Insomnia (Chihiro Onitsuka album)
Encyclopedia
is the debut album
by Japanese
singer-songwriter
Chihiro Onitsuka
, released in March 2001. The album features acoustic-oriented production arranged by Takefumi Haketa, who produced all her studio albums released under the Virgin Tokyo label distributed by Toshiba EMI. It comprises 11 tracks written by Onitsuka, including hit singles "Cage", "Edge","Memai", and her most well-known and successful song "Gekkou".
The lead-off track "Gekkou" was initially used as a theme song for Trick starring Yukie Nakama
and Hiroshi Abe
, a television drama series aired on Asahi TV in 2000. It was released as a single in August 2000 and became smash hit. At the end of the album, different rendition of the song was included.
While "Gekkou" remained on the chart, "Cage" and "Memai" were released as the singles subsequently. The lyrics of the latter was acclaimed, winning the 43rd Japan Record Awards for "Best Lyrics" in December 2001. It became the first top-ten hit single for her, peaking at the number-six on the charts.
Before Onitsuka gained popularity through "Gekkou", she had already released a single "Shine" arranged and produced by Nozomu Tsuchiya. A song was newly recorded for the Insomnia album. Album version arranged by Haketa features stiff sound of piano he plays. Likewise, a song originally released as a B-Side for her debut single called "Back Door" was also re-recorded.
"Rasen" (a song whose working title was "My Fragile Life") was featured on the 2002 motion picture Wasabi
directed by Luc Besson
and starred by Ryōko Hirosue
.
Music videos of 7 tracks included on the album were produced; "Gekkou"(both single and album versions), "Cage", "Memai", "Edge", "We Can Go", and studio live take of "Shine". All of them has been available on DVD entitled Me and My Devil issued in April 2001.
in May 2004.
It sold over a million copies in the first month and a further 345,000 in following 20 months. It has been certified sextuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan
, for shipments of over 1,500,000 units.
In March 2002, Insomnia won the 16th Japan Gold Disc Awards for "Best-Selling Rock Albums of the Year".
, arranged by Takefumi Haketa (except "Back Door", "Shine", and "Cage" co-arranged by Nozomu Tsuchiya).
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Chihiro Onitsuka
Chihiro Onitsuka
is a Japanese singer-songwriter.In 2000, Onitsuka released her debut single "Shine" and gained a recognition with its follow-up "Gekkou" which became a hit. Insomnia, her first studio album released in following year topped the Japanese Oricon chart and sold more than a million copies...
, released in March 2001. The album features acoustic-oriented production arranged by Takefumi Haketa, who produced all her studio albums released under the Virgin Tokyo label distributed by Toshiba EMI. It comprises 11 tracks written by Onitsuka, including hit singles "Cage", "Edge","Memai", and her most well-known and successful song "Gekkou".
The lead-off track "Gekkou" was initially used as a theme song for Trick starring Yukie Nakama
Yukie Nakama
is a Japanese actress, singer and former idol. She was born in Okinawa, Japan, in a fisherman's family, the youngest of five siblings.At the start of her career she was a gravure idol and singer , and appeared in bit roles until her career breakthrough playing Sadako in "Ring 0: Birthday ."In 2000,...
and Hiroshi Abe
Hiroshi Abe (actor)
is a Japanese model and actor.He began his career as a model, but he successfully made the transition to acting, becoming one of the most regularly visible presences in Japanese media. He is a 1988 graduate of Chuo University.-Career:...
, a television drama series aired on Asahi TV in 2000. It was released as a single in August 2000 and became smash hit. At the end of the album, different rendition of the song was included.
While "Gekkou" remained on the chart, "Cage" and "Memai" were released as the singles subsequently. The lyrics of the latter was acclaimed, winning the 43rd Japan Record Awards for "Best Lyrics" in December 2001. It became the first top-ten hit single for her, peaking at the number-six on the charts.
Before Onitsuka gained popularity through "Gekkou", she had already released a single "Shine" arranged and produced by Nozomu Tsuchiya. A song was newly recorded for the Insomnia album. Album version arranged by Haketa features stiff sound of piano he plays. Likewise, a song originally released as a B-Side for her debut single called "Back Door" was also re-recorded.
"Rasen" (a song whose working title was "My Fragile Life") was featured on the 2002 motion picture Wasabi
Wasabi (film)
Wasabi is a 2001 movie directed by Gérard Krawczyk, written and produced by Luc Besson and starring Jean Reno, Michel Muller and Ryōko Hirosue...
directed by Luc Besson
Luc Besson
Luc Besson is a French film director, writer, and producer. He is the creator of EuropaCorp film company. He has been involved with over 50 films, spanning 26 years, as writer, director, and/or producer.-Early life:...
and starred by Ryōko Hirosue
Ryoko Hirosue
is a Japanese actress and pop star, best known in the West for her roles in the Luc Besson-produced Wasabi and the Academy Award-winning Japanese film Departures. She also starred in a comedy series Yasuko to Kenji in 2008.- Early life :...
.
Music videos of 7 tracks included on the album were produced; "Gekkou"(both single and album versions), "Cage", "Memai", "Edge", "We Can Go", and studio live take of "Shine". All of them has been available on DVD entitled Me and My Devil issued in April 2001.
Commercial success
Insomnia has been the most successful album for Chihiro Onitsuka. The album debuted at the number-one on the Oricon chart, with the sales in excess of 440,000 copies. It made her then-second youngest female chart-topper on the Oricon who followed Hikaru Utada, who had already reached the number-one spot with her debut album First Love at the age of 16 in 1999. Onitsuka retained the record for over 3 years, until overtaken by Under My Skin album by Avril LavigneAvril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
in May 2004.
It sold over a million copies in the first month and a further 345,000 in following 20 months. It has been certified sextuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan
Recording Industry Association of Japan
The Recording Industry Association of Japan is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved the music industry...
, for shipments of over 1,500,000 units.
In March 2002, Insomnia won the 16th Japan Gold Disc Awards for "Best-Selling Rock Albums of the Year".
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Chihiro OnitsukaChihiro Onitsuka
is a Japanese singer-songwriter.In 2000, Onitsuka released her debut single "Shine" and gained a recognition with its follow-up "Gekkou" which became a hit. Insomnia, her first studio album released in following year topped the Japanese Oricon chart and sold more than a million copies...
, arranged by Takefumi Haketa (except "Back Door", "Shine", and "Cage" co-arranged by Nozomu Tsuchiya).
- "" – 5:02
- "Innocence" – 5:20
- "Back Door" [album version] – 5:08
- "Edge" – 4:32
- "We Can Go" – 4:48
- "Call" – 5:19
- "Shine" [album version] – 4:57
- "Cage" – 4:33
- "" – 4:06
- "" – 5:08
- "" [album version] – 5:08
Personnel
- Chihiro Onitsuka - Lead and backing vocals
- Takefumi Haketa - Acoustic piano, organ, acoustic guitar, loop, sampling, drum programming, computer programming, pad, backing vocals
- Takashi Nishiumi - Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, dobro guitar, backing vocals
- Nozomu Tsuchiya - Synthesizer programming
- Hitoshi Watanabe - Electric bass
- Tasuku - Electric guitar
- Gen Tamura - Pedal steel
- Hitoshi Kusunoki - Drums
- Yasuo Sano - Drums
- Hideki Ataka - Drum programming
- Toshiko Ezaki - backing vocals
- Naoto Takahashi - Violin
- Kiyo Kido - Violin
- Takahiro Enokido - Viola
- Kazuki Kashiwagi - Cello
- Ikuo Kakehashi - Ethnic congas, tambourine, shaker, tree bells, harmony ball, Chinese bell, blossom bell, snare, triangle, bodhran
Album
| Year | Chart | Provider | Peak position |
Weeks | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2002 | Japanese Albums Chart (top 100) | Oricon Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... /RIAJ |
1 | 86 | 6x Platinum (million) | 1.3 million + |
Singles
| Year | Single | Country | Chart | Position | Weeks | RIAJ Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Gekkou" | Japan | Oricon Weekly (top 100) | 11 | 38 | 2x Platinum |
| "Cage" | 15 | 11 | Gold | |||
| 2001 | "Memai"/"Edge" | 6 | 11 | Platinum |
Awards
| Japan Record Awards | ||
| Year | Title | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 (43rd) | "Memai" | Best Lyrics |
| Japan Gold Disc Award Japan Gold Disc Award The Japan Gold Disc Awards for Music sales in the Recording Industry Association of Japan, is major music awards held annually in Japan also released as a CD.- List of the Artists of the Year :************... |
||
| Year | Album | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 (16th) | Insomnia | Best-Selling Rock Albums of the Year |
Release history
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | March 7, 2001 | Toshiba-EMI/Virgin Tokyo | CD | TOCT-24560 |
| March 11, 2009 | EMI Music Japan | SHM-CD | TOCT-95058 | |