl single a month after the CD single and was issued on the Rhythm Republic label. As a limited print, Rhythm Republic issued only 1,500 copies of it. It is now out of print. Unlike the CD version of the single, it does not come with the instrumentals of "Say the word" or its b-side, "Let's not fight." Instead, an exclusive remix of the title track entitled, "Say the word (Clappy Mix)" appears on the disc.
During the winter of 2001 (December), Amuro premiered a new dance remix of the song on the music special, Best Artist 30. That version appears on her second singles compilation, LOVE ENHANCED ♥ single collection (2002). However, the single mix of the song has never appeared on any of her albums and remains exclusive to its single.
[edit] English version
Although the song was advertised as an original compisition by Amuro, "Say the word" was actually written by Ronald Malmberg and Thomas Johansson, producers who worked on the A-Teens first album. An entirely English version of the song was released by Danish artist Jeanette Debb on her album Virtualize (2001). She also released the song as a single at the same time Amuro released the song in Japan.
[edit] Commercial endorsements
The song was licensed to Japanese comestic company Kose and appeared in a commercial starring Amuro herself. The version featured in the commercial is both musically and lyrically different from the version commercially released. The lyrics featured in the commercial are:
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- Say the word and I will be there for you
- Aruite yukesou
- Say the word and make my dreams come true
The English portions of the lyrics featured in the commercial match those written in Jeanette Debb's version, but were changed in the released version of the song.
In the commercial itself, Amuro advertises Kose's new line of waterproof lipstick, Luminus. It features her underwater and breaking through to grab hold of the comestic. She puts it on underwater to demonstrate the lipsticks ability stay on even under the most damp situations.
[edit] Music video
A music video for "Say the word" directed by Masashi Muto was filmed on location in Japan and revolves around three scenes. The video opens up with Amuro entering a bus. The song begins when she sits down and puts on headphones. The main scene of the video is a performance scene with Amuro dancing with four female dancers and two male dancers. The final scene of the video involved Amuro driving in a gold cadillac on an open road. Amuro once described herself as a paper driver on an episode of Music Station, meaning she had a license but didn't really drive. Behind-the-scenes footage of the video aired on Channel @, showed Amuro appearing nervous and yelling "Kowai" (Scary) during filming of the scene. The end of video has Amuro getting off the bus. As it comes to a stop the doors open to reveal nothing but water. Amuro has never explained the significance of the scene.
[edit] Track listing
[edit] CD single
- "Say the word" (Namie Amuro, Ronald Malmberg, Thomas Johansson) – 3:58
- "Let's not fight" (Rie Matsumoto, Ramona Lyons, Jay Lyons) – 4:14
- "Say the word (Breeze House Mix)" (Remixed by Keiichi Ueno, Hiroshi Futami, Yuji Kudo) – 5:46
- "Say the word (Instrumental)" (Ronald Malmberg, Thomas Johansson) – 6:41
- "Let's not fight (Instrumental)" (Ramona Lyons, Jay Lyons) – 4:14
[edit] Vinyl single
[edit] Side A
- "Say the word (Breeze House Mix)" (Remixed by Keiichi Ueno, Hiroshi Futami, Yuji Kudo)
- "Say the word (Clappy Mix)" (Remixed by Keiichi Ueno)
[edit] Side B
- "Say the word (Original Mix)" (Namie Amuro, Ronald Malmberg, Thomas Johansson)
- "Let's not fight" (Rie Matsumoto, Ramona Lyons, Jay Lyons)
[edit] Personnel
- Namie Amuro – vocals, background vocals
- Hiroko Ishikawa – Dancer
- IYO-P – Dancer
- Shinnosuke – Dancer
- YUMEKO – Dancer
[edit] Production
- Producers – Ronald Malmberg, Thomas Johansson
- Arrangement – Kazuhiro Hara, Keiichi Ueno, Cobra Endo
- Mixing – Eddie Delena
- Music Video Director – Masashi Muto
[edit] TV Performances
- August 6, 2001 – HEY! HEY! HEY! MUSIC CHAMP
- August 7, 2001 – AX Music Factory
- August 10, 2001 – Music Station
- August 25, 2001 – Pop Jam Summer Special
- August 30, 2001 – UTABAN
- December 6, 2001 – FNS Music Festival
- December 19, 2001 – Best Artist 30
- December 24, 2001 – HEY! HEY! HEY! MUSIC CHAMP X'mas Special Live V
- December 28, 2001 – Music Station Special SUPER LOVE 2001
- December 31, 2001 – 52nd Kōhaku Uta Gassen
- January 1, 2002 – A happy music year
- May 25, 2002 – MTV Video Awards Japan 2002
- July 28, 2002 – Music FEST PEACE OF RYUKYU
- September 29, 2002 – ASIA 2002 Music Festival
- December 21, 2002 – MTV cool X'mas
- January 1, 2003 – CDTV Special Live 2002-2003
- February 8, 2003 – Pop Jam Special
[edit] Charts
Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
| Release | Chart | Peak Position | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 11, 2003 | Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 3 | 183,840 | 11 weeks |
