Evolution (Ayumi Hamasaki song)

"Evolution"
Single by Ayumi Hamasaki
from the album I Am...
Released January 31, 2001
Format JPN CD Single
United States Digital Single[1]
Genre
Length 1:02:02
Label Avex Trax
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Max Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki singles chronology
"M"
(2000)		 "Evolution"
(2001)		 "Never Ever"
(2001)

"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). Influenced by the September 11 attacks in New York City and Washington D.C. in North America, Hamasaki sought a new inspiration for her then-forthcoming album; instead off writing songs about confusion, loneliness and love like her previous efforts, she was encouraged to engage in more peaceful and worldly themes. This resulted in several songs on I Am..., including "Evolution".

"Evolution" is a pop rock song that utilizes other genres including alternative rock and pop ballad. 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 some criticism was pointed against the vocal delivery.

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 Record 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

On New Years Day 2002, Hamasaki had released her fourth studio album I am.... During the album process, Hamasaki had learnt about the breaking news off the September 11 attacks in 2001, that had hit New York City and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The attack itself had killed over 2,996 people and caused at least $10 billion in property and infrastructure damage.[2] Because off this, Hamasaki had sought a new inspiration for her then-forthcoming album; instead off writing songs about confusion, loneliness and love like her previous efforts, she was encouraged to engage in more peaceful and worldly themes.[3][4][5] The response was positively received from the Japanese audience and became successful in her native Japan, selling over 2.3 million units in Japan and was certified triple million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of three million copies.[6]

To promote the album, Hamasaki had released the album's lead single "M". Her first single to have been composed and written together by her, 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][7][8] To follow up on the success off the single, "Evolution" was selected as the album's second official single in Japan.

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.[9] "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.[10] The song's arrangement was handled by HΛL, who contributed to arranging the songs "M" and "Unite!" on the parent album.[9] Musically, the song incorporates several genres including alternative rock and ballad music, which was heavily compared towards another album track "Unite!".[11] The song starts with a "ballad-inspired intro" that was noted as "deceiving" and features Hamasaki "singing way too fast in her choruses"[11]

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.[12] The cover artwork features Hamasaki holding a microphone and features the text of the single name inprinted with the American flag inside it.[12] The CD single off "Evolution" was released on January 31, 2001 by Avex Trax and was eventually released digitally worldwide.[12] 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.[13][14][15]

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."[11] Greenberg, who had written the extended biography of Hamasaki on the same website, had listed "Evolution" as one of her career standouts.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18] During the same charting week, Hamasaki's single "M" was at number eight.[19] During the singles second charting week, it fell to number three, being stalled by KinKi Kids' single "Boku no Senaka ni wa Hane ga Aru" and Kuraki Mai's single "Tsumetai Umi/Start in My Life" at number one and two respectively, and had stalled at number three for two consecutive weeks.[18] The song stayed inside the top forty for eleven weeks, and fell to number forty-five in its twelfth week.[20] The song had left the top fifty and the singles last charting position was at number 100 on its seventeenth week.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23] "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.[24] 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.[25]

In 2014, "Evolution" had charted on the Japan Billboard Adult Alternative chart at number 70, thirteen years later after the singles release.[26][27]

Music video

The music video starts with Ayu 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, Ayu 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.

Promotion

Evolution was used in a TV ad for a Kose Visee mascara featuring Ayumi herself.[28]

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

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position First Week Sales Sales Total Chart Run
31 January 2001 Oricon Daily Singles Chart 1
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 1 503,020 955,250 17
Oricon Yearly Singles Chart 7

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.

References

  1. ↑ http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=73951471
  2. ↑ "How much did the September 11 terrorist attack cost America?". 2004. Institute for the Analysis of Global Security. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
  3. ↑ Tsuriya, Takako (May 2008). "Ayu 10th Year Career Anniversary". Cawaii (in Japanese): 15, 18.
  4. ↑ "A Song for XX". Beatfreak (in Japanese) 132. January 1999.
  5. ↑ Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "I have very clear ideas of what I want". Time. p. 1. Archived from the original on February 14, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  6. ↑ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2002年1月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. January 2002 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 508: 12. March 10, 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  7. ↑ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年12月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. December 2000 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 495: 8. February 10, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  8. ↑ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2001年1月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. January 2001 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 496: 8. March 10, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  9. 1 2 I am... (Album liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2002. AVCD-17037.
  10. ↑ Atsushi, Shikano (February 2001). (165). Rockin'on Japan. Missing or empty |title= (help);
  11. 1 2 3 "Ayumi Hamasaki - "i am" review". Random Access Reviews. 2002. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 Evolution (CD singles liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2001. AVCD-30203.
  13. ↑ Evolution (Vinyl). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2001. RR12-88220.
  14. ↑ Evolution (DVD). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2001. AVBD-91056.
  15. ↑ Evolution (Limited VHS, NTSC region). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2001. AVVD-90111.
  16. ↑ Greenberg, Adam (March 19, 2015). "AllMusic - Ayumi Hamasaki, Songs, Highlights, Credits and Awards". Rovi. Allmusic. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  17. ↑ Hamasaki, Ayumi (14 March 2015). "ayumi hamasaki 15th Anniversary TOUR A BEST LIVE - avex". Avexnet.net. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  18. 1 2 "CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date for Ayumi Hamasaki". Oricon (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 1, 2001. Archived from the original on January 21, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  19. ↑ "CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date for Evolution". Oricon (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 1, 2001. Archived from the original on January 4, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  20. ↑ "CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date for Evolution". Oricon (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. April 28, 2001. Archived from the original on January 4, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  21. ↑ "CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date for Evolution". Oricon (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. July 28, 2001. Archived from the original on January 3, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  22. ↑ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2001年2月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 2001 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan. 497: 8. April 10, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  23. ↑ レコード協会調べ　7月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: July Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. August 20, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  24. ↑ McClure, Steve (28 December 2002). "Japan's Music Business to Fight Back in 2003". Billboard. 110 (14): 53. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "Ayumi Hamasaki single sales ranking" 浜崎あゆみ売上ランキング シングル売上ランキング. Oricon. April 2, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.
  27. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). June 18, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  28. ↑ ayumi-KOSE cm 台灣未上市 - Yahoo! Video

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