Appears

"Appears" was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by longtime collaborator Max Matsuura. The song's instrumentation consists of guitar by musician Naoya Akimoto and keyboards by Japanese pop band HΛL. It was then composed together by Kazuhito Kikuchi and mixed by HΛL. An alternative version of "Appears" was released as the single-edit, which was primarily composed and mixed by Kikuchi, but this edit did not appear on the final cut of Hamasaki's second studio album Loveppears (1999). In a special commentary for Hamasaki's compilation album A Ballads (2003), where a third version of the track is included, she stated that the lyrical content was written in third person perspective, a trait that is shared with the rest of the album's tracks. She stated that the song is about the third person watching a happy and loving relationship: "It's about lovers who appear to be happy and are living each day in their usual way. But there is a sense that a third person is watching from a distance." The song's title is loosely based on the album's title Loveppears, which was originally planned to be called "Lovers Appear". ==Release==

"Appears" was released by Avex Trax on November 10, 1999, as the sixth single from the album, which was also released on the same day. Two separate 12" vinyls were distributed by Japanese label Rhythm Republic, featuring remixes of both "Appears" and "Whatever". It was Hamasaki's first single to be distributed in North America, which was remixed by American DJ Junior Vasquez and released on May 27, 2001. It was furthered distributed by Drizzly Records throughout Europe in 2005–06 under Hamasaki's Western alias Ayu; it was released on 12" vinyl and CD single formats. The nudity of the cover's key visuals and artwork drew a huge response from young people at the time, and a naming trend was established in which Loveppears, released on the same day, was called "White Ayu" and the single "Appears" was called "Black Ayu". During the album photo shoot, Hamasaki said, "The idea for the jacket came from Ayu's opinion at a meeting with the staff. You may think, 'What?' but I wanted to say 'No clothes on my waist!'" and made an impromptu decision to cover her breasts with her hair. ==Reception==

Upon its release, "Appears" received positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic's Alexey Eremenko, whom contributed to writing Hamasaki's biography on the website, selected the track as some of her best work. A mixed review came from a staff member at CD Journal, who questioned the inclusion of remixes on the CD single. Though the editor commended the club inspired composition, he/she criticized how it took over Hamasaki's vocal performance and felt the sound was slightly "geeky". Commercially, the single was a success in Japan. It debuted at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 273,760 units in its first week of sales. It lasted three weeks on the top 200, becoming one of Hamasaki's lowest spanning singles in that chart. It debuted at number two on the Count Down TV chart hosted by Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), stalled from the top spot by Hikaru Utada's "Addicted to You". It lasted four weeks in the top 100. Part one of the "Appears"/"Whatever" 12" vinyl reached number 96 on the same chart, entering on chart date February 5, 2000. By the end of 1999, "Appears" had sold 282,170 units in Japan, making it the 81st highest selling single of that year in that country; it was also Hamasaki's fifth addition on the Oricon Yearly Chart, just behind her singles "To Be", "Love (Destiny)", "Boys & Girls", and her extended play A (1999). That same year, it ranked at number 84 on TBS' Annual Chart. In January 2000, the single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 200,000 units. As of July 2016, "Appears" has sold 290,550 units in Japan, and is her 28th highest selling single based on Oricon Style's data base. ==Music video and promotion==

An accompanying music video was directed by Wataru Takeishi. The video opens with shots of New York City, and then has Hamasaki on a rooftop. Hamasaki is then singing the track with several different camera angles circulating her and the city. During the first verse, it has her in an apartment, sitting on a couch with a butterfly hair clip; this scene is used throughout the entire video. It then has three shots of her in different clothes; one with a brown leather jacket, brown wig and cowboy hat, the second with a red dress on, and the third with a black jacket and crop hair style. A Complete Box Set (2004), the digital release of A Clips Complete (2014), and the DVD and Blu-Ray re-release edition of her 2001 compilation album A Best (2016). On the December 24, 1999 broadcast of Music Station Special Super Live 99, Hamasaki was seen crying while singing. At the time, the reason for her tears was a mystery, which led to various speculations. The following year, on the December 29, 2000 broadcast of Music Station Special Super Live 2000, she stated in her pre-singing talk that she had "choked while singing." However, she later revealed in her novel M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite that in fact it was right after her breakup with Avex Inc.'s chairman and CEO, Max Matsuura. "Appears" has been heavily promoted on compilation albums and live performances. As of July 2016, it has been included on eight of Hamasaki's remix albums, including Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix (2000) and Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix (2001). The single has also been used on greatest hits albums conducted by Hamasaki, including A Best (2001), the HΛL's remix on A Ballads (2003), A Complete: All Singles (2007), and most recently on her 2014 Christmas compilation Winter Ballad Selection. It was specially remixed by Junior Vasquez and added onto Hamasaki's remix extended play, The Other Side Two: Junior Vasquez. The single has been included on three major concert tours hosted by Hamasaki, including part two of her 2000 concert tour, her 2007 Secret Tour, and her 2012 Hotel Love Songs tour in Japan. ==Track listing and formats==

• CD single • Appears" ('99 Greeting Mix) – 5:38 • "Immature" (JT Original CM Version) – 4:45 • Germany 12" vinyl • "Appears" (Armin van Buuren's Rising Star 12" Mix) – 9:11 • "Appears" (Kyau vs. Albert Remix) – 8:15 • "Appears" (Vince The Saint vs. Villa Remix) – 6:08 • "Appears" (Armin van Buuren's Rising Dub Mix) – 9:20 • "Appears" (Kyau vs. Albert Dub) – 7:58 • "Appears" – 9:14 • Digital download • "Appears" ('99 Greeting Mix) – 5:38 • "Appears" (Scud Filter Mix) – 6:03 • "Appears" (Dub's Eurotech Remix) – 8:03 • "Whatever" (Ferry 'System F' Corsten Dub Mix) – 7:38 • "Appears" (JP's SoundFactory Mix) – 7:58 • "Appears" (HAL's Mix) – 4:41 • "Immature" (D-Z Dual Lucifer Mix) – 4:35 • "Whatever" (Ferry 'System F' Corsten Vocal Extended Mix) – 6:29 • "Appears" (Keith Litman's Mix Of Truth) – 8:25 • "Immature" (JT Original CM Version) – 4:45 • "Appears" ('99 Greeting Mix) – 5:38 • "Appears" (Scud Filter Mix) [Instrumental] – 6:03 • "Immature" (JT Original CM Version) [Instrumental] – 4:45 ==Personnel==

Credits adapted from the CD liner notes of Loveppears; ;Recording • Recorded at Soundtrack Studios, New York City, New York, US. ;Credits • Ayumi Hamasaki – vocals, songwriting, background vocals • Max Matsuura – production • Kazuhito Kikuchi – composing, programming, mixing • Naoya Akimoto – guitar • HΛL – keyboards, programming • Wataru Takeishi – music video director • Dave Way – mixing ==Charts==

Weekly charts Monthly charts Yearly chart ==Certification==