Namie Amuro is a retired Japanese singer. She rose to prominence as a teen idol, and transitioned into a leading pop artist due to her versatility across music styles and visual presentation. Due to her career reinventions and longevity, she is known as an icon across Japan and Asia. She has been referred to as the "Queen of Japanese Pop", and her influence domestically has drawn equivalent comparisons to artists such as Janet Jackson and Madonna in Western pop culture.
A Song for ×× is the debut studio album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released on New Year's Day 1999 by Avex Trax. It was entirely written by Hamasaki herself, while the production was handled by Japanese musician Max Matsuura. Primarily a pop rock album, it features musical composition and arrangements by Yasuhiko Hoshino, Mitsuru Igarashi of Every Little Thing fame, and others. The concept of A Song for ××, along with its lyrical content, revolve around the flow of Hamasaki's own time from childhood to the present to the future.
Memorial Address is the debut mini-album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax released the album on December 17, 2003, in both physical and digital formats; it was her first album to be released in CD+DVD format in addition to the regular CD-only format, due to her increased interest in music video direction. The mini-album contains eight songs and features a number of collaborators, including Tetsuya Yukumi, Bounceback, CMJK, and Dai Nagao, among others, with Hamasaki serving as co-composer and songwriter. Memorial Address's musical influences include dance music, electronic, R&B, rock, and alternative metal.
Anna Tsuchiya is a Japanese singer, actress and semi-retired model. Since 2005, she is primarily known as a singer.
Sweet 19 Blues is the second studio album by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released through Avex Trax on July 22, 1996. It is Amuro's first release with the label since leaving Toshiba-EMI, as well as her first album free of material associated with her previous band, Super Monkey's. Sweet 19 Blues was executive produced by Tetsuya Komuro and features a diverse group of collaborators, including Cozy Kubo, Akio Togashi, Takahiro Maeda, M.c.A.T, and Randy Waldman.
Yuna Ito is an American-born former pop singer and actress who was active in Japan.
"Love (Destiny)" (stylized as "LOVE ~Destiny~") is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, serving as the second single for her second studio album, Loveppears (1999). It was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Taiwan on April 14, 1999, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008. The track was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Three versions of the recording have been made available—a ballad version arranged by Tsunku, an edited version with vocals by Tsunku, and a dance-influenced version included on Loveppears.
"To Be" is a song by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It served as the third single from Hamasaki's second studio album Loveppears (1999). The track was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Taiwan on May 12, 1999, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008. It was Hamasaki's final single to be distributed as a Mini-CD, a format that debuted at the start of her career in April 1998. "To Be" was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Musically, it is a J-Pop that was written in third person perspective, much like the content from the parent album.
"A Walk in the Park" is the eighth single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro from her third studio album Concentration 20 (1997). The song was released as the album's lead single on November 27, 1996, by Avex Trax. It was written, composed and produced by Tetsuya Komuro. The song is an electronic rock track, which features instrumentation from guitars, synthesizers, organs, keyboards and drums. Lyrically, it explores themes of loneliness, longing, and the desire for connection.
"I Have Never Seen" is the twelfth single by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released by Avex Trax on December 23, 1998, as the lead single to her fourth studio album Genius 2000 (2000). The song was written and composed solely by Tetsuya Komuro. It was the first single released after Amuro's return from her yearlong maternity leave, and was released approximately one week before her well-publicized official comeback at the 49th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen. Musically, the song is a melancholic power ballad.
Nana 2 is a 2006 Japanese drama film directed by Kentarō Ōtani and adapted from the manga by Ai Yazawa. It is the sequel to the 2005 film Nana. Production for the movie began in mid-September and only one and a half month shootings finished the movie in time for the December 9, 2006 release.
"Wish/Starless Night" is Olivia's 10th single, and is her second single to be released under the name Olivia Lufkin Inspired by Reira (Trapnest). It was released on CD and CD&DVD on October 11, 2006. The two title tracks were recorded specifically for the Nana anime. "Wish" was used as the second opening theme and "Starless Night" was used as the second ending theme to the show. "Wish/Starless Night" is currently Olivia's highest debuting single, at #7 on the Oricon weekly charts.
D&D was a Japanese eurobeat idol group, featuring vocalist Olivia, and dancers Chikano and Aya. They debuted in 1996 with the single "In Your Eyes," and disbanded in 1999. Vocalist Olivia debuted as a solo musician in 1999, and sung several theme songs for the anime Nana in 2006.
Olivia Inspi' Reira (Trapnest), is the third album by Japanese singer-songwriter Olivia Lufkin. It was released on February 28, 2007 and features original songs and singles from the anime, Nana, for which she serves as the song vocal-cast of Reira of Trapnest. It includes two live versions of "A Little Pain" and "Wish" in addition to a previously unpublished song.
Nana Best is a special compilation album featuring the combined words of Anna Tsuchiya and Olivia used in the first season of the Nana anime. The album was released in two versions, CD+DVD and the low priced CD only version. The albums were released only one month after the release of two full-albums dedicated solely to one singer each's work for the anime respectively. The first press of the CD+DVD version includes a special Nana mouse pad as well as a "skeleton"-style sleeve package. The best album features five tracks that solely appear on the best album, namely "Stand By Me" - the fifth ED theme for Nana by Anna Tsuchiya, Tsuchiya's cover of the Sex Pistols`s Anarchy in the U.K., a "Studio Live Version" of Tsuchiya's Lucy, a new song from Olivia called "Nothing's Gonna Take My Love" and finally a live recording of the song "Recorded Butterflies" by Olivia. The DVD features all of the opening and ending sequences used in Nana without credits overtop of them, as well as four "original animation" clips set to music throughout the show. This album was released one week before the airing of the final episode of the first season of the Nana anime.
Play is the eighth studio album by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released on June 27, 2007, by Avex Trax and was made available in both physical and digital formats. Following the success of her previous album, Queen of Hip-Pop (2005), Amuro enlisted long-time collaborators Nao'ymt and T. Kura to produce the album. Play, like its predecessor, is an urban contemporary record with elements of pop music, rock and dance-pop. Lyrically, the record explores themes of love, frustration, and relationships.
Dolce is the sixth studio album Japanese singer Ami Suzuki. Avex Trax released it in Japan on February 6, 2008, in a variety of formats. Max Matsuura executive produced Dolce, and is the second and final instalment of her "Join" series, which follows her previous album Connetta (2007). The "Join" series features a number of different producers and artists who worked together on various tracks from the album and appear as featured artists. Musically, Dolce is an upbeat dance record with house and j-pop influences.
A Complete: All Singles is a greatest hits album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax released it on September 10, 2008 in a variety of formats, and was created to commemorate the singer's tenth anniversary since the release of her 1998 single "Poker Face". The album is divided into three sections, each highlighting a single released by Hamasaki from her debut in 1998 to her most recent single, "Talkin' 2 Myself" in 2007. Additionally, the compilation includes two new songs: the stand-alone single "Mirrorcle World" and a re-recorded version of "Who...".
Supreme Show is the seventh studio album by Japanese singer Ami Suzuki. Avex Trax distributed it in CD and DVD formats on November 12, 2008. It was released ten months after her previous studio album, Dolce, and was promoted to commemorate the singer's tenth career anniversary. Yasutaka Nakata, who had previously appeared as a featured artist and produced on Dolce, handled the album in its entirety. Crafted to re-invent her sound and image, Supreme Show is an electronic album with additional dance notes, and includes tracks in English and Japanese language.
"Super Music Maker" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist and songwriter Ami Suzuki, for her sixth studio album Dolce (2008) and a re-recorded version for her seventh album Supreme Show (2008). Featuring Japanese record producer and Capsule member Yasutaka Nakata, the song was released as the lead single and double a-side single with "Free Free" from Dolce on August 22, 2007 through Avex Trax. Nakata had written, produced and arranged both tracks and is her first single to be handled by Nakata following later singles from her album Supreme Show (2008). Backed by synthesizers and keyboards, "Free Free" incorporates a new genre called "Eropop" with influences of electronic dance, house and disco music. The lyrical interpretation was based on the theme of erotica and freedom.
