New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [VI]

[truehappiness]

I am posting all relevant information in here! Hopefully it helps. If anything needs to be fixed or added, please post it here and I will add it ASAP!

**Originally the title of the album was reported as "Party queen" by Kome, but Ayu corrected Kome and said it was "Party Queen". It looks like he sent out the notice before Ayu made the correction.

****COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 A ~HOTEL Love songs~ is now only one DVD on the album, instead of a CD+3DVD, it is now a CD+2DVD

フジテレビ系木曜よる10時ドラマ「最後から二番目の恋」主題歌として話題の「how beautiful you are」をはじめ、未発表書き下ろし新曲のみ全14曲を収録した超豪華フル・アルバム！全曲ロンドン・レコ ーディングを敢行し、世界の音楽シーンの最前線で活躍するトップ・エンジニアやミュージシャンを多数起用し た、まさに世界標準のサウンドが詰め込まれた意欲作。
【CD+2DVD】【CD+DVD】【CD】の全3形態でのリリースで、【DVD-1】にはロンドンで撮り下ろされた3曲を含むミュージック・クリップ4曲とそれらのメイキング・クリップの 未発表8トラックを豪華収録！さらに【DVD-2】には、2011年大晦日に開催されたばかりの最新ライヴ「ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 ～HOTEL Love songs～」を完全収録！！

Translation by Misa-chan:
Starting with the unveiling of Fuji TV’s Thursday 10pm drama 「Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi」’s theme song 「how beautiful you are」, a super grand full album of 14 brand new songs will be released! All songs were recorded in London, featuring top engineers and musicians at the helm of today’s musical scene, creating an ambitious album of world-class quality. 3 versions will be released:【CD+2DVD】【CD+DVD】【CD】【DVD-1】 will include the PVs for 4 songs, 3 of which were filmed in London, plus making-of clips to make up a total of 8 tracks!【DVD-2】 will be the complete live recording of countdown live concert held on New Year’s Eve in 2011, 「ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 ～HOTEL Love songs～」!!

Covers

Spoiler:

*shot by Ryan Chan, Leslie Kee's assistant

Originally Posted by Aderianu

I cut white background

Party Queen【CD+DVD+DVD】



Party Queen【CD+DVD】


Party Queen【CD】

CD+2DVD first press


CD+2DVD regular edition


CD+DVD


CD only


LIMITED BOX SET CD+4DVD


LIMITED BOX SET CD+2DVD+Blu-ray

Tracklist

Spoiler:

01.Party queen ※PEACH JOHN　ワークブラCMソング
02.NaNaNa
03.Shake It♥
04.taskebab
05.call
06.Letter
07.reminds me
08.Return Road
09.Tell me why
10.a cup of tea
11.the next LOVE
12.Eyes, Smoke, Magic
13.Serenade in A minor
14.how beautiful you are ※フジテレビ系木曜よる10時ドラマ「最後から二番目の恋」主題歌

01.Shake It♥ (video clip)
02.NaNaNa (video clip)
03.Return Road (video clip)
04.how beautiful you are (video clip)
05.Shake It♥ (making clip)
06.NaNaNa (making clip)
07.Return Road (making clip)
08.how beautiful you are (making clip)

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzU2ODU0Nzgw.html

**NOT IN ORDER, subject to change as additional PVs/songs may be added
・how beautiful you are
・Return Road
・Shake It♥
・NaNaNa
・Party queen
・Letter
・call
・reminds me
・the next LOVE
・Eyes, Smoke, Magic
・Tell me why
・taskebab
・a cup of tea
・Serenade in A minor

・how beautiful you are (video clip)
・Return Road (video clip)
・Shake It♥ (video clip)
・NaNaNa (video clip)
・how beautiful you are (making clip)
・Return Road (making clip)
・Shake It♥ (making clip)
・NaNaNa (making clip)

NOT CONFIRMED


01. Return Road (4:17)
02. Letter (4:51)
03. call (4:14)
04. Tell me why (5:02)
05. taskebab (interlude) (2:08)
06. the next LOVE (3:55)
07. Shake It (4:35)
08. a cup of tea (interlude) (1:21)
09. NaNaNa (3:52)
10. Eyes, Smoke, Magic (interlude) (1:46)
11. Party queen (4:33)
12. reminds me (5:27)
13. Serenade in A minor (interlude) (1:48)
14. how beautiful you are + hidden track (Happening Here) (10:12)
NOT CONFIRMED

Versions

Spoiler:

CD+3DVD - first press includes a regular CD case + special DVD packaging in a plastic sleeve for the COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 A ~HOTEL Love songs~ DVDs, regular press has all discs in regular cases

Spoiler:

【CD+DVD+2DVD】

・AVCD-38511/B～D　￥7,350（tax incl.）
★初回限定仕様：2枚組アルバムケース+ライヴDVDパッケージ付き透明スリーヴ仕様
★通常盤：4枚組アルバムケース
収録内容
＜CD＞

・how beautiful you are
・Return Road
・Shake It♥
・NaNaNa
・Party queen
・Letter
・call
・reminds me
・the next LOVE
・Eyes, Smoke, Magic
・Tell me why
・taskebab
・a cup of tea
・Serenade in A minor
（全14曲収録・曲順未定）
＜DVD-1＞

・how beautiful you are (video clip)
・Return Road (video clip)
・Shake It♥ (video clip)
・NaNaNa (video clip)
・how beautiful you are (making clip)
・Return Road (making clip)
・Shake It♥ (making clip)
・NaNaNa (making clip)
（全8track収録・収録順未定）
＜DVD-2＆3＞

ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2011-2012 ～HOTEL Love songs～
01. do it again
02. Happening Here
03. insomnia
04. MOON
05. fated
06. feedback
07. NEVER EVER
08. sending mail
09. machine
10. Sparkle
11. Humming
12. evolution
13. RAINBOW
14. November
15. music
16. Ladies Night
17. Party queen
18. Happening Here
19. Love song
20. how beautiful you are
21. Trauma ～ Boys & Girls
22. MY ALL

CD+DVD - regular CD+DVD

Spoiler:

【CD+DVD】

・AVCD-38512/B　￥3,990（tax incl.）

収録内容
＜CD＞

・how beautiful you are
・Return Road
・Shake It♥
・NaNaNa
・Party queen
・Letter
・call
・reminds me
・the next LOVE
・Eyes, Smoke, Magic
・Tell me why
・taskebab
・a cup of tea
・Serenade in A minor
（全14曲収録・曲順未定）

＜DVD＞

・how beautiful you are (video clip)
・Return Road (video clip)
・Shake It♥ (video clip)
・NaNaNa (video clip)
・how beautiful you are (making clip)
・Return Road (making clip)
・Shake It♥ (making clip)
・NaNaNa (making clip)
（全8track収録・収録順未定）

CD only - regular CD only

Spoiler:

【CD】


・AVCD-38513　￥3,150（tax incl.）

収録内容
＜CD＞

・how beautiful you are
・Return Road
・Shake It♥
・NaNaNa
・Party queen
・Letter
・call
・reminds me
・the next LOVE
・Eyes, Smoke, Magic
・Tell me why
・taskebab
・a cup of tea
・Serenade in A minor
（全14曲収録・曲順未定）

PLAYBUTTON - special button that also functions as an mp3 player... more information at http://www.playbutton.co

SPECIAL LIMITED BOX SET CD+3DVD+Blu-ray - special set that has the CD+3DVD, POWER of MUSIC Blu-ray, and a pair of half pint glasses and cork coasters

SPECIAL LIMITED BOX SET CD+5DVD - special set that has the CD+3DVD, POWER of MUSIC 2DVD set, and a pair of half pint glasses and cork coasters

Mockup of the limited box from the website

Spoiler:

***EXCLUSIVE GOODS = HALF PINT GLASSES + CORK COASTERS (two of each)

Bonus goods

Spoiler:

TeamAyu/mu-mo gifts only for the time being.

Originally Posted by Aderianu

『Party Queen』
【CD+DVD+2DVD】 or 【CD+DVD】 or 【CD】
★TeamAyu gift：Lip Cream Case Strap (1) ← google-image
★mu-mo gift：Clear File (1)

『ayumi hamasaki ～POWER of MUSIC～ 2011 LIMITED EDITION』
【DVD 2】 or 【Blu-ray 1】
★TeamAyu gift：Decoration Sticker for iPhone4 (1)
★mu-mo gift：Memo Pad (1)

『Party Queen』SPECIAL LIMITED BOX SET
【CD+DVD+2DVD】+【LIVE DVD 2】+【goods】 or 【CD+DVD+2DVD】+【LIVE Blu-ray 1】+【goods】
★TeamAyu gift：　Lip Cream Case Strap (1) ＋Decoration Sticker for iPhone4 (1)
★mu-mo gift：Clear File (1)＋Memo Pad (1)

Misc. information

Spoiler:

- Masashi Muto directed some PVs for this album
- it appears that the album cover was shot in London with Leslie in late November (https://twitter.com/#!/lesliekeesupe...34749770022913)
- Timmy composed both Party queen and how beautiful you are
- There is a commemorative photobook coming out on 03/21 [the same day] with special shots not included in the album (http://www.ahsforum.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=334)
- how beautiful you are is being released as a digital single on 02/08 on iTunes with a cover
- it is thought that there are only two interludes due to Ayu saying that she recorded 12 songs in London
- Timmy wrote Party Queen with Ayu in mind
- Ayu mentioned that castings for a PV in a recent tweet (but it is unknown if she was talking in the present tense) so another PV for the album is not unlikely! (She is in fact filming another PV.)
- The spoiler that follows has PV tidbits from the last few new album threads while she was in London recording.

Spoiler:

Originally Posted by gwijai

my friend is a dancer in london and he txted me this eve to say he was doing three music videos for a japanese singer!! I was like OMG ITS AYU and he said yeah thats her name lol!! Shooting a pv this tonight for a fast song called shake it! and then they will be doing another pv on sat and one on monday!!!

Ah, it looks like it was gwijai's post then. They said it was a fast song and I remember wondering if the PVs were going to be connected since it seems that they are going to have some of the same cast members in all three PVs (somewhat like that band in the background of Sexy little things/Microphone).

With this piece of information combined with Nigel's Tumblr (the stylist for the extras) it looks like Shake It is for sure the first PV filmed in an apartment in East London. I think it's also safe to say that Return Road was filmed in the factory with the tank, scientists, and drones, and NaNaNa was filmed at the Fabric nightclub in Farringdon with people doing a bit of gymnastics and in crazy makeup/hair/tattoos/etcetera.

Spoiler:

Shake It

- posted by gwijai


- from Nigel's Tumblr

Return Road

- from Nigel's Tumblr

NaNaNa

- from Nigel's Tumblr

Just for some more info, the guy who styled for the factory PV said it was the 'worst shoot he has ever worked on' probably because it was so LONG. They shot two scenes for the PV in 14 hours. Here's a shot he took at 2:30am. It must be torture to work with Ayu sometimes... haha.

Oh hey, it's the drummer from Sexy little things/Microphone! There's a performance in the control room. Lastly, here are the drones that are in the PV. Most of these are just full sized versions of the pictures we had before.

Spoiler:

- Party Queen is set to be a PEACH JOHN CM song that will be on air 2/22, Ayu will not be in the CM
- Masashi Muto confirmed that he did indeed film a new PV with Ayu recently which brings the PV total for the album to six PVs, it seems
- David Reitzas mixed and did drums for how beautiful you are
- There's a bit in the ViVi interview that says that Party Queen contains pop, rock, electro, and jazz genres. The album is also called a 'concept album'.
- Children's voices are present in one of the songs
- "TA Limited PREMIUM PREVIEW ~Party Queen~" will be held March 10th in Tokyo. Ayu herself will not attend. Some TA members will have a chance to hear previews of the songs and music videos (in full?) More information in the spoiler.

Spoiler:

- Will be held March 10th, 2012
- You must apply to be selected for this preview, applications are accepted until February 29th, it seems?
- Only selected TeamAyu members will know the location of the preview
- TeamAyu members can attend free of charge
- There are five 2 hour[?] sessions
- Ayu will NOT be present
- The album can be listened to in full, and four PVs (Return Road, Shake It, NaNaNa, how beautiful you are) can be viewed at the pre-release event

- Ayu appears to be filming 3 new PVs while in Japan, bringing the total to 7 PVs. This is not confirmed however.
- It appears that Ayu originally took the album photos in London but chose to use a different shoot done in New York

Notable links
2012.03.21 NEW ALBUM CONFIRMED
Albums on PLAYBUTTON
～POWER of MUSIC～ 2011 A LIMITED EDITION on DVD/Blu-ray (21. March 2012)
"how beautiful you are" Jacket Released
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [II]
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [III]
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [IV]
New album 'Party Queen' out 03/21 information thread [V]

[TeamAyu2004]

wow.. a new thread...
People are just going to nit-pick at the photos because they dont like them.
They are fine.

[truehappiness]

It's kind of weird that Ryan took these photos but Leslie is credited for them. I don't think I like Ryan's style that much.

[ayu_ready?]

I don't understand why Ayu allowed Ryan to take the photos
Leslie could have been busy, yes, and they all are 3 friends judging by their twitter conversations, but...

it was too risky to do, typical of Ayu. but the outcome is...

[Maemi]

It's funny how I totally hate those animal patterns, but she's got them on Duty, MY STORY and GUILTY too! While I found those covers fine, these PQ are...

[Zeke.]

That effin' boot is just so out of place on the first cover. It is just atrocious. Lol.

[Maemi]

Originally Posted by Zeke.

That effin' boot is just so out of place on the first cover. It is just atrocious. Lol.

lol you're right, it's such an eyesore

[truehappiness]

She's wearing both boots, you know.

[Catzi]

So, Ayu says that these covers represent a sad person, but she's smiling in all these pictures.... Am I missing something? Sorry, if I already missed that part of the conversation. I do like these covers, the "meaning" is just lost to me.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Catzi

So, Ayu says that these covers represent a sad person, but she's smiling in all these pictures.... Am I missing something? Sorry, if I already missed that part of the conversation. I do like these covers, the "meaning" is just lost to me.

Is a sad person as those lonely people who get crazy on parties cuz they feel lonely and unhappy about their lives, not as people who cry on parties.

The covers shows a girl partying on a self-destructing way, and this is the sad aspect of it... That will most likelly become clearer on the songs themselves and maybe on the booklet.

[truehappiness]

Originally Posted by Catzi

So, Ayu says that these covers represent a sad person, but she's smiling in all these pictures.... Am I missing something? Sorry, if I already missed that part of the conversation. I do like these covers, the "meaning" is just lost to me.

She had this in one of her Japanese tweets (translated by Misa-chan):

ayufansouri: I see. Now I understand why the jacket photos are so sexy. She’s laying her heart open to us, but she’s covering up with a pleasurable and fun image so we can’t see the wounds? (((・・
ayu_19980408: (＾ｰ^)ノ☆

[Bad Wolf]

Originally Posted by Catzi

So, Ayu says that these covers represent a sad person, but she's smiling in all these pictures.... Am I missing something? Sorry, if I already missed that part of the conversation. I do like these covers, the "meaning" is just lost to me.

The way I see it, it reminds me of the whole Sweet Season PV, in which it was just so sugary and outdated, 50s ideal, and yet the Ayu that woke up at the end seemed so distraught and haunted. I feel like this idea gets a bit lost in the covers but it reminds me of the sort of thing we have today... in which girls can hide under these masks to cover up for a loneliness inside. Orrrr she could just be saying that even those happy and care-free have a darkness inside them.

This totally seems like overthinking, but I don't mind it so much. It's fun to think of different reasons.

[rakeru]

Thanks for the larger covers; they're growing on me a bit.

[toniayu]

I'm sure we'll have different photos inside.And then,we'll understand the meaning.

[TeamAyu2004]

i think the meaning is pretty clear.

[RayJason]

Indeed it is clear, but it won't safe ayu from comments like 'omg lol sl*t, what a hoar, ew sexy much?'. The concept doesn't show at all.

At first I disliked this shoot so much, but after understanding what the whole concept was about, I started liking the covers.

People who hear/see ayu for the first time (because of this album-cover-) will have a totally weird vision about her. XD I had too; when I found out about ayu I watched pv's like Sparkle, Rule and Ladies Night and I totally had the wrong picture of her back then lol.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by RayJason

Indeed it is clear, but it won't safe ayu from comments like 'omg lol sl*t, what a hoar, ew sexy much?'. The concept doesn't show at all.

At first I disliked this shoot so much, but after understanding what the whole concept was about, I started liking the covers.

People who hear/see ayu for the first time (because of this album-cover-) will have a totally weird vision about her. XD I had too; when I found out about ayu I watched pv's like Sparkle, Rule and Ladies Night and I totally had the wrong picture of her back then lol.

So, what's the way of having the right picture from an singer that has 12 albums that spans different music genres, different lyrical themes and different aesthetics? Whose voice changed so much that we can easily point 3 or 4 different voices from her ? Who has albums covers addressing to furry subculture, jewel advertising and neon-plastic fashion?

Either way someone enter in Ayu fandom, this person will picture her wrongly... Cuz her career is not as linear nor homogenic as some other popstars over there.

[RayJason]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

So, what's the way of having the right picture from an singer that has 12 albums that spans different music genres, different lyrical themes and different aesthetics? Whose voice changed so much that we can easily point 3 or 4 different voices from her ? Who has albums covers addressing to furry subculture, jewel advertising and neon-plastic fashion?

Either way someone enter in Ayu fandom, this person will picture her wrongly... Cuz her career is not as linear nor homogenic as some other popstars over there.

omfg calm down.

I'm just saying that this is not how ayu represents herself all the time, and people who happen to discover her during this era (Party Queen) will totally misunderstand who and what ayumi hamasaki really is. Not everyone can smell that the album(covers) have a concept. Many people know her for her cutesy upbeat J-POP songs and touching ballads, so it will be different for people who discover her to hear lyrics like the one featured in 'Party queen' (song) where she's (almost) suggesting (/or even encouraging) people do drink to have fun with her.

If the concept could have been done better, people (not only her fans) could understand it. They would know 'OH, so she's not drunk and posing like a ****, she's just sad and is covering it with partying'. I'm sure that people who discover her during this era will think of her as another Koda- artist.

But whatever.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by RayJason

omfg calm down.

I'm just saying that this is not how ayu represents herself all the time, and people who happen to discover her during this era (Party Queen) will totally misunderstand who and what ayumi hamasaki really is. Not everyone can smell that the album(covers) have a concept. Many people know her for her cutesy upbeat J-POP songs and touching ballads, so it will be different for people who discover her to hear lyrics like the one featured in 'Party queen' (song) where she's (almost) suggesting (/or even encouraging) people do drink to have fun with her.

If the concept could have been done better, people (not only her fans) could understand it. They would know 'OH, so she's not drunk and posing like a ****, she's just sad and is covering it with partying'. I'm sure that people who discover her during this era will think of her as another Koda- artist.

But whatever.

Such a long reply, and still, this has nothing to do with I posted... Funny

@TeamAyu2004
If u take a look on all of her album covers, it doesn't seen like the same artist (on the way as they portray very different themes and aesthetics). If u listen to some of her biggest hits, again, a lot of her discography doesn't sound as stuff done by the same person... and this is my point: It doesn't matter what single, album, video or song bring you to Ayu fandom, she releases, releases and will release something that goes on the total opposite direction. There's no way to form a "right" image of her basing your opinions on only 1 album, pic or video.

[RayJason]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

Such a long reply, and still, this has nothing to do with I posted... Funny

Don't you dare implying that I would waste my time on making such a long reply only to you. Really offending if you ask me... I was elaborating on my own opinion just in case other people would misunderstand me. And you should do something about your sense of humor .

Either way I still stand by what I said: People who'll discover ayu during this Party Queen era WILL have the total wrong impression of ayu, especially now with Party queen (song) out and the covers (which already caused A LOT of uproar and disbelief). Nothing more, nothing less.