AVEX wants to make a few extra bucks again, I see. How often are we supposed to buy albums with the same songs? :no

But well, it's nice that there will be at least one new song and I'm looking forward to the "a nation"-clips!

If a BEST/Compilation is made up new songs, it wouldn't be called BEST or compilation anymore. Why people just get the idea of this =.=?
Avex is obviously trying to get those who used to buy ayu's album to buy these kinda of albums.

Our BEST nightmare came true but at leats we got an amazing new song and PV!!
Honestly I admit I really like the selection os songs though, I'm quite sure the cover has been shooted in Bali last week :yes

that is why I'm-not-so-looking-forward-to-this-release. I see no point.
I mean, why?

and new song from Tim, I just can't.:shakehead

I hope it sells over 50k, at least

How could you Channy? This is the most demotivating post in the whole thread :roflmao! It'd be terrible if we had to wait till 2013. :(

maybe she should have done a remix one like the koda.

^ And cause even more indifference between fandoms?!

:P

Hmm. If they were new remixes that would've been a lot better for us, the established fans. But for new fans this release is kinda sweet. I'm not sure if I'll be getting it, it's a lot of money for 1 new song! As usual, the covers might persuade me :laugh

I hope the song, "You & Me", would be a powerful ballad...and I hope the PV will be very beautiful....since thuis album will be into happy/sad summer, all of us should pray that the cover would be something fun/summery...like "&" or "UNITE!" single for DISC N ....or sad-themed kind of cover for the DISC A.

Can't hurt for wishing, right? :)

..and when the hell will these 3 Divas going to make a collab????? seriously????

I think she should have made one new song per disc. One up tempo, one ballad. I mean, doesn't that make sense? Now the release is ballad heavy and while I love me a good summer ballad, I also love me a fun, light hearted breezy song.

This ^_^
Alltough I am very happy "Happening Here" will be on the Best. Since the concert I love this song xD

Probably not until a lot of people will tweet ayu and kuu's and namie's staff about it until they see/comment to it with something XD

I think we should make a group and decide a date to do so with a big amount of people lol.

I think what 'remastering' does is making the song sound better, sound-wise. As in, it eliminates past imperfections and the like. What I notice the most is that the remastered songs somehow sound 'louder' and much 'clearer' than their originals (e.g. in A BEST 2 and A COMPLETE)

As for M in A COMPLETE, I think it was ayu's choice to exclude the guitar riff.

Don't worry, I get it!
What I don't get is why we need a "Best of"-album again? So many of the songs, which are on "A SUMMER BEST" are also on Ayu's other "Best of"-albums or on "A COMPLETE".

And why would people, who don't buy Ayu's albums anymore buy a "Best of"? Only because it's called "Best of" doesn't mean that it really has "the best songs" from each album.


Why can't AVEX simply release a new summer single? Ayu's summer singles are always awesome!!
It would make me - and I guess a lot of other fans - much happier than the constant recycling of old songs. :(

I don't know if ayu can compete with SMAP. She might end up getting the 2nd place only :O she really needs big promotion to make it number 1.

Well the songs in A SUMMER BEST are songs that were chosen by the fans and most of the songs were hits in Japan anyway =P

Also the fact that they were already in other bests doesn't mean they can't use them again for another conceptual best. We just can hope that it won't get to be often =)

Same

I would have been fine with a digital release for you & me.
I don't like remastered versions of anything unless the songs or whatever are like 80years old. She needs a break :(

What I can't wait for is the cover.

Oh yes... seems so. And she would not release a single and a new Best of Album at the same time, I think.
But ok.. it's a new song.. and I'm looking forward to listen to it.

I knew there was going to be a BEST this year when it was announced that Party Queen got #2 on Oricon :P The idea is lame, but I like the promo pic, and since You & Me is on the same disc as the "summer-but-not-happy" songs, I expect it not to be a generic summerish song... I used to complain about such tracks, but now I kinda miss them :laugh

I think You & Me will sound like "meaning of love".

^why would you say something like that :cry

oooh can't wait for the cover!! :love

I wonder what the cover will look like?
Something beachie, or something for the outtakes of party queen...
I want something epic for you and me... if timmy wrote it its going to be either a hit or a miss...
I loved HBYR, but hated his jazz stuff... soooooooo.........

Exactly. I know Evolution and Boys and Girls are two of Ayu's most popular hits; they don't need to appear on any more albums and DVDs for me to understand this.

New fans likely own the majority of these songs in one form or another, too. I really think Ayu should have done a summer remix album like Kuu is doing. I'd look forward to hearing that.

Also, I feel like the fact that this release is 2 discs is a little excessive.

How are we supposed to enjoy this summer compilation towards the END of summer? In august? I love this idea but not the release date.

If the songs are remaster then I will buy it, or I'll just buy the new song off iTunes instead...

hhmm if A Best 2 had the good song and the epic PV like Part of Me,please Ayu i hope You and Me... would not disappoint us *finger crossed* it is likely that Timmy again composed this song so... (?)

Already pre-purchased my 2CD+DVD copy :)

I suppose that You & Me will be a ballad like beloved.

omg please no.

Why is the re-mastering such a big deal? Most if not all of the older songs on this compilation have either been re-mastered in A BEST 2 or A COMPLETE and the newer songs don't need re-mastering...

i wasn't expecting a BEST album, but i'm happy because i like most of ayu's summer songs. :) and a new song & PV just makes this release even better! i can't wait to hear "You & Me". :D

that poster is beautiful, too. :heart

+1


I'm not sure how excited I'd be about this if it sounded like those.

Boys & Girls is a summer single...

idk why people don't get that, she's even wearing a bikini on the single cover and it was released in the middle of july

+2 :no:no

meaning of love is fresh....plus it did quite well for an album track on download/ringtone charts so..

Looking forward to the new song ^^

You&Me the new ToX song?

Honestly, this just sounds like a really expensive way for them to release the new song. Excuse the language, but they really are just taking the piss with this release. One song and material that's already been released twice? No thanks. Happening Here and theme of a-nation do not make up for it. A cheap digital single (and a cover) and a CD I'm sure is dirt cheap second hand.

Why not just release a single? Like people have said, this doesn't even make sense as a BEST for casual buyers, because all these songs are on the other BEST collections, and for hardcore fans it's even more redundant - we have the single, the album, the BEST :S

Avex cash cowing at it's best :/ I am now 99% sure we're never getting another single.

No the ToX song will be released around November. ^^

Actually, a couple a songs are not in a past best of lol but i can understand ^^
・Sunrise ~LOVE is ALL~
・NEXT LEVEL
・Happening Here
・Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~
・fated
・theme of a-nation'03
・blossom
・MOON
・ANother song feat. URATA NAOYA
・You & Me

hope 'A WINTER BEST'

may include :

No way to say
You were...
JEWEL
momentum
POWDER SNOW
Together When...
Close to you
appears
M
Virgin Road
Days
CAROLS
Dearest
Voyage
part of Me
HEAVEN :lech

and... 'A SPRING BEST', 'A AUTUMN BEST' *giggle* :innocent

Reading this thread back I have to ask, did some of you sign a contract agreeing to buy every product with Ayumi Hamasaki's name on it? This isn't aimed at us, it's for casual Japanese fans that have probably downloaded ringtones of these songs over the years. I'm sure Ayu will have an album for us at the end of the year, that will be two albums of new material this year but probably still not enough for some of you.

People seem to miss the epic thing that is the DVD content...it's a couple performances we had to wait for years to finally see!

most of those songs weren't even released during winter...

evolution single
I am...
A BEST 2
A COMPLETE
A SUMMER BEST

That means the hardcore fans will have bought the exact same version of evolution five times. :dead2

That promo pic looks promising. I haven't liked an album cover since... A COMPLETE?

Amen lol.

The DVD is pretty much what sold me. Plus, even though I own A BEST 2 and A COMPLETE, a part of me is still excited about the summer compilation. More so than I was before.

Totally this. That is why I bought it.

Laruku remastered songs for thir Best, butI can't hear any difference

2007 monochrome?!
OMFG I need this!

exactly. i can't hear a difference in remastering either most of the time. :(

some people don't care about it :shrug

It wouldn't make me buy it...even though I do care about it.


But I mean, I like the release. I'm never against bests... this one just kinda reflects Ayu's whole management's attitude toward her stuff.

Like, just repackage things all pretty, don't do anything new....just because it's ayu, people will buy it. Don't worry about functionality.


Which...that's fine. Whatever they want to do. I wouldn't buy it. I hope her casual listeners think it's cool enough for summer.


Anyway, I'm kinda happy it's just remastering...her current vocals are a big :no Remastering is just something to make it a little more special anyways. Not like it really means that much....usually.

@kinix @truehappiness yes of course, I don't say she needs to release a new album, namie's career is totally different than ayu and kuu, so they can't compare.

In my personal opinion I don't want to buy an album that have many songs that I got but it's ok to the people who don't have this songs.

I'm a fan of ayu, koda and namie, I have nothing against them

Lol, true!

We've already had Party Queen and CDL 11-12 & PoM. And now You & Me and the new ToX song by the end of the year. We aren't doing bad for releases! (I wish Olivia would release somethng - her last release was her Best album in 2010! Which was great despite owning almost all the songs)

Whilst, I wouldn't object to some remixes (like A Ballads which is a great album!), this release is not aimed at us, so no need to worry about it - new music will follow!

mi|kshake~

Well who's to say 'You & Me' isn't the new ToX song? I guess they would've announced that in the description as promotion but it very well could be the new Tox song...

^That would only make sense if ToX2 was released some time after the song, but it's released in November. Little bit too far away.

Oh you're right, I checked the release date.

If 'You & Me' is to sound like any of her past songs, I think I'd want it to sound like part of Me, or HEAVEN, or even Why... without JUNO.

I'm buying this because I love Ayu's summer songs. I also have only four physical releases of her music. I don't have any of her "BEST" or collection albums.

Honestly I don't think I'm gonna buy it anytime soon.

Actually you just need to buy "Happening Here" and "You & Me" on iTunes and then add it to your self made playlist of Ayus summer songs :D Would be around $1,98. That's a bargain.

I love the concept and I already preordered it!
I like that she does stuff like this, I hope it sales rather well.

And its also good for the younger generation who might not know about her and like some of the older stuff.

Now I'm sceptical about buying the album... I'd rather buy all of the other albums instead (even though it costs more).

Since some of us are talking about our fantasies of the new song already I'd love if You & Me had a theme of a-nation '03 or YOU (northern breeze) sound.

OVERSEAS edition for me this time.

i don't believe in "re-mastered" songs from 2 year ago
i'm not a big fans of a-nation performances and i don't care about the poster
ayu posters are like newspapers; by the next released the poster will be old-fashioned.

i want the new song, new pv, and the physical release of "Happening Here"

I really don't know what I want from You & Me. I was hoping for a powerful, fun, poppy synthesizer influenced Summer track... Not some damn ballad for Summer. I hope it is something you can listen to in the Summer Rain then. Something with bittersweet and melancholic undertones.

^ that would be nice.
Im thinking its done by Timmy... which of course is gonna make some people mad.

if I had theme of a nation 03 part 2, I'd be happy. Hopefully no keyboard choir.

it's included in Disc-A so it should be a sad summer song...

It's certainly possible that it could be uptempo while still being mournful or nostalgic in tone. My favorite tracks in this compilation are "fairyland" and "monochrome," and "blossom" is a great track. They're all nostalgic, and they're all faster songs. "You & Me" doesn't HAVE to be a ballad, it just needs to be a bit dark in tone. I'm hoping it DOES lean in the "uptempo but not sunshiny" direction because the disc does need that balance with all the ballads on there.

an acoustic song? A song you would play with your guitar in front of a fire in a summer night :P

if it will be something like Ai dake ga from Emi Hinouchi I'd be extremely happy. Don't know if it could work with her current voice but whatever, would be nice anyway.

^did you just talk about emi hinouchi in the ayu section omg :luv2


honestly, I'm not sure if ayu can pull off ballads like that...but I kinda want to see her try...just because, I miss simplicity in her ballads.

What does everyone think the performance/video for NEXT LEVEL will be on the DVD?

That's never been performed outside of NEXT LEVEL Tour, correct? Do you think it'll be one of the performances from the tour, or the music video? And did she ever sing Far away at a-nation?

BTW, it appears to me that the way the official site lists the songs is in fact the ranking of songs people voted for? BLUE BIRD being number 1 for the bright songs, and HANABI being number 1 for the sad songs, the rest following in order of popularity? It would make sense haha. Nothing officially said anywhere, but just a thought.

No, really? How does that address my point about it being terribly overused?

No, I didn't. But I did sign up for this forum, which entitles me to comment on her products. I think this is a stupid release. Problem?

^

from Misa-chan's blog,

im a bit confused actually,which means we will get her old summer PVs too? and why Disc N and Disc A xDD

anyway that is what i thought the voting for too.

If You & Me is a summer ballad sad song, that could be a song about ayu and her ex husband and written by Timmy.

Oh.. wait. That is a joke only.

Ohhh didn't realize that. I thought it was just a-nation clips + the new music video.

And I think the disc N and A represent "na" or the first syllable in "natsu"/summer

Summer compilation... Summer single... Do the math.

Or ask her on twitter to use your personal favorte tracklist on the albums... As her career goal is to please you and all your wishes, I'm pretty sure she will take it! ^^

BEST ALBUM AGAIN???? haizz....

i'm just looking for new song only...

meh, no limited editions?! :x

snarky snarky :P


okay so whats with the remastering-rerecording thing?

do we know anything for sure. I mean, I'm sure everything will be remastered. God if they don't they're lazy...but she mentioned rerecording? Or are people just pulling this out of nowhere.

I think you've got the point wrong. Those who would buy all her stuffs wouldnt grumble with every release she made. They'll be thrilled with every release she makes.
Only those who doesnt even buy her release grumbles. As it wasnt what they expected. Not that they would even buy it in the 1st place. They only talk, but no action =)

Totally agree with that one!! "they only talk, but no action". Some people here want Ayu to do "this & that", but in the end of the day, do you people even buy her release? or do you just download her materials illegally? :rolleyes

Or MAYBE......

Disc N-agase
Disc A-yumi ?!

LOL XD

MIND BLOWN TO THE FOREST MOON OF ENDOR AND BACK

Downloading things illegally is a choice people make if they got no money to buy stuff or because they want to listen to her release before they buy them. People don't really want to be disappointed. Personally I do the latter with every artist I listen to. I listen to their releases and buy them if I happen to have money at the moment. Not all of us have enough money to buy every single album and single from Ayu's discography or from anyone else. I just don't understand why it's such a personal insult to some people that others don't buy a million copies of her releases. :(

And no, I'm not gonna fight with you about this. You have your opinion and I got mine so it's useless. :heart

And yes, I'm pretty sure that You & Me will be a ballad. Title itself really says that so it must be true. I hope that I'm wrong because I want something really upbeat from Ayu. Summer songs should be energetic and catchy, not some slow ballads she's been releasing so often lately. :D

Disc N-aoya
Disc A-yumi

Yeah. We both have different opinion~ :yes but in the end....all of us support Ayu~~the world is one!:luv2

Glad it is not Disc M and Disc A, but I want Disc T and Disc A
T stands for Team, A stands for Ayu.

Don't interpret T as Timmy, please.

Wow, dude, chill the hell out. Are you the opinion police? Can't they state their opinion without you flipping out? Get off your condescending high horse. I ALSO think Boys & Girls is overused too and shouldn't be released on another Best so soon. It's just on there to milk more money because it was one of her more successful singles to date. Even though it's been on 2 out of 3 of the previous best albums. And she sings it on almost ever tour, although I don't mind that because it's a good song to get the audience to sing along with since it's so popular. The fact of the matter is it's overplayed, so no need to be mean to them because they realize it too. They honestly do not need this song released on yet another album.

I'm pretty disappointed by this. I really hope some of the older, over-used songs are re-arranged or at least re-recorded (Such as evolution, Boys & Girls, UNITE, . I'm hoping for a re-arrangement similar to how they're played live these days. Why is Sunrise/Sunset even on there? And ANother Song was JUST on last year's mini album. WTF, Ayu, what what WHAT are you doing.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...atyourlife.gif

If NONE of these songs are re-recorded, I am just going to buy You & Me off iTunes as other suggested. The only songs I really like on this album were all re-mastered for A Complete. F this album. She should have done this similar to A Ballads with the rearrangements and the two new songs, etc. I've never felt this disgusted over an Ayu release before, but the way things are looking, this album is going to be crap.

I like the idea of a Summer Best... but more would I like a new Album like I am... or Rainbow! I miss her old good times sooo much! But still I love her till death :love

How the hell almost 90% news released thread involves and spam full of violate and this-is-my-opinion-only messages? So much drama!

Leave ayu alone! *cries*

^^

You're not going to 'chris-crocker" on Ayu, right? :D:D:D

Maybe "You & Me" is the credit song for Tales of Xillia or something. I don't want a sweet ballad as game opening song, give me something like progress x M.

Another collection, well... not for me, but waiting for the new song...

The new song should be called "Eyes, smoke, MONEY"

I buy everything. Should I blindly buy everything 'cause it's Ayu? No way. I have everything here except You & Me and Happening Here (dnw), on PHYSICAL release. Yes, even theme of a-nation.

I'm not buying this, it's plain and simple a cash cow release. I'll just get the new song, and I didn't even bother illegally downloading Happening Here because it's so vile.

Maybe I'll buy the OS press one day when the "you must buy everything to have the right to complain" brigade share some of this cash they're using to buy every single Ayu product. It's up to me if I deem a product worthy of buying, buying something just because it has Ayumi Hamasaki slapped on it is stupid.

lol

yesasis links
A Summer Best [2CD+DVD] ~¥4,521
A Summer Best ~¥3,375

CDJapan
A Summer Best [2CD+DVD] ¥4,200 // they promise First Press (card with serial number)
A Summer Best ¥3,200

HMV
A Summer Best [2CD+DVD] ¥3,749
A Summer Best ¥3,360

I agree with this quote. Nobody's opinion is "moot" just because they didn't buy it.