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Concentration 20

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Concentration 20

| type = studio

| artist = Namie Amuro

| cover = Concentration 20.png

| alt =

| caption =

| released = July 24, 1997

| recorded = 1996–1997

| venue =

| studio = {{Plainlist|

}}

| genre = {{hlist|Dance-pop|pop rock}}

| length = 56:17

| language = {{hlist|English|Japanese}}

| label = Avex Trax

| producer = Tetsuya Komuro

| prev_title = Original Tracks Vol.1

| prev_year = 1996

| next_title = 181920

| next_year = 1998

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Concentration 20

| type = studio

| single1 = A Walk in the Park

| single1date = November 27, 1996

| single2 = Can You Celebrate?

| single2date = February 19, 1997

| single3 = How to Be a Girl

| single3date = May 21, 1997

}}

}}

Concentration 20 is the third studio album by Japanese singer Namie Amuro. It was released on July 24, 1997, by Avex Trax. The album's musical style is a fusion of genres including pop, dance, rock, reggae and ska. Unlike Amuro's previous effort, Sweet 19 Blues (1996), which primarily had lyrics written by Tetsuya Komuro, Concentration 20{{'s}} lyrics were mostly written by Marc Panther. Komuro did, however, compose and arrange most of the album's songs and wrote the lyrics to three of them. It was Amuro's second solo album since splitting up with Super Monkey's.

"A Walk in the Park" was released as the album's lead single on November 27, 1996. The single was very successful, becoming Amuro's fourth number one single on the Oricon Singles Chart and fourth million-seller. The second single, "Can You Celebrate?", was released on February 19, 1997. It became an unprecedented smash hit, selling over 2.29 million copies and remains the best-selling physical single by a female soloist in Japanese music history. "Can You Celebrate?" was certified double million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), her first and last single to receive such a certification. The rock-infused third single, "How to Be a Girl", reached number one and sold over 770,000 copies, becoming Amuro's sixth number one single.

The album received positive reviews from music critics upon release, calling it more sophisticated than its predecessor. Concentration 20 was massively successful, premiering at the top of the Oricon Albums Chart with first-week sales of over 824,000 copies. It resided on the charts for 28 weeks, and was the seventh best-selling album of the year, selling nearly two million copies and is the 80th best-selling album of all time in Japan. Combined with the sales of its singles, Concentration 20 has sold around 4.5 million copies.

Background and recording

File:The Plant - Sausalito - front door 2.jpg (Hollywood, California) was one of the studios where the album was recorded.]]

In summer 1996, Amuro released her sophomore album Sweet 19 Blues, which was her first release since severing ties with Super Monkey's.Japanese formats for Sweet 19 Blues listed below:

  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Sweet 19 Blues |year=1996 |type=liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVCD-11463 |location=Japan}}
  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Sweet 19 Blues |year=1996 |type=liner notes (Promo) |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVCD-11463 |location=Japan}}
  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Sweet 19 Blues |year=1996 |type=liner notes (Limited Edition #1) |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVCD-11463 |location=Japan}}
  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Sweet 19 Blues |year=1996 |type=liner notes (Limited Edition #2) |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVCD-11463 |location=Japan}}
  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Sweet 19 Blues |year=1996 |type=liner notes (Limited Edition #3) |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVCD-11463 |location=Japan}}
  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Sweet 19 Blues |year=1996 |type=liner notes (Limited Edition #4) |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVCD-11463 |location=Japan}} The album was a mammoth commercial success, reaching number one on the Oricon Albums Chart,{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/191925/products/44733/1/ |title=Sweet 19 Blues - Namie Amuro |publisher=Oricon |language=Japanese |access-date=March 30, 2024}} receiving a triple million certification from the RIAJ,{{cite journal |title=Gold Album 他認定作品 1996年8月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. August 1996 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1996/199608.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=ja |location=Chūō, Tokyo |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |publication-date=October 10, 1997 |volume=443 |page=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610130931/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1996/199610.pdf |archive-date=June 10, 2014 |access-date=June 10, 2014}} spawning three chart-toppers,{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/191925/products/45997/1/ |title=Chase the Chance - Namie Amuro |publisher=Oricon |language=Japanese |access-date=March 30, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/191925/products/46005/1/ |title=Don't Wanna Cry - Namie Amuro |publisher=Oricon |language=Japanese |access-date=March 30, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/191925/products/46012/1/ |title=You're My Sunshine - Namie Amuro |publisher=Oricon |language=Japanese |access-date=March 30, 2024}} and was even the best-selling Japanese album of all time for a brief moment.{{cite web |url=http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-album.html |title=歴代アルバムランキング Top267 |publisher=Music TV Program |language=Japanese |access-date=March 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010045115/http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-album.html |archive-date=October 10, 2007}} By the end of the year, Sweet 19 Blues was named the second best-selling album in Japan of 1996, trailing behind Globe's eponymous debut album.{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1996a.html |title=1996年 アルバム年間Top100 |publisher=Oricon (via Geocities) |language=Japanese |date=1996 |access-date=March 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208075136/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1996a.html |archive-date=December 8, 2013}}

After this monumental success, recording for its follow-up began immediately. Much of the recording of Concentration 20 was done in the United States, primarily in California and New York.{{cite AV media notes|title=Concentration 20|others=Namie Amuro|year=1997|first=Namie|last=Amuro|type=Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVCD-11581|location=Japan}} Two weeks were devoted to recording in Santa Monica. The title of the album was reportedly chosen because: "the studio at that time was on 20th Street in Santa Monica, and that is where we concentrated". Along with: "the 20th century is almost over, so let's concentrate on the time we have left", along with, "can we keep listening to this album throughout the 20th century?" The album was named so that it could be played with various meanings, such as "people who were 19 years old when Sweet 19 Blues was released are now entering their 20s", and so on, to broaden the imagination. Coincidentally, the title and Amuro's age at the time of release matched even though she was not aware of it.「ぴあ」1997年7月28日号7Pより。ソニー・マガジンズ刊『WHAT's IN?』1998年1月号袋とじ「Self Liner Notes '97」p.10より。 Other well-known artists such as Marc Panther, Koji Kubo, and m.c.A.T (Akio Togashi) also participated in the production of the album. "Storm" features m.c.A.T, as on the previous album.

Composition

The album concept was "Fancy & Cool", with the "glamorous and flashy" part emphasized in "Can You Celebrate?" and the "cool" part in "Close Your Eyes, Close To You", "Concentration 20 (Make You Alright)" and "Whisper". The album embodies an array of styles including pop, rock and reggae. Unlike her previous album, which was heavy on the pseudo-R&B side, Concentration 20 was practically void of it; therefore, the album took on a more electronic style similar to that of her producer's group, Globe.

Opening the album is the industrial rock influenced track "Concentration 20 (Make You Alright)".{{cite web|author=CD Journal Staff|title=Namie Amuro – Concentration 20 [CD]|url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/concentration-20/1197080673|work=CD Journal|date=July 24, 1997|access-date=March 16, 2024|language=ja}} "B w/z you" is a mid-tempo number with a rock beat and a powerful hammering sound. "Close Your Eyes, Close To You" is a Euro-style electronic rock tune with an intro that is prolonged and dynamic, leading the listener to believe it is an instrumental. "Me Love Peace !!" is a reggae-style number with a ska beat that evokes the tropical mood of Okinawa. She would not attempt a similar style again until 2005's "Want Me, Want Me", which featured prominent dancehall and reggaeton influences. "No Communication" is a dance pop number. "A Walk In The Park" is a brisk electronic rock number with a chorus that envelops the listener in warm sunlight; Komuro participates in the track by singing in the chorus. "To-Day" is a mellow song with contemporary AOR influences.

"Storm" is full-fledged rap number written by m.c.A.T. and composed by Akio Togashi. "Whisper" is song that has a composition that changes from the whispering sound of the title to intense electronic rock. "Can You Celebrate?" is a power ballad with a gospel-like chorus, a string orchestra and a piano sound. "I Know…" is an instrumental with an electric sound. "How to be a Girl" is an upbeat dance rock number.

Promotion

=Singles and other songs=

The singles from this album were very successful, two were million sellers and all three reached the top spot of the Oricon Singles Chart.

"A Walk in the Park" was released as the album's lead single on November 27, 1996, four months after the massive success of Sweet 19 Blues.{{cite AV media notes |title=A Walk in the Park|others=Namie Amuro|first=Namie|last=Amuro|year=1996|type=CD single; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVDD-20161|location=Japan}} It became her fourth number one and million selling single.{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/191925/products/46044/1/ |title=a walk in the park - Namie Amuro |publisher=Oricon |language=Japanese |access-date=March 30, 2024}}{{cite journal |title=Gold Album 他認定作品 1997年1月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. January 1997 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1997/199703.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=ja |publisher=RIAJ |date=March 10, 1997 |volume=449 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306111501/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1997/199703.pdf |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |access-date=June 10, 2014}} The single spent seven weeks into the top five and eight weeks in top ten totally.{{efn|{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/961209.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week December 9, 1996|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=December 9, 1996|access-date=May 28, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131847/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/961209.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/961216.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week December 16, 1996|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=December 16, 1996|access-date=May 28, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131930/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/961216.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/961223.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week December 23, 1996|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=December 23, 1996|access-date=May 28, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131918/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/961223.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/961230.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week December 30, 1996|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=December 30, 1996|access-date=May 28, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131849/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/961230.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970113.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week January 13, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=January 13, 1997|access-date=May 28, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131908/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970113.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970120.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week January 20, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=January 20, 1997|access-date=May 28, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131831/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970120.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}}} "A Walk in the Park" was the thirteenth best-selling single of the year 1997 in Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1997.html|title=オリコン 1997年Top100|access-date=March 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131852/https://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1997.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}} It was certified million in January 1997. "A Walk in the Park" ranks as her fifth best-selling single in the country.{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/191925/rank/single/ |title=Namie Amuro's Top 20 Single Sales |publisher=Oricon |language=Japanese |access-date=March 7, 2024}} [Additional ranking information provided by corporate service Oricon Biz]

February 19, 1997, saw the release of the album's second single, "Can You Celebrate?".{{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Can You Celebrate? |year=1997 |type=liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVDD-20167 |location=Japan}} Amuro began the year 1997 with her defining single and biggest success to date. It opened at the top spot on the singles chart with over 800,000 copies sold in its first week,{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970303.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week March 3, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=March 3, 1997|access-date=March 25, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131828/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970303.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}} the highest first week sales for any of Amuro's singles and the eighth highest opening sales of all time for a CD single in Japan.{{cite news|title=歴代シングル初動ランキング |url=http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-single-syodo.html |access-date=29 May 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016000048/http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-single-syodo.html |archive-date=16 October 2016}} It spent two consecutive weeks at number one,{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970310.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week March 10, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=March 10, 1997|access-date=March 25, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131908/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970310.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}} seven weeks in the top five and eight weeks in top ten totally.{{efn|{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970317.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week March 17, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=March 17, 1997|access-date=March 25, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131830/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970317.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970324.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week March 24, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=March 24, 1997|access-date=March 25, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131947/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970324.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970331.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week March 31, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=March 31, 1997|access-date=March 25, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131836/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970331.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970407.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week April 7, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=April 7, 1997|access-date=March 25, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131922/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970407.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970414.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week April 14, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=April 14, 1997|access-date=March 25, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131926/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970414.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970421.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week April 21, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=April 21, 1997|access-date=March 25, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131900/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970421.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}}}} It charted for forty weeks.{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/191925/products/46050/1/ |title=Can You Celebrate? - Namie Amuro |publisher=Oricon |language=Japanese |access-date=March 30, 2024}} "Can You Celebrate?" was the biggest-selling single of 1997, and is the fourteenth best-selling single in Japanese music history,{{cite news|title=歴代シングルランキング Top246 |url=http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-single.html |access-date=29 May 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925160856/http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-single.html |archive-date=25 September 2016}} with sales of over 2.29 million copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/ss/270/special/top.html|title=大人が選ぶ女性バラードBest30|publisher=TV Asahi|date=December 8, 2007|access-date=August 10, 2008|language=ja}} It also received a double million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in March 1997, making it her only single to accomplish this.{{cite journal |title=Gold Album 他認定作品 1997年3月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. March 1997 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1997/199705.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=ja |location=Chūō, Tokyo |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |publication-date=April 10, 1997 |volume=451 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223104438/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1997/199705.pdf |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |access-date=June 10, 2014}} A maxi-single reissue of "Can You Celebrate?" was released on Christmas Day 1997 to commemorate Amuro's nuptial with Masaharu "Sam" Maruyama and was also successful with about 500,000 units sold, while also being certified platinum in January 1998.{{cite journal |title=Gold Album 他認定作品 1998年1月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. January 1998 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1998/199803.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=ja |location=Chūō, Tokyo |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |publication-date=March 10, 1998 |volume=460 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129042630/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1998/199803.pdf |archive-date=January 29, 2014 |access-date=January 29, 2014}} In December 1997, the song helped her to win the Best Single Award at the 39th Japan Record Awards.{{Cite web |date=December 31, 2017 |title=20年前の本日、第39回日本レコード大賞を受賞した安室奈美恵「Can You Celebrate?」 |url=https://news.1242.com/article/133626 |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=news.1242.com |language=ja}}

"How to Be a Girl" is the third and last single from the album and was released on May 21, 1997.{{cite AV media notes |title=How to Be a Girl|others=Namie Amuro|first=Namie|last=Amuro|year=1997|type=CD single; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVDD-20185|location=Japan}} "How to Be a Girl" is Amuro's first attempt at rock music. The single still managed to be a commercial success, spending two consecutive weeks at number one and selling over 770,000 copies, included over 300,000 copies purchased in its opening week.{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970602.html|title=Oricon Singles Chart – Chart Week June 2, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=June 2, 1997|access-date=March 25, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131932/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970602.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}} "How to Be a Girl" was also the 23rd best-selling single of 1997. In June 1997, the single was certified million.{{cite journal |title=Gold Album 他認定作品 1997年6月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. June 1997 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1997/199708.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=ja |location=Chūō, Tokyo |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |publication-date=August 10, 1997 |volume=454 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103051739/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1997/199708.pdf |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |access-date=April 27, 2014}} "How to Be a Girl" is Amuro's seventh best-selling single overall.

=Tie-ups and theme songs=

"A Walk in the Park" and "Can You Celebrate?" were both jingles for Maxell UD commercials and "Whisper" was used as the background music for the Maxell MD74 commercial.[http://twlovena.com/CF/maxell.htm Screencaps of Namie's maxell CMs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928024244/http://twlovena.com/CF/maxell.htm |date=September 28, 2007 }} "Can You Celebrate?" was also the theme song of the dorama Virgin Road.{{cite web |url=http://namieamuro.jp/discography/single07.html |title=Can You Celebrate? |publisher=Namie Amuro's website |language=Japanese |access-date=June 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110150026/http://namieamuro.jp/discography/single07.html |archive-date=November 10, 2015}} "How to Be a Girl" was used as background music in four commercials for Sea Breeze products. The first commercial was promoting a sun lotion, the second a shampoo, the third a deodorant and the last a moisturizer.[http://twlovena.com/CF/maxell.htm Screencaps of Namie's Sea Breeze CMs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928024244/http://twlovena.com/CF/maxell.htm |date=September 28, 2007 }} "No Communication" was used as background music in a commercial for the DyDo Mistio drinks.[http://twlovena.com/CF/DyDo.htm Screencpas of Namie's DyDo CMs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928024227/http://twlovena.com/CF/DyDo.htm |date=September 28, 2007 }}

=Live appearances and tours=

Two days after the release of the album, she started her first dome tour titled Mistio Presents Namie Amuro Summer Stage '97 Concentration 20 in order to support the album, which drew 300,000 spectators at four major domes: Osaka Dome, Tokyo Dome, Fukuoka Dome, and Nagoya Dome.{{cite web|title=1997 SUMMER STAGE |url=http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro/report/dome2.htm |access-date=April 15, 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001206183100/http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro/report/dome2.htm |archive-date=December 6, 2000}} Subsequently, a live release titled Namie Amuro Concentration 20 Live in Tokyo Dome was released on December 3, 1997, followed by additional formats on later dates.{{cite web |title=安室奈美恵/Namie Amuro Concentration 20 Live in Tokyo Dome＜初回限定特別価格版＞ |url=https://tower.jp/item/1661949/Namie-Amuro-Concentration-20-Live-in-Tokyo-Dome%EF%BC%9C%E5%88%9D%E5%9B%9E%E9%99%90%E5%AE%9A%E7%89%B9%E5%88%A5%E4%BE%A1%E6%A0%BC%E7%89%88%EF%BC%9E |publisher=Tower Records Japan |access-date=December 29, 2023 |language=ja |date=March 24, 2005}}Concentration 20 Live In Tokyo Dome formats listed below:

  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Concentration 20 Live In Tokyo Dome |year=1997 |type=liner notes (VHS) |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVVD-90035 |location=Japan}}
  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Concentration 20 Live In Tokyo Dome |year=2000 |type=liner notes (DVD) |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVBD-91024 |location=Japan}}
  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Concentration 20 Live In Tokyo Dome |year=2005 |type=liner notes (DVD) |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVBD-91330 |location=Japan}}
  • {{cite AV media notes |last=Amuro |first=Namie |author-link=Namie Amuro |title=Concentration 20 Live In Tokyo Dome |year=2012 |type=liner notes (DVD) |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVBD-91988 |location=Japan}} The initial VHS release debuted at #43 on the Oricon and charted for twelve weeks, while the 20th Anniversary DVD edition debuted at #65 on the Oricon charts, and charted for three weeks.

Reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/concentration-20-mw0000914606 |title=Concentration 20 - Namie Amuro |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=June 2, 2024}}

}}

Music critics gave Concentration 20 positive feedback. Ted Mills of AllMusic gave the record three and a half stars out of five, saying that the album has "mature effort" written all over it. Despite this, he still stated that it felt forced and Amuro's voice is still limited by her range. In 2014, the Japanese website Goo conducted a survey to determine which of Amuro's albums the Japanese public thought was her best; Concentration 20 received the sixth highest number of votes, with 216 votes in total.{{cite web |url=https://aramajapan.com/news/ranking/favorite-namie-amuro-album-goo-asks/2912/ |title=Favorite Namie Amuro Album? Goo Asks |date=July 17, 2014 |publisher=Goo (via AramaJapan) |access-date=June 2, 2024}}

Concentration 20 debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, with 824,980 copies sold in its first week of availability.{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970804a.html|title=Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 4, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=August 4, 1997|access-date=April 3, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106015236/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970804a.html|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=dead}} It again nabbed the top spot on the charts in its second week, with sales of 362,440 copies.{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970811a.html|title=Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 11, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=August 11, 1997|access-date=April 3, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106015235/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970811a.html|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=dead}} On its third week, Concentration 20 dropped to number four, shifting 229,550 copies.{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970818a.html|title=Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week August 18, 1997|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=August 18, 1997|access-date=April 3, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106015235/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/970818a.html|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=dead}} In total, it lasted seven weeks in the top ten, and stay in the top 300 chart for 28 weeks. The album was ranked as the seventh best-selling album of the year by Oricon, as well as the year's best-selling album by a female soloist.{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1997a.html|title=1997年 アルバム年間Top100|access-date=February 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331111618/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1997a.html|archive-date=March 31, 2019|url-status=dead}} A month after the album's premiere, in August 1997, Amuro became the first teenage popster to surpass the 20 million single and album sales mark on Oricon.{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/news2/amuro/a-cd.html|title=安室奈美恵ディスコグラフィー|work=Nikkan Sports|access-date=April 14, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980205040700/http://www.nikkansports.com/news2/amuro/a-cd.html|archive-date=February 5, 1998|url-status=dead}} During the same month, Concentration 20 was certified double million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of over two million copies nationwide.{{cite journal |title=Gold Album 他認定作品 1997年8月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. August 1997 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1997/199710.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=Japanese |location=Chūō, Tokyo |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |publication-date=October 10, 1997 |volume=456 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928160000/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1997/199710.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |access-date=April 27, 2014}} In all, Concentration 20 sold about 1.9 million copies during its chart run.{{cite web | title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 |trans-title=Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp |language=ja | work=Oricon |url-access=subscription | access-date=May 21, 2014}} Concentration 20 is Amuro's third best-selling LP behind Finally and Sweet 19 Blues according to Oricon Style,{{Cite web |title= |script-title=ja:安室奈美恵のアルバム売上Top20作品 |trans-title=Namie Amuro's Top 20 Albums Sales |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/191925/rank/album/ |access-date=April 13, 2024 |website=Oricon News |language=ja}} as well as the fifty-sixth best-selling album in Japan for the 1990s decade.{{cite web |url=https://amigo.lovepop.jp/decade_a1990b.html |title=1990年代アルバム売上ランキング |language=ja |access-date=2024-04-14}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Concentration 20 track listing

| extra_column = Arranger(s)

| title1 = Concentration 20 (Make You Alright)

| lyrics1 = Marc Panther

| music1 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra1 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length1 = 4:07

| title2 = B w/z You

| lyrics2 = Marc Panther

| music2 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra2 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length2 = 5:03

| title3 = Close Your Eyes, Close to You

| lyrics3 = Marc Panther

| music3 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra3 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length3 = 5:50

| title4 = Me Love Peace!!

| lyrics4 = Marc Panther

| music4 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra4 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length4 = 4:29

| title5 = No Communication

| lyrics5 = Marc Panther

| music5 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra5 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length5 = 4:14

| title6 = A Walk in the Park

| lyrics6 = Tetsuya Komuro

| music6 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra6 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length6 = 5:50

| title7 = To-day

| lyrics7 = Marc Panther

| music7 = Cozy Kubo

| extra7 = Cozy Kubo

| length7 = 4:41

| title8 = Storm

| lyrics8 = m.c.A.T

| music8 = Akio Togashi

| extra8 = Akio Togashi

| length8 = 3:07

| title9 = Whisper

| lyrics9 = Marc Panther

| music9 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra9 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length9 = 5:08

| title10 = Can You Celebrate?

| lyrics10 = Tetsuya Komuro

| music10 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra10 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length10 = 6:15

| title11 = I Know...

| lyrics11 =

| music11 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra11 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length11 = 3:09

| title12 = How to Be a Girl

| lyrics12 = Tetsuya Komuro,
Marc Panther

| music12 = Tetsuya Komuro

| extra12 = Tetsuya Komuro

| length12 = 4:24

}}

Personnel

= Musicians =

= Production =

  • Producers – Tetsuya Komuro
  • Mixing – Eddie Delena
  • Vocal direction – Tetsuya Komuro, Kenji Sano
  • Photography – Itaru Hirama
  • Art direction – Tycoon Graphics

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

!Chart (1997)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web|title=

Concentration 20 安室奈美恵|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/191925/products/44831/1/|work=Oricon|access-date=February 27, 2024}}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

scope="row"| Taiwanese International Albums (IFPI){{cite web |title=Top 10 International Albums – Week 44 of 1997 |url=http://www.ifpi.org.tw/chart/intle_last.htm |publisher=IFPI Taiwan |access-date=2024-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980224060056/http://ifpi.org.tw/chart/1997/intl44.htm |language=zh |date=1997-11-16 |archive-date=1998-02-24 }}

| style="text-align:center;"| 1

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!Chart (1997)

!Position

scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)

| style="text-align:center;"|7

=Decade-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!Chart (1990–1999)

!Position

scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon)

| style="text-align:center;"|56

=All-time chart=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!Chart

!Position

scope="row"|Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web | url=http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-album.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103001458/http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-album.html | archive-date=January 3, 2012 | title=歴代アルバムランキング }}

| style="text-align:center;"|80

{{col-end}}

Sales and certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|award=Million|number=2|artist=安室奈美恵|title=Concentration 20|relyear=1997|certyear=1997|certmonth=8|salesamount=1,929,860|salesref=|access-date=January 31, 2021}}

{{End}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Namie Amuro}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Namie Amuro albums

Category:1997 albums

Category:Avex Group albums

Category:Albums produced by Tetsuya Komuro