Whatever (Ayumi Hamasaki song)

"Whatever" (stylized 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 song 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 a 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.