I am...

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I am...
Studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki
Released	January 1, 2002
Recorded	2000-2001
Genre	J-pop
Length	70:53
Label	AVEX Trax
Producer	Max Matsuura
Professional reviews
J-fan Jpop link HMV link
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
A Best (2001) I am... (2002) Rainbow (2002) Singles from I am... "Evolution" Released: January 31, 2001 "Never Ever" Released: March 7, 2001 "Endless Sorrow" Released: May 16, 2001 "Unite!" Released: July 11, 2001 "Dearest" Released: September 27, 2001 "M" Released: December 13, 2000 "A Song is Born" Released: December 12, 2001 "Daybreak" Released: March 6, 2002 "Connected" Released: April 7, 2003 (Europe only)

I am… is the fifth full-length album by famous J-pop singer, Ayumi Hamasaki. It is not focused on the usual writings of Hamasaki, as it is based more on faith and hope rather than loneliness and sadness. The album was released on January 1, 2002. "I am…" is the 55th best selling album in Japan.^[1]

[edit] Singles

The first single off the album, "M", was the first song that Ayumi Hamasaki both composed and wrote the lyrics to. It sold more than a million copies, and is considered one of Ayumi Hamasaki's best works. Though the rock edges have shown since the album Duty, the single marked Ayumi Hamasaki's departure from pop. "M" was used in a cell phone commercial featuring the singer herself.

The third single, "Endless sorrow" was rearranged and the last part of the lyrics were resung to better reflect Ayumi Hamasaki's own emotions.

The fourth single, "Dearest," was used as the 3rd ending theme for the anime series InuYasha. The last track on the single is "Dearest (Acoustic Piano Version,)" for which she sung the vocals again to match the instrumentation. "no more words" was used as the ending theme for the first InuYasha movie.

"a song is born" was a part of avex trax's SongNation nonprofit project to raise funds for the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The single release of this song was a duet between Ayumi Hamasaki and KEIKO of Globe. The song was composed by the legendary producer Tetsuya Komuro, but unlike the other two single releases "the meaning of peace" (a duet between BoA and Kumi Koda) and "lovin' it" (a duet between Amuro Namie and VERBAL of m-flo), the lyrics were penned by Ayumi Hamasaki. The version featured on this album is a solo and the version featured on globe releases is KEIKO's solo.

The last single, "Daybreak", was a recut single (limited 300,000 copies), and it was dramatically remixed by HΛL for single release.

"Connected" was released as a single in Germany by the popular trance artist System F. Later, it received its own music video for the release of CYBER TRANCE presents ayu-trance 2. Connected peaked at #18 on Germany's MTV Dance Charts.

[edit] Style

This article or section contains speculation and may try to argue its points. Information must be verifiable and based on reliable published sources. Please remove speculation and discussion from the article.

The style of the album is dominated by rock music, but remains diverse. She had already experimented a rock genre with songs such as SURREAL or End of the world on her previous record, Duty, but this album features more pop-rock compositions. In addition to already writing her lyrics, she composed most of the songs of the album.

The tracks UNITE! and evolution are upbeat songs with rock and electronic arrangements. The original version of Daybreak and the hidden track flower garden are up-tempo rock songs. The album includes many tracks with calm verses and explosives refrains. NEVER EVER is a good example of that kind of songs. The verses are very sweet with pop arrangements and a sound similar to that of a musical box, while the chorus is very powerful with a strong grunge-rock influence.

However, she didn't leave the style that made her famous. The pop song M does not follow the common verse-chorus form. It begins as a ballad but after one minute, its rhythm increases. Connected, a song composed and arranged by Ferry Corsten, is a mid-tempo trance song and Naturally is an up-tempo pop/dance track with arrangements similar to those of Connected.

I am... also features many ballads. Dearest, no more words and the rearranged version of Endless sorrow are sweet, piano pop ballads, with a rich instrumentation and using many instruments such as violon, while still alone and a song is born are mid-tempo ballads. Songs of the album were mostly arranged by HAL and CMJK, Ayumi's main collaborators.

[edit] Lyrical Content

This article or section contains speculation and may try to argue its points. Information must be verifiable and based on reliable published sources. Please remove speculation and discussion from the article.

Unlike her previous albums which contained autobiographical songs, addressed to her listeners and focusing mainly on her loneliness and self-doubt, the songs from I am... focus more on subjects such as love, faith, hope and freedom.^[2] On an interview for TIME Magazine, she explained that the lyrics of a song is born, a song about peace^[3] and composed and arranged by Tetsuya Komuro, were directly inspired by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She said that when she saw the attacks on TV, she was shocked and she couldn't accept the reality.^[4] She also explained that at the beginning of her career she was writing herself her lyrics because she was searching for herself in her music but progressively she started to write about other subjects.

"My music was for me. I didn't have the mental room to be conscious of the listener, I wrote to save myself. I didn't understand what it was to write songs. But over time I began to see many things, my influence, the responsibilities that gave me."

Many songs of this record discuss about love for different people (love, friendship or even fraternity). The lyrics of the title track, express Ayumi's feelings about love and freedom. She explains she wants to be reassured by her lover because she is afraid of her future life and she wants to be free.^[5] In the song UNITE! she expresses that she doesn't want her lover or friend to forget her and that when she is unhappy, nobody else can take his or her place.^[6] In Dearest she expresses to the listener that despite the difficulties, he can always attain his purpose.^[7]

[edit] Packaging and Design

The liner notes depict Hamasaki, dressed in an outfit of leaves, wandering through a sunny desert from dawn until dusk. A dove travels alongside her in each picture. The dove is rumoured to symbolize peace in respect to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

[edit] Commercial tie-ups and theme songs

The title track and evolution were used as commercials songs for the Kose cosmetics company mascara line. Naturally was also used as background music in a commercial promoting a lipstick for the mark.^[8]

M and Dearest were used in commercials for the Tu-Ka cellphones. The first commercial features M as background music and is promoting a special mobile phone, the A MODEL, designed by Ayumi herself. The second ad features Dearest and is promoting the TS11 mobile phone.^[9]

NEVER EVER and UNITE were used in commercials for the KIRIN drinks.^[10] NEVER EVER was also used to promote the Lawson Ticket Services.

Daybreak was the background music of several ad campaigns for Panasonic. The first CM was promoting a TV player, the second A DVD player,^[11], the third the "Dockin' Style MD MJ50" digital audio player^[12], and the fourth the "D-Snap" camcorder.^[13]. The song was also used in TV ads to promote her Stadium Tour 2002.

Still Alone was used in a commercial to promote the Takano Yuri Beauty clinics.^[14]

The original version of Endless sorrow was the theme song of the popular Japanese drama "Mukashi no otoko" broadcasted on TBS.

[edit] Track listing

1. "I am..." – 5:31
2. "Opening Run" – 0:57
3. "Connected" – 3:21
4. "Unite!" – 5:00
5. "Evolution" – 4:42
6. "Naturally" – 4:18
7. "Never Ever" – 4:41
8. "Still Alone" – 5:57
9. "Daybreak" – 4:49
10. "Taskinlude" – 1:20
11. "M" – 4:29
12. "A Song is Born" – 6:17
13. "Dearest" – 5:33
14. "No More Words" – 5:47
15. "Endless Sorrow" ~gone with the wind ver.~ – 5:39
16. "Flower Garden" (hidden track) – 2:38

[edit] Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

• Total Sales: 2,308,112 (Japan)
• Total Sales: 3,000,000 (Avex)
• Total Sales: 4,000,000 (Asia)
• "I am..." is Hamasaki's highest selling album outside of Japan.
• "I am..." is the first album by a Japanese artist to debut at the #1 spot in Singapore.

[edit] Sales Trajectory

[edit] Singles

Total Single Sales: 5,759,890

[edit] References