Game (Perfume album)
Game (stylised in all caps) is the debut studio album Japanese girl group Perfume. On April 16, 2008, Tokuma Japan Communications released it in both physical and digital formats. Prior to its release, the band was formed in 2000, with early developments including a lineup change, the release of several singles, and other business ventures. After signing with Tokuma in 2005, the band began working with Japanese musician and producer Yasutaka Nakata, who produced, composed, songwriter, recorded assistant, and engineered the entire Game album.
Game
Game is an electronic dance album with elements of J-pop and techno-pop. Nakata's use of techno-pop on the album, as well as in the majority of his collaborations with Perfume, was intended to spark a revival of the genre in the Japanese music industry, with Perfume believing that the sound represented them. In addition to the tracks recorded in Japanese, there is one song sung in English. Music critics gave Game mixed to positive reviews, with some praising the overall sound and cheerful themes and others believing the material was overproduced and lacking depth. Commercially, the album was a success in Japan, reaching number one on the Oricon Albums Chart and being certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of over 500,000 copies.
Three singles were released to promote the album: "Fan Service (Sweet)", which included the album tracks "Chocolate Disco" and "Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow", "Polyrhythm", and the double A-side singles "Baby Cruising Love" and "Macaroni". Furthermore, other songs from the album were used as commercial themes across Japan. To promote the album, Perfume went on two tours: the Seventh Heaven promotional tour and the 2008 Game Tour, the latter of which was live the following year. Since the album's release, Game has been regarded as a techno-pop pioneer and a fixture in Japan's pop music industry.
Background and development[edit]
Perfume was founded in early 2000 by Kashiyuka (Yuka Kashino), A-chan (Ayaka Nishiwaki), and Yuka Kawashima. Kawashima soon left the group to pursue further studies, and Nocchi (Ayano Omoto) took her place. The group made their debut in 2003 with the single "Omajinai Perori" on Hiroshima-based label Momiji Records, and they went on to release several singles with Bee-Hive Records from 2003 to 2006.[a] A year ago, the group signed with Tokuma Japan Communications and enlisted the assistance of Japanese musician and producer Yasutaka Nakata, who produced three singles for them: "Sweet Doughnuts", "Monochrome Effect", and "Vitamin Drop".[b] Tokuma, on the other hand, decided to release the compilation album Perfume: Complete Best, which included songs from their Bee-Hive era through to "Vitamin Drop".[9]
Following the commercial success of the compilation album, Perfume and Nakata continued to work on new music, their first release being a sample of the songs "Chocolate Disco" and "Twinkle Snow Powdery Snow".[10] Then, in late January and early February 2008, Perfume announced that a new studio album would be released in April of that year.[11][12] Between 2007 and 2008, the group recorded with Nakata at Contemode Studios in Shibuya, Tokyo, and finished the album by the end of March 2008.[13] Nakata was the album's sole collaborator, producing, composing, writing, engineering, mixing, and mastering it in entirety.[14] Perfume member A-chan described Game as a concept album, stating, “We see each album as being like a concept album...", where as member Nocchi said "This is our first original album. It turned out so good that in every interview I have to say we are confident. It is cool! So I really want people to listen to it."[15][16]
Release and formats[edit]
On April 16, 2008, Tokuma Japan Communications published Game in digital, physical and streaming formats.[25][26] The standard CD contains 12 tracks, while the bonus DVD version includes the original music videos for "Macaroni" and "Secret Secret", two live performances in Japan, and three separate music videos for "Macaroni" shot by each member of Perfume.[14] Both versions came in standard jewel cases, but first-press editions included a slipcase and an obi.[27] Mari Amita photographed two cover sleeves for Game, with design elements by Mayuko Yuki. The CD artwork depicts Perfume in a four-by-four room with synthetic grass flooring and futuristic ceiling lighting, while the DVD artwork depicts Perfume in a dark room with several LED lamps.[14]
Following their departure from Tokuma Japan Communications, the group signed with Universal Music Japan in February 2012, gaining distribution rights for their Tokuma projects.[28] In November 2015, Perfume and Universal announced that all of their studio albums would be re-released on 12-inch vinyl on February 17, 2016, as part of a collaborative box set.[29] The game was released in two editions: as part of the Perfume Complete LP Box or separately.[30] The vinyl artwork was based on the CD and DVD covers, with a slip-in case containing the CD artwork.[14]
Commercial performance[edit]
Game was a commercial success in Japan. It debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, selling 154,000 copies in its first week of release.[65][66] This became the highest-selling album by a female group in the first week of 2008, and it was their first album to reach the top spot.[67] It was also Nakata's first produced project to reach number one on the charts, and the first techno-pop album to reach number one since Yellow Magic Orchestra's Naughty Boys (1983); Perfume is only the second techno-pop group to achieve this.[68] Game remained in the top ten for five weeks and on the overall chart for over 120 weeks.[65]
In addition, Game peaked at number two on the Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales Chart, becoming Perfume's first top ten album.[69] At the end of 2008, Game was the country's 23rd best-selling album, selling 391,439 copies.[70] The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) certified the album double platinum after it sold over 500,000 copies, and according to Oricon, it is their best-selling effort, selling 476,927 copies in the country.[65][71]