Want Me, Want Me

"Want Me, Want Me" is the 29th single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released by Avex Trax on April 6, 2005, and was the last retailed single to precede her seventh studio album, Queen of Hip-Pop (2005). "Want Me, Want Me" was initially supposed to be released as an album track of Queen of Hip-Pop or a coupling song, but Amuro thought it was so good she made it a single despite the opposition of her staff. The song's lyrics were written by Michico, while its music was composed by Sugi-V. Musically, "Want Me, Want Me" is an upbeat reggae-style tune with an addictive loop that incorporates Japanese elements like the koto that plays during the intro. Atypical for Amuro, the song contains sexually aggressive lyrics and namechecks the condom brand Trojan in the chorus.

Music critics praised "Want Me, Want Me" for its sound that was unorthodox in mainstream Japanese music at the time, with some hailing the song as one of the highlights from her discography. Commercially, it was a success in Japan, peaking at the second position on the Oricon Singles Chart. The song was the third of three consecutive singles to sell over 100,000 copies and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for sales exceeding 100,000 units. "Want Me, Want Me" also provided Amuro with her largest first-week sales in four years.

To promote "Want Me, Want Me" a music video directed by Masashi Muto filmed in an undisclosed studio was made for the song. Since its release, "Want Me, Want Me" has appeared on several of Amuro's concert tours and subsequent live releases, as well as her greatest hits album Best Fiction (2008), and was re-recorded for her final compilation album Finally (2017).

Background and composition
After completing her namie amuro SO CRAZY tour featuring BEST singles 2003-2004 tour, which was her first international tour, Amuro began work on her seventh studio album, Queen of Hip-Pop. Amuro collaborated on the album with Japanese producers and songwriters T.Kura, Michico, and Nao'ymt, as well as Tricky Stewart and Sugi-V. Amuro enlisted Michico to assist her with new music because they had previously collaborated; she was inspired by their work together on her album Style (2003), particularly her song "Namie's Style," and both of them wanted to continue working towards Amuro's transition from dance-oriented music to R&B and hip-hop influences.

Michico was chosen to write the lyrics for "Want Me, Want Me" and Sugi-V, a hip-hop reggae beatmaker, was selected as the song's producer and composer. Amuro recorded "Want Me, Want Me" with Toshihiro Wako at Baybridge Studio, with D.O.I. mixing at Daimonion Recordings. The final project was mastered by Tom Coyne. "Want Me, Want Me" is best described as a fusion of bhangra and reggaeton music. Its arrangement and composition is most similar to reggaeton music, but it utilizes a sitar sample. The song's accompanying lyrics are explicitly sexual, with the chorus including references to Trojan condoms. Amuro explained in an interview that when she first heard the track alone, and just from the track alone she thought, “What's this?" She felt a sense of excitement and thrill that was very different from anything she had ever felt before. Amuro didn't want to ruin the image or coolness of the song, so she asked Michico to write the lyrics and melody. There were other candidates for a single, but Amuro decided to give "Want Me, Want Me" a wide release.

The single's B-side "Handle Me" was written and composed Akira, while its music was arranged by Junya Endo. "Handle Me" is an upbeat song that features an exotic opening and lyrically describes a person who believes in the future and lives strongly.

Release and promotion
Avex Trax released "Want Me, Want Me" in Japan on April 9, 2005, in digital formats, as well in a CD only or in a CD+DVD format. It serves as the final single from Amuro's seventh studio album Queen of Hip-Pop (2005). The CD single and digital format include the title track and the B-side track "Handle Me."

The video for "Want Me, Want Me" was shot in an undisclosed studio by director Masashi Muto. It involves Amuro and several dancers performing in a flooded room. The room changes between two colors, blue and beige. Extras of various ethnic backgrounds were used as background dancers throughout the video. It was included on the DVD version of Best Fiction and her video album Filmography 2001-2005 (2005). In March 2005, a month before its official release, Amuro sung "Want Me, Want Me" at Japan's largest fashion event, Kobe Collection. The performance surprised the approximately 2,000 audience members who had not been notified at all of her appearance. Amuro commented: "I was nervous as it was a special fashion show, but I enjoyed it a lot because the audience erupted when I appeared!" On May 29, 2005, she performed “Want Me, Want Me” as a performing artist at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards Japan held at Tokyo Bay NK Hall. She won two awards that night: “Best R&B Video (award-winning work: GIRL TALK)” and “Most Impressive Performing Asian Artist.”

Reception
Music critics gave "Want Me, Want Me" positive reviews. AllMusic cited the song as a standout from Amuro's discography. Japanese magazine CDJournal reviewed the single and its appearances on Queen of Hip-Pop and Best Fiction. CDJournal praised the single as impressive with its refrain of melodies reminiscent of Okinawan and Middle Eastern folk music. Its appearance on Queen of Hip-Pop was praised for being perfect for listening to on a summer night. For Best Fiction, the song was lauded as a wonderful lovemaking song with a fusion of inorganic beats and sensual ethnic sounds. Daniel Robison of Playlouder praised the song as "unabashed filth that fits perfectly with the grinding bass and stabbing beats." Tetsuo Hiraga of Hot Express praised the song, stating: "I can't believe that Japanese people can't handle authentic R&B; and hip-hop. Because it feels so good!" He also praised the song for completely breaking away from the framework of J-Pop.

Commercial performance
Commercially, "Want Me, Want Me" was a success in Japan. The single debuted at number two on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart, selling 48,106 copies in its first week. This marked her largest sales figure for an Amuro single since her 2001 hit, "Say the Word." It dropped to number five the next week, selling 19,394 copies. The single stayed in the top twenty one last week, ranking at number fourteen and selling 12,278 copies. With sales of 102,733 copies by the end of the fiscal year, "Want Me, Want Me" ranked at number 100 on the year-end Oricon Singles Chart for 2005. The single charted in the top 100 for ten weeks and was eventually certified gold by the RIAJ in May 2005 for selling over 100,000 copies.

Track listing

 * CD only format


 * CD and DVD

Personnel

 * Namie Amuro – vocals, background vocals
 * Michico – background vocals
 * Sugi-V – all instruments

Production

 * Producers – Sugi-V, Michico
 * Vocal Production – Michico
 * Mixing – D.O.I
 * Music Video Director – Masashi Muto
 * Hair & Make Up – Akemi Nakano
 * Stylist – Noriko Goto
 * Photography – Shoji Uchida
 * Design: Aratame

TV performances

 * March 24, 2005 – Kobe Collection '05
 * April 2, 2005 – CDTV
 * April 9, 2005 – Music Fighter
 * April 14, 2005 – Utaban
 * April 22, 2005 – Music Station
 * June 4, 2005 – MTV Video Awards Japan 2005

Cover versions

 * Shaan & Sunidhi Chauhan recorded an Indian version for the Bollywood film, Darling, titled 'Aa Khushi Se Khud Khushi Kar Le'. A remix of the song was also released.
 * Rica Peralejo, a Filipino singer covered the song titled 'Gumalaw Na' in the album, Bollywood Fever (2006).
 * Mina recorded a Korean version, titled 'Istanbul'.
 * The sitar sample from the song was also featured in the background music to the cycle 8 premiere episode of America's Next Top Model.