[Namie Amuro] ♬♫♪◖So here we go! We're fine, we're cool! Let's strike a pose!~ 94th thread ◗♪♫♬

[Bigtop]

WOW. I AM SURPRISED AT THIS. REALLY SHOCKING. : O

I...can't say very much about this - but this really marks the end of an era. This girl was one of the faces of J-pop at the time, spanning well back to before Ayu even debuted. I can't believe she's retiring...

This makes me wonder - why is she retiring? Was there any rumors that led up to this announcement or something? I didn't hear any of it, if there was any.

We understand that we're already over the 500-post limit, but this news has really caught EVERYONE in the J-pop world off-guard...that 95th thread might take a while because it needs to have that mention of Namie's retirement announcement.

(And I'm wondering - is she still married to someone?)

Dear all fans:

Thank you very much for your continuous support.
September 16 marked the 25th year since my debut.

I could not have gone 25 years without your support, for which I am
eternally grateful.

Thank you!

Today, I would like to write about something that I have carried on my
mind and have decided on the 25th anniversary of my debut.

I, Namie Amuro, would like to take this opportunity to inform all of my
fans of my decision to retire as of September 16, 2018.

I plan to make the last year of my music career meaningful by focusing
my full attention on creating a final album and performing at concerts.

Then, I will welcome the date of September 16, 2018 in the best way I can.

I hope this year will be filled with wonderful memories for me and the
fans together.

Together, let’s make this coming year the best one possible!
Namie Amuro

(Facebook)

By the way, I think Namie should appear in the Kouhaku this year before she retires next September...does anyone agree or not?

[EndOfTheWorld]

This news is so shocking. I did not expect this at all. Since Namie has been doing so well in recent years I thought her career would be extended not shortened. I don't even quite know what to say about it. There is going to be a huge empty space in Jpop without Namie Amuro.

[visionfactory]

My theory:

There is 3 more years for Tokyo Olympics but Japan already started the promotional activites for it since 2016. By now the Olympics comittee must have already decided the opening act, and guess what, it won't be Namie Amuro, even if she did a huge wink at Tokyo 2020 with the promotional campain around her previous single "Hero". On the other hand Namie has a vast trayectory, probably she has fulfilled most of her wishes regarding on producing music but also -and not less important- she is pissed off at Tokyo 2020 comittee or Avex for doing this shade on her and she quit mainly because a lack of motivation (she doesn't have much else to do when she has done practically everything, artistically talking).

Now, personally, it is a huge demotivation for me that Namie won't do the 2020 Olympics opening show, on her place it will be probably either AKB48 or Arashi (not to mention ayu because I'd love her to do it but she is no longer widely popular as Namie Amuro is now).

Also, I will tell people don't panic, Namie won't disappear from the radar as Avex will constantly release more music. For example the label of the artist ZARD (R.I.P.) who passed away 10 years ago keep releasing new material, ZARD was even the top 5 best-selling female artist of 2016 because of this. So, we will eventually get new material (new versions, unreleased songs, remixes, tributes and rare collaborations) from time to time and I'm sure Avex will release wonderful boxsets and everything they can out of Namie's discography.

[Baco__]

^in this very topic I said that avex may release footage of her fan tour of 2004, the one where she basically performed STYLE, when she retires or is dead.

Well, I hope they are releasing it soon.

[CeReSu]

Best album is announced!

On November 8, the best album "Finally" (Finale) was released ☆
In addition to the latest song from debut song released in 1992 to release in 2017 (including New Recording),
We will also include many unreleased new songs.
Please check it!

From her official facebook!

http://namieamuro.jp/news/2017/20170921_finallyinfo/

[Toniayu123]

Wow a 3 disc best album with new and unreleased songs, sounds exciting.

Maybe the reason she retired is because on that poll where they asked us which artists we'd like her to collaborate with, Ayu was on the first place lol Jokes aside, it's weird we won't have Chekmate 2.

[freedreamer]

anyone has her schedule of FINALE tour dates?

[ShiniTakashi]

Unreleased songs, huh. So I'm now thinking that we won't be getting an original album in addition to this best. Unfortunate, but it is what is.

Also, I doubt Namie decided to retire by not being offered to sing at the Olympics. She doesn't seem like that kind of person.

[CeReSu]

Originally Posted by freedreamer

anyone has her schedule of FINALE tour dates?

one thing at a time!
There is no schedule about the final tour yet.

[pheonixflame15]

So is there no original new album, or is Finally it?

[haraiso]

I think the word play of Finally/Finale is cute.

But wow at 3 discs! CDJapan states that the album will have 52 tracks total: 45 singles chosen between 1992 and 2017 (so she's including even her Super Monkeys material), and 7 new songs (2 of which, I'm guessing, will be Hope and Showtime).

And yasssss at her kind of listening to me and releasing the album in a special packaging! Fan Space members who order the album between now and October 2nd can get a special version of the album, which has their name printed on the front and a message from Namie on the back:



Also I've never heard of this before so I had to look it up, but the album will come with the "smapler" feature. Inside the album will be a smapler pin code, which we can use to listen to the album and watch the DVD/Blu-Ray on our phones (without the need to rip it) by using the smapler app.

[thinkingoutloud89]

Namie Amuro brings the greatest hits album with 52 tracks total, including 45 ones selected from singles released from 1992 to 2017 as well as seven new songs. This edition includes a bonus Blu-ray with music videos (subject to change). *This is a "Sumapura Music" & "Sumapura Movie" compatible product, which enables you to listen to and view the contents on a mobile device in addition to CD and Blu-ray players. [Recommended System Requirements] iOS7/Android4.0 or later. *This service expires two years after the release date. [Important Notes for "Sumapura Music" & "Sumapura Movie" compatible product] No refund is possible after this product is sent. The record company has designed and optimized "Sumapura Music" & "Sumapura Movie" for the market within Japan and registration at "Sumapura" site, available only in Japanese language, is required. They do not guarantee that it works outside of Japan.


edit: Just you and I was her 45th single, counting from BODY FEELS EXIT. This means, some of her a-sides will not make the cut b and most of the songs since TSUKI will never be on an album. My guess is that HOPE and Showtime are two of the seven songs. A COMPLETE BEST would have been nicer tbqh. Just ordered 3CD+Blu Ray.

edit2: 25周年を迎えた安室奈美恵、自身初のオールタイム・ベストアルバム！1992年から2017年までに発売 されたシングルの中から選ばれた全45曲に加え、豪華タイアップが決定している新曲全7曲を含む、全52曲 を収録。まさに安室奈美恵25年間の軌跡を凝縮したアニバーサリーイヤーを飾る作品。映像商品には、アルバ ム初収録となるMVに加え、新規撮り下ろしMVも、多数収録予定！

Disc-1~3　[CD] （3枚組）
「ミスターU.S.A.」「愛してマスカット」「TRY ME ～私を信じて～」「Body Feels EXIT」「Don't wanna cry」「SWEET 19 BLUES」「CAN YOU CELEBRATE?」「NEVER END」「Say the word」「GIRL TALK」「Baby Don't Cry」「NEW LOOK」「ROCK STEADY」「WHAT A FEELING」「Get Mysaelf Back」「Love Story」「Contrail」「TSUKI」「Mint」「Hero」を含む全45曲に加え、未発表の 新曲全7曲を収録予定
※全52曲収録予定

Disc-4　[Blu-ray]
アルバム初収録となる「Red Carpet」MV～最新シングル曲「Just You and I」MVに加え、新曲MVも収録予定

[Corvina]

Originally Posted by haraiso

Also I've never heard of this before so I had to look it up, but the album will come with the "smapler" feature. Inside the album will be a smapler pin code, which we can use to listen to the album and watch the DVD/Blu-Ray on our phones (without the need to rip it) by using the smapler app.

It's Sumapura. And it's not new, they're using it for other artists for a while now. It's avex way to make the stuff available to go.

So this is the last album.
Probably gonna order it as I don't own much of her and so it's nicely summed.

[ShiniTakashi]

Only 45 songs, huh... That's not enough to include all the a-sides, which is quite a bummer, honestly. Though I guess I shouldn't complain since the a-sides have been released on her other best albums.

I actually hope this means we get better quality of her pre-avex videos. And maybe the elusive "Beautiful" one as well. Hell, I remember someone mentioning there was a PV for "DANCING JUNK" that got shelved. If it still exists, that'd be awesome if it got included on the DVD.

[thinkingoutloud89]

^as you can see in the info I posted, the DVD includes the PVs from Red Carpet to Just You and I + 1 new MV.

[haraiso]

^^

I also wonder if she ever actually filmed a video for Sit!Stay! before she changed her mind and decided to go with Love Story instead.

Originally Posted by Corvina

It's Sumapura. And it's not new, they're using it for other artists for a while now. It's avex way to make the stuff available to go.

Ah, thanks! This was the first time I've ever even seen it mentioned

Originally Posted by thinkingoutloud89

^as you can see in the info I posted, the DVD includes the PVs from Red Carpet to Just You and I + 1 new MV.

She had better still be deciding on what else to include because no way that's all we're getting on the DVD/Blu-Ray. That's literally just 7 music videos. Ballada had like 3 times as much material

[thinkingoutloud89]

^yeah, I find it kinda strange too. And even if, what is up with BRIGHTER DAY and Sweet Kisses?

[ShiniTakashi]

That's really...underwhelming. I'm quite disappointed, actually.

[indigochild]

Pretty sure this is going to be my final Jpop purchase (at least until Ayu does some ULTIMATE BEST release ). I wish I could see her live but I know it's not going to happen. Oh well.

[thinkingoutloud89]

Originally Posted by ShiniTakashi

That's really...underwhelming. I'm quite disappointed, actually.

jipp..so true..I expected one last bang. Like...really something I could say "What a cool. complete, inovative idea and best album"...but this is just...well...another best album