Vogue (Ayumi Hamasaki song)

"Vogue"

A close-up of Ayumi Hamasaki's face, having been edited with digital effects. The song's title, "Vogue", is present on screen.

CD and digital artwork.
Single by Ayumi Hamasaki
from the album Duty
B-side "Ever Free"
Released April 26, 2000
Format
Recorded
Genre
Length 4:28
Label
Songwriter(s) Ayumi Hamasaki
Producer(s) Max Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki singles chronology
"Fly High"
(2000)		 "Vogue"
(2000)		 "Far Away"
(2000)

"Fly High"
(2000)		 "Vogue"
(2000)		 "Far Away"
(2000)

"Vogue" (uncapitalized as "vogue") is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki for her third studio album, Duty (2000). It was written by Hamasaki, while production was handled by Max Matsuura. It premiered on April 26, 2000 as the lead single from the album. Her third consecutive lead single to be produced by Matsuura, the song is part of a trilogy from Duty; the other two singles being "Far Away" and "Seasons".

Musically, "Vogue" was described as a Japanese pop song with musical elements of Latin pop. The lyrics discusses her presence in the music industry. Upon its release, the track garnered positive reviews from music critics, who praised the composition and Hamasaki's song writing. It also achieved success in Japan, peaking at number three on the Oricon Singles Chart and four on the TBS Count Down TV chart. "Vogue" has sold over 767,000 units in Japan.

The accompanying music video for "Vogue" was directed by Wataru Takeishi; it features two children in a post-apocalyptic city, reading a book that contains video imagery of Hamasaki in a cherry blossom field. Both the music video and the song has appeared on several compilations by Hamasaki, including A Best (2001) and A Complete: All Singles (2008). For additional promotion, the song was featured on several concert tours by Hamasaki including her 2000 self-titled and the Power of Music tour.

Background and release

"Vogue" was written by Hamasaki, while production was handled by Japanese musician Max Matsuura.[1] The song was composed and arranged by long-term collaborator Kazuhito Kikuchi, whilst Japanese musician Naoto Suzuki co-arranged it.[1] This was Kikuchi's final collaboration with Hamasaki, until he returned as the main composer for her sixth studio album, My Story (2004).[2] For the track's instrumentation, Suzuki played the keyboards, Naoki Hayashibe played the guitar, and Takahiro Iida mixed the final composition.[1] It was selected as the lead single from Duty, and was released on April 26, 2000 by Avex Trax.

The maxi CD of the single contains the original composition and its instrumental version, plus seven remixes and the b-side "Ever Free".[3] "Vogue" is her first single to include an unreleased non-album b-side since her 1999 single "Depend on You", and remains her final to do so.[4] As a single from the Duty trilogy, which included Hamasaki's singles "Far Away" and "Seasons", the singles were released as a DVD single and VHS. It included the three mini-music videos, alongside the making of the videos and a TV commercial.[5][6] The CD and digital cover sleeve has a close-up of Ayumi Hamasaki's face, edited with digital effects. The song's title, "Vogue", is present on cover. According to Matt Wilce from Metropolis magazine, the song's title was influenced by the same titular song by American recording artist Madonna.[7] The standalone CD cover was used as the digital EP cover for the iTunes Store and Amazon.com.[8]

Composition

"Vogue" was recorded in 2000 at Avex Studios and Prime Sound Studios in Tokyo, Japan.[1] The song was described as a Japanese pop song with musical elements of Latin pop.[9][10] As part of the trilogy set with "Far Away" and "Seasons", "Vogue" highlights the theme of the present. With this, "Far Away" details the past and "Seasons" discusses Hamasaki's future.[11] The trilogy set also focuses on hopelessness, a reflection of Hamasaki's disappointment that she had not expressed herself thoroughly in any of her previous songs.[12] Based on her song writing, she described her feelings after the writing all the tracks from Duty as "unnatural" and was constantly "nervous" for the final result.[13] A staff reviewer from Amazon Japan noticed the trilogy set had a "healing effect" that was absent on Hamasaki's two previous studio albums.[14]

Critical response

"Vogue" received highly favourable reviews from music critics. Alexey Eremenko, who had written her extended biography at AllMusic, highlighted the song as an album and career stand out track.[15] A staff reviewer from Yahoo! GeoCities reviewed Hamasaki's greatest hits album A Best, and singled out the song as one of her best tracks. They commented that "Vogue" was the best examples of "classic J-pop music."[10] Morimosa from Nifty.com complimented Hamasaki's song writing; he compared the song writing to the rest of the songs from Duty, and commended how she inducted a "pessimistic" nature rather than "anxiety" or "aggression".[11] Hamasaki hosted an online voting poll for fans to choose their favourite tracks to be featured on her Ayumi Hamasaki 15th Anniversary Tour. As a result, "Vogue" was included on the list.[16] The song was remixed as an orchestral song for her remix album ayu-mi-x III Acoustic Orchestra Version (2003), and was commended alongside other tracks for its "rich melody".[10]

Commercial performance

In Japan, "Vogue" debuted at number three on the Oricon Singles Chart.[17] It lasted for seventeen weeks on the chart, selling 767,660 units by the end of 2000.[18] This became Hamasaki's third highest selling single at the time. Currently, the song is Hamasaki's eighth best selling single, according to Oricon Style.[19] The DVD single, released under the title of Vogue/Far Away/Seasons reached at number one on the Oricon DVD Chart, spending seventeen weeks in the top fifty.[20] It is Hamasaki's second best selling DVD single, and her eighth best seller overall.[21] "Vogue" was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 800,000 units.[22] The single entered at number four on Japan's TBS Count Down TV Chart;[23] it stayed there for two consecutive weeks, and lasted seventeen weeks in the chart.[23] "Vogue" was placed at number twenty-five on their Annual Count Down TV chart in 2000.[24]

Music video

The accompanying music video was directed by Wataru Takeishi.[25] Because the music video was part of the trilogy set with "Far Away" and "Seasons", only a portion of the song was shot for the video. As a result, the video for "Vogue" lasts for two minutes and fifty-one seconds.[25][26][27] The artwork for the single was a screen shoot from the music video.[3][25] Two out take shots from the video were then used for the artworks for "Far Away" and "Seasons".[28][29] The music video was included on the DVD and VHS formats of the three singles.[5][6] The music video also appeared on Hamasaki's DVD compilation box sets: A Clips Vol.2 (2002),[30] Complete Clip Box (2004),[31] A Clip Box 1998–2011 (2011),[32] and the bonus DVD version with A Complete: All Singles.[33]

Synopsis

Hamasaki (above) is singing inside of a photo album that the two children found in an industrial post-apocalyptic world (below).

The video opens with two children walking through an post-apocalyptic world, with industrial cites in the background. The two children are barred in with barded wire fences.[25] Hamasaki then appears inside a photo album, singing the song in front of cherry blossom trees. Hamasaki's scenes are inter cuts that are featured throughout the entire video.[25] The two children escape by crawling under the fence, but are being watched by camera surveillance.

They are free and start to run around a hilly surface, only to see more industrial cites blowing out fumes in the distance.[25] The two children find an unusual object buried in the sands surface and dig it up. They find an electronic-powered crate, open it, and find a blank photo album. The photo album starts to show the cherry trees from where Hamasaki is singing from, and finally watch Hamasaki singing.[25] The last chorus features Hamasaki singing, fully colored, with the children flipping each page to observe the flowers where Hamasaki is singing from.[25] The final scene features a destructed Empire State Building in the distance, with Hamasaki in the middle of the land by herself; this scene then leds onto the music video for "Far Away".[25]

Live performances and other appearances

Hamasaki has performed "Vogue" on several concert tours and New Years countdown shows throughout Asia. It has been included in all of Hamasaki's New Years countdown concerts up until the Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2006–2007 A.[upper-alpha 1] The song made its debut tour performance on Hamasaki's 2000 Japan Concert Tour.[37] It appeared on her 2002 Stadium Tour and The Power of Music Tour. The song's last live performance was her 2014 Ayumi Hamasaki Premium Showcase: Feel the love, in which was supported by her 2014 studio album Colours.[upper-alpha 2] The song has been included on two of her greatest hits compilations, which are A Best (2002),[40] and A Complete: All Singles (2008),[41]

"Vogue" was remixed by several professional disc jockeys and producers, and has appeared on several remix albums by Hamasaki. The remixes include the Computerhell and Junkie XL remix on ayu-mi-x III Non-Stop Mega Mix Version (2001) and Ayu-mi-x 4 + Selection Non-Stop Mega Mix Version (2002),[42] the Dave Rodgers remix on Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 2 (2001),[43] the Traditional remix on Rmx Works from Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 3 (2003),[44] and the Groove Coverage remix on Ayu-mi-x 7 Presents Ayu Trance 4 (2011).[45] The orchestral acoustic remix, and its instrumental version, was included on her third orchestral remix album, ayu-mi-x III Acoustic Orchestra Version (2001).[46] It was used as the theme song for Japanese cosmetics brand Kose Visee, and the b-side track "Ever Free" was used as the theme song for the 2000 Japanese TV series Tenki Yohou no Koibito.[47]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the singles liner notes:[3]

Charts and certifications

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Japan[3][5][6] April 26, 2000
Japan[8] 2008[upper-alpha 4] Digital download Avex Entertainment Inc.
United States[52]
Australia[53]
New Zealand[54]
Canada[55]
United Kingdom[56]
Germany[57]
Ireland[58]
France[59]
Spain[60]
Taiwan[61]

Notes

  1. ↑ All New Years concert links are listed below; 2000–2001 A,[34] 2006-2007,[35] and 2008-2009.[36]
  2. ↑ All arena tours appearances are listed below; Stadium Tour 2002,[38] and the final performance from Premium Showcase: Feel the Love.[39]
  3. ↑ The Recording Industry Association of Japan had changed their criteria in July 2003 for shipment and sales, meaning that "Gold" certifications are now 100,000 units and "Platinum" are 250,000 units. But since "Vogue" was released before then, the sales shipments were 200,000 units.[50]
  4. ↑ There is currently insufficient evidence to determine what date Hamasaki's digital releases appeared on online retails. The closest source for iTunes Store evidence is at Jame World, whom confirmed Hamasaki's work was released worldwide on iTunes in September 2008.[51]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Duty (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVCD-11837.
  2. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2004). My Story (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVCD-17610/B.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Vogue (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVCD-30108.
  4. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Depend on You (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVDD-20278.
  5. 1 2 3 Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Vogue/Far Away/Seasons (DVD). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVVD-91035.
  6. 1 2 3 Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Vogue/Far Away/Seasons (VHS). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVVD-90082.
  7. ↑ Wilce, Matt. "Big in Japan: Ayumi Hamasaki". Metropolis (Japan). Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Japan). 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  9. ↑ CD Journal Staff (September 27, 2000). "Ayumi Hamasaki – Duty [CD]". CD Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 Yahoo! Geocites Staff (September 27, 2000). "Ayumi Hamasaki – Duty". Yahoo! GeoCities; powered by Yahoo! Music. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Morimosa (September 27, 2000). "Ayumi Hamasaki – Duty". Nifty.com. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  12. ↑ Author, Unknown (December 22, 2000). ""Review of Ayu's Year 2000 & M".". J-Point (in Japanese): 75.
  13. ↑ Tsuriya, Takako (May 2008). "Ayu 10th Year Career Anniversary". Cawaii (in Japanese): 15, 18.
  14. ↑ Amazon Japan Staff (September 27, 2000). "Ayumi Hamasaki – Duty". Amazon Japan. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  15. ↑ Eremenko, Alexey (2013). "Ayumi Hamasaki – Songs, Highlights, Awards and Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  16. ↑ Avex Trax Staff (March 14, 2015). "Ayumi Hamasaki 15th Anniversary Tour A Best Live". Ayumi Hamasaki's website. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 浜崎あゆみのリリース一覧 [List of Ayumi Hamasaki's Releases]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  18. 1 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 (in Japanese). Retrieved May 21, 2014. (Subscription required (help)).
  19. ↑ "Ayumi Hamasaki CD Ranking Oricon Music Style" (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Ayumi Hamasaki – Vogue/Far Away/Seasons DVD – Oricon Music Style" (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 29, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Ayumi Hamasaki DVD Ranking Oricon Music Style" (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2015.
  22. 1 2 "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年7月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. September 2000 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 490: 8. September 10, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 22, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  23. 1 2 3 "CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date for Vogue by Ayumi Hamasaki". Count Down TV (Bulletin) (in Japanese). TBS. May 4, 2000. Archived from the original on June 20, 2006. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  24. 1 2 "CDTV PowerWeb:! 2000 Annual List". Count Down TV. TBS. Archived from the original on September 16, 2006.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Avex (30 June 2015). "Vogue / 浜崎あゆみ". Avex Trax; published through YouTube. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  26. ↑ Avex (June 30, 2015). "Far Away / 浜崎あゆみ". Avex Trax; published through YouTube. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  27. ↑ Avex (June 30, 2015). "Seasons / 浜崎あゆみ". Avex Trax; published through YouTube. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  28. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Far Away (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVCD-30118.
  29. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Seasons (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVCD-30119.
  30. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2002). A Clips Vol.2 (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVVD-90144.
  31. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2004). Complete Clip Box Set (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVVD-90144.
  32. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2011). A Clip Box 1998–2011 (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-91910~5.
  33. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2008). A Complete: All Singles (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-23673~5/B.
  34. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2001). Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2000-2001 (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVBD-91060.
  35. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2007). Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2006-2007 (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVBD-91558.
  36. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2007). Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2008-2009 (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan.
  37. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2001). Ayumi Hamasaki 2000 Dome Tour (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVBD-91558.
  38. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2002). Ayumi Hamasaki 2002 Stadium Tour (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVBD-91558.
  39. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2014). Premium Showcase: Feel the Love (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVBD-92166.
  40. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2002). A Best (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVCD-11950.
  41. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2002). A Complete: All Singles (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVCD-23676~8.
  42. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2001). ayu-mi-x III Non-Stop Mega Mix Version (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11930.
  43. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2001). Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 2 (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-17027.
  44. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2003). Rmx Works from Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 3 (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-17381.
  45. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2011). Ayu-mi-x 7 Presents Ayu-ro Mix 4 (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVJCD10477.
  46. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2001). ayu-mi-x III Acoustic Orchestra Version (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11928.
  47. ↑ CD Journal Staff (April 23, 2000). "Ayumi Hamasaki – Vogue". CD Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  48. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Vogue Far Away Seasons (Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan. AVBD-91035.
  49. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Vogue (Vinyl; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan, Rhythm Republic. RR12-88174.
  50. ↑ "The Record - August 2003 - Page 15" (PDF) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  51. ↑ "Avex Artists Available at US iTunes Store". Jame World. September 5, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  52. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (United States). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  53. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Australia). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  54. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (New Zealand). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  55. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Canada). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  56. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (United Kingdom). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  57. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Germany). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Ireland). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  59. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (France). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  60. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Spain). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  61. ↑ "Vogue – EP – by Ayumi Hamasaki". iTunes Store (Taiwan). 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2016.

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