The new work "PAST < FUTURE" will reach you the "now" Amuro
TRANSLATED BY: Kait UBidecarenone Glandol
REVISED BY: brackdiamon
http://community.livejournal.com/fav...16.html#cutid1

A woman who's persistently challenging, Amuro Namie. This will be her first original studio album in 2 years. PAST < FUTURE will be fresh and also a shock to its listeners. Furthermore, the jacket picture is audacious: she's tearing the picture of her previous work "BEST FICTION" that was a fever in the eyes of many people all over the world. She expresses her rush feelings about the visual of this work.

"This time there's a strong feeling of change of attitude. "BEST FICTION" had a big repercussion, so that's why I wanted to shake free from it. The idea of tear the "BEST FICTION" picture came from me. It will be good if I can express the feeling of "what's past, is past, and what's now is now".

In other words, the theme now is reset & challenge. While choosing the songs she said that she cleared her mind, and without putting much information, just choose what excited her genuine feelings, putting what she wants to dance in lives as the center. Half of this work had in for the first time Amuro's work, so she's being the producer and creator, it's to lay down her own peculiar style in a new style.

"Since it's the first time, there was a kind of mutual fumbling, if you call that a challenge, then it was one. I have my own image from the songs, and there are things to do a certain way. But I wanted to leap into it."

The first song, "FAST CAR" has a positive meaning, it's a danceable number with a cheap disorderly feeling. Following it, there's "COPY THAT" starting with a surfing guitar having a feeling of a sprint song. This time, Amuro's song is becoming kind of retro.

"I liked the retro feeling in "FAST CAR" so I chose it. "COPY THAT" too, it had such animated overture I thought "I will sing it". Since it's now, I was thinking if it wouldn't be good. The songs that are steaming right now, they are all high-tech, I thought putting something analog in the middle of it would be fresh."

There's also a ballad on it. It's a love song about a lover that recollects memories. She "didn't dance" in a pv after a long time. It's a song that tailors a story. In the video she draws a sexy appeal and feminine image never seen before.

"I thought this song was about a painful separation. But, a certain person, they separate one time, and in another meeting, this person thinks "it's no good if it's not you" that’s how I think of it. I have the impression it's the kind of song people will use at weddings. The image will differ to each person, I think it became a very mysterious song. In the video everything is highlighted. This video is incredible. I came here to a "drama love scene"? That's how it seems. (Laughs) You'll know how it became when you watch this. (Laughs)"

After acting under the name of SUITE CHIC, she approached R&B and Hip-Hop, with energetic beats and coolness as the main point put on by a peculiar dance sound, Amuro Namie did a close inquiry. But this time this kind of song fades and uplifting, cheerful and melodious songs are prominent. There’re many songs that have a pop feeling. It's just that even if it's called pop, there was a desire to have a good time with it, it's really creative. In this point Amuro Namie brings forth an era she surpassed, lining up in a J-POP "somehow nostalgic and new" post-hip-hop, post-R&B.

In such album she put the title "a future bigger than the past". Right now, what kind of future is she drawing?

"It's not that now I hate or don't want to do R&B and hip-hop things anymore. It's just that now it's not my mode (brackdiamon’s note: she’s been stuck in “love mode” for quite a while now, or so she says). But it's a meeting with the producers, a meeting with the songs. I'm thinking on going without putting decisions. In my case, the final stage of a work are the lives, so finally at the tour, if I can grasp everyone’s hearts, I will think that this album will be ok, and the live will be ok too. All this will be tied at 2010 flow hereafter."

Translated by: orisu_luv @ JPM

excite： Your album 'PAST < FUTURE' really does make a break with your past albums, just like the title says. You've really widened your repetoire in a similar way that you did on one of your old albums STYLE.

Amuro: That's true. I really tried to go back to the drawing board, and just tried to follow my current tastes without getting caught up in the past. I think I was able to get some good songs, even including my best hits albums.

excite: What were you most particular about on this new album?

Amuro: I tried to really focus on a feeling this time. I chose songs based on like, I want to sing this melody or I want to sing this part of this phrase, and surprisingly what I had the hardest time with was the lyrics. I had them change parts where I felt like there wasn't a good balance between the sound and the Japanese lyrics, and tried things a little differently this time.

excite: Speaking of challenges, the scat on FAST CAR is a new thing for you, isn't it?

Amuro: That's right. It's something I wouldn't have chosen in the past, because I felt a little embarrassed to sing it, but this time I wanted to sing it because I really loved that part of the song.


excite: It's a really Namie Amuro like album, even though it really breaks the bonds of genre, the way it has smooth classic ballads like 'The Meaning of Us', as well songs that show a new strong and aggressive side for you, like 'Shut Up' and 'LOVE GAME'


Amuro: 'Shut Up' was really fresh because it depicts such a strong woman. Both 'Shut Up' and 'Love Game' are about very carnivorous girls. (LOL) Like, girls who just say 'Don't get me wrapped up in it!' and win love by making the first move in love affairs themselves.

excite： You said you had them change the lyrics a few times, does that mean that the lyrics reflect you as a person?

Amuro: I guess you could say that. I think that there were a lot of lyrics that I really understand like, 'Oh, I get it...', or 'That's right!', or things that I was like 'Yeah, I'm actually like that' even if I don't talk about or show it. (LOL)

excite: A lot of the songs are really fun when you watch the music videos. And in the video for 'The Meaning of Us'you show a very grown up Namie Amuro, wurh three sexy scenes: undressing, on the bed, and in the shower.

Amuro: I put in a lot of fan service this time! (LOL)Cuz there's a bed scene in the video for FAST CAR too. At some point when I've got some more experience, I'll try even more adult scenes. (LOL) Because it's a really fun challenge for me to use the music videos as a different form of expression, and to see just how Namie Amuro-like I can made things like that which might come off as taboo for me.

excite: In your songs as well?

Amuro: I don't think about that kind of thing as much when it comes to songs. For me, songs - including the one son this album - are just what ping on my radar at the moment, and I might not have chosen them a year ago, and I might not chose them a year from now.

excite: And in the video for 'Defend Love' you get to appear in an anime with Ray Amuro from Gundam!

Amuro: My last name is actually pronounced the same way that he does when he says, "Amuro, launching now!', but when I came to Tokyo the 'Amuro-chan' pronunciation stuck, and I was like 'Oh well.' So I've always like Gundam because of the same name thing.

excite: Is that so? So that's what started the miracle in the video where the first Amuro Ray crosses over time and says "You're Amuro-san, aren't you?"

Amuro: Right, I really wanted Amuro and Amuro to collaborate! So happily the production team for Gundam and Furuta Tohru, the voice actor of Amuro Ray helped me out with it.

excite: And the story in the video is very deep and Gundam like!


Amuro: The story is a continuation of the one told in the music video for 'Dr', which is also on the album. The premise is that my consciousness crosses time into the Gundam world. And then Amuro Ray defeats e, but he does it to save the current Amuro Namie. It's big story, so I hope everyone will watch the two videos in order.

excite: what are music videos to you?

Amuro: If someone listened to a song and thought 'What is this song?' I hope they can then watch the music video and think 'Oh, I get it. This is cool." I guess for me a music video is a tool to help communicate a song.

excite: It's also a tool that can show your own artistic sense. So how do you think this album came out?

Amuro: That's right..I think in the end I chose a good balance of different songs. I think it's an album that's easy to listen to. It's not too sharp or too soft.

excite: And that will give you room to play around with your concerts.

Amuro: That may be. My last tour was to support my single collection, but this tour I want to enjoy the world of the album. I've already started meetings about the set, but we don't really have the full picture yet. With arenas you have a lot of freedom because it's a big stage, but you don't have a lot of space in halls, so there are some things you can't do. But that's also fun to think about.

excited: This is the longest tour you've ever done. It lasts from April until November, and you'll be doing 73 shows altogether. You're going to some places both in the beginning and the end, and people will have chances to see you more than once, which is just great!

Amuro: I'm excited about it! Unlike an arena tour, on a local hall tour you can really go wild at a close distance, so it might be cool if people can find their favorite hall. Please please come and enjoy a show!