Namie Amuro

Born: September 20 1977

Birthplace: Naha City, Okinawaw


Height: 5'2''


Weight: 40kg


Ethnicity: 3/4 Japanese and 1/4 Italian

Namie Amuro is a Japanese Hip-Pop artist from Okinawaw. In 1992 she debuted as the lead singer of SUPER MONKEYS (a girl group). SUPER MONKEYS found fame with the song TRY ME ~Watashi wo Shinjite~ whiched peaked at #8. In 1996 Namie Amuro switched to the popular brand name Avex. Her debut as a solo artiste garnered her 3.3 million sales and CAN YOU CELEBRATE? became the top single of 1997. Since her return to prominence Namie Amuro has shown a change in style, putting more emphasis on R&B and Hip Hop. Since her debut she has sold over 27 million in Japan.


Full Biography


Amuro was born in Okinawa from a Half Italian mother. She has two sisters and one brother who were all brought up by her mother after she divorced her husband when Namie Amuro was 4. Amuro's first influence is stated as Janet Jackson who inspired her to sing and dance, because of her inspiration she decided to enter the Okinawa Actor's School (being awarded a scholarship). Amuro with her fellow classmates began the group SUPER MONKEYS who debuted on February 1992. After their success with TRY ME Namie Amuro was seen as the sole lead of the group. By Taiyou no SEASON her band mates were credited as back up singers.


In 1995 SUPER MONKEYS switched from Toshiba EMI to Avex. However Avex Group decided to change their image and produced two new acts; one being the solo Namie Amuro and the other group memebers who formed MAX. Amuro debuted with Body Feels EXIT (peaked at #3), whilst her first No.1 single Chase the Chance (being her second single) Chase the Chance stayed on the charts for 19 weeks and sold over 1.3 million copies placing it at #10 in 1996. With two further No.1's Don't Wanna Cry which ended at #9 in 1996 year end charts and You're My Sunshine at #13, she released her debut album SWEET 19 BLUES which went to #1 with 3.3 million copies sold. She quickly solidified herself as the Queen of Jpop. Her greatest success came in 1997 with the single CAN YOU CELEBRATE which was her first #1 year end hit. On October 22 1997 she announced her marriage to SAM (a member of the dance group TRF). She further stated that she was three months pregnant leading to her hiatus of the industry. On May 19 1998 Namie's son Haruto was born.


In December 1998 Amuro decided to return to the industry with I HAVE NEVER SEEN which became a #1 hit. Her next single Respect the Power of Love went to #2. However the prominent news on the release day of Respect was the shocking news of Taira Emiko (Amuro's mother) being murdered by Amuro's step-uncle, Taira Kenji. It was said that Emiko was walking along the street with her second husband (step father to Namie) when Kenji ran the couple over and assaulted them with an axe. This lead to a second break from Amuro who was thinking of retiring at this time. She returned with the single toi et moi (the end theme song for the Pokemon: The Movie 2000) as well as Something 'Bout the Kiss which was produced by Dallas Austin.


In 2001 Amuro worked in a R&B project called SUITE CHIC. On July 10th Amuro divorced her hsuband. Though through declining sales Amuro's 26th and 27th singles landed her at #2 on the Oricon charts both of which sold around 100,000 copies. Want Me Want Me became her next single in April 2005 to reach #2, the single also gave her the highest debut sales of any of her singles in the last 3 years. In 2005 she became the first person to win an award for 4 years in a row on the MTV Video Music Awards Japan. Afterwards she released her 6th Studio Album Queen of Hip Pop which peaked at #2.


On May 17th 2006 Amuro's 29th single was released, being CAN'T SLEEP, CAN'T EAT, I'M SICK which sold around 80,000 copies. She then decided to embark on her Live Style 2006 tour which was to celebrate her career of 15 years. Baby Don't Cry became her next hit which debuted at No.3, this single managed to sell over 50,000 copies in its first week (this was a feat she hadn't achieved since 2001).


Amuro's seventh studio album PLAY was released on June 27th 2997. Play debuted at #1 and stayed at the top for 2 weeks. The album also peaked at #4 on the United World Chart. On March 12th 2008 Namie released the single 60's 70's 80's - a campaign for Vidal Sassoon. In just two days the single sold in excess of the first week sales of Baby Don't Cry. This single became her first #1 since 1998.


Selected Discography


1st album: (1996) SWEET 19 BLUES (#1 ~3.3 million copies) NB. stayed on the charts for 41 weeks and is the 12th best selling album in Japan.


2nd album: (1997) Concentration 20 (#1 ~2 million copies)


3rd album: (2000) Genius 2000 (#1 ~800,000 copies)


4th album: (2000) Break the Rules (#2 ~300,000 copies)


5th album: (2003) Style (#4 ~200,000 copies) stayed on the chart for 23 weeks.


6th album: (2005) Queen of Hip-Pop (#2 ~500,000 copies)


7th album: (2007) Play (#1 ~550,000 copies)



Singles
1st: (1995) Body Feels Exit (#3 ~900,000 copies) charted for 18 weeks
2nd: (1995) Chase the Chance (#1 ~1.35 million copies) charted for 19 weeks No.10 in 1996
3rd: (1996) Don't Wanna Cry (#1 ~1.4 million copies) charted for 21 weeks and No.9 in 1996
4th: (1996) You're My Sunshine (#1 ~1.1 million copies) No.13 in 1996
6th: (1996) A walk In the Park (#1 ~1.05 million copies) charted for 15 weeks and No.13 in 1997
7th: (1997) Can You Celebrate (#1 ~2.3 million copies) charted for 39 weeks and No.1 in 1997. Is the 14th best single selling single of alltime in Japan.
8th: (1997) How to Be a Girl (#1 ~800,000 copies)
9th: (1997) Dreaming I was Dreaming (#1 ~550,000 copies)
10th: (1998) I Have Never Seen (#1 ~650,000 copies)
12th: (1999) toi et moi (#3 ~270,000 copies) NB: used as end theme for Pokemon: The Movie 2000
15th: (2000) Never End (#2 ~650,000 copies)
26th: (2004) Girl Talk/ The Speed Star (#2 ~100,000 copies) charted for 14 weeks
27th: (2005) Want Me Want Me (#2~ 100,000 copies) NB, banned in Korea
30th: (2007) Baby Don't Cry (#3 ~150,000 copies)
32nd: (2008) 60's 70's 80's (#1 ~250,000 copies)