Genius 2000
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| Genius 2000 | |||||
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| Studio album by Namie Amuro | |||||
| Released | January 26, 2000 | ||||
| Recorded | Audio Resource, Baybridge Studio, Complex, DARP Studios, The Hit Factory, Larrabee West, Record one, Record Plant Studios, Sony Music Studios, True Kiss Disc, TK's Malibu Studio, Transcontinental Studios, Village Recorders, Yamaha Epicurus Studio | ||||
| Genre | Pop, R&B | ||||
| Length | 66:00 | ||||
| Label | Avex Trax | ||||
| Producer | Dallas Austin, Tetsuya Komuro | ||||
| Namie Amuro chronology | |||||
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Genius 2000 is Namie Amuro's third original studio album under the Avex Trax label. It was released three years after her last album, Concentration 20 (1997) and two years after her return to the entertainment industry.
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[edit] Overview
Following a year of turmoil including the murder of her mother, Emiko Taira, Namie Amuro released her third studio album on January 26, 2000. GENIUS 2000 offers a stark contrast from her previous effort with a heavy emphasis on American-style R&B. Departing from the high impact dance hits that made her a superstar in the mid '90s, Amuro brought in American producer Dallas Austin to help transform her sound. In the past, what she released was largely decided by her handlers. Genius 2000 is her first album to reflect her own personal taste playing with R&B, gospel, Latin, and hip-hop styles.
The album begins with up-tempo dance number "Love 2000." A song about violence and crime in modern society, it was released as the final single from the album. Following "LOVE 2000" is perhaps Amuro's most infamous single.[citation needed] "Respect the Power of Love," a gospel influenced mid-tempo song was released as the second single from the album. It was also released on the same day her mother was violently killed in their hometown of Naha, Okinawa. Although the song is associated with a very negative point in Amuro's life, she still sings it to this day in memory of her mother.
The first of Dallas Austin's work to appear on the album is "Leavin' for Las Vegas." A gritty track featuring Amuro singing the same verses in two different pitches layered upon each other. Other songs on the album include the Latin number, "Mi Corazon ('Te Amour) composed with '80s percussion sensation, Sheila E., and "Things I Collected." The latter song was covered by American R&B singer, Tamia, for the Diary of a Mad Black Woman soundtrack. Their versions are the same right down to the backing vocals with the exception that Tamia's is shorter.
Upon release, the album shot straight to #1 becoming her third consecutive #1 original album and her 4th #1 album in total. Although the album was a success it failed to sell over a million copies. Many attribute her sales decline during this period as a sign of decreasing popularity towards competitors Ayumi Hamasaki and Utada Hikaru. While the album was praised in Asia, Western listeners sang a different tune. Many Western listeners scoffed at her change as being second-rate TLC material. The criticism was largely a reaction towards the very American sound of the album and its producer who is most notable for his collaborations with the group. As time has gone on and Amuro's sound has become more refined from this album, many detractors still criticize her music as being too "American."
[edit] Track listing
- "Make the Connection Complete" (Tetsuya Komuro) – 1:06
- "Love 2000" (Komuro, Sheila E., Lynn Mabry, Takahiro Maeda) – 5:12
- "Respect the Power of Love" (Komuro) – 5:26
- "Leavin' for Las Vegas" (Dallas Austin, Junko Kudo) – 4:39
- "Something 'bout the Kiss" (Austin, Lysette Titi, Chang Hai, Jasper Cameron) – 4:25
- "I Have Never Seen" (Komuro) – 4:36
- "Still in Love" (Austin, Kudo) – 4:17
- "Mi Corazon (Te' Amour)" (Komuro, Sheila E., Mabry, Maeda) – 4:48
- "You Are the One featuring Imajin" (Komuro) – 5:48
- "Kiss-And-Ride" (Maeda) – 3:48
- "Things I Collected" (Austin, Debra Killings) – 6:18
- "Next to You" (Austin, Cameron, Kudo) – 4:15
- "Asking Why" (Nico, Komuro) – 5:07
- "Give it a Try" (Komuro, Sheila E., Mabry, Maeda) – 4:24
- "Log Off" (Komuro) – 1:51
[edit] Personnel
- Namie Amuro - vocals, background vocals
- Imajin - vocals, background vocals
- Terry Bradford - background vocals
- Alex Brown - background vocals
- Sheila E. - background vocals, drums, percussion
- Kiyoshi Hiyama - background vocals
- Yuko Kawai - background vocals
- Debra Killings - background vocals, bass guitar
- David Lawson - background vocals
- Maxayn Lewis - background vocals
- Lynn Mabry - background vocals
- Minako Obata - background vocals
- Takeo Saito - background vocals
- Kenji Sano - background vocals
- Naoki Takao - background vocals
- Will Wheaton Jr. - background vocals
- Tetsuya Komuro - acoustic piano, keyboard, synthesizer
- Tomi Martin - guitar
- Kazuhiro Matsuo - bass, guitar
- Chiharu Mikuzuki - bass
- Renato Neto - keyboard
- Ramon Stagnaro - guitar
- Michael Thompson - guitar
[edit] Production
- Producers - Dallas Austin, Tetsuya Komuro
- Mixing - Mike Butler, Alvin Speights
- Mixing Assistant - Skye A.K. Correa
- Midi & Sound Design - Rick Sheppard
- Vocal Direction - Kenji Sano
- Photography - Itaru Hirama
- Art Direction - Tycoon Graphics
[edit] Charts
Album - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
| Release | Chart | Peak Position | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 January 2000 | Oricon Daily Albums Chart | 1 | ||
| 26 January 2000 | Oricon Weekly Albums Chart | 1 | 802,740 | 8 weeks |
| 26 January 2000 | Oricon Yearly Albums Chart | 28 |
Singles - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
| Release | Single | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 December 1998 | "I Have Never Seen" | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | 1 |
| 23 December 1998 | "I Have Never Seen" | Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 1 |
| 17 February 1999 | "Respect the Power of Love" | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | 2 |
| 17 December 1998 | "Respect the Power of Love" | Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 2 |
| 01 September 1999 | "Something 'bout the Kiss (8 cm)" | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | ? |
| 01 September 1999 | "Something 'bout the Kiss (8 cm)" | Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 3 |
| 01 September 1999 | "Something 'bout the Kiss (12 cm)" | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | ? |
| 01 September 1999 | "Something 'bout the Kiss (12 cm)" | Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 7 |
| 01 January 2000 | "Love 2000" | Oricon Daily Singles Chart | ? |
| 01 January 2000 | "Love 2000" | Oricon Weekly Singles Chart | 4 |
