:Contrail (song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Contrail
| cover = Namie Contrail.jpg
| alt = Skyscrapers with airplane contrails against a blue sky.
| type = single
| artist = Namie Amuro
| album = Feel
| released = {{start date|2013|05|29}}
| recorded = 2013
Daimonion Studios
(Shibuya, Tokyo)
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Electronic
| length = 4:12
| label = Dimension Point
| writer = Nao'ymt
| producer = Nao'ymt
| prev_title = Big Boys Cry
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Tsuki
| next_year = 2014
}}
"Contrail" is a song by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro, taken from her eleventh studio and second Japanese–English bilingual album Feel (2013). The singer was approached by the Tokyo Broadcasting System team to record the official theme song for their television series Flying Public Relations Office, which resulted into the process of "Contrail". The track was written, composed, arranged and produced entirely by long-time collaborator Nao'ymt, and recorded at Daimonion Studios in Shibuya, Tokyo. Musically, "Contrail" is a dance number that includes instrumentation of synthesizers, keyboards and a drum machine. A self-empowerment anthem, the title derives from the literal term, and is delivered as a metaphor for confidence and hope.
The single premiered on May 29, 2013, as the lead single from the album, and her second digital-only release. "Contrail" receive positive reviews from music critics, many who highlighted it as one of the album's best tracks, and complimented the production and songwriting. Although it was unable to chart on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart because of their restriction of digital sales at the time, it did peak at number eight on Billboard's Japan Hot 100 chart. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for digital sales of 250,000 units.
An accompanying music video for the single was shot in downtown Los Angeles, California, at Pershing Square, which featured Amuro walking through the city with children. She has performed "Contrail" on her 2013 Feel concert tour, and two annual Live Style shows in 2014 and 2016–2017. Additionally, Amuro has re-recorded the song in two different versions; a ballad version for her compilation Ballada (2014), and a re-worked version for her final greatest hits album Finally (2017).
Background and release
In March 2013, Japanese network Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) approached and asked Amuro if she could record a theme song for their 2013 television series Flying Public Relations Office, which she accepted.{{cite news |author=TBS Staff|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/soratobu-tbs/news/news130313.html|title=『 空飛ぶ広報室 』 の主題歌が安室奈美恵さんの新曲 「 Contrail 」 に決定！|work=Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)|date=March 13, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} Two months later, Japanese music magazine CD Journal confirmed the release of a new single entitled "Contrail", which would be served as a digital-only release.{{cite news |url=http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/amuro-namie/51843|title=安室奈美恵、話題のドラマ主題歌「Contrail」着うたフルが配信開始！|work=CD Journal|date=May 20, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} "Contrail" was initially her last tie-in recording with TBS, until she perform the song "Showtime" from Finally five years later.{{cite news |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/247440|title=安室奈美恵、小泉今日子主演＆宮藤官九郎脚本ドラマに主題歌提供|publisher=Natalie.mu|date=September 5, 2017|access-date=December 6, 2017|language=Japanese}} The track was written, composed, arranged and produced entirely by long-time collaborator Nao'ymt. It was recorded by D.O.I. at Daimonion Studios in Shibuya, Tokyo, and mastered by American music engineer Cris Gehringer at Sterling Studios, New York City.{{cite AV media notes |title=Feel|others=Namie Amuro|year=2013|type=CD album|publisher=Dimension Point|id=AVCN-99003|location=Japan}}
The single premiered on May 29, 2013, as the lead single from Amuro's eleventh studio and second Japanese–English bilingual album Feel (2013). It serves as her second digital-sole single—after "Damage"—and her second overall offering with her label Dimension Point.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/contrail-from-album-feel-single/id649694321|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030083136/https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/contrail-from-album-feel-single/id649694321|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 30, 2013|title=Contrail by Namie Amuro on iTunes|publisher=iTunes Store (Japan)|date=May 29, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016}}{{cite news |author=CD Journal Staff|url=http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/amuro-namie/48697|title=安室奈美恵の新曲「Damage」ミュージック・ビデオが配信開始！|work=CD Journal|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} She contemplated in releasing the single as a CD single, but later scrapped the idea because she felt the digital release and promotion through the television series would be enough.{{cite news |url=http://ringing-song.net/drama/contrail.html|title=Namie Amuro – Contrail news|date=April 30, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} Two cover artworks were published; one features a birds-eye view of two contrails above a cityscape, while the second cover, used for ringtone purchases, features the cast of the accompanying television show.
Composition
{{listen|filename=Contrail - Namie Amuro sample.ogg|left|title="Contrail"|description="Contrail" is a mid-tempo dance-pop song that utilizes synthesizers, keyboards, and a drum machine.|format=Ogg}}
Musically, "Contrail" is a "light" mid-tempo dance number that includes instrumentation of synthesizers, keyboards, and a drum machine.{{cite news |url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/feel/4113051389|title=Namie Amuro / Feel [CD+DVD]|work=CD Journal|date=July 10, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}}{{cite news |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/86573|title=安室奈美恵、新垣結衣＆綾野剛出演ドラマで主題歌担当|publisher=Natalie.mu|date=March 13, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2017|language=Japanese}} However, a member at Japanese website Natalie.mu labelled it amongst many "aggressive" dance tracks on Feel.{{cite news |url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/91080|title=安室奈美恵、"感じる"10枚目のアルバム＆40公演ツアー|publisher=Natalie.mu|date=July 22, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2017|language=Japanese}} Patrick St. Michel, writing for The Japan Times, included the track as part of a discussion about the Westernized music influences throughout the entirety of Feel, stating "nearly every track indulges in electronic trends, sometimes besting the American competition." A self-empowerment anthem, the title derives from the literal term, and is delivered as a metaphor for confidence and hope. In an interview with Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), Amuro stated that the song represented the "positive views of the world". She furthered explained that "So when I'm listening to the song on Sunday night, I'll wake up on Monday morning feeling happy." Nao'ymt furthered commented to TBS that the song is about looking forward and letting go of the past; he went on to complimented Amuro's "strong" vocals and professionalism. An English language version of "Contrail" was written and recorded as a demo by Nao'ymt and forwarded it to Amuro to record. However, this was replaced by the Japanese version because Amuro felt the majority of the recordings on Feel were "better in English", and that the theme song for the television series was strictly towards the Japanese audiences.{{cite web |author=St. Michel, Patrick|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/08/14/music/cd-reviews/namie-amuro-feel/#.V1Juy5F97IU|title=Namie Amuro: "Feel"|work=The Japan Times|date=August 14, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016}}
Reception
"Contrail" received positive reviews from music critics. A member from Japanese magazine CD Journal's commended Nao'ymt's production and songwriting, and went on to praise him for "exhausting" the "goodness" out of Amuro's vocal abilities. A generic review at Billboard Japan agreed about Amuro's vocals, and praised the fact it was a single off Feel.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/sp/goods/detail/398569|title=Namie Amuro "Feel"|magazine=Billboard|date=July 10, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} Additionally, David Cirone from J-Generation believed "Contrail" stood out from the album due to the fact it was sung in Japanese, stating "Amuro's sometimes at the mercy of heavy-handed, obvious lyrics, and pronunciation occasionally gets the better of her, softening the sharp intelligence she displays in 'Contrail' when she sings in her native Japanese."{{cite web|last=|first=|date=July 21, 2013|title=Namie Amuro – Feel (Review)|url=https://j-generation.com/2013/07/namie-amuro-feel-review/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612105238/https://j-generation.com/2013/07/namie-amuro-feel-review/ |archive-date=2020-06-12 |access-date=2020-06-12|website=J-Generation|publisher=}} Similarly, Japanese music retail Recochoku.jp praised the songs message.{{cite web |url=http://recochoku.jp/song/S21789002/|title=Contrail (from ALBUM "FEEL")|publisher=Recochoku.jp|date=July 10, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2017}} The 2014 Ballada version also received positive reviews from music critics. Another review with CD Journal complimented Amuro's vocals and the song's background piano composition, claiming it to be "dramatic".{{cite news |author=CD Journal Staff|url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/ballada/4114040168|title=Namie Amuro – Ballada (album review)|work=CD Journal|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} In another positive review, staff member's at HMV felt that it was the best ballad on the compilation album.{{cite news |author=HMV Staff|url=http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Namie-Amuro_000000000042021/item_Ballada-DVD_5719760|title=Namie Amuro – Ballada (album review)|work=HMV|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}}
In Japan, "Contrail" was unable to chart on the Oricon Singles Chart because of their restriction of digital sales.{{cite news |author=Mittal, Sushubh|url=https://techwhack.co/oricon-exits/|title=Oricon exits from Japanese PC music download market|work=Techwhack|date=November 1, 2006|access-date=June 6, 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://aramajapan.com/news/oricon-to-cease-counting-music-cards-as-part-of-sales-totals/16154/|title=Oricon to cease counting Music Download Card as part of Sales Totals|work=Arama Japan|date=2015|access-date=June 6, 2016}} However, it did have success on the Japan Hot 100, provided by Billboard. It debuted at number 44 during the chart week of May 6, due to strong airplay.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2013&month=05&day=6|title=Japan Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=May 6, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} The track had climbed steadily, eventually reached number 15 during its sixth week of charting on June 10.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2013&month=06&day=10|title=Japan Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=June 10, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} The following week on June 17, it peaked at number eight for a sole week.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2013&month=06&day=17|title=Japan Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=June 17, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} It fell outside the top ten the following week, stalling at number 16.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2013&month=06&day=24|title=Japan Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=June 24, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} Its final appearance at number 42 on the chart date of July 29, staying in the chart for 13 weeks in total.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2013&month=07&day=29|title=Japan Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=July 29, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} Additionally, "Contrail" debuted on Billboards Radio Songs, at number 21, and eventually peaked at number seven.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=radio_songs&year=2013&month=05&day=06|title=Japan Radio Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=May 6, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805052616/http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=radio_songs&year=2013&month=05&day=06|archive-date=August 5, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=radio_songs&year=2013&month=05&day=20|title=Japan Radio Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=May 20, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} The song's final appearance was on June 10, stalling at number 39.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=radio_songs&year=2013&month=06&day=10|title=Japan Radio Songs Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=May 20, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} On Billboards Year-End chart, "Contrail" was ranked at number 65.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/japan-hot-100|title=Year End Japan Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|date=2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for digital sales of 250,000 units.{{cite web | title=レコード協会調べ 1月度有料音楽配信認定 |trans-title=Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications | url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w140228.html | publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |language=Japanese | date=February 28, 2014 | access-date=March 4, 2014}}
Music video
File:Namieamurocontrailmusicvideo.png for the music video "Contrail".]]
An accompanying music video was directed by the production team IKIO in downtown Los Angeles, California. The visual was directed a week before the single's initial release date.{{cite AV media notes |title=Feel|others=Namie Amuro|year=2013|type=CD and DVD album|publisher=Dimension Point|id=AVCN-99001/B}} According to Sync Music Japan, the concept of the video was to invoke a "marching of hope."{{cite web |url=http://www.syncmusic.jp/wordpress/?p=15621|title=Namie Amuro, Road blockade in LA for "Contrail" MV shooting|publisher=Sync Music Japan|date=July 3, 2013|access-date=December 7, 2017}} Additionally, the entire set was situated in specific areas in Los Angeles, and required police from the region to blockade the roads and bridges; this became a heavy topic within the Japanese media at the time. It opens with a birds-eye view shot from the ground, showing several buildings and trees; just before the first verse, a shot of Amuro is seen. The first verse opens with Amuro walking down a street in Los Angeles, singing to the track. During the verse, intercut scenes include various shadows of children holding musical instruments behind Amuro.
The chorus opens with her walking along a bridge with the children playing their instruments behind her. When the second chorus starts, the camera pans over to several buildings and landscapes around Los Angeles.{{cite web |author=IKIOI (director)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt4HJLT5bUw|title=Namie Amuro – Contrail (short ver.)|work=Namie Amuro's YouTube channel|date=June 6, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016}} The camera then pans into several citizens in the city expressing a sense of pensiveness: an elderly couple, a man in his car, a couple who have just finished surfing, and a woman walking her dog. During the second chorus, Amuro and the children begin marching and playing their instruments through downtown Los Angeles. The citizens stop for a moment, and look towards the sky, which is cut off screen. As close-up shots of Amuro finish by the end of the bridge section of the song, the camera pans towards rainbow-colored clouds, which makes the citizens become more gleeful.
The final chorus has Amuro and the children dancing and singing at Pershing Square, surrounding by several lighting effects and rainbow-colored clouds. Several scenes of the clouds start to float within the city, above and near skyscrapers, and the video ends with Amuro, the children, and the citizens smiling. The music video received positive reviews from publications. According to Japanese magazine CD Journal, they labelled the content "refreshing", and praised the visual effects.{{cite news |author=CD Journal Staff|url=http://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/amuro-namie/52239|title=安室奈美恵、LA撮影「Contrail」のミュージック・ビデオが公開|work=CD Journal|date=June 7, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} Farea Stadmin from Far East Vibes praised Amuro's introduction to "Americanized multiculturalism", identifying the inclusion of American people as an example.{{cite news |author=Stadmin, Farea|url=http://fareastvibes.com/archives/20772|title=Namie Amuro – Contrail|work=Far East Vibes|date=June 7, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2016|language=Japanese}} The music video and its "behind the scenes" was included on the DVD and Blu-ray formats to Feel.{{cite AV media notes |title=Feel|others=Namie Amuro|first=Namie|last=Amuro|year=2013|type=CD and Blu-Ray album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Music Creative Inc., Dimension Point|id=AVCN-99002/B|location=Japan}}
Live performances and promotion
"Contrail" has been performed on three concert tours in Asia. Its first appearance was on her 2013 Feel Tour, which was placed as the concert encore; she wore a simple skirt, t-shirt and orange beanie. Additionally, a special bonus track was recorded in Yoyogi Gymnasium on the live DVD/Blu-Ray that commemorated her 500th live performance.{{cite AV media notes|title=Feel Tour|others=Namie Amuro|date=2014|type=CD Album|id=AVC6-99008〜9/B}} A year later, Amuro added the song into her annual Live Style concert tour during the second segment, and as the seventh track in the set list. A live release was published throughout Asia on February 1, 2015.{{cite AV media notes|title=Live Style 2014|others=Namie Amuro|date=2015|type=Live DVD|id=AVBN-99019}} The song's most recent appearance was on her Live Style 2016–2017 as a hidden track to the live releases.{{cite AV media notes|title=Live Style 2016–2017|others=Namie Amuro|date=2017|type=Live DVD|id=AVBN-99046~7}} Furthermore, the track was used as the theme song to the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) television series Flying Public Relations Office (2014), as mentioned above.
The song has been re-recorded in two different versions on two compilation albums. The first was for her 2014 concept record Ballada, which was placed as a bonus track to the album, and was stripped from its dance production to a pop ballad tune.{{cite AV media notes|title=Ballada|others=Namie Amuro|date=2014|type=CD|publisher=Dimension Point|id=AVCN-99012}} This version was produced by Nao'ymt, who crafted the original composition. Despite the announcement of having all music videos published on the DVD and Blu-Ray versions, "Contrail" was not added to the list.{{cite web|url=http://namieamuro.jp/news/2014/1017876/|title=自身"初"のバラードベストアルバム『Ballada』発売！|publisher=Namieamuro.jp|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=December 6, 2017|language=Japanese}} The song's final re-recording was for her last greatest hits album Finally (2014), which featured new arrangement by Nao'ymt once again.{{cite AV media notes|title=Finally|others=Namie Amuro|date=2017|type=3CD Compilation|id=AVCN-99055}}
Track listing
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted by the liner notes of the Feel album.
Recording
- Recorded at Daimonion Studios, Shibuya, Tokyo (2013).
Personnel
- Namie Amuro – vocals, background vocals
- Nao'ymt – production, composing, arranging, songwriting, programming, vocal production
- D.O.I. – mixing
- IKIOI – music video direction
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2013) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Japan Hot 100 Chart (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"|8 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Japan Radio Songs Chart (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"|7 |
{{col-2}}
= Year-end chart =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2013) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Japan Hot 100 Chart (Billboard)
| style="text-align:center;"|65 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certification
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Japan |artist=Namie Amuro |title=Contrail |type=single |award=Platinum |relyear=2013|certyear=2014|certmonth=1|digital=true|note=Digital single|access-date=September 10, 2021 }}
{{Certification Table Bottom | noshipments=true}}
Release history
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://namieamuro.jp/discography/others02.html "Contrail"] at Namie Amuro's website. {{in lang|ja}}
{{Namie Amuro singles}}
{{Good article}}
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