[1][2] The success continued on with the work off I Am..., which was released on New Year's Day, 2002 and received favorable reception from most Japanese critics.

The album was also a commercial success, selling over 2.3 million units in Japan and was certified triple platinum by RIAJ.

[A][4][5] "Connected" was originally a trance composition made by Ferry Corsten, who went under the name "East West" which was called "The Love I Lost".

"Connected" was initially included on Hamasaki's album I Am..., and later on The Very Best Of Ferry Corsten, compilation released by the Avex label in Japan and other Asian countries.

On April 7, 2003 a maxi CD single was officially released in Germany, which included several remixes and alternate versions of the song.

This was composed prior to Corsten's electro days, so you can only expect pure trance [...]"[10] Jeff had also selected "Connected" as the best track and "Choice Cut" from the parent album.

[14] However, a reviewer from the publication Sputnikmusic was negative towards the song, felling it lacked progression and criticized her vocals for being too high pitched.

In 2014, she performed a slightly rearranged version of the song on her Premium Showcase: Feel the Love tour in Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo.