Amit (album)

Amit (Chinese: 阿密特; pinyin: Ā mì tè) is the fifteenth studio album by Taiwanese recording artist A-Mei. It was released in physical and digital formats on June 26, 2009, through Gold Typhoon. A-Mei enlisted Adia to help produce the album, while musicians such as Sodagreen's Wu Qing-feng, Xiao An, Albert Leung, Yao Ruolong, Chen Zhenchuan penned the record's lyrics. Amit is primarily a rock record with elements of punk, heavy metal, R&B and acoustic styles.

Amit received positive reviews from music critics. The album experienced commercial success, peaking at number one on the G-Music Combo Album Chart in Taiwan and ranking within the top 20 best-selling albums of the year in the country. It eventually garnered sales of over 120,000 copies in Taiwan and over 1,300,000 copies across Asia.

Amit spawned several singles, including "Disappear", "Bold For My Love", and "Rainbow". The album and its singles received various accolades at regional award ceremonies; at the 21st Golden Melody Awards, Amit won Pop Album of the Year whereas "Bold For My Love" won Song of the Year, amongst other awards. The Chinese Musicians Exchange Association named Amit one of the top 10 albums of the year, and included "Disappear" and "Straight Up" in their list of the top 10 singles of the year.

Background and development
The material from Amit was produced and recorded over a span of two and a half years, with a total investment cost for the album totaling to nearly NT$30 million (US$1 million). The title of the album "Amit" is derived from A-Mei's given name, reflecting the singer's desire to reconnect with her indigenous Puyuma heritage of Beinan, Taitung. The title also serves as an acronym for the phrase "Amei Music Is Transformed". "The album saw the singer embracing a largely avant-garde image, with its material offering a change in musical styles in comparison to her previous efforts. She aimed to present the album with both auditory and visual concepts in mind.

A-Mei enlisted various songwriters and musicians to help write the lyrics for the album, including Sodagreen's Wu Qing-feng, Xiao An, Albert Leung, Yao Ruolong, and the singer's manager Chen Zhenchuan. Production was primarily handled by A-Mei and Adia. On the album cover, A-Mei sports blood orange colored hair and is seen sitting on a leather red chair, designed by BD Barcelona. The chair, worth NT$430,000, takes inspiration from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) musicals that were produced after the 1920s era.

Composition
The concept of Amit explore's A-Mei's multifaceted personality. The songs express the singer's evolving perspectives on life, including her exploration of life's purpose, her stance on LGBTQ+ issues, as well as women's rights. Observers have noted that the album offers a glimpse into the aspects of A-Mei's life that are not usually visible to the public eye, thereby providing a platform for expressing her thoughts and emotions. Primarily a rock record, Amit utilizes various styles including punk, heavy metal, R&B with both electric and acoustic guitar instrumentations.

The first track, "Split", delves into the dynamics of self-identity. Consisting of a rock composition, A-Mei's vocal delivery consists of a slightly raspy, resonant articulation. "Disappear" is a composition of similar style which was penned by Wu Qingfeng, drawing inspiration from A-Mei's interviews about the death of her father. The final version that was included on the album, in contrast, is more lucid and gentle.

The tracks "Double Cross" and "Depressed" both address women in romantic relationships. They utilize musical genres such as metal and psychedelic rock, mirroring each other in their exploration of love and loneliness. The feminine aura unveiled in "Double Cross" also permeates "Bold For My Love". The latter song features unambiguous lyrics: "If you wish to appease my love, if you’re so courageous, then come." The song fuses electronic rock and pop styles. "Rainbow" is a pop rock number that has been recognized as a LGBT anthem in Asia following the album's release. Its lyrics describe how the singer overcomes a failed relationship with the support of her friend.