I'm praying version A and B will have different songs... After 2 years and 2 months of waiting and she pulled out a mini album, this can't be true...

2年2ヶ月ぶりとなるファン待望のNEW ALBUM! 2016年に配信限定でリリースした「We are the QUEENS」、2017年ツアー来場者限定無料ダウンロード楽曲として話題となった「WORDS」の初C D化に加え、渾身の新曲も収録。ジャケ写違いの2形態でリリース。

Seems like the two old songs are included after all. Source unconfirmed though

This is SAVAGE!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

TROUBLE is what its going to be for my wallet :P

I'd be happy if it would be like sixxxxxx, that was actually a good mini album, and Summer Diary to me is her best song in recent years. But if it includes WATQ and WORDS, it doesn't sound so promising... Oh well, it's new Ayu anyways!

woman may scam us LOL! she only made 3 new songs T.T
so why didn't they announce that these were gonna be in the 'ALBUM' then? i guess probably it would kill the hype lol

This is some troll level: expert BULLSHIT

I refuse to believe she would release a 5 songs CD that includes WATQ, and tease it for weeks with a NewAlbum hashtag. Nobody is that cruel.

I was happy at first
I'm now feeling disappointed
-5 songs is so meh... after 2 years
-5 songs (if) featured WORD and WATQ will be disaster on my feeling to that ayumi hamasaki
-JTB chapter 2 ... alterna won whole things she did on chapter1 which on-aired and it was disappointing concert for me

Reading the album title and then the thread comments...

Ayu-chan did it again
https://i.imgur.com/V1pWDBP.jpg

Yo if this isn’t settling I don’t know what is.

#bitter
#stillbuyingit
#whatdoesthatsayaboutme

Same here <.<
Even ordered the Box Bundle ><

We are the Queens is definitely on it. I mean, they have a clip of it on the official album page afterall.

I got so excited when I saw the news of a new album. But from what I'm reading of the Japanese, it's a mini for sure. I like the title and I'm happy that we are getting at least 2 of the concerts. But yeah....very disappointing that this is being promoted as a new album.

Still something about this is very odd. Why not release all 3 concert chapters together? Why is there another fall tour when we still have the 2019 Saitama dates (I think those were legit)? Even if this is a mini, it seems to me like there will be another release soonish.

From CDJAPAN:

Ayumi Hamasaki brings an album. Includes "We are the QUEENS" and "WORDS." *This is a "Sumapura Music" compatible product, which enables you to listen to and view the contents on a mobile device in addition to CD players.


So...

.... we knew it!!!! Ohmygod

#webeenknew

There are no WORDS for how pissed off I am right now

^ it took my last ounce of energy to execute that pun

I am pretty certain that either all of this is a bad joke or that Saitama date was an error (which is more plausable, considering the pics of the tour trucks which have Osaka Jo as the last date).

This is all such a mess...

I'm feeling so Alice right now :(

I really don't know what to say or expect anymore. I'm going to the market to sell my organs, BRB.

Haha we are not expected more but did not expected less like what we have got ....mommy, i can't stop crying

Why bother releasing anything new, might as well just carry on touring with her back catalogue lool

I mean, positive note is that we at least are getting SOMETHING. She is also doing promo for the first time in ages. We are getting two official concert releases, A-Nation, and two other concerts aired on television. She also still has the Chapter 2 concert AND the CDL from 16/17 yet to be released, so she definitely has the material to drop another release later this year.

I’m so torn... at first I was so excited, but now I can’t help but feel disappointed... a mini-album with only three new songs on it?! No PVs?! After all this time?! I feel like she’s definitely more interested in touring right now rather than making new music… I can’t help but see it as a semi-retirement of sorts.

If there are no PV's it's just another indicator that she feels like time is running away and thus she's focusing on touring as much as possible before she goes deaf. Hope the tour will be more interesting then 2017 one though (it was nice, solid but we don't need it again).

I can understand that people might be displeased but as a fellow Ayu but also Cher fan (let's better not talk about her release schedule) I am very excited for new songs and I personally am happy that WORDS and We are the QUEENS will be on the album because I really love both.

Only thing that disappoints me is the fact that it seems as if there a no new PV's for this album... I always prefer her lives but I really like her PV's too and it kinda bums me that there (at least it seems so) won't be any.

Random: she should release it a week later on my birthday xD
Well, it most likely will not end up being #1 if we look at the artists that will release something that day. Not that it matters but they could get her another #1 if they wanted to... But at this point it would just look nice and not mean too much (she's never been out of TOP5 anyway).

Okay, my post is way too long already.

I think we'll get at least one pv on YouTube, despite no dvd version for music videos

I’ll pretend it’s a single. -_-

If 2 out of 5 songs are already known : WORDS + WATQ
One will be the demo from spotify
The other one will be the one she sang today at the concert
And the third one? She said that she was recording a feminist song or something, but also we had this video of her singing with Timmy (and it wasnt in the song at the concert today)

So I def think there is more material coming, she said she was recording in the studio a lot, I cant be for 3 songs only. There is probably another mini to be released later. What a great way to milk fans :tired

This is totally possible and explains in a way why Chapter 2 isn't going to be released yet. Same with the other concerts.

How about the Team Ayu Tour 2016? Is she gonna release it?
Its not over yet people. more is coming!

It's going to be aired in WOWOW.

The only tour we haven't footage is JTB Chapter 2.

TA16 --> WOWOW
POWER OF MUSIC 2018 ---> WOWOW
JTB Chapter 1 ---> WOWOW & DVD
JTB Chapter 3 ---> DVD
CDL16-17 ---> WOWOW

TA16 is going to be aired on WOWOW???
When?

At the same time when Memorial adresse came out they were only 3 new songs so this mini album seems legit ... WATQ and words were destined to be featured on something ...
My feelings are mixed because she definitely has the time to make a full album and from what I heard of the demos they sound like rejected songs from past album ... not that I think they sound bad but they didn’t bring anything to her discography ...
I will be waiting for proper informations with the final tracklist but at the moment this lowered my excitation lol
Hope for at least a new version of We are the Queens but I doubt it happening

Ugh, this is so disappointing. I usually love mini-albums but I was expecting more than three new songs after TWO YEARS. Also, why include We are the QUEENS? :dead2 It's such a corny song and I wish it would remain as a digital single...

I can't say I'm not excited to see the covers and to listen to the new songs, but I don't feel all that magic around a new release... It's just frustrating.

LMAO I'm screaming

She released another demo on AWA (it's not the same one as what we got on spotify). Idk if that's the same one she sang at the concert. Also whatever she sang with Timmy is just background vocals, so it could appear anywhere I think haha I'll have to listen to it again and see if if would fit in any of the songs tho

September 21
http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124160

POM 2018 September 23
http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124159

So, after 2 years and 2 ok songs, she just gives us 3 new songs and, once again, pays alterna dust...

https://media.giphy.com/media/l41Yfy...M55m/giphy.gif

Ayu's fanbase is priceless :laugh

What a troll she is, Ayu really TROUBLEd us this time :laugh

I am guessing this will most likely end like LOVE again. It’s either that or the woman has gone completely insane. I just can’t see anyone thinking this was a good idea. What baffles me even more is why would someone do a 38 date tour to promote 3 new songs...It’s not like she is at her peak and everyone wants to go see her.

NOT 5 SONGS LMAO GOODBYE!!!!

WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATIONS WENT DOWN IN THIS DAMN MEETING LOL WHO OKAY'D THIS? MAX MATSUURA WTF ARE YOU DOING?! GATHER YOUR GIRL!

Yeah, I'm sensing Love Again pt. 2.

The tour is 38 dates, but very small venues. I've been to Nakano Sun Plaza many times before and it's maybe 2,000?

I do wish it had said “mini-album” rightaway (‘cause I got my hopes up too high) but at this point I’m just happy we’re getting new songs. Luckily we don’t have to wait that long either.

^^If it will be LOVE again 2.0 it is just proof that Ayu and her team are totally out of touch with fans etc..

I will buy it at book-off in three years so I don't care - happy for three new songs tho!

What is the point of doing 2 versions of CD only if it is the same songs? If in 2 years she only had the desire to write 3 songs... she is truly lacking inspiration.

Also what kind of marketing is this? I'm a not a pro at marketing, but I think the joke would have tasted better if they decided to include those 5 songs as extra on a long due A best 3. The timing is good and the opportunity was there, it would have both fits with the 20 years and just the beginning tour... and it could have justified the price of the bundle because 20,000 yens for 5 songs mini that is ridiculous.

Maybe version A contains upbeat songs and version B ballad songs ? I try to be optimistic XD there is definitely something behind it why 2 versions otherwise ?

They explicitly state in the description of the mini on the official site, that the two versions differ in their cover pics shot by Shimomura.
Guess if there were other differences, they'd name those as well.

The focus of the release clearly lies with the two concerts coming with it.
They have two different concerts they wanna sell, so they have two different versions.
It is strange nevertheless.

It just occurred to me what if We are the QUEENS is actually that new girl power song she said she recorded, but a new mix? I hope that's not the case.

oh yeah Tell All (2015 Mix) was a thing so maybe WORDS and We are the QUEENS can have the same treatment. I hope!

Damn I need more information
How to decide what to buy?

20k Yen is not just only for 5 Songs, it also contains 2 concerts and some goods.

Thanks ... that’s sad ahah !

I don’t think I’ll be buying this right away as I have a feeling this is a ruse and that they are pulling a new Love again. From a promotion perspective that’s oke. I guess they wanted to package the concerts somehow. Hopefully this is just an intro to something bigger.

True, I was thinking the same about the touring.

I was hoping for a JTB boxset of all the concerts so it's a shame they're releasing them via Mu-mo only (and parts 1 and 3 separately) as this feels like (to me) they're cutting out a section of overseas fans. I order from YesAsia to avoid customs charges because as much as I will pay whatever the cost is for a CD or Blu-ray etc I resent paying an extra £15+ on top of this. Am I correct in thinking that you also have to have a Japanese address to use Mu-mo and get Tenso to ship it to you or something? Or do I have my wires crossed? It all sounds rather expensive. I wish the limited edition would be sold via all retailers e.g. Amazon HMV, CDJ, YA.

I know this all sounds a bit negative and I don't mean it to be. I was just ready to get the wallet out for some 20th anniversary releases.

So they're basically selling concerts that come with a bonus CD :dead2

Or maybe her Japanese fans didn't mind it as much as AHS did. AHS isn't the majority of her fanbase after all

Tenso is quite affordable, I'd say, especially now that they don't only offer EMS, but also have cheaper shipping options. Also you can change the value of your package on tenso, so you can avoid having to pay customs this way too

WORDSSSSS would have fit as an album title

Interesting, thanks for letting me know! The fact that you can change the value of your package is good to know as are the cheaper shipping options. (I don't pay any shipping with YA).

That is a good way of thinking about it!

Listening to WATQ right now and I could definitely do with a better quality version of it so glad it is included on Trouble. Not sure if it's my earphones but it sounds a little crackly(?) if I have the volume up loud on the chorus.

New music! Can’t wait to see the covers!

I wouldn’t count on a better quality version even if it was included. I feel that same kind of feeling with Return Road in the chorus. Also, her albums have been having mastering problems for a while (A Classical, etc.)

I'm truly disappointed already because with all of the tweets and posts and teasing about two years of inspiration coming together, it seemed like it would be more. Maybe at some point it was, who knows.

But I'm really not a fan of mini albums as they rarely have more fleshed out concepts. I could say a lot about her mini albums but that's tiring. I don't get why they keep releasing them though.

And what's worse is that there are only 3 new songs. I would have preferred a Zutto... style single with three new tracks that work well together than whatever this is about to be.

I may be biased because WATQ is like bottom 5 in her disco for me lol.

If they are going to do promotional effort this time around, just invest the resources into an album.

I really feel like ayu is detached sometimes as much as I love her and I find avex to just be so unhelpful (not even just with ayu) and I truly don't understand their management.

But hopefully the three new songs are good. At this point that's what I have to look forward to. I thought the title was interesting too.

wow the announcements I saw today have been an Emotional rollercoaster. I'm still in denial right now so I'm still hoping she'll pull a Secret and announce that she has recorded 10 new songs and release them as a full album. also, what's happening with Chapter 2 of Just the beginning? Jesus I'm so confused

That'd be great because all this trainwreck of announcements has been very disappointing.

lol there's no way she spent all that time in the studio to record 3 songs

^And had all those meetings!

This one's just embarrassingly bad. :no

Yeah I'm in the same boat. I would happily pay large sums of money to get that Made in Japan TA box set now. Instead, I'll settle for these releases because I want the concerts, though I'm surprised this means Countdown 2016/17 is not being released.

Like some others have said I also think another release will come.

I just wish JTB would have been released as a complete box set and then TROUBLE be a full length album separate release. This planning is so messy. They made a big deal in the email pointing out that it's the first release in 2 years, and because of the tour announcement you would think it was going to be a proper album....then you go to the website and it says it's 5 songs. Such a bummer.

It's so bizarre to build a new tour around 5 songs :o

Yeah, it seems like something else is probably coming. Also odd is the way they have two CD only versions that only differ in the jacket photo.

This is such a mess... What were they thinking? Even if there is more to come I can't help thinking it's an embarrassing strategy.

OR
They thought no one would really be interested in the JTB concert collection, so they figured adding it as an incentive for a new mini-album would help boost sales. Probably expecting a few fans to spend their money buying both.

I'm not convinced they'll revisit much of the JTB tour after this; chapter 2 wasn't entirely different to chapter 3, and considering the Made in Tokyo countdown was only released as part of the MiJ box for TA, I can't imagine them having any interest in releasing the JTB Countdown show.

At this point, let's just hope there is actually a song called TROUBLE and it's edgy af

I’m happy we have new songs yet they could have at least try to put also 3 to 5
"20th Anniversary ver." of old songs to make it looks more like an album lol...

On the Tower Record website it's also written that it included We Are the Queens and Words.... I want to believe that those are not included in the "5 new songs"... yet it's written that it's a 5 tracks album so... :irked

I think this is the song she sang at the finale, lyrics done by ear by a fan.

ayu, you can put WORDS and We are the QUEENS for all I care, but please give 6 new songs. 3 different songs on each album. I will be totally fine. 6 new tracks is standard enough like Colours, (miss)understood

I think we'll have the full cover in a few hours, she's been uploading pics to her IG and it looks like one of those 6-piece big photos.

Is that picture of her laughing in her profile pic one of the covers? It looks similar to the two zoomed in shots she posted. If so, she’s basically laughing at how much trouble she’s already caused with this release. Lmao.

^ I think the one in her profile might be for the booklet, doesn't make much sense spoil the cover right ahead, but... it's Ayu. :rolleyes

Maybe the one we already have is version A and the next photo will be version B. I have no idea anymore. I don't know what Ayu and avex are doing anymore.:laugh

Should've just released a 3 A-side single like Zutto/Last minute/Walk with the DVD/Blu-ray bonus as JTB Chapter 1 or Chapter 3

I don’t agree with how this is being handled—but, I suppose that’s how I’ve felt for the past few releases so...

Was this not posted yet? One of the album covers:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DitwrfOUYAA5BTv.jpg

That looks like the one we are waiting for.:yes

This release is so weird, I can see her releasing another mini called DOUBLE, and then a full album DOUBLE TROUBLE like other fans on this forum, lol.

I like that cover. Is she covering the ear that's deaf?

Looks like a 90s cover, pretty iconic looking.

love the cover from what we can see!

So boring. I guess that photoshoot with simokun is for this album. I expect a side boobs view in the booklet.
Wonder if the overseas version also have a package like the Japanese one... it could be cheaper.

Ooh, yeah that's the full pic of what she's been teasing on Instagram with the hair and the hand! It's giving me A Song is Born vibes.

I think what she's doing is that thing where people post parts of the picture so when it's all uploaded, it will look like a full picture on her profile page.

Ok, I'm really digging what I can see so far. I need the full thing NOW!

I really don't like how they're promoting this as an album still, lol.

I like the cover. I hate the way this release is unfolding.

Let's not try to understand avex ways of marketing. We don't want that kind of headache.

Use Tenso if you don't have a Japanese shipping address. I've used them for years to have stuff shipped from Amazon Japan and Mu-Mo. Their shipping rates have got very expensive in the last few years but they're very reliable.

Personally I wish she would have done this release as A Best 3, but similar to the A Best 2 with 2 versions, one for Upbeat summer stuff and one with the dark stuff and include the concerts, one on each release. I'd add chapter 2 in there with the third chapter either on the release of Trouble or include the songs from trouble on the A Best discs and make bundle 3 a behind the scenes documentary plus chapter 3, that way you'd get all 3 chapters plus extras, enough to justify buying 3 things like she did on A Best 2. Having to buy two versions of the same CD (which is already sounding like a disappointment, though I may end up liking the new ones. Words was ok but I really don't like WATQ) is redundant and unsavory. I prefer to think of it as someone here has already said, like buying the two lives and they come with a bonus cd. It makes it slightly more palatable...

Damn! The new performed song is gorgeous!

The cover has some ayu-mi-x first album mix with ayu-mi-x 5 vibes. A bit techno vibes.

It also tells a story with her expression. The title under her eyes her hands on her deaf ear = a message to us. Her eyes got trouble lately? I hope not..

^The "trouble" is placed where her tear in A Best cover was, maybe is more like a symbolism?

So I am excited for at least getting new songs but disappointed they are calling this an album. I like the title and I listened to the full version of one of the new songs recorded by a fan and I can't see myself loving it now, nothing is standing out to me about her vocals but things will obviously be better in the studio version so I'll make a full judgment then. I really hope those other 2 new songs are mind blowing.

I hope those who are saying we will get more content soon after this "album" are right. But I mean she could have been recording so much because she was trying to perfect her vocals for these couple of new songs. I think she had mentioned while recording previous albums it sometimes can take a lot of tries before she gets it right, and I imagine things are even more difficult for her now with even more hearing loss.

Oh and from what I can see of the cover I like it! Very simple and not over the top, looking forward to seeing it in higher quality and other images from the shoot.

it could be since this is her 20th anniversary. She might use A BEST symbolism for this album.

why 5 songs? Maybe each song represent each year after 15th anniversary. Well we will see when all official information out. Well, it is less than a month..

:)

I would love if she pulled off a Five and at last did a PV for each song, she doesn't even need to appear in all of them, but a nice video with story to join each song would be amazing.