Break the Rules (album) explained

Break the Rules
Type:Album
Artist:Namie Amuro
Cover:Namie Amuro – Break the Rules.png
Caption:Regular digital cover
Released:December 20, 2000
Recorded:2000
Genre:Pop
Length:63:03
Label:Avex Trax
Prev Title:Genius 2000
Prev Year:2000
Next Title:Love Enhanced Single Collection
Next Year:2002

Break the Rules is the fifth studio album by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro, released on December 20, 2000, through Avex Trax. It was released only 11 months after her previous album Genius 2000 (2000), and was her final album to date with her long-time producer Tetsuya Komuro, the album generally receive positive reviews by the critics, it was the shortlisted the Asia Association Music Prize Award.

Break the Rules debuted at number two on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart with 334,520 copies sold, the lowest first week sales of her career at that point.[1] It also became her first studio album to not top the chart. Due to the small space in time between the release of this album and her last album, only two singles precede it. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[2]

Background and packaging

Break the Rules is her second album to feature songs written and produced by American music producer, Dallas Austin.[3] His role in this album, however, is much smaller than the last. For Genius 2000, Austin produced half of the album; with this album he only produced four songs. The majority of the tracks features compositions from Amuro's main producer, Tetsuya Komuro.

First editions of the album came in special packaging. The booklet was presented as a foldout poster featuring Amuro looking out of an airplane window. It also came with a foldout card of photos depicting Namie in different locations around America, mostly New York City and Los Angeles. The album was housed in a transparent slip case with the phrase "break the rules" in pink running diagonally across the front and back of it.

Singles and other promotion detail

The songs "Think of Me" and "No More Tears" were released as a double A-side single shortly after the release of the album. A video was made for "Think of Me" in New York during photo sessions for the album artwork. No video was made for "No More Tears." Previous songs that appear on the album have all been slightly modified. These songs include "Never End", "Please Smile Again" and "Cross Over". "Cross Over" features a rap verse from Poppa LQ. Unique among Amuro albums is that it features her first attempt at singing a song entirely in English on the track "Looking for You".

Personnel

Production

Charts

Year-end charts

Notes and References

  1. 安室奈美恵の作品 5ページ目 . List of Namie Amuro's works, Page 5. . . Japanese . September 18, 2021.
  2. GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年12月度 . Gold Albums, and other certified works. December 2000 Edition . PDF . The Record . Bulletin . Japanese . . . February 10, 2001 . 495 . 8 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140116140557/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2001/2001_02.pdf . January 16, 2014 . January 17, 2014.
  3. https://www.discogs.com/ja/Namie-Amuro-Break-The-Rules/master/471810 Namie Amuro - Break The Rules at Discogs
  4. Web site: ja:安室奈美恵のリリース一覧 . List of Namie Amuro's Releases . http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/191925/products/release/ . ja . . June 4, 2014.