Brighter Day (song)

"Brighter Day" is a song by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. Released as a single on November 12, 2014 by Amuro's label Dimension Point through Avex Trax, the release contained the B-sides "Sweet Kisses", and "Still Lovin' You". It received mixed reviews from music critics; many commended Amuro's vocal abilities while some criticized the song's composition and production. Charted as a single on the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart, it reached number eight, becoming her lowest chart single since "Alarm" which peaked at eleven. The title track was certified platinum by Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for digital sales of 250,000 and all three tracks charted on the Japan Hot 100.

"Brighter Day"
CD/DVD and download editions' cover
Single by Namie Amuro
B-side	"Sweet Kisses" "Still Lovin' You"
Released	November 12, 2014 (2014-11-12)
Recorded	2014
Genre	J-pop R&B[1]
Length	3:57
Label	Avex Trax Dimension Point
Lyricist(s)	Tiger
Producer(s)	Erik Lidbom Ylva Dimberg
Namie Amuro singles chronology
"Tsuki" (2014) "Brighter Day" (2014) "What I Did for Love" (2014)

Background and release

Following the trend of "Tsuki", "Brighter Day" and its three tracks were released through commercial deals and television appearances.^[2] Japanese beauty company Kosee premiered both "Still Lovin' You" and "Sweet Kisses" through a commercial; this was the second EP to conduct songs for Kosee, following "Neonlight Lipstick" from "Tsuki".^[3] "Brighter Day" was used as the theme song for the Fuji TV film First Class.^[4][5] The title track was described to "open with an impressive string instrument arrangement and transitions into a vocal performance by Namie on top of a strong beat." The lyrical content talks about helping loved ones in bad situations.^[6]

"Brighter Day" premiered on Japanese radio station J-Wave on October 15, 2013, followed by "Still Lovin' You" on October 16 and October 20.^[7][8][9] Although released on November 5 through Chaku-Uta, Amuro confirmed the release of "Brighter Day" on her website and was subsequently released physically in both CD and DVD formats in Japan and digitally worldwide on November 12, 2014.^[10][11][12] The DVD version came with a limited edition poster of the cover artwork and featured the videos of "Brighter Day" and "Sweet Kisses".^[11] The CD features all three tracks, along with their instrumental versions.^[11]

Reception

"Brighter Day" charted as a single on the Oricon Singles Chart and peaked at number eight.^[13] Present for thirteen weeks in the chart, "Brighter Day" became Amuro's lowest charting single since her 2004 single "Alarm" which peaked at eleven.^[13] The single sold over 53,000 units in Japan. The title track was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for exceeding 250,000 digital sales.^[14] "Brighter Day", "Sweet Kisses" and "Still Lovin' You" charted individually on the Japan Hot 100 at three, fifty-six and forty-nine respectively.^[15][16]

Promotion

The teaser music video to "Brighter Day" premiered on Amuro's YouTube channel on November 4, 2014, showing her in a white room in front of a car and making finger gestures.^[17] The teaser music video to "Sweet Kisses" premiered on November 11, showing Amuro in a circus-like stage with back up dancers.^[18] All three tracks were included in her Namie Amuro Live Style 2014 Tour.^[19]

Track listing

CD single/Digital EP^{[20][10][21][22][23][24][25]}

1. "Brighter Day" – 3:51
2. "Sweet Kisses" – 2:45
3. "Still Lovin' You" – 4:09
4. "Brighter Day" (Instrumental) – 3:51
5. "Sweet Kisses" (Instrumental) – 2:45
6. "Still Lovin' You" (Instrumental) – 4:09

Charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[15]	3
Japan (Oricon)[13]	8

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[26] Digital single	Platinum	250,000*
Japan Physical single	—	53,000[27]
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "NAMIE AMURO / BRIGHTER DAY [CD+DVD]". CD Journal (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
2. 安室奈美恵 新曲はドラマ「ファーストクラス」主題歌、沢尻エリカと"初"コラボ ["First Class" Drama New Theme Song, Namie Amuro New Song Collaboration] (in Japanese). Musicman-Net. September 26, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
3. "Namie Amuro / Brighter Day [デジパック仕様] [CD+DVD]". CDJournal. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
4. "Listen to... Namie Amuro – Brighter day". Random J Pop. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
5. Tsuki (Album liner notes). Namie Amuro. January 29, 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. "Namie Amuro reveals "Brighter Day" lyric video and single details". Aramajapan.com. 14 October 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
7. "Namie Amuro, new single "BRIGHTER DAY" Today radio first on-air! !!". Namie Amuro (in Japanese). Retrieved July 6, 2015.
8. "New song "Still Lovin 'You" is radio's first on-air at the J-WAVE "BEAT PLANET"!". Namie Amuro (in Japanese). Retrieved July 6, 2015.
9. "New song "SWEET KISSES" is, radio's first on-air at the J-WAVE "PARADISO"!". Namie Amuro (in Japanese). Retrieved July 6, 2015.
10. "iTunes – Music – Namie Amuro – Brighter Day". Japan iTunes Store. Retrieved July 6, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
11. "New Single "BRIGHTER DAY" now available". Namie Amuro (in Japanese). Retrieved June 30, 2015.
12. "New Single "BRIGHTER DAY" single-Uta Full (R) delivery start!". Namie Amuro (in Japanese). Retrieved June 30, 2015.
13. 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. "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 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
15. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
16. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
17. "安室奈美恵 / 「BRIGHTER DAY」MUSIC VIDEO -short ver.-" on YouTube
18. "安室奈美恵 / 「SWEET KISSES」MUSIC VIDEO" on YouTube
19. Namie Amuro Live Style 2014 (DVD). Namie Amuro. 2015. AVBN-99016~7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. Brighter Day (Album liner notes). Namie Amuro. November 12, 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
21. "iTunes – Music – Namie Amuro – Brighter Day". United States iTunes Store. Retrieved July 6, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
22. "iTunes – Music – Namie Amuro – Brighter Day". New Zealand iTunes Store. Retrieved July 6, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
23. "iTunes – Music – Namie Amuro – Brighter Day". Canada iTunes Store. Retrieved July 6, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
24. "iTunes – Music – Namie Amuro – Brighter Day". British iTunes Store. Retrieved July 6, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
25. "iTunes – Music – Namie Amuro – Brighter Day". Australian iTunes Store. Retrieved July 6, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
26. "Japanese digital single certifications – Namie Amuro – Brighter Day" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 9, 2021. Select 2015年1月 on the drop-down menu
27. "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.