Rainbow (Ayumi Hamasaki album)

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Rainbow
Studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki
Released	December 18, 2002
Genre	J-Pop
Length	71:42
Label	Avex Trax
Producer(s)	Max Matsuura
Professional reviews
Sputnikmusic link Word Press link HMV link
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
I am... (2002)	Rainbow (2002)	A Ballads (2003)

Rainbow is an album by Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on December 18, 2002. This album featured more music producing from DAI (of Do As Infinity) and Crea (Hamasaki's producer pen name). Since Loveppears, this album is the first studio album from her that did not break the two million mark. The single "Free & Easy" lost out the top daily spot to Kuraki Mai's "Feel Fine!", but eventually took the top position for the week. However, the single "H" is the only single that broke the million mark in Japan in 2002. The hidden track "+" begins where the song "independent" abruptly ends.

"H" was released in four different editions. The three colored editions, green, red, and blue, were limited editions, and the white was the normal edition. A digipak edition was released featuring all four covers of the single to commemorate the sale of the millionth copy.

Initial pressings of the album had an extra track, "Rainbow", listed for track 00 and contained a password to a website. As a promotion for the album, the track was not included on the CD, but part of the instrumental version was released to the password-only website that was open for a limited time where fans could submit their own lyrics.

[edit] Track listing

1. everlasting dream – 1:33
2. WE WISH – 5:10
3. Real me – 5:25
4. Free & Easy – 4:59
5. Heartplace – 6:06
6. Over – 5:05
7. HANABI – 4:53
8. taskinillusion – 1:20
9. everywhere nowhere – 4:35
10. July 1st – 4:20
11. Dolls – 5:55
12. neverending dream – 1:35
13. Voyage – 5:06
14. Close to you – 5:47
15. independent + – 9:35

[edit] Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release	Chart	Peak position	Sales total	Chart run
18 December 2002	Oricon Daily Albums Chart	#1
18 December 2002	Oricon Weekly Albums Chart	#1	1,856,919	22 weeks
15 December 2002	Oricon Yearly Albums Chart	#2

Date	Title	Peak position	Weeks
24 April 2002	"Free & Easy"	#1	9
24 July 2002	"H" ("independent"/"July 1st"/"Hanabi")	#1	25
26 September 2002	"Voyage"	#1	21
18 December 2002	"Rainbow"	#1	22