Which artist came #1 on the Oricon Album Daily Charts for New Release Wednesday?

Moira [Limited Edition]

Sound Horizon

NOTE: Sound Horizon takes the #1 spot away from Amuro Namie on New Release Wednesday but can they hold on for the whole week?  Amuro Namie drops to #3 but with five consecutive weekly Oricon Chart #1 rankings, it will be interesting to see if Amuro Namie can get a sixth or if Sound Horizon can last at #1 for the whole week.  A lot of first time entries to the Oricon Top 10 Daily Charts.

1. Sound Horizon - Moira
2. MONKEY MAJIK - TIME
3. Amuro Namie - BEST FICTION
4. THE BACK HORN - Pulse
5. Code Geass RS Sound Episode 3
6. The Verve - Forth - Special Edition
7. Tokunaga Hideaki - SINGLES BEST
8. GLORY HILL - GOING NOWHERE
9. Marumasa - WORLD
10. SUPER BUTTER DOG - SUPER BETTER BETTER DOG

or Oricon Weekly Chart Album Rankings, please click here.

SOURCE: Data was translated from Oricon Album Daily Charts

For rankings comparison, please compare to Oricon’s NINKI Poll predictions for Album Sales.

Japantoday.com reported, “The latest best hits album of Namie Amuro, 30, “Best Fiction,” tops the Oricom album chart again this week for the 5th straight week. It has also earned the top spot for best album sales in Japan by a female solo artist, music chart company Oricon said.”

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Which artist came #1 on the Oricon Album Daily Charts for New Release Wednesday?

Best Fiction [CD+DVD/Jacket A]

Namie Amuro

NOTE: Amuro Namie continues at #1 with the top album heading into her fourth week.  A lot of strong shows especially in the American rock realm with KISS and Slipknot in the top 10.  Tokunaga Hideaki continues to stay strong in the top 5.

1. Amuro Namie - BEST FICTION
2. DJ MAKIDAI - Treasure MIX
3. live tune feat. Hatsune Miku - Re:package
4. Tokunaga Hideaki - SINGLES BEST
5. ALI PROJECT - Kinsho
6. Slipknot - All Hope is Gone (Special Edition)
7. KISS - Jigoku Retsuden - New Recording Best
8. DICE - RSP
9. Matsumoto Hitoshi, Takasu Mitsuyoshi - Hoshoshitsu 5
10. Various Artists - Climax Romantic Songs

or Oricon Weekly Chart Album Rankings, please click here.

SOURCE: Data was translated from Oricon Album Daily Charts

For rankings comparison, please compare to Oricon’s NINKI Poll predictions for Album Sales.

“Three weeks at No. 1, over a million copies shipped, setting another record and just proving to everyone that this pop diva now in her 30’s should not be counted out because she still has what it takes to be a chart topping, record setter. ‘Best Fiction’ is simply a wonderful album and I absolutely recommend this album to Amuro Namie fans!”

ARTIST: Amuro Namie

ALBUM: BEST FICTION

LABEL: avex trax

CATALOG #: AVCD-23651

DURATION: 1:14:13

RELEASE DATE: July 30, 2008

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

1. Do Me More
2. Wishing On the Same Star
3. shine more
4. Put ‘Em Up
5. SO CRAZY
6. ALARM
7. ALL FOR YOU
8. GIRL TALK
9. WANT ME, WANT ME
10. White Light
11. CAN’T SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’m SICK
12. Baby Don’t Cry
13. FUNKY TOWN
14. NEW LOOK
15. ROCK STEADY
16. WHAT A FEELING
17. Sexy Girl

The news has been promising for Amuro Namie, the pop diva who started a trend and broke records, multiple award winner in the 90’s and we have seen her dominate as a teen, a tween and here we are watching her do the same thing in her 30’s.

“BEST FICTION” is the biggest selling album in 2008 and another album to sell over a million copies in Japan and recently Amuro was recognized as the only artist to have albums to sell over a million copies in her teens, 20’s and 30’s.

With the past decade being dominated by Hamasaki Ayumi, Utada Hikaru and Koda Kumi, for Amuro Namie fans, there was always hope to see Amuro make a comeback and in 2007, with the release of “Baby Don’t Cry”, CD singles numbers started to go up and since then, Amuro’s sales are up and she’s back in the forefront.

And even when she dominated during her “Sweet 19 Blues” and “Concentration 20 Years” over a decade ago, she still looks fabulous, sexy in her early 30’s and her music, I loved her music in the past but her music now, I’ve listened to it over and over on my iPod during commutes over a zillion times because I enjoy it so much.

So, here we are with Amuro’s third best album featuring 17 of her songs from 2002 through 2008. That is from her 21st CD single “Wishing On the Same Star” (2002) up to her 33rd CD Single “60s70s80″s which featured the three songs “NEW LOOK”, “ROCK STEADY” and “WHAT A FEELING” . The album would also include two new original songs “Do Me More” and “Sexy Girl”.

Amuro’s music is nowhere near what it was in the 90’s which was produced by Komuro Tetsuya. This time around with multiple collaborations, Amuro Namie’s music is urban R&B, hard, fierce and music that continues to showcase choreography and cool vocals. Her style of J-Pop was her own and you find other artists lately trying to capitalize on a similar sound.

Favorites of mine on this album include track 6 (Alarm, her 25th CD single released in 2004) which was a collaboration with JusMe and Monk. The music is in your face with synth and bass but the vocals of Amuro Namie and the lyrics are what shine in this song. Sexy!

Track 9 “WANT ME, WANT ME” is a track fusing bhangra and reggaeton and featured the sexiest lyrics to come from Amuro. In a way, I kind of viewed this CD single somewhat like when Christina Aguillera released “Dirty”. Sexy, provocative lyrics but the background sitar, the beat and the sexy lyrics really made this song stand out.

Track 10 “White Light” was a ballad but this was not your standard piano driven love song. This was one that just had a cool groove, made you want to dance and at the same time was a ballad. The song was part of a double A-Side CD single with “Violet Sauce” which is not on this album (but featured on her last album “PLAY”).

Track 11 “CANT SLEEP, CAN’T EAT, I’M SICK” (her 30th CD single released in 2006) is another song that produced by T. Kura and Michico and the song is funky with the brass samples and a really cool groove. Another favorite on this album.

Track 12 “Baby Don’t Cry” is her 31st CD single (rel. in 2007) and a collaboration with Nao’ymt and a song that started an upswing for Amuro’s music. An overall fun track and a departure of the in-your-face, fierce beats of previous songs. Gentle pop with a whimsical atmosphere attached to it. Very fun and enjoyable listening to!

Track 14-16 are songs from her 33rd CD single “60s70s80s” (2008). “NEW LOOK” which used the Supreme’s “Baby Love” 1960’s sample, “ROCK STEADY” using a sample from Aretha Franklin’s 1970’s “Rock Steady” and the final track “WHAT A FEELING” which had a sample from Irene Cara’s 1980’s hit.

I enjoyed “NEW LOOK” or the Supreme’s sample and whether it’s from the Supreme’s or Donna Summer, always enjoyed the groove to that song and the sample was well used for Amuro’s “NEW LOOK”.

Actually dig “WHAT A FEELING” for it’s 80’s old school sound. One of those homages to the music that once upon a time, I used to breakdance and pop to. So, nostalgic and fun at the same time.

And of course, there are so many other tracks on this album that I enjoy as well that are just too numerous to list.

Now, there is a DVD version of this album which is definitely worth getting. I’m currently reviewing the normal album version provided to me for review but the CD+DVD album version features music videos for all tracks on the album. That is an absolutely great deal to have all music videos for each track provided.

As for the CD insert, the insert booklet features the music lyrics and production credits to the song. A flyer is added for a special “BEST FICTION” flash site which you are given a password (note: tried it but got a 404 error, perhaps you must be a Japanese resident to access the site). The flyer also includes information on the fan club and her 2008-2009 tour.

Overall this album is just wonderful. And with “Dance Tracks Vol. 1″ to “181920″ and now to “BEST FICTION”, these best albums for Amuro Namie are all worth owning.

Sure, her music has changed considerably since the TK years but production-wise, vocally, choreography-wise, everything about Amuro Namie has improved.

Her songs are catchy, enjoyable, sexy and you really can’t go wrong with it.

Now, of course, this review was for the normal CD version but I can tell you that knowing what’s on the CD+DVD version, you just can’t beat the value of having an album full of awesome tracks but owning a DVD with all music videos for those tracks. That’s great!

Overall, this album is a winner! It’s doing extremely well on the sales charts and definitely worth owning!

BUY THIS ALBUM:

Best Fiction [Jacket B]

Namie Amuro

Amuro Namie has become the first artist in Japan to achieve over a million copies sold in Japan as a teenager, in her 20’s and in her 30’s.

Amuro’s “BEST FICTION” has sold over a million copies in three weeks and continues to be the #1 artist on the Oricon Daily and Weekly charts.

Amuro accomplished her first million seller as a teenager with “DANCE TRACKS VOL. 1″ and the next following years with million sellers with the following albums “SWEET 19 BLUES”, “Concentration 20″ and 18920.

Three artists that have accomplished two age periods with a million copies sold are Utada Hikaru (25), Nakashima Mika (23) and Inoue Akimi (59).

In other Amuro Namie news, her concert schedule has been announced for 16 cities and 40 concerts total.

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Image courtesy of Sankei Sports

Which artist came #1 on the Oricon Album Daily Charts for New Release Wednesday?

Best Fiction [CD+DVD/Jacket A] [First Press Includes B2-Size Poster]

Namie Amuro

NOTE: Amuro Namie continues her #1 streak. Amuro Namie’s “BEST FICTION” took #1 on the weekly charts and also sold over 681,000 copies her first week and the artist who dominated the mid-90’s continues to be at #1 three weeks straight. EXILE drops to #7. Tokunaga Hideaki has two albums in the top 10 and GReeeeN still hanging in on the top 10 Oricon album charts.

1. Amuro Namie - BEST FICTION
2. Tokunaga Hideaki - SINGLES BEST
3. Crazy Ken Band - ZERO
4. SID - Side B complete collection ~e. B~
5. Tokunaga Hideaki - SINGLES B-side BEST
6. Kuauo - HB
7. EXILE - EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST
8. Extreme - Saudades de Rock
9. GReeeeN - Aa, domo. Ohisashiburi desu.
10. Saito Kazuyoshi - Uta Utaitai 15 Singles Best 1993-2007

or Oricon Weekly Chart Album Rankings, please click here.

SOURCE: Data was translated from Oricon Album Daily Charts

For rankings comparison, please compare to Oricon’s NINKI Poll predictions for Album Sales.

Which artist came #1 on the Oricon Charts for new release Wednesday for albums?

Best Fiction [CD+DVD/Jacket A] [First Press Includes B2-Size Poster]

Namie Amuro

NOTE: Amuro Namie continues her #1 streak. Amuro Namie’s “BEST FICTION” took #1 on the weekly charts and also sold over 681,000 copies her first week. Will Amuro Namie reach 1 million sold? EXILE who also sold over 600,000 copies hangs in the top 5 at #4, GReeeeN continues to be in the top 10 and the only album from June still on the Oricon album charts.

1. Amuro Namie - BEST FICTION
2. HB - KUSUO
3. Saito Kazuyoshi - Uta Utaitai 15 Singles Best 1993-2007
4. EXILE - EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST
5. THE BEST OF DETECTIVE CONAN 3 (Anime Soundtrack)
6. Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 Sound Episode 3 (Drama CD)
7. Crystal Kay - Color Change
8. Kimaguren - ZUSHI
9. GReeeeN - Aa, domo. Ohisashiburi desu.
10. Various Artists - Ai no Uta

Japantoday.com reported, “The latest album of singer Namie Amuro, 30, was ranked 1st on the Oricon album chart in the first week of its release, selling 681,000 copies, Oricon said Monday. The album, “Best Fiction,” was released on July 30.”

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Which artist came #1 on the Oricon Charts for new release Wednesday for albums?

Best Fiction [CD+DVD/Jacket A] [First Press Includes B2-Size Poster]

Namie Amuro

NOTE: Amuro Namie with another consecutive #1 album release with her best album “Best Fiction” featuring her best tracks since 2002. Last week’s #1 EXILE drops to #1 and a great showing for R&B group color. GReeeeN and AYAKA continues to stay strong on the Oricon album top 10 and the only June-release albums still on the Oricon top 10 for album releases.

1. Amuro Namie - BEST FICTION
2. EXILE - EXILE ENTERTAINMENT BEST
3. COLOR - BLACK ~A night for you~
4. GReeeeN - Aa, domo. Ohisashiburi desu.
5. Kimaguren - ZUSHI
6. Various Artists - Ai no Uta
7. Matsumoto Hitoshi, Takasu Mitsuyoshi - Hososhitsu 4
8. SOUL’d OUT - Movies & Remixes 4
9. Ayaka - Sing to the Sky
10. ELLEGARDEN - ELLEGARDEN BEST 1999-2008

Japantoday.com reported, “Singer Namie Amuro, 30, this week sued the publisher of women’s magazine Shukan Josei, claiming that the magazine violated her privacy by publishing photos of her and her 10-year-old son. Amuro is seeking 22 million yen in compensation.”

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