Star (Mika Nakashima album)
"Over Load" was released as the record's first single on May 13, 2009. "Over Load" was used in a Lipton Limone Commercial May 2009 where Mika starred as the model. Along with the B-side track "No Answer," the release exhibits a bright pop sound with oriental string-based instrumentations. "Candy Girl" is a collaboration with Japanese women's fashion company Sly. Released on September 30, 2009, four editions of Candy Girl were made available with each having a different CD cover and design. Three of the versions are limited edition releases, with each containing a different T-shirt sporting the message: "Wake Up, Travelling Circus is Coming," in different colors. Musically, "Candy Girl" is a jazz-inflected soft pop song revolving around circus themes. Its B-side "Smiley" utilizes acoustic instrumentals with a jazz-tinged arrangement. "Nagareboshi" is a pop-infused ballad with the track "Memory" as the B-side. The next single, "Always", is the theme to the film "Sayonara Itsuka" starring Miho Nakayama. The first press of "Always" came with a 2010 calendar, featuring photoshoots designed by Nakashima herself. The B-sides "Baby Baby Baby" and "Spiral" were featured in several commercials in Japan. "Ichiban Kirei na Watashi o" ( "The Most Beautiful Me") is the record's fifth single and Nakashima's thirty-second overall. Released on August 25, 2010, it was the theme song for the TBS TV series, "Unubore Deka" ( "Conceited Detective"). Nakashima played the supporting role of Rie Hagurashi in the series. Musically, the is characterized for its "old-sounding" tune reminiscent of 20th-century Japanese pop songs.
Singles
It was released via Sony Music Japan on October 27, 2010, and was distributed in two formats: a CD-only standard version and a CD+DVD limited edition. Five singles were spawned from the record, including "Candy Girl", "Always" and "Ichiban Kirei na Watashi o".