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Memorial Address

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Memorial Address
Ayumi Hamasaki up close looking into the camera, with her left hand on her cheek. The image is in tints of a sepia. On the left side is "ayumi hamasaki" in white.
EP by
Ayumi Hamasaki
ReleasedDecember 17, 2003
Genre
Length38:45
LabelAvex Trax
ProducerMax Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
A Ballads
(2003) 		Memorial Address
(2003) 		My Story
(2004)
Singles from Memorial Address
  1. "&"
    Released: July 9, 2003
  2. "Forgiveness"
    Released: August 20, 2003
  3. "No Way to Say"
    Released: November 6, 2003

Memorial Address is the debut mini-album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax released the album on December 17, 2003, in both physical and digital formats; it was her first album to be released in CD+DVD format in addition to the regular CD-only format, due to her increased interest in music video direction.[1] The mini-album contains eight songs and features a number of collaborators, including Tetsuya Yukumi, Bounceback, CMJK, and Dai Nagao, among others, with Hamasaki serving as co-composer and songwriter. Memorial Address's musical influences include dance music, electronic, R&B, rock, and alternative metal.

Music critics praised Memorial Address, citing the progression in Hamasaki's sound and the overall release as a high point in her career. The mini-album was commercially successful, reaching number one on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart with more than half a million copies sold in its opening week. It was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for exceeding one million unit shipments and remains the country's best-selling mini-album by a Japanese female singer. Memorial Address produced three singles: "&", "Forgiveness", and "No Way to Say", all of which were successful in Japan. To promote the mini-album, she embarked on a Japanese Arena Tour in 2003–04.

Background and composition

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Memorial Address is Hamasaki's first mini-album, released ten months after her ballad-themed compilation album A Ballads.[2] Max Matsuura, a long-time collaborator, produced the album, which was mixed by Koji Morimoto, Satoshi Kumasaka, and Yasuo Matsumoto, and mastered by Shigeo Miyamoto.[3] The mini-album features seven songs, including a bonus title track, and was produced by a number of collaborators, including Tetsuya Yukumi, Bounceback, CMJK, and Dai Nagao, among others, with Hamasaki serving as co-composer and songwriter on most tracks.[3] Yukumi of Lover Sound Track composed "Memorial Address," which was originally a melody taken from the band's track "Kumo."[3][4]

Memorial Address's musical influences include dance music, electronic, R&B, rock, and alternative metal. According to Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic, the mini-album "ushered in a heavier rock grit to her sound" that was later inspired on her subsequent albums.[5] Throughout the album, he noted influences of pop songs with electronic dance influences ("Angel Song", "Grateful Days"), rock and alternative metal ("Because of You"), and tracks compared to American R&B group Destiny's Child ("Ourselves").[5] Furthermore, Japanese magazine CDJournal described the second half as featuring more emotional tracks, with "No Way to Say" being "mellow" and the title track having a rock sound with "heartfelt" lyrics.[6]

Release and promotion

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On December 17, 2003, Avex Trax released Memorial Address. The CD version contained eight tracks in total, whereas the DVD version contained the album and music videos for all songs except "Memorial Address," as well as a limited digest film of her A Museum: 30th Collection Live, which was packaged in a large jewel case.[3] Avex Trax then released Memorial Address in Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Taiwan, as well as digital and streaming services.[7] To promote the mini-album, she embarked on a Japanese Arena Tour in 2003–04, culminating in a live release on September 29, 2004.[8]

Furthermore, three singles were issued. Avex Trax released "&" as the lead single on July 9, 2003, and is a triple A-side that includes the songs "Ourselves," "Grateful Days," and "Hanabi: Episode II". All formats of the single both include additional instrumental tracks as well as the A-Nation 2003 theme.[9] It was a commercial success in Japan, reaching number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and earning double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for selling over 500,000 units.[10][11] On August 20, 2003, "Forgiveness" was released, and all formats included the instrumental track as well as remixes of "Ourselves" and "Hanabi: Episode II".[12] It was a commercial success in Japan, reaching number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and being certified platinum by the RIAJ for sales of over 250,000 units.[13][14]

On November 6, 2003, "No Way to Say" was released as the mini-album's final single, with physical and digital formats containing various mixes of the single, as well as acoustic versions of her songs "Seasons", "Dearest", and "Voyage".[15] It was a commercial success in Japan, peaking at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and earning two certifications: platinum for physical shipments and gold for more than 100,000 digital downloads.[16][17][18] Furthermore, the album's title track reached number 82 on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart and was certified gold for digital downloads.[19]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
CDJournal(positive)[6]

Music critics gave Memorial Address positive reviews. Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic gave the mini-album four stars, describing it as an "absolute highlight in Ayumi Hamasaki's catalogue." He selected "Because of You" and "Ourselves" as standout tracks from the mini-album, concluding, "Though not a totally hidden gem, Memorial Address should be sought out when enjoying the first half of her first decade as Japan's queen of pop."[5] The Japanese magazine CDJournal praised Hamasaki's vocals and songwriting on some tracks, particularly "No Way to Say" and "Memorial Address," calling them "superb" and wondering if the latter track could represent the singer's future sound.[6]

Memorial Address achieved commercial success in Japan. The album debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, selling 524,028 copies in its first week, becoming her eighth studio album to reach that position.[20] It reached fifth place on the Oricon Year-end Chart in 2004, selling over 1.059 million copies and becoming the best-selling mini-album of the year.[21] The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) certified the album million for sales exceeding one million units.[22] According to Oricon, Memorial Address sold 1,062,288 copies in Japan and remains the best-selling mini-album by a female Japanese singer in the country.[23]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Ayumi Hamasaki

CD track list[3]
No.TitleMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Angel's Song"Tetsuya YukumiHal4:56
2."Greatful Days"BouncebackHal4:37
3."Because of You"BouncebackHal5:20
4."Ourselves"BouncebackCMJK4:31
5."Hanabi: Episode II" (lit. Fireworks: Episode II)
[a]		tasuku4:53
6."No Way to Say"BouncebackHal4:43
7."Forgiveness"
  • Hamasaki
  • D.A.I
CMJK5:49
8."Memorial Address" (take 2 version)Tetsuya Yukumitasuku3:56
DVD track list[3]
No.TitleLength
1."Angel's Song" (Video Clip) 
2."Greatful Days" (Video Clip) 
3."Because of You" (Video Clip) 
4."Ourselves" (Video Clip) 
5."Hanabi: Episode II" (Video Clip) 
6."No Way to Say" (Video Clip) 
7."Forgiveness" (Video Clip) 
8."Special Digest from A Museum: 30th Collection Live" 

Charts

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Certification and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[24] Million 1,062,288[23]

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Japan December 19, 2003
Avex Trax [3]
Hong Kong [7]
Taiwan [7]
Indonesia Cassette [7]
China 2004–2005
[7]
Various N/A
[25][26]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Hamasaki is credited on liner notes under the pseudonym Crea

Citations

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  1. ^ 浜崎あゆみ. Beat Freak (Avex) (in Japanese). No. 192. January 5, 2004.
  2. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2003). A Ballads (CD). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-17278.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Memorial Address formats listed below:
  4. ^ Lover Sound Track (2002). Memorial Address (CD). Japan: Device World Records. DWCR-1008.
  5. ^ a b c d Collar, Matt. "Ayumi Hamasaki – Memorial Address". AllMusic. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "Ayumi Hamasaki – Memorial Address [CCCD]". CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e Memorial Address international formats listed below:
  8. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2004). Arena Tour 2003–2004 A (DVD). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-91219.
  9. ^ "&" formats listed below:
  10. ^ "& – Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  11. ^ ゴールドディスク認定作品一覧 2003年1月～7月 [Works Receiving Gold Disc Certifications List (January to July 2003)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. August 10, 2003. Archived from the original on February 10, 2004. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  12. ^ "Forgiveness" formats listed below:
  13. ^ "Forgiveness – Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  14. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2003年8月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (August 2003)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. September 10, 2003. Archived from the original on December 12, 2003. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  15. ^ "No Way to Say" formats listed below:
  16. ^ "No Way to Say – Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  17. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2003年11月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (November 2003)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. December 10, 2003. Archived from the original on December 17, 2003. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  18. ^ レコード協会調べ 1月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 28, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  19. ^ "レコード協会調べ 3月度有料音楽配信チャート（「着うた（R）」）" [Record Association report: March paid digital music chart (ringtones)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. April 20, 2007. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Memorial Address – Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  21. ^ a b "2004年　アルバム年間TOP100". Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  22. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2003年12月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (December 2003)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. January 10, 2004. Archived from the original on January 21, 2004. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  23. ^ a b "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  24. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Ayumi Hamasaki – Memorial Address" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 9, 2023. Select 2004年1月 on the drop-down menu
  25. ^ "Memorial Address – Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Japan: Apple Music. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  26. ^ "Memorial Address – Compilation by Ayumi Hamasaki". Spotify. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
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