Checkmate! (album)

Last updated

Checkmate!
CheckmateCD.jpg
CD only edition cover
Compilation album by
Namie Amuro
ReleasedApril 27, 2011 (2011-04-27)
Recorded2003–2011
Genre
Length58:04
Language
  • Japanese
  • English
Label Avex Trax
Producer
  • Takashi Kasuga (exec.)
  • Shinji Hayashi (exec.)
  • Shintaro Higuchi
  • Hisahiko Iida
  • Rui Maeda
Namie Amuro chronology
Past<Future
(2009)		Checkmate!
(2011)		 Uncontrolled
(2012)
Singles from Checkmate!
  1. "Wonder Woman"
    Released: March 9, 2011 (2011-03-09)
  2. "Make It Happen"
    Released: April 20, 2011 (2011-04-20)
  3. "#1"
    Released: April 27, 2011 (2011-04-27)
  4. "Unusual"
    Released: May 4, 2011 (2011-05-04)

Checkmate! is a collaboration album by Japanese singer Namie Amuro, featuring a collection of her collaborations with other musicians released between 2003 and 2011, as well as four new collaborations. [1] The album was released on April 27, 2011, about one month after its original release date, due to 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. [2] [3]

Contents

Two songs were released as digital downloads prior to the album, "Wonder Woman" in early March prior to the album's postponement, as well as "Make It Happen" on April 20, a week before the album's release.

Background and development

The album was first conceived after Amuro had finished her tour for her 2009 album Past<Future. [4] Many of the collaborators on the album worked on multiple tracks. Amuro collaborated with Verbal on five songs: "Wet'N Wild" (producer), "Black Out", "Luvotomy" (rapper, songwriter), "Rock U" (lyricist) and on the hidden track, which is a remix of Amuro's single "Want Me, Want Me" (2005) with additional rapping by Verbal. Ai collaborated with Amuro "Do What U Gotta Do," "Fake" and one of the new songs, "Wonder Woman." Two songs are from Zeebra albums, "After Party" (2003) and "Do What U Gotta Do" (2006). Taku Takahashi contributed on "Luvotomy" (trackmaker) and "Rock U" (co-trackmaker). Double, other than the duet "Black Diamond," wrote the Japanese lyrics to "Make It Happen." [5]

For "Wonder Woman," Amuro asked Ai and Tsuchiya to collaborate with her, as she wanted to create a strong song with a chorus of female vocalists. [6] Amuro felt that she had worked with Ai so many times in the past that a collaboration with her could not go wrong. [4] "Make It Happen" is South Korean group After School's first Japanese release. [6] Amuro stated that she had taken notice of the K-pop scene for some time. [6] For the project, Amuro's staff gave her a list of possible Korean collaborators. Due to her enjoying After School member Uee's performance in the Korean drama You're Beautiful , she decided on the group. [4] The song was written by Swedish and North American writers Jörgen Elofsson, Erik Lidbom and Bonnie McKee, and was originally titled "Shallow." [5]

The collaboration with Kaname Kawabata of the R&B vocal duo Chemistry started when the two became friends after being introduced through a mutual friend. [6] For the album, Amuro wanted to create a dance/song music video with a male artist. While appearing on a music show in Summer 2010 to promote her single "Break It/Get Myself Back," Johnny & Associates idol Tomohisa Yamashita was featured on the same program, and Amuro was impressed with his performance of "One in a Million," which inspired the idea for the collaboration. [6]

Promotion and release

"Rock U" was used in television commercials for the Activision game Call of Duty: Black Ops from November 2010 onwards, seven and a half months after its release. [7] The song was also one of two songs broadcast exclusively on MTV Japan to promote Amuro's DVD Namie Amuro Past<Future Tour 2010, and was broadcast solely on January 11 and 12, 2011. [8]

Two nationwide commercial campaigns featured Amuro at the time of release. "Wonder Woman" was used in the Coca-Cola Zero Wild Race commercial campaign in Japan, the fourth set of commercials to feature Amuro as the spokesperson for the brand, with commercials first airing on February 13. [9] During album promotions, Amuro was also featured as the first spokesperson for cosmetic firm Kosé's Esprique range. The commercials began airing in late March, and featured "Naked," a song on her first single to be released after the album. [10] "Make It Happen" was used as background music for two commercials: one for Sharp's au 1S05 cellphone, and another for Recochoku. [11]

Three of the four new songs on album were released as ringtones prior to the album's release: "Wonder Woman" on February 16, "Make It Happen" on February 23 and "Unusual" on March 9. [12] [13] [14] Amuro was featured in several fashion magazines during album promotions, including Gisele, Ray, S Cawaii, Sweet and Vivi . [15] On June 25, 2011, Amuro attended the 2011 MTV Video Music Aid Japan award ceremony, performing "Wonder Woman" with Ai and Anna Tsuchiya. This was the first performance of the song, [16] as well as the first performance of any of the new songs from the album.

Promotional singles

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Black Diamond" (2008)
Amuro's collaboration with Double was extremely successful digitally, being certified by the RIAJ as a double platinum ringtone and as a gold cellphone download in 2008. [17] [18]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Wonder Woman" featuring singer/rapper Ai and rock musician Anna Tsuchiya was the first song released in promotion of the album, released as full-length a cellphone download on March 9. [19] The song had earlier debuted on radio, during J-Wave's Groove Line Z program on February 17. [20] Before the album's release, the song has received mid-level radio play, allowing it to reach number 47 on Billboard 's Japan Hot 100 chart. [21] During the week of the album's release, however, increased airplay as well as downloads on iTunes Japan made the song peak at number five. [22]

The song received a larger response on adult alternative radio stations in Japan, as shown by the song reaching number 2 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Airplay chart, when in the same time period only reaching number 5 on the general airplay chart. [23] [24] The song debuted at number 5 on the Recording Industry Association of Japan's cellphone download chart in the special two-week postponed chart that was released due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. [25] All three musicians billed in the song appeared on the cover of fashion magazine S Cawaii's April issue, in promotion of the single. [26] "Make It Happen" was released digitally to cellphones on April 20, a week before the album's release. [27] On RIAJ's digital track chart, the song debuted at number ten. [28] "#1" received a digital release simultaneous with the album's release date, however, "Unusual" was released a week after the album, on May 4. [29]

Music videos

Four MVs for the new songs were filmed, which were released to music video channels in February and March. On MTV Japan, an hour's length episode of MTV A Class was dedicated to these, which was first aired on March 19. [15] "Wonder Woman" was the first video to be released, and was debuted on Space Shower on February 18. [30] "Make It Happen" was debuted on online streaming service GyaO! on February 17, and was debuted on TV on MTV Japan on February 21. [31] [32] "#1" was first aired on March 9 as a Space Shower exclusive video. [33] A Music video for unusual was made March 9, 2011. It begins with Yamashita Tomohisa in a white jacket then it disappears by its own fire affect. Throughout the music video, Namie and Yamashita Tomohisa dance together, there are affections what make new scenes, the video ends with namie in the white jacket. This video was reported that it was filmed February 28, 2011, to March 1, 2011.

The songs "Black Diamond," "Do What U Gotta Do" and "Fake" already had music videos filmed for their respective releases. The music videos for these songs were put on the CD+DVD edition of the album. A music video for "Black Out" was shot in mid February by Parisian direction team Division, but due to the aftermath of 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the music video remains unaired. [34] [35]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Hot Express(favorable) [36]
Listen Japan(favorable) [37]
What's In?(favorable) [38]

Jun Watanabe of What's In? described the album as "...vividly transmitting artistic power and cool beauty." He believed that the work challenged forefronts in R&B, hip-hop, electropop and rock, without diminishing Amuro's personality. [38] Tetsuo Hiraga of Hot Express was extremely positive on the album, feeling that it "explodes massively with personality and talent." Hiraga felt that Amuro's music had the ability to make the listener forget Tomohisa Yamashita's idol status, and to express his "cool and sexy vocals." When listening to Kaname Kawabata's voice in "#1," he could have been fooled that he was listening to American R&B music. Hiraga quoted Amuro on her thoughts on the album, and how she simply said that she "wants to do cool things." He felt like with such pure and innocent sentiment, only the greatest music could be made. [36] Listen Japan's Morio Mori called the four new songs "perfect tunes," and called the album a "project that couldn't get any more wonderful." [37]

Commercial performance

In Japan, the album debuted at number one on physical data provider Oricon 's daily album charts, selling 93,000 copies—85,000 more than her closest competitor, Hideaki Tokunaga with Vocalist & Ballade Best. [39] In its first week, the album debuted at number one, selling a total of 253,000 copies. [40] The album charted at number one for two consecutive weeks. [41] [42] Checkmate! debuted at number one on Oricon's monthly charts, despite only one week of charting counting to the April monthly chart. The album sold more than double the second place holder for the month, Kazumasa Oda's Dōmo. [43] Halfway through the 2011 Oricon year, the album was the third most sold. [44] On the Taiwanese G-Music charts, the album debuted at number six, the second highest debut of the week after Rachel Liang's third album, Soul Mate. [45] The album debuted at number one on the international sub-chart, as well as the East Asian sub-chart. [46] [47]

Many songs on the album have charted on Japanese music charts, due to their release in promotion for either their original works, or Checkmate!.

Song charting positions
YearTitleChart positionsSales Certifications
JPN
[48] 		JPN Hot
[49] 		JPN RIAJ
[50]
2008"Black Diamond"—306*—
  • Double platinum (ringtones) [17]
  • Gold (full-length cellphone downloads) [18]
2009"Rock U"—6180—
2010"Fake"85416,110 [48]
  • Gold (full-length cellphone downloads) [51]
2011"Wonder Woman"—55—
  • Gold (full-length cellphone downloads) [52]
"Make It Happen"—7310—
"Unusual"——12—
"#1"——57—

*Charted on monthly ringtone chart

Track listing

CD
No.TitleLyricsMusicFeatured ArtistLength
1."Wonder Woman"Tiger, Marek Pompetzki, Paul NZA, Chantal Kreviazuk, Tanya LaceyTiger, M. Pompetzki, P. NZA, C. Kreviazuk, T. Lacey Anna Tsuchiya 3:10
2."Unusual"Nao'ymtNao'ymt Tomohisa Yamashita (from NEWS)4:25
3."Make It Happen" Double, Jörgen Elofsson, Erik Lidbom, Bonnie McKee Double, J. Elofsson, E. Lidbom, B. McKee After School 3:17
4."Rock U" (from Ravex's album Trax (2009))VerbalRavex Ravex 4:13
5."Do What U Gotta Do" (from Zeebra's album The New Beginning (2006))Zeebra, Ai, Mummy-D Ai, Zeebra Zeebra, Ai and Mummy-D 5:04
6."Wet'N Wild" (from Heartsdales's album Sugar Shine (2003))HeartsdalesDaisuke Imai Heartsdales and Suite Chic 4:58
7."Do or Die" (from Jhett's album Jhett (2005))MichicoJhett, MichicoJhett4:07
8."Fake" (from Ai's album The Last Ai (2010))AiGeorge TashiroAi4:18
9."#1"Tiger, Christopher Rojas, Curtis Richardson, Charlie Vox, Amos Winbush Christopher Rojas (RMI)Kaname Kawabata (from Chemistry)3:22
10."Black Out" (from Verbal's album Visionair (2011)) Minami Verbal, Minami, Major Dude, Jermaine Dupri Verbal and Lil Wayne 3:46
11."Black Diamond" (from Double's album The Best Collaboration (2008))DoubleDouble, Uta, Ryōsuke Imai Double 4:04
12."Luvotomy" (from M-Flo's album Cosmicolor (2007))M-Flo, Emi Hinouchi M-Flo M-Flo 5:14
13."After Party" (from Zeebra's album Tokyo Finest (2003))Zeebra, R. Imai, DJ Ken-BoFirstklas (Zeebra, R. Imai)Zeebra4:55
14."Want Me, Want Me" (hidden track)MichicoMichico, Sugi-VVerbal3:09
Total length:58:04
DVD: Music video
No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Wonder Woman"Hideaki Sunaga 
2."Unusual"Shigeaki Kubo 
3."Make It Happen"Kubo 
4."#1"Kensuke Kawamura 
5."Fake"Ugichin 
6."Black Diamond"Kubo 
7."Do What U Gotta Do"Kenji Sonoda 

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from Checkmate!'s liner notes booklet. [53]

Managerial

Performance credits

Visuals and imagery

Technical and production

Charts

Sales and certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [55] 2× Platinum495,719 [56]

Release history

RegionDateFormatDistributing Label
Japan April 27, 2011 [3] CD, CD+DVD, digital download Avex Trax
Taiwan April 29, 2011 [57] CD, CD+DVD Avex Taiwan
South Korea May 4, 2011 [58] CD+DVD S.M. Entertainment
Hong Kong May 6, 2011 [59] CD, CD+DVD Avex Asia
JapanMay 14, 2011 [1] Rental CDAvex Trax
ThailandDecember 23, 2011 [60] CD GMM Grammy
JapanJune 27, 2012 [61] PlaybuttonAvex Trax
September 16, 2012 [62] CD (low price edition)

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References

  1. 1 2 "Checkmate!/安室奈美恵". Tsutaya. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  2. ↑ エイベックス発売延期商品の新リリース日が決定 [New release dates for postponed Avex releases]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). April 6, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "[CD] [CD] Best Collaboration Album「Checkmate!」 [CD+DVD] / 安室奈美恵". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 Kanako Hayakawa (April 21, 2011). 安室奈美恵インタビュー [Namie Amuro Interview] (in Japanese). Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "作品コード 1C0-3080-9 MAKE IT HAPPEN". JASRAC (in Japanese). Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "安室奈美恵、今度は山下智久、AI&土屋アンナ、川畑 要、AFTERSCHOOLとコラボ" [Namie Amuro, this time collaborating with Ai & Anna Tsuchiya, Kaname Kawabata, Afterschool]. Barks (in Japanese). February 17, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ "安室奈美恵:ravex楽曲「ROCK U feat.安室奈美恵」が「コール オブ デューティ ブラック オプス」のTV-CM曲に!!" [Namie Amuro: Ravex song "Rock U feat. Namie Amuro" used in Call of Duty: Black Ops TV CM!!]. Vision Factory (in Japanese). November 11, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  8. ↑ "LIVE映像「ROCK U」が、MTV exclusive決定!" [Live Footage of "Rock U" for an MTV exclusive!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  9. ↑ "「コカ・コーラ ゼロ」新TV-CMソングにAI&土屋アンナとのコラボ新曲が決定!" [New Coca-Cola Zero commercial song a collaboration song with Ai and Anna Tsuchiya!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  10. ↑ 安室奈美恵、瞬きひとつでドラマティックを表現 [Namie Amuro, expressing dramatic with a single shimmer]. Oricon (in Japanese). March 24, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  11. ↑ "make it happen". Recochoku (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  12. ↑ "レコチョク独占先行!着うた(R)配信決定!" [Recochoku exclusive advanced release! Ringtone download announced!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  13. ↑ "『make it happen / 安室奈美恵 feat.AFTERSCHOOL』、 早くもレコチョク独占先行着うた(R)配信決定!" ["Make It Happen / Namie Amuro feat. Afterschool" early Recochoku-exclusive ringtone download announced!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  14. ↑ "「UNUSUAL / 安室奈美恵 feat.山下智久」着うた(R)着うた先行配信決定!" ["Unusual / Namie Amuro feat. Tomohisa Yamashita" ringtone download announced!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  15. 1 2 "Media Schedule". Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  16. ↑ アジアの歌姫も負けない 安室奈美恵はＡＩ＆土屋アンナと競演 [Even Asian divas can't give up, Namie Amuro vocal contest with Ai and Anna Tsuchiya]. Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). June 26, 2011. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  17. 1 2 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 (in Japanese). August 20, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  18. 1 2 レコード協会調べ 6月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：6月度認定＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). July 20, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  19. ↑ "着うた(R)フル、先行配信スタート!" [Chaku-uta Full preceding download start!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  20. ↑ "「Wonder Woman / 安室奈美恵 feat.AI＆土屋アンナ」ラジオ解禁決定!" ["Wonder Woman / Namie Amuro feat. Ai & Anna Tsuchiya" radio release!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). May 2, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). May 9, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Japan Billboard Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard Japan. May 4, 2011. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Hot Top Airplay". Billboard Japan. May 4, 2011. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  25. ↑ "レコード協会調べ 2011年03月09日～2011年03月22日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association Analysis: March 9, 2011 – March 22, 2011 (Abbreviated: RIAJ Chart ('Full-length Cellphone Downloads'))]. RIAJ. March 25, 2011. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  26. ↑ "安室×AI×土屋アンナの豪華コラボ、ファッション誌表紙を飾る" [Amuro x Ai x Anna Tsuchiya's wonderful collaboration, decorating fashion magazine cover]. Oricon Beauty (in Japanese). March 1, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  27. ↑ "安室奈美恵『Checkmate!』より、AFTERSCHOOLとのコラボ曲・着うたフル（R）配信が決定" [Afterschool collaboration song from Namie Amuro's Checkmate full-length cellphone release!]. CDJournal (in Japanese). April 19, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  28. ↑ "レコード協会調べ 2011年04月20日～2011年04月26日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association Analysis: April 20, 2011 – April 26, 2011 (Abbreviated: RIAJ Chart ('Full-length Cellphone Downloads'))]. RIAJ. March 25, 2011. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  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 download (single) ranking (#1-#5)]. Recochoku (in Japanese). May 5, 2011. Archived from the original on March 18, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  30. ↑ "『Wonder Woman』ミュージックビデオ、独占オンエア決定!" ["Wonder Woman" music video, exclusive on air decision!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  31. ↑ "「GyaO!」で『make it happen』ミュージックビデオ独占先行試聴スタート!" ["Make It Happen" music video exclusive start on GyaO!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). February 17, 2011. Archived from the original on April 27, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  32. ↑ "「make it happen」が『MTV exclusive』に決定!" ["Make It Happen" as an MTV exclusive!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  33. ↑ "『#1 / 安室奈美恵 feat. 川畑 要 (CHEMISTRY)』がSSTV独占放送決定!" ["#1 / Namie Amuro feat. Kaname Kawabata (Chemistry)" SSTV exclusive broadcast!]. Avex Marketing (in Japanese). 2011. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  34. ↑ ""BLACK OUT" feat. Lil Wayne & Namie Amuro". Verbal (in Japanese). February 14, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  35. ↑ "パリからPV の撮影チーム到着!" [Filming crew for the music video have arrived from Paris!]. Verbal (in Japanese). February 14, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  36. 1 2 Tetsuo Hiraga (April 27, 2011). 安室奈美恵＝共演者の魅力を極限まで引き上げる天才 [Namie Amuro=genius weaving co-star charm to the limit] (in Japanese). Hot Express. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  37. 1 2 Morio Mori (April 28, 2011). "新譜レビュー > 安室奈美恵/Checkmate!" (in Japanese). Listen Japan. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  38. 1 2 Jun Watanabe. "DISC REVIEW Checkmate! by 安室奈美恵" (in Japanese). What's In?. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  39. ↑ "アルバム デイリーランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング" [Album Daily Ranking - Oricon Style Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. April 27, 2011. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  40. 1 2 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.
  41. ↑ パスポ☆快挙！メジャーデビュー１位発進 [Passpo's brilliant achievement! Major debut takes off at number one] (in Japanese). News24. May 10, 2011. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  42. ↑ "安室奈美恵のコラボベスト『Checkmate!』、2週連続1位" (in Japanese). Barks. May 10, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  43. 1 2 "アルバム 月間ランキング-ORICON STYLE ランキング" [Album Monthly Ranking – Oricon Style Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. May 4, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  44. ↑ "上半期ランキング特集 アルバム TOP 50" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 22, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  45. 1 2 "G-Music 風雲榜 (綜合榜)" [G-Music Billboard (Combo)] (in Chinese). G-Music. May 6, 2011. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  46. 1 2 "G-Music 風雲榜 (外語榜)" [G-Music Billboard (Foreign Language)] (in Chinese). G-Music. May 6, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  47. ↑ "G-Music 風雲榜 (東洋榜)" [G-Music Billboard (East Asian)] (in Chinese). G-Music. May 6, 2011. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  48. 1 2 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon . Retrieved April 26, 2011. (subscription only)
  49. ↑ "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011.
  50. ↑ 有料音楽配信チャート (in Japanese). RIAJ.
  51. ↑ レコード協会調べ 5月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：5月度認定＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). June 20, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  52. ↑ レコード協会調べ 5月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：5月度認定＞ [Record Association report: May digital music download certifications (Abbreviation: May Certifications)]. RIAJ (in Japanese). June 20, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2011.
  53. ↑ Checkmate! (Media notes) (in Japanese). Namie Amuro. Tokyo, Japan: Avex Marketing. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  54. ↑ "2011年のCDアルバム年間ランキング" [2011 Album Yearly Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2011. Archived from the original on August 8, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  55. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – 安室奈美恵 – Checkmate!" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved January 31, 2021.Select 2011年05月 on the drop-down menu
  56. ↑ "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 May 24, 2012. (subscription only)
  57. ↑ "全面征服! (CD+DVD)" (in Chinese). Avex Taiwan. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  58. ↑ "YES24 – [음반]Amuro Namie – Checkmate!" (in Korean). Yes24. Retrieved April 26, 2011.
  59. ↑ "Checkmate! (ALBUM+DVD)(Hong Kong Version)". Yesasia. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  60. ↑ "Namie Amuro : CheckMate". Boomerang Shop. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  61. ↑ "[グッズ] Checkmate! [PLAYBUTTON] [初回限定生産]". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved July 15, 2012.
  62. ↑ "[CD] Best Collaboration Album「Checkmate!」 [数量限定生産盤/廉価盤] / 安室奈美恵". Neowing (in Japanese). Retrieved September 8, 2012.
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