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| alt = The picture has Ayumi Hamasaki wearing an Angel costume, with angel wings. She is pictured in front of a blue backdrop, alongside the text and her name superimposed on the image.
| alt = The picture has Ayumi Hamasaki wearing an Angel costume, with angel wings. She is pictured in front of a blue backdrop, alongside the text and her name superimposed on the image.
| border = yes
| border = yes
| caption = Original Mini CD version.
| caption = Mini CD cover art.
| type = single
| type = single
| artist = [[Ayumi Hamasaki]]
| artist = [[Ayumi Hamasaki]]
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| released = {{Start date|1999|02|10}}
| released = {{Start date|1999|02|10}}
| recorded = {{unbulleted list|1999|Avex Studios|{{small|([[Tokyo, Japan]])}}}}
| recorded = {{unbulleted list|1999|Avex Studios|{{small|([[Tokyo, Japan]])}}}}
| studio =
| studio =
| venue =
| venue =
| genre = [[Dance-pop]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Techno]]|[[Trance music|trance]]|[[J-pop]]}}
| length = {{Duration|m=5|s=36}}
| length = {{Duration|m=5|s=36}}
| label = {{flat list|
| label = [[Avex Trax]]
*[[Avex Trax]]
*Avex Taiwan
*Rhythm Republic
}}
| writer = [[Ayumi Hamasaki]]
| writer = [[Ayumi Hamasaki]]
| producer = [[Max Matsuura]]
| producer = [[Max Matsuura]]
| prev_title = [[Depend on You]]
| prev_title = [[Depend on You]]
| prev_year = 1997
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = [[Love (Destiny)]]
| next_title = [[Love (Destiny)]]
| next_year = 1998
| next_year = 1999
| misc = {{External music video
| misc = {{External music video
| header = Official Music Video
| header = Official Music Video
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}}
}}


"'''Whatever'''" (capitalized as "'''WHATEVER'''") is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist [[Ayumi Hamasaki]] for her second studio album, ''[[Loveppears]]'' (1999). It was written by Hamasaki, while production was handled by [[Max Matsuura]]. The track is Hamasaki's sixth single with Matsuura since her debut single in April 1998, "[[Poker Face (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Poker Face]]". "Whatever" premiered on February 10, 1999 as the lead single from the album. It was re-released on February 28, 2001 as a [[CD single]].
"'''Whatever'''" (capitalized as "'''WHATEVER'''") is a song by Japanese singer [[Ayumi Hamasaki]]. It was released by [[Avex Trax]] on February 10, 1999, and later distributed in a variety of formats throughout Asia. It also serves as the [[Single (music)|lead single]] for Hamasaki's second [[studio album]], ''[[Loveppears]]'' (1999). It was written by Hamasaki, composed by [[Kazuhito Kikuchi]], and produced by [[Max Matsuura]], who also produced the parent album. It was re-released twice, once in 2001 with additional content on a [[CD single]] format and again as a double [[A-side and B-side|A-side]] vinyl with her single "[[Appears]]".


"Whatever" was originally released in two mixes: the M version, arranged by Izumi "D.M.X." Miyazaki, is a [[techno]]-[[Trance music|trance]]-inspired track, and the J version, arranged by Kikuchi, appeared only on the singles formats. Like the rest of the album, the songs is performed in the third person narrative; lyrically, it discusses having ambivalent feelings for someone. "Whatever" received positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]], who praised its [[Dance music|dance]]-oriented nature and cited it as a standout track from the album and Hamasaki’s career.
Musically, "Whatever" was described as a [[dance music|dance]] song, and is written in [[third person narrative]]. Upon its release, the track garnered mixed reviews from music critics. Critics praised Hamasaki's move from [[pop rock]] to dance music, but criticized her vocal delivery and song writing. It also achieved success in Japan, peaking at number five on the Japanese [[Oricon Singles Chart]]. The re-released single peaked at number 28 on the same chart. As of March 2016, "Whatever" has sold over 218,000 units in Japan alone and was certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] (RIAJ).


Commercially, "Whatever" peaked at number five on the [[Oricon Singles Chart]], while the re-issued version reached number 28. It was certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] (RIAJ) after exceeding 200,000 shipments in Japan. [[Wataru Takeishi]] created a [[music video]] that features Hamasaki in a room with built-in [[water feature]], as well as scenes of a young child dressed as an angel walking through and observing a [[Dystopia|distressed landscape]]. Since its release, "Whatever" has appeared on Hamasaki's [[Remix album|remix]] and [[compilation album]]s, as well as on several of the singer's [[Ayumi Hamasaki#Concert tours|concert tours]].
The accompanying music video for "Whatever" was shot in Tokyo; it features Hamasaki in a small white room with waterfalls, with inter cut scenes of an angel in the middle of a destroyed city. An alternative music video was shot for an alternative arrangement of the song; it features Hamasaki singing in front of a red backdrop. However, Avex scrapped it after they preferred the former version. For additional promotion, the song was featured on several concert tours and New Years live countdown shows by Hamasaki.


==Background and composition==
==Background and composition==
On January 1, 1999, Hamasaki released her first studio album, ''[[A Song for xx]]''.<ref name="ASongforxx">{{cite AV media notes |title=A Song for xx |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1999 |type=[[liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |id=AVCD-11691}}</ref> The record featured several singles, some of which had moderate success in Japan.{{efn|<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Poker Face |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1998 |type=[[liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |id=AVDD-20228}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=You |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1998 |type=[[liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |id=AVDD-20239}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Trust |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1998 |type=[[liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |id=AVDD-20248}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Depend on You |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1998 |type=[[liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |id=AVDD-20278}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=For My Dear... |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1998 |type=[[liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |id=AVDD-20267}}</ref>}} [[Music journalism|Music critics]] praised the album's sound and identified Hamasaki as a promising act in [[Japanese pop music]].{{efn|<ref>{{cite web |last=Yeung |first=Neil Z. |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/song-for-xx-mw0000363928 |title=Song for XX – Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Yeung |first=Neil Z. |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ayumi-hamasaki-mn0000758915#biography |title=Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Yng |first=Wang |url=http://mtvasia.com/Review/CD/C1999000010.html |title=Ayumi Hamasaki - A Song for XX (Avex Trax) |publisher=[[MTV Asia]] |access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/a-song-for-xx/3198102253 |title=Ayumi Hamasaki - A Song for xx |magazine=CDJournal |language=Japanese |access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref>}} Commercially, it peaked at number one on the region's [[Oricon Albums Chart]] and eventually sold over 1.6 million copies.{{efn|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/44915/1/ |title=A Song for xx - Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1999a.html |title=Oricon Albums Chart – Annual 1999 Chart |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305213753/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/1999a.html |archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年3月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. March 1999 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199905.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=Japanese |location=[[Chūō, Tokyo]] |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] |publication-date=May 10, 1999 |volume=474 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122064612/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199905.pdf |archive-date=January 22, 2014 |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年2月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 1999 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199904.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=Japanese |location=[[Chūō, Tokyo]] |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] |publication-date=April 10, 1999 |volume=473 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123043927/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199904.pdf |archive-date=January 23, 2014 |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>}} However, one month after its release, Hamasaki began working on new music and announced the release of a new single titled "Whatever", which was released on February 10.<ref name="Whatever">Mini CD formats below:
"Whatever" was written by Hamasaki, composed by [[Kazuhito Kikuchi]], and produced by [[Max Matsuura]].<ref name="notes">{{cite AV media notes |title=Loveppears|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=1999 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=[[Avex Trax]], Avex Taiwan |id=AVCD-11740/B |location=Japan}}</ref> Japanese composer Izumi Miyazaki was in charge of arranging the song, which included instrumentation of synthesizers, keyboards, and a drum machine.<ref name="notes"/> It was one of three songs from the ''[[Loveppears]]'' album composed by Kikuchi.<ref name="notes"/><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Appears|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=1999 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=AVCD-30064 |location=Japan}}</ref> The song was also the only song from ''Loveppears'' to be arranged by Miyazaki, and was his final collaboration with Hamasaki.<ref name="notes"/>
*{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1999 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVDD-20291}}
*{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1999 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Taiwan |id=AVJSG40010}}</ref> Hamasaki wrote the song, [[Kazuhito Kikuchi]] composed it, and [[Max Matsuura]] produced it.<ref name="Whatever"/> "Whatever" was originally released with two mixes. The first is the M version, which was arranged and mixed by Izumi "D.M.X." Miyazaki, and is a [[techno]]-[[Trance music|trance]] number that lasts 5 minutes and 37 seconds.<ref name="Whatever"/><ref name="CDJournal">{{cite magazine |url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/whatever/3201010785 |title=Ayumi Hamasaki - Whatever |magazine=CDJournal |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref> The second mix, the J version, was arranged by Kikuchi and mixed by Atsushi Hattori and is a [[J-pop]] track that lasts four minutes and 32 seconds.<ref name="Whatever"/> Hamasaki's second studio album, ''[[Loveppears]]'' (1999), featured an extended version of the song, labelled the Dub 1999 Club Mix.<ref name="Loveppears">{{cite AV media notes |title=Loveppears |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1999 |type=[[liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-11740}}</ref> The lyrics, like the rest of the album, are performed in [[third-person narrative]]; lyrically, "Whatever" discusses having ambivalent feelings towards someone.<ref name="Beatfreak">{{cite web |last=Kazuki |first=Okabe |url=http://www.avexnet.or.jp/beatfreak/142/artists/ayumi.html |title=''Loveppears'' |work=Beat Freak |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |access-date=October 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040820032901/http://www.avexnet.or.jp/beatfreak/142/artists/ayumi.html |archive-date=August 20, 2004}}</ref><ref name="Ayu">{{cite journal |title=Review of Ayu's Year 2000 & M |journal=J-Point |pages=75 |language=Japanese |date=December 22, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Nimiya |first=Kazuko |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u9Q1AQAAIAAJ&q=浜崎あゆみ+%2522appears%2522 |title=なぜフェミニズムは没落したのか |publisher=[[Chuokoron-Shinsha]] |language=Japanese |page=220 |date=December 2004 |access-date=October 28, 2024 |isbn=9784121501592}}</ref>


==Release and promotion==
"Whatever" was selected as the lead single from ''Loveppears'' and was released in Japan on February 10, 1999 by Avex Trax.<ref name="whatever">{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=1999 |first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=AVDD-20291 |location=Japan}}</ref> The [[Mini CD]] features: the original track, the instrumental version, and alternative versions (under the alias "J Version") of the former tracks.<ref name="whatever"/> A [[CD single]] was released on February 28, 2001 by Avex Trax in Japan, with a full-frontal body image of Hamasaki in front of a blue backdrop. She is wearing angel wings on her back, with Hamasaki's and the song's title superimposed on her.<ref name="re-release">{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2001 |first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=AVCD-30216 |location=Japan}}</ref> The CD single features: the original version, the instrumental, the two alternative versions, one remix of "Whatever", one remix of "Appears", and one remix of "Immature".<ref name="re-release"/>
[[Avex Trax]] released "Whatever" on February 10, 1999, and it serves as the lead single for ''Loveppears''.<ref name="Whatever"/> Avex Trax released the single on a [[mini CD]] in Japan and Taiwan, which included both the M and J versions, as well as their instrumental versions.<ref name="Whatever"/> The single was distributed on [[Phonograph record|vinyl]], which included the Dub 1999 Club mix, the M version, and its instrumental.<ref name="Vinyl">{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1999 |type=Vinyl |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVJT-2365}}</ref> The M version and its instrumental were the only tracks on a promotional CD released the same year.<ref name="Promo">{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1999 |type=Promo CD |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCS-10175}}</ref> On January 28, 2000, "Whatever" was released as a double [[A-side and B-side|A-side]] with Hamasaki's single "[[Appears]]" on vinyl, featuring an extended remix version by Dutch DJ [[Ferry Corsten]].<ref name="AppearsWhatever">{{cite AV media notes |title=Appears / Whatever |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=Vinyl |publisher=Rhythm Republic |location=Japan |id=RR12-88149}}</ref> On January 31, 2001, a limited edition [[extended play]] titled ''[[The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor]]'' was released, which included remixes of the single as well as her single "[[Fly High (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Fly High]]" (2000).<ref name="TheOtherSide">{{cite AV media notes |title=The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2001 |type=Vinyl |publisher=Rhythm Republic |location=Japan |id=RRCD-85235}}</ref> On February 28, "Whatever" was repackaged as a standard [[CD single]], which included all recorded versions of the single as well as remixes by [[Jonathan Peters]].<ref name="Whatever2">CD single formats below:
*{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2001 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-30216}}
*{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1999 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Taiwan |id=AVJSG40151}}</ref> Shigeru Kasai designed the artwork for "Whatever", which features Hamasaki in a white dress with [[angel]] wings against a blue backdrop.<ref name="Whatever"/> The promotional cover includes an alternate shot of Hamasaki sitting with white feathers falling from above.<ref name="Promo"/> The re-released cover is blue, with the original cover placed in the bottom left corner.<ref name="Whatever2"/>


The tracks were used for the [[7-Eleven]] Valentine's Day special in Japan, and the ending theme song to the [[TX Network]] show ''[[Asayan]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/246497/products/music/46162/1/ |title=Whatever - Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbackend.710302.xyz%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fwww.oricon.co.jp%2Fprof%2Fartist%2F246497%2Fproducts%2Fmusic%2F46162%2F1%2F#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url |archive-date=February 24, 2011}}</ref> She performed the song on various television shows across Japan, including ''[[Music Station]]'', ''[[Count Down TV]]'', ''[[Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ]]'', ''Pocket Music'', ''Pop Jam'', ''Super Dream Live'', and ''[[SMAPxSMAP]]''.{{efn|<ref>{{Cite episode |series=[[Music Station]] |network=[[TV Asahi]] |language=Japanese |date=February 19, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |series=[[Count Down TV]] |network=[[TBS Television (Japan)|TBS]] |language=Japanese |date=February 20, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |series=[[Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ]] |network=[[Fuji Television]] |language=Japanese |date=February 22, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |series=[[Pocket Music]] |network=[[Nippon Television]] |language=Japanese |date=March 10, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |series=Pop Jam |network=[[NHK]] |language=Japanese |date=March 13, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |series=Super Dream Live |network=[[TV Tokyo]] |language=Japanese |date=March 25, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |series=[[SMAPxSMAP]] |network=[[Fuji Television]] |language=Japanese |date=October 2, 2000}}</ref>}} Since its release, the M version of "Whatever" has appeared on one of Hamasaki's [[greatest hits]] albums, ''[[A Complete: All Singles]]'' (2007).<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=A Complete: All Singles |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2008 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-23676~8}}</ref> Many of Hamasaki's [[remix album]]s feature remixes of the song, including the four-part collection ''Ayu-mi-x II'' (2000), ''[[Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix]]'' (2000), and the acoustic orchestral version ''[[Ayu-mi-x 7]]'' (2011).{{efn|<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=A Complete: All Singles |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2008 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-23676~8}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-11793}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version US&EU |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-11797}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version JPN |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-11798}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version Acoustic Orchestra |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-11799}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x 7 Version Acoustic Orchestra |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2011 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-38297}}</ref>}} Remixes of the single have also appeared on some of Hamasaki's singles, such as "Appears" and "[[Vogue (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Vogue]]" (2000).<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Appears |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=1999 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-30064}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Vogue |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-30108}}</ref> "Whatever" has been performed on several of Hamasaki's [[Ayumi Hamasaki#Concert tours|concert tours]], including her 2000 concert series, [[Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A|2002 stadium countdown show]], [[Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2004–2005 A|2004-2005 countdown show]], [[Premium Showcase: Feel the Love|2013 Premium Showcase]] show, Natsu no Trouble Premium live show, and [[Trouble Tour 2020 A: Saigo no Trouble – Final|Trouble Tour: Saigo no Trouble]].{{efn|<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 A Daiichi Maku |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVBD-91020}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 A Daini Maku |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVBD-91021}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2002 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVBD-91119}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2004-2005 A |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2005 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVBD-91270}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Premium Showcase: Feel the Love |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2014 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVBD-92166}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Best Live Box A |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2020 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVZ1-92952}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Trouble Tour 2020 A: Saigo no Trouble |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2021 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVBD-92979}}</ref>}} The Dub 1999 Club mix was remastered and added to the 20th Anniversary Edition of ''Loveppears''.<ref name="Anniversary">{{cite AV media notes |title=Loveppears / Appears (20th Anniversary Edition) |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2019 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVCD-96375~7}}</ref>
"Whatever" is a [[dance music|dance]] song that lasts five minutes and 36 seconds long.<ref name="whatever"/><ref name="hmv"/> An extended version appeared on the album, which lasts seven minutes and 20 seconds.<ref name="notes"/> The song was noted for its musical similarities to other tracks from ''Loveppears'', and is written in [[third person narrative]].<ref name="hmv">{{cite web|author=HMV Staff|url=http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Ayumi-Hamasaki_000000000114881/item_LOVEppears_991717 |title=HMV Review - ''Loveppears'' by Ayumi Hamasaki |work=[[HMV]] |language=ja | date=January 9, 2002 | access-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref><ref name="beatfreak">{{cite journal | title=Loveppears | journal=Beatfreak |date=November 1999 | volume=142|language=ja}}</ref><ref name="village">{{cite news | last= Walters| first =Barry | title =Turning (Japanese) Point | newspaper =[[The Village Voice]] | date =March 5, 2002 | url = http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0209,168697,32804,22.html| access-date=April 19, 2008}}</ref><ref name="ayu">{{cite journal | title="Review of Ayu's Year 2000 & M". | journal=J-Point|date=December 22, 2000|pages=75 |author=Author, Unknown|language=ja}}</ref> It became Hamasaki's first single to have featured any English language, with the word "Wow" in its lyrics. However, it does not count in using English–language conversation like Hamasaki did in tracks from her 2002 album ''[[Rainbow (Ayumi Hamasaki album)|Rainbow]]''.<ref>{{cite news | last=Takeuchi Cullen |first=Lisa | url=http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover4.html | title=Empress of Pop |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | access-date=March 31, 2008|page=4 | date=March 25, 2002 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080322074147/http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/ayumi_hamasaki/cover4.html <!--Added by H3llBot--> | archive-date=March 22, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Duty|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|date=2000|type=Album liner notes|publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11837}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Critical response==
"Whatever" received positive reviews from music critics. Neil Z. Yeung of [[AllMusic]] highlighted the track as one of the album's standouts, describing it as "high energy" with album tracks "Fly High" and "[[Boys & Girls (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Boys & Girls]]" and going on to say that they "took Hamasaki straight to the dancefloor".<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last=Yeung |first=Neil Z. |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/loveppears-mw0000372208 |title=''Loveppears'' – Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref> The same publication selected "Whatever" as a career highlight for Hamasaki.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ayumi-hamasaki-mn0000758915#songs |title=Ayumi Hamasaki - Songs |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref> ''CDJournal'' praised the M version and its overall sound, referring to it as a "hyper" tune.<ref name="CDJournal"/> Erica Russell of ''[[PopCrush]]'' selected the Dub 1999 Club mix as an essential to Hamasaki's catalogue, describing it as "frenzied" and "represents peak turn-of-the-century J-pop: progressive trance beats, sugary, soaring vocals and a surplus of ''[[Dance Dance Revolution|DDR]]''-friendly manic energy."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://popcrush.com/ayumi-hamasaki-j-pop-essential-playlist-best-songs/ |title=Ayumi Hamasaki, Empress of J-Pop: The Essential Playlist |website=[[PopCrush]] |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref> In a Goo poll in which the audience was asked to vote on Hamasaki's most popular songs, "Whatever" was ranked 30th, with 13.6% of the votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aramajapan.com/news/ranking/what-are-ayumi-hamasakis-most-popular-singles/4305/ |title=What are Ayumi Hamasaki's most popular singles? |publisher=Aramajapan |access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref>
"Whatever" received mixed reviews from most music critics. Alexey Eremenko, who had written her extended biography at [[AllMusic]], highlighted the song as an album and career stand out track.<ref>{{cite web|first=Alexey|last=Eremenko|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Songs, Highlights, Awards and Credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ayumi-hamasaki-mn0000758915/songs|work=[[AllMusic]]|date=2013|access-date=December 23, 2015}}</ref> A reviewer from [[Yahoo! GeoCities]] criticized Hamasaki's "thin" and "harsh" vocal delivery, but went on to state that her music have "improved" from her debut album, ''[[A Song for ××]]'' (1999).<ref name="geo">{{cite web|author=Yahoo! Geocites Staff|title=Music review site Source of the Music – Ayumi Hamasaki (''Duty'')|url=http://www.geocities.jp/source_of_my_music/japanese_female_singer2_review.html|work=[[Yahoo! GeoCities]]; powered by [[Yahoo! Music]]|date=2012|access-date=December 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054720/http://www.geocities.jp/source_of_my_music/japanese_female_singer2_review.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Morimasa from Nifty.com highlighted it as one of the album's best tracks. He commented that despite the "easily" written lyrics for the sing, he commended Hamasaki's emotional delivery in both the production and her singing.<ref>{{cite web|author=Morimosa|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – ''Duty''|url=http://homepage2.nifty.com/morimasa/duty.html|work=Nifty.com|date=September 27, 2000|access-date=December 23, 2015}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A reviewer from [[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.jp]] was positive towards the track. The reviewer praised Miyazaki's arrangement of both the original version and the J version, and commended the song's composition and Hamasaki's "homoeopathic" delivery.<ref>{{cite web|author=Amazon Staff|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Whatever [CD Single version]|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/WHATEVER-%E6%B5%9C%E5%B4%8E%E3%81%82%E3%82%86%E3%81%BF/dp/B00005HURV/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1450909438&sr=1-1&keywords=whatever+ayumi|work=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.co.jp]]|date=2012|access-date=December 24, 2015}}</ref> In early 2014, in honor of Hamasaki's sixteenth-year career milestone, Japanese website Goo.ne.jp hosted a poll for fans to rank their favourite songs by Hamasaki out of thirty positions; the poll was held in only twenty-four hours, and thousands submitted their votes.<ref name="goo"/> As a result, "Whatever" was ranked the lowest at thirty, with 13.6 percent of the votes.<ref name="goo">{{cite web|author=Aramajapan Staff|title=What are Ayumi Hamasai's most popular songs?|url=http://aramajapan.com/ranking/what-are-ayumi-hamasakis-most-popular-singles/4305/|work=goo.ne.jp; published by Aramajapan.com|date=2014|access-date=December 27, 2015}}</ref>


Commercially, the mini CD format peaked at number five on the [[Oricon Singles Chart]], selling 70,940 copies in its first week and remaining on the chart for nine weeks.<ref name="Oricon">{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/46162/1/ |title=Whatever - Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/990222.html |title=1999.2.22付 シングルTOP20 |publisher=[[Oricon]] (provided by [[GeoCities]]) |language=Japanese |date=February 22, 1999 |access-date=October 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713114053/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/990222.html |archive-date=July 13, 2017}}</ref> After its re-release, "Whatever" peaked at number 28 on the same chart for three weeks, selling over 27,000 units.<ref name="Oricon2">{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/433033/1/ |title=Whatever - Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref> With its appearance on ''The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor'', it peaked at number 11 and remained on the chart for three weeks.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/products/435392/1/ |title=''The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor'' - Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref> The first two formats also appeared on the [[TBS Television (Japan)|TBS]] [[Count Down TV]] chart, where they peaked at number five and 29, respectively.<ref name="TBS">{{cite web |url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/artistdb/artist1079-j.html |title=CDTV PowerWeb!: Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[Count Down TV]], [[TBS Television (Japan)|TBS]] |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619221219/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/artistdb/artist1079-j.html |archive-date=June 19, 2006}}</ref> The vinyl releases of "Whatever" and "Appears" reached number 96 on the same chart.<ref name="TBS"/> The [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] (RIAJ) certified "Whatever" gold for shipping more than 200,000 units.<ref name="RIAJ">{{cite journal |title=GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年2月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 1999 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199904.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=ja |location=[[Chūō, Tokyo]] |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] |publication-date=April 10, 1999 |volume=473 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123043927/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199904.pdf |archive-date=January 23, 2014 |access-date=October 26, 2024}}</ref>
==Commercial performance==
In Japan, the Mini CD format entered at number five on the [[Oricon Singles Chart]].<ref name="week">{{cite journal |title=Ayumi Hamasaki - Release - Oricon Music Style |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/46162/1/ |type=Bulletin |language=ja |journal=[[Oricon]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709144511/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/46162/1/ |archive-date=July 9, 2011 |access-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref> The Mini CD stayed in the top fifty for nine weeks, selling over 189,610 units,<ref name="sales">{{cite web | title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 |trans-title=Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree' | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp |language=ja | work=Oricon |url-access=subscription | access-date=May 21, 2014}}</ref> and was certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] (RIAJ) for shipments of 200,000 units.<ref name="cert">{{cite journal |title=GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年2月度 |trans-title=Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 1999 Edition |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199904.pdf | journal=The Record |type=Bulletin |language=ja |location=[[Chūō, Tokyo]] |publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] |publication-date=April 10, 1999 |volume=473 |page=9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123043927/http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/1999/199904.pdf |archive-date=23 January 2014 |access-date=January 22, 2014}}</ref>{{efn|group=upper-alpha|The [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]] had changed their criteria in July 2003 for shipment and sales, meaning that "Gold" certifications are now 100,000 units and "Platinum" are 250,000 units. But since "Whatever" was released before then, the sales shipments were 200,000 units.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/issue/record/2003/200308.pdf|title= The Record - August 2003 - Page 15|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|access-date=December 23, 2010|language=ja}}</ref>}} The re-released CD single format entered at number twenty-eight on the chart, the highest entry of her re-released singles.<ref name="release">{{cite journal |title=Ayumi Hamasaki - Release - Oricon Music Style |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/433033/1/ |journal=Oricon |type=Bulletin |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603063013/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/433033/1/ |archive-date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=April 16, 2015}}</ref> The CD single stayed in the top fifty for three weeks, tallying both the Mini CD and the CD single to twelve charting weeks.<ref name="release"/> The CD single sold an additional 27,560 units, combing both the Mini CD and the CD single sales to 217,170.<ref name="sales"/> "Whatever" is her thirty-fifth and fifty-seventh best selling single in Japan, her lowest in both the ''Loveppears'' and format re-release era respectively.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/246497/rank/single/ | script-title=ja:浜崎あゆみ売上ランキング シングル売上ランキング |title=Ayumi Hamasaki single sales ranking |work=Oricon | date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Thirty-fifth place is awarded to the original release, while the fifty-seventh place is awarded to the re-release format.}}

The Mini CD format entered at number five on the Japanese [[Count Down TV]] Chart, Hamasaki's highest charting single and first top ten at the time of February 1999.<ref name="tbs1">{{cite web |title=CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date for Whatever by Ayumi Hamasaki |url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song3545-j.html |type=Bulletin |language=ja |work=[[Count Down TV]] |publisher=[[TBS (Japan)|TBS]] |publication-date=February 20, 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060621124134/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song3545-j.html |archive-date=June 21, 2006 |access-date=May 12, 2015}}</ref> The Mini CD slipped to number fifteen the next week, and lasted nine weeks inside the top 100.<ref name="artist">{{cite web |title=CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date - Ayumi Hamasaki |url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/artistdb/artist1079-j.html |type=Bulletin |language=ja |work=[[Count Down TV]] |publisher=[[TBS (Japan)|TBS]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619221219/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/artistdb/artist1079-j.html |archive-date=June 19, 2006 |access-date=May 13, 2015}}</ref> "Whatever" was released twice as double [[A-side]] vinyl's with Hamasaki's single "Appears".<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Appears/Whatever|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Double A-side Vinyl, Part 1; Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=RR12-88149 |location=Japan}}</ref><ref name="appearsandwhatever">{{cite AV media notes |title=Appears/Whatever|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Double A-side Vinyl, Part 2; Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=RR12-88152 |location=Japan}}</ref>{{efn|group=upper-alpha|Despite both vinyl's being released under the title "Appears/Whatever", only the second vinyl features remixes of "Whatever". The first vinyl only features remixes of "Appears".}} The second vinyl managed to reach ninety-six on the Japanese Count Down chart.<ref name="vinylchart">{{cite web |title=CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date for Appears/Whatever by Ayumi Hamasaki |url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song4497-j.html |type=Bulletin |language=ja |work=Count Down TV |publisher=[[TBS (Japan)|TBS]] |publication-date=February 5, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060918052006/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song4497-j.html |archive-date=September 18, 2006 |access-date=May 12, 2015}}</ref>{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Whatever" charted in conjunction with her single "[[Appears]]".}} The re-released CD single format entered at number twenty-nine on the Count Down TV chart.<ref name="re-releasedtvchart">{{cite web |title=CDTV PowerWeb:! Ranking Date for Whatever (12cm) by Ayumi Hamasaki |url=http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song5645-j.html |type=Bulletin |language=ja |work=Count Down TV |publisher=[[TBS (Japan)|TBS]] |publication-date=March 24, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060918052125/http://www.tbs.co.jp/cdtv/songdb/song5645-j.html |archive-date=September 18, 2006 |access-date=12 May 2015}}</ref> The CD single stayed in the chart for three weeks, tallying the total weeks to twelve.<ref name="artist"/>


==Music video==
==Music video==
[[File:Ayumi_Whatever_Music_Video.png|thumb|230px|right|The music video for "Whatever" features Hamasaki (pictured) in a small room with built-in water features, and bares a similar resemblance to the single's cover art with its depiction of angels.<ref name="PV"/>]]
The accompanying music video was directed by [[Wataru Takeishi]].<ref name="video">{{cite web |author=Avex |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI5y2KaOdNE|title=Whatever (M Version) / 浜崎あゆみ |publisher=Avex Trax; published through [[YouTube]]|date=November 26, 2015|access-date=December 27, 2015}}</ref> This is Takeishi's first video collaboration with Hamasaki since "[[Trust (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Trust]]".<ref>{{cite web |author=Avex |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXs8QyaQnow|title=Trust / 浜崎あゆみ |publisher=Avex Trax; published through YouTube|date=November 26, 2015|access-date=December 27, 2015}}</ref> The overall appearance of the video was inspired by the cover sleeve of "Whatever", which also featured Hamasaki in an angel costume.<ref name="whatever"/><ref name="video"/> Several photoshoot out takes were considered to be released in the [[CD single]], but Avex restricted this.<ref name="notes"/><ref name="whatever"/> Because of this, only two photos of Hamasaki in the angel costume were distributed; one for the front cover, and one for the back.<ref name="whatever"/> The music video also appeared on Hamasaki's DVD compilation box sets: ''A Clips'',<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=A Clips|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVVD-90069 |location=Japan}}</ref> her self-titled video compilation (2000),<ref name="self-titled">{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVVD-90069 |location=Japan}}</ref> ''Complete Clip Box'' (2004),<ref name="complete">{{cite AV media notes |title=Complete Clip Box Set|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2004 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVVD-90144 |location=Japan}}</ref> ''A Clip Box 1998–2011'' (2011),<ref name="clips">{{cite AV media notes |title=A Clip Box 1998–2011|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2011 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVBD-91910~5 |location=Japan}}</ref> and the bonus DVD version with ''A Complete: All Singles''.<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=A Complete: All Singles|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2008 |first= Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=AVCD-23673~5/B |location=Japan}}</ref>
[[Wataru Takeishi]] directed the [[music video]] for "Whatever", his first collaboration since working with Hamasaki on her single "[[Trust (Ayumi Hamasaki song)|Trust]]" in 1998.<ref name="PV">{{cite web |url=http://www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu/issue/report/whatever_pv/index.htm |title=Whatever - Making of Promotion Video |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040204082025/http://www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu/issue/report/whatever_pv/index.htm |archive-date=February 4, 2004}}</ref> The music video begins with Hamasaki sitting inside a silver room with a silver table and built-in [[water feature]]; the majority of these scenes include [[Panning (camera)|panning]] and [[tracking shot]]s, [[close-up]]s, and [[aerial shot]]s of Hamasaki with added video effects.<ref name="YouTube">{{YouTube|kkmUrbCo3FU|浜崎あゆみ / WHATEVER}}</ref> The video includes scenes of a young child dressed as an angel walking through and observing a [[Dystopia|destroyed landscape]].<ref name="YouTube"/> Near the end of the video, the child attempts to reach for a flower behind barbed wire but becomes stuck in the process.<ref name="YouTube"/> The video concludes with a panning shot of Hamasaki wearing a similar angel costume inside a [[birdcage]]-like confinement.<ref name="YouTube"/> The full visual was added to Hamasaki’s [[YouTube]] channel on October 2, 2019.<ref name="YouTube"/>

===Synopsis===
[[File:Ayumi_Whatever_Music_Video.png|thumb|230px|right|The overall appearance of "Whatever" is based on the photo shoot of its cover sleeve. Hamasaki (pictured) in a room full of interior waterfalls, with an angel costume on.]]
The video opens with a bench chair inside a pale-blue room, surrounded by interior waterfalls. Glitches of Hamasaki appears, and she starts singing the song while seated.<ref name="video"/> The next scene features damaged–archive footage of a destroyed town, fenced in with barbed wires. A young boy, with pale white skin, blonde dreads, and angel wings, appears in the distance. Several scenes features the boy looking towards the camera, which then inter cuts to scenes with Hamasaki singing the song in the room.<ref name="video"/> The young boy wonders through the destroyed town, observing damaged homes and objects. The boy places his hands upon a dying tree, where he envisions the events of how the town became destroyed and dismantled.<ref name="video"/> These scenes include burning flowers, falling construction, and broken [[religious]] statues.<ref name="video"/> The second chorus has Hamasaki singing, and the song break shows the boy observing a blossoming flower which hasn't died. Smiling, he walks towards it, unbeknown that there is sharp barbed wire surrounding it. Scenes features Hamasaki singing, and shows brief inter cut scenes of barbed wire wrapped around the young boy. Struggling to become free from the wire, the young boy dies and leaves behind a large pile of angel feathers.<ref name="video"/> The final scene features Hamasaki wearing exactly the same outfit as the angel, trapped in a large bird cage, in the room the video started with. The video zooms out on the overall appearance of her.<ref name="video"/>

===Alternative music video===
An accompanying music video for an alternative version for "Whatever" (labelled the "J Version")<ref name="whatever"/> was also directed by Takeishi.<ref name="clips"/> The J version, composed and arranged by Keisuke Kikuchi, was intended to be the lead single from ''Loveppears'' and use the M version as the [[b-side]].<ref name="whatever"/><ref name="beatfreak"/> When Kikuchi and Miyazaki submitted their J and M versions of "Whatever" to the head offices of Avex, Matsuura favored Miyazaki's version over Kikuchi.<ref name="beatfreak"/> Kikuchi was disappointed of the verdict, but Avex went ahead in releasing the M version.<ref name="beatfreak"/> Because Takeishi had already shot and produced the music video for the J version of "Whatever", Takeishi had to re-shoot a new video for the M version.<ref name="beatfreak"/> The J Version was used in Valentine's Day commercials for 7-Eleven.<ref name="cdjournal">{{cite web|author=CD Journal Staff|title=Ayumi Hamasaki – Whatever [Out of Print]|url=http://www.cdjournal.com/i/disc/whatever/3198120839|work=CD Journal|date=February 20, 1999|access-date=December 27, 2015}}</ref>

The J version features Hamasaki singing the J version on a white platform in front of a silky red backdrop.<ref name="clips"/> The entire full-length video has never been released, but a thirty-second snippet was used as the commercial video for "Whatever".<ref name="clips"/> The J version has been included on her self-titled video compilation (2000),<ref name="self-titled"/> ''Complete Clip Box'' (2004),<ref name="complete"/> and its most recent appearance is on the ''A Clip Box 1998–2011'' (2011).<ref name="clips"/>

==Live performances and other appearances==
Hamasaki has performed "Whatever" on several concert tours and New Years countdown shows throughout Asia. The song has been included in one of Hamasaki's New Years countdown concerts, [[Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2004–2005 A|the 2004-2005 live tour]].<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2004–2005|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2005|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVBD-91270|location=Japan}}</ref> The song has been included on several of Hamasaki's national and Asian concert tours. The song had made its debut tour performance on Hamasaki's 2001 [[Ayumi Hamasaki Dome Tour 2001 A|Dome Tour]] and [[Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 2|part two of the Dome Tour]].<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki 2001 Dome Tour|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2001|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVBD-91558|location=Japan}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki 2001 Dome Tour|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2001|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVBD-91021|location=Japan}}</ref> Since then, "Whatever" has been included on Hamasaki's [[Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A]],<ref>
{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayumi Hamasaki 2002 Stadium Tour|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2002|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVBD-91558|location=Japan}}</ref> and its most recent inclusion was on her Premium Showcase: Feel the Love concert tour in 2014.<ref name="livevideo">{{cite AV media notes |title=Premium Showcase: Feel the Love|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2014|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVBD-92166|location=Japan}}</ref> During Hamasaki's performance, she wears a metallic mini dress, and dances to back-up dancers wearing robotic outfits.<ref name="livevideo"/> "Whatever" has been included on one [[greatest hits]] compilation, which is ''[[A Complete: All Singles]]'' (2008),<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=A Complete: All Singles|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2002|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan|id=AVCD-23676~8|location=Japan}}</ref>


"Whatever" has been remixed by several professional [[disc jockey]]s and producers, and has appeared on several remix albums by Hamasaki. This list is: the Laurent Newfield remix on ''[[Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix]]'',<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11793|location=Japan}}</ref> the FPM's Winter Bossa remix on ''[[Ayu-mi-x II Version JPN]]'',<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version JPN|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11798|location=Japan}}</ref> the [[Ferry Corsten]] remix on ''[[ayu-mi-x II Version US+EU]]'',<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version US+EU|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11797|location=Japan}}</ref> and both appeared again on Hamasaki's remix compilation ''[[Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix]]'' (2000).<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2000|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-11800|location=Japan}}</ref> The orchestral acoustic remix was included on her fifth orchestral remix album, ''[[Ayu-mi-x 7 Version Acoustic Orchestra]]'' (2011).<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Ayu-mi-x 7 Version Acoustic Orchestra|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2011|first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax|id=AVCD-38297|location=Japan}}</ref>
The visual shots are similar to the artwork packaging for "Whatever".<ref name="PV"/> Scenes from the video were used as commercials to promote the single in Japan.<ref name="PV"/><ref name="CM">{{cite web |url=https://avex.jp/ayu/LOVEppears_20th/contents/cm.html |title=LOVEppears / appears -20th Anniversary Edition - CD-EXTRAS (CM) |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref> Takeishi also directed a second commercial using the J version, which featured Hamasaki singing the song in a black dress against a flowy orange-red backdrop; the full version of the video was never released.<ref name="PV"/><ref name="CM"/> The M version has appeared on Hamasaki's video albums, including ''A Clips'' (2000), her 2000 self-titled release, ''Complete Clip Box'' (2004), and ''A Clip Box 1998-2011'' (2011), with commercials for both the M and J versions added to the latter three releases.{{efn|<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=A Clips |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVVD-90069}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Hamasaki Ayumi |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVBD-91015}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Complete Clip Box |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2004 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVBD-91181}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=A Clip Box 1998-2011 |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2012 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=AVBD-91910~5}}</ref>}} In addition, the M version was included in the limited editions of the 20th Anniversary Edition of ''Loveppears''.<ref name="Anniversary"/>


==Track listings==
==Track listings==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
*'''Japanese and Taiwanese Mini CD'''<ref name="whatever"/><ref name="taiwan">{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=1999 |first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Mini CD; Liner notes |publisher=Avex Taiwan |id=AVJSG40010 |location=Taiwan}}</ref>
*'''Mini CD / digital'''<ref name="Whatever"/><ref name="AppleMusic1">{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/whatever-ep/1001904785 |title=Whatever - EP by Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[Apple Music]] |location=Japan |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version J) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}
# "Whatever" (version J) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}
Line 81: Line 67:
# "Whatever" (version J Instrumental) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}
# "Whatever" (version J Instrumental) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}


*'''Promotional mini CD'''<ref name="Promo"/>
*'''12 inch vinyl'''<ref name="vinyl">{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=1999 |first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Vinyl; Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax, Avex Taiwan |id=AVJT-2365 |location=Japan}}</ref>
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version M Instrumental) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}

*'''12-inch vinyl'''<ref name="Vinyl"/>
# "Whatever" (Dub's 1999 Club Remix) – {{duration|m=7|s=25}}
# "Whatever" (Dub's 1999 Club Remix) – {{duration|m=7|s=25}}
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version M Instrumental) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version M Instrumental) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
{{col-2}}
*'''Ferry Corsten 12-inch vinyl'''<ref name="FerryCorsten">{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever (Ferry Corsten Remixes) |last=Hamasaki |first=Ayumi |author-link=Ayumi Hamasaki |year=2000 |type=[[Liner notes]] |publisher=[[Avex Trax]] |location=Japan |id=N/A}}</ref>
# "Whatever" ([[Ferry Corsten|Ferry 'System F' Corsten]] vocal extended mix) – {{duration|m=6|s=31}}
# "Whatever" (Ferry 'System F' Corsten vocal dub mix) – {{duration|m=7|s=26}}


*'''"Appears" / "Whatever" 12-inch vinyl'''<ref name="AppearsWhatever"/>
*'''Ferry Corsten 12 inch vinyl'''<ref name="ferry">{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=1999 |first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=Vinyl; Liner notes |publisher=Avex Trax |id=N/A |location=Europe}}</ref>
# "Appears" ([[Jonathan Peters|JP]]'s SoundFactory Mix) – {{duration|m=7|s=59}}
# "Appears (Keith Litman's Mix Of Truth) – {{duration|m=8|s=24}}
# "Whatever" ([[Ferry Corsten|Ferry 'System F' Corsten]] vocal extended mix) – {{duration|m=6|s=31}}
# "Whatever" ([[Ferry Corsten|Ferry 'System F' Corsten]] vocal extended mix) – {{duration|m=6|s=31}}

# "Whatever" ([[Ferry Corsten|Ferry 'System F' Corsten]] vocal dub mix) – {{duration|m=7|s=26}}
*'''2001 CD single / digital / streaming'''<ref name="Whatever2"/><ref name="AppleMusic2">{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/whatever/1001907683 |title=Whatever - EP by Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[Apple Music]] |location=Japan |language=Japanese |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Spotify">{{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/2Yz3EKMUTVTagKoLAHA9GA |title=Whatever - Single by Ayumi Hamasaki |publisher=[[Spotify]] |access-date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>
{{col-2}}
*'''Japanese CD single'''<ref name="re-release"/><ref name="re-releasetaiwan">{{cite AV media notes |title=Whatever|others=Ayumi Hamasaki|year=2001 |first=Ayumi|last=Hamasaki|type=CD Single; Liner notes |publisher=Avex Taiwan |id=AVJSG40010 |location=Taiwan}}</ref>
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version J) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}
# "Whatever" (version J) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}
# "Whatever" ([[Ferry Corsten|Ferry 'System F' Corsten]] vocal extended mix) – {{duration|m=6|s=31}}
# "Whatever" (Ferry 'System F' Corsten vocal extended mix) – {{duration|m=6|s=31}}
# "Appears" (JP's SoundFactory mix) – {{duration|m=8|s=00}}
# "Appears" (JP's SoundFactory mix) – {{duration|m=8|s=00}}
# "Immature" (D-Z Dual Lucifer mix) – {{duration|m=4|s=36}}
# "Immature" (D-Z Dual Lucifer mix) – {{duration|m=4|s=36}}
# "Whatever" (version M Instrumental) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version M Instrumental) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version J Instrumental) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}
# "Whatever" (version J Instrumental) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}

*'''Digital EP'''<ref name="itunes1"/><ref name="itunes2"/>
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version J) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}
# "Whatever" (version M Instrumental) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version J Instrumental) – {{duration|m=4|s=30}}

*'''Digital Music Video'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/music-video/whatever-version-m/id273880861|title=Whatever (Version M; Music Video) – Music Video by Ayumi Hamasaki|publisher=US [[iTunes Store]]|date=February 25, 2004|access-date=May 13, 2015}}</ref>
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
# "Whatever" (version M) – {{duration|m=5|s=33}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
==Personnel==
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Loveppears''.<ref name="Anniversary"/>


==Credits and personnel==
Credits adapted from the singles liner notes;<ref name="whatever"/>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;'''Song credits'''
;'''Song credits'''
* Ayumi Hamasaki - songwriting, vocals
* Ayumi Hamasaki - songwriting, vocals
Line 120: Line 103:
* Izumi Miyazaki - arrangement
* Izumi Miyazaki - arrangement
* Shigeru Kasai - design
* Shigeru Kasai - design

{{col-2}}
'''Visual and video credits'''
'''Visual and video credits'''
* Kiyoshi Utsumi - art direction
* Kiyoshi Utsumi - art direction
Line 130: Line 113:
* Koji Matsumoto - stylist
* Koji Matsumoto - stylist
* Chu and Tamotsu - hair and make-up assistant
* Chu and Tamotsu - hair and make-up assistant
{{col-end}}


==Charts and certifications==
==Charts and certifications==
Line 138: Line 120:
===Weekly charts===
===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (1999; Mini-CD)
!Chart (1999)
!Peak<br/>position
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|-
! scope="row"|Japan Daily Singles Chart ([[Oricon]])<ref name="week"/>
! scope="row"|Japan Singles ([[Oricon]])<ref name="Oricon"/>
|align="center"|2
|-
! scope="row"|Japan Weekly Singles Chart ([[Oricon]])<ref name="week"/>
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|5
|-
|-
! scope="row"|Japan [[Count Down TV]] Chart ([[TBS (Japan)|TBS]])<ref name="tbs1"/>
! scope="row"|Japan Singles ([[TBS (Japan)|TBS]])<ref name="TBS"/>
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|5
|-
|-
|}
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2000; Vinyl)
!Chart (2000)
!Peak<br/>position
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|-
! scope="row"|Japan [[Count Down TV]] Chart ([[TBS (Japan)|TBS]])<ref name="vinylchart"/>
! scope="row"|Japan Single ([[TBS (Japan)|TBS]])<ref name="TBS"/>
|align="center"|96
|align="center"|96
|-
|-
|}
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (2001; CD single)
!Chart (2001)
!Peak<br/>position
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|-
! scope="row"|Japan Daily Singles Chart ([[Oricon]])<ref name="release"/>
! scope="row"|Japan Singles ([[Oricon]])<ref name="Oricon2"/>
|align="center"|17
|-
! scope="row"|Japan Weekly Singles Chart ([[Oricon]])<ref name="release"/>
|align="center"|28
|align="center"|28
|-
|-
! scope="row"|Japan [[Count Down TV]] Chart ([[TBS (Japan)|TBS]])<ref name="re-releasedtvchart"/>
! scope="row"|Japan Singles ([[TBS (Japan)|TBS]])<ref name="TBS"/>
|align="center"|29
|align="center"|29
|-
|-
Line 177: Line 153:
===Certifications===
===Certifications===
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Japan |artist=Ayumi Hamasaki |title=Whatever |type=single |award=Gold |certref=<ref name="cert"/> |relyear=1999|certyear=1999|certmonth=2|access-date=December 23, 2010|domestic=true}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Japan |artist=Ayumi Hamasaki |title=Whatever |type=single |award=Gold |certref=<ref name="RIAJ"/> |relyear=1999|certyear=1999|certmonth=2|access-date=October 28, 2024|domestic=true}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Japan |artist=Ayumi Hamasaki |title=Whatever |type=single |nocert=true |relyear=2001 |salesamount=27,560| salesref=<ref name="sales"/>|note=CD single}}
{{Certification Table Entry |region=Japan |artist=Ayumi Hamasaki |title=Whatever |type=single |nocert=true |relyear=2001 |salesamount=27,560| salesref=<ref name="RIAJ"/>|note=CD single}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}
Line 184: Line 160:
==Release history==
==Release history==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ "Whatever" release history
! scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date
! scope="col"| Format
! scope="col"| Label
! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|-
! scope="col"|Country
! scope="row"| Japan
| February 10, 1999
! scope="col"|Date
! scope="col"|Format
| rowspan="2"| Mini CD
| rowspan="5"| [[Avex Trax]]
! scope="col"|Label
| rowspan="2"| <ref name="Whatever"/>
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Japan<ref name="whatever"/>
! scope="row"| Taiwan
|10 February 1999
| March 5, 1999
|rowspan="2"|[[Mini CD]]
|[[Avex Trax]]
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Taiwan<ref name="whatever"/>
! scope="row" rowspan="5"| Japan
|5 March 1999
| rowspan="2"| 1999
| Vinyl
|Avex Taiwan
| <ref name="Vinyl"/>
|-
|-
| Promotional CD
!scope="row" rowspan="2"| Japan<ref name="appearsandwhatever"/><ref name="vinyl"/>
| <ref name="Promo"/>
|29 March 1999
|[[Gramophone record|Vinyl]]
|{{flatlist|
*Avex Trax
*Rhythm Republic
}}
|-
|-
|29 March 2000
| 2000
| Vinyl
|Vinyl ("Appears/Whatever")
| <ref name="FerryCorsten"/>
|{{flatlist|
*Avex Trax
*Rhythm Republic
}}
|-
|-
| January 28, 2000
! scope="row"| Europe<ref name="ferry"/>
| "Appears" / "Whatever" vinyl
|Early 2000
| Rhythm Republic
|Ferry Corsten Remix Vinyl
| <ref name="AppearsWhatever"/>
|Avex Trax
|-
|-
| February 28, 2001
! scope="row"| Japan<ref name="re-release"/>
| rowspan="2"| CD single
|28 February 2001<br/>28 February 2016
|rowspan="2"|[[CD single]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Avex Trax]]
| rowspan="2"| <ref name="Whatever2"/>
|Avex Trax
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Taiwan<ref name="re-releasetaiwan"/>
! scope="row"| Taiwan
|29 March 2001<br/>29 March 2016
| March 7, 2001
|Avex Taiwan
|-
! scope="row"| Japan<ref name="itunes1">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/jp/album/whatever-ep/id1001904785|title=Whatever – EP by Ayumi Hamasaki|publisher=JP iTunes Store|date=February 25, 2004|access-date=May 13, 2015}}</ref>
| rowspan=7|25 February 2004
| rowspan=7|[[Music download|Digital EP]]
| rowspan=7|[[Avex Trax]]
|-
! scope="row"| Australia<ref name="itunes2">{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/whatever-ep/id1001904785|title=Whatever – EP by Ayumi Hamasaki|publisher=AU iTunes Store|date=February 25, 2004|access-date=May 13, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| New Zealand<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/whatever-ep/id1001904785|title=Whatever – EP by Ayumi Hamasaki|publisher=NZ iTunes Store|date=February 25, 2004|access-date=May 13, 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| Germany<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/ge/album/whatever-ep/id1001904785|title=Whatever – EP by Ayumi Hamasaki|publisher=GE iTunes Store|date=February 25, 2004|access-date=May 13, 2015}}</ref>
|-
|-
|}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Japan|Biography}}
*[[Ayumi Hamasaki discography]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{notelist-ua|2}}
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{Discogs master|13217|Whatever}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060211212015/http://avexnet.jp/item/hamas/disc/product/AVCD-30216.html "Whatever"] archived information at [[Avex Trax|Avex Network]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060211212350/http://avexnet.jp/item/hamas/disc/product/AVDD-20291.html "Whatever"] archived re-release information at Avex Network.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040204082025/http://www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu/issue/report/whatever_pv/index.htm "Whatever" music video special website] at [[Avex Trax]] ([http://www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu/issue/report/whatever_pv/index.htm original link]).
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070427131227/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/46162/1/ "Whatever"] archived information at [[Oricon]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070202034557/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/433033/1/ "Whatever"] archived re-release information at Oricon.


{{Ayumi Hamasaki singles}}
{{Ayumi Hamasaki singles}}

Latest revision as of 06:19, 9 November 2024

"Whatever"
The picture has Ayumi Hamasaki wearing an Angel costume, with angel wings. She is pictured in front of a blue backdrop, alongside the text and her name superimposed on the image.
Mini CD cover art.
Single by Ayumi Hamasaki
from the album Loveppears
B-side"Whatever" (J version)
ReleasedFebruary 10, 1999 (1999-02-10)
Recorded
Genre
Length5:36
LabelAvex Trax
Songwriter(s)Ayumi Hamasaki
Producer(s)Max Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki singles chronology
"Depend on You"
(1998) 		"Whatever"
(1999) 		"Love (Destiny)"
(1999)
Official Music Video
"Whatever" on YouTube

"Whatever" (capitalized as "WHATEVER") is a song by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released by Avex Trax on February 10, 1999, and later distributed in a variety of formats throughout Asia. It also serves as the lead single for Hamasaki's second studio album, Loveppears (1999). It was written by Hamasaki, composed by Kazuhito Kikuchi, and produced by Max Matsuura, who also produced the parent album. It was re-released twice, once in 2001 with additional content on a CD single format and again as a double A-side vinyl with her single "Appears".

"Whatever" was originally released in two mixes: the M version, arranged by Izumi "D.M.X." Miyazaki, is a techno-trance-inspired track, and the J version, arranged by Kikuchi, appeared only on the singles formats. Like the rest of the album, the songs is performed in the third person narrative; lyrically, it discusses having ambivalent feelings for someone. "Whatever" received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its dance-oriented nature and cited it as a standout track from the album and Hamasaki’s career.

Commercially, "Whatever" peaked at number five on the Oricon Singles Chart, while the re-issued version reached number 28. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) after exceeding 200,000 shipments in Japan. Wataru Takeishi created a music video that features Hamasaki in a room with built-in water feature, as well as scenes of a young child dressed as an angel walking through and observing a distressed landscape. Since its release, "Whatever" has appeared on Hamasaki's remix and compilation albums, as well as on several of the singer's concert tours.

Background and composition

[edit]

On January 1, 1999, Hamasaki released her first studio album, A Song for xx.[1] The record featured several singles, some of which had moderate success in Japan.[a] Music critics praised the album's sound and identified Hamasaki as a promising act in Japanese pop music.[b] Commercially, it peaked at number one on the region's Oricon Albums Chart and eventually sold over 1.6 million copies.[c] However, one month after its release, Hamasaki began working on new music and announced the release of a new single titled "Whatever", which was released on February 10.[15] Hamasaki wrote the song, Kazuhito Kikuchi composed it, and Max Matsuura produced it.[15] "Whatever" was originally released with two mixes. The first is the M version, which was arranged and mixed by Izumi "D.M.X." Miyazaki, and is a techno-trance number that lasts 5 minutes and 37 seconds.[15][16] The second mix, the J version, was arranged by Kikuchi and mixed by Atsushi Hattori and is a J-pop track that lasts four minutes and 32 seconds.[15] Hamasaki's second studio album, Loveppears (1999), featured an extended version of the song, labelled the Dub 1999 Club Mix.[17] The lyrics, like the rest of the album, are performed in third-person narrative; lyrically, "Whatever" discusses having ambivalent feelings towards someone.[18][19][20]

Release and promotion

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Avex Trax released "Whatever" on February 10, 1999, and it serves as the lead single for Loveppears.[15] Avex Trax released the single on a mini CD in Japan and Taiwan, which included both the M and J versions, as well as their instrumental versions.[15] The single was distributed on vinyl, which included the Dub 1999 Club mix, the M version, and its instrumental.[21] The M version and its instrumental were the only tracks on a promotional CD released the same year.[22] On January 28, 2000, "Whatever" was released as a double A-side with Hamasaki's single "Appears" on vinyl, featuring an extended remix version by Dutch DJ Ferry Corsten.[23] On January 31, 2001, a limited edition extended play titled The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor was released, which included remixes of the single as well as her single "Fly High" (2000).[24] On February 28, "Whatever" was repackaged as a standard CD single, which included all recorded versions of the single as well as remixes by Jonathan Peters.[25] Shigeru Kasai designed the artwork for "Whatever", which features Hamasaki in a white dress with angel wings against a blue backdrop.[15] The promotional cover includes an alternate shot of Hamasaki sitting with white feathers falling from above.[22] The re-released cover is blue, with the original cover placed in the bottom left corner.[25]

The tracks were used for the 7-Eleven Valentine's Day special in Japan, and the ending theme song to the TX Network show Asayan.[26] She performed the song on various television shows across Japan, including Music Station, Count Down TV, Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, Pocket Music, Pop Jam, Super Dream Live, and SMAPxSMAP.[d] Since its release, the M version of "Whatever" has appeared on one of Hamasaki's greatest hits albums, A Complete: All Singles (2007).[34] Many of Hamasaki's remix albums feature remixes of the song, including the four-part collection Ayu-mi-x II (2000), Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix (2000), and the acoustic orchestral version Ayu-mi-x 7 (2011).[e] Remixes of the single have also appeared on some of Hamasaki's singles, such as "Appears" and "Vogue" (2000).[41][42] "Whatever" has been performed on several of Hamasaki's concert tours, including her 2000 concert series, 2002 stadium countdown show, 2004-2005 countdown show, 2013 Premium Showcase show, Natsu no Trouble Premium live show, and Trouble Tour: Saigo no Trouble.[f] The Dub 1999 Club mix was remastered and added to the 20th Anniversary Edition of Loveppears.[50]

Reception

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"Whatever" received positive reviews from music critics. Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic highlighted the track as one of the album's standouts, describing it as "high energy" with album tracks "Fly High" and "Boys & Girls" and going on to say that they "took Hamasaki straight to the dancefloor".[51] The same publication selected "Whatever" as a career highlight for Hamasaki.[52] CDJournal praised the M version and its overall sound, referring to it as a "hyper" tune.[16] Erica Russell of PopCrush selected the Dub 1999 Club mix as an essential to Hamasaki's catalogue, describing it as "frenzied" and "represents peak turn-of-the-century J-pop: progressive trance beats, sugary, soaring vocals and a surplus of DDR-friendly manic energy."[53] In a Goo poll in which the audience was asked to vote on Hamasaki's most popular songs, "Whatever" was ranked 30th, with 13.6% of the votes.[54]

Commercially, the mini CD format peaked at number five on the Oricon Singles Chart, selling 70,940 copies in its first week and remaining on the chart for nine weeks.[55][56] After its re-release, "Whatever" peaked at number 28 on the same chart for three weeks, selling over 27,000 units.[57] With its appearance on The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor, it peaked at number 11 and remained on the chart for three weeks.[58] The first two formats also appeared on the TBS Count Down TV chart, where they peaked at number five and 29, respectively.[59] The vinyl releases of "Whatever" and "Appears" reached number 96 on the same chart.[59] The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) certified "Whatever" gold for shipping more than 200,000 units.[60]

Music video

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The music video for "Whatever" features Hamasaki (pictured) in a small room with built-in water features, and bares a similar resemblance to the single's cover art with its depiction of angels.[61]

Wataru Takeishi directed the music video for "Whatever", his first collaboration since working with Hamasaki on her single "Trust" in 1998.[61] The music video begins with Hamasaki sitting inside a silver room with a silver table and built-in water feature; the majority of these scenes include panning and tracking shots, close-ups, and aerial shots of Hamasaki with added video effects.[62] The video includes scenes of a young child dressed as an angel walking through and observing a destroyed landscape.[62] Near the end of the video, the child attempts to reach for a flower behind barbed wire but becomes stuck in the process.[62] The video concludes with a panning shot of Hamasaki wearing a similar angel costume inside a birdcage-like confinement.[62] The full visual was added to Hamasaki’s YouTube channel on October 2, 2019.[62]

The visual shots are similar to the artwork packaging for "Whatever".[61] Scenes from the video were used as commercials to promote the single in Japan.[61][63] Takeishi also directed a second commercial using the J version, which featured Hamasaki singing the song in a black dress against a flowy orange-red backdrop; the full version of the video was never released.[61][63] The M version has appeared on Hamasaki's video albums, including A Clips (2000), her 2000 self-titled release, Complete Clip Box (2004), and A Clip Box 1998-2011 (2011), with commercials for both the M and J versions added to the latter three releases.[g] In addition, the M version was included in the limited editions of the 20th Anniversary Edition of Loveppears.[50]

Track listings

[edit]

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Loveppears.[50]

Song credits
  • Ayumi Hamasaki - songwriting, vocals
  • Max Matsuura - production
  • Kazuhito Kikuchi - composer
  • Izumi Miyazaki - arrangement
  • Shigeru Kasai - design

Visual and video credits

  • Kiyoshi Utsumi - art direction
  • Wataru Takeishi - director
  • Yoshiko Ishibashi - production manager
  • Tetsuji Nakamichi - assistant director
  • Tetsuya Kamoto - photographer
  • Koji Noguchi - lighting
  • Koji Matsumoto - stylist
  • Chu and Tamotsu - hair and make-up assistant

Charts and certifications

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Release history

[edit]
"Whatever" release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Japan February 10, 1999 Mini CD Avex Trax [15]
Taiwan March 5, 1999
Japan 1999 Vinyl [21]
Promotional CD [22]
2000 Vinyl [69]
January 28, 2000 "Appears" / "Whatever" vinyl Rhythm Republic [23]
February 28, 2001 CD single Avex Trax [25]
Taiwan March 7, 2001

See also

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Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ [2][3][4][5][6]
  2. ^ [7][8][9][10]
  3. ^ [11][12][13][14]
  4. ^ [27][28][29][30][31][32][33]
  5. ^ [35][36][37][38][39][40]
  6. ^ [43][44][45][46][47][48][49]
  7. ^ [64][65][66][67]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). A Song for xx (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVCD-11691.
  2. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1998). Poker Face (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVDD-20228.
  3. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1998). You (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVDD-20239.
  4. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1998). Trust (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVDD-20248.
  5. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1998). Depend on You (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVDD-20278.
  6. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1998). For My Dear... (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVDD-20267.
  7. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Song for XX – Ayumi Hamasaki". AllMusic. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Ayumi Hamasaki". AllMusic. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Yng, Wang. "Ayumi Hamasaki - A Song for XX (Avex Trax)". MTV Asia. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki - A Song for xx". CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  11. ^ "A Song for xx - Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "Oricon Albums Chart – Annual 1999 Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  13. ^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年3月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. March 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 474. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 9. May 10, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 22, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年2月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 473. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 9. April 10, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mini CD formats below:
  16. ^ a b "Ayumi Hamasaki - Whatever". CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  17. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Loveppears (liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11740.
  18. ^ Kazuki, Okabe. "Loveppears". Beat Freak. Avex Trax. Archived from the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  19. ^ "Review of Ayu's Year 2000 & M". J-Point (in Japanese): 75. December 22, 2000.
  20. ^ Nimiya, Kazuko (December 2004). なぜフェミニズムは没落したのか (in Japanese). Chuokoron-Shinsha. p. 220. ISBN 9784121501592. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Whatever (Vinyl). Japan: Avex Trax. AVJT-2365.
  22. ^ a b c d Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Whatever (Promo CD). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCS-10175.
  23. ^ a b c Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Appears / Whatever (Vinyl). Japan: Rhythm Republic. RR12-88149.
  24. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2001). The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor (Vinyl). Japan: Rhythm Republic. RRCD-85235.
  25. ^ a b c d CD single formats below:
  26. ^ "Whatever - Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  27. ^ Music Station (in Japanese). February 19, 1999. TV Asahi.
  28. ^ Count Down TV (in Japanese). February 20, 1999. TBS.
  29. ^ Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ (in Japanese). February 22, 1999. Fuji Television.
  30. ^ Pocket Music (in Japanese). March 10, 1999. Nippon Television.
  31. ^ Pop Jam (in Japanese). March 13, 1999. NHK.
  32. ^ Super Dream Live (in Japanese). March 25, 1999. TV Tokyo.
  33. ^ SMAPxSMAP (in Japanese). October 2, 2000. Fuji Television.
  34. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2008). A Complete: All Singles (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-23676~8.
  35. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2008). A Complete: All Singles (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-23676~8.
  36. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11793.
  37. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Ayu-mi-x II Version US&EU (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11797.
  38. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Ayu-mi-x II Version JPN (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11798.
  39. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Ayu-mi-x II Version Acoustic Orchestra (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-11799.
  40. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2011). Ayu-mi-x 7 Version Acoustic Orchestra (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-38297.
  41. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (1999). Appears (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-30064.
  42. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Vogue (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-30108.
  43. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 A Daiichi Maku (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-91020.
  44. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Ayumi Hamasaki Concert Tour 2000 A Daini Maku (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-91021.
  45. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2002). Ayumi Hamasaki Stadium Tour 2002 A (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-91119.
  46. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2005). Ayumi Hamasaki Countdown Live 2004-2005 A (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-91270.
  47. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2014). Ayumi Hamasaki Premium Showcase: Feel the Love (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-92166.
  48. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2020). Ayumi Hamasaki Best Live Box A (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVZ1-92952.
  49. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2021). Ayumi Hamasaki Trouble Tour 2020 A: Saigo no Trouble (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-92979.
  50. ^ a b c Hamasaki, Ayumi (2019). Loveppears / Appears (20th Anniversary Edition) (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVCD-96375~7.
  51. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. "Loveppears – Ayumi Hamasaki". AllMusic. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  52. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki - Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  53. ^ "Ayumi Hamasaki, Empress of J-Pop: The Essential Playlist". PopCrush. February 8, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  54. ^ "What are Ayumi Hamasaki's most popular singles?". Aramajapan. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  55. ^ a b "Whatever - Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  56. ^ "1999.2.22付 シングルTOP20" (in Japanese). Oricon (provided by GeoCities). February 22, 1999. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  57. ^ a b "Whatever - Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  58. ^ "The Other Side Four: System F, Vincent De Moor - Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  59. ^ a b c d e "CDTV PowerWeb!: Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Count Down TV, TBS. Archived from the original on June 19, 2006. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  60. ^ a b c "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 1999年2月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. February 1999 Edition] (PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 473. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 9. April 10, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  61. ^ a b c d e "Whatever - Making of Promotion Video" (in Japanese). Avex Trax. Archived from the original on February 4, 2004. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  62. ^ a b c d e 浜崎あゆみ / WHATEVER on YouTube
  63. ^ a b "LOVEppears / appears -20th Anniversary Edition - CD-EXTRAS (CM)". Avex Trax. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  64. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). A Clips (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVVD-90069.
  65. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Hamasaki Ayumi (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-91015.
  66. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2004). Complete Clip Box (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-91181.
  67. ^ Hamasaki, Ayumi (2012). A Clip Box 1998-2011 (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. AVBD-91910~5.
  68. ^ "Whatever - EP by Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Japan: Apple Music. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  69. ^ a b Hamasaki, Ayumi (2000). Whatever (Ferry Corsten Remixes) (Liner notes). Japan: Avex Trax. N/A.
  70. ^ "Whatever - EP by Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Japan: Apple Music. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  71. ^ "Whatever - Single by Ayumi Hamasaki". Spotify. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
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