Title
Put ‘Em Up
Artist
Amuro Namie
Year
2003
Lyrics: Dallas Austin, Jasper Cameron
Japanese Lyrics: MICHICO
Music: Dallas Austin
Arrangement: Dallas Austin
Producer: Dallas Austin
VERSIONS
[2003.07.16] Put ‘Em Up
[2003.07.16] Put ‘Em Up
[2003.12.10] STYLE
[2008.07.30] BEST FICTION
CREDITS
Amuro Namie: vocals
Vocal Direction: Imai Daisuke
Background Vocals: MICHICO
Recorded By: Wako Toshihiro
Mixed By: Keven “KD” Davis, Alvin Speights, assisted by Sang Park
Mixed By (Album Version), Kevin “KD” Davis, assisted by Dion Peters
COMMENTARY
Put ’em up was initially a duet with Chilli (Rozonda Thomas), one of the members of the iconic R&B band TLC, also produced by Dallas Austin. The song was supposed to be included in LOVE ENHANCED ♥single collection, but Amuro Namie felt that her fans would not be ready for this type of song yet:
This song has actually been around for about 2 or 3 years, but the timing, and also translating the lyrics into Japanese didn’t ever work out. The lyrics are pretty harsh, and as I was wondering what I should do, I was able to work in Suite Chic, and do a lot of the things I’d wanted to for a while, just the way I liked, without being hampered by by image. And I thought that my fans as well would be able to accept ‘Put ’em up’ easier if I released it not all of a sudden, but after having Suite Chic, where I did a lot of different things, as a cushion, and so I chose this timing to release it.
Other sources say that the original song remained unreleased out of respect for TLC’s Left Eye (Lisa Lopes)’s death. It seems like the original version of Put ’em up has solely been aired once as a BGM during Tour “fan space 04”.
The lyrics of the final version of Put ’em up were translated by songwriter MICHICO. Amuro said that she chose MICHICO, who she had worked with on Suite Chic, because “the feel of the lyrics [of Put ’em up’] and the lyrics that michico-san writes in Japanese fit really well”.
Amuro Namie called Put ‘Em Up the second part of a dance number trilogy including shine more and So Crazy. “I think with these three songs I met my destiny,” she said.
MUSIC VIDEO
Director: UGICHIN
Director of Photography: Hashimoto Yuzuru
Producer: Murakoshi Hayato
Hair & Make-Up: Nakano Akemi
Stylist: Goto Noriko
Choregraphy: WARNER
[2005.12.17] FILMOGRAPHY 2001-2005
[2008.07.30] BEST FICTION
LIVE TOURS
| [2003-2004] So Crazy Tour featuring Best singles 2003-2004 [2004] Tour “fan space 04” [2005] Space of Hip-Pop ~Namie Amuro Tour 2005~ [2006] Best Tour “Live Style 2006” [2008-2009] Best Fiction Tour 2008-2009 |
TV & EVENTS
| [2003.07.14] Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ [2003.07.17] AX Music Factory [2003.07.19] CDTV [2003.07.19] Pop Jam [2003.07.25] Music Station [2003.09.22] Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ [2004.07.24] MTV Buzz ASIA |
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AWARDS AND CERTIFICATIONS
MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2004
Best R&B Video “Put ‘Em Up”