Genius 2000 is the fourth studio album by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro, released on January 26, 2000, through Avex Trax. The album was released three years after her last album, Concentration 20 (1997), and was produced by Tetsuya Komuro and Dallas Austin, marking her first collaboration with an American producer, the album spawned four singles: "I Have Never Seen", "Respect the Power of Love", "Something 'Bout the Kiss" and "Love 2000".

Genius 2000
Standard cover. The original cover features a blue background.
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 26, 2000
Recorded1998–1999
Studio
Genre
Length66:00
LabelAvex Trax
Producer
Namie Amuro chronology
181920
(1998)
Genius 2000
(2000)
Break the Rules
(2000)
Singles from Genius 2000
  1. "I Have Never Seen"
    Released: December 23, 1998
  2. "Respect the Power of Love"
    Released: March 17, 1999
  3. "Something 'Bout the Kiss"
    Released: September 1, 1999
  4. "Love 2000"
    Released: January 1, 2000

Upon its release, Genius 2000 debuted at number one on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart with 536,000 copies sold.[1] It became her fourth studio album and fifth overall to top the chart, but had the lowest first week sales of her career at the time. The album has sold over 800,000 copies and has been certified 2× Platinum by the RIAJ in February 2000.[2] Only 11 months after the album's release, Amuro released her fifth studio album, Break the Rules.

Singles and tie-ins

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The album's first single, "I Have Never Seen", was released 13 months before the album, on December 23, 1998. The single marked her return to the entertainment industry following her maternity leave and was her last number one single until 60s 70s 80s almost 10 years later.[1] The second single, "Respect the Power of Love", was released on the same day that Amuro's mother was murdered, causing the singer to cancel promotion for the single. "Something 'Bout the Kiss", produced by Dallas Austin, was released in September and was Amuro's first single to be produced by Austin. The final single, "Love 2000", was released on New Year's Day in 2000, preceding the album by three weeks.

The album contains the songs which Komuro produced with American musicians, and the songs which Dallas Austin produced. Musically, it shows that Amuro's interest shifted towards hip-hop and R&B. It also features a duet with American boy band Imajin, titled "You Are the One". The song "Things I Collected" would be covered by Tamia for the soundtrack of Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Tamia's version of the song omits the acoustic guitar solo, but otherwise is identical to Namie's version.

Promotion and live performances

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Amuro embarked on the Genius 2000 Tour in promotion of the album, which began in Chiba, Japan on March 20, 2000, and ended in Honolulu, Hawaii on May 14, 2000. The Honolulu concert was attended by 6,000 people.[3] The penultimate dates in Osaka on May 6 and 7, 2000, were attended by 30,000.[4]

Track listing

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Genius 2000 track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArranger(s)Length
1."Make the Connection Complete" Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro1:06
2."Love 2000"Tetsuya Komuro, Takahiro Maeda, Sheila E., Lynn MabryTetsuya Komuro, Sheila E, Lynn MabryTetsuya Komuro, Sheila E, Lynn Mabry5:12
3."Respect the Power of Love"Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro5:26
4."Leavin' for Las Vegas"Dallas AustinDallas AustinDallas Austin4:39
5."Something 'Bout the Kiss"Dallas Austin, Lysette, Titi, Chang HaiDallas AustinDallas Austin4:25
6."I Have Never Seen"Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro4:36
7."Still in Love"Dallas AustinDallas AustinDallas Austin4:17
8."Mi Corazon (Te' Amour)"Tetsuya Komuro, Takahiro Maeda, Sheila E., Lynn MabryTetsuya Komuro, Sheila E., Lynn Mabry, Renato NetoTetsuya Komuro, Sheila E., Lynn Mabry, Renato Neto4:48
9."You Are the One" (featuring Imajin)Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro5:48
10."Kiss-And-Ride"Takahiro MaedaTetsuya Komuro, Cozy KuboTetsuya Komuro, Cozy Kubo3:48
11."Things I Collected"Dallas Austin, Debra KillingsDallas Austin, Debra KillingsDallas Austin6:18
12."Next to You"Dallas Austin, Jasper CameronDallas Austin, Jasper CameronDallas Austin4:15
13."Asking Why"Nico (Namie Amuro)Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro, Cozy Kubo5:07
14."Give It a Try"Tetsuya Komuro, Takahiro Maeda, Sheila E, Lynn MabryTetsuya Komuro, Sheila E, Lynn MabryTetsuya Komuro, Sheila E, Lynn Mabry4:24
15."Log Off" Tetsuya KomuroTetsuya Komuro1:51

Credits and personnel

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Charts

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Sales and certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[7] 2× Platinum 802,740[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "安室奈美恵の作品 5ページ目" [List of Namie Amuro's works, Page 5.]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年2月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 2000 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 485. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 8. April 10, 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  3. ^ "Big Wave Honolulu live | Namie Amuro - Toi et moi - Final Version". Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  4. ^ "Honolulu Star-Bulletin 9 May 2000 seems like yesterday doesn't it?". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 9, 2000. p. 32. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  7. ^ "Japanese album certifications – 安室奈美恵 – Genius 2000" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2000年2月 on the drop-down menu