Japanese 4:40
J-Pop, R&B
from Don't wanna cry (1996)J-Pop, R&B
Take a stroll down memory lane, back to 1996 when Japan's radios were overtaken by a slew of artists produced by one man - Tetsuya "TK" Komuro. His biggest solo prodigy was arguably the Okinawan teen sensation Namie Amuro (b. 1977). Originally a member of the girl group Super Monkeys, TK re-branded Namie as a single star. She was at the top of musical food chain, and had singles selling into the millions. Personal tragedies struck, as they always do, and Amuro took a short furlough that caused her fame to fade just a bit. She would experience a second coming in the early 2000's once she switched up styles and producers (TK parted ways with Namie in 2001). Anyone who keeps up with Japanese pop music has most likely heard at least one of Amuro's new songs. So, here's a flashback - "Don't wanna cry" is the third solo single released by Namie. It sports a mix of TK's unique design and slight hints of R&B. Admittedly, I was very cold to the majority of her older works. It was, frankly, weird. I struggled to connect and find a beat I could relate to. Years later, that all changed for some oddball reason. "Don't wanna cry" is a love it-or-hate it song, as are most of TK's tracks written for Namie. There's almost three different songs piled into one here. Perhaps you can find at least one that tantalizes your ear.
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