Play (Namie Amuro album)

Play
Studio album by Namie Amuro
Released June 27, 2007 (Japan)
Genre R&B, Dance Pop
Length 50:45
Label Avex Trax
Producer Nao'ymt, Michico, T.Kura, Namie Amuro
Namie Amuro chronology
Queen of Hip-Pop
(2005)
Play
(2007)
Best Fiction
(2008)
Alternative Cover
CD + DVD Cover
Singles from Play
  1. "White Light/Violet Sauce"
    Released: November 16, 2005 (2005-11-16)
  2. "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick"
    Released: May 17, 2006 (2006-05-17)
  3. "Baby Don't Cry"
    Released: January 24, 2007 (2007-01-24)
  4. "Funky Town"
    Released: April 4, 2007 (2007-04-04)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic link

Play is the eighth studio album by Japanese pop singer Namie Amuro, released on June 27, 2007 in Japan. The follow-up to her successful 2005 album Queen of Hip-Pop, Play showcases her new hip-pop genre. This also marks her first album to be released in both the CD and CD+DVD formats. PLAY is her highest selling album since 2000's Genius 2000. The album was ranked 9th on CDJapan's list of top 100 CDs of 2007.[1]

Contents

Overview

Upon its release, Play debuted at #1, and stayed at the top spot for two weeks on the Oricon Charts. When its first week was over, Play became Namie's first weekly number one album since her 2000 album Genius 2000 with a gap of 120,258 copies sold. In its first week, the album sold 250,619 copies - Namie's highest first week sales since Genius 2000.[2] In Taiwan, Play reached #1 on the G-Music J-Pop chart for the week, but debuted at #2 on the overall chart.

Tie-Ins/Theme Songs

"Violet Sauce" from the lead single of the album, "White Light/Violet Sauce", was the theme song for the Japanese release of the major motion picture, Sin City.

"Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" was used in commercials for the ringtone sites Mu-Mo and Iromelo Mix DX, the former of which is endorsed by her record label.

"Baby Don't Cry" is the ending theme song for the Kansai / Fuji TV drama, "Himitsu no Hanazono". It was also used for JoySound commercials.

"Funky Town" is used for Lipton Limone commercials.

"Top Secret" is being used as the theme song for the second season of Prison Break in Japan.

"Pink Key" was the theme song of a commercial for Lipton's Chiffon Milk Tea.[3]

Track listing

CD
No. Title Lyrics Music Producer(s) Length
1. "Hide and Seek"   Nao'ymt Nao'ymt Nao'ymt 4:36
2. "Full Moon"   Nao'ymt Nao'ymt Nao'ymt 3:57
3. "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick"   Michico T.Kura, Michico T.Kura 3:46
4. "It's all about you"   Michico T.Kura, Michico T.Kura 4:12
5. "Funky Town"   Michico T.Kura, Michico, L.L. Brothers T.Kura 3:48
6. "Step With It"   Michico, L.L. Brothers T.Kura, Michico, L.L. Brothers T.Kura 3:47
7. "Hello"   Angie Irons, Michico Angie Irons, T.Kura T.Kura 3:42
8. "Should I Love Him?"   Michico T.Kura, Michico T.Kura 4:25
9. "Top Secret"   Nao'ymt Nao'ymt Nao'ymt 4:30
10. "Violet Sauce (Spicy)"   Nao'ymt Nao'ymt Nao'ymt 4:01
11. "Baby Don't Cry"   Nao'ymt Nao'ymt Nao'ymt 5:21
12. "Pink Key"   Nao'ymt Nao'ymt Nao'ymt 4:40
DVD
No. Title Director(s) Length
1. "Hide and Seek" (Music video) Kensuke Kawamura 4:36
2. "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" (Music video) Shinji Muto 3:49
3. "Funky Town" (Music video) Masaaki Uchino 3:44
4. "Hello" (Music video) Kensuke Kawamura 3:40
5. "Baby Don't Cry" (Music video) Shinji Muto 5:26
DVD: Special Movie
No. Title Length
6. "Amuro Namie x The World of Golden Eggs Special Collaboration Movie" (Gushi-Ken Band feat. Namie Amuro) 7:18

Personnel

Production

Charts

Sales Total

Oricon chart

Released Oricon Chart Peak Debut Sales Sales Total Chart Run
June 27, 2007 Daily Albums Chart 1 250,619 540,952+ 53 weeks
Weekly Albums Chart 1
Monthly Albums Chart 1
Monthly Albums Chart 15

Physical Sales Charts

Chart Peak
position
G-Music Combo Chart (Taiwan) 2
G-Music J-POP Chart (Taiwan) 1
HMV Asian Chart (Singapore) 1

Singles - Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Single Chart Peak Position
16 November 2005 "White Light / Violet Sauce" Oricon Daily Singles Chart 5
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 7
17 May 2006 "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick/Ningyo" Oricon Daily Singles Chart 2
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 2
24 January 2007 "Baby Don't Cry" Oricon Daily Singles Chart 3
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 3
4 April 2007 "Funky Town" Oricon Daily Singles Chart 2
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 3

Total Single Sales: 444,081

Total Album and Single Sales: 985,033

RIAJ certification

"Play" has been certified double-platinum for shipments of over 500,000 by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.[4]

References