Do we know digital sales for the first week yet?

1st week digital sales:

#9 - 446

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/7301665097

I doubt that lots of promotion would have changed much about the sales.
Digital might have been a bit higher, but in general there are a combination of factors making something or someone popular atm, tie-ins and social media being the forefront.

got my copie today <3

He’s happy on YouTube and he jokes about wanting to retire like
Namie amuro

Let the guy live

Other avex acts are all releasing best too, Avex need the money

Well tough luck they ain't gonna be earning much this way...

there is also money coming from streams and youtube.

anyone already received the TA version of AB2?
can share some pic on how it look like (esp back cover)?

Having difficult searching thru the pages- did ayu re-record the songs on a ballads 2? I am still deciding if I should grab a copy

No. They was not rerecorded or rearranged

so japanese album sales decreased too, they need to start counting streaming for their album chart asap

Yesterday i received my Copy 😍😍

Yeah, it would be really interesting if they did that. I'm glad Oricon now counts digital sales (it took them long enough), but not a lot of people buy music digitally nowadays since streaming services are so popular and convenient.

I received my copy from CDJapan today :) Surprised it arrived on a Sunday! I used DHL.

I'm impressed with the size of it lol I love it so much :love

for people who purchased the + 2 Blu-Ray version...how is the visual quality of the music video and lives? is it just a lazy upscaling or a true blu-ray HD?

I've downloaded the blu-ray rips from JPopsuki and it's a mix of everything. The older clips and live performances are just the upscales we already seen on her channel, but what bothered me the most were Kouhaku performances. They hadn't image rights from the crowd, so the blurred all the people faces during Virgin Road live, destroying all the immersion. It was painful to watch.

ommg!!! That's so annoying lol

I still have to get a blu-ray player so I haven't watched any of this yet

Really good point. I really, really disliked it.

If I was consider about buying it physically, Avex should've let us know if they were going to blur Kouhaku audience faces in advance. As is, that's a no-no for me.

You know what... How beautiful you are wasn't packed with other clip in PV box and wasn't released on bluray before. It's the first time we officially received it in HD

Oh, come on Avex. This is embarrassing.

Indeed, avex has some financial issue. Thats why they release many best albums.

It's covid-19's fault.

misono is doing so well after leaving avex. Her youtube channel has 123k subs and IG has 40k followers. She is still very active. Avex killed her career.

I wonder how much toxic can avex be toward ayu...

^ don’t forget they tried to kill Ami Suzuki’s career too!

It’s not really comparable Ayu is special for Avex she wouldn't do what she want in another record companY.
Actually Avex saved Ami Suzuki it’s Sony who cancelled her.

I don`t think labels actually kill volountarily their artist's career, what benefits would they get from that?

^Actually it's kinda common, but usually comes with a disagreement between artist and label (there could be many more factors such as a "bad image/reputation") first example that comes to mind is Miley Cyrus in her disney/hollywood records days, when she released Can't be Tamed, Disney and Hollywood record volountarily boiccoted her, they asked radio stations to ban her songs because her "sexual" image was a bad example for children and the last Hannah Montana season (which she was forced to do) was about to air and they wanted to keep her "good girl" image, at the same time they cancelled different projects she was supposed to be involved and were given to other artists that at the time were still their ideal "role models" (for example Selena Gomez getting the main role in Hotel Transylvania movie, that role was Miley's but she got kicked out for licking a penis shaped cake at a private party). So yeah, labels killing their own artists careers is not really a crazy idea.

^ It's also all too common for labels to put money and artists to put a ton of work into an album and then have the label refuse to release it due to change in management or something, but still keep the artist under contract, preventing them from jumping to another label and forcing legal battles that the artist/band may or not be able to afford in order to be released from their contract.

I just watched a short documentary about Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” and it was essentially a short interlude on an album that her label threw into a box of other unreleased CDs that just happened to have been passed onto another music rep who heard the hit potential in it and fleshed it out into a full song. Had he never heard it, that song and subsequently Vanessa’s career would’ve never taken off. It’s so weird that labels would sign people only to throw them into a box, but unfortunately it happens...

But isn't it different when it comes to treating Japanese singers? They were punished severely for deviating from the rules.

disaster....
https://i.ibb.co/k0hc3mC/30-Virgin-R...9-18-47-05.jpg

I can't wait to receive my copy of A BALLADS 2 but the last airmail I received was delayed 45 days, I'm in Spain. I hope this time is less time.

^^OMG. Horrible!

Misono is doing fine, it's just that her solo music career never really took off, even during her avex days (in the early 10s) she was more of a tarento than a singer so going to YouTube was quite expected since other tarentos did that as well. Even tho she never really reached much success with her solo music, she managed to keep releasing music for 7 years.

Avex has many cases of artists not selling but sill having contract and keep releasing new stuff for a good amount of time, so I wouldn't say that they would kill the careers of anyone.

My order from CDJapan hasn't arrived as well. Still waiting for airmail.

This is aweful!

Omg I had to pull out my DVD just to watch and really it’s painful lol

https://youtu.be/21pUiyaFAkE
Finally we can see the book! And it’s more disappointing than expected...

From the previews and description I was hoping for a book with all the costumes of her lives...I'd love to see a collection of all the designs ...instead we have this poorly screenshot collection :(

Oh wow that screenshot of the Virgin Road performance - yikes!!

My copy arrived today, without any customs charges! So chuffed! I used the slowest shipping method at CDJapan (I usually use YesAsia) and there once once a time I couldn't imagine not using the fastest lol!

Looks like the A Ballads book doesn't really know what it wants to be. The costume sketches are nice and the Haru yo Koi photos are gorgeous but it's all a bit messy and not consistent.

That is the CD only version booklet, maybe i am wrong, but isn't there a special book with the TA version?

I could download the uncensored version from JPOPSUKI.:luv2

Eventually everything in this release is a disappointment to me.
It really shows they just wanted to make some money with little effort yet justifying high prices.
Sure they can do that if they need money that bad or fulfil some contract obligations. I understand.

Yet I really wish they wouldn't print the A BALLADS name on that type of lazy release. This is so underwhelming in almost every aspects (0 rearrangements, covers, booklet with like two pictures, one mouth open, the other closed - and the limited booklet being a joke -, live selection of lives you've already seen and/or possess a thousand times, with pitchy TV vocals; the only new thing being blurred faces...). It's a lot to unpack for just one release haha.

At this point I really don't understand why they don't go with A BEST 3. Nothing but remastered songs, few simple photos and the corresponding MVs is all we would expect.

I don't think it's a surprise that A BALLADS 2 felt like a 1/2 hearted release even though in the beginning I felt quite positive over it but that changed as more details came along

What I find a bit unfortunate is that Ayu could have utilised this opportunity to probably recreate the original multiple covers A BALLADS 1 had going on years ago instead of a typical photoshoot

That might have jolted some folks' memories down the nostalgic memory lane especially since it has been so long since A BALLADS 1 was released

Somemore I remembered back then the concept that A BALLADS 1 went for , that was considered quite a big deal & I myself was quite fascinated over it

Alas that did not happened

The effect of the blur against her veil makes it look like she was just copied and pasted into the shot.

After i saw these images in the booklet,
i wonder why they choose that beauty shot for the A BALLADS 2 cover.

Haru yo koi video was made after the A Ballads 2 announcement.
But to hurry the release and missing the chance to use these gorgeous images as cover art makes me sad.

A BALLADS 2 position & sales 2nd week - #16 ; 1,926

Total 2 week sales - 12,910

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/7311251845

With censorship laws the way they are in Japan, I don't think the general public thinks it is too abnormal to see faces blurred.

I'd imagine she would receive just as much backlash from netizens talking about how she exposed people in the audience without their consent. Especially since she's making money off of a release vs. an official "free" upload from the broadcaster.

That is a little dramatic, just look at the pictures in the booklet and enjoy them, they are a bonus. The actual covers are far from being hideous even if I prefer the kimono shots, too. The release wasn't rushed, it was delayed actually.

People should get a grip on themselves and stop with the sadness over A Ballads 2. The release includes exactly what they advertised. The covers and content were released a month prior and it came out exactly how it was promised. People are only being sad because the greatest hits is what it was meant to be and not their own fabricated desire of what they wanted it to be.

Those Japanese-styled pictures only fits Haru Yo, Koi.

It's not always about what looks great, but what fits the theme. Personally, I love the softness of the covers and the pink/purple. It fits exactly what A BALLADS 2 looks like in my head when I listen to the tracklist.

It's pretty common though. I noticed the same thing in the box sets that were released for Akina Nakamori's tv performances - including dancers that were part of the performance being blurred. Weeirrd Japan.

oh man, the reviewer's disappointment while browsing through the contents of the album booklet and this photobook was palpable ...and contagious :laugh

I'm guessing there is some explanation in the two-page text of the BALLAD BOOK as to why the contents are that way? otherwise it just seems to be a collection of completely random live screenshots, some of which aren't even of ballad performances

the creative effort they took in creating this album is just ...:no

I got my copy today and it's absolutely gorgeous—and much bigger than I expected! I'm very glad I decided to buy it. :heart

Oh interesting. Then it’s more of a censorship issue that JinHamasaki mentioned rather than avex half-assing it?

They don't have permission to use those people image... Simple as that.


How would it be half assing if Avex had more work to blurry the audience they would have just releasing it as it is?

People who attended Kouhaku allowed the use of their image back then, but they didn't allow it when Ayu released A BALLADS 2. It would be an almost impossible work for avex to track down all those faces and make all of them sign a term for it.

It was for lack of a better term, nothing more.


Summerrain- thank you, that explains a lot.

Why are people so over dramatic? Even if I think they could have gone more into the direction of AB1, AB2 isn't far from being bad.

The covers fit the theme very much and are much closer to the originals tone than those beauty-shots from a PV shooting (which I still think are cool, but I don't need them as a cover. I have seen enough Kimomo-stuff in my J-Pop-listeners-career. It is not that innovative you know)

Also I like the polished sound of a lot of these songs and it made me go back to listen to more ayu again. She used the release to jumpstart with a new single too, whcih was genrally weel perceived.

More over I think AB2 is a stronger release than A SUMMER BEST.

And lets face it - best of albums aren't really needed anymore. People can simply make a playlist. Low sales are not too surprising for me.

^I don't think people are sad that the album is bad as such, just that the name A BALLADS was associated with more.
You said it yourself: best albums are not really relevant anymore, but AB1 was so much more than that. It was more about re-visiting the ballads that had made her.
Then again you're right: I'm not disappointed in the release because it is exactly what they advertised it as, just grateful we got Haru yo, koi tbh!

I agree with this actually. As much as I prefer the Haru yo, koi pictures, this release was probably the first since LOVE again where this soft, sepia atmosphere was really justified :yes

THIS :love

Can you invite me on jpopsuki ? :):):):):):):):):)

Anybody knows about the sales this week??

Haru yo koi is almost at 1.4 million views :love

A BALLADS 2 sold 1,926 copies in the 2nd week of release

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/7311251845

Thanks for the update :)

I didn’t expect myself enjoying this album so much!!

I received my copy, it looks great, it sounds delightful, I really enjoy the remasters, the songs sound somewhat less harsh and cleaner. It is pleasant to revisit her ballads with a small update.

Just curious, do we have a comprehensive list of ballads that were left off of this release? GREEN is the first one that springs to mind but there were certainly others.

Tbh, I never thought of æternal as a ballad.

I find aeternal the weekness of this release... and it also was the weakness of Trouble.

To me, it sounds like a half-assed demo that doesn’t really go anywhere. The only part I really enjoy is the bridge. Sometimes I space out when the song is playing and ignore it but that part catches my attention because it’s the only real variation. That awful drum machine track though…

That said, I’m sure the song has its fans and I don’t mean to rain on anyone’s parade!

Return Road :munch

I wonder why she didn't pick "Sunset -Love is All-". It's so very ballad.
She should have gathered all the single & promo song, before picked an album track; like "SAKURA", "untitled", or "LIFE".

I would have trade Aeternal or Today for Shape of love

probably she hates the single cover. :P jk

Sunset reminds Sunrise , that can be the reason.

Honestly, this album is helping avex to get more money to pay their debt and helping avex's financial problem only. I didn't expect this album with great quality in terms of "choice of tracks, photo shoots, etc"

I’m going to cry.


Eh, at the end as long as she chose the songs, then even the ones I don’t like as much I can appreciate being on the release as it’s more personal to her.


Walk
Shape of love
Return road
And more I’d love on there but at least it’s a problem I have with Ayu and not Avex
And it’s her music so in the end, I have no problem
With ayu ������ but damn, shape of love deserved more hahaha

Shape of love is also one of my favorite :love

Justice for Shape of love and WORDS!

My Team Ayu copy arrived today, it took so long... but finally here :) I was surprised the mask case was not included (but i was not going to use it anyways lol)

Apologies if I missed it somewhere, but does anyone have scans of the album booklet?

Honestly, I'd been away from Ayu for some time now but this release drew me back in. This is a really strong collection. Ayu's ballads are unmatched. 春よ、来い is beautiful.

I made scans but only of the relevant pages
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13cS...ew?usp=sharing

Thank you!

My copy arrived today from cdjapan

My unboxing: https://youtu.be/Yt9x_KCdikU

I like the other cover more but I'm happy anyway

Thank you so much! The photos are beautiful.

A BALLADS 2 crossed the 15K physical CD sales this week

https://tieba.baidu.com/p/7372116911

Nice! :luv2 I was really hoping it would sell at least 15k physical copies in the long run.

THANK YOU SO MUCH :love :love :love