New mini album out August 5th, 2015 II
 

ayumi hamasaki『title to be announced』
mini-album in stores 2015.08.05

Ayumi Hamasaki brings new mini album! It will consist of 5 songs and most of them will be uplifting. Among the songs are 「Step by step」 which is being used as the theme song for NHK Drama "Boys and fellows" starring actress Nakama Yukie, a dance tune produced by RedOne, who was also in charge of ayumi cover of Utada Hikaru's "Movin' on without you". The album's DVD & Blu-ray will contain 3 PVs and its making-of footage.

=== RELEASE ========================================
「title to be announced」CD+DVD | AVCD-93157/B | ¥2,800
<CD content>
★ Step by step
★ RedOne produced song
★ untitled song 1
★ untitled song 2
★ untitled song 3
* 5 songs total
<DVD content>
★ Step by step (video clip)
★ untitled video 1
★ untitled video 2
★ Step by step (making clip)
★ untitled video 1 (making clip)
★ untitled video 2 (making clip)
* 6 videos total

「title to be announced」CD+Blu-ray | AVCD-93158/B | ¥3,200
<CD content>
★ Step by step
★ RedOne produced song
★ untitled song 1
★ untitled song 2
★ untitled song 3
* 5 songs total
<Blu-ray content>
★ Step by step (video clip)
★ untitled video 1
★ untitled video 2
★ Step by step (making clip)
★ untitled video 1 (making clip)
★ untitled video 2 (making clip)
* 6 videos total

「title to be announced」CD | AVCD-93159 | ¥1,800
★ Step by step
★ RedOne produced song
★ untitled song 1
★ untitled song 2
★ untitled song 3
* 5 songs total

=== DIGITAL RELEASE ================================
「Step by step」iTunes single 2015.07.01
http://i.imgur.com/NQKuO5Qm.jpg
<content>
★ Step by step
★ July 1st

=== Songs preview =================================


=== Info =========================================


=== LYRICS PREVIEW (?) ==============================
どうしたら
嫌いになれるの

どうしたら
忘れられるの

どうしたら どうしたら どうしたら

こうなってしまう前の自分に
ねぇ戻れるのかを教えて

---

' 愛している ' のひと言だけで

何もかもが大丈夫で

どんな事でも乗り越えられる

そんな魔法の力があるよ

-Shape of Love-

---

この夏に魔法をかけていたいよ、ずっと。

そして君の隣にいさせてよ、ずっと。

-Summer diary- (?)

一緒に見た海 眩しかったね

綺麗で切なくて 何て言うのかな

よくある 'このまま時が止まればいいのに' って台詞わかる気がした

-Summer diary-

この夏に魔法をかけていたいよ、ずっと。

そして君の隣にいさせて。

大切にしていたいんだよ。。

-Summer diary-

---

さようなら

大好きなあなた

さようなら さようなら さようなら

まるで何もなかった様な顔で明日を始めるんだろう

- Sayonara -


=== SHOP LINKS ====================================
TeamAyu Official shop
TeamAyu Official shop for international shipping
mu-mo shop
mu-mo shop for international shipping
CDJapan. . : CD CD+DVD CD+Blu-ray
Yesasia . . : CD CD+DVD CD+Blu-ray
HMV . . . . : CD CD+DVD CD+Blu-ray
amazon . . : CD CD+DVD CD+Blu-ray

5 songs in total? So it's a bit like FIVE was. I wonder if there will be hidden track, too. That would be cool because it makes me feel so nostalgic. :D

I'd rather it be like Memorial address in terms of variety and quality. ;)

Oh, my heart would melt if it was like Memorial address. That album is beyond amazing. :luv2

I just hope that Avex won't be an idiot and add Movin' on without you on the album again. That would be so stupid. It's been on two albums already, and wasn't it used as promo song for that Utada Hikaru tribute collection, too? Avex tends to do some stupid moves sometimes, so I'm pretty afraid now. D:

^No way, that's impossible. I guarantee there is absolutely no chance for that to happen! lol

Hopefully there will be TA version. =)

If there is a TA version, I hope it's actually worth it. I don't always enjoy paying for shipping from them and then from tenso. Lol I wouldn't mind if they had some really cool extras with it though.

it got one medium-quality song and RedOne sth already + she will put BALLAD or TWO OF THEM like 100% so I am not expecting anything spectacular. I hope, im wrong, though.

...two albums? It popped up on A ONE, yes, but the other album it's been released on was the Hikki album, so I'm confused as to where you're coming from.

me too! even if it will be with special summer medley like on Sunrise single

I think we got it that you don't like ballads :P

^ ok, I will shut up then XD

I'm pretty curious about the title/covers/PV's this time more than for music, lol. Such a fast realese.

I doubt there will be a summer medley. Been there, done that. Not really enough songs for a new one.

Agreed on that.

Mostly I'm hoping for a good mix of different kinds of uptempo & summery here. Like... something monochrome, something independent, something INSPIRE, something You & Me, and something Lelio would be a good mix for me. Some cute happy stuff, some darker stuff; some raw rockish stuff, some synthy dancey stuff. A good well-rounded mix.

If this ends up being like... all happy-happy-ish stuff - like Step by step, XOXO, You & Me, glitter, Beautiful Fighters.... Honest to goodness, I will collapse out of exhausted resignation and just let the summer heat bake me to death. lol

QFT :yes

Memorial address is simply one of her best albums.

Unfortunately for me, the fact that the absolute trash that is Step by step is in this album sort of seals the deal that this mini will _not_ be anything resembling Memorial address.

I'm not loving Step by Step so far. The melody just sounds too familiar, as if it's the same thing she's been doing over and over again. I hope the rest of the tracks will be good.

I have some mixed feelings recently. Like, as a whole, A One was a pretty decent album. But, I feel like she's settling for less these days. Her earlier music sounded like it had much more time and effort put into them and the overall quality was tons better.

Really? I don't get why people are saying that Ma is one of her best. I mean, you can simply compare ANGEL's SONG with Step by step..not much difference really : )))
Yeah, Ma had a variety of genres and it is a good one but I'm sure that we won't get 5 happy-cuteish songs on the new EP.

if she is going to release another song like ourselves i will die :luv2

to me, Step by step is a disappointment :irked

lol...honey no. Step by step is straight-up pedestrian. At least ANGEL'S SONG is fun.

Y'all are so rude about Step by step, i love this song so much and i'm soooo looking forward to its full version even though it probably won't have a major plot twist.

Yeah, I actually agree that step by step is really catchy and fun once you give it a chance. At first, I kind of let people's negative comments influence my impression of the song. But it's definitely catchy and I can't wait to hear it in full!

I was going to say the same thing about the comparison to ANGEL'S SONG, actually! Haha...not in terms of them sounding similar, just that step by step would be the fun, upbeat track of the mini album.

Now...a super fast and aggressive rock song, a SLOW ballad like forgiveness or Dearest (skip the piano though), and the redone song, and then...ahhh I wish for something catchy and pop like STEP you or ourselves.

Step by step is well, pretty catchy, cause I still remember how it sounds and its pretty easy to remember the words etc. But it's not type of songs I will return to.

I have a feeling that, due to the timing, it will probably be heavily summer-themed. I just hope this doesn't end up replacing a new single before the end of the year.

I'm still having nightmares because of how bad this song sounds live, its chorus is way too high for her, it's out of her range. The full song though doesn't remind me of TSMGO and Snowy kiss that much anymore, but still it feels recycled.

She already did the full version from the first day of the tour. I don't think it's too much different from what we have.

Why does everyone always have to be so specific with their hopes? Can we just not hope and just wait and see?

I hope we get a trance/electronic uplifting track in the other three. Summer trance anthemmmm.

Hope so.
I'm so tired of ballad songs in A ONE :D

Really. It's a matter of taste, of course. You can clearly see why most people prefer Memorial address to anything (What do you like? Colours?). To my ears Memorial address songs are such treats, while Step by step is more like a punishment. People will opine differently.

I am always disappointed in the "stuff before was so good" and the "stuff now is shit" split between her works.

It's driven by nostalgia, I think. I remember how amazing Memorial address was, and I want it to be that great.

If this album goes like this,

★ Step by step <--- reminds me "Greatful day"
★ RedOne produced song <--- reminds me "ourselves"
★ untitled song 1 <--- "No way to say"
★ untitled song 2 <---- "Because of You"
★ untitled song 3 <---- "Memorial Address"

That would be love.

I live for nostalgia, but I've learned that the less expectations you have then the less likely you are to be disappointed - or at least less likely to be disappointed to a massive degree.

^That's also true. Ayu's music is pretty much the one thing that has never disappointed me in my life. Except for a few rare occasions... (duets, Happening Here lol)

just give the "bell" ballad a rest (No way to say option) and give something like forgiveness! <3 and maybe sth like "HANABI II" for "Ma" cause we had wonderful Last minute ^^ that would be lovely.

I really like her "dance/pop" tracks that got edgy atmosphere because of the PV... Ladies Night was pretty fun/pop track, but with that PV it became kinda... creepy :D So it was STEP you (one of my favorite pv's from her) and for ourselves. Even Startin' had more humorous than "party" PV. Alsoooo... Sparkle. Sparkle PV gave the song second life, cause I disliked it at first... It sounded very western at first listen. When the PV was out I was so in love :D

To be honest I started to love Ayu because of her PV's oO they were weird and visual. Her PV's made even her weakest ballads sound pretty neat xD (the plot twist in Sweet Season, whole Walking proud video etc)

It seems we all feel the same way about those mid-tempo ballads. LOL

Except walking proud is one of THE BEST BALLADS! Better than HEAVEN that's for sure.

Sweet Season isn't that bad. I disliked it at first, I even remember having a rant about the entire L single, but Sweet Season is great for when the sun begins to descend and illuminates the colors of the tree leaves. It's a nice song for a lovely late afternoon.

This is the 1st album of Ayu, since I´m a fan, that I don´t get any exciting (just for the covers)

I have no expectations nor wishing for anything in particular. Curious about what she'll do next.

I also felt that way about Sweet Season. I thought it was kind of boring and nothing special but after listening to it on really nice, sunny days when there is a soft breeze blowing or driving around in the car on such days I started appreciating it.
It now reminds me of those kind of days, and I think it fits those days quite well. I really enjoy listening to it now. Some songs just need the right setting for me to appreciate them.

Exactly, it was driving in the car when I began to really appreciate the song. On the kind of days you had mentioned. It's very like "ah, those days were nice, weren't they?" - very reminiscent and nostalgic. It's a simple song for the simple days that have long since passed. The days you may have taken for granted for the fact that they were simple. But often times, those are some of the best days.

Ayu finished to write one song and went to recording studio yesterday

http://i.imgur.com/1eyDBsjl.jpg

Rise up mini album rise this is the beginning

I hope for 4 poppin my life tracks ala Lelio/Terminal/harder XOXO.

Yes!!!!!!!

ME TOO.

Even if I say this I'm willing to be murdered by this forum I wish a song in this album like feel the love... That song bring me so many memories about my summer. For me is pure gold.

I still really like that song. Reminds me of a happier time in my life. I can't believe so much time has passed though.

I reallyy enjoy step by step!
Hope for big things from this mini!

Me too! Happier time in my life, the time rolls by very quickly, that song have a really good energy that make you forget about sadness or problems.

I guess this is an unpopular opinion but I would love for Ayu to do another song with DAISHI DANCE. His music is just so nostalgic sounding, and it'd be perfect for summer! Love taking walks on trails listening to DAISHI DANCE's music.

I'm not gonna have any expectations, just gonna let this album release and then listen to it lol but I honestly don't like "Step by step" all that much; it's really unmemorable. Looking forward to the new RedOne track though. Ayu + RedOne is always good.

If she releases such song, I'll be happy. :yes

Would love another DAISH DANCE track. What is forever love was so awesome!

TBH XOXO was deffo a miss for me...not sure what to expect from RedOne.

I'm still addicted to XOXO. Since we got some nostalgic stuff on A ONE, I want either a full on energetic mini (XOXO/Lelio/Terminal), either some epic stuff (BRILLANTE/Don't Look Back/Duty - 2015 tour ver./immature - 2015 tour ver.)

I wouldn't mind epic stuff as well but the mini album will be all up beat.

I actually liked XOXO, it wasn't as powerful as Lelio and Terminal but almost! I still love it and sometimes move to it.

I wonder if except for step by step and RedOne's track the 3 others will be produced by US procducers again.

Step by step is very japanese style so it might stick a little bit, but it helps with some versatility since all the 5 tracks will be up beat.

so much YES!! :yes

To tell the truth, I don't have high expectations about this release. A ONE was awesome, I will be satisfied for long time =)

Yessssssssss. I love his stuff!!

This so much. What is forever love it's one of the few tracks I absolutely love from Colours. I'd love for another DAISHI DANCE collab. I love his works and I'm missing her nostalgic and sad summer songs. That would be perfect!

I don't have high expectations for this mini-album neither.
Mostly because I want to enjoy A ONE a litte more, before the mini-album release lol.

I wouldn't mind if DAISHI DANCE would do another song for ayu, just make it more up beat and Naoya-less, though I understand why she needed him for What is forever love which was good.

Same here! I love What Is Forever Love and also Memory which he did with Mika.

I'm up for some epic stuff on the mini, like Free & Easy (I'm going through a phase of remembering how perfect this song is!)

I wonder if the RedOne song is from the Colours era? Or if he did a song specifically for Ayumi after Movin' On Without You?

The song is specifically for ayu regardless when they did this.
Song could be ready and she just had to record it.

I'd like another song from DAISHI, but I'd prefer something more upbeat like the song "To me" from the K-Pop group Rainbow.

I am just hoping for some better songs than Step by Step. XD

Give me another M~Free&Easy~Momentum~Missing-esque track!!

These songs are so different, lol. It's like saying, "Give me another Secret~(miss)understood~GUILTY~Party Queen album!!"

I do see similarities between Missing and momentum, and to a lesser extend M, but Free & Easy is the odd one out.

THIS. :yes

I sooo love his Remix of HEAVEN on ayu-mi-x 6 -SILVER- but What is forever love isn't really a big deal for me... :no

LOL I wonder if its just me who consider them "similar" with the beats, arrangements and stuffs. They've always sound like sibling songs to me.

I always wanted Ayu to collaborate with DAISHI DANCE but sadly didn't really like What is forever love. I have high expectations for the song composed by RedOne, though. XOXO is a gem :heart

Not setting expectations. But even so, I tend to end up feeling like this:

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/b...psesq79z2b.jpg

Well I see Free & Easy as Ayu and HAL creating a more mature, refined and fully realized version of what they were going for with M. Like at their core their very similar songs in their composing (the slowing rising key changes) and the conjuring of something feeling like its rising before it explodes into epicness. When you look at the songs in their greater picture of J-pop, M was very influential and alot of copies came after it-but I see Free & Easy as the best version of that kind of distinctive pop song.

M, momentum and Missing do have similar beats, while Free & Easy uses a similar thing I think that the beats are kind of more in the background, less prominent + the song has a different tone to it somehow.

Assuming Ayu believes she is 'back' I would be really happy to get a bit of the old vibes. I did not mind how dated NO FUTURE sounded, even though I was not fond of the high notes. I would literally buy all the versions if she is able to make songs like TSMGO sounding like SURREAL and ballads like Pray that will remind me of Dearest, SEASONS, Far away, Key, Endless Sorrow etc. I know that is asking for way too much. That's why I am not begging Ayu to do something like that, but my fandom will return to its 100% when these sorta things happen. Eventhough she has grown in the matured awesome woman she is, she is still sharing some point of views from her old self as she said in her interview. That must mean there is still some old-school spark in her. A ONE was a great comeback. Step By Step was allright, and I am hyped for the other songs - whatever she is going to deliver.

I can't believe how far away this release still is. LOL they announced this sooo early.

Idk who decides what is dated and what not anyways just because EDM is in doesn't mean everyone has to do it or those minimal instrumentals that are quite common these days (these piss me off they sound like someone took 2 sound effects put them on top of each other and said: here is your instrumental have fun). Older sound is still just as good as it was when it came out, just because A song has a certain age or sounds like it does doesn't mean it's any less good, so I really don't see why this is an argument with everyone. One won't be on iTunes and think: hmmm i like this but it sounds dated so I won't download it. Either you like it or not but hey that's just my opinion

^I don't think anyone is arguing? But the point is, there is music that was made ten years ago and you would think it was made last year. There is also old music that sounds so painfully obvious that it's a decade old. (Personally, this is why I hate when lyrics consist of current pop culture references of slang, it's lame and your song will sound really dated very soon.)

Because I don't think it's entirely true. When you wait for new ayu songs you always expect something deep inside, and you have the wish that whatever she will release, you would like it and that it will be top notch. I don't think that you can not to expect high things from your favorites, unless they stop being favorites for good.

^That's true. I always expect high quality from ayu. I expect to fall in love with her songs and lyrics. I am rarely disappointed.

For me is kinda opposite like always. I wasn't expecting anything spectacular after hbya for Party Queen (lame title, lame covers) but I was sooo surprised. I was kinda hoping Colours will have sumthing i like, and I ended up with filler for NOW&4EVA and "quite good" What is forever love. I was kinda hoping for more uptempo tracks on A ONE... and nope. And let's face it, beside WARNING and NO FUTURE, I don't really listen to the rest.

So maybe I'll just forget about this release... And one day she will surprise me lol

Or I have an awesome idea.. You should ban me (I can give you a reason: my moaning about the amount of ballads and how Colours is bad) and un-ban me after realese. That would be healthy.

I usually have zero expectations for every release and I end up liking whatever is served.

Or you could exercize some self-control :P

*breath in* *breath out* xD

The only albums that sound pretty darn dated IMO from Ayu is A Song for XX and Loveppears.

I just really hope this new mini album has music on it.

I think my expectations are reasonable.

I'm dying for a bit more info on this lol

Since she was recording last week, maybe we'll get some more info when June rolls around?

We might get a tracklist in a month. =P

Really liking Step by step!

Hopefully she'll balance it out with ballads like crossroad or Will.

Man you really need to come back down to earth, or else you might be disappointed. :no

I know, I'm super demanding this time. I think I'm gonna start up the ultimate AHS meltdown if there isn't at least some singing.

I only ask for no more "hello new me, hello new me, atarashiiiii" D: OMG I always skip that song from Colours...

^ That makes me giggle cause that song is like...one of my favorites. XD

Hello new me is cute. It's like Sweet Season and requires a certain mood to listen to without it getting too grating. I'd say HONEY is also one of those tracks.

HONEY is hella catchy (this emotional music and immature vocals are something to fall in love) which hello new me is pure boring and irritating.

Especialy HONEY classical <3 I love this new version.

Hello new me is far from irritating.

Ayu should make a song called "Opinions" x

i love Hello new me so much :love i think it's cute and it's perfect for spring/summer imo