I am...

Infobox Album |
Name = I am...
Type = Album
Artist = Ayumi Hamasaki


Released = January 1, 2002
Recorded = 2000-2001
Genre = J-pop
Length = 70:53
Label = AVEX Trax
Producer = Max Matsuura
Last album = "A Best" (2001)
This album = "I am..."
(2002)
Next album = "Rainbow" (2002)Singles
Name = I am...
Type = studio
single 1 = Evolution
single 1 date = January 31, 2001
single 2 = Never Ever
single 2 date = March 7, 2001
single 3 = Endless Sorrow
single 3 date = May 16, 2001
single 4 = Unite!
single 4 date = July 11 2001
single 5 = Dearest
single 5 date = September 27, 2001
single 6 = M
single 6 date = December 13, 2000
single 7 = A Song is Born
single 7 date = December 12, 2001
single 8 = Daybreak
single 8 date = March 6, 2002
single 9 = Connected
single 9 date = April 7, 2003 (Europe only)

"I am..." is the fifth full-length studio album by J-pop singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released on January 1, 2002 in Japan. The album marked an evolution in Hamasaki's lyrical and musical style: Hamasaki began to move away from the themes of "loneliness and confusion" that had marked her previous albums and began to incorporate elements of rock music in her songs.

"I am..." was a commercial success, both in Japan (selling over 2 million copies) and in other Asian countries. In Singapore, "I am..." sold over 10,000 copies, unusual for a Japanese album.

Influence

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Hamasaki had a "change of heart": although she had already been planning the album since early 2001, she dropped her original idea for the album after the attacks. Influenced by the events, Hamasaki departed from the themes of "loneliness and confusion" that had marked her previous releases and focused on more worldly themes, such as faith and peace.cite web | url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover5.html| title=Empress of Pop|publisher= "Time"|accessmonthday=February 2 | accessyear=2008|pages=p. 5] cite web| first=Lisa | last=Takeuchi Cullen | url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/int_ayumi.html|title=I have very clear ideas of what I want|publisher= "Time"|accessmonthday=February 16 | accessyear=2008 | pages=1] The lyrics of "a song is born," in particular, were directly influenced by the attacks. Hamasaki also revised the album artwork to fit in with her new themes: she portrayed herself on the album cover as a "peace muse," clad in vines and with a dove seated on her shoulder—with the dove representing peace. The liner notes also depicted Hamasaki thus, as did the television advertisement for the album.

The outlook inspired by the September 11 attacks extended beyond the the album. Before "I am...", Hamasaki felt that she would not enter an Asian market; thus, she never performed outside Japan and did not use English in her lyrics. However, shortly after the release of the album, she performed at the 2002 MTV Asia Music Awards ceremony, her first performance held outside Japan.cite web| first=Lisa | last=Takeuchi Cullen | url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/photoessay/7.html | title=The Many Faces of Ayu | accessmonthday=April 17 | accessyear=2008 | publisher="Time" | pages=7]

Composition and musical style

"I am..." marked the beginning of Hamasaki's increased control over her music, as she began to compose herself, under the pseudonym "Crea".cite web | first=Lisa | last=Takeuchi Cullen |url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/int_ayumi2.html | title=I have very clear ideas of what I want|publisher= "Time"|accessmonthday=January 2 | accessyear=2008 | pages=2] The decision to compose her own songs came about when she was composing "M", the lead single of the album. None of the melodies composed by her staff fit her vision of the song, and she decided to compose herself. Finding that by composing herself, she produced songs closer to what she had in mind, she composed nearly all the songs on the album.

Many of the songs on the album shift keys; most shift to a relative key. "M" and "Still Alone" shift to the parallel key; "Evolution" and "Naturally" shift to the dominant and subdominant keys, respectively."Ayumi Hamasaki - Piano Solo - New Piano Sounds Top 25". Volume 7. ISBN 978-4-89638-944-9] Hamasaki began to incorporate rock and electronica into her music.cite web | url=http://us.yesasia.com/en/mc/-/47S016957W/Emagazine/ArticlePage.aspx/articleId-163/ | title=Hamasaki Ayumi against the Music | author=Kitazawa | date=April 8, 2008 | accessmonthday=May 13 | accessyear=2008 | publisher=YesAsia] The album uses a variety of instruments. "M" uses piano, strings, bells, and electric guitar; "A Song Is Born" used a synthesizer; and "Endless Sorrow" and "No More Words" used piano and orchestral strings.

Track listing

#"I am..." – 5:31
#"Opening Run" – 0:57
#"Connected" – 3:21
#"Unite!" – 5:00
#"Evolution" – 4:42
#"Naturally" – 4:18
#"Never Ever" – 4:41
#"Still Alone" – 5:57
#"Daybreak" – 4:49
#"Taskinlude" – 1:20
#"M" – 4:29
#"A Song is Born" – 6:17
#"Dearest" – 5:33
#"No More Words" – 5:47
#"Endless Sorrow" ~gone with the wind ver.~ – 5:39
#"Flower Garden" (hidden track) – 2:38

Charts

;Oricon Chart (Japan)

References