Namie Amuro's 'PAST < FUTURE' hits No. 1 in 5 countries

I think Best Fiction ought to be the headline for this article. There is no independent verification for CD sales in Japan or anywhere else in Asia. The recording business sucks in the U.S. and the U.K., but at least there are ways of actually determining the popularity of a song/artist with verifiable sales. Furthermore, it is common knowledge that payolla is the only way an act gets airplay or television exposure in Japan.

i absolutely love namie and this album is good but Best Fiction has all her hits and the new songs from then,but im very happy for her and every year she is more successful but atshushi tamura is who i dont really like

can she actually sing??

I agree the music industry here si crap. BUT, Namie Amuro is one of the few good performers here. She is actually pretty good.

Wow! Seems posters two and four have either been in Japan too long or not long enough. Amuro's been a joke since she debuted about a decade ago. I think only Matsuda Seiko is considered more ridiculous.

Sorry Jeffrey, there is indeed independent verification of CD sales in Japan. It's called Soundscan Japan (owned by Nielsen, as are other Soundscans) and they base their data on POS (point of sale), not CDs shipped or other dubious categories. I'm not fan of J-pop but Amuro is certainly not considered ridiculous by most people so please don't present your opinion as some kind of standard.

and the other 4 countries are?

its a rhetorical question before someone jumps to squawk..

Amuro's been a joke since she debuted about a decade ago.

Sounds like someone has not been here long enough! Namie Amuro debuted about 18 years ago with a group called Super Monkeys as lead singer. Judging by here records sales and the life style she lives she ain't doing to bad.

jeffrey

Obviously, you know nothing about Japanese pop music culture. I bet you are one of those people who look down their nose at other people's tastes in music, as if you alone are an arbiter of what is good and what isn't.

Her previous album “BEST FICTION” made it to the top in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, but her current album - on sale since December - has taken it one step further and has risen to the top in Singapore as well.

Amuro image = Yawn. Who needs another self-important diva??

Anyway, where is her nifty hat?? Seeing it again would have made me happy..

It's heartening to know that bad taste transcends national borders.

still hot at 32....yum

She is one of the few that can actually sing, and she is so hot, it makes me drool all over my bib.

OK, in the name of fair play, I decided to sit through some of 'her' music on Youtube...

Impressions;

-It is a direct copy of every American music meme from 3 years ago, and as a result is just American urban pop with Japanese levered in where possible. This includes the videos. -The programming of the drums is sub-par -There is no bassline hook (the MAJOR thing that the Japanese have no idea how to do) -I imagine it would work well with Japanese teenagers who desire a buffer zone between themselves and the genuine western article -She is attractive enough

Conclusion; I have no idea why anybody from the west would choose this over something genuine, as it is just a rip off.

Conclusion; I have no idea why anybody from the west would choose this over something genuine, as it is just a rip off.

Asian fetish, perhaps?

It is a direct copy of every American music meme from 3 years ago, and as a result is just American urban pop with Japanese levered in where possible.

The council has spoken.

I quite like her - I just bought Best Fiction used this week. Sexy image, catchy songs. What's not to like?

Her music is entirely too much of not much. I wouldn't buy a CD, because I can't listen to it. Others do, so be it. But my opinion of her singing hasn't changed much from her 'AVEX' days, hyperactive fluff, delivered by an extremely pretty lady...

I can't see anything wrong with her music, especially her vocal Imo, her vocal's one of the most pleasant voice I have ever heard from a Japanese female singer. The thing I love about her is that she's never tried to make her vocal sound annoyingly cute like some other girls in Jpop world. And also her style/her image is the second reason why she's one of my top favourite artist, it's clearly a balancing combination between Madonna and Kylie Minogue, attractively sexy but not slutty, which is fantastic.

@nemoflow, I'm sure Amuro-chan will shed a tear that some anonymous guy on the internet doesn't like her music.

It's pop music: disposable ear candy. Taken as such, Namie's is well-crafted and fun, and she's perfectly adorable. To what standard are you comparing her? Madonna? Britney Spears? Lady Gaga? I think she's right up there with the best of the female pop personalities. Faint praise perhaps, but it's not as if any of them are at the UN negotiating nuclear disarmament...

Faint praise perhaps, but it's not as if any of them are at the UN negotiating nuclear disarmament...

or making decent music above the level of fodder for people who like disposable and adorable

I won't buy the CD because CDs are too expensive here. But Amuro is one of the few palpable "musicians" here.

Much better than Ayu! But if you're looking for good J-pop, try Tokyo-jigen, formerly Shiina Ringo.

Taiwan is not a country, and neither is Hong Kong.

Taiwan is not a country, and neither is Hong Kong.

this might come as a shock to the taiwanese

But Amuro is one of the few palpable "musicians" here.

Wow, there's TONS of good musicians here. I'm not talking standard pop music, but good music from all genres. Seriously, you need to do some searching.

this might come as a shock to the taiwanese

Nah, it wouldn't. Taiwan hasn't declared independence from China.

Can we stop discussing Taiwan! That is still a slighly touchey issue! Amuro should put her music on USA ITunes! I would buy it...

Namie IS on US iTunes! :) And she's 1/4 Italian if anyone's interested...

I can't believe Namie turned down an offer of special Grammy TV show interview with Lady Ga Ga. That would have been great exposure for her. Likely had something to do with being with her son and maybe her relationship with Atsushi Tamura and his fragile ego. This is kinda his area and comparisons likely would have been made between the two but damn. Not many Jpop artists get that kinda of big break and it's just sad. I love Namie so much but wish she could get some exposure over here. Along with Koda Kumi, SoulHead and Utada are the three i would most like to see get some more air play. I was shocked when I heard Koda's version of Kelly Clarkson's "Can We Go Back" played on the radio the other day. They haven't stopped getting requests ever since. Well I have heard that Lady Ga Ga and Namie might do a collaboration or maybe that was with Koda? Anyways I can't think of anyone more dissevering but I hope other opportunities like this come up later. Namie is just to good to not get some more recognition.