Evolution (Ayumi Hamasaki song)

Last updated
"Evolution"
Evolution (Ayumi Hamasaki single - cover art).png
Single by Ayumi Hamasaki
from the album I Am...
ReleasedJanuary 31, 2001
Recorded2000
Genre
Length1:02:02
Label Avex Trax
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Max Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki singles chronology
"M"
(2000)
"Evolution"
(2001)
"Never Ever"
(2001)
Official Music Video
"Evolution" on YouTube

"Evolution" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist and lyricist Ayumi Hamasaki, released on January 31, 2001, as the second single from her fourth studio album I Am... (2002).

Contents

"Evolution" is a pop rock and alternative rock song with a ballad-esque intro. The song was fully written and composed by Hamasaki herself, under her penned alias Crea. Lyrically, the song talks about happy and sad moments in life. Upon the song's release, "Evolution" received favorable reviews from most music critics who commended the song's musical production and lyrical content, while Hamasaki's vocal delivery received criticism.

Commercially, the song was a commercial success. The song peaked at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, making it her eighth number one single. After selling over 950,000 units in Japan, the song was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of one million units. The song has sold over one million units worldwide. An accompanying music video was shot by Wataru Takeishi for the single version, which featured Hamasaki inside a televised studio, singing and dancing in front of a live band.

Background

In late 2000, Hamasaki listened to ten or so demos for her song "M", but none of them really stood out to her. To speed up the development process, she decided to compose her own song for the first time under the pseudonym CREA. [1] She wrote the song using her Mac computer's composing software "Vision". [1] The single received favorable reception from most music critics and achieved huge success in Japan; the song peaked at number one and sold over one million units in Japan by RIAJ. [upper-alpha 1] [2] [3]

To follow up on the success off the single, "Evolution" was selected as the follow-up single just one month later, which she also took charge in composing herself. Hamasaki said that she chose an aggressive sound for the song due to people labelling her as robot’ or ‘doll’ before. [1]

Composition and release

"Evolution" was written by Hamasaki herself, like the rest off the I Am... album and produced by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. [4] "Evolution" was one out of twelve songs on the parent album to have been composed by her, which was first asserted on "M" after her staff failed to compose a musical composition that she had felt conformable with or suited her songs. [5] The song's arrangement was handled by HΛL, who contributed to arranging the songs "M" and "Unite!" on the parent album. [4] Musically, the song is a pop rock and alternative rock song with a ballad-esque intro, which was heavily compared towards another album track "Unite!". [6] The song's "ballad-inspired intro" was noted as "deceiving" and features Hamasaki "singing way too fast in her choruses" [6]

For the cover artwork, the sleeve was shot by Shinichi Hara, art design was handled by Shigeru Kasai and was officially directed by Yasuyuki Tomita. [7] The cover artwork features Hamasaki holding a microphone and features the text of the single name inprinted with the American flag inside it. [7] The CD single off "Evolution" was released on January 31, 2001, by Avex Trax and was eventually released digitally worldwide. [7] In addition towards the physical release, the single was served on a vinyl release by Rhythm Republic records in Japan, a bonus DVD release and also released a limited edition VHS tape. [8] [9] [10]

Reception

Critical reception

"Evolution" received favorable reviews from most music critics. Jeff from Random.Access.Reviews had compared both "Evolution" and "Unite!" for sharing similar music structures. He commented "["UNITE!"] brings more J-rock to the forefront, as does ["Evolution"], eventually sounding just like each other [...]" Jeff commented that while the choruses were too fast and powerful, he did conclude "evolution" is a bit more catchy and poppy though, so I'll recommend that one." [6] Greenberg, who had written the extended biography of Hamasaki on the same website, had listed "Evolution" as one of her career standouts. [11] Hamasaki had hosted an online voting poll for fans to choose their favorite tracks to be featured on her Ayumi Hamasaki 15th Anniversary Tour ~Best Live Tour~. As a result, all three songs from H were featured on the list. [12]

Commercial response

Commercially, the song was a success. "Evolution" debuted at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, which became Hamasaki's eighth number one in Japan since her 1999 single "Love (Destiny)" which became her first number one. [13] Initial sales exceeded 500,000 copies, just like the previous work, with 503,020 copies sold. [14] During the same charting week, Hamasaki's single "M" was at number eight. [15] During the single's second charting week, it fell to number three with 180,630 copies sold, being stalled by KinKi Kids' single "Boku no Senaka ni wa Hane ga Aru" and Mai Kuraki's single "Tsumetai Umi/Start in My Life" at number one and two respectively, and had stalled at number three for two consecutive weeks. [16] [17] The song stayed inside the top forty for eleven weeks, and fell to number forty-five in its twelfth week. [18] The song had left the top fifty and the single's last charting position was at number 100 on its seventeenth week. [19] Two other of Hamasaki's singles featured on that last week, which were "Unite!" and "Endless sorrow".

"Evolution" sold over 950,000 units in Japan and was certified Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for shipments off one million units within the country. [20] The song was also certified gold by RIAJ for more than 100,000 legal downloads in July 2014, which equivalently tallies the sales to over one million sales in Japan, as of July 2014. [21] "Evolution" became Hamasaki's best selling single in 2001 onwards until it was surpassed by her 2002 EP H , which also charted at number one and was the only release in 2002 to sell over one million units. [22] As of today, "Evolution" is Hamasaki's sixth best selling single in her musical career just behind H at five, "Boys & Girls" at four, "M" at three, "Seasons" at two and "A" at one. [23]

In 2014, "Evolution" had charted on the Japan Billboard Adult Alternative chart at number 70, thirteen years later after the single's release. [24] [25]

Promotion

Still from the music video showing Hamasaki being directed on set. Evolutionmusic vide.jpg
Still from the music video showing Hamasaki being directed on set.

The music video for "Evolution" was directed by Wataru Takeishi. [26] The video starts with Hamasaki being driven to the video shoot for "Evolution". Upon arrival, she is helped out of the limo by her bodyguard. Throughout the video, both filming and music production equipment can be seen. At various points, Hamasaki can be seen dancing while singing into a wireless microphone; there are also points in the video where she is seen as a hologram, and places in the video where she is seen being directed by the on-set director and given touch-ups throughout filming. There are also parts in the video where various staff members, such as film crew, other staff members—including a band used for the video. For the shoot, she cut her long hair short and wore a fox tail on her outfit, which became a hot topic. [27]

"Evolution" was used in a TV commercial for a Kosé Visee mascara featuring Ayumi herself. [28] In 2012, it was used as the theme song for the Japanese film Helter Skelter that starred Erika Sawajiri. [29]

Track listing

Single

  1. Evolution "Original Mix" - 4:42
  2. Evolution "Dub's Floor Remix Transport 004" - 7:38
  3. Evolution "DJ Remo-Con Remix" - 8:44
  4. End of the World "Laugh & Peace Mix" - 6:54
  5. Evolution "Boom Bass Ayumix" - 4:06
  6. Evolution "Oriental Hot Spa" - 7:18
  7. Surreal "Nicely Nice Electron '00 remix" - 5:02
  8. Evolution "Huge Terrestrial Birth Mix" - 5:22
  9. Evolution "Law Is Q mix" - 7:33
  10. Evolution "Original Mix: Instrumental" - 4:41

Video single

  1. "Evolution" PV
  2. "TV-CM SPOT"
  3. "~Making of - Off shot flash~"

Live performances

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [33]
Physical single
3× Platinum955,250 [34]
Japan (RIAJ) [35]
Digital single
Gold100,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. "M" received a 3× Platinum certification for 1,200,000 copies, however the 3× Platinum threshold was redefined as 750,000 copies in 2003.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rule/Sparkle</span> 2009 single by Ayumi Hamasaki

"Rule"/"Sparkle" is a double A-side single by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki from her tenth studio album, Next Level (2009). The song was released on a CD and DVD format on February 25, 2009 as the second single from the album. With "Rule" composed by Miki Wantanabe and "Sparkle" composed by Kazuhiro Hara, both songs were written by Hamasaki and produced by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. "Rule" was used as the international theme song for the 2009 film Dragonball Evolution.

<i>Next Level</i> (Ayumi Hamasaki album) 2009 studio album by Ayumi Hamasaki

Next Level is the tenth studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released through Avex Trax on March 25, 2009 in five physical formats, and for digital consumption. The album was solely produced by Avex Trax owner Max Matsuura, whereas the album's content was written by Hamasaki herself. Additionally, it marks a return for several composers that helped construct her previous records, including Dai Nagao, CMJK, Kazuhiro Hara, HΛL, amongst others. Stylistically, Next Level is a departure from her previous albums, focusing on electronic music with elements of rock and dance.

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