1. I HAVE NEVER SEEN [Single Mix]
2. I HAVE NEVER SEEN [With Her Soul Mix]
3. I HAVE NEVER SEEN [Instrumental]

Namie Amuro makes her return after being away for a year after her marriage with SAM (of TRF) and both being proud parents of a baby boy. Many people were wondering if Namie Amuro would be able to return to music and still be appreciated by her fans despite being married and having a child (which is usually a nail in the coffin for many Japanese female pop stars) and sure enough, Namie Amuro has shown that it is possible as her 11th comeback single “I Have Never Seen” has reached the #1 spot on the Oricon Charts and becoming her ninth CD single to achieve #1 status.

Featuring a song written and produced by Tetsuya Komuro (TK), “I HAVE NEVER SEEN” is used for the NTV drama “Yonige Yamotoho” and is a more mellower pop song from the artist. TK’s piano arrangement is pretty nice but I have to admit, this is probably the first Namie Amuro song that really didn’t draw me in. In fact, my reaction to it was more like it was an average pop song at best but it’s a good mid-tempo song.

The coupling track is a “With Her Soul Mix” and it’s mostly Amuro singing to a beat and occasional bass with the music having a more subtle sound and not as pronounced as the beats. Personally, I felt this coupling mix was bad and I expected more from TK. The third track ends with the instrumental of “I HAVE NEVER SEEN”.

I am glad to see Namie Amuro back again but the single for me, was not one of her best and as for TK, as much as I enjoyed his arrangement, the coupling track was his weakest mix ever. Overall, “I HAVE NEVER SEEN” is a good single but not a song I can see myself listening to a lot.

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1. CAN YOU CELEBRATE? [Straight Run]
2. CAN YOU CELEBRATE? [Seventh Avenue South Mix]
3. CAN YOU CELEBRATE? [Back With TK]

The Namie Amuro and TK domination continues as the collaboration between the two have created the romantic ballad “CAN YOU CELEBRATE?”, the ninth CD single from Amuro and her largest selling single thus far (over 2.2 million copies sold).

The single is being used for the popular “Virgin Road” Japanese drama series and I have no doubt that this song will be one of those songs that will be used in weddings for many decades to come.  It’s a wonderful track and I just love Amuro’s vocals and TK’s romantic musical arrangement.  Everything just works right with this single and it’s definitely my favorite Amuro song.  I’ve been listening to this CD single non-stop for the last week and I can’t get enough of it.  It’s awesome!

The single kicks off with the “Straight Run” ala normal version of “CAN YOU CELEBRATE?”, while the second track features a Seventh Avenue South Mix.  And it’s pretty much an instrumental  for the majority of the track with TK just doing some experimentation ala synth-wise and adding some crazy beats to the original arrangement.  Until the sixth minute of this eight minute song, then we start hearing Amuro’s vocals.

The third track features the karaoke track titled “CAN YOU CELEBRATE? [Back with TK]” with TK backing vocals.

Overall, this is a fantastic Namie Amuro CD single and if you are an Amuro fan, go to your local Japanese music store or call them and buy this single right now!  It’s that good!  Highly recommended!

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1. a walk in the park [Straight RUN]
2. a walk in the park [Fabulous Freak Brothers MIX]
3. a walk in the park [Back Track With TK]

The Namie Amuro and TK domination continues as the sixth single of Namie Amuro is here and what a wonderful pop song “a walk in the park” has turned out to be!

The single features three versions of “a walk in the park”, the first “Straight Run” version is the version that many people are familiar with. I just love the musical arrangement for this song, upbeat and definitely something I was not expecting from Tetsuya Komuro. And I absolutely love Namie Amuro’s vocals in this song. It’s catch, addictive and simply, another wonderful single from Amuro.

The second track is a “Fabulous Freak Brothers Mix” which is a longer mix that sounds like ’80s retro but when it reaches three minutes into the song, the track turns into a jungle, drum & bass style of track and then another transition to a more synth pop dance track. If anything, it would have been a cooler remix if they stayed consistent with a certain style than try to accomplish three different styles of music.

The final track is for those who want to sing the song along with TK in the background. For those who never listened to a TK back track, I always find it interesting (and almost comical at times).

But overall, “a walk in the park” is a wonderful pop song from Namie Amuro and a single definitely worth owning!

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1. Don’t wanna cry
2. Present
3. Don’t wanna cry (Original Karaoke)
4. Present (Original Karaoke)

Namie Amuro is Japan’s top pop selling female performer and once again, super producer Tetsuya Komuro has shown that he can take another artist and give them the Midas Touch and bring them to #1.  To be fair, Namie Amuro was a star in her own right as the lead vocalist of the female pop group, the SUPER MONKEYS, but since Amuro and Komuro have collaborated, the two have literally dominated the charts.

Their last single “Chase the Chance” sold over a million copies and indication is that her third single “Don’t Wanna Cry” is expected to do the same and if anything, I think she’s a literally a shoe-in for the Grand Prix Award for the 38th Annual Japan Record Awards.

“Chase the Chance” is written, composed and arranged by TK and features an upbeat pop track in which Namie Amuro just shines.  It’s catchy, addicting and to tell you the truth, I’ve probably listened to this single several dozen times today.  It’s that good!  The song is currently being used for Daido’s Mistio commercial.

The coupling track “Present” (written by Takahiro Maeda) is an interesting song in which Namie is talking on the phone to someone and she starts singing.  If anything, I dig the chorus of the song and it’s just a fun track to listen to.

Another wonderful collaboration featuring Namie Amuro and Tetsuya Komuro, Namie Amuro’s “Don’t Wanna Cry” is a must-buy!

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