A BEST II What is ayu supposed to put in it?
 

For A BEST, Ayu (or avex) added all her biggest hits; songs that were fan favourites and songs that sold the most. These were standout songs in one way or another.

If she was to follow the same strategy (which is the best thing to do for bests), some obious choises for songs are dearest, evolution, voyage, either Endless Sorrow or A song is born, RAINBOW, ourselves and no way to say. But after those songs were released she hasen't had any standout songs, not sales-wise nor fan-wise (perhaps except for STEP you? and moments). Voyage was her last smash hit sales wise.

For a best album it's important to pick the right tracks, but it seems to me that allthough all her songs hit number one, it's hard to pick out songs likely to end up on a best II out of the songs from her three last albums. It's clear that she has to pick the songs in a different way than what was done for A BEST.

Which songs other than those mentioned do you think is likely to end up on a "second best"?

I'm almost sure most songs will be her singles.

Yes, no doubt about it, but which singles should she pick? The ones she persormed at kouhaku? They've all been selling quite evenly.

If fairyland makes the cut I'll cry...let's just go ahead and let her do an A ROCK...lol

U think alterna could be there, as it was a fan favorite, HEAVEN too because of the movie tie in, HANABI -Episode II-, etc.

I think she should also have a second A Ballads for songs like Heaven and Voyage.
But I'm sure her best hit singles would go if an A Best II were to be released.

It would probably be a 2-CD.

^ 2 disk with a DVD and extras.

A Song for XX would definately be on there.

Now that would be nice.

he asked for what would be on the next best haha...

A BEST II

Disk 1

Born To Be...
A Song for XX
evolution
UNITE!
NEVER EVER
Free & Easy
Dearest
independent
HANABI
Voyage
HANABI ~ep. II~
Because of you
Greatful days
forgiveness

Disk 2

ourselves
No way to say
Moments
INSPIRE
About you
CAROLS
walking proud
my name's WOMEN
STEP you
alterna
Ladie's Night
HEAVEN
Now & Forever
Startin'
rainy day or Who...

Disk 3 DVD

NEVER EVER [full version]
ANGEL'S SONG
Because of you
No way to say
Moments
INSPIRE
GAME
About you
my name's WOMEN
walking proud
STEP you
is this LOVE?
fairyland
alterna
Ladie's Night
rainy day
Born To Be...
Startin'
Now & Forever
GRAVITY
[new PV]

first press - DVD - A History, special mix video - comes housed in a carboard sleeve with 4 different inner jewel case. bonus photo book.

she really should do this when she decides to retire so she can leave us with a BANG! and a farewell concert tour!

I dun think she will put Because of You or ANGEL'S SONG in either cd or dvd. I know she put Who... in A BEST when it was not a single material... but Who was special for her... I dun see how special BoY and A'sG are... they ain't special enough to be on A BEST 2.

Edit... I just see my album materials on your list... @@... Probly they're your choices for A BEST 2?? :D LOL. Why not Endless sorrow tho? You dun like that song?

replace is gonna definately be in it, since Who was in the previous. or maybe winding road, but replace is more probable.

ayumi hamasaki - complete singles collection

CD1
01 Poker Face (new version)
02 YOU (new version)
03 Trust (new version)
04 Depend on you (new version)
05 For my dear... (new version)
06 WHATEVER (remix)
07 LOVE ~Destiny~
08 TO BE (new version)
09 Boys & Girls
10 monochrome
11 too late
12 Trauma
13 End roll (new version)
14 appears
15 Fly high (remix)
16 kanariya (remix)

CD2
01 vogue
02 Far away
03 SEASONS
04 SURREAL
05 AUDIENCE (remix)
06 M (new version)
07 evolution
08 NEVER EVER (remix)
09 Endless sorrow
10 UNITE! (remix)
11 Dearest
12 Daybreak (remix)
13 Free & Easy
14 independent (new version)
15 July 1st (remix)
16 HANABI
17 Voyage

CD3
01 ourselves
02 Greatful days (remix)
03 HANABI ~episode II~ (new version)
04 forgiveness (new version)
05 No way to say
07 Moments
06 INSPIRE (remix)
07 CAROLS
08 STEP you
09 is this LOVE?
10 fairyland
11 HEAVEN
12 Bold & Delicious (remix)
13 Pride
14 Startin'
15 Born To Be...
16 new single
17 new single

ahh I dun like the complete single collection title :P. A BEST 2 doesn't really mean a retirement... but COMPLETE single collection somehow implies that... LOL. I love the 3CD BEST tho haha.

They could just chuck every single after A BEST into the next "best" album though. I think it'd make perfect sense.

I like this idea, but I have a few edit ideas...

-it'll be one or two more DVDs, kinda making it like COMPLETE CLIP BOX. You have two options of playing, chronological or genre-wise.

-she'd rid Who... and A Song for XX, and replace it with... Replace and (miss)understood. Also, she'd probably include two more CDs, one of her smash compositions that didn't reach the BEST list (Heartplace, Still Alone, Naturally); the other double-sided CD, consisting of all her album song's instrumentals.

- she'd create some kind of PV for the single "}{", since it's all CREA. and Will.

- The first press will be slightly different...

1) Special full-size (computer paper sized) photobook, with a special message signed by Ayu. It's composed of the history of her career, with special never before seen photos rejected from old booklets.

2) Special double-sided DVD, with one side composing of all her CMs (both Avex and endorsers), the other her BEST concert performance from each concert, with a special medley video at the end.

3) Same cardboard box, but it includes one of six (like the old A BEST), with a limit of 300,000 to each inner cover. It also comeswith a detachable tracklist poster.

4) Photocards of her favorite PVs, and why they're her favorite.

5) Finally... the never-before-heard first recording of "Poker Face", in its own 5 cm jewel and mini CD.

^ yeah! her A BEST 2 should really make it big!!

1) I am...
2) Dearest
3) Real me
4) Voyage
5) Because of you
6) ourselves
7) No way to say
8) Memorial address
9) About You
10) GAME
11) my name's WOMEN
12) walking proud
13) CAROLS
14) Bold & Delicious
15) STEP you
15) alterna
16) HEAVEN
17) Pride
18) fairyland
19) Startin'
20) Born To Be...

but your tracklist is quite small... :lech

Well, w/e is going to be on it, its gonna be good :)

there are so many songs to choose!... I wonder how she's going to do it o__O

I like winding road way better than REPLACE! REPLACE is no where as good as Who... even to compare the two! I love WHO...!

definitely not any songs that she released in A BALLADS...I don't think Avex would let her do that. Generally, however, the likelihood of A BEST II right now is really really slim.

I'll make my list of what IIIIIII think ;)

Not in order, and no, these are NOT my favorite songs. I'm using popularity.
I am..
M
UNITE!
Who...
evolution
Voyage
Free & easy
HANABI (maybe, it was already on A BALLADS)
because of you
ourselves
forgiveness
about you
GAME
MNW
INSPIRE
CAROLS
wp
moments
STEP you
alterna
criminal
fairyland


Iunno\
greggerz, i agree.
It's been 5 years.
I don't think she'll be releasing one...
especially another A BEST. :no

A BEST II?

interesting,

Bold & Delicious must be there!

A BEST II

01. Bold & Delicious :innocent
02. NEVER EVER
03. Endless sorrow "Original Mix"
04. Free & Easy
05. July 1st
06. Voyage
07. ourselves
08. No way to say
09. Moments
10. INSPIRE
11. CAROLS
12. STEP you
13. fairyland
14. HEAVEN
15. Born To Be...
16. Now & Forever
17. Replace

i think it should be in a CD-only format, it's more...elegant IMO
that's what i call I-DE-AL!

A 3 disc set would be brilliant.

This is my version of A Best 2
Disc 1;
01. evolution
02. NEVER EVER
03. Endless Sorrow
04. UNITE!
05.Dearest
06.Free & Easy
07.July 1st
08.HANABI
09.voyage
10.RAINBOW
11.ourselves
12.forgiveness
13.No way to say
Disc 2
01.Moments
02.INSPIRE
03.CAROLS
04.walking proud
05.STEP you
06.is this LOVE?
07.fairyland
08.HEAVEN
09.Bold & Delicious
10.rainy day
11.Startin'
12.new song
13.new song

This is my version of A Best 2 ^+++^
disc 1
1.opening...
2.evolution
3.Endless sorrow"original mix"
4.Daybreak"Hal's 2002 mix"
5.independent"original mix"
6.ourselves
7.HANABI~episode II~
8.No way to say
9.INSPIRE
10.CAROLS
11.is this LOVE?
12.alterna
13.Will
14.Pride
15.Born To Be...

disc 2
1.Never ever
2.UNITE!
3.Free&easy
4.July 1st
5.Greatful days
6.forgiveness
7.Moments
8.GAME
9.STEP you
10.fairyland
11.HEAVEN
12.Bold&Delicious
13.startin'
14.A song is Born with KEIKO
15.ending...

Well, if you mean a BEST album that doesn't end her career, then mostly her number one singles.

I'd rather a single collection if the BEST album DOES end her career, though.

me too.

I think all the A-Sides from evolution to Startin' or something like it... the Double A-Sides will require a Double CD + DVD album, for sure /o/
And maybe some "Album Promo" tracks, like (miss)understood, Humming 7/4 and rainy day. And a DVD with all the PVs. That'll be great!

And let's do a ''post your "fake-fun-terrible" soundtrack for A BEST II''? I love these games. xD

I like this tracklisting a lot, but I doubt Ayu will include all the songs from H and & on there, or ANGEL'S SONG or Because of You. And I certainly hope she doesn't include album PVs on there. It decreases the value of the CD+DVD versions, I think.

I'd like new songs and PVs on it, and nice extras as well.

Most likely she will release A BEST II for her 50th single or 10th anniversary.

I wonder, if she did release an A BEST II, if she would remaster some tracks like she did with A BEST (i.e. A Song for XX, Trust, & Depend on you had new voals and instrumental variations in A BEST) It'd be cool to hear some different versions of original mixes. :)

it seems it's been unofficially established the name of the album will be A BEST II, hehe.

Everysingle song off of a single(a sides) after M

1.Evolution ~Hard Rock Mix~
2.NEVER EVER ~NEVER ROCK MIX~
3.Endless sorrow
4.UNITE! ~unit fusion~
5.Dearest *new arrangement*
6.Daybreak
7.Free & Easy
8.Independen
9.July 1st
10.HANABI *new arrangement*
11.Voyage
12.ourselves
13.Greatful days
14.HANABI ~episode II~REVISED
15.forgiveness

1.No way to say
2.Moments
3.INSPIRE~delightful rock~
4.GAME
5.CAROLS
6.STEP you
7.is this LOVE?
8.fairyland~short instrumental~
9.alterna
10.HEAVEN *new arrangement*
11.Startin'
12.Born to be...
13.will
14.Bold & Delicious~solo version~
15.Pride~solo version~

Bonus
RAINBOW~Orchestra Version~

hope this best album will not be released

If bold & delicious or Pride is going to be on the next best, I think it would be weird, as it's one of her worst selling singles ever. I don't think either of the two songs qualifies as "fan favourites" either.

I don´t think that BEST means that all BEST songs are on it^^ Most Artist who Realese a Best album put all Singles since the last one on it...(Koda Kumi...Namie Amuro...Eminem)Or they Realese one with all Singles since the Start to end or their career or make a brek in it (No Doubt...)
So I think it will be most likely that all Singles since M are on it^^

for most people it doesn't but since ayu releases so many singles and some have more than one main song, the only way for her to release a BESt album with all singles on it would be a 2 disc set, and that's not common for her, but it'd definitely be a good move, just not now, maybe in 2007-2008.

I agree with whoeversaid teh BESt album should be released on her 10th anniversary, that would give room for her to have ALL of her singles on it, which would make it a damn big bundle, and an ever bigger one if they release it as a CD+DVD. :luv2 :luv2 :luv2 :luv2 :luv2

^ agree!! we will then have a 2 CD set + a DVD! to celebrate her 10th anniversary.. and not mark the end of her career.. :( :no

^I think so too^_^

And I think she would have the songs most have written, and many new versions and remixes^^ No trance or Eurobeat remixes, more like the alterna remix on (miss)understood... And new vocals to her old songs..

A BEST XX

1. M (new vocals)
2. evolution (new mix)
3. never ever
4. endless sorrow
5. UNITE! (new vocals)
6. Daybreak
7. Free & Easy
8. Voyage
9. Forgiveness (new vocals)
10. No Way To Say
11. INSPIRE
12. Carols
13. Step YOU
14. Heaven
15. Bold & Delicious
16. Alterna
17. Startin'
18. Born To Be.. (new mix)
19. *new song*
20. Fairyland (new vocals)

Bonus tracks:
"H" Megamix
"&" Megamix
"RAINBOW" new mix

DVD side:
1. "&" Megamix
2. "Moments" Live Acoustic
3. "Is This Love?" Live Acoustic
4. "RAINBOW" new mix (Alternative video)
5. Hanabi & Episode II Mix
6. Born To Be.. (Alternative Mix)
7. INSPIRE (Alternative Mix)
8. Alterna (Alternative Mix)
9. Evolution (Alternative Mix)
10. M (Alternative Mix)
11. *new song* PV
12. *new song* making of

There's mine, I choosed mainly number one singles etc. The alternative mix videos on the DVD are videos that have been reedited using different scenes and camera angles etc.

heres mine:

A BEST II comes in 2 version, 2CD-only; and the First Press 2CD+DVD (Limited to 500,000 copies) Version. CD-only has 4 covers: "Spring Ayu", "Summer Ayu", "Fall Ayu", "Winter Ayu". The Limited CD+DVD has only 1 cover: "Ultimate Ayu".

Tracklists
Disc 1
01 I am... (completely re-written, new)
02 evolution
03 NEVER EVER
04 Endless sorrow
05 UNITE!
06 Dearest
07 Free & Easy
08 July 1st
09 HANABI
10 Voyage

Disc 2
11 Memorial address (completely re-written, new)
12 ourselves
13 No Way to Say
14 Moments
15 INSPIRE
16 STEP you
17 alterna
18 Will
19 Born to Be...
20 Real Me (completely re-written, new)

First Press +DVD (limited to 500,000)
00 Opening Clip
01 poker face (LIVE Footage of 1st TV Performance on HEY! HEY! HEY! April 21st, 1998)
02 Boys & Girls (LIVE Footage of 1999 1st Kouhaku Peformace)
03 SEASONS (LIVE at Concert Tour 2000 Vol. 2)
04 evolution (LIVE at DOME TOUR 2001)
05 M (LIVE at A MUSUEM 2003)
06 Dearest (2001 Japan Grand Prix Awards LIVE Footage)
07 Voyage (2002 Japan Grand Prix Awards LIVE Footage)
08 No Way to Say (2003 Japan Grand Prix Awards LIVE Footage)
09 A Song for XX (PV)
10 July 1st (PV)
11 HANABI (PV)
12 UNITE! (PV)
13 NEVER EVER (PV)
14 Will (PV)
15 Memorial address (PV)
16 I am... (PV)
17 Real Me (PV)
18 making of PVs Part I (DVD tracks 09-11)
19 making of PVs Part II (DVD tracks 12-14)
20 making of PVs Part III (DVD tracks 15-18)
21 making of A BEST
22 making of A BEST II
23 1 on 1 with Ayumi Hamasaki Interview
24 Other artists thoughts on Ayumi Hamasaki
25 Funny Moments with Ayumi Hamasaki

First Press comes with 100page special photobook, poster of all material ever released, special ayu message written in book and access to special site to listen to an ayu song thats never been released.

A BEST Vol.II:

01. evolution ~REfreshER Mix 2006~
02. July 1st -TaiON Mix-
03. Connected
04. Endless Sorrow
05. Startin' -The Good Mix-
06. RAINBOW -unplugged-
07. theme of a-nation '03
08. my name's WOMEN
09. Liar
10. winding road -Acoustic Orchestra Version-
11. alterna
12. STEP you -DJ Taka Remix-
13. Bold & Delicious -CAKE's Mix 2006-
14. Memorial address ~take 3 ver.~ (AT2003-2004)
15. Now & Forever
16. Heartplace

That I would buy.

We can dream, BanFan.. we can dream.

In the style of most Avex BESTs.. I can expect a LOT of stuff xD But nothing like remixes... unless they suddenly get back into those.. [Mmm Startin' remixes on the next single?! :O]