"So Crazy" | ||||
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Single by Namie Amuro | ||||
from the album Style | ||||
A-side | "Come" | |||
Released | October 16, 2003 | |||
Recorded | 2002–2003 | |||
Studio | On Air Azabu Studios (Tokyo) | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 4:34 | |||
Label | Avex Trax | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Cobra Endo | |||
Namie Amuro singles chronology | ||||
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"So Crazy" is a song by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released on October 16, 2003, by Avex Trax, and serves as the fourth and final single from her sixth studio album, Style (2003). Furthermore, all physical and digital formats included an additional A-side titled "Come," which appears on the parent album. "So Crazy" was written by Full Force, Jennifer "JJ" Johnson, Michico, and Tiger, and produced by Cobra Endo.
"So Crazy" is a love song that incorporates elements of hip-hop and R&B music. Music critics praised "So Crazy" for its urban sound, drawing parallels with Western music and influences. To promote the song, Japanese cosmetics company Lucido-L used it as their commercial theme. However, the single performed moderately in Japan, reaching number eight on the Oricon Singles Chart, making it one of her lowest charting singles in the country.
Masashi Mutō directed the music video for the single, which appeared on her video albums Filmography 2001–2005 (2005). It was also included in the set lists of three Amuro concerts and subsequent live albums. "So Crazy" first appeared on Amuro's third greatest hits album, Best Fiction (2008), and was later reworked and re-recorded for her seventh greatest hits and final album, Finally (2017), before her retirement.
From 2002 to 2003, Amuro worked on new music with the Japanese project Suite Chic. Her work with them inspired her to invite more collaborators to showcase various aspects of herself through her music. [1] She began working on new music, collaborating with artists such as Zeebra, Ai, and Verbal, among others. [2] During the process, "So Crazy" was one of several demo recordings recommended to her and her team. Amuro said she enjoyed the demo and imagined herself performing the song, saying "I got an image of how it would be right away. I could imagine myself on stage, made up and in costume, singing and dancing to it." [3]
"So Crazy" was written by Full Force and Jennifer "JJ" Johnson, with Japanese lyrics by Michico and a rap section written by Tiger. [2] Amuro stated that she wanted to rap on the song, which Zeebra and Tiger encouraged her to do, with the latter suggesting she showcase her "naughty" side. [4] Toshihiro Wako assisted with the recording at Tokyo's On Air Azabu Studios. [2] Rob Chiarelli and Chandler Bridges mixed the final version, and Yasuji Maeda mastered it. [2] "So Crazy" is a love song that incorporates elements of hip-hop and R&B music. [lower-alpha 1]
On October 13, 2003, Avex Trax released "So Crazy" as a double A-side with "Come" as the third single from Amuro's sixth studio album Style (2003). [9] The CD format included three additional tracks, including instrumental versions of the singles. [9] The single was eventually distributed in Hong Kong in November of that year. [10] The song was used as the commercial theme for the Japanese cosmetics company Lucido-L. [11]
Masashi Mutō directed a music video featuring Amuro and dancers in an underground parking scene, choreographed by Warner. [lower-alpha 2] The choreography took about ten days to complete, while the music video was finished in one session. [3] The video was later featured on her video album Filmography 2001–2005 (2005). [12] The music video solely revolves around Amuro and her background dancers dancing in an empty, dimly lit parking lot. "So Crazy" was later included on Amuro's setlists for three different tours: the So Crazy Tour, the Space of Hip-Pop Tour, and the Best Fiction Tour. [13] [14] [15] "So Crazy" and its music video appeared on Amuro's third greatest hits album, Best Fiction (2008), while the song was reworked and re-recorded for her seventh greatest hits and final album, Finally (2017), prior to her retirement. [16] [17]
Music critics gave "So Crazy" positive reviews. AllMusic cited the song as a standout from Amuro's discography. [18] Japanese magazine CDJournal reviewed the single and its appearances on Style and Best Fiction. CDJournal praised the single's release for attempting to capture Western music influences, while its appearance on Style was praised for its hip-hop sound and Michico's contributions to the song. [5] [6] For Best Fiction, the song was praised for its lyrics, alongside its chorus and rap section. [7]
Commercially, it performed moderately in Japan. "So Crazy" and "Come" debuted at number eight on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 18,868 units in its first week. [19] It became Amuro's lowest performing single at the time, alongside "Shine More", until it was surpassed by the follow-up single "Alarm", which peaked at number 11. [20] [21] The single spent 13 weeks on the chart, and has sold 48,969 units since its release, one of Amuro's poorest performance in the region. [22] [23]
CD / digital / streaming formats [9] [24]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Style. [2]
Locations
Personnel
Chart (2003) | Peak position |
---|---|
Japan (Oricon) [22] | 8 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Japan | — | 48,969 [23] |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | October 16, 2003 | CD single | Avex Trax | [9] |
Hong Kong | November 2003 | [10] | ||
Various | N/A | [24] | ||
Queen of Hip-Pop is the seventh studio album by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released on July 13, 2005, by Avex Trax. The album's lyrical content, composing and arrangement was handled by multiple music collaborators, such as Nao'ymt, Sugi-V, Michico, Tricky Stewart, T.Kura, among many others. It is her second full length urban contemporary record, and is made up of songs of various musical genres. Amuro uses the term "hip-pop" to describe the music on the album because it fuses pop music with other genres including R&B and hip-hop music. Three different formats were released to promote the album: a standalone CD, a limited edition Playbutton, and digital download.
Concentration 20 is the third studio album by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released on July 24, 1997, by Avex Trax. The album's musical style is a fusion of genres including pop, dance, rock, reggae and ska. Unlike Amuro's previous effort, Sweet 19 Blues (1996), which primarily had lyrics written by Tetsuya Komuro, Concentration 20's lyrics were mostly written by Marc Panther. Komuro did, however, compose and arrange most of the album's songs and wrote the lyrics to three of them. It was Namie's second solo album since splitting up with Super Monkey's.
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.
"Want Me, Want Me" is the 29th single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released by Avex Trax on April 6, 2005, and was the last retailed single to precede her seventh studio album, Queen of Hip-Pop (2005). "Want Me, Want Me" was initially supposed to be released as an album track of Queen of Hip-Pop or a coupling song, but Amuro thought it was so good she made it a single despite the opposition of her staff. The song's lyrics were written by Michico, while its music was composed by Sugi-V. Musically, "Want Me, Want Me" is an up-beat reggae-style tune with an addictive loop that incorporates Japanese elements like the koto that plays during the intro. Atypical for Amuro, the song contains sexually aggressive lyrics and namechecks the condom brand Trojan in the chorus.
"White Light" is a song by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released by Avex Trax in Japan on November 16, 2005, as a double A-single with "Violet Sauce". "White Light" was supposed to promote Amuro's eighth studio album Play (2007), but it was scrapped from the final track list. Instead, an alternative version of "Violet Sauce" appeared. A demo version of the song was sent to Amuro, who decided it needed a warmer tone and reworked it as a Christmas song. It was modified by Nao'ymt, the song's sole composer, producer, and writer. Musically, it's a midtempo Christmas song with lyrics about love and holiday festivities.
"Girl Talk" is a song by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. Avex Trax released it on digital and physical formats on October 14, 2004, and it is the third single from Amuro's seventh studio album, Queen of Hip-Pop (2005). It was also released as a double A-side with "The Speed Star", though the latter did not appear on the parent album. "Girl Talk" was written and produced by T.Kura and Michico, and is a dance song with R&B and pop influences that, like its parent album, transitions from Amuro's original dance sound to a more mature yet transatlantic sound.
"All for You" is the 27th single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released on July 22, 2004, by Avex Trax, and serves as Amuro's second single from her seventh studio album Queen of Hip-Pop (2005). The lyrics were written by Natsumi Watanabe, who had translated "Stop the music" into Japanese for Amuro's 1995 single. The music was composed by Ryoki Matsumoto, known for composing other hit songs such as RUI's "Tsuki no Shizuku" and Mika Nakashima's "Yuki no Hana." Musically, "All For You" is a synthesizer-heavy power ballad.
"Alarm" is the 26th single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released by Avex Trax on March 17, 2004, serving as the lead single to Amuro's seventh studio album Queen of Hip-Pop (2005). The song was written by Jusme and composed by Monk. The B-side "Strobe" was first planned as the main track of this single and when Amuro got the demo for "Alarm" the song was titled "Clock."
181920 is debut greatest hits album by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. Avex Trax released it in Japan on January 28, 1998, and it was later available in a variety of formats throughout Asia. The album contains Amuro's single releases from her debut studio album Dance Tracks Vol. 1 (1995) to her third album Concentration 20 (1997), as well as three tracks from her time with Toshiba-EMI. The album also included a new song called "Dreaming I Was Dreaming," which served as the only single from the album.
"Put ‘Em Up" is the 24th single by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released on digital and physical formats by Avex Trax on July 16, 2003, and serves as Amuro's third single from her sixth studio album Style (2003). It was originally written by Jasper Cameron and producer Dallas Austin, but portions of it were rewritten by Japanese songwriter Michico because Amuro felt the demo version was too harsh.
"Shine More" is the 23rd single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released on March 5, 2003, by Avex Trax and serves as the second single from her sixth studio album Style (2003). It was originally written by Scott Nickoley, Sandra Pires and Paul Taylor, while the lyrics were translated into Japanese by H.U.B. Amuro called "shine more" the first part of a dance number trilogy including "Put 'Em Up" and "So Crazy."
"Say the Word" is the 18th single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro, and her 7th vinyl record. The CD single was released on August 8, 2001, by Avex Trax. The vinyl edition was released on September 12, 2001, by Rhythm Republic. "Say the Word" was used as the commercial song for KOSÉ Cosmetics Luminous line of lipstick. This is Amuro's first single since severing ties with her former long-time producer Tetsuya Komuro. The song is not found on any of her studio records, but was later placed on her second best album Love Enhanced Single Collection, which was released five months later. It was produced by Swedish producers Ronald Malmberg and Thomas Johansson who are best known for their work with Swedish pop group A-Teens.
"Sweet 19 Blues" is the seventh single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was composed, written and arranged by Tetsuya Komuro for her debut album of the same name. A month after its release, her label Avex Trax released the song as a recut single due to overwhelming demand. The song's subject and the album in general was about the melancholic passing of another sweet year of youth, which is a particularly Japanese obsession.
"You're My Sunshine" is the sixth single by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released on June 5, 1996, by Avex Trax and was produced by Tetsuya Komuro. The song was the image song for the Bristol-Myers Squibb "Sea Breeze '96" commercial in which she appeared. The version used in the initial commercial had a different tempo and tune from the CD package version. The following year, 1997, she was used for the second consecutive year in a "Sea Breeze" commercial, this time using her hit song "How to Be a Girl".
"Something ‘Bout the Kiss" is a song by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released on September 1, 1999 by Avex Trax, and serves as the third single from her fourth studio album Genius 2000 (2000). Furthermore, all physical and digital formats included an additional B-side called "You Are the One", which appears on the parent album. "Something 'Bout the Kiss" was written by Lysette Titi, Chan Hai, and its producer Dallas Austin. Musically, it is a melancholy ballad with R&B and J-pop influences.
"Baby Don't Cry" is the 32nd single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released as the second single from her eighth studio album, Play (2007). It was written, composed, arranged, and produced by Japanese musician Naoaki Yamato, under the alias Nao'ymt. The single also included the B-side track "Nobody," a reworked version of her 2005 song "White Light." "Baby Don't Cry" premiered on January 24, 2007, as the third single from the album in Japan. It was also released worldwide on February 21, 2007, through Avex Inc. Musically, "Baby Don't Cry" is an mid-tempo pop song influenced by R&B music.
A Best 2 is a two-part greatest hits album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. Both albums, titled Black and White, were released on 28 February 2007 on various formats by Avex Trax. Produced by Max Matsuura, they follow Hamasaki's compilation album A Best, which was released in March 2001. "A Best 2" are concept albums, with Black focusing on darker and more serious tones and White on lighter and more upbeat themes. The albums contain 31 songs, including an unreleased track titled "Part of Me" on the Black edition, that were released between the periods of her albums I Am... (2002) and (Miss)understood (2006).
Play is the eighth studio album by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released on June 27, 2007, by Avex Trax and was available in 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 a R&B-influenced record with elements of pop music, rock, dance-pop, and hip-hop. Lyrically, the record explore themes of love, frustration, and relationships.
Best Fiction is the third greatest hits album by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released on July 30, 2008, by Avex Trax. It features seventeen singles released between 2002-2008, which included five new songs, three of which were released as a triple A-side single called "60s 70s 80s." Furthermore, the album tracks "Do Me More" and "Sexy Girl" were released as digital singles.
"Wild" is a song by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released by Avex Trax on March 16, 2009, and serves as the lead single for her ninth studio album, Past<Future (2009). Furthermore, all physical and digital formats included the A-side titled "Dr.," which appears on the parent album. Amuro intended to depart from her previous releases with "Wild" and "Dr.", her first forays into new material. Michico, T. Kura, and Nao'ymt created and produced "Wild," which was recorded at Tokyo's Azabu-O-Studio with Ryosuke Kataoka's assistance.