Sweet 19 Blues
Encyclopedia
Sweet 19 Blues is Namie Amuro
's first original studio album under the avex trax
label, her first with producer, Tetsuya Komuro
, and her second album overall. The success of the album helped Amuro accomplish feats never realized by a solo female artist, and made her one of the most popular and successful Japanese artists of all time. Amuro along with her landmark album, changed the landscape of Japanese pop music influencing everything from music style to performance and even fashion. Some of the effects of this phenomenon can still be felt within today's Japanese music industry.
had sold over two millions copies, her first four solo singles became million sellers and she was hugely popular at the time, so her album was heavily anticipated. Although Sweet 19 Blues is her second album, it is considered as her first studio album because her previous release, (with the Super Monkey's) was rather a remix album than an original album, including only three original songs.
Her previous material was mostly produced by Max Matsuura
(who, in just a couple of years, would produce Ayumi Hamasaki
), and her first solo single would marked the beginning of the collaboration between Namie and her producer Tetsuya Komuro
, who would produce, write and arrange the majority of her music until her 18th single Say the word in 2001.
The first single from the album was the upbeat dance number Body Feels Exit, released only nine days after the Dance Tracks Vol.1 album. Her two previous singles, Taiyou no Season and Stop the music, featured the singer exclusively and the four others members were only credited as backup singers, so although Body Feels Exit can be considered as her third single, it marks her official solo debut. It opened at No. 3 with over 200,000 copies sold in its first week and spent 4 consecutives weeks in the top 10. The single also became the 70th best selling single of 1995 with over 500,000 units purchased that year.
Chase the Chance, the second single, became her first number one and million selling single. It went straight to number one with opening sales similar to those of her previous single. and spent 9 non-consecutive weeks inside the top 10. She also made her first appearance at the annual Kokaku Uta Gassen performing the song.
The album's third single, Don't Wanna Cry, helped her to win the "Grand Prix Award" from the 38th Annual Japan Record Awards. Today, she still remains the youngest artist awarded this prize. The single was a huge success, spending three non-consecutives weeks at No. 1 and reaching sales of over 1,5 million copies in Japan. Don't Wanna Cry is her second most successful single after the ballad Can You Celebrate?. The 13th track of the album, Present, was a b-side to the single. It is not stated on the liner notes of the booklet, but the album version of the song is different from the version included on the Don't Wanna Cry single.
You're My Sunshine, her 4th single, was also a big hit, spending two consecutive weeks at the top spot. The song is mix of dance and gospel and became one of her signature songs.
It became her third consecuitve number one and million selling single, debuting at No. 1 with over 430,000 units purchased. You're my sunshine became the 13th best selling single at the end of the year.
The final single, Sweet 19 Blues, was released as a recut single a month after the album due to popular demand. It did not achieve the success of her previous records but debut at No. 2 with over 100,000 copies sold in its first week and sold about 500,000 units, a great feat for a post-album single. This single also contains an extended version of the interlude Joy. The single version of the song is slightly different from the album version.
Others songs from the album I'll Jump, Private and Let's Do the Motion were not released in a physical format, but were also popular hits across Japan, as they were used as radio singles prior to the release of the album.
Let's Do the Motion was a special avex commercial to promote the album.
Private was the theme song of four ad campaigns for the Nissan cars.
Body Feels Exit, the first single released from the album, was used in eight Taito X-55 TV ads as the image song. Amuro appeared in some of the commercials.
Chase the Chance, the album's second single, was the theme song of the drama the The Chief, that was broadcast on Nihon TV.
Don't Wanna Cry was the CM song of two commercials for the DyDo Mistio Soft drinks. I'll Jump was also used in a commercial for the brand. Amuro appeared herself in the two commercials promoting the brand.
You're my sunshine was the theme song of the three commercials for the Sea Breeze products. The first ad was promoting a sun lotion, the second a shampoo
and the last a deodorant
. It was also used in commercial for the "Digital Dance Mix", a video game developed and published by Sega
. Namie is the main character of the video game.
Joy was used in a commercial for the Maxell UD2 as its image song.
The title track, Sweet 19 Blues, was choose as theme song of the teenage Japanese movie That's Cunning!: Shijousaidai no Sakusen, which Namie starred in as the lead female role, and was available on the film's soundtrack. The singer appeared at the movie premiere in Japan. The song was also used to promote the Namie Amuro World '96 home video
.
Sweet 19 Blues reached No. 1 in on the Oricon Album Chart with an amazing 1,921,850 copies sold, which is Namie's best first week sales for an album to date and 9th highest opening sales of all time in Japanese music history. The album was also at No. 1 in its second week on stores, but with only over 300,000 units sold. It stayed in the top 10 for nine consecutive weeks and in the top 20 for twelve weeks, selling over 3,3 millions units in Japan during its original chart run including 3 millions in its first two months and over 4 millions copies in total. Sweet 19 Blues is currently Namie's highest selling album and is the 104th million selling album in Japan.
For a brief period in 1996, the album became the biggest selling album of Japanese music history before being outsold by her own producer. Sweet 19 Blues ranked 2nd in 1996 Oricon Yearly Chart after globe
(to which Tetsuya Komuro
belongs). This album ranks at 13th for total sales in Japanese music history and 6th best selling album from a Female Solo Artist.
Sweet 19 Blues was the biggest selling album of all time album by a female artist in Japan until the release of First Love, Hikaru Utada's debut album, which is now the best selling album ever in the country.
Singles – Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
Namie Amuro
is a Japanese R&B and pop singer, entertainer, and former actress who at the height of her popularity was referred to as the "Teen Queen" and the title "Queen of Japanese Pop Music". Born in Naha, Okinawa, Amuro debuted at the age of 14 as an idol in the girl group Super Monkey's...
's first original studio album under the avex trax
Avex Trax
, listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange as 7860 and abbreviated as AGHD, is the holding company for a group of entertainment-related subsidiaries based in Japan...
label, her first with producer, Tetsuya Komuro
Tetsuya Komuro
, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
, and her second album overall. The success of the album helped Amuro accomplish feats never realized by a solo female artist, and made her one of the most popular and successful Japanese artists of all time. Amuro along with her landmark album, changed the landscape of Japanese pop music influencing everything from music style to performance and even fashion. Some of the effects of this phenomenon can still be felt within today's Japanese music industry.
Context
Amuro had already a great success with the Supers Monkey's, the female group to which she belonged. The album Dance Tracks Vol.1DANCE TRACKS VOL.1
Dance Tracks Vol.1 is Namie Amuro's first and only album with her first record company, Toshiba-EMI. Nine days after Dance Tracks Vol.1 hit stores, she released her first Avex Trax single, "Body Feels Exit" on October 25, 1995...
had sold over two millions copies, her first four solo singles became million sellers and she was hugely popular at the time, so her album was heavily anticipated. Although Sweet 19 Blues is her second album, it is considered as her first studio album because her previous release, (with the Super Monkey's) was rather a remix album than an original album, including only three original songs.
Her previous material was mostly produced by Max Matsuura
Max Matsuura
, better known as Max Matsuura, is a record producer and president of one of the largest music labels in Japan, Avex Group. He is known mainly for discovering and developing new artists and converting them into big stars. Ayumi Hamasaki is the most famous example of Matsuura's work...
(who, in just a couple of years, would produce Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki
is a Japanese singer-songwriter, record producer, model, lyricist, and actress. Also called "Ayu" by her fans, Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" because of her popularity and widespread influence in Japan and throughout Asia. Born and raised in Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo at fourteen to...
), and her first solo single would marked the beginning of the collaboration between Namie and her producer Tetsuya Komuro
Tetsuya Komuro
, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
, who would produce, write and arrange the majority of her music until her 18th single Say the word in 2001.
Singles
The album contains five singles, released between October 1995 and August 1996. They were very successful; four reached the million mark and all hit the top five on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.The first single from the album was the upbeat dance number Body Feels Exit, released only nine days after the Dance Tracks Vol.1 album. Her two previous singles, Taiyou no Season and Stop the music, featured the singer exclusively and the four others members were only credited as backup singers, so although Body Feels Exit can be considered as her third single, it marks her official solo debut. It opened at No. 3 with over 200,000 copies sold in its first week and spent 4 consecutives weeks in the top 10. The single also became the 70th best selling single of 1995 with over 500,000 units purchased that year.
Chase the Chance, the second single, became her first number one and million selling single. It went straight to number one with opening sales similar to those of her previous single. and spent 9 non-consecutive weeks inside the top 10. She also made her first appearance at the annual Kokaku Uta Gassen performing the song.
The album's third single, Don't Wanna Cry, helped her to win the "Grand Prix Award" from the 38th Annual Japan Record Awards. Today, she still remains the youngest artist awarded this prize. The single was a huge success, spending three non-consecutives weeks at No. 1 and reaching sales of over 1,5 million copies in Japan. Don't Wanna Cry is her second most successful single after the ballad Can You Celebrate?. The 13th track of the album, Present, was a b-side to the single. It is not stated on the liner notes of the booklet, but the album version of the song is different from the version included on the Don't Wanna Cry single.
You're My Sunshine, her 4th single, was also a big hit, spending two consecutive weeks at the top spot. The song is mix of dance and gospel and became one of her signature songs.
It became her third consecuitve number one and million selling single, debuting at No. 1 with over 430,000 units purchased. You're my sunshine became the 13th best selling single at the end of the year.
The final single, Sweet 19 Blues, was released as a recut single a month after the album due to popular demand. It did not achieve the success of her previous records but debut at No. 2 with over 100,000 copies sold in its first week and sold about 500,000 units, a great feat for a post-album single. This single also contains an extended version of the interlude Joy. The single version of the song is slightly different from the album version.
Others songs from the album I'll Jump, Private and Let's Do the Motion were not released in a physical format, but were also popular hits across Japan, as they were used as radio singles prior to the release of the album.
Commercial tie-ups and theme songs
Many songs of this album were used as themes songs for movies or dramas and commercials, or were simply used to promote the album itself.Let's Do the Motion was a special avex commercial to promote the album.
Private was the theme song of four ad campaigns for the Nissan cars.
Body Feels Exit, the first single released from the album, was used in eight Taito X-55 TV ads as the image song. Amuro appeared in some of the commercials.
Chase the Chance, the album's second single, was the theme song of the drama the The Chief, that was broadcast on Nihon TV.
Don't Wanna Cry was the CM song of two commercials for the DyDo Mistio Soft drinks. I'll Jump was also used in a commercial for the brand. Amuro appeared herself in the two commercials promoting the brand.
You're my sunshine was the theme song of the three commercials for the Sea Breeze products. The first ad was promoting a sun lotion, the second a shampoo
Shampoo
Shampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair...
and the last a deodorant
Deodorant
Deodorants are substances applied to the body to affect body odor caused by bacterial growth and the smell associated with bacterial breakdown of perspiration in armpits, feet and other areas of the body. A subgroup of deodorants, antiperspirants, affect odor as well as prevent sweating by...
. It was also used in commercial for the "Digital Dance Mix", a video game developed and published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. Namie is the main character of the video game.
Joy was used in a commercial for the Maxell UD2 as its image song.
The title track, Sweet 19 Blues, was choose as theme song of the teenage Japanese movie That's Cunning!: Shijousaidai no Sakusen, which Namie starred in as the lead female role, and was available on the film's soundtrack. The singer appeared at the movie premiere in Japan. The song was also used to promote the Namie Amuro World '96 home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
.
Album packaging
When released, the Japanese edition of the album was available in four different sleeves, which is unique to Amuro's albums . The first three covers were limited 100,000 copies each. Subsequence copies with the fourth sleeve were the regular version. The others editions of the album have a regular cover. Most pictures of the booklet are in black and white.Sales
When the album was released, it debut at the top spot with nearly two millions units purchased in its opening week, which was the largest opening sales for a record at that time.Sweet 19 Blues reached No. 1 in on the Oricon Album Chart with an amazing 1,921,850 copies sold, which is Namie's best first week sales for an album to date and 9th highest opening sales of all time in Japanese music history. The album was also at No. 1 in its second week on stores, but with only over 300,000 units sold. It stayed in the top 10 for nine consecutive weeks and in the top 20 for twelve weeks, selling over 3,3 millions units in Japan during its original chart run including 3 millions in its first two months and over 4 millions copies in total. Sweet 19 Blues is currently Namie's highest selling album and is the 104th million selling album in Japan.
For a brief period in 1996, the album became the biggest selling album of Japanese music history before being outsold by her own producer. Sweet 19 Blues ranked 2nd in 1996 Oricon Yearly Chart after globe
Globe (band)
Globe is a dance-oriented Japanese pop band, formed in 1995 by producer and songwriter Tetsuya Komuro. Originally consisting of Komuro, Keiko Yamada and Marc Panther, the group's singles consistently hit the charts...
(to which Tetsuya Komuro
Tetsuya Komuro
, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...
belongs). This album ranks at 13th for total sales in Japanese music history and 6th best selling album from a Female Solo Artist.
Sweet 19 Blues was the biggest selling album of all time album by a female artist in Japan until the release of First Love, Hikaru Utada's debut album, which is now the best selling album ever in the country.
Track listing
The liner notes included in the album are not clear on who wrote what particular song. As it is presented in the CD booklet, all songs are attributed to Tetsuya Komuro, Cozy Kubo, Akio Togashi, Takahiro Maeda and Randy Waldman as it makes no other distinction otherwise.Personnel
- Namie Amuro – vocals, background vocals
- m.c.A.T – vocals
- Sheila E.Sheila E.Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:...
– backing vocals, percussion - Joey Johnson – backing vocals
- Lynn MabryLynn MabryLynn Mabry is an American vocalist. She got her start in Sly and the Family Stone, along with Dawn Silva. In 1977 she joined P-Funk . The following year Mabry and Silva became the original Brides Of Funkenstein, releasing their first album Funk Or Walk. Lynn became pregnant and left the band in 1979...
– background vocals - Ricky Nelson – background vocals
- Tracy Whitney – background vocals
- Valerie Williams – background vocals
- Kinbara Chieko – stringsString instrumentA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
- Cozy Kubo – keyboard, synthesizer
- Tetsuya Komuro – backing vocals, keyboard, synthesizer
- Kazuhiro Matsuo – guitar
- Tatsuya Murayama – strings
- Raphael Padilla – percussions
- Michael Paulo – saxophone
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar
- Michael Thompson – guitar
Production
- Producers – Tetsuya Komuro, Cozy Kubo
- Mixing – Keith "KC" Cohen
- Vocal Direction – Akihiko Shimizu
- Photography – Itaru Hirama
- Art Direction – Tycoon Graphics
Charts
Album – Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)| Release | Chart | Peak Position | First Week Sales | Sales Total | Chart Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 22, 1996 | Oricon Daily Albums Chart | 1 | |||
| Oricon Weekly Albums Chart | 1 | 1,921,850 | 3,359,420 | 42 weeks | |
| Oricon Yearly Albums Chart | 2 | 4,000,000 |
Singles – Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
| Release | Single | Peak Position | Chart Run | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 25, 1995 | "Body Feels Exit" | 3 | 19 weeks | 881,640 |
| December 4, 1995 | "Chase the Chance" | 1 | 20 weeks | 1,361,710 |
| March 13, 1996 | "Don't Wanna Cry" | 1 | 22 weeks | 1,389,700 |
| June 5, 1996 | "You're My Sunshine" | 1 | 12 weeks | 1,098,520 |
| August 21, 1996 | "Sweet 19 Blues" | 2 | 13 weeks | 452,890 |