Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick

"Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick"
Single by Namie Amuro
from the album Play
Released May 17, 2006
Format CD Single, CD&DVD, Digital download
Recorded On Air Azabu Studio, Glenwood Studio LA
Genre R&B
Length
  • 17:58 (CD Single)
  • 25:33 (CD&DVD)
Label Avex Trax
Writer(s) T.Kura
Michico
NOKKO
Kyohei Tsutsumi
Producer(s) T.Kura & Michico
Nao'ymt
Namie Amuro singles chronology
"White Light/Violet Sauce"
(2005)		 "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick"
(2006)		 "Baby Don't Cry"
(2007)

"Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick / Ningyo" is Namie Amuro's 30th solo single under the Avex Trax label. It was released on CD and CD&DVD May 17, 2006, six months after her last single "White Light/Violet Sauce". Although she has had Japanese song titles prior to signing with Avex Trax, "Ningyo" or "人魚" which means mermaid, is her first with the label. "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" is featured on the album Play, although the latter A-side, "Ningyo" or "人魚", was excluded.

Overview

During the release of Queen of Hip-Pop (2005) to "White Light / Violet Sauce" (2005), Namie predominantly worked with producer/songwriter, Nao'ymt. This single reunites her with producers T.Kura and Michico who crafted many of her early R&B hits in 2003. "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick," produced by the pair has been described as a funky summer dance tune. The other a-side, "Ningyo," is a cover of Japanese artist, Nokko, who made the song a massive hit in 1994, and is a theme song of TV drama "Toki o Kakeru Shojo" in which Amuro played a younger sister of Yuki Uchida who is a leading actor.

For the production of the music video for "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick", Namie has teamed up with American choreographer, Shawnette Heard. Shawnette Heard has danced and choreographed routines for many of the world's biggest musical artists including Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Ricky Martin, Mýa, and many more.

On May 17, 2006 along with the release of the single her complete solo catalog was released to iTunes Japan. Immediately afterwards, "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" and "Ningyo" ranked #4 and #6 respectively.

Commercial endorsements

"Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" was used in commercials for ringtone service sites, Mu-Mo and Iromelo Mix DX. "Ningyo" was also used in commercials for Mu-Mo.

Music video

The promotional video for "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" debuted on music channel, VMC on May 1, 2006. Directed by longtime collaborator, Masashi Muto, the video focuses entirely on a dance routine choreographed by Shawnette Heard. It is also reminiscent of Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You out of My Head (2001) as a majority of it is filmed in a dark room entirely adorned in lights. It was also filmed on top of a skyscraper roof engulfed in lights from the skyscrapers in the background. The video was named VMC's "Video of the Month" for May and was played in heavy rotation on the channel.

A promotional video for "Ningyo" was also filmed and premiered on the music video outlet M-ON on May 9, 2006. Based on the story of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, the video begins with a shot of a full moon that morphs into window. The window opens to show Amuro sitting on a rock before a mural. It transitions to a scene of her on a bridge grasping the moon from the sky. For the final scene, Amuro is again sitting in a dense bamboo forest before the window closes. The video ends with her becoming part of the mural in the opening scene. The video is unlike any of Amuro's previous videos as it portrays her in a distinctly Japanese manner.

Track listing

Disc1: CD
No. TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s) Length
1. "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick"  MichicoT.Kura, MichicoT.Kura 3:46
2. "Ningyo"  NokkoKyohei TsutsumiNao'ymt 3:35
3. "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" (Remix)MichicoT.Kura, MichicoT.Kura 3:16
4. "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" (Instrumental)MichicoT.Kura, MichicoT.Kura 3:46
5. "Ningyo" (Instrumental)NokkoKyohei TsutsumiNao'ymt 3:35
Total length:
 17:58
Disc2: DVD
No. TitleDirector(s) Length
1. "Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick" (Music video)   
2. "Ningyo" (Music video)   

Personnel

Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick

Ningyo

Production

Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick

Ningyo

TV performances

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position First Week Sales Sales Total Chart Run
May 17, 2006 Oricon Daily Singles Chart 2
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 2 43,548 79,525 10 weeks

Trivia

RIAJ certification

"Can't Sleep, Can't Eat, I'm Sick/Ningyo" has been certified gold for shipments of over 100,000 by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

References

^ "Recording Industry Association of Japan". Retrieved July 23, 2006.

External links