A Best 2

A Best 2
Black cover art.
Greatest hits album by
Ayumi Hamasaki
Released28 February 2007
Recorded2001–2006
GenreJ-pop
Length77:27 (Black)
74:56 (White)
LabelAvex Trax
ProducerMax Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
Secret
(2006) 		A Best 2
(2007) 		Guilty
(2008)
A Best 2: White
White cover art.

A Best 2 is a two-part greatest hits album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki. Both albums, titled Black and White, were released on 28 February 2007 on various formats by Avex Trax. Produced by Max Matsuura, they follow Hamasaki's compilation album A Best, which was released in March 2001. A Best 2 are concept albums, with Black focusing on darker and more serious tones and White on lighter and more upbeat themes. The albums contain 31 songs, including an unreleased track titled "Part of Me" on the Black edition, that were released between the periods of her albums I Am... (2002) and (Miss)understood (2006).

Music critics praised A Best 2 for its themes and Hamasaki's music catalogue. The albums were commercially successful in Japan. White debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart, while Black stalled at second place. Both records were among the best-selling albums of the year, and were certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 750,000 units. There were no singles from the album, but "Part of Me" was certified gold by RIAJ for exceeding 100,000 ringtone downloads. To promote the albums, Hamasaki went on three different concert tours across Asia and received additional live DVD releases.

Background and content

In January 2007, Hamasaki announced on her website that she planned to release two greatest hits albums, titled A Best 2 (individually referenced as Black and White). Both Black and White are direct follow-ups to Hamasaki's compilation album A Best, which debuted in March 2001 to immense commercial success.[1] It is also Hamasaki's third and fourth compilation album, released four years after her ballad-inspired collection A Ballads (2003).[2] On 17 January, Hamasaki published additional information about both albums, including the album's content, formats, and promotional activities.[3]

A Best 2 are concept albums, with Black focusing on darker and more serious tones and White on lighter and more upbeat themes.[4] Black and White features 31 songs from Hamasaki's single releases between her albums I Am... (2002) and (Miss)understood (2005). They both include tracks that were not released as singles; Black includes "Walking Proud," "About You," and a new recording called "Part of Me," while White features "Humming 7/4" and "My Name's Woman."[5][6] Additionally, the song "Memorial Address" was added as a hidden track to Black.[5]

Release

A Best 2 was released on various formats on 28 February 2007 by Avex Trax.[5][6] The standard release of both Black and White comes in a jewel case that includes separate content. Each album's double-DVD version comes in a double packaging that includes the CD, music videos and visuals from each album, as well as a live DVD from Hamasaki's Best Countdown show, which features different performances.[7][8] In Indonesia, A Best 2 was distributed on cassette tape.[9] Avex Trax later released both A Best 2 albums in CD and DVD formats across Asia, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.[a]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
CDJournal(positive)[17]
CDJournal(positive)[18]

A Best 2 received positive feedback from the Japanese music publication CDJournal, which reviewed each album individually. The review praised Black for featuring "dramatic" ballads in the first half and primarily rock music in the second half. The publication also highlighted "Heaven" and "Part of Me" for concluding the album with "expressive" vocals from Hamasaki.[17] The second review for White praised songs like "Evolution" and "Grateful Days" for being a "positive" aspect to the record, as well as how well the album complement Black.[18]

A Best 2 achieved commercial success in Japan. White debuted at the top of the Oricon Daily and Weekly Album Chart, selling 475,284 copies in its first week, while Black debuted and stalled at number two, selling 470,057 units.[19][20] Hamasaki became the first female artist in 37 years to occupy both top positions, a record previously held by Japanese enka singer Keiko Fuji.[20] By the end of 207, both albums were high-sellers: White finished fifth on the Oricon Year-end Chart with 717,501 units sold, while Black came in seventh with 698,591 copies.[21] The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) certified both albums triple platinum for exceeding 750,000 units.[22][23] In February 2009, Avex Trax announced in their financial report that A Best 2 had sold two million combined shipments across the country.[24]

Promotion

Although no singles were released from the album, the track "Part of Me" received a music video, which was included on the album's DVD formats.[7] The song was featured in Panasonic commercials promoting the Lumix FX30 digital camera, which was distributed in Japan.[17] The song was also certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for exceeding 100,000 ringtone downloads.[25]

Hamasaki went on three different concert tours to promote A Best 2. Her first tour was the annual Best Countdown show, which took her through Japan. The live release was divided between the DVD version of Black and White.[7][8] The second was her Secret Tour, which also promoted her studio album Secret (2006). The tour, which began on 10 March 2007, and ended in mid-June of that year, took her throughout Japan, including her first appearances in Taiwan and China. Asia Tour 2007: Tour of Secret, a live DVD, was released on 12 March 2008.[26] Her final tour was her second Best Countdown show, which was recorded live and released on 18 June 2008.[27]

Track listing

A Best: Black tracklist
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Dearest"I am... 
2."Carols"My Story 
3."No Way to Say"Memorial Address 
4."Hanabi (Fireworks)"Rainbow 
5."Walking Proud"My Story 
6."Free & Easy"Rainbow 
7."Endless Sorrow"I am... 
8."Because of You"Memorial Address 
9."About You"My Story 
10."Game"My Story 
11."Is This Love?"(Miss)understood 
12."Hanabi: Episode II (Fireworks: Episode II)"Memorial Address 
13."Never Ever"I am... 
14."Heaven"(Miss)understood 
15."Part of Me"previously unreleased 
16."Memorial Address: Take 2 version" (Hidden Track)Memorial Address 
A Best: White tracklist
No.TitleOriginal albumLength
1."Evolution"I am... 
2."Greatful Days*"Memorial Address 
3."Independent"Rainbow 
4."Humming 7/4"My Story 
5."Unite!"I am... 
6."Real Me"Rainbow 
7."My Name's Women"My Story 
8."Ourselves"Memorial Address 
9."Inspire"My Story 
10."Step You**"(Miss)understood 
11."July 1st"Rainbow 
12."Fairyland"(Miss)understood 
13."Voyage"Rainbow 
14."Moments"My Story 
15."A Song Is Born"I am... 
A Best: Black DVD content
No.TitleNotesLength
1."Dearest"  
2."Carols"  
3."No Way to Say"  
4."Walking Proud"  
5."Free & Easy"  
6."Endless Sorrow"  
7."Because of You"  
8."About You"  
9."Game"  
10."Is This Love?"  
11."Hanabi: Episode II (Fireworks: Episode II)"  
12."Never Ever" (Promotional video)  
13."Heaven"  
14."Part of Me"  
15."H"  
16.UntitledPromotional video 
A Best: White DVD content
No.TitleNotesLength
1."Evolution"  
2."Greatful Days"  
3."Humming 7/4"  
4."Unite!"Promotional video 
5."Real Me"  
6."My Name's Women"  
7."Ourselves"  
8."Inspire"  
9."Step You"  
10."Fairyland"  
11."Voyage"  
12."Moments"  
13."H"Promotional video 
A Best: Black: Best of CountDown Live 2006–2007
No.TitleLength
1."Best of CountDown Live 2006–2007 (Behind the Scenes)" 
A Best: White: Best of CountDown Live 2006–2007
No.TitleLength
1."Not Yet" 
2."Ourselves" 
3."Fly High" 
4."Beautiful Fighters" 
5."Never End" 
6."A Song for xx" 
7."No Way to Say" 
8."Free & Easy" 
9."Evolution" 
10."Flower Garden" 
11."Until That Day..." 
12."Audience" 
13."Boys & Girls" 
14."Trauma" 
15."Independent" 
16."Humming 7/4" 
17."Blue Bird" 

Charts

Certification and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[22] 3× Platinum 702,895[31]
Japan (RIAJ)[23] 3× Platinum 721,839[31]

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Japan 28 February 2007
Avex Trax
Hong Kong 9 March 2007 Avex Trax
Taiwan
China 2007
Indonesia Cassette tape
Various

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]
  2. ^ a b Week references for G-Music: Black and White during week 10 and week 11, 2007.[29]

Citations

  1. ^ "BEST ALBUM『A BEST 2 -BLACK-』『A BEST 2 -WHITE-』" (in Japanese). Ayumi Hamasaki website (via Avex Trax). 17 January 2007. Archived from the original on 26 January 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  2. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2003). A Ballads (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVCD-17278.
  3. ^ "BEST ALBUM『A BEST 2 -BLACK-』『A BEST 2 -WHITE-』" (in Japanese). Ayumi Hamasaki website (via Avex Trax). 17 January 2007. Archived from the original on 23 January 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  4. ^ "ayumi hamasaki 『A BEST 2』SPECIAL SITE" (in Japanese). Ayumi Hamasaki website (via Avex Trax). Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Ayumi Hamasaki (2007). A Best 2: Black (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVCD-23264.
  6. ^ a b Ayumi Hamasaki (2007). A Best 2: White (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVCD-23266.
  7. ^ a b c Black versions listed below:
  8. ^ a b White versions listed below:
  9. ^ Cassette tapes listed below:
  10. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2007). A Best 2: Black (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVTCD-95946.
  11. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2007). A Best 2: Black (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVJCD10309/A.
  12. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2007). A Best 2: Black (liner notes). Avex Trax. SCD-906.
  13. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2007). A Best 2: White (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVTCD-95947.
  14. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2007). A Best 2: Black (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVJCD10310/A.
  15. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2007). A Best 2: Black (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVCDC 23266.
  16. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2007). A Best 2: Black (liner notes). Avex Trax. SCD-908.
  17. ^ a b c "Ayumi Hamasaki / A Best 2: Black". CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Ayumi Hamasaki / A Best 2: White". CDJournal (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  19. ^ "浜崎あゆみ、待望のベスト盤1・2位独占!" (in Japanese). Oricon. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  20. ^ a b "浜崎あゆみ、藤圭子以来、女性アーティスト36年半ぶりの大記録達成!" (in Japanese). Oricon. 6 March 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  21. ^ a b c "Oricon Flashback: 2007 Year End Chart". Arama! Japan. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Japanese album certifications – Ayumi Hamasaki – A Best 2 (Black)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 30 January 2024. Select 2007年3月 on the drop-down menu
  23. ^ a b "Japanese album certifications – Ayumi Hamasaki – A Best 2 (White)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 30 January 2024. Select 2007年3月 on the drop-down menu
  24. ^ "Avex Financial Results of the first quarter of 2007 Page 2" (PDF) (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 July 2009.
  25. ^ "レコード協会調べ 2月度有料音楽配信チャート（「着うた（R）」）" [Record Association report: February paid digital music chart (ringtones)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. 20 March 2007. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  26. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2008). Asia Tour 2007: Tour of Secret (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVBD-91536~7.
  27. ^ Ayumi Hamasaki (2008). Countdown Live 2007–2008 Anniversary (liner notes). Avex Trax. AVBD-91558.
  28. ^ "A Best 2: Black – Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  29. ^ "G-Music Combo Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  30. ^ "A Best 2: White – Ayumi Hamasaki" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  31. ^ a b "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 29 January 2024.

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