Correct me if I'm wrong, but Kanjani8 are releasing on 23rd, 24th and 25th (all the releases are limited). Their first week will end the day Ayu's (double week) starts. What's the issue then? Their second week sales are usually way below 50k.

I guess if that's not the case that AVEX thinks they won't have problems beating Kanjani ^^

I did. Thanks so much neme!! Your such a help! :D

JEWEL II yay!

why they have changed the release date?

is there a special reason for that?

I don't get it

People aren't sure whether it'll count towards her week or not because they're unsure of how the Oricon system works.

The covers are wow.

THIS. THIS is the Ayu I love. This is the Ayu I fell in love with and I'm super happy she's back. She looks just the way she did back in the m(u) days. :heart I absolutely couldn't be happier. :smitten I was setting myself up for possibly another letdown since S/S, but I'm back up to 100%. I especially love covers where she's facing the camera. :yes

Well the Oricon year should have the same number of weeks every year. Someone should simply count how many Oricon weeks did 2009 have so far.

why did they change the release date?

the 29th december isn't even a wednesday :innocent

there could be many reasons: 1) to avoid Fukuyama-san's single 2) to sync the release date with CDL 3) to better exploit the tie-in with the NHK drama etc.

but it's most likely all of those combined.

^ It could be 2 reasons combined. CDL not really a factor since they always knew when cdl would be yet they didn't put the single then. And obviously, one reason more than the other two. :) If not for Fukuyama changing his release date, I doubt this single would be moved.

Really people should just read the last few pages though since its all pretty much discussed already.

I guess that was the best they could do considering everything. I am really curious how will the single fare sales-wise.

edit: I went to sleep when we were still at page 3...:p though I am pretty sure you weren't referring to moi.

thank you both for the possible reasons

WOW.. LOVE IT.. nothing new.. but stunning beautiful!

Kanariya II? D:

I love the covers

they are the best covers since a long time

walking proud two? ;)

I dont think Avex would actually push it that late because of competition. Even if they did know that the songs were going to tie-ins, why would they even pick 16th December? Which is so early compared to the movie and drama. Usually the movie and drama gets aired first before the single. We know how it always is the case in Japan. I mean, to even pick 16th december was to not even clash with releases above and below in the first place.

Ayu herself said she only recorded the recently...and the release date was LONG released even before her recording. Honestly, i really don't know how this all works but it seems like the shifting of the date is to suit the tie-ins and not avoid competition, i feel.

(ok if the chaka-uta is on the 25th...does that mean the songs are gonna get leaked a month before???..o noooo)

I can't wait to get my copies

it's too sad that we have to wait about 2 weeks longer to get them....

They probably won't release the full song's worth of chaku-uta. Probably just a chorus or two.

:love

really like what she said it was different

I think people should simply stop thinking way too much and stop making up those meaningless titles, as the song already has it's name and it is in no way related to any of her previous songs. Just because she has jewels/diamonds all over her body that is far from being enough to say that any of those PVs are even remotely alike. On top of all you don't even have the slightest idea on what the new PV looks like and you're basing everything on what she said, which is very little.

Ooo ok..but it COULD leak right i mean...its not like it hasnt happened before hahaha..the full song has to be out on some promo CD

are they releasing the single on the 29th because shops will be closed on the 30th...omgosh...wad kind of release date is that then?..people cant buy the single untill...1 week later or something...unless the go to disneyland LOL

which also means we'll probably see the PV only in december..sadly

the shops close on 30th?why is it closed on that day?

Could you elaborate that, please :) As far as I recall this is the first single/album release of hers that has been postponed this year.

Wow those covers looks pretty. :) Those are very nice, pretty winterish which is good. :)

I am pretty much indifferent, especially when it comes to the calendar/book release dates being postponed, but yeah you're right, though I am pretty sure it's just a coincidence :)

No, no, not you. There were a few people that asked why the date was moved. :)

About shops being closed; can't believe that slipped my mind. Yes, in Japan many shops are closed over New Years, usually 31st though the first few days of January. I'm not sure how many record stores are affected though and the state of the economy might force stores to be open more. Still, makes one more reason why the 29th makes even less sense.

AYU is so beautiful in those photos, really has the feeling of winter~~Looking forward for all the songs^^

Oh my...!!! The covers are like PERFECT!! Ayu looks sooooo gorgeous on them! :luv2 I really was hoping and praying that the covers will be beautiful AND they are!!!
They give me such a "winter feeling"!

Can't wait for the songs!

The question is if the stores will be closed, then will it hurt sales (overall)? Or will all the people who would like to buy CDs in those days will just buy them when they are opened again? (and there might be a surge of sales when they are back up).

Usually we don't get any sales updates for those days anyway, and we'll probably -at least- get a first and second day of the Oricon double-week. (on 12/28 and 12/29?)

I'm liking the composers/arrangers behind the two songs, I'm expecting great things now. I wonder if we'll get a radio rip soon. No doubt the k1saki forum's security is a little tighter now after the Sunrise leak.

And people, Ayu releasing on the new year/close to the new year is nothing new. She's done it so many times before. I think it will hurt her sales, not because its a double week, but because she is releasing after christmas. CDs always sell more in the leadup to christmas.

Great cover!! I love them, it's a lot lot better than Sunrise/Sunset ~Love is All~

maybe the sales will not rise too much but I want her to stay in #1 at ORICON.

Hmmn I see why everyone has question marks inside their mind rite now... Weird. From what I've been knowing about double week since 2002 (the time when I am... was released), all the cds that enter double week should have the release date of xxxx.01.01. I know Gackt's new single's release date is 2010.01.01 (same week with ayu), and assuming they have the same custom, Gackt's new single should be in cd stores on the 29th as well (for Wednesday daily ranking).

But anywayz, like you said, avex will not ask ayu to battle w/ Johnny group, so I think the double week starts on the 30th this time, not 23th...

Not sure if that's the case everywhere, but it's the case here where I am as well. I guess that's one of the reasons Oricon merges the two weeks together.

@blugie - that's exactly what I was saying, there would be no point in entering in direct competition with 3 Kanjani8 singles if the only reason they switched the date was to avoid Fukuyama. So I am pretty sure that Kanjani8's singles aren't counted towards the "double" week.

It might be a silly thinking but does avex really know which weeks will be the double weeks or are they in the dark like us about it? (And eventually kanjani8's singles will be in the double week). =P

Actually the last Wednesday of December last year was the 31.

@Tal - I trust AVEX, they ought to know what they're doing, even though at times they seem unaware of things xD

@Kolongi - great xD That sets me back into being confused mode again T_T

no, they're an unprofessional company just releasing stuff as they please uncaring for chart performance and competition.

I guess I was going by the singles that were counted for two weeks via Oricon, which were the ones on the 24th.

Whatever the case is, it seems as though things should be fine for Ayu...

Well, Looking on GUILTY it looked exactly like this. :)

They could still change that dates when they saw how kobukuro did imo but they did misjudge the whole situation.

^ kobokuro's album was just released prior to the week GUILTY was released on, they couldn't have possibly predicted how would the second week go and changing the released date a couple of days before the release is a NO.

Wasn't it released 2 or 3 weeks prior to that? x_x

finally a really nice single cover from ayu after 2 not so good covers ^^ i love everything abt the cover. her hair. facial expression and the fonts. kinda remind mi of no way to say single cover.
boo for the delay thou

December 19, 2007 - 5296 (my bad...)

2 weeks prior to GUILTY. I guess they did misjudge the situation, still canceling the album only a few days prior to the release would still be stupid. Especially cuz of an album that was released 2 weeks ago and was entering it's 3rd week. I thought Ayu could handle their 3rd week and they are not the ones to blame, she did sell more on her initial week though, so in a way they weren't wrong.

I'm so happy, really!! The covers are great and both have great tie-in's!! The composers and arrangers can't be better... except their work in NEXT LEVEL their past works are just amazing!! *-*

And I'm even more happy because this time seems everyone is happy with the covers XDDD it's just so strange not to find complains about how Kazuyoshi sucks, her fish lips or her dead eyes... XDDD

But people have found another thing to complain: changing dates, competition and streaks XDD Okeee~~

And I don't think the ayu+feathers pic is the chengable cover... I think it's only the promotional clip for the movie/you were... ^^

Yes, all of the news of this single are basically THE NEWS of the week, totally made it excellent!

The covers are awesome. ayu is really beautiful in them.

I would like to see the changable covers

I hope they look as good as the covers we have

postponed: I would have preferred it to be postponed one week instead of two
promo pic: horrible
bigger covers: even more beautiful

that should be everything...

Oooh wow sounds like exciting news :) I like the tie-in and concept of the covers! Ayu looks gorgeous and I love the feather theme!

2 things:

1. I LOVE the covers, they are amazing, but I'm just dizzy because her color hair looks different in each photo!

2. I can't believe that they postponed the date... I'm disappointed with Avex, why do they did that? They are doing strange promotion things lately (since Rule/Sparkle, excepting Sunrise/Sunset, that single followed the typical pattern), and maybe it is just a promotion way. I REALLY hope that this is not for competition against the other singer who were releasing a single in the same day... What a coward act.

Gah I don't know what to think about the delayed release date. Well, I guess since there's nothing to do about it we just gotta stop worrying and overthinking and just focus on the single itself, not the release. :P But I cannot deny that I would be sad if she lost her streak.

Has there been any new info on the drama tie-in? (there wasn't anything on the first page and I might have missed plenty of stuff said in earlier pages :thud so many) Anybody know what show it might be? I really hope it will be a goood show.

I'm also excited for the disney tie-in! I guess that's pretty big, huh? At least I hope so :yes Even though I hope the song itself isn't too "disney" :laugh

Oh, and I can't wait for the chaku-utas! Hopefully somebody will leak them...

Now THIS is the Ayu I know and love. Gorgeous cover and NO fishlips.

My only issue with the covers is that the posses are too similar like the covers for BLUEBIRD. Those who actually go out to a Japanese music retail shop will have to look very closely at the tracklisting details to make sure they get the version they want.

I love the promo pic btww <3

My mind was made up, I wasn't going to biu this single, but those covers deserve me spending money!!! T_T

Here is a bigger version of the promo pic.

I can't wait for the screensaver :D

yaiiy.. something different from Ayu. I wish her hair would be bit darker than this. its alright like now. Im sic of her blonde. need new image

The promo pic is horrible, gosh.
The covers are so beautiful, but the promo pic is the same like most of her magazine shots this year - weird face, too much photoshop and I don't like the background at all.

And it happened what I don't want to - release date changed. Why the 29th? I really can't take Avex serious now, cause
1. it's after Christmas, so sales will be better before
2. the possibilty of tie-ins isn't new, I'm sure Avex do know about them long before they announced the first release date 16th December.
It really seems to me that Avex don't know what they do. Well, at least all this don't seem to be well planned at all.

But yay for the composers and arrangers, I hope I'll like the songs this time!

^* Holy crap, she looks freakin' hot, dude. :luv2 (I swear, Ayu turns me gay sometimes. >.>)

And uh.... I'm so glad I'm not the only one who really dislikes the promo pic. Like....she kinda looks like a zombie, with the expression and makeup or whatever it is. D:

I just wanted to write i agree with Sunshine slayer. I'm gonna try to make it simple. If Avex has to move her release so she won't lose her streak, that means she doesn't have the means to break the record by her image/music herself (or the normal promotion she always has) anymore. Simple as that. I'ts sad for me, as an ayu fan :( however, what upsets me here is that avex is trying to force things so she doesn't look like she's losing anything. if they move her, it means she cannot compete anymore,and thus, she does not have the right to claim earned all those number ones.and that, to me, is trying to cheat people.

What is going to happen if she loses it? NOTHING. the prestige and acomplishments she's already got are not going anywhere people. and they are already huge

Guys, don't take this so seriously :) and this is a forum, don't forget that.

Edit: ayu looks lovely with dark hair!!!! me loves it!!!! :luv2 :luv2 :luv2 :heart :heart

Edit 2: gracias por las fotos Walking.proud. :luv2 :luv2 :luv2

oh and i forgot to add that the pictures look beautiful... :yes (no more fugly s/s covers :laugh)

Oo that sounds pretty interesting! I hope it's well executed and has a good storyline, and that it'll gain at least some kind of popularity. :yes I thought it would be another half-assed modern love story dorama or something xD


She indeed looks gorgeous with the brown hair! And so much younger :o

Hmm, is she referring to the new single covers? I wonder what she means with the intended meaning..

i love the color of her hair,it looks much more younger than her actual age,eventhough blonde is also nice..i hope she is performing with this color of hair in cdl09-10....

this thread is full of spam omg :thud
finally I found something interesting...

thank you, neme >3< these covers are cuteee!

wow! she looks like the younger ayu O_O
she is simply BEAUTIFUL with that hair color, keep it for ever ayu! <3

Wow, the covers and promo pics are great and Ayumi looks so beautiful! :D

Is Ayu looks younger these days or its just her hair color and cut fits perfectly?

Wow, AHS is laggy! I guess the covers made everyone go crazy.

And I must say; I am in love. She is beautiful in those cover pics. My fave is Jacket B ^^

OMG! I like all the covers!! Ayu is so gorgeous!!!!

Yaaaay!!! I love the covers!!! :D And the promo pic is so pretty!

But I'm kind of disappointed for the release date change :(

Oh well... Gives me something to look forward to! ;)

ugh... i liked the hair on the covers, but in the CDL rehearsal it looks mousy and dull. i know the pictures don't have the same quality and she's not made up in the TA photos, but i'm not a fan of the color or cut.

Oo I like the rehearsal pics! She looks so young, dark hair definately suits her very much :yes

So is the Tinkerbell tie-in like.. the song will be used for the CM to promote the movie or it will actually be in the movie?

I also though in this two songs when I saw pic 2 , specially 1 LOVE with the chair and so ^^

I love the pic, is so funny

ayu looks so gorgeous in those rehearsal pics *______________*

I was thinking about it guys, and isn't New Years the big holiday over in Japan, not Christmas? The fact that the CD is coming out after Christmas is no big deal as long as it's coming out before New Years. Christmas is just sort of a prelude to the new year - Japan takes the latter alot more seriously, as I recall.

But are japanese usually buying presents for new year?

Christmas is usually a more romantic thing in Japan, while New Years is a family thing. That would explain the ballads she releases during this time of the year :)

I love the cover!!! It´s OUTSTANDING!!!!

But I must say I don´t like the nail art... They could have done it better...

yeah, her boobs do look big.. lol.

great pics though, thanks for sharing!

YES! these are BEAUTIFUL covers!!!! i love them. so simple but gorgeous... and i love her hair color. it looks so good with her skin tone. looking forward to the songs!!!

i love her hair so much. i really hope she keeps it this color for a long time. i want to hear the new songs so bad ;_;

i wonder who shot the covers. i mean it's likely that it's kazu as usual but it would be cool if they were actually shot by someone else for a change.

Well it's actually a music box version but with vocals (just different vocals than the original mix's vocals). ^^

Traditionally yes, it is the bigger holiday. But Japanese are also very Christmas crazy - much of the gift giving is on Christmas these days. Usually for New Years, gifts of allowance are given (money). Then there is also the fact that many stores are closed on New Years and a few days after.(Which is why instead of coming out January 1st, which would be the normal release date, the cd will be in stores by the 29th which gives at least 2 days of buying before stores shut down.)

OMG!! Covers are magnificent!!! I love the CD+DVD A!! :D Thank you for posting everything

The cover is really lovely!!! I love it. I think the covers have the same concept with Together When... cover.

she looks so cute! but the lighting kinda makes her hair seem a bit gray-ish, so to me, she looks a bit older, lol. but it's probably just the lighting of the pics. either way, ayu looks great :D

btw, i really like that tattoo in the last picture :P

I think that maybe the Countdown Live and the Kouhaku could help with her sales, despite the possibility of store closures during the new year day...

And the NHK drama tie-in and the Disney tie-in could really help lure in more sales...

is this the same as an orgel version?

Yep it is. An orgel is a music box. :)

thanks, but ugh, I don't like orgel, so boring, I don't mind like a short 30 second type of jewelry ballerina box type of thing as a prelude to a song or something, but a full 4 minutes of that is really annoying.

omg I haet u now </3 Music box vers' are amazing bb

they're just so boring, I had one on my computer, final distance and I just deleted it, I don't know how I let it stay on my computer for so long, a few years now? Orchestra's are amazing, orgels are boring. "twinkle twinkle twinkle twinkle ding ding ding ding ding" for 4 minutes, nothing special about that.

^^Agreed, but maybe the re-worked vocals will make it worthwhile?

Oooh a period drama! Could it possibly be NHK's yearly taiga drama? Taiga dramas usually last up to 40-50 episodes, and if Ayu's song is used as it's theme or insert song, wow. People would be able to hear the song throughout the year. There may also be a possibility that the song will have a traditional feel. Awesome.

I read the author's wiki, and the most likely novel it's based on is Soukyuu no subaru (蒼穹の昴) -- Pleiades of the Blue Sky/Seven Sisters of the Blue Sky (Seems like Pleiades is a type of star clusters?)