Artist Ayumi Hamasaki Producer Max Matsuura | Release date 28 February 2007 Label Avex Trax | |
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Released 28 February 2007 (2007-02-28) Recorded 2001-2007 (Black)
2001-2005 (White) Length 77:27 (Black)
74:56 (White) Genres J-pop, Pop music, Pop rock Similar Ayumi Hamasaki albums, J-pop albums |
Ayumi hamasaki a best 2 cm
Best 2 is a series of greatest hits compilation albums recorded by Ayumi Hamasaki which were released simultaneously on 28 February 2007 (2007-02-28). The artwork on the cover uses the singer's symbol, a heavily modified A, to stand for the name "Ayu" or "Ayumi Hamasaki", as was used in Best in 2001.
Contents
- Ayumi hamasaki a best 2 cm
- A Best 2 Black
- DVD track listing
- Charts
- A Best 2 White
- Japan
- Taiwan
- Featured singles
- Live performances
- Songs
- References
A Best 2: Black debuted at #1 in Japan on its first day and took #2 in the weekly chart as well as in several countries throughout Asia. It was ranked #4 on CDJapan's Top 100 album of 2007. A Best 2: White debuted at #1 in Japan and several countries throughout Asia. A Best 2: White was ranked #3 on CDJapan's Top 100 album of 2007. A Best 2: Black includes "dark" songs with "painful/heartbroken" lyrics while A Best 2: White is the opposite, containing "light" songs with "bright/cheerful/upbeat" lyrics.
Both sets were released in 1CD+2DVD versions with limited version covers for each album's color. The first DVD for each version includes all music videos for the songs off the album. The second DVD from A Best 2: White includes her latest Best of Countdown Live 2006-2007 A; the second DVD from A Best 2: Black includes a documentary which chronicles her concert Best of Countdown Live 2006-2007 A. Both albums feature songs released between the singles "Evolution" and "Heaven". No songs off her album Secret are featured on either album.
A special website was opened in order to promote A Best 2.
The tracks on A Best 2 were remastered in Los Angeles by Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, however they were not resung like the previous A Best.
A Best 2: Black
A Best 2: Black includes a previously unreleased track, "Part of Me" (featured in a new Panasonic CM) and its accompanying music video. The song was certified gold for 100,000 legal downloads.
DVD track listing
1st DVD – Promotional Videos
- "Dearest"
- "Carols"
- "No Way to Say"
- "Walking Proud"
- "Free & Easy"
- "Endless Sorrow"
- "Because of You"
- "About You"
- "Game"
- "Is This Love?"
- "Hanabi: Episode II"
- "Never Ever" [promotional clip]
- "Heaven"
- "Part of Me"
- "H" [TV-CM]
2nd DVD – Best of CountDown Live 2006-2007
- Best of CountDown Live 2006-2007 (Behind the Scenes) (90 minutes)
Charts
Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
A Best 2: White
On 15 January 2007 (2007-01-15) this release was confirmed by her official website. On 16 January 2007 (2007-01-16), track listing for both CDs were officially released. The album covers and DVD track listings were released on 6 February 2007 (2007-02-06).
DVD track listing
1st DVD – Promotional Videos
- "Evolution"
- "Grateful Days"
- "Humming 7/4"
- "Unite!" [promotional clip]
- "Real me"
- "My Name's Women"
- "Ourselves"
- "Inspire"
- "Step you"
- "Fairyland"
- "Voyage"
- "Moments"
- "H" [TV-CM]
2nd DVD – Best of CountDown Live 2006-2007
- "Not Yet"
- "Ourselves"
- "Fly High"
- "Beautiful Fighters"
- "Never Ever"
- "A Song for" ××
- "No Way to Say"
- "Free & Easy"
- "Evolution"
- "Flower Garden"
- "Until That Day..."
- "Audience"
- "Boys & Girls"
-encore-
- "Trauma"
- "Independent"
- "Humming 7/4"
- "Blue Bird"
Charts
A Best 2: White – Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
Japan
After the first week sales of A Best 2: Black and White were announced, Hamasaki had already garnered sales of over 1 million copies. With the release of A Best 2, Hamasaki also broke many records.
As of August 2007, A Best 2 has charted in the top 5 of 2007 Oricon Half-Yearly Album 2007 Chart. A Best: White charted as #3 and Black charted as #4; the nearest competitor was Kobukuro with "All Singles Best" with sales around 640,000 copies. However, factoring in consistent sales of Kobukuro's "All Singles Best", it is predicted that A Best 2 will fall down to #4 and #5, respectively. According to Avex, A Best 2 had sold over 2 million copies as of March 2007.
Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)
Taiwan
A Best 2 as a whole performed very well on the Taiwan Charts. A Best 2: White topped the Taiwan Charts for 8 weeks, while A Best 2: Black has been following behind at #2 consistently, achieving peak at #1 on the second week of being released.
Featured singles
Total Single Sales: 9,909,689
Live performances
Songs
Evolution
Dearest
Greatful Days*