90's Japan pop diva rules again
 

unsure if this been post--but here it goes...good article about namie
90's Japan pop diva rules again
MOSHI MOSHI By Miharu Chang
changmc@sph.com.sg

NAMIE Amuro fever is back again, it seems.

The J-pop diva of the mid-1990s has scored a No 1 hit with her latest CD single, Girl Talk/The Speed Star, her first in five years since she took a break because of motherhood.

Morever, more than 8,000 screaming fans mobbed her when she suddenly showed up at the Shibuya 109 department store in Tokyo recently to endorse a hair product.

They created so much human congestion and chaos that the police stepped in and called off the event after two minutes.

Critics may baulk and label her 'over the hill', but Namie, 27, has proven that she still has what it takes to rule the pop charts.

Now looking more mature and sexier than ever before, she has transformed herself from a bubblegum pop star to a groovy hip-hop queen.

Therein lies her secret to success - constant re-invention of her image and music, said industry observers.

With the likes of Ayumi Hamasaki and Hikaru Utada storming the pop scene in her absence, Namie moved her genre towards hip-hop after her comeback in 2000.

Working with American producers like Dallas Austin (TLC, Madonna) and dance remixers like Junior Vasquez (Mariah Carey), she formed a hip-hop group called Suite Chic in 2002 and earned recognition by winning a Best Group trophy at Japan's MTV Music Awards.

The success of Namie's concert in Taiwan in May and the warm reception she received when she performed at the MTV BuzzAsia concert in Korea in July also rekindled interest in her back home.

'It ascertained her position overseas as a legendary Japanese pop queen,' said Mr James Kang, marketing director of Music Street, which distributes Namie's albums here.

Not even a torrent of bad press about her divorce in 2002 and subsequent custody fight over her son could put a dent in her ambition to climb back to the top.

Mr Kang said: 'Namie is seen as a very strong woman in Japan, having gone through so many dramatic struggles in her life.

'Her female fans have grown with her spiritually, and she makes the statement to Japanese women that they can still regain their life and career against the odds.'
source: tokyo-nights forum, Jpop area, Kawai (member who post it)

*Not a No.1 single*

Strangely enough, this is probably one of my least favorite recent Namie singles...XD

That article was Great! Namie will always be Jpop Queen to me and her single was Number one and notice everytime her singl goes donw it comes right back up! I love Amuro and I hope she continues to do music

Oh man I've seen soooo many sites saying how she got no.1 when it was really a no.2...--'' as much as I like Namie, less than 50,000 (I think?) in the first week doesn't make her "legendary" at all, anymore.

It could mean Namie is once again about to be on her rise because Ayumi Hamasaki's new stuff is getting kind of repeataful and UTADA is here in America now and Namie has a chance to strike back

It's really Number 2? Where have u people been her single Dueted at Number 1.

For the dailies it was #1, but weekly it was #2

So what ? Your Point is ? All In All she stil dueted at number 1 and thats all that matters

i wouldnt call selling as much as she did a comeback. She released it on a week when no one else did. I doubt the single will even reach 300,000. Style bombed as well. Sure her music is good, but i dont think she'll be back to where she was. At least not now.

She will As I believe! I mean Ayu is falling off with her Game very bad.

What? Memorial Address sold over a million, no way to say sold well, moments did great also. Inspire and Carols went to number one and Carols is still on the chart. Best single sales in the world. Namie didnt even make anything. I'm sorry, Ayu is still big.

I think Ayu is still very famous, too.

She can be big all she want she's still falling off in her music!

With its sales, I think it'll have a rough time breaking 100k. :no

This is my least favorite of her singles since before her break. I think both songs are mediocre, at least for her.

i just wanted to point out this... her music might be getting bored to you... but after 3-4weeks her singles reach sales of 300,000

yes her sales felt... from 500,000 to 300,000

as for namie i like her and all and i support her.. with getting all her latest release... but sales from Talk girl were about the same from her release b4 girl talk under the 50,000 first week ... like other said.. i think it will be hard for her to break the 100,000

You're being too defensive with Namie, geesh.

You asked if it was #2 and I answered your question. No need to keep arguing...

:rollseyes you keep acting as if everyone hates namie or something...

It wasn't really a Question to be answered. I was trying ot say I noticed went to number 2 but my Point is she still was at Number 1 when the single first dropped.

NAMIE RULES......... PERIOD.

I agree!