A Best 2

A Best 2
Greatest hits album by Ayumi Hamasaki
Released February 28, 2007 (2007-02-28)
(see Release history)
Recorded 2001-2007 (Black)
2001-2005 (White)
Genre Pop, pop-rock
Length 77:27 (Black)
74:56 (White)
Label Avex Trax
Producer Max Matsuura
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
Secret
(2006)		 A Best 2 (White/Black)
(2007)		 Guilty
(2008)
Ayumi Hamasaki Best of Countdown Live 2006-2007 A
Live album by Ayumi Hamasaki
Released November 29, 2007 (2007-11-29)
Ayumi Hamasaki chronology
Arena Tour 2006 A: (Miss)understood~
(2006)		 Best of Countdown Live 2006-2007 A
(2007)		 Ayumi Hamasaki Asia Tour 2007: Tour of Secret
(2008)

A Best 2 is a series of greatest hits compilation albums recorded by Ayumi Hamasaki which were released simultaneously on February 28, 2007 (2007-02-28). 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.[1] 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.[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.[2][3]

Contents

A Best 2: Black

A Best 2: Black

CD-Only Cover
Greatest hits album by Ayumi Hamasaki
CD+DVD Cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
HMV [4]

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.[5]

Track listing

No. Title Original Album Length
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  

DVD track listing

1st DVD – Promotional Videos

  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"
  12. "Never Ever" [promotional clip]
  13. "Heaven"
  14. "Part of Me"
  15. "H" [TV-CM]

2nd DVD – Best of CountDown Live 2006-2007

  1. Best of CountDown Live 2006-2007 (Behind the Scenes) (90 minutes)

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position First Week Sales Sales Total Chart Run
February 28, 2007 (2007-02-28) Oricon Daily Albums Chart 1
Oricon Weekly Albums Chart 2 470,057 702,900 52
Oricon Monthly Albums Chart 3
Oricon Yearly Albums Chart 7

A Best 2: White

A Best 2: White

CD-Only Cover
Greatest hits album by Ayumi Hamasaki
CD+DVD Cover
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
HMV [6]

On January 15, 2007 (2007-01-15) this release was confirmed by her official website. On January 16, 2007 (2007-01-16), track listing for both CDs were officially released. The album covers and DVD track listings were released on February 6, 2007 (2007-02-06).

Track listing

No. Title Original Album Length
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...  

DVD track listing

1st DVD – Promotional Videos

  1. "Evolution"
  2. "Grateful Days"
  3. "Humming 7/4"
  4. "Unite!" [promotional clip]
  5. "Real me"
  6. "My Name's Women"
  7. "Ourselves"
  8. "Inspire"
  9. "Step you"
  10. "Fairyland"
  11. "Voyage"
  12. "Moments"
  13. "H" [TV-CM]

2nd DVD – Best of CountDown Live 2006-2007

  1. "Not Yet"
  2. "Ourselves"
  3. "Fly High"
  4. "Beautiful Fighters"
  5. "Never Ever"
  6. "A Song for" ××
  7. "No Way to Say"
  8. "Free & Easy"
  9. "Evolution"
  10. "Flower Garden"
  11. "Until That Day..."
  12. "Audience"
  13. "Boys & Girls"

-encore-

  1. "Trauma"
  2. "Independent"
  3. "Humming 7/4"
  4. "Blue Bird"

Charts

A Best 2: White – Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position First Week Sales Sales Total Chart Run
February 28, 2007 (2007-02-28) Oricon Daily Albums Chart 1
Oricon Weekly Albums Chart 1 475,284 721,850 52
Oricon Monthly Albums Chart 2
Oricon Yearly Albums Chart 5

Release history

Region Date Format Catalogue Number
Japan February 28, 2007 (2007-02-28) CD+2DVD AVCD-23263(Black)
AVCD-23265(White)
CD AVCD-23264(Black))
AVCD-23266(White)
Taiwan March 9, 2007 (2007-03-09)
Hong Kong March 13, 2007 (2007-03-13)
China October 27, 2007 (2007-10-27) CD+2DVD
  • Initial pressing
CD
  • Initial pressing
Singapore March 14, 2007 (2007-03-14)
South Korea March 15, 2007 (2007-03-15)

Sales and accomplishments

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.[7]

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)

Release Chart Peak Position Oricon Sales Total Avex Sales Total Chart Run
February 28, 2007 (2007-02-28) Oricon Daily Albums Chart 1 (Black & White) 170,000 200,000 1 day
Oricon Weekly Albums Chart 1 (White)
2 (Black)		 945,341 1,000,000 1 week
Oricon Monthly Albums Chart 2 (White)
3 (Black)		 646,479 (White) ,632,999 (Black) 1,200,000 4 weeks
Oricon Yearly Albums Chart 4 (White)
5 (Black)		 1,424,734 (as of 2008) 2,000,000 52 weeks

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

Album Date Title Peak position Chart Run Sales
Black March 7, 2001 (2001-03-07) "Never Ever" 1 12 weeks 756,980
May 16, 2001 (2001-05-16) "Endless Sorrow" 1 11 weeks 768,510
September 27, 2001 (2001-09-27) "Dearest" 1 16 weeks 750,420
April 24, 2002 (2002-04-24) "Free & Easy" 1 9 weeks 486,520
November 6, 2003 (2003-11-06) "No Way to Say" 1 12 weeks 371,171
November 29, 2004 (2004-11-29) "Carols" 1 14 weeks 309,128
July 28, 2005 (2005-07-28) "Inspire c/w Game" 1 15 weeks 329,145
November 14, 2005 (2005-11-14) "Heaven" 1 14 weeks 326,694
White January 31, 2001 (2001-01-31) "Evolution" 1 17 weeks 955,250
July 11, 2001 (2001-07-11) "Unite!" 1 10 weeks 571,110
December 12, 2001 (2001-12-12) "A Song Is Born" 1 10 weeks 441,410
November 26, 2002 (2002-11-26) "Voyage" 1 28 weeks 679,463
July 9, 2003 (2003-07-09) "Inspire c/w Game" 1 16 weeks 591,481
March 31, 2005 (2005-03-31) "Moments" 1 21 weeks 302,923
August 3, 2005 (2005-08-03) "Fairyland c/w Alterna" 1 13 weeks 316,663
Black and White July 24, 2002 (2002-07-24) "H" 1 24 weeks 1,016,000
July 9, 2003 (2003-07-09) "&" 1 16 weeks 591,481
April 20, 2005 (2005-04-20) "Step You / Is This Love?" 1 19 weeks 345,340

Total Single Sales: 9,909,689

Live performances

External links

References

  1. ^ "2007 TOP100 Charts". http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/special/charts/2007_jpop_cd.html. Retrieved 30 March 2011. 
  2. ^ a b (Japanese) "ayumi hamasaki 「A BEST 2」SPECIAL SITE". http://www.avexnet.or.jp/ayu/jp/special/abest2. Retrieved 30 March 2011. 
  3. ^ "New info about A Best 2 tracks mastered - Ayumi Hamasaki Sekai". http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56189&highlight=remastered. Retrieved 30 March 2011. 
  4. ^ "A Best 2: Black Review" (in Japanese). HMV. http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2510667. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  5. ^ (Japanese) "Japanese Charts". http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w080220_3.html. Retrieved 30 March 2011. 
  6. ^ "A Best 2: White Review" (in Japanese). HMV. http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/2510673. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
  7. ^ "Avex Financial Results of the first quarter of 2007 Page 2". http://www.avex.co.jp/e_site/press/2008/070518.pdf. 
Ayumi Hamasaki
Studio albums
EPs
Compilations
Remixes
Concert Tours
Countdown Lives
2000-2001 A · 2001-2002 A · 2002-2003 A · 2004-2005 A · 2005-2006 A · 2006-2007 A · 2007-2008 Anniversary · Premium 2008-2009 A · 2009-2010 A: Future Classics · 2010-2011 A: Do It Again
DVDs
A Film for ×× · A Clips · A Clips Vol.2 · Ayumi Hamasaki Complete Live Box A · Complete Clip Box · Distance Love · Tsuki ni Shizumu
Filmography
Twins Teacher · Battle Spirits Ryūko no Ken · Sumomo mo Momo · Miseinen · Like Grains of Sand · Gakko II
See also