Funky Town (Namie Amuro song)

Infobox Single
Name = Funky Town


Artist = Namie Amuro
from Album = Play
B-side = Darling
Released = April 4, 2007
Format = CD Single, CD&DVD
Genre = Pop/R&B
Label = Avex Trax
Producer = T. Kura & Michico;L.L. Brothers
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Baby Don't Cry"
(2007)
This single = "Funky Town"
(2007)
Next single = "60s 70s 80s"
(2008)
Misc = Extra album cover
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Background = khaki


Lower caption = CD only version

"Funky Town" is Namie Amuro's 32nd solo single under the Avex Trax label. It was be released in CD and CD&DVD formats on April 4, 2007, three months after the release of her previous single "Baby Don't Cry".

"Funky Town" was ranked #44 on Recochoko's Download Chart and the video was ranked #4 on the PV Download Chart. [ja icon [http://recochoku.jp/recochoku_ranking/yearly_index.html#top 「着うたフル®」・「着うた®」なら「レコ直♪」 - 年間ランキング ] ]

Overview

For the release of "Funky Town", Amuro returned to work with frequent married producers Michico and T. Kura. The song is described as being a dancey new number, produced by frequent collaborators T. Kura & Michico along with the L.L. Brothers. [cite web | url=http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro/ | title=Namie Amuro Official Site | language=Japanese | accessdate=2007-02-22] The b-side, entitled "Darling," is said to be an adult and stylish dance tune produced by Coldfeet. [cite web | url=http://visionfactory.jp/ | title=Namie Amuro Official Management Site | language=Japanese | accessdate=2007-03-13] Also, uncommon for Amuro, first pressing editions of the "Funky Town" single came with a disco ball keychain - the CD&DVD version came with a gold disco ball keychain, and the CD only came with a silver disco ball keychain. [cite web | url=http://www.avexnet.or.jp/amuro/info.html | title=Namie Amuro Official Site | language=Japanese | accessdate=2007-04-05]

Commercial endorsements

"Funky Town" will be used in a new commercial campaign for a redesigned version of the lemon tea Lipton Limone. The new commercial featured Amuro herself [cite web | url=http://visionfactory.jp/ | title=Namie Amuro Official Site | language=Japanese | accessdate=2007-03-01] and will be broadcast from March 20 onwards.

Chart Performance

Commercially, "Funky Town" didn't match the success of her previous single with about only 55,000 copies sold on the Oricon Charts, but was a strong online digital seller with over 440 000 downloads purchased. [ [http://www.avex.co.jp/e_site/material/pdf/material_0801q.pdf Avex Financial Release Page 19] ]

Music video

The promotional video for "Funky Town" found Namie working with director nihongo|Masāki Uchino|内野政明|, instead of long-time director nihongo|Muto Masashi|武藤真志|.

The video begins with the words "Funky Town" on the screen,in the same font seen on the single's cover.The video featured scenes of Namie performing choreography with a group of dancers all wearing black in a black room in featuring a car; dancing against a large screen featuring footage of her face on it; and towards the end singing amid a pile of golden disco balls.

Track listing

CD only format

# "Funky Town" (T.Kura, Michico, L.L. Brothers) – 3:47
# "Darling" (Coldfeet) – 5:03
# "Funky Town (Instrumental)" (T.Kura, michico, L.L. Brothers) – 3:47
# "Darling (Instrumental)" (Coldfeet) – 4:55

CD and DVD

CD portion

# "Funky Town" (T.Kura, Michico, L.L. Brothers) – 3:47
# "Darling" (Coldfeet) – 5:03
# "Funky Town (Instrumental)" (T.Kura, michico, L.L. Brothers) – 3:47
# "Darling (Instrumental)" (Coldfeet) – 4:55

DVD portion

# "Funky Town" (Video Clip)

Personnel

* "Funky Town"
**Namie Amuro – vocals
**L.L Brothers, Warner, michico - additional vocals
**GIANTSWING PRODUCTION (T.Kura, Michico, L.L Brothers) - productions
* "Darling"
**Namie Amuro – vocals
**COLDFEET - productions
**Lori Fine - keyboards
**Watusi - programming & instruments
**Terrassy - guitars

Production

* "Funky Town"
**Producers – T.Kura, michico, L.L. Brothers
**Choreographer - Hirotsugu Kurosu
**Director - Masāki Uchino
* "Darling"
**Producer - Coldfeet

TV performances

* March 16, 2007 - PopJam Reprise
* April 5, 2007 - Sakigake! Ongaku Banzuke SP
* April 6, 2007 - Music Fighter
* April 7, 2007 - CDTV

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

RIAJ certification

"Funky Town" has been certified gold for shipments of over 100,000 by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. [cite web | url=http://www.riaj.com/data/others/gold/200704.html#list2 | title=ゴールド等認定作品認定　2007年4月 | language=Japanese | accessdate=2007-05-11]

References