Uncontrolled (album)

Uncontrolled

A blue-tinted close-up face shot of a woman, with long hair being windswept to her right. In the background is an extreme close-up of an annular solar eclipse.

CD+DVD and Playbutton editions' cover
Studio album by Namie Amuro
Released June 27, 2012
(see release history)
Recorded 2010–2012
Prime Sound Studio Form
(Meguro, Tokyo)
Azabu O Studio
(Nishi-Azabu, Minato, Tokyo)
Avex Studio
(Azabu, Tokyo)
Bunkamura Studio
(Shibuya, Tokyo)
Record Plant
(Los Angeles, California)
Sound City
(Azabudai, Minato, Tokyo)
Genre R&B,[1] dance,[2] electro-pop,[3] euro disco[4]
Length 50:17
Language Japanese, English
Label Avex Trax
Producer Takashi Kasuga, (exec.) Shinji Hayashi (exec.), Hisahiko Iida, Shintaro Higuchi, Daisuke Shimokawa
Namie Amuro chronology

Checkmate!
(2011)		 Uncontrolled
(2012)		 Feel
(2013)
Singles from Uncontrolled
  1. "Break It" / "Get Myself Back"
    Released: July 28, 2010
  2. "Naked" / "Fight Together" / "Tempest"
    Released: July 27, 2011
  3. "Sit! Stay! Wait! Down!" / "Love Story"
    Released: December 7, 2011
  4. "Go Round" / "Yeah-Oh!"
    Released: March 21, 2012

Uncontrolled is the 10th studio album by Japanese pop and R&B musician Namie Amuro, released on June 27, 2012.[5] The album was released before her 20th anniversary concerts — one in Okinawa in September, and seven across Japan in November and December 2012. The album consists mostly of songs sung in Japanese, however this was the first album of Amuro's to feature several songs sung entirely in English.

The album spent three weeks at number one on Oricon's albums chart, making Uncontrolled the second album of Amuro's to do this after Best Fiction (2008) spent six weeks at number one. The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. This is her fifth consecutive number one album since 2007, and her sixth consecutive double platinum album since 2005.

Background and development

Uncontrolled is Amuro's first original studio album since 2009's Past < Future, and follows her collaboration compilation album Checkmate!, released in 2011. Unlike Past < Future, which was released after only one physical single, Uncontrolled is a compilation of nine songs from singles released between 2010 and 2012, as well as four new songs. Amuro revealed later in an interview that an idea for the album was conceived in early 2012.[6] The album was created as a collection of songs that Amuro wanted to sing, in contrast to a concept or theme-based album.[7]

Of the nine tracks released as singles before the album, four were digitally successful enough to receive certifications from Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ): "Fight Together," "Get Myself Back," "Love Story" and "Sit! Stay! Wait! Down!."[8] All of the songs were certified gold for full-length cellphone downloads, except for "Love Story," which was certified triple platinum for ringtones, and double platinum for full-length cellphone downloads.[8][9][10][11][12] It was Amuro's highest certified song in four years, since 2008's "New Look."[13]

Most of the songs were recorded in Tokyo, at Prime Sound Studio Form, with additional recording at Azabu O Studio, Avex Studio and Bunkamura Studio. The exception is "Let's Go," which was recorded at Record Plant in Los Angeles.[14] Amuro had previously recorded at Record Plant in the 1990s, on her albums Sweet 19 Blues (1996), Concentration 20 (1997) and Genius 2000 (2000).

Writing and production

Five of the songs on the album are sung entirely in English — three new tracks "In the Spotlight (Tokyo)," "Hot Girls" and "Only You," as well as English versions of the songs from her preceding single "Go Round / Yeah-Oh!." During an interview with Billboard Japan, Amuro stated that the English tracks were not made with overseas audience in mind. She chose to sing them in English because she thought they would sound better in English.[6]

The album's songs featured seven different sound producers, with longtime collaborator Nao'ymt and new collaborator T-SK producing four songs each. Nao'ymt, who had worked with Amuro since 2005 on songs such as "Baby Don't Cry" and "Hide and Seek," worked on four tracks, "Break It," "Get Myself Back," "Fight Together" and "Tempest."[14] T-SK, who began working with Amuro in 2011, produced "Go Round," "Let's Go," "Love Story" and "Yeah-Oh" — all songs written by Australian band The Nervo Twins.[14] In addition to the songs with the Nervo Twins, Amuro worked on three additional songs with the Nervo Twins' music publishing company, the Sweden based Razor Boy Music Publishing. "In the Spotlight (Tokyo)," "Hot Girls" and "Only You" were produced by Henrik Nordenback, Michael Smith and Peter Mansson respectively.[14] Of the seven songs featuring Razor Boy Music Publishing artists, five were sung entirely in English. Of these songs, Tiger wrote Japanese lyrics for "Let's Go" "Love Story,"[14] and the Japanese versions of "Go Round / Yeah-Oh!" that appear on the single were written by Aili and Double respectively.[15]

The remaining two producers are also previous collaborators of Amuro's: T. Kura ("Funky Town" (2007), "New Look" (2008)) worked with Michico on the track "Sit! Stay! Wait! Down!," while Japanese DJ Shinichi Osawa ("What a Feeling" (2008)) produced "Naked" with M-Flo member Verbal writing the lyrics.[14]

Promotion and release
"Love Story" (2011)
The most commercially successful single of the era, "Love Story" is a medium tempo ballad used as the theme song for the drama Watashi ga Ren'ai Dekinai Riyū.
"Fight Together" (2011)
The pop song "Fight Together" was Amuro's first Japanese anime collaboration in eight years.
"Naked" (2011)
The Shinichi Osawa produced dance track "Naked" was used in a nationwide Kosé campaign.
Problems playing these files? See media help.

Songs from Uncontrolled were featured in two major commercial campaigns featuring Amuro as their spokeswoman. "Break It" was used for the Coca-Cola Zero "Wild Heart" campaign in 2010, a tie-up that has also featured her songs "Wild" (2009) and "Wonder Woman" (2011).[16] Japanese cosmetic firm Kosé used "Naked" and "Go Round" in campaigns for their Esprique line of eye-make up.[16] "Hot Girls" will be used in an upcoming campaign.[17] Amuro had previously worked with Kosé in 2001, in a lipstick campaign featuring "Say the Word."[16]

Of the single tracks, four were used in prime-time television shows as their theme songs. "Fight Together" was used as the third theme song for the anime One Piece‍ '​s 14th season. This was the first time in eight years since Amuro had a song associated with a popular Japanese animation, the last being "Come" and "Four Seasons" from her 2003 album Style.[16] "Tempest" was the eponymous theme song of Tempest (2010),[16] based on Okinawan novelist Eiichi Ikegami's 2008 novel. "Sit! Stay! Wait! Down!" and "Love Story" were used as the theme songs for the ensemble drama Watashi ga Ren'ai Dekinai Riyū (2011),[16] starring actresses Karina, Yuriko Yoshitaka and AKB48 member Yuko Oshima. Amuro made a cameo performance on the December 12, 2011 episode of the drama, performing the theme song.[18]

"Only You," an album track, was used as the theme song for the WOWOW TV broadcast of the UEFA Euro 2012 soccer tournament. WOWOW also broadcast three TV specials about Amuro for her anniversary. Namie Amuro 20th Anniversary Special: Live History & Document of Namie Amuro, broadcast on June 2, 2012, featured behind the scenes footage of the "Only You" video, as well as archive footage of Amuro's lives, music videos and an interview.[19] On November 3 and 4, 2012, Namie Amuro 20th Anniversary Special #2: Live Future & Document of Namie Amuro will be released, followed the next day by live footage from her September 16 performance Namie Amuro 0th Anniversary Live in Okinawa. The preceding documentary will feature rehearsal footage for the live, interviews with collaborators who will participate in the concert, and footage of Amuro's promotional tour across Asia.[20]

In May 2012, a smart phone application was released to Apple's App Store and Google Play, in promotion for the album, Amuro's 2012 tour, and her 20th anniversary.[21]

In late May 2012 outside of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, an 8m high billboard painting of the album cover was created over two days, revealing the album cover for the first time. The background of the cover features the annular solar eclipse of May 21, 2012, which was seen as a total eclipse in Tokyo.[22] Amuro made appearances at radio stations in Fukuoka, Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka and Kyoto.[23] In Sapporo Station, a temporary Namie Amuro exhibit was erected at the Paseo department store.[24]

For promotion of the album, Amuro was featured in many fashion magazines, including Blenda, Gisele, Glamorous, Mina, S Cawaii!, Spring, Sweet and Vivi.[25]

Namie Amuro travelled to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore in late June and early July 2012 to promote the album.[26][27] During the stop, Amuro held several press conferences, and a series of club dance events called Amuro Night were held. While Amuro herself did not dance at the events, she attended the event at Singapore's St James Power Station.[28]

Promotional singles

The four new songs from the album received a gradual ringtone release before the album. The first of which, "Only You," was released as a digital download to cellphones on the day of the album's release.[29] Prior to the album's release, "Only You" received enough radio airplay to chart at number 7 on Billboard‍ '​s Japan Hot 100 chart.[30] on RIAJ's cellphone download chart, "Only You" charted at number five for two consecutive weeks.[31]

"In the Spotlight (Tokyo)" was released on July 4, 2012 as a full-length cellphone download.[32] The song received enough radio airplay prior to the album's release to chart on the Japan Hot 100 at number 46.[33] The song reached number 15 on RIAJ's download chart.[31]

"Let's Go" was released in full on July 11, 2012, and "Hot Girls" was released later on July 25.[34][35] "Let's Go" reached number 29 on RIAJ.[36]

Music videos

Two dresses from "Only You" and one from "Hot Girls" on exhibit.

Uncontrolled features the largest number of MVs in Amuro's career: seven MVs from singles, and the remaining four of the new tracks.

"Get Myself Back" was shot at her birthplace, Okinawa, and was the first video of hers to be shot there.[37] The location was chosen to express the sentiment of the song.[37]

"Only You" was directed by American director Thomas Kloss.[38] The music video for "Only You" was shot overseas, in a desert near Los Angeles.[39]

"In the Spotlight (Tokyo)"'s music video was shot with the concept of "making Tokyo a gigantic dance floor," with scenes of the Shuto Expressway, the pedestrian scrambles in Shibuya, Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower featured in the video.[40]

"Let's Go" features scenes shot with a high-speed camera that revolved about Amuro while she was performing the song.[41]

At the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards Japan, "Love Story" won the Best Female Video award, while "Naked" received a nomination for Best Pop Video.[42] [43] At the previous year's 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan awards, "Break It" was nominated for the video of the year.[44] For the upcoming is nominated for the Best Female Video award, and "Naked" is nominated for the Best Pop Video award.

On June 23, 2012, Space Shower music video channel aired a special compilation of Amuro's music videos.[25] Amuro was chosen as the "artist of the month" at MTV Japan for July 2012.[45]

Tours

On September 16, 2012, the 20th anniversary of her debut as a member of the Super Monkey's, Amuro was planned to hold a special live concert in her birthplace of Okinawa. The live features guest appearances by Ai, Chemistry's Kaname Kawabata, Mummy-D (of Rhymester), Anna Tsuchiya, Verbal (of M-Flo) and Zeebra.[46] However, due to the approach of Typhoon Samba, the concert was cancelled the day before the show. Because of the nature of the concert, the management of Amuro announced that the concert will not be re-scheduled. An 8-day dome tour across Japan will be held in November and December 2012 featuring performances in Fukuoka, Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya and Tokyo.[47] On July 24 after all of the concert dates selling out, an extra concert was added in Nagoya.[48]

Some songs featured on the album were previously performed in past tours of Amuro's. "Break It" and "Get Myself Back" were performed on Amuro's Past<Future Tour 2010 tour,[49] and "Break It," "Fight Together," "Get Myself Back," "Naked" and "Tempest" were performed at Live Style 2011.[50] "Love Story" was performed at later dates on Live Style 2011; however, it was not included in the performance DVD.[51]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Hot Express (favorable)[3]
Listen Japan (favorable)[4]
Rolling Stone Japan [52]

Yoshiki Aoyuki of Listen Japan agreed with the album's title, hearing that the music sounded unrestrained. He was impressed with the variety of songs even though many of them were dance tunes. He likened the "euro-disco" sound of "Only You" to the sound of Kylie Minogue.[4]

Tetsu Hiraga of Hot Express was extremely impressed with the album, in particular "In the Spotlight (Tokyo)," calling it "the best kind of electro pop." He felt that every song had a similar impressive impact.[3] He described the first single, "Break It," as "Amuro's voice dancing over a tricky guitar and bass." He found her "aggressively shouted singing" very exciting.[53] He enjoyed the mis-match in the song "Sit! Stay! Wait! Down!" between the music, a "thick track with deep vocals" and the "girly in-love lyrics."[54] Hiraga felt that "Yeah-Oh" had a "densely Western sound" that was not seen in any other Japanese musicians.[55]

Hiraga believed in all the reviews of her singles that Amuro's music was "aiming for the highest quality music."[53][3][56]

Rolling Stone Japan author Kazumi Namba felt the album was "consistent and unshaking," and called the album "approximately Western" and noted how it followed current global trends in global pop music. He called the English recordings "ambitious," and was surprised at how different the work was to her roots in 1990s J-pop. He rated the album three out of five.[52]

Chart performance

Uncontrolled was Amuro's 10th album to debut at number one on physical data provider Oricon‍ '​s weekly albums chart, with 292,000 copies.[57] The album stayed at number one for three weeks, and was the second album in her career to achieve this after Best Fiction.

Much like her previous album Checkmate![58][59] 105,000 copies of the album were sold on the first day.[60] In its first week, it outsold the second place album, Greeeen's Uta..., by 200,000 copies.[61] The album after one week's sales became the top selling album by a soloist released by that point in 2012 — surpassing Ayaka's The Beginning‍ '​s total sales by 84,000 copies.[57] It has since been topped by Keisuke Kuwata's I Love You: Now & Forever.[60] The CD+DVD version of the album outsold the CD Only edition by more than eight times in the first week, according to physical data tracker SoundScan Japan.[62]

The first week total was better than Amuro's previous album, the collaboration compilation Checkmate!, which had sold 252,000 copies.[63] However, Amuro's previous studio album, Past<Future, outsold Uncontrolled‍ '​s first week by 39,000 copies.[64]

In Taiwan, Uncontrolled debuted at number five, underneath Yoga Lin, Big Bang, Nick Chou and Christine Fan.[65] In its second week, it fell to number 15.[66] In South Korea, the album reached number 36 on the Gaon albums charts, and in its second week fell out of the top 100.[67]

Track listing

The finalised tracklist was first released on Amuro's official YouTube channel on June 8, 2012.[68]

CD
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "In the Spotlight (Tokyo)"  Henrik Nordenback, Christian FastH. Nordenback, C. Fast 3:58
2. "Naked"  VerbalShinichi Osawa 4:22
3. "Go Round ('N Round 'N Round)"  Liv Nervo, Mim NervoT-SK, Kim Tesung, L. Nervo, M. Nervo 3:21
4. "Sit! Stay! Wait! Down!"  MichicoT. Kura, Michico 3:14
5. "Hot Girls"  L. Nervo, M. Nervo, Michael Dennis Smith, Stefanie RidelL. Nervo, M. Nervo, M. Smith, S. Ridel 2:59
6. "Break It (Al Ver.)"  Nao'ymtNao'ymt 3:22
7. "Get Myself Back"  Nao'ymtNao'ymt 4:32
8. "Love Story"  TigerT-SK, T. Kim, L. Nervo, M. Nervo 4:44
9. "Let's Go"  Tiger, L. Nervo, M. NervoT-SK, T. Kim, L. Nervo, M. Nervo 3:11
10. "Singing "Yeah-Oh!""  L. Nervo, M. NervoT-SK, T. Kim, L. Nervo, M. Nervo, 3:23
11. "Fight Together"  Nao'ymtNao'ymt 4:17
12. "Only You"  Didrik Thott, C. Fast, Peter Mansson, Sharon VaughnD. Thott, C. Fast, P. Mansson, S. Vaughn 4:14
13. "Tempest"  Nao'ymtNao'ymt 4:35
Total length:
 50:17

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from Uncontrolled's liner notes booklet.[14]

Managerial

  • Hiromi Amano – A&R
  • Shinji Hayashi – executive producer
  • Shintaro Higuchi – producer
  • Hisahiko Iida – producer
  • Toru Ishitsuka – orchestra coordinator (#13)
  • Takashi Kasuga – executive producer
  • Koji Makuuchi – musician coordinator (#13)
  • Masato "Max" Matsuura – executive supervisor
  • Kazutaka Naya – musician coordinator (#13)
  • Hiromi Owada – A&R desk
  • Michiharu Sato – A&R supervisor
  • Ryosuke Sekii – A&R
  • Daisuke Shimokawa – producer
  • Tetsuo Taira – executive supervisor
  • Rie Wada – artist management
  • Kazumi Yanagi – A&R chief

Performance credits

  • Namie Amuro – vocals, background vocals
  • Tomoyuki Asakawa – harp (#13)
  • Kenshow Hagiwara – horn (#13)
  • Masaaki Kawamura – oboe (#13)
  • Mari Ishida – piano (#13)
  • Tsutomu Isohata – horn (#13)
  • Yoichi Murata – trombone (#13)
  • Mim Nervo – background vocals (#5)
  • Liv Nervo – background vocals (#5)
  • Shin Ohmura – guitars (#6)
  • Koh Okumura – trombone (#13)
  • Masahiko Sugasaka – trumpet (#13)
  • Hideyo Takakuwa – flute (#13)
  • Tokunaga Tomomi Strings – string section (#13)
  • Junko Wakamitsu – flute (#13)
  • Kimio Yamane – clarinet (#13)
  • Hitoshi Yokoyama – trumpet (#13)

Visuals and imagery

  • Takeshi Hanzawa – photographer
  • Taku Hatao – photographic operation
  • Akemi Nakano – hair, make-up
  • Akira Noda – stylist
  • Through. – art direction, design

Technical and production

  • Tom Coyne – mastering (at Sterling Sound)
  • D.O.I. – mixing (at Daimonion Recordings) (#1, #3—13)
  • Kohei Hatakeyama – recording (#8)
  • Susumu Isa – vocal direction (#8)
  • Ryosuke Kataoka – recording (#1—13)
  • Chifumi Karasawa – orchestra recording (at Sound City) (#13)
  • Hide Kawada – music direction (#3, #8—10)
  • Neeraj Khajanchi – recording (#10)
  • Peter Mansson – production (#12)
  • Michico – vocal production (#4)
  • Tatsuya Murayama – orchestra arrangement (#13)
  • Nao'ymt – production (#6—7, #11, #13)
  • Henrik Nordenback – production (#1)
  • Shinichi Osawa – arrangement, mixing, production (#2)
  • Kenji Sano – vocal direction (#1, #3, #5, #9, #12)
  • Michael "Smidi" Smith – production (#5)
  • Tiger – chorus arrangement (#2), vocal direction (#2, #8, #10)
  • T. Kura – production (#4)
  • T-SK – production (#3, #8—10)

Chart rankings

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Japan Oricon daily albums[69] 1
Japan Oricon weekly albums[57] 1
Japan Oricon monthly albums[70] 1
South Korea Gaon weekly album chart[67] 36
South Korea Gaon weekly international album chart[67] 8
South Korea Hanteo Daily J-Pop Chart[71] 1
South Korea Hanteo Weekly J-Pop Chart[72] 1
Taiwan G-Music J-Pop Chart[73] 2
Taiwan G-Music International Chart[74] 2
Taiwan G-Music Combo Chart[65] 5

Sales and certifications

Chart Amount
Oricon physical sales[60] 540,000
RIAJ physical shipping certification[75] 2× platinum (500,000+)

Release history

Region Date Format Distributing Label Catalogue codes
Japan June 27, 2012[5][76] CD, CD+DVD, playbutton Avex Trax AVCD-38523, AVCD-38522, AQZD-50725
Hong Kong June 29, 2012[77][78] CD, CD+DVD Avex Asia AAJCD20103, AAJCD20102D
Taiwan CD, CD+DVD Avex Taiwan AVJCD10510, AVJCD10510/A
South Korea July 5, 2012[79] CD+DVD S.M. Entertainment/KMP Holdings SMKJT0189B
Japan July 11, 2012[80] Digital download Avex Trax
July 14, 2012[81] Rental CD
Singapore[82] August 3, 2012 CD, CD+DVD Universal Music AAJCD20103, AAJCD20102D
Philippines[83] October 20, 2012 Universal Records (Philippines)

References

  1. ↑ "Namie Amuro ／ Sit! Stay! Wait! Down! ／ Love Story [CD+DVD]" (in Japanese). CDJournal. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  2. ↑ Takashi Ōno. "NAKED／Fight Together／Tempest by 安室奈美恵" (in Japanese). What's In?. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tetsuo Hiraga (June 2012). 安室奈美恵 妥協なき20年→抑制されない音楽の破壊力 [Namie Amuro: Uncompromising 20 Years → the power of Uncontrolled music] (in Japanese). Hot Express. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Yoshiki Aoyuki (2012). 新譜レビュー > 安室奈美恵／Ｕｎｃｏｎｔｒｏｌｌｅｄ [New Record Review: Namie Amuro/Uncontrolled] (in Japanese). listen.jp. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "[CD]Uncontrolled [CD+DVD/ジャケットA] / 安室奈美恵". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "安室奈美恵 『Uncontrolled』インタビュー" [Namie Amuro Uncontrolled Interview]. Kanako Hayagawa (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  7. ↑ 安室奈美恵『強くてキュートでカッコいい女性＝歌手・安室奈美恵として表現したい！』 [Namie Amuro: I want to express strong, cute and cool in my works as Namie Amuro!]. Kanako Hayagawa (in Japanese). Oricon. June 27, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 レコード協会調べ　12月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：12月度認定＞ [RIAJ Research: December Digital Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). January 20, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  9. ↑ レコード協会調べ　7月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：7月度認定＞ [RIAJ Research: July Digital Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). August 20, 2012. Retrieved August 2012.
  10. ↑ レコード協会調べ　4月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：4月度認定＞ [RIAJ Research: April Digital Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). May 20, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  11. ↑ レコード協会調べ　7月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：7月度認定＞ [RIAJ Research: July Digital Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). August 20, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  12. ↑ レコード協会調べ　1月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：1月度認定＞ [RIAJ Research: January Digital Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). February 20, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  13. ↑ レコード協会調べ　10月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：10月度認定＞ [RIAJ Research: October Digital Certifications]. RIAJ (in Japanese). November 20, 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Uncontrolled (Media notes) (in Japanese). Namie Amuro. Tokyo, Japan: Avex Marketing. 2012.
  15. ↑ Ｇｏ　Ｒｏｕｎｄ【ＣＤ＋ＤＶＤ】. JBook (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 4, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 "安室奈美恵（Amuro Namie） - タイアップ" [Namie Amuro - Tieups]. CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Hot Girls(from AL｢Uncontrolled｣)". Recochoku (in Japanese). Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  18. ↑ 安室奈美恵:本日放送(12/12)の月9「私が恋愛できない理由」に登場!! [Namie Amuro: Today (12/12) appearing on the getsu-ku drama Watashi ga Ren'ai Dekinai Riyū!!]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  19. ↑ "安室奈美恵：新曲「ONLY YOU」WOWOW欧州サッカーテーマソング決定！＆「安室奈美恵20周年アニバーサリースペシャル LIVE HISTORY ＆ DOCUMENT OF NAMIE AMURO」6月2日（土）夜7:30～ WOWOWで無料放送決定！" [Namie Amuro: New song "Only You" used for WOWOW Europe soccer theme song! & Namie Amuro 20th Anniversary Special: Live History & Document of Namie Amuro June 2 7:30pm free broadcast on WOWOW!]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). April 24, 2012. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  20. ↑ "安室奈美恵、活動20周年記念特番がWOWOWで2夜連続放送" [Namie Amuro: two consecutive special programs for 20th anniversary on WOWOW]. Natalie (in Japanese). September 3, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Namie Amuroスマートフォンアプリ登場!" [Introducing a Namie Amuro smart phone app!]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). May 25, 2012. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  22. ↑ 新宿に"巨大"安室奈美恵出現、金環日食と圧巻コラボ [A "gigantic" Namie Amuro appears in Shinjuku, a collaboration with the annular eclipse]. Musicman (in Japanese). May 28, 2012. Archived from the original on June 2, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Media Schedule". Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2012. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  24. ↑ "安室奈美恵：ココでしか見られないスペシャル展示イベント！【FM NORTH WAVE安室奈美恵 Museum in paseo】" [Special exhibit event with exclusive items! FM North Wave Namie Amuro Miseum in Paseo]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). June 15, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Media Schedule". Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2012. Archived from the original on June 2, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  26. ↑ 何時來台開唱？安室奈美惠：有機會就會來 [When is the concert? Namie Amuro: there's a chance]. Apple Daily (in Chinese). June 29, 2012. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Amuro Namie to make a special stop in Singapore". Tokyo Hive. June 28, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  28. ↑ Lee Wei Lin (July 10, 2012). "Namie Amuro’s whirlwind trip to Singapore". MSN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  29. ↑ レコチョクランキング　ダウンロード（シングル）ランキング（1位～5位） [Recochoku Ranking: Download (single) ranking (#1-#5)]. Recochoku (in Japanese). June 28, 2012. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  30. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. July 4, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "レコード協会調べ 2012年07月04日～2012年07月10日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association Analysis: July 4, 2012—July 10, 2012 (Abbreviated: RIAJ Chart ('Full-length Cellphone Downloads')]. RIAJ. July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  32. ↑ "安室奈美恵：「Only You」「In The Spotlight(TOKYO)」レコチョク着うたフル(R)配信開始!!" ["Only You," "In the Spotlight (Tokyo)" released to Recochoku as a chaku-uta full download!]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). July 4, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard Japan. June 27, 2012. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  34. ↑ レコチョクランキング　ダウンロード（シングル）ランキング [Recochoku Ranking: Download (single) ranking]. Recochoku (in Japanese). June 28, 2012. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  35. ↑ ""新"コーセー ESPRIQUE CMTVソング『Hot Girls』の着うたフル本日配信スタート!" [New Kose Esprique CMTV song "Hot Girls" cellphone download starts today!]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). July 25, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  36. ↑ "レコード協会調べ 2012年07月04日～2012年07月10日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association Analysis: July 11, 2012—July 17, 2012 (Abbreviated: RIAJ Chart ('Full-length Cellphone Downloads')]. RIAJ. July 20, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "新曲「Get Myself Back」MV解禁!" [Unveiling of "Get Myself Back" music video!]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). July 1, 2010. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  38. ↑ "安室奈美恵 ONLY YOU". Space Shower (in Japanese). Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  39. ↑ 安室奈美恵20周年アニバーサリースペシャル LIVE HISTORY ＆ DOCUMENT OF NAMIE AMURO [Namie Amuro 20th Anniversary Special: Live History & Document of Namie Amuro] (Television production) (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan/Los Angeles, USA: WOWOW. June 2, 2012.
  40. ↑ "安室奈美恵、MVでも金環日食とコラボ" [Namie Amuro, annular solar eclipse collaboration in music video]. Oricon (in Japanese). June 13, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  41. ↑ 安室奈美恵、ロック＆ワイルドな1曲をアルバムから先行配信 [Namie Amuro, digital pre-release for 'rock and wild' song]. My Navi (in Japanese). June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
  42. ↑ "MTV音楽授賞式「MTV VMAJ」16部門ノミネート作品発表" [16 nominations announced for MTV's award ceremony MTV VMAJ]. Natalie (in Japanese). March 19, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  43. ↑ "MTV VMAJ 2012 全受賞作品リスト" [MTV VMAJ 2012 Total Awards List]. MTV Japan (in Japanese). June 23, 2012. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  44. ↑ 安室奈美恵　「ＯＮＥ　ＰＩＥＣＥ」主題歌配信 [Namie Amuro 'One Piece' theme song download]. Hot Express (in Japanese). June 1, 2011. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  45. ↑ "～安室奈美恵が7月度の"MTV ARTIST OF THE MONTH ARTIST"に決定！！！" [Namie Amuro chosen as the July MTV Artist of the Month]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). July 1, 2012. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  46. ↑ "安室沖縄ライブにZeebra、D、VERBAL、アンナ、AI、川畑" [Zeebra, D, Verbal, Anna, AI and Kawabata at Amuro's Okinawa live]. Natalie (in Japanese). May 18, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  47. ↑ "安室奈美恵：5大ドームツアー『namie amuro ５大ドーム TOUR 2012 ～20th Anniversary Best～』決定！" [Namie Amuro: 5 big dome tour Namie Amuro 5 Big Dome Tour 2012: 20th Anniversary Best announced!]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). May 25, 2012. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  48. ↑ 安室奈美恵、全国5大ドームツアーチケット即完！追加公演決定！！ [Namie Amuro, 5 dome Japan tour tickets sold out! Additional performance announced!!]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). July 24, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  49. ↑ "[DVD] namie amuro PAST < FUTURE tour 2010 / 安室奈美恵". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  50. ↑ "[Blu-ray] namie amuro LIVE STYLE 2011 / 安室奈美恵 [Blu-ray] ". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  51. ↑ "安室奈美恵、「Love Story」初披露ライヴで「月9も見てね！」と笑顔をみせる" [Namie Amuro, performs "Love Story" for the first time, tells fans to "Watch the drama!" while shoeing a smile.]. Barks (in Japanese). December 6, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Kazumi Namba. "レヴューREVIEW 安室奈美恵『Uncontrolled』" (in Japanese). Rolling Stone Japan. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Tetsuo Hiraga (2010). "Break It / Get Myself Back (review)" (in Japanese). Hot Express. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  54. ↑ Tetsuo Hiraga (2011). 安室奈美恵"今聴きたい"愛情に満ちた楽曲群 [Namie Amuro's "songs (she) wants to hear" - songs full of affection] (in Japanese). Hot Express. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  55. ↑ Tetsuo Hiraga (2012). "安室奈美恵 人間性が声や音に反映された記念碑的Sg" [Namie Amuro: a momumental single reflecting humanity in voice and sound] (in Japanese). Hot Express. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  56. ↑ Tetsuo Hiraga (2011). 人を驚かせるのが大好きな安室奈美恵による、全方位型シングル [An all-directional single from Namie Amuro, the woman who loves to surprise] (in Japanese). Hot Express. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 安室奈美恵、2年半ぶり新作が首位　今年ソロトップの29.2万枚 [Namie Amuro, first new work in two years reaches first place. Currently the best album sold by a solo artist this year with 292,000 copies] (in Japanese). Oricon. July 3, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  58. ↑ "【オリコン】安室奈美恵、オリジナル作で5年ぶりV2" [Namie Amuro, first two weeks at number one with an original album in five years] (in Japanese). Oricon. July 10, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  59. ↑ "安室奈美恵、20年目で初の新作V3" [Namie Amuro, new album number one for three weeks just before her 20th anniversary] (in Japanese). Oricon. July 17, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 60.2 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service "You Big Tree"]. Oricon. Retrieved January 9, 2014. (subscription only)
  61. ↑ "2012年06月25日～2012年07月01日のCDアルバム週間ランキング" [June 25, 2012-July 1, 2012 CD Album Weekly Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. July 3, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  62. ↑ "週間 CDソフト TOP20 2012年6月25日～2012年7月1日 調査分" [Weekly CD Soft Top 20 June 25 20120-July 1, 2012 results] (in Japanese). Phile-web. July 4, 2012. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  63. ↑ 安室奈美恵、初のコラボ盤が首位 [Namie Amuro, first collaboration disc top rank] (in Japanese). Oricon. May 3, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  64. ↑ 30代でもアルバム1位、安室奈美恵が女性初10～30代首位制覇 [A number one even in her 30s, Namie Amuro becomes first woman to have an album in her teens, twenties and thirties.] (in Japanese). Oricon. December 22, 2009. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 "Weekly Top 20: Combo Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  66. ↑ "Weekly Top 20: Combo Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 "Gaon Weekly Charts" (in Korean). Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  68. ↑ "NEW ALBUM 「Uncontrolled」 Live Painting Movie@Tokyo・Shinjyuku / 安室奈美恵 (Namie Amuro)". Vision Factory (in Japanese). June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  69. ↑ "2012年06月27日のCDアルバムデイリーランキング" [June 27, 2012 Album Daily Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. June 27, 2012. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  70. ↑ "CDアルバム月間ランキング" [CD albums Monthly Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  71. ↑ "Hanteo Daily Charts" (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  72. ↑ "Hanteo Weekly Charts" (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  73. ↑ "Weekly Top 20: J-Pop Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  74. ↑ "Weekly Top 20: International Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on July 6, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  75. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2012年6月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (June 2012)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). July 10, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  76. ↑ "[グッズ] 未定 [PLAYBUTTON][初回限定生産] / 安室奈美恵". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  77. ↑ "安室奈美惠 Namie Amuro Uncontrolled". Avex Asia (in Chinese). 2012. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  78. ↑ "安室奈美惠最新專輯『Uncontrolled』預購告知" [Pre-order Namie Amuro's new album 'Uncontrolled']. Avex Taiwan (in Chinese). June 5, 2012. Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
  79. ↑ "YES24 - Amuro Namie - Uncontrolled CD+DVD 예약판매 " (in Korean). Yes24. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  80. ↑ "安室奈美恵：『Uncontrolled』レコチョク着うたフル(R)配信開始!!" [Uncontrolled released as a full-length download to Recochoku!!]. Vision Factory. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  81. ↑ "Uncontrolled/安室奈美恵". Tsutaya. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  82. ↑ "AMURO NAMIE 安室奈美惠 - UNCONTROLLED (NORMAL VER: +DVD)". HMV Group (Singapore). Retrieved 05/11/2012. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  83. ↑ "Namie Amuro Uncontrolled Album Launch". Universal Records (Philippines). Retrieved 2012-10-12.