SpeciAlisa is the sixth studio album

Studio album

A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...

 by Japanese recording artist Alisa Mizuki, released through Avex Tune on May 25, 2011. It is Mizuki's second studio album with Avex and first in twelve years, since Innocence

Innocence (Alisa Mizuki album)

Innocence is the fifth studio album by Japanese recording artist Arisa Mizuki, released through Avex Tune on November 17, 1999. It is Mizuki's first studio album in over four years, since Cute, and the first to be released under Avex Tune...

(1999). The title is a portmanteau of the words "special" and "Alisa." The album was released in commemoration of Mizuki's twenty-year anniversary.

Background

Mizuki began planning the release of her sixth studio album in 2010. The theme for the album being bonds, Mizuki invited her musician friends and favorite artits to collaborate with her on the record. Miwa Yoshida

Miwa Yoshida

is a Japanese musician, and the lead singer for the band Dreams Come True.Yoshida also fronts a Dreams Come True side-project called "Funk the Peanuts", and has released two solo albums, Beauty and Harmony and Beauty and Harmony 2...

 and Masato Nakamura

Masato Nakamura

is a Japanese musician, bass guitarist, and record producer.- Life and music career :Nakamura was originally a session musician before forming the "Cha-Cha & Audrey's Project" with Miwa Yoshida. In 1988, they formed the band Dreams Come True....

 of Dreams Come True, whose music has in the past been used in movies and commercials starring Mizuki, wrote "Anata ga Waraeba," one of the album's lead tracks. Nakamura commented, "we wanted the song to have that obvious DoriKamu sound that even we haven't done in a while." Frequent collaborator Tetsuya Komuro

Tetsuya Komuro

, also known as TK, is a Japanese keyboardist, guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer born on November 27, 1958 in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. He is recognized as being the most successful producer in Japanese music history and introduced dance music to the Japanese mainstream...

, who wrote Mizuki's greatest hit "Too Shy Shy Boy!

Too Shy Shy Boy!

"Too Shy Shy Boy!" is the fourth single by Japanese recording artist Arisa Mizuki. It was released on May 27, 1992 as the lead single from Mizuki's second studio album Shake Your Body for Me. The title track was written and produced by Tetsuya Komuro. It was used in commercials for the soft drink...

," and Amii Ozaki

Amii Ozaki

, real name , is a Japanese singer songwriter born on 19 March 1957 in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. She has written music such as Oribia o Kikinagara by Anri and Tenshi no Uingu by Seiko Matsuda, as well as many other songs. Ozaki makes irregular appearances on her friend Akira Kamiya's...

, who penned Mizuki's debut single "Densetsu no Shōjo

Densetsu no Shōjo

is the first single by Japanese recording artist Arisa Mizuki. It was released on May 15, 1991 as the first single from Mizuki's debut studio album Arisa. The title song was written and composed by Amii Ozaki. It was inspired by Anri's "Olivia o Kikinagara," also produced by Ozaki...

," also composed songs for the album.

SpeciAlisa also features collaborations with High Speed Boyz vocalist Jin, Bonnie Pink

Bonnie Pink

, known by her stage name , is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. She lived in New York during 1998 and speaks English . She writes and composes all her songs, and plays guitar and piano...

, Yuka Kawamura, former Princess Princess

Princess Princess (band)

was a five-piece Japanese Rock/Pop girl band from 1983-1996. They were previously known as "Julian Mama" and "Akasaka Komachi" ....

 vocalist Kaori Kishitani, Show Ayanocozey (DJ OZMA

DJ Ozma

DJ OZMA, born as on April 26 in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, and legally known as , is a Japanese pop singer and musical artist. He first came to prominence in early 2006 and is notorious for his performance at the 57th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, during which his female dancers stripped themselves of...

) from Kishidan

Kishidan

, which means "The Knights", are a J-pop band. They have a retro image, wearing Japanese school uniforms in the style of bōsōzoku. The lead singer, Show Ayanocozey, was DJ OZMA, until the persona was "retired" in December 2008. Kishidan announced a "comeback", after a three year break, on January...

, Wise, Tarantula from Spontania

Spontania

is a Japanese hip-hop/reggae group. The name "Spontania" comes from the English word "spontaneous".In 2010, singer Kaori Natori became the permanent vocalist for the band.-Members:*Massattack...

, Lecca

Lecca

is a Japanese reggae singer-songwriter.Her major debut was in 2006 with the mini-album Dreamer, with Avex' sub-label Cutting Edge.- Singles :* For you * My measure * Tsubomi / Snow Crystals, feat...

, rapper 369, Micro from Def Tech

Def Tech

Def Tech is a Japanese pop band signed to Mind Shift Music, an independent label.-Career:Jesse, the vocalist from Rize, named the band, the members of which did their own songwriting, arranging, and production...

, Kyōko Koizumi

Kyoko Koizumi

' is a Japanese singer and actress. Her music is released through Victor Entertainment . She is also known by the nickname Kyon Kyon. She had singles reach the Top ten for 12 consecutive years between 1983 and 1994, a female solo artist record, until this was broken by Namie Amuro...

, and Ohashi Trio. Kawamura's contribution, "Hoshi no Hate

Hoshi no Hate

is the twenty-fourth single, and first re-cut single, by Japanese recording artist Alisa Mizuki. It was released on August 17, 2011, over three years and a half since "Engaged" , as the first and only single from Mizuki's sixth studio album, SpeciAlisa...

," which served as theme song for the TBS

Tokyo Broadcasting System

, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....

 drama Hanawake no Yon-shimai, starring Mizuki herself, was released as the album's sole single on August 17, 2011.

In a press release issued in April 2011, Mizuki spoke about the album's completion:

Release and promotion

Mizuki filmed two music videos for the songs "Alisa in Wonderland" and "Will Love" to promote the album. She performed the lead tracks of the album on several TV programs, including Hey! Hey! Hey!, Coming Soon!!, and Music Japan. She also appeared on NTV's Music Lovers, where she performed a mini-concert for the audience.

Mizuki held her first formal live concert in nearly seven years to commemorate her twenty-year anniversary. The concert was held at Shibuya Eggman in Tokyo on May 15, the release date of Mizuki's "Densetsu no Shōjo." Mizuki performed a five-song set for 3,000 fans and held a special handshake event afterwards for 50 fans selected through random lottery. On performing her debut song, on which she was accompanied by Amii Ozaki, Mizuki commented, "It's been twenty years and I'm thrilled. I'm glad I grew up to be a 'legendary woman'."

Mizuki held a second concert on June 5, this time to commemorate the release of the album. She performed eleven songs, including her past hits "Too Shy Shy Boy!," "Eden no Machi

Eden no Machi

is the second single by Japanese recording artist Arisa Mizuki. It was released on August 28, 1991 as the second single from Mizuki's debut studio album Arisa. The title song was written by Jun Taguchi and composed and produced by Princess Princess vocalist and guitarist Kaori Okui...

," and "Happy Wake Up!

Happy Wake Up!

"Happy Wake Up!" is the seventh single by Japanese recording artist Arisa Mizuki. It was released on October 3, 1994 as the lead single from Mizuki's third studio album Arisa III: Look. The title track was written and produced by Tetsuya Komuro. "Happy Wake Up!" is Mizuki's second single produced...

," as well as songs from SpeciAlisa. Ozaki was once again in attendance and joined Mizuki for the performances of "Densetsu no Shōjo" and "Jewel." Other special guests included, Wise, Tarantula (Spontania), 369, and Micro (Def Tech). At the end of the concert Mizuki commented, "to be able to perform these songs with the people that helped create them is a pleasure," and expressed her gratification for the past two decades.

Commercial performance

SpeciAlisa debuted at number 46 on the 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...

 Daily Albums chart on May 24, 2011. It peaked at number 72 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart with 1,617 copies in its first week. The album charted for two weeks and has sold a total of 2,306 copies.

Track listing

Charts and sales

Chart (2011)	Peak position
Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Japan Top Albums	72
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... Daily Albums	46
Oricon Weekly Albums	72