Ayu will sing the theme of the new NHK drama 「Beauty and boys」
 

A ONE is yet to be released but we already know that a new song called "Step by step" (not included in this album) will be the theme of the new NHK drama 「Beauty and boys」 starring actress Yukie Nakama !
No details about a future release at the moment !

Edit : This will be an up-tempo song with a strong positive message ! The drama will start on April 14 and will end on August 25 for a total of 20 episodes.

http://t.co/Q39lqKKJBq
http://natalie.mu/music/news/141525

that's GREAT news! i hope it's a physical release and not a digital only like how beautiful you are and Hello new me. glad to see she's getting a new tie-in.

Holy shit I just saw Kayzu tweeted about this. I hope the song's good.

(Also, I kind of want the B'z evolution rumor to be true)

Amazing! That's a pretty big deal tbh.

^
Unfortunately I believe that the rumor with B'z was a fake :/
I read a lot of comments on Mixi saying it was not a reliable information ...

The CD shop thing must have been false then? Or maybe we'll get a quick announcement on the 8th? I STILL BEWEAVE.

that's too bad. that would have been the most epic thing that ever happened in the history of mankind.

Oh yes it's amazing !! NHK added that this Drama is a big deal for them they put a lot of budget and everything ! This time it's a big opportunity for her ! The Drama will spread over 5 month if the audiences are good and by extension her song she can have a little hit with this one !

The strange thing is why they didn't put it on A ONE ??

Probably so it can get its own single?

Also I think this makes the drama collection make so much more sense.

They describe it as a 'fight song' so maybe it'll be like Beautiful Fighters?

http://www.nhk.or.jp/drama10/bijo/

Some more comments here.

http://i.imgur.com/OyqTsQr.png

^
Yes probably it was so sudden this "recollection" of DRAMA songs lol I'm excited because this afternoon I thought it would be cool if she sang the song of a new drama XD basically they heard me

So excitedddd.

Step by step, day by day...

Great!

My inner New Kids On The Block fan wishes this was a cover of their Step By Step lol Totally surprised though that a new song will be arriving not to long after A ONE though. Can't wait. Just one more thing to look forward to!

STOP LOL.

I'd die. Then come back and die again

AYUMA IS ON ROLL!!! OMFG

This is nice to know that barely a week after the album release we'll get another new song c: And yes people were worried that this was her first album without a drama/movie tie-in so this is even better! ♥

That's nice!

Great! Is Yukie Nakama still popular? I remember she hosted Kohaku? And was in Shinobi:Heart Under Blade which had HEAVEN as the theme song :D

Daaaaayumn, home girl is on a roll. I hope the song is great and she knocks everyone out of the park with it!

Yess! Hopefully It'll be a new physical single to be released in a few months :)

I was sooo sure about something like this would happen after this iTunes-thing this week :D

Great news and I just can't wait!

Whoa, a new song! I was kind of surprised about this news - A ONE hasn't released yet, and yet there's a new song for a new drama! Man, I have a feeling we might have a new single soon...

Yay!

And with an actress I actually like! Lol

I wonder if A BEST 3 is coming or it's just that she will start a new single cycle (if she will release more than one single) for a new original album in the winter or in a year or something.

Either way I'm happy for a new song and for a drama tie-in!
It's funny that A ONE has no songs with tie-ins and she already has a new song for after A ONE with a tie-in.

I'm curious if this will be physical or digital.

I'm personally thinking digital, since it starts really soon after the album. Unless they hold out a few weeks before fully releasing it? Otherwise digital could be done much quicker.

Yay! Even more new music, from ayu! :P I am sooo happy that she'll be providing the theme song to this drama. "Step by step" is such a cute title. :heart And to also hear that it'll be an upbeat song, makes me very happy! :) I'll be happy with either a physical or digital release, but if it was up to me, it would totally be a physical single release, with a PV & everything, lol. :laugh But...I guess we'll see! I just can't wait to hear, at least, a preview of this song to hear what it sounds like. :)

oh this is the new song that she talking about...the one that not included on her new album! looking forward to this

I miss her summer songs like July 1st, Bluebird and Grateful Days! I hope this one will be something like them. I hope this'll be a physical summer single for 2015 since the drama will run 'till i think mid summer. ;)

My first time seeing Yukie Nakama was as Sadako Yamamura in Ringu 0. The movie wasn't as much horror as tragic drama, but she left an impression. From then on I always associate her with Sadako :laugh

Awesome news!! love the title

Great news XD
She s really working a lot this year.
Wondering what kind of song this is. Hopefully something like wake up or a summer song.

It was described as a 'fight song' so I guess like Beautiful Fighters, right?

I hope this song will be released as a summer single in June with one or two more songs.

Positive up-lifting song, i can imagine to Next Level's vibe

I'm hoping more independent than beautiful fighters lol but I don't know if that's considered an "ouen" song lol musically it sounds it

Yes, new song!

I hope its Born To Be esque..HAHA
Hope she sings it in the encore during the tour!

Wow! I really hope it will boost A ONE sales even though the song it's not on the album

Nice news. I dont know why but I didn't expect it to be on a physical single but more in a digital one.

I really want a song similar to Independent ! I have the impression that it's been years since the last time she released a positive J-pop song !! I hope it will not be something like You & Me or Sunrise I really want a positive rockish song like Independent, Daybreak or even Beautiful Fighter etc... of course not a carbon copy but with the same cheerfulness =)

i believe A BEST 3 is on the oven...it's been a while, i think it takes too long for her to release best album...she has tons of stuff after A BEST 2..

almost every time she announces something new folks on here start speculating about A BEST 3 . I'm not sure why is everyone obsessed with "best of" albums. They're just recycling of old material.

I hope it'll be upbeat and summer-ish and of course, a physical summer single!

I sorta agree with you, but A BEST songs that were re-recorded were nice!
I don't think an A BEST 3 would sell well, those cds are for the general public but it seems their interest for her has dropped since a few years now so they wouldn't find anything relevant to listen to. A BEST still sold well on recochoku last year because those were the songs from her peak, the songs japanese people actually listened to and loved.

I don't know what to expect from Step by step, we already have A ONE coming soon so i'm not too excited about this now yet!

STEP you goes EDM = Step by Step
...if only :D
Actually..I want another July 1st type of songs
Fun yet a song that's upbeat and keeps you going!

yyyep, I want something closely to July 1st/independent/STEP you/flower garden PLEASE!
Or maybe something like Startin'?

BF was a disaster. Still a catchy tune though. Disaster, but catchy.

Startin' is a great song. I would love another somewhat like it.

Honestly, I'll go with just about anything.

I hope I like it as much as Mai Kuraki's step by step!!!

hope this song will be something like Song 4 u or Hello new me

"This will be an up-tempo song with a strong positive message"

That sounds like Sunrise.

thats good news!

Same thought. Come on, why need AB3? So she can destroy AB3 cover in here future mv?

Please don't forgot why A SUMMER BEST flopped. AB2 sell good just because of the tie-up with CDL and new song, and digital download eg iTunes not yet popular at that time.

^
XD even without CDL it would have sold well ... the year after A complete all singles sold 850 000 copies she was still relevant or at least she had a big aura around her name now the things are changed ...the more they will wait better it will be in regard to AB3 !

^Agree, I don't think they should release AB3 anytime soon.

I could only accept BEST albums if they have new arragments/remixes. But well, that would be just another ayu-mix. (or another Classical-something)

she could realese A ROCK. with rock mixes..

I don't think she should release A BEST 3 anytime soon either. I must admit that I'd love something like A BALLADS, with new arrangements and stuff, but I also don't see it getting a lot of commercial success nowadays...

By the time A BEST 3 gets released, the window between A BEST 2 and A BEST 3 will be longer than the window between A BEST (2000) and A BEST 2 (2007)...wait, it's already longer. Eight years already?! That long?

But yeah... We're not sure if we're in the mood for A BEST 3 yet...

If this song does well (Platinum status in downloads) I vote she goes ahead and releases A BEST 3.

Once she gets a hit, A Best 3 is most likely a given... I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing is already +- done.

Wow! I love how active she is lately. Can't wait to hear this :D

YEAHHH

Maybe with this we can expect a summer single?

A summer single? Hell yeah!!! I hope so! I can imagine a MAXI single like & or H

summer is too far away...but can be like that

maybe she will release this as digital single...and insert it into her summer single

I hope it's a summer single and she can include new pv from A ONE just like my name's WOMEN Pv from STEP you/is this LOVE?

Ayu's on fire flocks. I for one am very excited. It's refreshing to hear ayu so active.:D

^same i'm craving for new music and the only person who's actually giving it right from my top faves now is Ayu. This whole A ONE era is giving me very lively and positive vibe.

Preview of Step by Step :)
http://www.bilibili.com/video/av2170985/
Honestly it's been long long time we don't had a pop song like that ! From what we can hear it's quite different but at the same time familiar ... nonetheless I can't make a comparison with another song of her discography at the moment lol

I assume it's another TK song by the structure of the song ?

Wow. How completely and utterly unremarkable.

i hate these japanese/chinese websites, they always take years for me to load and then nothing happens >|

THAT'S STEP BY STEP?
IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE SHOW MUST GO ON TO ME LMAOOO

I like it! Well the song is pretty much covered by the dialogues and such so we can't really hear it so much, but i enjoyed it.

I thought the exact same fucking thing. It's a little less in-your-face but you could easily mistake the two. The similarities are ridiculous.

Ayu, why are you doing this to us???

Mega upload for those who want to listen but can't get the site to work--but seriously, don't get your hopes up about the song.

Sounds so sweet, but damn that is basically The Show Must Go On at some parts. The similar parts even have overlap lyrically.

Komuro PLS

I was hoping for another STEP you. Omfg

Someone put that asshole in a time capsule and send him back to 1996 where he belongs, I am officially done with him

++++++++++++1

+2

lol this is ridiculous :D while that thing is playing i can hear TSMGO ringing in my head, not to mention Ayu's away of diction of the words is also identical lol omg this is hilarious. LOl don't send him anywhere. Someone needs to sit Ayu, him and whoever else is responsible and play them the 3 songs one after another :D

She could have done anything with this song. ANYTHING. And this is what we got.

I'm going to the bar.

It's like a happier version of snowy kiss (pretty much the same as The Show Must Go On)

I think she tried to record way too many songs within such a short amount of time, resulting in this sort of mess
I didn't listen to TSMGO yet but i'm not pleased to hear that i'll probably hear the same song twice.

ugh, sounds like a shittier Sunrise.

It does sound TSMGO with a Depend on You touch.

Yaaay ! I'm happy to have a preview now! More I Listen to it more it sound different of the show must go on, kind of "sister song" but lighter, so why not !

Thanks! <3

It's not exactly the same but some of it is reminiscent.

I would say this is a case of Everytime We Touch syndrome at least with choruses.

yaaas
sleigh
etc
im ok with the song. ayu keeps on giving the goods. its why I'm a fan.

I know the quality isn't great and there's people talking over Ayu either, but I'm not really impressed so far.
Step by Step sounds like a TSMGO demo to me.

Still, I'll waiting for a decent preview.
I can't really judge the song yet, but I think my interest on Step By Step is decreased a lot :/

Isn't it The Show Must Go On? :no

While I definitely agree there is a strong The Show Must Go On vibe, I'm still SO RELIEVED it is not another ballad (after the last drama)!
So I will wait for the full song and better quality because I can't really hear anything as regards the arrangements.

But yeay, not another generic ballad or hello new me type of song!

I also thought that it was The Show Must Go On until some parts.

I loved what TK did so far, I think he has to step up his game as a composer, at least for ayu, and ayu has to slap him.

The Show Must Go On (and Step by step) probably are good as songs but I need completely different compositions. =P

It's a happier and lighter version of TSMGO i feel too but I think this is wayyyyy more radio-friendly and J-Pop-ish for the general audience

SO ITS A GOOD THING. I think it can sell.

I... like it? it sounds really cute lol

I actually don't mind it lol It's a been-there-done-that type of song but it doesn't sound bad at all IMO. I'll wait until the full thing is released but... for now the preview is decent.

Step-by-step and The Show Must Go On... =_=

Yay, I'm so excited! I hope it's more like Ayu's old- school sound; I really miss that but I'm sure it will sound good regardless!

I can't say for sure, but well, I was hoping for a bit of a different sound. But really it's hard to hear, and I've only listened once haha.

I love TK (we don't know if this is actually by him, do we?) but I never wanted him to be the only composer she uses lol. I reeeeeally wish she'd try some composers she hasn't used in awhile. I wonder why she doesn't? Particularly ones who's strong point was upbeat poppy songs.

I'm still excited to hear it in full. And I love how active she is.

Side note, I don't think I'm interested in the drama's premise lol. Oh well.

So....


NO FUTURE/FRIEND II
The Show Must Go On/Step by step
Walk/Anything for you
sending mail/snowy kiss

Are there more songs in her discography that are practically twins?

I didn't expect to hear 2 similar songs in such a short time. We don't have full version of TSMGO and we allready know that it will be a part two. This is ridiculous. He really is out of ideeas

Oh come on, let's just call snowy kiss, The Show Must Go On, and Step by step by their real names:

snowy kiss
snowy kiss ~ver. 2~
snowy kiss ~pop/rock ver.~

Or, to kick a dead horse:

snowy kiss
snowy kiss again
snowy kiss again again