Love (Destiny)
{{good article}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Love (Destiny)
| cover = Love - Destiny (Ayumi Hamasaki single - cover art).png
| alt = A large image of Hamasaki hugging a male.
| caption = Mini CD cover
| type = single
| artist = Ayumi Hamasaki
| album = Loveppears
| released = {{start date|1999|4|14}}
| recorded = 1999
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = J-pop
| length = 4:55
| label = {{hlist|Avex Trax|Avex Taiwan|Avex Entertainment Inc.}}
| writer = Ayumi Hamasaki
| producer = Max Matsuura
| prev_title = Whatever
| prev_year = 1999
| next_title = To Be
| next_year = 1999
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = single
| cover = LoveDestinyRereleaseAyumiHamasaki.jpg
| border =
| alt =
| caption = CD single artwork
}}
{{External music video
| header = Official Music Video
| 1 = {{YouTube|zrguQUpbQvI|"Love (Destiny)"}}
| type = single
}}
}}
"Love (Destiny)" (stylized as "LOVE ~Destiny~") is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, serving as the second single for her second studio album, Loveppears (1999). It was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Taiwan on April 14, 1999, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008. The track was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Three versions of the recording have been made available—a ballad version arranged by Tsunku, an edited version with vocals by Tsunku, and a dance-influenced version included on Loveppears.
Upon its release, "Love (Destiny)" received near universal acclaim from music critics, praising her vocal performance, with some highlighting the single as one of Hamasaki's best work. Commercially, the recording experienced success in Japan, reaching number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and TBS' Count Down TV chart, her first song to do so on either charts. It also became Hamasaki's first single to sell over 500,000 units, and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 400,000 copies. Due to the single's success, it was re-released as a CD single and re-entered both charts.
An accompanying music video was directed by Wataru Takeishi, and featured Hamasaki in a large skyscraper while singing to the song in different areas. In order to promote the single, it appeared on several remix and greatest hits compilation albums, and live concert torus conducted by Hamasaki. It was also used as the theme song for Japanese television show SemiDouble (1999). To date, the recording remains one of her highest-selling singles according to Oricon Style.
Background
=Versions and composition=
Three versions of the recording have been made available for purchase. "Love (Destiny)" initially served as Hamasaki's second single for her album Loveppears{{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}} but did not appear on the album for unknown reasons. Written by the singer, the production process was handled by Max Matsuura whilst it was composed by Japanese musician and businessman Tsunku, who worked as the producer for Japanese group Morning Musume and vocalist of Sharan Q at that time.{{cite AV media notes |title=Love (Destiny)|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=1999|type=Mini CD Single; Liner notes|work=Avex Trax|id=AVDD-20309|location=Japan}} The composition was then arranged by Shingo Kobayashi and Yasuaki Maejima, and mixed by Atsushi Hattori. The second version, "Love (Since 1999)", portrayed a duet with Tsunku and featured songwriting credits by him during the English chorus. Being arranged by Takao Konishi and mixed by Koji Uchikado, the track appeared as an A-side single in Japan and Taiwan during its April 1999 release.
The final counterpart of the recording was titled "Love (Refrain)", and was similarly composed by Tsunku, but arranged by Naoto Suzuki and programmed by Takahiro Iida. "Love (Refrain)" was added to the track list of Loveppears, and is musically a dance song, a genre that heavily influences the album.{{cite news|author=CD Journal Staff|url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/loveppears/3199091028|title=Loveppears – Ayumi Hamasaki|work=CD Journal|date=November 10, 1999|access-date=July 14, 2016|language=Japanese}}{{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 magazine | last=Takeuchi Cullen| first=Lisa| url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover3.html |title=Empress of Pop|magazine=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 }} According to the demo sheet music published at Ultimate Guitar Archive, the recording is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 89 beats per minute.{{cite news|url=https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/a/ayumi_hamasaki/love_destiny_guitar_pro.htm|title=Love (Destiny) Pro Chords|work=Ultimate Guitar Archive|access-date=July 29, 2016}} Lyrically, each song was written in third person perspective, a trait that is shared with the rest of the tracks on Loveppears.{{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}} The lyrical content of the songs delves on a lonely woman who wants to find love.
=Release and formats=
"Love (Destiny)" was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Taiwan on April 14, 1999, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008.{{cite AV media notes |title=Love (Destiny)|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=1999|type=Mini CD Single; Liner notes|work=Avex Trax|id=AVJSG40014|location=Taiwan}} The mini CD format featured a total of four tracks, with the first two being original recordings accompanied instrumentals. Subsequently, on February 28, 2001, Avex Trax distributed a CD single including the four tracks from the mini CD, plus two remixes of Hamasaki's single "Kanariya" (1999) and one remix of a previous album track, "From Your Letter".{{cite AV media notes |title=Love (Destiny)|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=1999|type=CD Single; Liner notes|work=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-30217|location=Japan}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Love (Destiny)|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=1999|type=CD Single; Liner notes|work=Avex Trax|id=AVJSG40152|location=Taiwan}} The artwork of the CD and digital format was shot by Toru Kumazawa, and featured an image of Hamasaki hugging an unidentified male.
Reception
Upon its release, "Love (Destiny)" received widespread acclaim from music critics. A reviewer at Amazon was positive towards the songwriting, and praised Hamasaki's "painful" and "love[ly]" performance.{{cite news|author=Amazon Japan Staff|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/LOVE%EF%BD%9EDestiny%EF%BD%9E-%E6%B5%9C%E5%B4%8E%E3%81%82%E3%82%86%E3%81%BF/dp/B00005HURW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469757201&sr=8-1&keywords=Love+%28Destiny%29|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Love (Destiny)|work=Amazon.com|date=April 14, 1999|access-date=July 29, 2016}} In 2015, Japanese website Goo.ne.jp hosted a 24-hour only poll for audiences in Japan to vote for their favorite single released by Hamasaki; as a result, "Love (Destiny)" ranked at number six, with a rating of 43.9 average percent.{{cite news|author=Erik|url=http://aramajapan.com/ranking/what-are-ayumi-hamasakis-most-popular-singles/4305/|title=What are Ayumi Hamasaki's most popular songs?|work=Goo.ne.jp; published through Arama Japan|date=2015|access-date=July 27, 2016}} Commercially, "Love (Destiny)" experienced success in Japan. It debuted inside the top ten on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 70,540 in its first week of availability. The recording then went to number one, becoming Hamasaki's first number one single on that chart. It lasted 26 weeks, marking the singer's longest-charting release.{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/music/46178/1/|title=Love (Destiny) – Ayumi Hamasaki|work=Oricon Style|date=April 14, 1999|access-date=July 29, 2016|language=Japanese|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010142346/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/music/46178/1/|archive-date=October 10, 2012 }} Charting together as "Love (Destiny)"/"Love (Since 1999)", both tracks debuted at number one on the Count Down TV chart hosted by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), having become her first number one there as well,{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/countdown19990424-j.html|title=CDTV PowerWeb! Ranking Singles Chart|work=Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)|date=April 24, 1999|access-date=July 29, 2016|language=Japanese|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617082243/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/countdown19990424-j.html|archive-date=June 17, 2008 }} and similarly spent 26 weeks within the top 100.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song3702-j.html|title=CDTV PowerWeb! Ayumi Hamasaki – Love (Destiny) / Love (Since 1999)|work=Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)|date=April 14, 1999|access-date=July 29, 2016|language=Japanese|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617082243/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song3702-j.html|archive-date=June 17, 2008 }}
By the end of 1999, "Love (Destiny)" sold over 650,790 units in Japan, thus being ranked at number 30 on Oricon's Annual 1999 chart behind two fellow releases of the singer, "Boys & Girls" (1999) and her extended play A (1999).{{cite news|url=http://www.musictvprogram.com/corner-ranking-1999.html|title=Oricon Yearly Chart – Singles, Albums, and DVD Releases of 1999|work=Music TV Program Japan|date=December 1999|access-date=July 28, 2016|language=Japanese}} Likewise, it charted at number 28 on TBS' Annual 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=Japanese|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009100833/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/cddb/countdown1999total-j.html|archive-date=October 9, 2006 }} In July 1999, the single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 400,000 units. As of July 2016, "Love (Destiny)" marks the singer's 12th highest-selling song based on Oricon Style's database.{{cite news|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/rank/single/p/2/|title=Ayumi Hamasaki Single's Ranking|work=Oricon Style|access-date=July 16, 2016|language=Japanese}} Following the CD single release, "Love (Destiny)" charted at number 20 on the Oricon Singles Chart, the highest result from her re-released maxi CDs.{{cite news|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/ranking/cd_single/p/3|title=Ayumi Hamasaki Single's Ranking|work=Oricon Style|access-date=July 29, 2016|language=Japanese|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905205808/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/ranking/cd_single/p/3|archive-date=September 5, 2012}} It lasted four weeks within the top 100, and sold 39,080 units.{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/music/433036/1/|title=Love (Destiny) (12cm release_ – Ayumi Hamasaki|work=Oricon Style|date=February 28, 2001|access-date=July 29, 2016|language=Japanese|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010142924/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/music/433036/1/|archive-date=October 10, 2012 }} Additionally, the song reached number 100 on TBS Count Down TV chart on May 14, 2001, her lowest entry to date.{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song5740-j.html|title=CDTV PowerWeb! Ayumi Hamasaki – Love (Destiny) / Love (Since 1999) (12cm)|work=Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)|date=May 14, 2001|access-date=July 29, 2016|language=Japanese|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120120335/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song5740-j.html|archive-date=November 20, 2007 }}
Music video and promotion
An accompanying music video for the single was directed by Wataru Takeishi.{{cite news|author=Takeishi, Wataru (director)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqS8tsvDgEc|title=Love (Destiny)/ Ayumi Hamasaki (short music video)|work=Avex Trax; published through YouTube|date=November 10, 2015|access-date=July 28, 2016|language=Japanese}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}} It opens with Hamasaki watching her previous music videos on several television screens. Sitting in a small room, she exits it and finds a large number of fans and paparazzi bombarding her; scenes interspersed through the main plot feature her looking towards a mirror. Following the first chorus, Hamasaki is shown riding through Tokyo city, including her appearance at a recording studio singing the song, and on top of a skyscraper at night. The frames subsequently re-appear throughout the visual, with it ending with a blurry shot of Hamasaki looking away from the mirror, and the TV screens from the first shot displaying the logo of Avex Trax. 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 (2016).{{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}} It was additionally used as the theme for Japanese television show Semi Double (1999).{{cite news|author=CD Journal Staff|url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/love-destiny-love-since-1999-/3199030454|title=Love (Destiny) – Ayumi Hamasaki|work=CD Journal|date=April 14, 1999|access-date=July 29, 2016|language=Japanese}}
"Love (Destiny)" has been heavily promoted on compilation albums conducted by Hamasaki. It has been included on one of the singer's remix compilation album, Ayu-mi-x 7 Version Acoustic Orchestra (2012).{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x 7 Version Acoustic Orchestra|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2012|type=CD; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-38297|location=Japan}} A remix produced by Todd Okawa appeared on the maxi CD for her single "Boys & Girls", and it was re-recorded for her 10th anniversary in 2008 on her single release "Days/Green".{{cite AV media notes |title=Boys & Girls|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=1999|type=CD Single; Liner notes|work=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-30049|location=Japan}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Days/Green|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2007|type=CD Single; Liner notes|work=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-31580/B|location=Japan}} The single has also been featured on two of Hamasaki's greatest hits albums, A Best (2001), and A Complete: All Singles (2007).{{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 Complete: All Singles|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2007|type=3xCD Compilation Album; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-23676~8|location=Japan}} "Love (Destiny)" has further been included on one of the singer's major concert tours, part one and part two of her 2000 concert tour.{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 1|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=Live DVD; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVBD-91022|location=Japan}}{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 2|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|year=2000|type=Live DVD; Liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVBD-91021|location=Japan}}
Track listings
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- "Love (Destiny)" – 4:55
- "Love (Since 1999)" – 4:39
- "Love (Destiny)" (instrumental) – 4:55
- "Love (Since 1999)" (instrumental) – 4:39
- "Love (Destiny)" – 4:55
- "Love (Since 1999)" – 4:39
- "Kanariya" (Big Room mix) – 7:34
- "Kanariya" (H∧L's mix) – 4:22
- "From Your Letter" (Pandart Sasanooha mix) – 5:41
- "Love (Destiny)" (instrumental) – 4:55
- "Love (Since 1999)" (instrumental) – 4:39
{{col-2}}
- "Love (Destiny)" – 4:55
- "Love (Since 1999)" – 4:39
- "Love (Destiny)" (instrumental) – 4:55
- "Love (Since 1999)" (instrumental) – 4:39
- "Love (Destiny)" – 4:55
- "Love (Since 1999)" – 4:39
- "Kanariya" (Big Room Mix) – 7:34
- "Kanariya" (H∧L's Mix) – 4:22
- "From Your Letter" (Pandart Sasanooha Mix) – 5:41
- "Love (Destiny)" (instrumental) – 4:55
- "Love (Since 1999)" (instrumental) – 4:39
- US and Canada digital download{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-destiny/1001908556|title=Love (Destiny) – Album – by Ayumi Hamasaki|work=iTunes Store (United States)|date=February 28, 2001|access-date=July 29, 2016}}
- "Love (Destiny)" – 4:55
- "Love (Since 1999)" – 4:39
{{col-end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (1999) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Japan (Oricon)
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Japan (Count Down TV)
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2001; CD release) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Japan (Oricon)
| style="text-align:center;"|20 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Japan (Count Down TV)
| style="text-align:center;"|100 |
{{col-2}}
=Yearly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (1999) !Peak |
| scope="row"|Japan (Oricon)
| style="text-align:center;"|30 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Japan Count Down TV (TBS)
| style="text-align:center;"|28 |
{{col-end}}
Certification and sales
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|certyear=1999|certmonth=5|award=Platinum|title=LOVE ~ Destiny ~|artist=浜崎 あゆみ|relyear=1999|refname=RIAJ-jul1999|salesamount=689,870|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}}|domestic=true}}
{{Table end}}
Release history
See also
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.avex.jp/ayu/discography/detail.php?id=1003284 "Love (Destiny)"] at Ayumi Hamasaki's official website. {{in lang|ja}}
{{Ayumi Hamasaki singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Oricon Weekly number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Ayumi Hamasaki
Category:Songs written by Tsunku