So far we have:

- Moments
- JEWEL
- Momentum
- Together When

Weird they skipped No way to say, CAROLS & HEAVEN from the chronology.

I hope we can have a view on the covers.
The fact momentum & Together when... are included already made me happy with this release! 2 of my favorites songs.

^No way to say is playing now!

No way to say is on now. I guess this will be the DVD content?

Does anybody know from which live Together when was?

CAROLS

COUNTDOWN LIVE 2018-2019 A -TROUBLE- :yes

we have now:

- Moments
- JEWEL
- Momentum
- Together When
- No way to sauf
- CAROLS

I'm happy with this tracklist for now

all her most epic ballads are coming together!!
where was that Together When... performance from though?

I dont like this way to show the setlist.
These performances that we watched 1000 times.
And the no performance/ MV songs may be not included.

Thank you :) Never watched this CDL lol

Given the number of years and only two discs, it was almost guaranteed that only the most epic songs will be included... so yeah it kind of makes sense for them to show content with performances.

And man. What a beautiful live for Carols.

Well... At least we know that the content of the second dvd/bd disc is going to be...another live complitlation.
Hope it's not true, though xd

HEAVEN of course! :luv2

Days... now.

I bet on You were... next

She better put walking proud too!


Edit : awww she didn’t forget fated ❤️❤️

OMFG She took fated!!! I'm so happy for that song

I'm so happy she included Fated, such an underrated song and it's one of my favorites!!!

it was a s-side - and did you really not expect lives today? i totally was - I want some more info today tho!

Same here! I wouldn’t have bet on it...

- Moments
- JEWEL
- Momentum
- Together When
- No way to say
- CAROLS
- HEAVEN
- Days
- fated
- MOON

I'm happy with this tracklist for now

Great choice for MOON.

Same, exclude for Days. But it's a must song. So I was prepared :P

That's it for now. See you next Week!

noooooo

Wtf.
Go on waiting

I had this thought too, especially since those two old Kohaku performances were in VERY high quality.

I wonder if this means that songs with no live performances won't be included, if so I'll be really sad for "Pray" (unless they actually show the one time (?) she sang it at TA Tour 2015 lol)

So today was part 1 and they showed 10 songs, maybe next saturday they'll show another 10... 20 songs for a compilation album sounds right.

They will probably make some cuts. fated was not really a top fan favorite.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they skipped forgiveness, crossroad or Hanabi II for example.


The rest of the track list Next week...

The two random tv performances was weird lol.
I’m curious as to why they used those instead of a concert?

Didn't she write the album will be have 30 Songs? So on March 6th can be shown another 10 songs.

from official website:

CD（DISC-1）（DISC-2）
※曲順未定

01 Moments
02 JEWEL
03 momentum
04 Together When...
05 No way to say
06 CAROLS
07 HEAVEN
08 Days
09 fated
10 MOON
Blu-ray（DISC-3）
※曲順未定

01 No way to say (ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2003-2004 A(ロゴ))
02 CAROLS (ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2005 A(ロゴ) ～MY STORY～)
03 HEAVEN (ayumi hamasaki 15th Anniversary TOUR ～A(ロゴ) BEST LIVE～)
04 Days (ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2009 A(ロゴ) ～NEXT LEVEL～)
05 fated (ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2007-2008 A(ロゴ)nniversary)
06 MOON (ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2016 A(ロゴ) ～M(A(ロゴ))DE IN JAPAN～)
Blu-ray（DISC-4）
※曲順未定

01 Moments (第55回NHK紅白歌合戦)
02 JEWEL (第57回NHK紅白歌合戦)
03 momentum (ayumi hamasaki Special SHOWCASE ～Xmas Eve 2020～)
04 Together When... (ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2018-2019 A(ロゴ) -TROUBLE-)

^yeah - and for 20 songs you don't need two discs anymore

15 songs each CD... it makes sense.
Well today’s reveal was a nonevent. We were all pretty sure they would include these songs with the exception of one or two songs haha

Yeah totally odd choices XD especially considering how many iconic Moments concert performances she has

okay - the reveal is disappointing, not gonna lie

So far, so good ^^

Amen! :yes

Totally forgot about it having 30 songs, thanks!!! I really hope they include Pray , I love that song haha

So looks like 2nd DVD/Bluray will be "rare/unreleased live performances.."?

Better be #1 on oricon chart :love

The disappointment hit real hard lol I like the song choices, so glad they included fated. But I was expecting some details. I want covers and what actual content can we expect. Are we getting new version or not?? What the heck is the second DVD??? We need to know.

Best part of the reveal was the Mike Wazowski tribute

Happy for JEWEL, Together When..., CAROLS, HEAVEN and fated. The other ones are not among my favourites but they were obvious choices!

So, it really is another live compilation on dvd/bd discs :(

Ayu clearly wrote, they only show a few songs that will be part of A BALLADS 2. Nothing more. And the list is out right now, minutes before you wrote. Second DVD/Bluray will be with rare/not released live content.
https://avex.jp/ayu/discography/

So no PoM8 or Trouble CDL on the extra DVD :weep Okay, saving my money then.

I'm more worried that the partial tracklist doesn't say if we are getting new mixes, remixes, or new vocals ><

^ It's been stated since day 1 there won't be any of these

no? They just didn't say it will be

This was disappointing. Also, I don't like the tracklist, it's boring. Especially Momentum, No way to say, Together when and Days have a very similar sound, same goes for Moon and fated. I only really care for Moments, Jewel, CAROLS and HEAVEN. Also, I won't spend money on a simple compilation.
It's sad that everybody in here is basically like "yeah I won't expect anything from this release" when we all know she has it in her to create something as amazing as the original A BALLADS. Back then she challenged avex when they were to release A BEST and made the most of it in the way they would let her. Now she is releasing something that falls short in every way when it comes to the original A BALLADS and is even more pointless than A BEST could have ever been, while being in a way more powerful position than her younger self. I know that she is capable of releasing great albums, even when they fall under best of/compilation, which is why I find this all the more disappointing.

^exactly this. There are more details to be known but if this ends up being how it is pointing out to be, it will be such an uninteresting release.

I'm really excited for the cover photos now, can't wait to see them!

The dramatics... it's a best of album, which are aimed at the general public (even if she gets most of her sales from the fanbase) and somehow it feels like some people expect unreleased songs from the eras or some live in her living room in 2005 nobody knew existed or some sh*t.

If this was an original album i'd understand the disappointment but it's a compilation album and it's doing exactly that, compiling ballads and live performances.

Don't like it? Don't buy it. It's that easy.

I think we all had rather had a new album that we've been waiting for forever but it is what it is, can't do anything about it.

exactly - I'm also very disappointed. i won't have purchased any version anyways, but i also feel bad for those who wanted the 4 Disc set. It's a joke with everything she released. This is basically A SUMMER BEST as a Ballad.

Some people her don't realize that pushing for new mixes or alternate versions just means that it would make it feel like a worthy addition to her catalogue - releasing it this way makes a mockery of A BALLADS and tey could have simply waited for A BEST 3 and do this as a playlist.

I can only hope that it at least triggers the nostalgic feelings of some pople that were teens around 2003+.


that is not the point. I also don't think anyone wants a bunch of new songs. There is just zero effort put into this. Even the DVD contents does not make sense - those could have fitted on one.
I don't think it is asked to much if you want at least one or two fresh takes on something on this. As I said before, compilations like this aren't needed in todays streaming society. If you want money from people, you should make it worth as a company. Simply stating "just don't buy it then" doesn't help anyone. Releasing it this way also tarnishes fans expectations and views on an artist - and if it happens again and again it certainly won't help to keep them for more years.

edit: the argument just don't buy it" could also very easy be reversed as "just don't release it, if you don't offer anything new".

It would’ve been nice if it was a vote, considering that’s how a ballads track list was originally selected.

This

^I don't think the outcome would have been much different tho XD

still not helping. if you say "just don't buy it" everytime to her fanbase she wouldn't even have one and there would be no songs to but on lazy playlist in CD form. It's a stupid argument from the get go.

okay so that happened!

the songs included are not at all surprising. like some of you pointed out—she never really announced any new mixes, so, yeah. it's very likely that it's going to be an A SUMMER BEST-style track list of her most popular ballads (i.e. all original mixes), with Pray for you as the last song of DISC 2. I do find it uninspired if BOTH of the DVDs/BluRays would only consist of live performances though—then again, I don't know what I was expecting, either.

I've lost all of my initial overexcitement for this release :laugh I'm happy for people who are anticipating this album, and I sincerely hope Pray for you doesn't turn out to be the filler song its instrumental sounds to be!

.

Why you quoting me with this if I didn't agree with that part of his comment?

The tracks are not just being put there, they're being remastered, that alone makes this release worthy for me.
Plus the second Dvd performances are not found on other releases (At least, the four performances shown.)

^because it was the quittessence of "its a compilation album, don't be dramatic". i think stating that this release falls flat is not dramatic. I best most people don't even get worked up on this, but they won't buy it anymore which in the end is a problem in the bigger picture of ayus career.

Oh, okay

disappointed in the dvd/bluray content so far... what can they reveal next week?

most likely the ballads from 2010–onwards, part of the finished Pray for you, aaaaaaand the jacket cover art at the last few seconds of the preview.

Even though it's a lazy release I'm still happy with remastered versions. :) But I still can't see why they decided to make this A Ballads 2 instead of another digital compilation like they do for other artists. If only they released the live versions on CD instead of the studio versions. I prefer Ayu's live vocals over her studio vocals.

Omg

I hope ayu can learn from Namie Amuro who seriously to make new re-reconding (or new mix) on Best Album，that is a reason for why Namie's BALLADA would have sold very good

I really liked the surprise of releasing two TV performances! I wonder if they will also add Virgin road performance from Kouhaku! I'm hoping for more unreleased tour content like the CDL Touble! :)

So do we get one Bluray of PVS and a second Bluray of lives? I'm a little confused...

Her classic ballads included. I'm not surprised and I like the tracklist. The odd thing is the release of A BALALDS 2 instead of A BEST 3, it would be much more interesting to release the latter on her debut anniversary.

At this point I think A BEST 3 might end up being A BEST -FINAL- with 8 discs released upon her eventual retirement...

I got a feeling that ayu is not very personally enthusiastic about release, except for recording maybe the new song. Otherwise her instagram will have a lot more teasers, think about Ohia no hi, DaD, or even TROUBLE

Ooo okay thanks for the info, I haven't checked the website check. :)

what are the chances for new songs like pray for you?

The only thing that really annoys me is the 4:3 aspect ratio and non-HD quality of Kouhaku's Moments performance. We have that in HD since forever and they're gonna release this in an upscaled version???

And about Ayu enthusiasm: she always made it very clear she's more into live performances than releasing albums. She's a great album producer, but she's an even greater performance. The stage is her home, so I'm not surprised at all about this.

I'm disappointed with video content

I hope there's more content in this album or else I won't be buying it. One new song or two new songs with a high budget music video would seal the deal for me.

Glad I saved my money.

I bet that Pray for you is the only new song and the MV, if any, will be a compilation of random live performances :mischief

I don't really have any issues with the song choices. None of the songs on the tracklist so far I want new vocals or arrangements of since the ones I did want different arrangements of already have the amazing orchestra versions. I'm just paranoid of not getting any new vocals/arrangements at all. I really want the A BALLADS albums to be a special thing where interesting new vocals/arrangements are included. I just love that idea so much.

I hope we get more info on everything soon.

I hope they got the predictable reveal out of the way to make room for surprises. I really want You Were... and Virgin Road, at the very least! I know I won't get my hidden gems like sweet scar lol.

exactly. I don't mind compilations for the general public or even fans, but naming it A BALLADS makes it a follow up to something that already showed how it can be done.

I love all the songs on this, don't get me wrong. but everything up to A COMPLETE was already remastered and a remaster does not work wonders on every song. I don't need new arrangements and stuff - but it is nice to have since I already have these songs - some of them even twice or three times if I wanted to.

As for me, if it isn't completely different i will only keep the songs once in my itunes - on the original album it appears on. Otherwise the playcount is wrong and it won't show u in playlist since it does not count the play for the song on all albums. So if this does not offer anything new, I won't ver be listening to this.

I'm excited for Together When... because I think it's one her best tracks. I'm not really surprised though.

It would be nice to have decent remastered versions of some of the A One tracks since their quality was, imo, somewhat unfortunate.

I know! It's one of my favorite albums but I'm starting to notice how subpar the mastering is.

The disappointment is warranted.

The issue here is that which has been prevalent for a while. The willingness to dilute, almost be cause for, the demise of a brand. Of an idea. Despite being the position to do so much more with it.

It should be worrying how fans are taking to the turn of promise on this release. “A BALLADS” is something I think really only fans get and appreciate. It should be a release that pays homage to that. If the point was to create something for only the general public, then it’s a slap in the face to dub this as part of “A BALLADS” canon.

If they wanted to entice the general public, hoping fans would come along for the ride too, then they could have very well put together a playlist or something else instead. It feels like they’re driving a dagger further into their own heart, giving fans further reason to give up hope - to stop believing in the magic.

^Exactly. I totally feel what you're saying with the "to stop believing in the magic" part. I feel as if especially younger fans and people who follow her not as long don't care as much about this as others do. But as a fan for almost 20 years, it almost breaks my heart to not be able to feel and experience the magic anymore since quite a while now. I don't want a "good" or "decent" release, I want a "magical" one. Ayu is my favourite artist, because I know she can create something magical and I'm holding her to her own standard when it comes to new releases. If this is what A BALLADS 2 is going to look like, she is making a mockery out of the original one. I wouldn't care as much if she would have announced "A COMPLETE BALLAD COMPILATON" instead. It would have been clear what to expect from the beginning. But calling this A BALLADS 2 sets a standard and an expectation and especially her long time fans who remember the release of the original one will be disappointed.

I'm too excited about the TV material!! It's pretty early in her career to get these I'm surprised

I hope it sells decently as much as Avex needs to survive

guess it's copyright issue we can only get the NHK performances, if only it can include all TV performances of songs!!

Exactly. I posted this analogy a while ago describing the phenomenon and the sad sort of demise of it, called something like “The Door” - I think about it often because it really captures the scenario well for me.

We’re all crowded around that door right now. Hoping and expecting that when the door opens, it will dazzle and bask us in light.

I'm happy with the tracklist, but the first DVD/BR is really boring.

The second sounds promising. Hope that she includes something from JtB 2

They’re gonna have part 2 tonight at 7.

I thought it would be only next week. Good.

P.S.: omg, guys, I guess you're all overreacting to this. Chill.

I love the tracklist but the footage choice is pretty lackluster.

The chosen performances are certainly amongst her most iconic. I have nothing against using them to announce the listing...I'm kinda over just repackaging the old concerts. Some of them are lower quality than we already have, are they planning to sell it like this again?

They got one Kouhaku appearance, why not just have the discs be a HD compilation of her performances over the years? It's one of her most public facing activities and would be a cool collection for fans and casual buyers.

Seems strange to go to the effort of getting rights to TV broadcasts but not committing to it.

Next teaser is next Saturday Japan time. I guess the third part will include a preview of vocals for Pray for you?

The next part is next Saturday not tonight :)

I like the tracklist so far...but I'm not going to lie, I think that this release is going to be what a lot of us thought it would likely end up being...and that makes me sad.

Did I misread the tweet?

No, you didn't.
The newest tweet indeed says there's going to be another A Ballads 2 annoucement today 7 pm JST after the one yesterday.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ayu_19980...92420431958018

Looks like they might have changed their plan.

I think this analogy fits perfectly and it is exactly how I feel.