Red Carpet (Namie Amuro song)

"Red Carpet"
Single by Namie Amuro
B-side "Black Make-Up"
Released December 2, 2015
Format
Recorded 2015
Genre
Length 3:43
Label
Writer(s)
  • Matthew Tishler
  • Paula Winger
  • Stephanie Lewis
  • Tiger
Producer(s) Tishler
Namie Amuro singles chronology
"What I Did for Love"
(2015)		 "Red Carpet"
(2015)		 "Mint"
(2016)

"Red Carpet" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was written, composed, arranged, and produced by Matthew Tishler, Paula Winger, and Stephanie Lewis, with co-writing credits by Japanese musician Tiger. The single also included the B-side track "Black Make-Up", which was used for the Japanese anime series One Piece: Adventure of Nebulandia (2015). It premiered on December 2, 2015 as her seventh non-album single, both digitally and physically. Musically, "Red Carpet" is a pop ballad, influenced by R&B music.

Upon its release, the track garnered generally favourable reviews from music critics. Some critics had praised the songs production, composition and Amuro's vocal delivery. However, some felt that the B-side track was somewhat better. It achieved moderate success in Japan, peaking at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart and five on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart. An accompanying music video was shot by Hisashi Kikuchi; it features Amuro walking in a small town center. A special customisation function was included on the DVD single, allowing customers to change colours of Amuro's clothing in the video. With additional promotion through Japanese commercials and television shows, the song has been performed on her Livegenic Tour (2016).

Background and release

On November 3, 2015, Japanese entertainment website Jpopasia.com confirmed the release of a new single, entitled "Red Carpet". Alongside this, they confirmed that it would include a B-side track, entitled "Black Make-Up", and would be released on December 2, 2015.[1] Then, on November 3, Amuro mentioned the two songs on her website, and its launch of the single's corresponding music video.[2] The song was composed and written by Matthew Tishler, Paula Winger, and Stephanie Lewis, with co-writing credits by Japanese musician Tiger, while production and arrangement was handled by Tishler. It was recorded in 2015 by Wataru Namifusa, while Tishler edited and produced Amuro's vocals. The song contains backing vocals by Japanese recording artist Emyli, and was mixed and mastered by Tim Coyne at Sterling Studios, New York City, New York.[3] It premiered on December 2, 2015 as Amuro's seventh non-album single through her label Dimension Point.[4] It was also released worldwide through Avex Music Creative Inc..[5]

The CD single contains both "Red Carpet" and "Black Make-Up", plus their instrumental versions. The CD single artwork features a close-up body shot of Amuro, wearing a grey jacket, and standing in front of a long red silky fabric. The DVD single artwork has a body shot of Amuro, wearing the same clothing, and in front of a longer fabric.[3][6] Both formats features an extra lyric booklet, printed on plain white paper.[3][6] Musically, "Red Carpet" has been described by Amuro as a mid-tempo Neo-soul tune.[7] Staff member's from Japanese music magazine CD Journal labelled it a "neo-soul ballad", including instrumentation of guitars and pianos.[8] Alex Shenmue, reporting from Land of Rising, labelled the composition as a "pop tune".[9] Lyrically, the song is a self-empowerment anthem, that uses the line "red carpet" as a metaphor for life.[7] Otakudx.com writer Michael McCarthy felt the lyrical content came of "conceited", selecting the lines "I'm a V.I.P." and "On the ugliest days, there is glamour, there is grace," as examples.[10]

Critical response

Upon its release, "Red Carpet" received favorable reviews from most music critics. Writing for Land of Rising, Alex Shenmue awarded the single release seven points out of ten. Although he felt the music was more "mature", he did state that isn't "not breaking any boundary or reaching outstanding levels...". In conclusion, he said positively; "'Red Carpet' is a single Namie’s fans will undoubtedly like and that will possibly get anyone looking for nice pop tunes interested... The highest peak of Namie’s career probably lies in the past, but she keeps doing her best to deliver worth-listening material to her fanbase after twenty-three years of career, something genuinely admirable that her label mates should learn to do as well."[9] Despite criticising parts of the lyrical content, Michael McCarthy from Otakudx.com praised the composition and production values, saying "In any case, it's a plenty invigorating tune. Lots of slamming percussion, splashes of guitar and super punchy beats to stimulate your brain and get the dopamine receptors firing."[10]

However, Japanese music editor Random J was mixed in his review; although he appreciated Amuro's transition from English releases to Japanese language, he stated "I'm not in love with this song. It's very generic and by numbers, much in the same way that "Anything" was. It literally feels as though Namie is ticking off top 20 US radio sounds that she wants to give her take on without giving much else."[11] Staff members at AllMusic highlighted the B-side, over "Red Carpet", as one of Amuro's best song in her discography.[12]

Track listings and formats

  • Japanese CD single[3]
  1. "Red Carpet" – 3:43
  2. "Black Make-Up" – 3:10
  3. "Red Carpet" (Instrumental) – 3:43
  4. "Black Make-Up" (Instrumental) – 3:10
  • Japanese DVD single[6]
  1. "Red Carpet" – 3:43
  2. "Black Make-Up" – 3:10
  3. "Red Carpet" (Instrumental) – 3:43
  4. "Black Make-Up" (Instrumental) – 3:10
  5. "Red Carpet" (Customisation Music Video Functions)
  6. "Red Carpet" (Making of music video)
  1. "Red Carpet" – 3:43
  2. "Black Make-Up" – 3:10
  3. "Red Carpet" (Instrumental) – 3:43
  4. "Black Make-Up" (Instrumental) – 3:10

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of the CD and DVD single.[6]

  • "Red Carpet"
  • Namie Amuro – vocals, background vocals
  • Yuko Yasumoto – coordination production
  • Matthew Tishler – composer, songwriting, arranging, producing, mixing, instrumentation
  • Paula Winger – composing, songwriting
  • Stephanie Lewis – composing, songwriting
  • Tiger – songwriting
  • Takuro Iwagami – music video cinematography
  • Hisashi Kikuchi – video director
  • Hirohisa Ishihara – music video producer
  • Jun Hirota – art direction
  • Toshiyuki Suzuki – direction
  • Aiko Hayashi – designing
  • Emyli – background vocals
  • Tom Coyne – mastering, mixing
  • D.O.I. – mixing
  • Tisch – photography
  • Wataru Namifusa – recording
  • "Black Make-Up"
  • Namie Amuro – vocals, background vocals
  • Yuko Yasumoto – coordination production
  • Andreas Oberg – electric guitar, composition, songwriting
  • Sigurd Røsnes – composition, songwriting, producing
  • Tiger – songwriting
  • Xing – composition, songwriting
  • Emyli – background vocals
  • Tom Coyne – mastering, mixing
  • D.O.I. – mixing
  • Tisch – photography
  • Wataru Namifusa – recording

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Japan Daily Chart (Oricon)[13] 2
Japan Weekly Chart (Oricon)[13] 2

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Japan[3][6][14] December 2, 2015
United States[15] Digital download Avex Music Creative Inc.
Australia[16]
New Zealand[5]
Canada[17]
United Kingdom[18]
Germany[19]
Ireland[20]
France[21]
Spain[22]
Taiwan[23]

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Jpopasia.com Staff (November 3, 2015). "Namie Amuro Announces New Single "Red Carpet"". Jpopasia.com. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    2. ↑ Amuro, Namie (November 3, 2015). "ニューシングル「Red Carpet」ミュージックビデオがMUSIC ON! TVで独占オンエア決定！". Dimension. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 Amuro, Namie (2015). Red Carpet (CD single; Liner notes). Namie Amuro. Japan: Avex Trax, Dimension Point. AVCN-99028.
    4. 1 2 Amazon Japan Staff (December 2, 2015). "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". Amazon (in Japanese). Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    5. 1 2 3 "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (New Zealand). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    6. 1 2 3 4 5 Amuro, Namie (2015). Red Carpet (CD and DVD single; Liner notes). Namie Amuro. Japan: Avex Trax, Dimension Point. AVCN-99027/B.
    7. 1 2 "Dimension Point – Red Carpet". Dimension Point (in Japanese). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    8. ↑ CD Journal Staff (December 2, 2015). "Namie Amuro – Red Carpet". CD Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    9. 1 2 Shenmue, Alex (December 2, 2015). "Namie Amuro – Red Carpet (single review)". Land of Rising. Archived from the original on February 11, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    10. 1 2 McCarthy, Michael (December 2, 2015). "Namie Amuro – Red Carpet (single review)". Otakudx.com. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    11. ↑ Random J (January 1, 2016). "Namie Amuro – Red Carpet (single review)". Random J Pop. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    12. ↑ AllMusic Staff (2016). "Namie Amuro – Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    13. 1 2 安室奈美恵のリリース一覧 [List of Namie Amuro's Releases]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved June 4, 2014.
    14. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (Japan). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    15. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (United States of America). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    16. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (Australia). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    17. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (Canada). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    18. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (United Kingdom). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    19. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (Germany). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    20. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (Ireland). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    21. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (France). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    22. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (Japan). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
    23. ↑ "Red Carpet – EP – by Namie Amuro". iTunes Store (Taiwan). December 2, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2016.

    External links

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