A Song for ×× (the "××" is silent)[3] is the debut album by Japanesepop artist Ayumi Hamasaki, released January 1, 1999, by Avex Trax. It was entirely written by Hamasaki herself, while the production was handled by Japanese musician Max Matsuura. Primarily a pop rock album, it features musical composition and arrangements by Yasuhiko Hoshino, Mitsuru Igarashi, and others.
"Poker Face" was released as the album's lead single on April 8, 1998. Entering the Oricon chart at number twenty, it became her first charting single. Four further singles were released to promote A Song for ××: "You", "Trust", "For My Dear...", and Depend on You". All of them were top twenty hits in Japan, with the latter three reaching the top ten.
Upon its release, A Song for ×× garnered mixed reviews from music critics, with some praising Hamasaki's appeal but deeming the record "childish." Commercially, the album became a success, debuting atop the Oricon Albums Chart with first week sales of over 500,000 copies; it topped the chart for five weeks, a remarkable feat for a debut album. The album was certified Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments exceeding one million copies in the country. As of 2008, A Song for ×× is Japan's 139th best selling album of all time.[4]