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Boys & Girls (Ayumi Hamasaki song)

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"Boys & Girls"
Song

"Boys & Girls" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It served as the fourth single from Hamasaki's second studio album Loveppears (1999). It was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Hong Kong on July 14, 1999, and through Avex USA in North America in early 2001 and re-released in 2003. It was Hamasaki's first single to be served with a maxi single with additional remix tracks. The track was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Musically, the song is a dance song, a genre that is heavily influenced throughout the parent album, and is written in third-person perspective.

Upon its release, "Boys & Girls" received positive reviews from music critics. Some praised the original version of the song, and also commended the different selection of remixes on the maxi release. Commercially, the single was a success in Japan, peaking at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and TBS' Count Down TV chart. It became Hamasaki's first ever single to sell over one million copies, and was certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 800,000 units. An accompanying music video was directed by Wataru Takeishi, which featured Hamasaki in a home circulated by mysterious light. To promote the single, it appeared on several remix and greatest hits compilation albums and live concert torus conducted by Hamasaki.

Background and release

"Boys & Girls" was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. The song was composed by Dai Nagao, who used the alias D.A.I. through production credits and Aube for the maxi single notes, whilst it was arranged by Nagao and Japanese musician Naoto Suzuki. It was mixed by Dave Ford, and mastered by Shigeo Miyamoto.[1][2] Musically, "Boys & Girls" is a dance song, a genre that is heavily influenced throughout Hamasaki's second studio album Loveppears (1999).[3][4][5] The song's instrumentation consists of synthesizers and keyboards by Suzuki and electric guitar by Hidetoshi Suzuki, whilst programming was handled by Takahiro Iida.[1] Lyrically, the song was written in third person perspective, a trait that is shared with the rest of the album's tracks.[6][7]

"Boys & Girls" served as the fourth single from Loveppears. It was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Hong Kong on July 14, 1999, and through Avex USA in North America in early 2001 and re-released in 2003.[2][8] The CD format featured a total of 10 tracks, seven of which were remixes and an instrumental, plus one remix for both of Hamasaki's previous singles "Love (Destiny)" and "To Be"; the former was a stand-alone single, whilst the latter appeared on Loveppears.[9][1] Then in early 2001, Avex USA distributed three 12" vinyls. The first two vinyls were remixes conducted by American DJ Hex Hector, whilst the third vinyl, released in 2003, was remixed by Junior Vasquez.[10][11] The artwork of the CD and digital format was shot by Toru Kumazawa, and features several images of Hamasaki in one entire square canvas. A large photo of Hamasaki's face is in the centre, whilst 12 small thumbnails are placed around it.[2]

Reception

Upon its release, "Boys & Girls" received positive reviews from music critics. A member at CD Journal was positive towards the original version of the single, but also complimented the remixes featured on the maxi single. The review stated that each remix was able to "change different moods" and labelled the release "high-tension".[3] AllMusic's Alexey Eremenko, whom contributed to writing Hamasaki's biography on the website, selected the track as some of her best work.[12] Commercially, the single was a success in Japan. The single was subjected to controversy by music publications at the time of its release, particularly due to its release date between "Boys & Girls" and "Be Together", a single released by Japanese recording artist Ami Suzuki.[13] It was then catapulted by the press in Japan as a direct competition between Suzuki's label Sony Music and Hamasaki's label Avex Trax to see who would achieve the top position of that week.[13] As a result, Suzuki's single topped the Oricon Singles Chart with 317,610 units sold, whilst Hamasaki's song debuted at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 261,750 units in its first week of sales.[13] The following week, "Boys & Girls" replaced "Be Together" at the top spot, selling more units and became Hamasaki's second single to reach the top after "Love (Destiny)" in May 1999.[13]

It lasted 17 weeks on the top 200, one of Hamasaki's longest spanning singles in that chart.[14] Similarly, it debuted at number two on the Count Down TV chart hosted by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), having been beaten by Suzuki's "Be Together".[15] The following week, it reached the top spot and stayed there for three consecutive weeks. It lasted 16 weeks in the top 100, one of her longest spanning singles on that chart as well.[16] In 2008, the single charted at number 33 on Billboard's Adult Alternative Radio chart in Japan.[17]

By the end of 1999, it had sold over 1,037,950 units in Japan. It was ranked at number 11 on Oricon's Annual 1999 chart; the single was ranked behind one of Hamasaki's other releases, her extended play A, and was the fourth highest selling single by a female artist.[18] Likewise, it ranked at number 12 on TBS' Annual Chart.[19] In October 1999, the single was certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 800,000 units.[20] It is the 225th best selling single in Japanese music history and, as of July 2016, "Boys & Girls" is her fourth highest selling single based on Oricon Style's data base.[21][22]

Commercial and extra

In 1999, Ayumi became a spokeswoman for AUBE, a cosmetics company. Boys & Girls was used in a lipstick commercial for the mark as the theme song. Ayu appeared in the TV ad..... and she was wearing the dress that was used for the cover of A.

Track listing

  1. "Boys & Girls" (Mad Filter Mix)
  2. "Boys & Girls" (Aube Original Mix)
  3. "Boys & Girls" (Higher Uplift Mix)
  4. "Love: Destiny" (Todd's Lovers Conversion)
  5. "Boys & Girls" (HΛL's Mix)
  6. "Boys & Girls" (Melt Down Dub Mix)
  7. "To Be" (Bright Mix)
  8. "Boys & Girls" (D-Z Psychedelic Assassin Mix)
  9. "Boys & Girls" (Dub's club Remix)
  10. "Boys & Girls" (Aube Original Mix - Instrumental)

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position First Week Sales Sales Total Chart Run
July 14, 1999 Oricon Daily Singles Chart 1
Oricon Weekly Singles Chart 1 261,750 1,038,000 16
Oricon Yearly Singles Chart 11
  • Total Sales : 1,038,000 (Japan)
  • RIAJ certification: Million
  • "Boys & Girls" is the first single by Hamasaki to sell over a million copies
  • "Boys & Girls" is Hamasaki's fourth highest selling single.

Live performances

  • XX XX, 1999 - Countdown TV - Boys & Girls
  • July 16, 1999 - Music Station - Boys & Girls
  • July 17, 1999 - Pop Jam - Boys & Girls
  • July 17, 1999 - Countdown TV - Boys & Girls
  • July 19, 1999 - Hey! Hey! Hey! - Boys & Girls
  • July 22, 1999 - Utaban - Boys & Girls
  • September 24, 1999 - J-Pop Night in Velfarre - Boys & Girls
  • November 20, 1999 - All Japan Request Awards - Boys & Girls
  • December 3, 1999 - Japan Cable Awards - Boys & Girls
  • December 12, 1999 - Super Dream Live - Boys & Girls
  • December 22, 1999 - Fresh Live - Boys & Girls
  • December 24, 1999 - Music Station - Boys & Girls
  • December 25, 1999 - Pop Jam - Boys & Girls
  • December 31, 1999 - Japan Record Awards - Boys & Girls
  • December 31, 1999 - Kohaku - Boys & Girls
  • August 31, 2000 - Avex Summer Paradise - Boys & Girls

Chart positions

Chart (1999) Peak
position 		Time in
chart
Japan Oricon 1 16 weeks

Remixes

References

  1. ^ a b c Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Loveppears (CD Album; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11740.
  2. ^ a b c Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Boys & Girls. Avex Trax (CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan. AVCD-30049.
  3. ^ a b CD Journal Staff (July 14, 1999). "Ayumi Hamasaki / Boys & Girls [Out of Print]". CD Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  4. ^ AllMusic Staff (April 10, 2001). "Ayumi Hamasaki – Loveppears". AllMusic. Retrieved July 14, 2016. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ Takeuchi Cullen, Lisa (March 25, 2002). "Empress of Pop". Time. p. 3. Archived from the original on April 3, 2002. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  6. ^ Hamasaki , Ayumi (interviewee) (March 12, 2003). "Special Website to A Ballads". Ayumi Hamasaki's official website. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  7. ^ "Loveppears". Beatfreak (in Japanese). 142. November 1999.
  8. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Boys & Girls. Avex Trax (CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Hong Kong. AVTCDS-190.
  9. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Love (Destiny). Avex Trax (CD Single; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Japan. AVCD-30217.
  10. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2001). Boys & Girls. Avex USA (12" vinyl; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. North American. AVA-1.
  11. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2003). Boys & Girls. Avex USA (12" vinyl; Liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. North American. AVA 13.
  12. ^ Eremenko, Alexey (2016). "Ayumi Hamasaki – Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d Arama Japan Staff (2016). "Featured Artist: Ami Suzuki". Arama Japan. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  14. ^ "Boys & Girls – Ayumi Hamasaki". Oricon Style (in Japanese). July 14, 1999. Archived from the original on September 24, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  15. ^ "CDTV PowerWeb! Ranking Singles Chart". Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) (in Japanese). July 24, 1999. Archived from the original on June 16, 2006. Retrieved July 28, 2016. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; June 28, 2008 suggested (help)
  16. ^ "CDTV PowerWeb! Ayumi Hamasaki – Boys & Girls". Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) (in Japanese). July 31, 1999. Archived from the original on June 28, 2006. Retrieved July 28, 2016. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; June 24, 2008 suggested (help)
  17. ^ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 24, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  18. ^ "Oricon Yearly Chart – Singles, Albums, and DVD Releases of 1999". Music TV Program Japan (in Japanese). December 19999. Retrieved July 28, 2016. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "CDTV PowerWeb! 1999 Annual Singles Chart". Count Down TV; published through Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) (in Japanese). 1999. Archived from the original on June 28, 2006. Retrieved July 16, 2016. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; October 9, 2006 suggested (help)
  20. ^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年8月度" (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 479. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 9. October 10, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2014. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki Single's Ranking". Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  22. ^ "Best Selling Singles in Japan of All Time". Music TV Program Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  23. ^ Discogs, Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix
  24. ^ Discogs, J-Euro Best
  25. ^ Discogs, J-Euro Non-Stop Best
  26. ^ Discogs, Ayu-mi-x II Version JPN
  27. ^ a b Discogs, Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix
  28. ^ Discogs, Cyber Trance Presents Ayu Trance
Preceded by Oricon Weekly number one single
July 2, 1999 - July 9, 1999 - July 16, 1999 		Succeeded by
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