-PV for You were... [or BALLAD?] was filmed on November 6th in Japan, and has Ayu's hair, face, body, and legs covered in jewels. Very sparkly according to her.
-Covers are slightly different from what has been done before, but they really fit the songs
-October 26th, October 30th, and November 4th are when she last mentioned going into the recording studio. Possibly for BALLAD and RED LINE? Or different songs?
-November 18th, the date was moved to December 29th, the covers were released and tie-ins were announced via news articles.
-Chaku-uta for You were... are to start distribution on November 25th according to a barks.jp article
-Chaku-uta for BALLAD are to start distribution on December 3rd [or the 2nd?]
-BALLAD sounds somewhat like GREEN according to those who have heard it [Level up! of GREEN]
-December 3rd, You were... PV was aired on SSTV, directed by Masashi Muto [is this LOVE?, Ladies Night, Depend on you]
-December 8th, preview of BALLAD PV was shown on Mezamashi TV.
★ 浜崎あゆみさんの新曲「バラッド」のプロモーションビデオが届いた。事故にあった恋人を思うドラマ仕立ての 切ないプロモだが、撮影現場では、男性キャストの演技に厳しく目を光らせる場面も。実は浜崎さん自ら演技や カット割まで監修していた。ラストシーンでは気持ちが入り本当に涙を流す場面も。浜崎さん渾身のプロモは、 演技にも注目してお楽しみくださ
From excite:
- The promotional film of Mr. Hamasaki progress's new song "Ballad" reached. The scene where eyes are made to shine severely to acting of man Cast also : in the movie set though it is painful [puromo] of the drama tailoring to think of the lover who exists in the accident. It actually supervised to a Mr./Ms. Hamasaki acting and own crack of cutting. Feelings enter in the last scene and the scene that really throws tears also. [Puromo] of the Mr./Ms. Hamasaki whole body pays attention to acting and is enjoyment [kudasa].
-BALLAD's PV apparently mixes animation with live action scenes and has Shu-ya in it.
-BALLAD's PV was leaked in full on December 10th/11th.
「You were...」
Composer：Kazuhiro Hara
Arranger：HΛL
「BALLAD」
Composer：D･A･I
Arranger：Yuta Nakano
You were...
Surechigau koibito tachi ga kata o yoseai aruite ku
Tsumetasa ga mi ni shimiru no wa kimi ga inai kara
Kisetsu sae wasureru kurai hoka ni nani mo ira nai kurai
Sou muchuu de kagayaita no wa koi o shite ita kara
* Kimi ga saigo no hito da to omotta
Kimi to saigo no koi o shi takatta
Konna hiroi yozora no shita hitori
Ittai nani o omoe ba ii no
Ima dare no tonari de egao misete iru no ka da nante
Nee dore hodo no jikan ga tatta ra kurushimi wa owaru no kana
** Itsuka hanashite ta yume no tsuzuki mo
Itsumo itte ita ano kuchiguse mo
Subete wasure rare tara raku da ne
Dakedo hitotsu mo wasure taku nai
Seijaku ni tsutsumare ta shunkan ni osotte kuru
Yasashiku te atataka sugiru omoide ga
* (repeat)
** (repeat)
Dakedo hitotsu mo wasure taku nai
--------------------------------------------------
The lovers I pass are walking shoulder to shoulder
I feel it's biting cold, because you are not here
I was shining, because I was in love
I was so carried away that I even forgot the seasons and needed nothing else but you
* I thought you were my last person
I wanted my love for you to be my last one
What on earth should I think of
All alone under such a vast night sky ?
I'm thinking again by whose side you are smiling now
I wonder how much time will pass until my suffering ends
** The thread of the dream you were talking about sometime
That line you always said
It's easier for me to forget them all, isn't it?
But I don’t want to forget a single one
The moment I'm surrounded by silence
I'm hit by the memories, too tender and warm
* (repeat)
** (repeat)
But I don’t want to forget a single one
--From masa
Japanese from TA
すれ違う恋人達が 肩を寄せ合い歩いてく
冷たさが身に染みるのは 君が居ないから
季節さえ忘れる位 他に何もいらない位
そう夢中で輝いたのは 恋をしていたから
君が最後のひとだと思った
君と最後の恋をしたかった
こんな広い夜空の下ひとり
一体何を想えばいいの…。
Romaji by Deli
surechigau koibito tachi ga kata yoseai aruiteku
tsumetasa ga mi ni shimiru no wa kimi ga inai kara
kisetsu sae wasureru kurai hoka ni nani mo iranai kurai
sou muchuu de kagayaita no wa koi wo shiteita kara
kimi ga saigo no hito da to omotta
kimi to saigo no koi wo shitakatta
konna hiroi yozora no shita hitori
ittai nani wo omoebaii no...
Translation from Keiichi_JPU
The lovers passing by one another, walking while letting their shoulders draw closer.
The cold is piercing me, because you are not here.
If even the seasons are forgotten, then there is nothing left anywhere.
I was in trance and shining bright, because I loved you.
I thought you were the last person.
With you I was in love for the last time.
Under this vast night sky, alone..
It is fine if I think about anything.. right?
Translation from Deli
The lovers pass by each other and bump shoulders as they walk
The cold is so piercing because you're not here
If it gets to the point that the season can be forgotten, then that's the point where there's nothing left
That which shined so bright in my dreams was the act of loving you, so
I thought you were the last person
I wanted my last love to be with you
Alone under such a vast night sky
What in the world am I supposed to think...?
BALLAD
Yume no tochuu de mezameta
Matsuge ga nurete ita
Oboete ta kotoba wa
Onegai ika nai de
Kesshite kawara nai no wa
Tsunotte iku kono omoi
Itsumo yuruga nai no wa
Uyamai shitau kimochi
* Kyou no yuuyakezora wa
Anata no you ni yasashiku te
Kondo wa yume ja nai to
Sakebi mashita ika nai de
Omoide wa kie nu tomo
Fue yuku koto mo naku
Yurusareru kotoba wa
Onegai soba ni ite
Kitto tsuyogari dake de wa
Mou koreijou mota nai
Osaekomareru dake de wa
Ai o naku se ya shi nai
** Koyoi no tsuki no akari wa
Anata no kureta michishirube
Too sugite sono se ga mou
Mie nai no soba ni ite
* (repeat)
** (repeat)
Ima dake wa nee yurushite
--------------------------------------------------
I woke up in the middle of a dream
My eyelashes were wet
The words I remembered are
"I beg you, please don't go"
This growing feeling for you
Never changes
My respect and adoration
Are always unshakable
* The red sky at sunset today
was tender like you
I shouted that it wasn't a dream this time
"Please don't go"
The memories don't disappear
But neither increase
The words I'm allowed to say are
"I beg you, please stay with me"
Maybe, I can no longer hold on
Just by pretending to be strong
My love can't be removed
Just by being held down
** The moonlight tonight
Is the guide you gave to me
Your back is too far and I can no more see it
"Please stay with me"
* (repeat)
** (repeat)
"I beg you, please, just for now"
--from masa
Japanese from TA
夢の途中で目覚めた 睫毛が濡れていた
覚えてた言葉は 『お願い行かないで』
決して変わらないのは 募ってゆくこの想い
いつも揺るがないのは 敬い慕う気持ち
今日の夕焼け空は あなたのように優しくて
今度は夢じゃないと叫びました 『行かないで』
Romaji from Deli
yume no tochuu de mezameta matsuge ga nureteita
oboeteta kotoba wa "onegai ikanai de"
kesshite kawaranai no wa tsunotte yuku kono omoi
itsumo yuruganai no wa uyamai shitau kimochi
kyou no yuuyake sora wa anata no you ni yasashikute
konda wa yume ja nai to sakebimashita "ikanai de"
Translation from Deli
I woke up in the middle of a dream, and my eyelashes were wet
I remembered the words, "please don't go"
What I can't erase or change is this feeling getting worse
What I can never shake is the feeling of yearning for your adoration
Today's sunset sky is as gentle as you
That time, it wasn't a dream, that cry of "don't go."
Translation from Maikaru
I woke up in the middle of a dream, eyelashes wet.
The words I remember are "Please, dont go."
The thing that never changes is the strengthening/worsening of these thoughts.
The thing that never wavers is these feelings of undying respect (have no idea to translate 敬い慕う in english, so I chose that one.)
Today's sunset sky is gentle like you,
It's not a dream now, I cried out. "Don't go."
Translation from Keiichi JPU
I woke up in the middle of a dream, my eyelashes were wet.
The words I remember were "Please, don't go"
The things that never change, they invite these thoughts to me..
The thing that never trembles, is this feeling that yearns for respect.
Today's sunset sky, it is just as tender as you are.
This time the words that are shouted aren't a dream: "Don't go!"
(A chorus from each song was posted on the main website on November 9th after appearing on her blog.)
http://i37.tinypic.com/vec3g9.png
