"Alarm" | ||||
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Single by Namie Amuro | ||||
from the album Queen of Hip-Pop | ||||
B-side | "Strobe" | |||
Released | March 17, 2004 | |||
Recorded | 2004 | |||
Studio | Rojam Studio | |||
Length | 4:16 | |||
Label | Avex Trax | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Namie Amuro singles chronology | ||||
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"Alarm" (stylized in all caps) is the 26th single by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro. It was released by Avex Trax on March 17, 2004, serving as the lead single to Amuro's seventh studio album Queen of Hip-Pop (2005). The song was written by Jusme and composed by Monk. The B-side "Strobe" was first planned as the main track of this single and when Amuro got the demo for "Alarm" the song was titled "Clock."
Musically, "Alarm" is a pop and R&B song with a heavy bass and takes influences from the Crunk music sound that was prevalent in the American music charts during the mid-2000s. The final product was recorded at Rojam Studio. "Alarm" was generally well-received by music critics, praising its melody and its production.
Commercially, the song was a disappointment in Japan. It became Amuro's first solo single, and only to date, to appear out of the top ten on the Oricon Singles Chart by peaking at only number eleven. The single was re-released on November 14, 2017 to try and enhance its original position, and to reach the top ten. The purchase campaign was both supported by music stores and "Alarm"'s songwriter, Monk. Avex Trax also accepted to reissue the single, so enough copies could be made available in stores. Unfortunately, the single only reached number fourteen. Since its release, "Alarm has appeared on several of Amuro's concert tours, as well as her greatest hits album Best Fiction (2008).