Fly High (Ayumi Hamasaki song)
{{good article}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Fly High
| cover = Flyhigh.jpg
| alt = An image of Hamasaki in a clear sphere, wearing a beige-colored outfit.
| caption = CD is packaged in a red jewel case.
| type = single
| artist = Ayumi Hamasaki
| album = Loveppears
| released = {{start date|2000|2|9}}
| recorded = 1999
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = {{plainlist|
- 4:14 (radio edit)
- 4:07 (album edit)
}}
| label = {{hlist|Avex Trax|Avex Entertainment Inc.}}
| writer = Ayumi Hamasaki
| producer = Max Matsuura
| prev_title = Kanariya
| prev_year = 1999
| next_title = Vogue
| next_year = 2000
| misc = {{External music video
| header = Official Music Video
| 1 = {{YouTube|2zTG-uhGKbo|"Fly High"}}
| type = single
}}
}}
"Fly High" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released by Avex Trax in Japan on February 9, 2000, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008. The recording served as Hamasaki's third and final limited edition single from her second studio album, Loveppears (1999), limiting physical units to 300,000 copies. The track was written by the singer herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Two versions of "Fly High" were made available for consumption—a radio edit composed by HΛL, and the album version produced by Dai Nagao. Lyrically, the song was written in third person perspective.
Upon its release, "Fly High" received mixed reviews from music critics. Some praised the original and radio edit, while generally criticizing the amount of remixes. Commercially, the single experienced success in Japan, peaking at number three on the Oricon Singles Chart and TBS' Count Down TV chart. It sold just below its restricted 300,000 units, and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 200,000 copies. An accompanying music video for "Fly High" was directed by Wataru Takeishi, and portrayed Hamasaki in a nightclub, with a clone of her standing in the distance. To promote the single, it appeared on several remix and greatest hits compilation albums released by Hamasaki.
Background and release
"Fly High" was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Two versions of "Fly High" were made available for consumption—a radio edit composed by HΛL, and the album version produced by Dai Nagao.{{cite AV media notes |title=Loveppears|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=1999|type=CD Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11740|location=Japan}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Fly High|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=CD Single; Liner notes|work=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-30066|location=Japan}} Both compositions are inspired by dance music, a genre that heavily influences Hamasaki's second studio album, Loveppears (1999), and also includes musical elements of house and techno.{{cite news|author=AllMusic Staff|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/loveppears-mw0000372208|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Loveppears|work=AllMusic|date=April 10, 2001|access-date=July 14, 2016}}{{cite news | last=Takeuchi Cullen| first=Lisa| url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover3.html |title=Empress of Pop|work=Time| access-date=November 28, 2011 | page=3 | date=March 25, 2002 | url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020403135213/http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover3.html | archive-date=April 3, 2002 }} The song's instrumentation consists of synthesizers and keyboards managed by HΛL, while also incorporating an electric guitar provided by Naoya Akimoto. "Fly High" was eventually mastered and co-produced by Japanese musician Naoto Suzuki and Nagao. The album version is used as a lead-on for the titular opening song of Lovepperars. Lyrically, "Fly High" was written in third person perspective, a trait that is shared with the rest of the album's tracks.{{cite news|author=Hamasaki , Ayumi (interviewee)|url=http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/en/special/aballads/index2.html|title=Special Website to A Ballads|work=Ayumi Hamasaki's official website|date=March 12, 2003|access-date=July 16, 2016|archive-date=February 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209190143/http://avexnet.or.jp/ayu/en/special/aballads/index2.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite journal | title=Loveppears | journal=Beatfreak |date=November 1999 | volume=142|language=ja}}
It was released by Avex Trax in Japan on February 9, 2000, marking her first single in the 2000s decade, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008. It also served as Hamasaki's third and final limited edition single from Loveppears, limiting physical units to 300,000 copies. Subsequently, in mid 2000, a limited 12" vinyl was issued through Avex Trax in Japan to promote her second part of her 2000 concert tour. A picture disc that featured a shot of Hamasaki in a leather pink jacket included HΛL's 2000 remix on side one, and an orchestral version of the recording on side two.{{cite AV media notes |title=Fly High|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=12" vinyl picture disc; Liner notes|work=Avex Trax|id=NA|location=Japan}} The artwork was photographed by Japanese photographer Toru Kumazawa, and featured Hamasaki sitting in a beige–colored circular pod with fabric around her. The physical version of "Fly High" failed to include a booklet, which resulted in the cover sleeve being immolated as a picture disc, featuring an emphasised plastic sheet with information on the single.
Reception
Upon its release, "Fly High" received mixed reviews from music critics. A reviewer from CD Journal was particularly negative towards the amount of remixes on the maxi single and the lack of recognisable disc jockeys on the tracks.{{cite news|author=CD Journal Staff|url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/fly-high/3199120479|title=Ayumi Hamasaki / Fly High (Limited) [Out of Print]|work=CD Journal|date=February 9, 2000|access-date=July 27, 2016|language=ja}} AllMusic's Alexey Eremenko, who contributed in writing Hamasaki's biography on the website, selected the track as one of her best works.{{cite news|author=Eremenko, Alexey|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ayumi-hamasaki-mn0000758915/songs|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Songs|work=AllMusic|date=2016|access-date=July 27, 2016}} Commercially, the single experienced success in Japan. It debuted at number three on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 260,460 units in its first week of availability. "Fly High" lasted four weeks within the top 200, marking one of the singer's lowest-spanning singles in that chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/music/45120/1/|title=Fly High – Ayumi Hamasaki|work=Oricon Style|date=December 8, 1999|access-date=July 27, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924064732/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/music/45120/1/|archive-date=September 24, 2012 }} Likewise, it debuted at number three on the Count Down TV chart hosted by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), being present for six editions within the top 100 positions.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/countdown20000219-j.html|title=CDTV PowerWeb! Ranking Singles Chart|work=Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)|date=February 19, 2000|access-date=July 27, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060916115016/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/countdown20000219-j.html|archive-date=September 16, 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song4526-j.html|title=CDTV PowerWeb! Ayumi Hamasaki – Fly High|work=Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)|date=February 9, 2000|access-date=July 26, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060916115016/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song4526-j.html|archive-date=September 16, 2006}}
By the end of 2000, the recording had sold over 299,540 units in Japan, and was ranked at number 89 on Oricon's Annual 2000 chart, behind four other songs by Hamasaki.{{cite news|url=http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-2000.html|title=Oricon Yearly Chart – Singles, Albums, and DVD Releases of 20000|work=Music TV Program Japan|date=December 2000|access-date=July 16, 2016|language=ja}} Similarly, it charted at number 94 on TBS' Year-End Chart.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/countdown1999total-j.html|title=CDTV PowerWeb! 1999 Annual Singles Chart|work=Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)|date=1999|access-date=July 16, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009100833/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/countdown1999total-j.html|archive-date=October 9, 2006 }} In April 2000, "Fly High" was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 200,000 copies.As of July 2016, the track is her 26th highest-selling single based on Oricon Style's database.{{cite news|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/rank/single/p/3/|title=Ayumi Hamasaki Single's Ranking|work=Oricon Style|access-date=July 16, 2016|language=ja}}
Music video and promotion
An accompanying music video for the single was directed by Wataru Takeishi, and uses HΛL's remix version.{{cite news|author=Takeishi, Wataru (director)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19VHfB5pFJo|title=Fly High / Ayumi Hamasaki (short music video)|work=Avex Trax; published through YouTube|date=November 10, 2015|access-date=July 27, 2016|language=ja}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}} The video opens with Hamasaki signing the track in front of an audience, whilst dancing around a large black platform accompanied by her background band. Several scenes portray the video being projected on a large television screen, with the ending chorus having a clone of Hamasaki walking into the club and observing herself performing on stage. The music video was included on several DVD compilations released by Hamasaki: A Clips (2000),{{cite AV media notes |title=A Clips|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=DVD Videos; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVVD-90069|location=Japan}} A Complete Box Set (2004),{{cite AV media notes |title=A Complete Box Set|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2004|type=DVD Videos; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVBD-91181~3|location=Japan}} the digital release of A Clips Complete (2014),{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/nz/album/a-clip-box-1998-2011-vol-1/655484415|title=A Clip Box 1998-2011, Vol. 1 – Album – by Ayumi Hamasaki|work=iTunes Store (New Zealand)|date=January 1, 2012|access-date=July 16, 2016}} and the DVD and Blu-Ray re-release edition of her 2001 compilation album, A Best.{{cite AV media notes |title=A Best: 15th Anniversary Edition|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2016|type=CD + DVD + Blu-Ray; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVZD-93409/B~C|location=Japan}}
"Fly High" has been heavily promoted through compilation albums conducted by Hamasaki; it has been included on 11 of the singer's remix albums, including Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix and Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix (2000).The list below are the compilations that "Fly High" has been featured in;
- {{cite AV media notes |title=Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=Remix Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVTCD-95326|location=Japan}}
- {{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version US+EU|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=Remix Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11797|location=Japan}}
- {{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version JPN|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=Remix Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11798|location=Japan}}
- {{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version Acoustic Orchestral|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=Remix Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11799|location=Japan}}
- {{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=Remix Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11800~1|location=Japan}}
- {{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu Trance|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2001|type=Remix Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-17028|location=Japan}}
- {{cite AV media notes |title=Cyber Trance Presents Ayu Trance 2|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2002|type=Remix Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-17200|location=Japan}}
- {{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x 4 + Selection Acoustic Orchestra Version|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2002|type=Remix Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-17098|location=Japan}}
- {{cite AV media notes |title=Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix 2|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2001|type=Remix Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-17027|location=Japan}} The single has also been featured on two of Hamasaki's greatest hits albums,A Best (2001) and A Complete: All Singles (2008).{{cite AV media notes |title=A Best|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2001|type=CD; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11950|location=Japan}}{{cite AV media notes |title=A Ballads|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2007|type=3xCD Compilation Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-23676~8|location=Japan}} Additionally, it was specially remixed by Vincent De Moor for being added to the track list of her remix extended play, The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor (2001).{{cite AV media notes |title=The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2001|type=Remix EP; Liner notes|publisher=Rhythm Republic|id=RRCD-85235|location=Japan}}
Track listing
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- "Fly High" (Hal's mix 2000) – 4:14
- "Fly High" (Sample Madness remix) – 5:06
- "Fly High" (Supreme mix) – 6:25
- "Fly High" (acoustic orchestra version) – 4:04
- "Fly High" (Sharp Boys U.K. vocal mix) – 4:14
- "Fly High" (Saturation remix) – 3:55
- "Appears" (HW club mix) – 5:26
- "Fly High" (Dub's F remix) – 10:43
- "Fly High" (non-stop mix N.S dance mega mix) – 12:52
- "Kanariya" (fake compilation) – 5:11
- "Fly High" (album version instrumental) – 4:10
- "Fly High" (vocal track) – 3:20
{{col-2}}
- "Fly High" (Hal's Mix 2000) – 4:14
- "Fly High" (Sample Madness remix) – 5:06
- "Fly High" (Supreme mix) – 6:25
- "Fly High" (acoustic orchestra version) – 4:04
- "Fly High" (Sharp Boys U.K. vocal mix) – 4:14
- "Fly High" (Saturation remix) – 3:55
- "Appears" (HW club mix) – 5:26
- "Fly High" (Dub's F remix) – 10:43
- "Fly High" (non-stop mix N.S dance mega mix) – 12:52
- "Kanariya" (fake compilation) – 5:11
- "Fly High" (vocal track) – 3:20
- "Fly High" (Hal's mix 2000) – 4:14
- "Fly High" (acoustic orchestra version) – 4:04
{{col-end}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of the single's physical release.
Recording
- Recorded at Prime Sound Studio, Studio Sound Dali, Onkio Haus, Tokyo, Japan in 1999.
Credits
- Ayumi Hamasaki – vocals, songwriting, background vocals
- Max Matsuura – production
- Dai Nagao – composing, programming, mastering
- HΛL – composing, synthesizers, keyboards
- Naoto Suzuki – sound producing
- Naoya Akimoto – electric guitar
- Wataru Takeishi – music video director
- Dave Way – mixing
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2000) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Japan (Oricon)
| style="text-align:center;"|3 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Japan (Count Down TV Chart) (TBS)
| style="text-align:center;"|3 |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2000) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Japan (Oricon)
| style="text-align:center;"|89 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Japan Count Down TV (TBS)
| style="text-align:center;"|94 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications and sales
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|title=Fly High|artist=浜崎あゆみ|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|certmonth=2|domestic=true|salesamount=299,540|salesref={{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 | work=Oricon |url-access=subscription | access-date=August 26, 2014}}|refname="RIAJ"}}
{{Table end}}
Release history
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.avex.jp/ayu/discography/detail.php?id=1003306 "Fly High"] at Ayumi Hamasaki's official website. {{in lang|ja}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120924064732/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/music/45120/1/ "Fly High"] at Oricon Style. {{in lang|ja}}
{{Ayumi Hamasaki singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Ayumi Hamasaki