Rule/Sparkle

"Rule/Sparkle" is a double A-side single by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki from her tenth studio album, NEXT LEVEL' (2009). The song was released on a CD and DVD format on February 25, 2009 as the second single from the album. With "Rule" composed by Miki Wantanabe and "Sparkle" composed by Kazuhiro Hara, both songs were written by Hamasaki and produced by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. "Rule" was used as the international theme song for the 2009 film Dragonball Evolution.

"Rule/Sparkle"
CD and DVD version.
Single by Ayumi Hamasaki
from the album Next Level
ReleasedFebruary 25, 2009
GenrePop music
Label
Songwriter(s)Ayumi Hamasaki
Producer(s)Max Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki singles chronology
"Days/Green"
(2008)		 "Rule/Sparkle"
(2009)		 "Sunrise/Sunset (Love Is All)"
(2009)
Official Music Video
"Rule" on YouTube
Official Music Video
"Sparkle" on YouTube

"Rule/Sparkle" received mixed reviews from most limited music critics, some of whom favoured "Rule" over "Sparkle". Released in Japan and Taiwan, it peaked at number one on the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart, becoming her thirty-second number one single on the chart. The song was certified gold by Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). To promote "Rule/Sparkle", Hamasaki performed the song on several Japanese television series. It has also been included on several tours and countdown live shows conducted by Hamasaki. A music video was directed for each song.

Background and release

With "Rule" composed by Miki Wantanabe and "Sparkle" composed by Kazuhiro Hara, both songs were written by Hamasaki and produced by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura.[1] "Sparkle" is used in advertisements for the Honda Zest Spark, while "Rule" was used as the international theme song for the 2009 adventure film Dragonball Evolution.[2][3] "Rule/Sparkle" was released on February 25, 2009 by Avex Trax and Avex Taiwan in three different versions: two different CD editions and a CD and DVD version.[1] Both CD version features two remixes of "Rule" while the first version features two remixes of her single "Green" and the second features two remixes of her single "Days".[4][5] Akira Toriyama, the creator and manga artist for the Dragon Ball series, was commissioned by Avex Trax to draw an illustration of Hamasaki, which appeared on the DVD version.[6]

Musically, "Rule" is a "hard" rock song that incorporate harder drum progression and guitar strumming; Mike LaBrie from kanzenshuu.com commented that the composition is "pound harder than they have before with her music".[7] LaBrie also remarked that the lyrical content was rather "self-centered" and "cocky".[7] "Sparkle" is a rock-influenced electronic song that was compared to the works of French musical duo Daft Punk.[7]

Reception

"Rule/Sparkle" received mixed reviews from most music critics. Victoria Goldenberg from Purple Sky magazine criticized the production of the singles, stating " the singles themselves barely sound like singles. I had to listen to "Sparkle" and "Rule" five times before I started to remember the choruses. That’s far from "Seasons," which stuck with me immediately when I heard it in 2000, got me into Hamasaki’s music, and remains a favorite today."[8] Random J from his online website reviewed Hamasaki's album Party Queen (2012) and compared the composition of the album to the tracks, stating "It makes me appreciate Next level a whole lot more, an album which I cared very little for. I think it's because in my head when I hear the term Party Queen', I think of songs such as "Rule", "Sparkle" and "Rollin'" - all of which throw near enough every up-tempo song on Party queen under a Nozomi bullet train."[9] LaBrie was critical towards "Sparkle" for its repititive structure and its harsh composition, but was moderately positive towards the production and lyrics of "Rule".[7]

"Rule/Sparkle" charted together and debuted at number one on the Japanese Oricon Singles Chart, becoming Hamasaki's twentieth consecutive single to debut at number-one position since her 2002 single "Free & Easy" and made her the first solo artist and the female artist to have twenty consecutive singles to debut at number-one position.[10] The song was her thirty-second single to go to number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and charted for nine weeks, her lowest spanning single in the charts until her 2010 single "Crossroad".[11][12] "Rule/Sparkle" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 100,000 units and "Rule" was certified platinum for digital sales of 250,000 units.[13][14]

Live performances and other appearances

Both "Rule" and "Sparkle" were included on Hamasaki's headline concert tours Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2009 A: Next Level, while "Rule" and "Sparkle" each were included on Hamasaki's annual New Years countdown concert tours Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2011–2012 A: Hotel Love Songs and Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2012–2013 A: Wake Up.[15][16][17] Scottish DJ and record producer Public Domain remixed "Rule" and it was included on her remix compilations Ayu-mi-x 7 Presents Ayu Trance 4, the instrumental edition and her remix box set Ayu-mi-x 7 Limited Complete Box Set.[18][19][20]

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Rule/Sparkle".

Credits and personnel
  • Ayumi Hamasaki - songwriting, vocals
  • Max Matsuura - production
  • Miki Wantanabe - composer
  • Kazuhiro Hara - composer
  • Akira Toriyama - design
  • Takahide Ishii - director ("Rule")
  • Kazuyoshi Shimomura - director ("Sparkle")

Credits adapted from the DVD maxi-single liner notes.[1]

Charts and certifications
gollark: Well, for convoluted reasons, I want to detect known devices within wireless range.
gollark: Request to send.
gollark: μhahahahaha, RTS frame injection *has* occurred. NONE will be safe from Project ANTARCTIC OBSCURITY.
gollark: I suppose lisp has a good reason for them, because something something recursion.
gollark: Yes, linked list actually bad in the majority of scenarios.

References
  1. Rule/Sparkle (Album liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax, Avex Trax Taiwan. February 25, 2009.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "Honda Zest Spark CM Gallery". Honda. Retrieved December 25, 2008.
  3. "Honda Zest Spark CM Gallery". Sanspo.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009.
  4. Rule/Sparkle (Album liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax, Avex Trax Taiwan. February 25, 2009. AVCD-31606.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. Rule/Sparkle (Album liner notes). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax, Avex Trax Taiwan. February 25, 2009. AVCD-31607.CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. "Japan Zone - Entertainment News from Japan: Ayu Goku to Grace New Single". Japan Zone. Retrieved February 4, 2008.
  7. "Reviews – Ayumi Hamasaki – Rule/Sparkle". Kanzenshuu.com. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  8. Goldenberg, Victoria. "Ayumi Hamasaki – Next Level review". Purple Sky Magazine. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  9. Random J. "Ayumi Hamasaki – Party Queen album review". Random J Pop. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  10. 浜崎、史上初の女性歌手20作連続初登場首位記録 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  11. 浜崎あゆみ、史上初の２０作連続初登場１位 (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. March 3, 2009. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010.
  12. 浜崎あゆみのリリース一覧 [List of Ayumi Hamasaki's Releases]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2009年2月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (February 2009)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. March 10, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  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 28, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  15. Ayumi Hamasaki Arena Tour 2009 A: Next Level (DVD). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax, Avex Trax Taiwan. 2009. AVBD-91786~8.CS1 maint: others (link)
  16. Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2011–2012 A: Hotel Love Songs (DVD). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax, Avex Trax Taiwan. 2012. AVBD-92029~30.CS1 maint: others (link)
  17. Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2012–2013 A: Wake Up (DVD). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax, Avex Trax Taiwan. 2013. AVBD-92034.CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. Ayu-mi-x 7 Presents Ayu Trance 4 (Compilation). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2011. AVCD-38298.CS1 maint: others (link)
  19. Ayu-mi-x 7 Presents Ayu Trance 4 (Instrumental Versions) (Compilation). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2011. ANTCD-1290.CS1 maint: others (link)
  20. Ayu-mi-x 7 Limited Complete Box Set (Compilation). Ayumi Hamasaki. Avex Trax. 2011. AVCD-38300~3/B.CS1 maint: others (link)
  21. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 4, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  22. "G-Music Eastern Asian Chart". G-Music. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009.
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