New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [VIII]

[truehappiness]

Reminder: Please try to be civil in this thread.

I am posting all relevant information in here! Hopefully it helps. If anything needs to be fixed or added, please post it here and I will add it ASAP!

**Originally the title of the album was reported as "Party queen" by Kome, but Ayu corrected Kome and said it was "Party Queen". It looks like he sent out the notice before Ayu made the correction.

フジテレビ系木曜よる10時ドラマ「最後から二番目の恋」主題歌として話題の「how beautiful you are」をはじめ、未発表書き下ろし新曲のみ全14曲を収録した超豪華フル・アルバム！全曲ロンドン ・レコ ーディングを敢行し、世界の音楽シーンの最前線で活躍するトップ・エンジニアやミュージシャン を多数起用し た、まさに世界標準のサウンドが詰め込まれた意欲作。
【CD+2DVD】【CD+DVD】【CD】の全3形態でのリリースで、【DVD-1】にはロンドンで撮り下ろされた3曲を含むミュージック・クリップ4曲とそれらのメイキング・ クリップの 未発表8トラックを豪華収録！さらに【DVD-2】には、2011年大晦日に開催されたばかりの最新ライヴ「ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 ～HOTEL Love songs～」を完全収録！！

Translation by Misa-chan:
Starting with the unveiling of Fuji TV’s Thursday 10pm drama 「Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi」’s theme song 「how beautiful you are」, a super grand full album of 14 brand new songs will be released! All songs were recorded in London, featuring top engineers and musicians at the helm of today’s musical scene, creating an ambitious album of world-class quality. 3 versions will be released:【CD+2DVD】【CD+DVD】【CD】【DVD-1】 will include the PVs for 4 songs, 3 of which were filmed in London, plus making-of clips to make up a total of 8 tracks!【DVD-2】 will be the complete live recording of countdown live concert held on New Year’s Eve in 2011, 「ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 ～HOTEL Love songs～」!!

Covers

Spoiler:

*shot by Ryan Chan, Leslie Kee's assistant

Textless covers

Spoiler:

HQ CD+2DVD cover

Spoiler:

Party Queen【CD+DVD+DVD】






Party Queen【CD+DVD】



Party Queen【CD only】



LIMITED BOX SET CD+4DVD


LIMITED BOX SET CD+2DVD+Blu-ray

Tracklist

Spoiler:

01.Party queen ※PEACH JOHN　ワークブラCMソング
02.NaNaNa
03.Shake It♥
04.taskebab
05.call
06.Letter
07.reminds me
08.Return Road
09.Tell me why
10.a cup of tea
11.the next LOVE
12.Eyes, Smoke, Magic
13.Serenade in A minor
14.how beautiful you are ※フジテレビ系木曜よる10時ドラマ「最後から二番目の恋」主題歌

01.Shake It♥ (video clip)
02.NaNaNa (video clip)
03.Return Road (video clip)
04.how beautiful you are (video clip)
05.Shake It♥ (making clip)
06.NaNaNa (making clip)
07.Return Road (making clip)
08.how beautiful you are (making clip)

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzU2ODU0Nzgw.html

**NOT IN ORDER, subject to change as additional PVs/songs may be added
・how beautiful you are
・Return Road
・Shake It♥
・NaNaNa
・Party queen
・Letter
・call
・reminds me
・the next LOVE
・Eyes, Smoke, Magic
・Tell me why
・taskebab
・a cup of tea
・Serenade in A minor

・how beautiful you are (video clip)
・Return Road (video clip)
・Shake It♥ (video clip)
・NaNaNa (video clip)
・how beautiful you are (making clip)
・Return Road (making clip)
・Shake It♥ (making clip)
・NaNaNa (making clip)

NOT CONFIRMED

01. Return Road (4:17)
02. Letter (4:51)
03. call (4:14)
04. Tell me why (5:02)
05. taskebab (interlude) (2:08)
06. the next LOVE (3:55)
07. Shake It (4:35)
08. a cup of tea (interlude) (1:21)
09. NaNaNa (3:52)
10. Eyes, Smoke, Magic (interlude) (1:46)
11. Party queen (4:33)
12. reminds me (5:27)
13. Serenade in A minor (interlude) (1:48)
14. how beautiful you are + hidden track (Happening Here) (10:12)
NOT CONFIRMED

Composers

Spoiler:

01. Party queen 作曲：Timothy Wellard
02. NaNaNa 作曲：corin
03. Shake It♥ 作曲：BOUNCEBACK
04. taskebab 作曲：tasuku
05. call 作曲：Katsumi Ohnishi
06. Letter 作曲：Katsumi Ohnishi
07. reminds me 作曲：Yuta Nakano
08. Return Road 作曲：DAI
09. Tell me why 作曲：Hanif Sabzevari; Lene Dissing;Marcus Winther-John; Dimitri Stassos
10. a cup of tea 作曲：CMJK
11. the next LOVE 作曲：Timothy Wellard
12. Eyes, Smoke, Magic 作曲：Timothy Wellard
13. Serenade in A minor 作曲：Yuta Nakano
14. how beautiful you are 作曲：Timothy Wellard

Versions

Spoiler:

CD+2DVD - first press includes a regular CD case + special DVD packaging in a plastic sleeve for the COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 A ~HOTEL Love songs~ DVDs, regular press has all discs in regular cases

Spoiler:

【CD+2DVD】

・AVCD-38511/B～C　￥7,350（tax incl.）
★初回限定仕様：2枚組アルバムケース+ライヴDVDパッケージ付き透明スリーヴ仕様
★通常盤：4枚組アルバムケース
収録内容
＜CD＞

・how beautiful you are
・Return Road
・Shake It♥
・NaNaNa
・Party queen
・Letter
・call
・reminds me
・the next LOVE
・Eyes, Smoke, Magic
・Tell me why
・taskebab
・a cup of tea
・Serenade in A minor
（全14曲収録・曲順未定）
＜DVD-1＞

・how beautiful you are (video clip)
・Return Road (video clip)
・Shake It♥ (video clip)
・NaNaNa (video clip)
・how beautiful you are (making clip)
・Return Road (making clip)
・Shake It♥ (making clip)
・NaNaNa (making clip)
（全8track収録・収録順未定）
＜DVD-2＆3＞

ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 ～HOTEL Love songs～
01. do it again
02. Happening Here
03. insomnia
04. MOON
05. fated
06. feedback
07. NEVER EVER
08. sending mail
09. machine
10. Sparkle
11. Humming
12. evolution
13. RAINBOW
14. November
15. music
16. Ladies Night
17. Party queen
18. Happening Here
19. Love song
20. how beautiful you are
21. Trauma ～ Boys & Girls
22. MY ALL

CD+DVD - regular CD+DVD

Spoiler:

【CD+DVD】

・AVCD-38512/B　￥3,990（tax incl.）

収録内容
＜CD＞

・how beautiful you are
・Return Road
・Shake It♥
・NaNaNa
・Party queen
・Letter
・call
・reminds me
・the next LOVE
・Eyes, Smoke, Magic
・Tell me why
・taskebab
・a cup of tea
・Serenade in A minor
（全14曲収録・曲順未定）

＜DVD＞

・how beautiful you are (video clip)
・Return Road (video clip)
・Shake It♥ (video clip)
・NaNaNa (video clip)
・how beautiful you are (making clip)
・Return Road (making clip)
・Shake It♥ (making clip)
・NaNaNa (making clip)
（全8track収録・収録順未定）

CD only - regular CD only

Spoiler:

【CD】


・AVCD-38513　￥3,150（tax incl.）

収録内容
＜CD＞

・how beautiful you are
・Return Road
・Shake It♥
・NaNaNa
・Party queen
・Letter
・call
・reminds me
・the next LOVE
・Eyes, Smoke, Magic
・Tell me why
・taskebab
・a cup of tea
・Serenade in A minor
（全14曲収録・曲順未定）

PLAYBUTTON - special button that also functions as an mp3 player... more information at http://www.playbutton.co

SPECIAL LIMITED BOX SET CD+2DVD+Blu-ray - special set that has the CD+2DVD, POWER of MUSIC Blu-ray, and a pair of half pint glasses and cork coasters

SPECIAL LIMITED BOX SET CD+4DVD - special set that has the CD+2DVD, POWER of MUSIC 2 DVD set, and a pair of half pint glasses and cork coasters

Mockup of the limited box from the website

Spoiler:

*Exclusive goods for box set are half pint glasses and cork coasters. Two of each.

Bonus goods

Spoiler:

First press bonuses for this album include a special DVD style case for COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 A ~HOTEL Love songs~ that is included with the CD+2DVD edition of the album. All editions include a stage for the ayupan AR app.

TeamAyu/mu-mo gifts:
『Party Queen』
【CD+2DVD】 or 【CD+DVD】 or 【CD】
★TeamAyu gift：Lip Cream Case Strap (1) ← google-image
★mu-mo gift：Clear File (1)

『ayumi hamasaki ～POWER of MUSIC～ 2011 LIMITED EDITION』
【DVD 2】 or 【Blu-ray 1】
★TeamAyu gift：Decoration Sticker for iPhone4 (1)
★mu-mo gift：Memo Pad (1)

『Party Queen』SPECIAL LIMITED BOX SET
【CD+2DVD】+【LIVE DVD 2】+【goods】 or 【CD+2DVD】+【LIVE Blu-ray 1】+【goods】
★TeamAyu gift：　Lip Cream Case Strap (1) ＋Decoration Sticker for iPhone4 (1)
★mu-mo gift：Clear File (1)＋Memo Pad (1)

Misc. information

Spoiler:

- Masashi Muto directed PVs for this album
- it appears that the album cover was shot in London with Leslie in late November (https://twitter.com/#!/lesliekeesupe...34749770022913)
- Timmy composed both Party queen and how beautiful you are
- There is a commemorative photobook coming out on 03/21 [the same day] with special shots not included in the album (http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=334)
- how beautiful you are is being released as a digital single on 02/08 on iTunes with a cover
- it is thought that there are only two interludes due to Ayu saying that she recorded 12 songs in London
- Timmy wrote Party Queen with Ayu in mind
- Ayu mentioned that castings for a PV in a recent tweet (but it is unknown if she was talking in the present tense) so another PV for the album is not unlikely! (She is in fact filming another PV.)
- The spoiler that follows has PV tidbits from the last few new album threads while she was in London recording.

Spoiler:

Originally Posted by gwijai
my friend is a dancer in london and he txted me this eve to say he was doing three music videos for a japanese singer!! I was like OMG ITS AYU and he said yeah thats her name lol!! Shooting a pv this tonight for a fast song called shake it! and then they will be doing another pv on sat and one on monday!!!
Ah, it looks like it was gwijai's post then. They said it was a fast song and I remember wondering if the PVs were going to be connected since it seems that they are going to have some of the same cast members in all three PVs (somewhat like that band in the background of Sexy little things/Microphone).

With this piece of information combined with Nigel's Tumblr (the stylist for the extras) it looks like Shake It is for sure the first PV filmed in an apartment in East London. I think it's also safe to say that Return Road was filmed in the factory with the tank, scientists, and drones, and NaNaNa was filmed at the Fabric nightclub in Farringdon with people doing a bit of gymnastics and in crazy makeup/hair/tattoos/etcetera.

Spoiler:

Shake It

- posted by gwijai


- from Nigel's Tumblr

Return Road

- from Nigel's Tumblr

NaNaNa

- from Nigel's Tumblr

Just for some more info, the guy who styled for the factory PV said it was the 'worst shoot he has ever worked on' probably because it was so LONG. They shot two scenes for the PV in 14 hours. Here's a shot he took at 2:30am. It must be torture to work with Ayu sometimes... haha.

Oh hey, it's the drummer from Sexy little things/Microphone! There's a performance in the control room. Lastly, here are the drones that are in the PV. Most of these are just full sized versions of the pictures we had before.

Spoiler:

- Party Queen is set to be a PEACH JOHN CM song that will be on air 2/22, Ayu will not be in the CM
- Masashi Muto confirmed that he did indeed film a new PV with Ayu recently which brings the PV total for the album to six PVs, it seems
- David Reitzas mixed and did drums for how beautiful you are
- There's a bit in the ViVi interview that says that Party Queen contains pop, rock, electro, and jazz genres. The album is also called a 'concept album'.
- Children's voices are present in one of the songs
- "TA Limited PREMIUM PREVIEW ~Party Queen~" will be held March 10th in Tokyo. Ayu herself will not attend. Some TA members will have a chance to hear previews of the songs and music videos (in full?) More information in the spoiler.

Spoiler:

- Will be held March 10th, 2012
- You must apply to be selected for this preview, applications are accepted until February 29th, it seems?
- Only selected TeamAyu members will know the location of the preview
- TeamAyu members can attend free of charge
- There are five 2 hour[?] sessions
- Ayu will NOT be present
- The album can be listened to in full, and four PVs (Return Road, Shake It, NaNaNa, how beautiful you are) can be viewed at the pre-release event

- Ayu appears to be filming 3 new PVs while in Japan, bringing the total to 7 PVs. This is not confirmed however.
- It appears that Ayu originally took the album photos in London but chose to use a different shoot done in New York
- First lines of lyrics popped up at JOYSOUND on 03/05

From tokyoxjapanxfan:

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

Some keywords from S Cawaii:

-The title "Party Queen" gives Ayu a sad feeling. (I believe Ayu has said in the past she is not a party person...?)
-There are zero happy love songs.
-call was originally the first song, she switched it. (Doesn't say why)
-Eyes, Smoke, Magic and the last LOVE were composed by Timmy, they are musical-esque.
-Return Road and Virgin Road have no relation, even though many people have asked her.
-Shake It♥ is "gay" sounding (?). The "girls" in the lyrics is in reference to gay men, and how they refer to themselves in that way.*
-Tell me why uses the very masculine form of "I", "ore", which the first time she has done so in her lyrics.

*She used the word オカマ/okama when referencing Shake It♥, if that helps anyone. In Japan, many feminine gay men use "atashi" when referring to themselves, which is the feminine way of saying "I" in Japanese.
**She also mentioned the song which she wrote in the airplane going to London, but...I don't remember which haha. I think it was reminds me, but I can't verify that until proper scans come out.

- how beautiful you are was directed by Masashi Muto

Notable links
2012.03.21 NEW ALBUM CONFIRMED
Albums on PLAYBUTTON
～POWER of MUSIC～ 2011 A LIMITED EDITION on DVD/Blu-ray (21. March 2012)
"how beautiful you are" Jacket Released
Party Queen lyric snippets + interlude confirmation
how beautiful you are PV on 03/09 on SSTV
how beautiful you are PV/making caps from Mezamashi TV
Peach John CM- "Party Queen"
Return Road - music.jp CM
Party Queen previews now up at Ayu's official site
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [II]
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [III]
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [IV]
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [V]
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [VI]
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [VII]
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [VIII]

[TeamAyu2004]

It is amazing how fast this thing fills up... lol
GIVE ME MORE!!!

[hidekirby]

The first part of Party queen's verses sounds terrible. Like they tried to put a voice from a song on another different music. The arrangements sound really poor too. Waiting for the HQ, but I don't have much hope for this track. Return road sounds promising.

[isthisLOL?]

I heard that someone on a Chinese forum is gonna leak Return Road tomorrow/today already in some countries. Anyone know if that's true or just a rumour?

[truehappiness]

I wonder how they would leak it since I don't think they have the albums yet...

Maybe it's coming out on radio/USEN first?

[TeamAyu2004]

i hope the full version is really good! I cant wait to hear it!

[happiholic★]

I am now realizing that my wish for Return Road to be an "answer song" to Virgin Road is a little silly. She didn't write that song for Mannie, she just met him during the PV. So, the feelings expressed in the song are not about him, so the song was already made. She would have to make an answer song to like, November or something.

[SKYia]

Still her hair in that Return Road preview seem to reflect the Virgin Road PV hairstyle (esp bangs, she doesn't often wear it like this), she also seems to have some huge dress (at least the sleeves suggest so) with veil in black, kinda opposite to VR outfit. In VR she was getting married in RR she seems to be escaping a funeral

Just overfantasizing, I want to see more

[truehappiness]

The PV seems to definitely be the one with scientists and drones. I don't know how they'll factor into this whole post-apocalyptic feel though.

[aloopy]

Virgin Road preview sounds great!! Can't wait for the full version!

Party Queen is... let's just say that I won't listen to that song again

[HilaryDuffFanboy]

^Virgin road, ey?

[aloopy]

*cough* Return Road! My brain is playing mindgames with me

Listened to the preview like 10 times, just the type of song I've wanted from her!

[TeamAyu2004]

i hope this video is amazing.
Although.. didn't all of Love songs was written before she met mannie?

[truehappiness]

Nope. Most of the album was written after they met except for the singles.

[TeamAyu2004]

so that mean a little less than half was written... there were 8 songs singled right?

EDIT:
there were 7! ^_^
with 3 instrumentalsl tracks..
that leaves six with the possibility of being about mannie... (yay for me, lol)

[Tom Punks]

Originally Posted by TeamAyu2004

so that mean a little less than half was written... there were 8 songs singled right?

There were seven, of which only six were "main" tracks, since SEVEN DAYS WAR was a (live, on some editions) bonus track.

[truehappiness]

Return Road is going to be epic. Like... there's no question about it.

[relmy]

I'm liking the sound of the "I am your party queen" part, the verses are pretty catchy too. I dislike the main chorus, it's a bit too cutesy for my liking.

Not enough of Return Road to judge, I'm not a huge fan of Ayu rock, but I still can't judge it.

[njanjayrp]

Originally Posted by truehappiness

Return Road is going to be epic. Like... there's no question about it.

Ditto. I just can't wait to see that PV. I think I've seen the CM at least 40 times since I've come back from work.

[TeamAyu2004]

^ I hope yall are right with that.
So far it has promise. Which of this, makes me happy!