So... you wanted her to lose her number one streak then?

luckily these are the covers :luv2 ...love the covers

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/2835/avcd31801.jpg

and not these

http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/a...25855256-1.jpg

I think that the feathery 'promo' images might be the alternate covers that you can switch with the actual covers, so in a way, they might actually be the covers.

[That photo is used as her profile photo at a few website right now.]

We pretty much already went over this. :) I want her to not have it handed to her. If the only way it can be kept is by shuffling her release dates around to avoid any competition, then it is not something worth having. She actually did have a shot against Fukuyama and it would give more validity to the streak as a whole.

Anyways, if she doesn't fall into the double week with Kanjani8, then who is she falling into the double week with? What's coming out in the week after ballad/You Were? Kattun hasn't had a single in a long time - it would be ironic if Avex did all this shuffling only to have Johnny's announce another new single for her to compete with.

ah i see...when will oricon continue to update? will it be the start of the following week of ayu's release week? 01/05/10...will there still gonna be a double week?

WOW I looooove the covers!!! :heart
I actually liked the promo too until the namie pics where posted.
But jayjayjay for the cover!
Jay for the pose, jay for her expression, jay for her hair, jay for her outfit, jay for the colours! ^^

And I love her hair! Its like dark brown with some ash highlights or something. Reminds me of her haircolour in 1998-1999. ^^

aw crap i commented on the wrong thread LOL

ok well... anyhow, maybe this is why they have been not releasing the song previews yet??

AND! can someone please give all the release dates for her week? and i'm confused... kanjani8 doesn't release in her week, so how are they a threat?? =/

she changed the release date? :irked
guess that Fukuyuma dude scared her... lol

I really like the covers.
and that blue picture with feathers looks like Namie's ALL FOR YOU cover lol

YESSSS DAI!!! I'm so excited DAI has composed for her again! I hope this is a trend, and maybe we'll see a little bit of CREA again sometime!!

So much hate for her nails...tbh I like them. They're not elaborate, but sometimes simple is just fine...

Aghhhhh can't wait for previews!

^She has tie-ins at the end of December, it makes more sense to release the single closer to the time that the tie-ins are released.

Whatever people say the reason for Avex changing her release date (doubt it was her decision) is perfectly valid given what tie-in's they have.
Even if it had anything to do with that Fukuyama guy, it doesn't matter now, it's done. I really hope she can keep her streak though, がんばってあゆ！

such good names there!! DAI, Yuta Nakano, Kazuhiro Hara, H/\L!! my excitement just skyrocketed.

lol :P

because the background, feathers and dress are so similar. this is nature, people compare other singers. :irked

Ayu, I'm so happy you got it together and made something made of excellent. I'm satisfied with the covers. Now let's hope the songs are good.

i showed my sister the cover and she immediately asked "why's her hair gray?" it does have a grayish tone... needs more brown in it. or just all the way black.

I dun really know when oricon will resume the update.. but usually beween the 5th and the 8th of Jan. There should be a double week unless Oricon decides to change the format this year... (such as.. actually initiate the double week chart two Wednesdays before the new year.. Then I can say ayu will be in trouble).

I've found one website where I think there's somethign ayu said about he movie:

浜崎はこの決定について、「今回、ディズニー映画の『ティンカー・ベルと月の石』のイメージソングに起用し ていただき、うれしく思っています。世界中の多くの人から愛されている作品にかかわることができ、とても光 栄です。 映画と共に、私の新曲も楽しんでいただければ、と思います」と世界的な作品へのかかわりを喜ん だ。

translation:

Hamasaki about this decision, "This time, the Disney movie Tinker Bell and moon rocks』 image of you to appoint the song, and I am delighted. Be involved in work that is loved by many people around the world can is a great honor. along with the movie, you'll also enjoy my new song, I would "involve a joy to work with the world.

and also something about why Disney chose Ayu:

ディズニーでは、浜崎の起用の理由について、人気だけでなく、ティンカー・ベルの持っている、いつまでも変 わることのない“エバーグリーン”のイメージから名前が挙がったことを明かし、「日本の女性からの圧倒的支 持を受け、ティンクのように自分もそして周りもみんな元気にするパワーを持った方は浜崎あゆみさんしかいな いと思い、今回のイメージソングを依頼いたしました」

translation:

By Disney, the reasons for the appointment of Hamasaki, (as well brcause she's popular, Tinker Bell has never changed "Evergreen" the name from the image revealed that the competitors listed, "received overwhelming support from women in Japan, those with the power to fine for her and everyone else around and she thought not only as Ayumi Hamasaki, We ask her this Image Song"

These songs will be awesome, and honestly, I think she looks like Matsuda Seiko on the covers... ahaha.

Maybe it would have been good if they had kept the original release date, Fukuyama gotten the #1 spot and Ayu had gotten #2 since that would probably be heavily publicized (her losing her streak) so lots of free publicity to promote the single.

Like SunshineSlayer said, it's not worth having if its handed.

I don't see how it's being handed to her, she has some strong tie-in's and Ayu is still popular, despite what others say. And it only makes sense to move it so it's closer to the release dates of the tie-in's.

@ストロボ・EdGE:
Just because you too feel that and are very vocal about that doesn't mean everyone feels that way (Yes, I am aware that neither of you said everyone is). Or makes it true, for that matter.

Secondly, there are reasons why it was changed, she might end up at No. 4 if Kanjani8 or whatever it is debuts the same week... So... =)

Avex likely would have known about these tie-ins weeks ago or at least have known about their possibility. It's also not uncommon at all to release tied in songs a couple of weeks before the tie in takes place. In fact, had she kept to the original release, it would have coincided better with the Tinkerbell thing. More than likely this was done to preserve the #1. It also makes much more sense to release it before Christmas rather than right after to maximize sales.

Wow, I'm kinda late here but the covers is (bleepin) hott! It sucks though now I have wait a little longer for my cd to come.

These covers where really a hit. AHS is really hard to enter now. XD

omg AHS was down and then... there are a lot of informations now.

i'm confused :thud

btw the promo pics are so and so. They aren't fugly but not so awesome as the covers.
Maybe they will grown on me :D btw I don't get it.. Will be a tie-in of Tinkerbell's movie?
Sorry guyz but I'm really really confused @_@

"You were..." will be for the tinkerbell movie :yes

I don't think it really matters how close it is [12/16 -> 12/23 -> 12/29] but it's interesting how the soundtrack for the movie is coming out on 12/16 as well.

It's sorta weird imo that a straight-to-DVD/Blu-ray movie in America is coming out in cinemas in Japan.

It would've been kind of interesting if Fukuyama were to go against Ayu, but eh. As if anyone's actually going to remember down the road that she moved singles around. I think she's done it in the past too [or other artists moved for Ayu] but no one could really recall when.

Kind of? I don't think the song will be in the movie at all, but will probably be sold in theatres showing it. Usually they'd label a song as the shudaika / theme song, but this one's just an "image song."

I simply cannot wait to listen to this songs everything about this single so far seems perfect to me, hopefully the songs will be too.

They look very beautiful and I think the covers look much better than together when. The look on her face kind of reminds me of the whimsical feel I get whenever I watch the Carols cm, mv, or when I look at the cover. And I think that it is funny that I saw this picture now, cause an hour ago I was watching the Rainbow Pv and Ayu is wearing a feather dress.

^ Ayu's never moved a single for "promotional reasons" :) That I can remember at least. About the Tinkerbell thing: Disney is absolutely huge in Japan; they are more Disney crazy than America I would say. That's the reason for the theatrical release I'm sure.

aw thanks :heart

Noo avex moved the single ;_; oh well it makes me more impatient :lech (lol)

What's the current record for #1 singles? How many?
And how many has Ayu had in row, thus far? Like is she super close to beating it or something?

Cause people seem sort of obsessed. @.@

^Ayu has the most #1 in total, but not themost #1's consecutively (meaning she still needs a few more to beat Seiko's streak, even though she has more #1's in total).

She's two away from having the most consecutive #1 singles for a female act/solo artist.

Seiko Matsuda's record is 24, and Ayu's at 22, I think. She'd have been way past it if Daybreak were never released in 2002, but they released it and she was beaten by DRAGON ASH's FANTASISTA. Bleech.

^I think she's pretty close to beating it. I'm not sure how many it is at currently, but I'm sure someone will post it.
See...lol before I could even hit post reply, someone posted it. xD

Theses covers are not so different from what she has been done before (like she said it would be)... but I loved'em, just the font that makes me mad a bit... but overall it's fine :D

Ayu has 22 No. 1 consecutive, Seiko has 26.

the fact that ayu has a theme/image song for a disney movie might result in it being sold at disney land as well :)

and honestly, i think a lot of people here want ayu to get number 2 and that's why people are so upset. i've never heard so much complaining over a single's release date change. who cares? the world isn't ending. she's preserving a streak that in the current japanese music market is REDICULOUSLY difficult to achieve. OH NO, the horror of preserving that! she's also the first person to ever change a single's release date--oh wait...no she isn't.

She's the only Japanese singer that has even a CHANCE of beating Matsuda Seiko, and people have known that for awhile. I could care less about some competition to "prove" ayu is good. and tbh, competetion between ayu and a male singer isn't competition anyway, they're not even the same gender--based on the current cd buying audience, males tend to always "win". real competition for ayu is amuro, koda and hikki, who have very similar listeners.

Covers are really nice for winter covers *O* no wonder she dyed her hair LOL xD

Ah, that's pretty much how I feel about it. Though I wonder if someone'll just say: "Oh, but Seiko deserved every single one of her number ones without scheduling things around others. HMPH. Why can't Ayu fail yet!?!?!?"

No other female singer is even CLOSE to where Ayu/Seiko are right now. I'd like to see Ayu overtake Seiko... even if the single after ends up at #2, haha. [She better pull out a 3A/4A to avoid that though.]

@tokyoxjapanxfan: Excellent points!

few days ago I saw the tinkerbell movie cm on tv and I was laughing at it...and now ayu's song will be used for the movie...never expected it at all...lol.

Anyways, I really hope ayu will sing both songs on tv and not just one of them.

omg ayu is BACK!!

the covers are gorgeous, although they are INDEED typical winter covers.

luckily it's not the Tinker Bell promo pic as the single cover, which looks weird IMO.

as for the -Music Box Rerecord Version-, i'm really looking forward to this!!

and i'm also waiting for a wallpaper size pic!!

The promo image must've been inspired by Namie's ALL FOR YOU cover.

I mean in the sense that they're moving the release date because of the competition (it seems), so it's easier to get a #1 once competition is gone and that doesn't seem rightfully earned.

Holy crap I just noticed xD

^ it's not exactly a unique theme... a blue backdrop with feathers.

Tinkerbell makes me think that You were... will probably be something like forgiveness. D:
oh no! hope not!

lol at people xD



omg... they changed the date :x I guess CDL this year might help sales too :)



thanks for the new thread!

These covers reminds MY STORY ones

Oh yes! The covers are so wintery and gorgeous!!!! :heart

YES.

omg yes, finally, a gorgeous cover to show off how beautiful she really is.

promo picture has an odd face that reminds me of audrey tatou lol but still really nice.

I love the font of the cover too.

I'm really happy the cover is so great. Makes the single so appealing.


@ALPHY: Hah.

o.m.g

She's beautiful... these covers are even better than Days omg! <3

Only thing that sucks about the release date change is we get the songs later :( and no good chart battle between Ayu and the Fuku-guy~

whoever said that these single covers are the best since mirrorcle world, I completely agree. amazing. simple is usually best.
I'm sad though that the single was pushed back to a later date. But I guess it's worth the wait since the single covers are amazing. and off the top of my head, there aren't any songs I like that had bad covers (except rule, the only thing that bothered me though was the foot in the air thing and the yellow suit, but it was 80's looking so that part was ok, it was an exception). so I'm guessing with the tradition, these songs should be good. [/opinion]

The cover is such a huge step up from the S/S covers, like two different people altogether. Haha.

her hair color in You were... is SO MUCH BETTER than Sunrise!

IS SHE LAYING ON SNOW??? :thud:luv2:love

Omg it's so beautiful! And the release date... !

mmm as far as I know not many prominent singles are coming out the week after You were ... / BALLAD yet

KAT-TUN wouldn't be putting out any singles for now D: (due to LANDS & Akanishi Jin's upcoming Feb solo tour) & that goes for NEWS too

And let's not forget "WHATEVER."

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/6...tever02.th.jpg

Although I will admit, I thought of the Namie picture first too.... the background is blue with a white shine coming from the background in the same way, a similar amount of feathers, and Ayu centered in the photo and shot at a similar angle. Sure, feathers on their own aren't new. Blue on its own isn't new. A centered photo isn't new. And a circular gradient coming from the center of the background isn't new. But put them all together, and yeah, it's easy to see why the ayu photo would bring Namie's photo to mind for so many people, even namie-non-fans such as myself.

That's what more people should have been saying when Fukuyama announced his single for Dec. 16th. That getting number 2 would not be the end of the world. I don't know about everyone else, but I'd rather lose the streak with dignity. And anyways, it was not set in stone that she would lose either. But whatever. It seems all many people care about is having a record to brag about, no matter how its achieved.

I wish no artist would avoid any release dates. I want it to be a war every week. :)

Noo that's popcorn! :P

But she did use them in WHATEVER in 1999.

http://i45.tinypic.com/23mlmk2.jpg

On a side note, these single covers are beautiful! Welcome back. :love

Edit: seems Deli beat me to it since I was searching for the pic too!!

Edit 2: I was ready to bring out the nukes for this release date!! Time to scale back...

honestly I would rather ayu lose to fukuyama than a johnny's group. Now that the release date's moved, her ranking will be anywhere from #1 to #4...whereas before #1 or #2. I know she'll lose her streak sooner or later and its not the end of the world...but its gonna suck if she lost to a johnny's group.

it will be funny if Kanjani∞ got their revenge against her with their 3 GIFT single releases from 23rd - Christmas Day

after all HEAVEN did put a stop to them getting #1 with regards to Kanfuu Fighting

but somehow I doubt it because all the 3 GIFT singles are limited releases so that could be a good or bad thing :shrug

I love you *-*;.

You act like she's been doing this her entire career. There have been plenty of times she's gone up against competition and she won some and she lost some. Just because AVEX is being cautions because she's so close to beating the record doesn't mean her streak has no validity. I'm sure Seiko isn't completely innocent of moving a few dates around either. And even if she didn't, she was in a completely different era. I understand you have the right to feel disappointed but I think you're being a little harsh.

WOAH!!!

Kazuhiro and DAI????
IM dying to hear the songs now!!!!

Well I sort of expected this... avex always tries to manipulate the charts I am pretty sure they've been planning a release date which will probably get a #1. I'm afraid they won't let go of her streak anytime soon. On the other hand though... I don't want Ayu to lose her streak either.

Yea because Namie is the only one allowed to use feathers in a picture...:rolleyes
And to the point I was making...
They moved the release date so they would be closer to the time of the tie-in's release dates. So I guess if she gets #1 again it's being handed to her, and Ayu doesn't deserve it? Like she doesn't work her butt off to make music and keep people happy? Seriously.

Right now it is unclear whether she will actually be in direct competition with Kanjani8 or not. I'm highly doubtful though because if Avex has the choice between Fukuyama or Kanjani, Fukuyama is the better choice to try and have Ayu win against. I can't imagine them moving her single to be in direct competition with Kanjani for any reason, so most likely they will not be counted in the same week.

I don't act like she's been doing it her entire career. I have clearly stated that it has been the last few years. (which is true) But Avex hasn't gone so far as to move a release date for it until now, which yes I think does call validity into question for sure. As others have mentioned, Avex's biggest mistake was releasing Daybreak as a single and then she would have broken the record long ago when there actually was more validity to it. If she would have been able to break the record then, that would have been great. Now, I'm not sure how anyone could actually take the title of "Female artist with the most consecutive #1s" seriously, knowing what measures had to be taken to make sure that it happened. And btw, in case anyone is wondering - I have very little interest in Matsuda Seiko; I like some of her songs, but am not really a fan so I honestly don't care about her streak; it could be anyones streak and I would still have a problem with how Avex is trying to go about breaking it. :)

just because the promo pic is similar to one of Namie's covers doesn't mean it isn't gorgeous. i like both of theirs, and i think without the floating feathers the pictures would be kind of boring. i also think that the promo pic will be one of the changeable jacket covers and we'll get 2 more versions of it! and i would love if that was the poster..but i hope there will be different versions of the poster and not just 1. but whatever, we're already VERY spoiled with this single so it doesn't matter. :P

omggg i can't wait for the songs!!

I go away for a couple of hours and came back to find the covers after obsessively refreshing this page for the past week! But I'm so happy the covers are finally out and they are BEAUTIFUL!!! I can't wait to hear these songs! I'm kind of loving the ashy dark brown hair. : )

Yeah but since Daybreak she's been able to pick the streak back up and now has a chance to break it. I don't see how avoiding male artists which are notoriously difficult to beat makes it any less valid. What would make it invalid in my eyes is if they cheated the numbers. Don't most record companies in Japan generally avoid sabataging each others' streaks?

Tinkerbell? Aren't Ayu's lyrics a bit heavy (interpret as you see fit) for Disney?

I think Disney chose Ayu for her -image- as a talent/singer rather than the song, which is probably why the song is very loosely associated with the movie, haha. That's what I got from their reasoning anyway...

On a random note, how interesting that those two songs' teams for Curtain call and NEXT LEVEL just flip-flopped arrangers.

NEXT LEVEL - DAI composed and HAL arranged
BALLAD - DAI composed and Yuta Nakano arranged

Curtain call - Kazuhiro Hara composed and Yuta Nakano arranged
You were... - Kazuhiro Hara composed and HAL arranged

Maybe these combinations will work out better.

^ I didn't even think about Namie's picture until someone posted it. They do indeed look similar, but feathers is a very common theme.

Ah sigh... As I said in previous threat, the validity of each artist's no. 1 streak is barely a joke. People can question how B'z gets the "artist with most consecutive 31s" as well. Do you really think they dun avoid competitors at all? If ayu has done that for the past few years, B'z must have done that for at least 10 yrs. I'm not trying to defend ayu or what... But why dun you think in a positive way that those who have no. 1 streaks are actually honored by the music industry? They have the priority to choose weeks w/ no major competitions because their statues allow them to do so. I'm so sure that if exile has a streak, avex would not put them against Arashi at all. Also, yes ayu skips away from fukuyama, but at the same time fukuyama escapes from Kanjani8 as well. Everyone is doing their tricks to get the no. 1 trophy. That's how Japanese music industry goes.

I'm so sure that B'z will maintain most no. 1 (collectively and consecutively) until someday an unknown artist beats them up. This fate will be applying to ayu, Mr. Children, KinKi Kids, and NewS as well.

^ I believe I already answered those points in the last thread about this about why I believe some (if not all) of those artists streaks to have more validity to them. :) But yeah, you are right that Fukuyama got scared of Kanjani8 as well and changed his release. (which I also wish he hadn't done) Basically, I just want this whole system to change, lol.

So, if she were avoiding say, an Utada release date you'd be against the release date change then? :) As for the cheating of numbers, there are actually several people that think that has already happened last year. ;) Ayu will have the two CDLs to boost sales now. But now though it seems that Oricon will not count concert sales because the propensity of record companies to cheat is too large. Or is it just sales from handshake events and the like that have been banned? I'm not clear on that.

Honestly, avoiding other competition is a cop-out imo.

It would be great if there was more variety in who gets number one.

The position now, to me anyway, is kind of a joke, based mostly on promotion and obvious strategy from the labels.

But whatever. Honestly lol Ayu could hold the record now, and it really wouldn't change anything at all with her status or her popularity.

That's what I thought! It's not like Ayu is the only one. To get to such a status means they worked damn hard to get there. They don't really need to prove themselves anymore. Now they just stay out of each other's way.

I wouldn't make a big deal of it one way or the other actually. If she went up against Utada and lost, of course I would be sad because her streak that she worked hard for is gone. If she won, I wouldn't find her streak more valid. I'd just be happy she got another #1 (and whooped some Utada ass :innocent). If she avoided Utada all together, I wouldn't find it less valid. The way I see it, she and everyone else with their streaks have already worked hard for it and proven they could at some point beat out the competition (whether it be marketing tactics or popularity). Just because they're not battling to the death of who gets number one doesn't mean they don't deserve their #1s.

@sunshine: I know, but I just want you to think positive. Just be happy ayu getting another no. 1 (if things go alright this time). I'm pretty sure her no. 1 streak will be gone in dignity probly next few years or so.

Do they really ban concert sales or sales from handshaking event? Hmmmn weird thought :P. They probly should ban multiple covers as well lol.

They will count 30% of those sales, or something like that. [all sales? Not just handshake/concert/whatever.]

There was news from Oricon a few months ago that sales from events would be banned because there is no way for Oricon to accurately count them or maybe it is only 30% like truehappiness said; really unclear about the whole thing. Apparently Oricon had basically just been taking record companies words for the sales numbers from those events for years now. :thud However we never exactly got a clear translation of whether this would include concert sales as well (which also can't be accurately counted by Oricon).

This could help explain why Morning Musume experienced such a massive drop in sales with their most recent single compared to their one from a few months ago.

my GOD I haven't seen the forum in a while that I didn't know the covers are here and the release date's postponed! so annoying!
have we had excerpts from any of the songs?

I love the covers!!

It seems like I will buy this single because of the covers only...

(somehow reminds me "Together When") :D:D

Man... I'm really disappointed in the date change. :\ I was looking forward to the competition! :( And I hate whenever labels make the artists run... But really, Fukuyama isn't nearly as big a threat as a Johnny's. I actually think she could've easily beaten Fukuyama. And considering Kanjani8 isn't super-huge, I think that she *would've* been pretty safe there, too.....But the limited edition + three singles thing really scares me. Sometimes they just say it's limited, when it's not completely true. -__-' What if that's the case? If it were just a regular single, this wouldn't be a problem I don't think, but all this...? :headache Not only that, but the double week issue--gawd, what an annoying move avex has made. -.-

About the "validity" of her streak... I agree that if an artist avoids competition all the time, a record really means nothing. But Ayu doesn't usually do that. And I don't think we can consider that option for this single, because of both the two week issue and the Kanjani8 issue. But whatever... I think that Ayu deserves this record more than anybody else right now, because in general, she has earned every bit of it. So I'll be rooting on her continued success. :yes

And good God, guys. Stop comparing the freakin' covers to Queen Forehead. Ugh. Like some people said, blue background and feathers isn't exactly a Namie original. >_<' (One word: WHATEVER.)

Only some lyrics on the first post, and that's it.

We should get a snippet in a news clip though since the news just leaked today. I wonder which song though. You were... probably...

i guess theres no way ayu can beat kanjani8...3 singles in a row....with a double week countin towards the sales

I agree with you baby :yes

You know, I honestly didn't think of Namie when I saw that picture. I thought of her Olympic promo picture where she was some sort of angel :laugh

How random is that lol.

oh...
i hate when avex do something like this...postponed?! (avex, kiss my a**)!!!!
but anyway, it's a really beautiful cover, beautiful face, no more weird fish lips, great outfit, and AWESOME hair!!!
Ayu, you're ROCK (now)...
LOL

We largely agree. :) But except that Kanjani8's single is scheduled to come out the week before Ayu's is. So unless they are going to be in the double week together, there will not be any competition for her again. And I just can't imagine Avex moving the date if they knew she would be in direct competition with a Johnny's group. It will most likely be the week after hers that gets counted as the double week since the whole first week of January is usually off time in Japan. Or they just won't have a double week this year. In the past she may have beaten Kanjani, but lately they have been gaining sales. First week sales of their last few singles: 271,516, 347,735, 194,304. There is no way that Ayu would beat that for the weekly number one unless these "limited editions" are limited to like 50,000 copies each which is probably unlikely. :) She would have been much better off against Fukuyama, but its probably being ensured that she won't go up against either of them.

the feathers are so randomly placed @@
but the covers are gorgeous!

Aa, so she'll be after..? I was confused. That shouldn't be bad, then.... ......
....
Ya know what..? I'm just gonna forget about all this competing and double week and crap nonsense, lol. I'm just gonna pray for the best and wait patiently for the results. :D

One comment doesn't need to create such a fuss. Anyway, I'm really looking to this single; I'm a sucker for ballads. <3

I hate how the release date was changed but i love the covers

from what i know Koda Kumi single was released on 12/24 and it was counted in the double week period...so therefor i assume ayu and K8 will be counted together in the double week:shakehead

To quote bluegie:
Last year, the last Wednesday of December was December 24th.